Chapter 287: Fireworks

Director Wang waved her hand and said: "I know you have a cautious nature. It's fine."

Director Wang was referring to Li Xuewu suddenly coming to the street to find her to hold this meeting, hoping she would mobilize the masses to help, and keeping people in the conference room before the action.

Thanks to the obedience and sense of justice of people at this time, plus the technology was not developed enough.

If this were in later generations, as soon as Li Xuewu expressed his position above, everyone on the street would know about it.

If no one tipped off the TS beating brother, he wouldn't have run to JS overnight.

Li Xuewu stood up, took the hot water poured by his godmother, and then said: "Mom, you don't need to stare here tonight. Come back tomorrow morning."

"Why, do you look down on your mother, this female comrade?"

Director Wang smiled and sat on one side of the sofa, looking at her godson and saying: "Back then, I was a cadre of the Women's Salvation Association. I didn't just hold needles and thread in my hands; I also held guns."

"Hahahaha, how would I dare? I don't dare look down on female comrades, and I don't dare look down on revolutionary comrades even more."

Li Xuewu smiled and explained: "I'm just worried that my dad will go hungry."

Director Wang smiled and said: "I called your dad and told him to eat a bite at their unit's cafeteria. It won't be missing this meal, he won't go hungry."

After sitting down and joking for a while, Director Wang looked at Li Xuewu and said: "I didn't see any action from you before, I thought you didn't take my words to heart. It turns out you were holding back a big move."

Seeing his godmother say this, Li Xuewu also explained his thoughts.

"At first I really didn't pay much attention, but later I saw that it was getting more and more wrong."

Li Xuewu sat closer to his godmother and then said: "Even if our street is attractive, it shouldn't attract so many bad guys."

"Another thing, robbery is rare. How many years has it been? One look and you know it's not normal."

"Yes."

Director Wang nodded in agreement and said: "It's been almost twenty years. Where are there still thugs who have become a climate on the street? How could so many come?"

Li Xuewu's expression was very serious and earnest as he said: "So I want to dig a pit. Light sentencing won't work. I want to make the evil fruit grown on this vine bigger, make him unable to bear it, and I want to sweep away this atmosphere."

Director Wang had a talk with Li Xuewu in the afternoon and knew Li Xuewu's plan, so she was also very indignant about the case Li Xuewu reported. She had never seen anyone so arrogant.

Although she didn't agree with Li Xuewu's practice of raising pigs until they were fat before killing them, she gave a certain understanding. After all, she also understood Li Xuewu's situation.

Everyone says that cadres have no selfishness and are dedicated to the public, but how is that possible? Everyone is made of flesh and blood, and as long as one is a person, one has selfishness.

The security section chief has a nephew, so why can't this director have a godson?

But excellent cadres and good cadres are those who can stick to their inner basic principles and can serve the people within the rules.

"Sigh, I hope you can re-establish a new style for the street this time and clear out the lingering poison."

Understanding is understanding, but the loss and threat to the personal and property safety of the masses was also the reason why Director Wang didn't approve of Li Xuewu acting so late.

But things had reached this point, so they could only act according to Li Xuewu's plan.

Because the branch didn't manage the affairs here and handed it over to Li Xuewu and the three of them, the street could only watch Li Xuewu cast his spell.

After finishing the official business, Li Xuewu smiled at his godmother and said: "Mom, I have a private matter that I need to ask you to handle."

"Forget it."

Director Wang glared at Li Xuewu and said: "You come to me when you have something, why don't you come home when you have nothing?"

Li Xuewu knew this was his godmother complaining that he hadn't been home lately.

"Mom, look, I haven't handled this case well, so I don't have the face to go to your house."

"Hey, you little monkey, you know how to say that now."

Director Wang smiled and scolded Li Xuewu, then asked: "What is it? Want me to introduce you to a partner?"

"You really are my mom, your tone is exactly the same as my biological mother's. As soon as you see me, you want to introduce me to a partner."

"Hehehe, why, do you want to be a bachelor for a lifetime?"

Director Wang looked at Li Xuewu and asked: "Men should marry and women should marry. Isn't finding you a partner a good thing?"

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "I'm preparing to date one now, so I don't need you to introduce me for the time being. Let me see if this one works out, and if not, I'll find you again."

Director Wang looked at Li Xuewu curiously and asked: "Where is her home? Why didn't I see your mom tell me?"

"Just confirmed it, her home is over at Andingmen."

"Oh, is it in the city or outside the city?"

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "In the city, in the courtyard."

"Yo! Good son!"

Director Wang smiled, patted Li Xuewu on the shoulder, and said: "Fine, you have ambition. Tell Mom, whose family is it?"

"Mom, you're familiar with the courtyard over there even though it's so far away?"

Li Xuewu looked at Director Wang as if she knew it, and was also a bit surprised.

