Chapter 145: A Face of Prosperity

Li Xuewu got out of the car, rubbed his face, and walked toward Shen Fang's office. The police officers he met on the way all greeted him, calling him "Li Suoer."

Heh! This feeling really is different!

Being called "Section Chief Li" just doesn't sound as comfortable as "Li Suoer."

Whenever Li Xuewu heard the greeting "Li Suoer," he would toss out a cigarette—a Da Qianmen—and along the way, he gained a lot of goodwill.

Li Xuewu didn't need to be like Shen Fang, who had to maintain a dignified image at the station; as a part-timer, why would he need to put on airs in front of others?

It's better to just be a good comrade and get along; they all live in the same neighborhood, and who knows when you might need a favor from someone?

He pushed open the door to Shen Fang's office and said, "Hey! It's really cold. It's only this time of day, but the sky looks so gloomy—is it going to snow again?"

Shen Fang chuckled and said, "Who told you to be such a show-off, riding that iron donkey out here to catch the wind?"

Although he teased him, he still stood up and poured a cup of hot water for Li Xuewu.

"Drink some hot water to warm up."

Li Xuewu took the teacup, sipped it slowly, and only after feeling a hint of warmth did he say, "What's the situation? I haven't even come in yet, so why is everyone calling me Li Suoer?"

Shen Fang sat back down at his desk, pointed to the desk opposite him, and said, "Who told you we wouldn't hold a meeting just because you didn't come? Your appointment was read out during the meeting, and your photo is still hanging on the wall in the lobby. This is your desk; regardless of whether you come or not, with this desk, you are the Deputy Director."

Li Xuewu cursed inwardly that these guys were truly cunning; with this desk, he couldn't avoid taking responsibility even if he wanted to.

He cursed in his heart, but his face couldn't show it. This Shen Fang was truly a two-faced character—saying one thing to your face and another behind your back, like a smiling tiger.

"Damn, you talk so righteously, but you should at least pay the salary."

Shen Fang took a sip of hot water and said with a smile, "I don't have money, but I can compensate you with something else. You're nineteen now, right? You'll be twenty after the New Year. Do you want a wife? I happen to have a suitable young lady here."

Li Xuewu had just taken a sip of water and it went up his nose. "Cough, cough~"

Shen Fang tossed over a rag for him to wipe the water off the desk and said, "What are you getting so excited about? I haven't even brought her over yet, and you're already like this. If I really brought her over, wouldn't you be flying to the heavens?"

Li Xuewu calmed down after a while, wiped the water off the desk, and cursed, "Old Shen, you really don't act like a human. When I didn't have a partner, you played dead. Now that the young ladies in the factory are crying and shouting to be my wife, you introduce one to me. Are you doing this on purpose?"

"What was that? Didn't you say a while ago that you didn't... don't tell me you were just blowing smoke at me here? Is there even a single word out of your mouth that's true? No wonder those two people you brought over last time said you were a liar. You really are..."

Shen Fang sat up straight and asked in surprise.

Li Xuewu didn't believe Shen Fang was that kind-hearted, and he certainly couldn't let him get the truth out of him.

Li Xuewu took a sip of water to moisten his throat and said, "Heh, isn't it almost the legal marriage age? Seeing that I, Old Li, am single, the state just issued one to me."

Shen Fang curled his lips and said, "Stop spouting nonsense. I've waited until twenty-seven and haven't seen the state issue one; why would it be your turn first? It was my mother who was anxious and found someone to introduce to me. Seriously, do you really have a partner?"

Li Xuewu chuckled and said, "Not for the moment, but there are too many throwing themselves at me. I can't even pick through them all with my hands now. Besides, this stuff isn't based on age order. The state said that those who are ugly have to wait until they're thirty to be issued one. You're just too anxious."

Shen Fang spat and cursed, "There isn't a single word of truth in your mouth. Let me tell you, our station has a suitable girl. Her family has connections at the branch bureau. Whether you can win her over depends on you."

bidige.

Li Xuewu ignored Shen Fang's attempt to fool him. He sat by his desk, rummaged through the drawer, opened the corner cabinet, and pulled out a full set of police uniforms. He touched the police badge and looked at it carefully, while still chatting with Shen Fang: "Forget it, don't I know you guys? Your unit is a monk temple. I saw it when I walked in—all older bachelors. Would you leave a good one for me? It would have been internally digested long ago."

Shen Fang tossed a cigarette to Li Xuewu, lit one for himself, and said helplessly, "It's precisely because the conditions are too good that we can't keep them. The young men in our station don't dare to approach the girl. Also, you have to say 'our station'; you need to change that habit!"

Damn! This guy must have learned this clingy skill from him.

Li Xuewu took the cigarette, lit it with a match, took a puff, squinted his eyes, and asked, "Don't tell me Jiaodaokou really produced a beautiful Diaochan or a rival to Xishi?"

Shen Fang chuckled and said mysteriously, "Whether it's Diaochan or Xishi, it has nothing to do with you anymore. I gave you the chance, but you were the one who couldn't use it. Don't you have so many young ladies in your rolling mill throwing themselves at you? Don't let the girls from the rolling mill trip you up; you'd better stop asking about this girl."

Li Xuewu scoffed and muttered, "Who cares."

Shen Fang leaned forward slightly and asked in a low voice, "Are you putting on an act for me? Do you really think I came late and don't know what kind of person you are? This station has changed directors in three years, but the instructor hasn't changed, and the police officers haven't all changed either. Do you need me to tell a story about your glorious history?"

As soon as Li Xuewu heard this, he bristled: "Old Shen, I've bled for the country, and I've been injured. My medical evaluation says amnesia. No one can hold me accountable for past events. If you want to talk about it, go talk to that military doctor in the south. I take no responsibility for anything before!"

Shen Fang sneered and said, "Go to hell. If you have amnesia, how do you remember to find your childhood friend to open a recycling station? If you have amnesia, how can you be a section chief? You can only fool young girls who haven't seen the world. Acting pitiful and strong to get benefits—in front of my sharp eyes, you're just a paper tiger."

Li Xuewu picked up his teacup, pretending to splash hot water on Shen Fang, and cursed, "Nonsense! I, Li Xuewu, am an upright person who does things cleanly. Why don't you go to the rolling mill and ask around? Who doesn't praise me, Li Xuewu, as an honest man! You old bachelor are just jealous of my face of prosperity and want to slander me. Be careful, or I'll give you a set of righteous iron fists."

Shen Fang wasn't afraid of him. Hearing Li Xuewu's "ramblings," he laughed and said, "Yes, yes, yes, I am jealous of your face of prosperity with that big scar. But who the hell wears this face of prosperity and says his name is Shen Fang?"

"Why are you asking me that? How would I know? I wasn't there at the time."

Li Xuewu sheepishly put down the teacup, took an awkward sip of hot water, looked at Shen Fang's playful smile, and asked awkwardly, "Did that group of little brats come to challenge you?" ===== CHAPTER 146 =====