Chapter 256: Easy to Learn, Useless in Practice

At this moment, Li Xuewu had already exited the outer courtyard's screen wall to retrieve his vehicle.

With Chen Xiaoyan helping to open the main gate, Li Xuewu rode out, and Xiaoyan closed the gate again.

"Brother Wu, pull your hat down tight; the wind is strong."

Li Xuewu waved at Xiaoyan, pedaled his bicycle, and hurried toward the Rolling Mill.

Once January arrived, the weather changed; the nights were colder than in December, and while the days were warmer, the wind had picked up.

Breathing out white mist, he pedaled his long legs all the way to the Rolling Mill; he couldn't ride his own bike too recklessly.

After exchanging a few words with the security post at the gate, he checked the dispatch room, flipped through the mail, turned into the bicycle storage area to park his bike, and headed to the main building with the medicinal wine tucked in his pocket.

When he entered Li Huai De's office, Li Huai De was reading the newspaper. Seeing Li Xuewu enter with his pocket bulging, Li Huai De smiled and beckoned, "Come in, come in."

Li Xuewu caught the cigarette Li Huai De tossed over, lit one for himself, and put the pack back.

After taking a puff, Li Xuewu took the medicinal wine out of his pocket and placed it by Li Huai De's hand, saying softly, "Leader, just one small bottle cap every night. Remember that."

Li Huai De took the medicinal wine, held it in his hand, and examined it. The brownish-yellow liquid still clung to the sides of the small bottle, which he could easily hold in his palm.

"Oh, oh, oh, just drink this little bit?"

Seeing Li Huai De frown, seemingly disappointed by the small amount, Li Xuewu sat on the edge of the desk, leaned in, and said with a mischievous grin, "Leader, you'll know once you try it. I'm not telling you to drink only one cap for your sake, but for your wife's. If you drink too much, she won't be able to handle it."

Li Huai De laughed at Li Xuewu's joke and said, "Then I'll have my wife drink a little too."

Li Xuewu took a puff of his cigarette and laughed, "If your wife drinks it, then *you* won't be able to handle it."

"Then we'll both drink a little."

Li Xuewu stood up, glanced at the secretary waiting by the door to report, leaned over the desk, and grinned wickedly, "If both of you drink it, the bed won't be able to handle it! Hahaha, hahaha!"

"Hahahaha, you little rascal!"

Li Huai De laughed and lightly tossed the kerosene lighter from his desk at Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu dodged backward and reached out to catch the flying "hand grenade."

He looked at the lighter in his hand, which still had the "ZIPPO" letters stamped on it, recognized it as an American brand, and casually tucked it into his pocket.

"Thank you, Leader! Haha!"

"Give that back to me!"

"Hahaha!"

Li Xuewu laughed and hurried out of Li Huai De's office, drawing frequent glances from the secretary waiting at the door.

This Chief of the Security Section was truly a smooth operator; he could joke with factory-level leaders and even dare to snatch their belongings.

The key was that the leader laughed while being robbed; this kind of relationship was truly intimidating.

The secretary didn't know that Li Xuewu knew Li Huai De had tossed the lighter to him on purpose.

Otherwise, why not toss the cigarette pack? This was Li Huai De building a connection with him.

Li Xuewu was also cooperating with Li Huai De; accepting the lighter meant they now had a personal rapport.

However, this rapport wasn't yet useful for work, as the connection was still thin, representing only Li Huai De's willingness to engage in personal interactions with Li Xuewu.

Why do they say getting along with a leader is like dating? You have to be subtle, have a sense of humor, respect each other, and exchange gifts.

This analogy might not be entirely appropriate, but it really was that complicated.

Just as he reached the second floor, he saw a line at the finance office to collect wages. He realized it was payday again.

Li Xuewu didn't have the concept of "collecting wages"; in his previous life, everything was deposited into a card, and he didn't even hold the card himself.

Now, on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd of every month, he had to bring his personal seal here to collect cash and various ration coupons.

Because of his previous experience, Li Xuewu went straight to the finance office this time. A male accountant received him.

Since they didn't know each other, they didn't say much, and Li Xuewu left after collecting his wages.

As a section-level cadre, his salary was higher; Li Xuewu's wage was now 110 yuan and 50 cents, along with corresponding grain, cloth, and non-staple food coupons, plus 5 industrial coupons.

This salary level was exceptionally high. Excluding the thousands of yuan in wages for literary workers that Li Xuewu had heard Wen Saner mention, Li Xuewu's salary was considered top-tier.

The First Master had worked hard his whole life and only earned 99 yuan, and that was his limit.

Even that was the lifelong goal for most workers; the majority of people could never reach that level.

Tucking the money and coupons into his pocket, he walked toward the office building. As soon as he arrived, he saw Han Yating standing inside, waiting for him.

Li Xuewu looked at Han Yating's anxious expression and asked, "What's wrong? Why the long face?"

Han Yating reported, "Last night, we received a report that Lu Fengliang from the Seventh Workshop was robbed and beaten in an alley on his way home from the night shift. I compared it to the cases you asked me to investigate, and many follow a similar pattern."

"Is it a place our security patrol doesn't reach?"

"No, it's just that no patrol team passed by during that time slot. By the time the security squad arrived, the perpetrators were long gone."

Li Xuewu frowned and nodded.

Seeing Li Xuewu remain silent, Han Yating hesitated and said, "I saw a denunciation letter about you in the dispatch room."

Li Xuewu frowned, tilted his head to look at Han Yating, and asked, "Is it denouncing me?"

Han Yating nodded and said, "Fan Hua discovered it while checking the mail."

Li Xuewu withdrew his gaze and asked, "What are they denouncing me for?"

Han Yating watched Li Xuewu's expression. Seeing that he was neither anxious nor dismissive, she couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"They say you took bribes, embezzled public funds, used official vehicles for private business, engaged in retaliation, and had illicit relationships..."

"Hehehe," Li Xuewu laughed while processing documents, "If that were true, that would be serious. It would really be enough to get me in trouble."

Seeing Li Xuewu still had the heart to joke, Han Yating said anxiously, "The letter isn't even signed. It's absolutely baseless."

As she spoke, she urged Li Xuewu, "You should go talk to the leadership. Fan Hua has already followed procedure and handed the letter to Li Kezhang Fu."

Li Xuewu said without looking up, "Talk to whom? Say what? Say that *you* read the denunciation letter? Or that Fan Hua leaked the contents? As cadres, we must work under the supervision of the masses at all times."

"I am a cadre of the people, a cadre of the factory. I must be able to stand in the sunlight of supervision and stand firm in the cold wind of mass questioning. Otherwise, how can I serve the people?"

Seeing Li Xuewu still singing high-minded slogans, Han Yating said anxiously, "The letter says you took money from that projectionist last time, and money from Xiao Laosan in the original workshop, and that's why you let them go."

Li Xuewu set aside a signed document and said, "An upright person doesn't fear a crooked shadow. We handle many cases; there are always areas we haven't considered that might lead to misunderstandings. It's fine. Trust the leadership, trust the organization."

Han Yating said angrily, "What about embezzling public funds? The money is clearly all in our section! And using official vehicles for private business—they say you drove the security section's command vehicle up the mountain! And they say Huang Ping from the guesthouse offended you, so you retaliated! They say you arranged for a lover to work in the guesthouse for the sake of an illicit relationship... it's all described in such vivid detail..."

Li Xuewu handed the processed documents to Han Yating and said, "Continue and intensify the investigation into cases of workers being victimized. Notify Han Zhan to increase the frequency and intensity of night patrols in worker residential areas. Severely crack down on criminals involved in such cases."

"I know it's not easy for you all. In a few days, I'll find two outside helpers for us; you'll be able to relax a bit."

"Are you really not planning to talk to the leadership? The sooner, the better."

Seeing Han Yating still harping on this, Li Xuewu pointed at her and said, "Forget about this matter. Don't tell anyone, don't harm Fan Hua, and don't harm yourself."

Seeing Li Xuewu firmly believe in the organization, Han Yating had no choice but to pick up the documents on the table and leave.

As she left, she looked back at Li Xuewu, wanting to confirm if he was truly not worried or just internally resolute.

Li Xuewu looked up and glared at Han Yating at the door. Seeing her stick her tongue out in fear and leave, he narrowed his eyes and pondered for a while.

By the time he went to the cafeteria for lunch, he noticed the people in the office were looking at him differently—with scrutiny and probing, some mockery and pity, and even some schadenfreude.

Li Xuewu knew it was because that denunciation letter had spread.

It was quite interesting now. From the moment that letter entered the factory, the first person to handle it was Fan Hua.

Because of Ren An, Fan Hua had told Han Yating, who was on morning duty at the gate, intending to give Li Xuewu a heads-up.

According to the procedure for receiving denunciation letters, if the contents didn't involve special matters, they would be delivered directly to the addressee.

In other words, after leaving Fan Hua's hands, the letter went straight to Fu Bin. How did the people in the office know about it?

And they had spread the news within a single morning.

Li Xuewu stood in line with his lunchbox, expressionless. He thought that Fan Hua was a confidential clerk in the confidential room, accustomed to caution; telling Han Yating was already a breach of discipline, so she couldn't have broadcast it to everyone.

Han Yating? That was even less likely.

Seeing the fish take the bait, Li Xuewu even smiled and chatted with Sha Zhu while he was being served.

To those queuing and eating in the cafeteria, this had a different meaning.

Just as he sat down at the table, Xu Ning came over with his lunchbox. Seeing Li Xuewu's normal expression, he said with some concern, "Li Kezhang?"

Li Xuewu looked up at Xu Ning, waved his hand for him to sit, and said while eating, "What is it? Something wrong at the guesthouse?"

After sitting down, Xu Ning didn't pick up his chopsticks but asked softly, "Do you want me to investigate? I heard it's an anonymous letter, but I have confidence I can find out who it is."

Li Xuewu took a bite of his steamed bun, looked at Xu Ning, and said, "What? You really want to pin a charge of retaliation on me? Just honestly be your guesthouse manager."

Xu Ning said indignantly, "Then let Han Zhan go, a secret investigation."

"Heh, do you think our security section is the Investigation Department? A secret investigation... it's fine, don't worry, just do your job."

Han Zhan, who had walked over, sat down next to Xu Ning, set his lunchbox down, and said, "I've already asked around. No one saw how the letter got in; it was just inexplicably stuffed into the dispatch room."

Xu Ning looked at Han Zhan with dissatisfaction and said, "Security, security, what exactly are you securing? You're so incompetent that you let a fly into the gate you're supposed to be securing."

Han Zhan was left speechless by Xu Ning's words. Problems had arisen in the area he managed; he deserved the scolding.

Li Xuewu tapped the table in front of Xu Ning, glared at him, and said, "Why so overbearing? Are we hedgehogs? Not allowed to let others speak? Not allowed to let others criticize? If you have faults, correct them; if not, guard against them."

Xu Ning angrily picked up his bun and started eating. He looked at the surrounding gazes and said to Li Xuewu, "You can endure it, but I can't. Everyone knows you're the Li Kezhang of the Security Section; denouncing you isn't that just dissatisfaction with our security section's work? We did so much work and ended up with complaints, heh."

Xu Ning still considered himself part of the security section and had always viewed his current position as meat on the security section's plate.

More accurately, Xu Ning had always considered himself Li Xuewu's man; saying Li Xuewu was incompetent just wouldn't do.

"Stop talking. How old are you? Why are you acting like a forty-year-old auntie?" Li Xuewu tossed the pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket onto the table, signaling them to take one.

Seeing Xu Ning still sulking, Li Xuewu changed the subject and asked, "How's the renovation of the guesthouse going? Does it look like it can be finished before the New Year?"

Xu Ning nodded and said, "They've started making the furniture. The engineering team borrowed power tools, so it should be faster. The water and electricity are all done. Now they're renovating the fourth floor and the first floor—the suites on the fourth floor and the kitchen on the first."

"That's quite fast. It seems we can consider outdoor renovations after the New Year."

Xu Ning ate quickly, finished his bun in a few bites, then lit a cigarette and said, "The first floor will be finished in these two days. Today it's the kitchen; they're plastering the stove."

"Li Kezhang, do you have any opinions on the outdoor renovations?"

Seeing Xu Ning ask him, Li Xuewu smiled and said, "You have to ask Master Dou about that. Also..."

Li Xuewu whispered to Xu Ning, "Go ask Vice Factory Director Li if he has any requirements or opinions."

"Oh, oh, oh, I understand." Xu Ning nodded, understanding Li Xuewu's meaning.

Actually, Li Huai De didn't understand landscape design either, but he was the one who would ultimately manage and use it.

Whether from the perspective of logistics or Li Xuewu, who actually controlled it, it all fell under Li Huai De's management. He was the supervisor who couldn't be bypassed.

Xu Ning understood Li Xuewu's meaning—it was nothing more than wanting to design and build a few styles according to Li Huai De's suggestions.

When it came to acceptance and management, Li Huai De wouldn't make things difficult, and no one else would dare to point fingers and criticize.

How could they criticize? Vice Factory Director Li said it was good, and you say it's bad??

Thinking of when Xu Damao wanted to drive Sha Zhu away, and the sinister smile Li Huai De gave Xu Damao in the back kitchen.

That was truly a smile where the skin moved, but the flesh didn't; he was baring his teeth to bite.

After eating, the group headed back. Those office workers who used to greet Li Xuewu proactively now walked around him.

They walked far around him.

Even if they couldn't avoid him, they would lower their heads and pretend not to see him.

The office was just that realistic.

But there were exceptions, namely the people in the secretary's office.

Only those who had suffered knew not to fall into the same pit twice.

Sun Jia was carrying his lunchbox to the cafeteria. Because he had been late meeting with the section leader, it was late, so he was just heading to the cafeteria now.

Just as he stepped onto the stairs, he saw Li Xuewu leading a group of people down, all looking like security section members.

The matter that had spread throughout the office all morning—how could the secretary's office not know? The main office had even discussed it for a while.

But Sun Jia still smiled and proactively reached out to shake hands with Li Xuewu, who was coming down.

"Li Ke, you don't move unless you have to, but when you do, it's a big move. To be able to create such a big scene in the security section, I see your ambition is to go even further."

Li Xuewu walked down the stairs to the road before shaking Sun Jia's hand and laughed, "It seems our office really can't keep secrets. What? Did the leader give you a task?"

Sun Jia's heart skipped two beats upon hearing Li Xuewu's double-entendre.

Damn his grandfather, how did this rascal's brain grow? Did he learn the office's circular talk without a teacher?

Was Dong Wenxue really that good at teaching students?

Sun Jia hurriedly shook Li Xuewu's hand and said, "Hi, I didn't hear this; it's just that Vice Factory Director Li specifically arranged for me to bring a camera tomorrow to follow along and do an interview."

This was the art of language. Li Xuewu didn't say anything specific, because if Sun Jia was a participant in this matter, he would definitely understand.

Sun Jia's words were the same; he didn't say exactly what they were doing, but Li Xuewu would definitely know what he was talking about.

Even if others were standing between them, they wouldn't be able to hear what they meant even with ten ears.

Why do they say there are no secrets in the office? Because even if there are secrets, you can't hear them.

Li Xuewu stood at the bottom of the stairs, shaking hands and talking with Secretary Sun. The security section cadres all stood quietly, either at the bottom or top of the stairs, surrounding the two in a semicircle, as if a great leader were receiving the masses.

This scene made the passing workers look over constantly. Sun Jia's wife, who worked in the materials room, looked at Sun Jia anxiously.

After finishing his talk with Li Xuewu, Sun Jia stood where he was, watching Li Xuewu lead his people away, and was about to go up the stairs to the cafeteria when he was pulled aside by his wife.

"Why are you shaking hands with him? Haven't you heard?"

Sun Jia's wife was also anxious. Seeing her husband shake hands with Li Xuewu, her colleagues looked at her differently, as if the rumored charges could infect her.

Sun Jia didn't expect his wife to be talking about this matter and said impatiently, "I thought it was something important. Don't worry about it; I still have to get my food. It's already late; if I wait any longer, it'll be gone."

Sun Jia's wife pulled him back and said, "Haven't you seen how everyone in the office looks at him? And you're still getting close to him? Do you want to engage in illicit relationships just like him?"

Sun Jia frowned at his wife and said, "Don't believe everything others say. Have you seen those things they're spreading? You believe everything. If it can be spread, is it still a secret? Just mind your own business."

Seeing his wife still wanting to talk, Sun Jia scolded with a cold face, "I'm telling you, whoever wants to gossip can gossip. You are not allowed to participate. Don't cause trouble for me."

"Are you that afraid of him? Or do you really want to suck up to him?"

Seeing his wife wouldn't listen, Sun Jia was about to open his mouth to scold, but seeing the cafeteria entrance not far away, he held his tongue and said with a frown, "You don't understand. This matter is strange; who knows what's going on. We're small fry; if we get too close, we'll be covered in wounds if the wind blows."

Sun Jia's wife knew her husband worked under the leadership and must know something, so she pulled him closer and asked, "Did you hear something?"

Sun Jia glared and scolded, "What did I tell you? You're not allowed to ask about my work."

Seeing his wife wouldn't let it go, Sun Jia said helplessly, "The secretary's office has been spreading it since this morning—he snatched Vice Factory Director Li's lighter, and Vice Factory Director Li even joked with him. Does that look like he's going to be punished?"

"Think about it, what kind of person is Li Xuewu? Would he let a letter slip in from the gate for no reason? Think again, if he were embezzling and taking bribes, would he let others get a handle on him? The most ridiculous thing is the illicit relationship—what kind of bullshit lover? He's a bachelor... damn."

Sun Jia didn't continue, fearing walls have ears. After saying this, he said impatiently, "I'm telling you, that person is a smiling tiger; he's best at settling scores later. It's very possible he's retaliating, so don't provoke him. Our director... hi, hurry back to the office."

After scolding his wife, Sun Jia left his suspicious wife behind and ran into the cafeteria.

No wonder the denunciation letter spread so fiercely; it was truly full of content, plot, good writing, and strong storytelling.

After waking up from his nap at noon, Li Xuewu listened to the broadcast station report how many cases the security section had received and how many clues they had, with very few cases solved.

This was practically on par with the Nationalist Army's war reports back in the day!

"Our heroic Nationalist soldiers, thirty thousand strong, rushed to the front line and fought fiercely with the invading enemy for several days, killing three!"

But this was what Li Xuewu had requested, so he didn't put any more pressure on Han Yating. This was already like a small whip driving the security squad to act.

Li Xuewu had originally thought that with the denunciation letter causing such a stir, the organization would surely call him in for a talk, right?

But he sat in his office all afternoon and didn't receive any summons from the organization.

Damn!

This made Li Xuewu frown. They weren't playing by the rules. Could it be that he had exerted too much force last time?

The fish float had moved, but the fish had gone quiet...

He puffed on his cigarette and thought for a long while in his office, wondering if he had made a mistake somewhere.

By the time the bell rang for the end of the workday, the phone on his desk hadn't rung. Li Xuewu had no choice but to change his clothes and head out.

Seeing Li Xuewu's frowning, pensive appearance, everyone he met thought he was worried about how to deal with the denunciation.

Li Xuewu hooked his bike onto the protective railing on the roof of the security squad's 212 Jeep and called Yan Jiecheng to drive him home.

This blatant "use of official vehicles for private business" naturally drew attention from the workers getting off work, especially the office staff who knew some of the details, who felt the contents of the denunciation against Li Xuewu were even more substantiated.

That was exactly the effect he wanted!

Yan Jiecheng was driving home when, just as they left the gate, they ran into Qin Huairu and Sha Zhu walking on the side of the road, chatting about something.

Hey! Speak of the devil!

Alright, time to grab two more laborers to add some weight.

Li Xuewu had Yan Jiecheng stop the car, then rolled down the window and shouted at Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu, "What are you looking at? Hurry up and get in. Opportunities to ride home don't come often!"

Sha Zhu grinned and said to Qin Huairu, "Master Yang Er at him now, does he look like he's worried?"

As he spoke, he had already opened the car door and jumped into the passenger seat.

Seeing Sha Zhu get into the passenger seat, Qin Huairu said with some shyness and annoyance, "You're really something. Don't you see I'm a female comrade? Li Ke is still sitting in the back."

Sha Zhu laughed, "Forget it, we've been neighbors for so many years, who could say anything? I'll slap them if they do. Hurry up and get in. I'm big, sitting in the back is cramped. I prefer the passenger seat; it's spacious and bright."

Qin Huairu had no choice but to open the back door and get in. Yan Jiecheng stepped on the gas, and they started moving.

Whether because she didn't sit properly or was nervous, Qin Huairu stumbled as the car moved and fell onto Li Xuewu's lap.

Sha Zhu saw it in the rearview mirror and laughed, "I said no one would say anything, but you're doing this? I can't guarantee anything now!"

Qin Huairu, supported by Li Xuewu, sat up and slapped Sha Zhu on the back of the head.

"Let you be cheeky!"

Sha Zhu laughed and said, "You cadres are really bullying people. You hit people whenever you want."

Qin Huairu said with shyness and annoyance, "Hitting you is light."

Li Xuewu sat in the back, watching them bicker, and smiled without saying a word. Seeing Li Xuewu's mood was still okay, Qin Huairu turned and asked, "Are you okay?"

Li Xuewu nodded lightly, giving Qin Huairu a reassuring look.

"If you're okay, what could happen to me?"

Qin Huairu said with a worried expression, "If Sha Zhu weren't here, I wouldn't have dared to get in even if you pulled me into the car. The mouths of those people in the office are truly poisonous."

Sha Zhu said indifferently, "Listen to them? Heh, they're just sitting in the office gossiping."

Yan Jiecheng hadn't spoken the whole time, but now he said, "No one in the small motorcade talks about the Li Kezhang; their mouths are all tight."

Sha Zhu laughed, "If their mouths weren't tight, they wouldn't be able to get into the small motorcade."

Seeing Qin Huairu still looking at him nervously, Li Xuewu patted the hand Qin Huairu had placed on his lap helplessly.

"Did you collect your wages?"

Knowing Li Xuewu was changing the subject, Qin Huairu could only suppress her worry and follow Li Xuewu's lead, "I collected them. I went to the office to collect them."

Sha Zhu sat in the front and said, "Hey, you've stepped up to the sky, haven't you? I've been here for so many years and only have a wage of thirty-seven yuan and fifty cents. You've crossed the probation and promotion levels in one step, straight to thirty-seven yuan and fifty cents."

Qin Huairu hadn't received thirty-seven yuan and fifty cents today because she hadn't been transferred to the guesthouse for many days, not even a full month, but her benefits were better than in the workshop.

Listening to Sha Zhu's words, Qin Huairu looked at Li Xuewu, her eyes full of gratitude.

"I'm just a server; how could I be as comfortable as you, the head chef?"

Sha Zhu didn't care and said, "Don't lie to me. I've already asked around. The guesthouse is going to make a big move, right? I see you've invested a lot of capital. You even came to check the kitchen configuration this afternoon."

Li Xuewu tilted his head to look at Sha Zhu and said, "I asked you to go, but you didn't. Regretting it now?"

Sha Zhu shook his head and grinned, "No regrets. I actually think the big cafeteria kitchen is quite good; it's easy to serve. Those people at the guesthouse are hard to serve."

"Hey, right," Sha Zhu turned around, holding the back of the passenger seat, and asked, "Did you find the chef you were looking for? Is it reliable?"

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Found him. It's the chef I bought that set of knives from."

Sha Zhu grinned and laughed, "I guessed you went to find them. Alright, I don't have to worry now. Those palace-cuisine chefs are experts at making banquets."

Li Xuewu smiled and didn't speak. Just like that, chatting idly, the group rode back home.

Entering the west courtyard, Li Xuewu, Sha Zhu, and Qin Huairu got out of the car first. Yan Jiecheng went to the garage to park the car and then untied Li Xuewu's bicycle.

Qin Huairu greeted Li Xuewu and went home, while Sha Zhu followed Li Xuewu to the inverted-seat room.

At this moment, Yu Li was cleaning pig offal with Chen Xiaoyan. Seeing Li Xuewu and Sha Zhu enter, Yu Li stood up and said, "It's all cleaned. This is the last rinse; the rest is up to you."

Sha Zhu placed his lunchbox on the table in the inner room, took off his coat, put on a kitchen apron, and said, "Alright, just watch."

As he spoke, he had already started setting up the pot and adding water. Actually, making braised goods wasn't difficult—it was just boiling water, adding ingredients, and boiling everything together...

It sounded simple, but Li Xuewu was the type who could learn it easily but would ruin it the moment he tried to do it himself.

So Li Xuewu didn't enter the kitchen at all, but sat on the heated brick bed in the inner room, waiting to eat.

Yan Jiecheng parked Li Xuewu's bike, drained the water from the Jeep, and then walked toward the inverted-seat room carrying his dirty clothes from the past few days.

Yan Jiecheng couldn't live in the room Yu Shui had when he came back, because there was only a single bed there, so he could only take bedding from the cabinet in the east room of the inverted-seat room and sleep in the west room.

He hadn't even entered the room when he was stopped by the Third Master waiting at the door.

Yan Jiecheng had seen his father get off work when he returned, but he hadn't expected him to be waiting here for him.

"What's wrong, Dad?"

Although they had separated the household, the family bond remained. Yan Jiecheng had said on the day they separated that they couldn't live together anymore, which was why they had separated.

The Third Master frowned at his eldest son, then pulled Yan Jiecheng into the east courtyard next to the gatehouse.

Yan Jiecheng didn't know what his father meant, acting so mysterious, so he said with a stumble, "What are you doing, Dad? I still have a pile of clothes to wash."

The Third Master pulled his son and said with a sense of "iron not becoming steel," "Do you really take the inverted-seat room as your home? You don't even come home to see your dad and mom when you return, just heading straight for the inverted-seat room."

Yan Jiecheng tilted his head and said, "Wasn't it you two who drove us out? And now you're saying this?"

Yan Jiecheng was also full of anger when he mentioned this, because he had just seen his second brother Jiefang and third brother Jiekua move into his old room; they really hadn't left him any way back.

The Third Master pointed at Yan Jiecheng angrily and said, "You, you're just a fool, being sold by others and still counting the money for them."

Yan Jiecheng asked with a puzzled face, "Dad, what are you saying? How am I a fool?"

The Third Master said angrily, "Master Yang Er at your wife, she's practically grown into the inverted-seat room, serving such a big group of men. And that's not all—she even goes to the back courtyard to clean Li Xuewu's room and wash his clothes. Don't you have any sense?"

Yan Jiecheng thought it was something else. Seeing his father mention this, he said indifferently, "I know this. It was agreed upon from the start—Yu Li is doing this job of cleaning rooms and washing clothes. It's very appropriate. She does the same work at home, doesn't she? Now she gets paid for doing the same thing."

Seeing his son didn't understand his meaning, the Third Master heard some movement, looked outside the screen wall, and saw the First Master walking by with his lunchbox.

Knowing people were always passing by the gate, he couldn't speak loudly, so he pulled Yan Jiecheng further inside and whispered, "Why don't you understand yet?"

Looking at Yan Jiecheng's clueless appearance, the Third Master said anxiously, "Can you be at ease with Yu Li constantly in contact with Li Xuewu? They're a young man and a newlywed young woman, you..."

"How could that be, Dad? What nonsense are you talking about!"

Seeing his son didn't believe him, the Third Master pointed at Yan Jiecheng anxiously and said, "I'm talking nonsense? Think about it—why would Li Xuewu help you change jobs? Why would Li Xuewu find work for your wife? Why, huh? Helping you move, helping you find a house?"

Yan Jiecheng shook his head and said, "Impossible. I was present for all these times you mentioned. Yu Li has nothing going on with Li Ke. You're overthinking it."

The Third Master was about to explode with anger, pulled Yan Jiecheng, and said, "You have no family ties or connections with Li Xuewu, so why should he help you? Haven't you thought about it? You leave your wife alone in the courtyard, haven't you thought about it?"

Hearing this, Yan Jiecheng was also a bit confused and said with a sigh, "What can I do? There's no place to live now. I can only live at work. It was Li Xuewu who told Sha Zhu to find a place for Yu Li to live."

"You can come back and live here."

"Huh?" Yan Jiecheng looked at his father, unable to believe his father was actually asking him to move back.

He only heard the Third Master say slowly, "You two come back and live here. Hey, aren't we still one family? With Yu Li right in front of your mom and me, you can be at ease at the Rolling Mill, right?"

Yan Jiecheng asked tentatively, "The house is for us to live in? Is it a gift or...?"

The Third Master coughed twice—not because he was cold, but because he wasn't used to the word "gift."

"Master Yang Er at your brothers, they're grown up, right? Well, you two just live there first. If you have children, your mom and I can help you raise them, hey."

As he spoke, the Third Master pulled Yan Jiecheng close and said, "Last night, I was discussing with your mom that we want you to support us in our old age, and we'll leave this house to you."

Yan Jiecheng was clearly moved. The feeling of being under someone else's roof was truly not a good taste.

"Thank you, Dad. Well, I'll tell Yu Li. She'll be very happy."

Yan Jiecheng was about to turn and head to the inverted-seat room when he was pulled back by the Third Master again.

"Well, Jieceng, look, you two come back to live here, your wages should be the same as before—just hand over half."

"Also, look, you two don't eat at home, so you can support the family with some grain coupons, after all, we're one family."

Yan Jiecheng had been excited just a moment ago, but hearing his father talk about handing over money, he felt it wasn't right, and hearing about handing over grain coupons made him frown even more.

"Dad, well, I think we're still young, so having children a few years later is fine too."

The Third Master wanted to persuade him further, but Yan Jiecheng stopped his father and said, "Another thing is, I've just thought about it. I'm going to earn overtime pay anyway, and I'll have little time to live at home. Yu Li living in Sha Zhu's house is just right. We're at the age to save money, so we won't come home to trouble you."

"Hey! Jieceng, eldest!"

The Third Master watched Yan Jiecheng finish speaking and run toward the screen wall on the opposite side. He wanted to pull him back but couldn't, wanted to shout but didn't dare to shout hard. This was so uncomfortable.

Yan Jiecheng ran into the inverted-seat room in a hurry and almost bumped into Sha Zhu, who was coming out.

"Yo, sorry about that."

Sha Zhu looked at Yan Jiecheng, who looked like a frightened rabbit, didn't say anything, and went out to light his stove.

As soon as Yan Jiecheng entered the room, he was glared at by Yu Li.

"Can't you have a steady appearance? Why are you so reckless?"

Seeing no one was in the kitchen, Yan Jiecheng took out the wages from his pocket and handed them to Yu Li, "I was called to the east courtyard by my dad."

Yu Li glared at Yan Jiecheng and said, "I saw it. What did your dad say to you again?"

Yan Jiecheng looked at Yu Li, hesitating whether to say it.

"Say it!" Yu Li pinched Yan Jiecheng.

"Said he wants us to move back and live there."

Yu Li reacted faster than Yan Jiecheng and laughed coldly, "There must be some conditions, right?"

Yan Jiecheng asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

"With your dad being so calculating, could he drive us out and then bring us back without conditions? Heh."

Yan Jiecheng said sheepishly, "That's my dad, after all. How could he have bad intentions?"

Yu Li took out 2 yuan from the wages Yan Jiecheng had handed over and stuffed them into Yan Jiecheng's pocket, saying, "I don't believe it. Tell me the truth."

Seeing his wife give him pocket money, Yan Jiecheng sold his father out in an instant.

"Dad said we should move back, wages should be handed over half like before, and the leftover grain coupons should support the family..."

Seeing Yu Li's expression slowly turn into mockery, Yan Jiecheng couldn't continue.

"I knew it. How could he ask us to move back for no reason? He knew today was payday."

Yu Li didn't get angry at Yan Jiecheng, just said this and didn't say much more.

Seeing Yan Jiecheng still standing there, she asked, "Anything else? Save that pocket money; it's for your bath and haircut."

Yan Jiecheng hugged Yu Li, leaning against his wife's body, sniffing and smelling.

Yu Li was stunned by Yan Jiecheng's action, then struggled violently. Seeing Yan Jiecheng wouldn't let go, she even stepped on Yan Jiecheng's foot.

"Hiss, why did you step on me?"

"You're crazy, where is this? Do you want everyone to see us?"

"What's wrong with me hugging my own wife? Can't I even think about you?"

"If you want to think, go think at home. You're crazy."

Yu Li glared at Yan Jiecheng, then pushed him away and continued to fill the stove with fuel.

"Wife, are you... are you..."

Hearing Yan Jiecheng's stammering, Yu Li looked up and asked, "Am I what? Hmm?"

Yan Jiecheng hesitated for a moment and said, "Dad said, that..."

Good brother:

I want the monthly tickets in your pocket~

Hehehe~