Director Wang smiled and said: "Why? Can't I have a few acquaintances? Say it, which building? Maybe I know them."

"Hehe, their family doesn't live in the family building outside, they live in the small courtyard inside."

Li Xuewu smiled and explained: "Her dad is in the ZC, I don't know which department he works in."

Director Wang also couldn't understand this godson of hers; he was walking deep and shallow.

One moment he was a salesperson, the next he was a child from a small courtyard.

"What's her dad's name?"

"Gu Haitao."

"Oh..."

Seeing his godmother's expression of understanding and surprise, Li Xuewu smiled and asked: "You really know him?"

Director Wang thought for a while and said: "I don't know him, but I've heard of him. A very deep person, doesn't like to talk much, his style of doing things is very firm, a person with a lot of thoughts."

"What you said is really true!"

Li Xuewu was surprised at his godmother's understanding of Gu Can, and Director Wang was even more surprised by her godson's reaction.

"Have you met her dad?"

"Hehehe, a long time ago, when I first came back."

Li Xuewu explained embarrassedly: "My teacher, that is, our Li Kezhang Dong, was raised by Gu Can. He introduced me to their family, and I went to their house for a blind date first."

Director Wang nodded with emotion and said: "You have a good teacher, and it can be considered that my godson has this fate."

After sighing, Director Wang asked: "You've been dating like this? It's been a while, why is there still a salesperson?"

"No."

Li Xuewu smiled and explained: "I didn't agree at the time."

"Ah?"

Director Wang was dumbfounded, looking at Li Xuewu like he was a fool, and then asked: "Are you stupid?"

"Hahahaha."

Li Xuewu laughed foolishly twice and replied: "Don't really like the style of those people in the courtyard."

"What style?"

Director Wang glared at Li Xuewu and then said: "You're just young, don't have a steady mind. Are all the people in that courtyard like that?"

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "Indeed, through getting along, her mother and father have been very good to me."

"That's it. The more such families there are, the more they value children's education. You think everyone is playing wildly like you when you were little."

Director Wang said, then sighed: "Why else would they say you have good fate? Your father-in-law is the hardest person to get along with, and it should have been the hardest hurdle for you to pass. I didn't expect you to be the one they actively sought to pass the hurdle, hey."

Li Xuewu looked at his godmother and asked: "Mom, I'm your son. You wouldn't want to say that a good man has no good wife, and a lazy man marries a delicate one, right?"

"Hahahaha."

Director Wang laughed and patted Li Xuewu, saying: "Mom didn't say that."

Knowing Li Xuewu's recent situation, Director Wang asked again: "Your emotional life is stable, what else is difficult?"

"It's the third one."

Li Xuewu smiled and explained: "The third one is getting older, and it's not a thing to keep living at home, so I thought about splitting him out. Anyway, his household registration is no longer at home."

Director Wang laughed: "You, as the second brother, are really something, still thinking about your younger brother."

Joking is joking, Director Wang then said: "But you can't ask me for help. Our street has no place left. Most of those that can be split have been split. How did you get that house of yours? Don't you know in your heart?"

"Clear, clear."

Li Xuewu nodded: "It's not that I want to add trouble to you, I have an idea and want to ask you."

Director Wang smiled and said: "You say it, let me see if you can conjure up a place."

"Hahahaha, I'm not the Land God."

Li Xuewu explained: "We still have a piece of land in the east courtyard that no one is using. What I'm thinking is to let the third one build a house there."

Hearing Li Xuewu say there really was a place, Director Wang stood up, walked to the file cabinet, and found the planning map near Li Xuewu's house.

This map was drawn after a full-city search a few years after entering the city. Every street had its own corresponding planning map, which was convenient for street cadre work.

"The courtyard on your side was originally a four-entry courtyard, but because it's at the entrance of the alley, it was divided by functional units, one piece on the left and one piece on the right. I can't remember which is which."

This was true. There was nothing missing at the entrance of Li Xuewu's house.

The supply and marketing cooperative was right at the right turn out of the main courtyard gate. Now the recycling station's courtyard was the original warehouse of the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Found it."

Director Wang looked at that piece of land and said: "It really hasn't been divided out. This is strange."

"Nothing strange."

Li Xuewu smiled and pointed at the location of the east courtyard with his finger: "This was originally a horse pen, later changed into a toilet, and finally the toilet wasn't even used. It has been abandoned, and people in the courtyard don't even want to throw broken goods into it."

"Oh, oh."

Director Wang agreed, looked at the size of the east courtyard again, and said while looking: "You too, why did you find such a location for your brother? It's not very good."

After reading the drawing, she said: "Besides, although this is a horse pen and a toilet, it is still a piece of land. It won't work for your brother to use it alone. This is not the same thing as your west courtyard."

"I know."

Li Xuewu knew what was going on with the west courtyard his godmother mentioned. That west courtyard was bought by himself, not allocated.

Now there are three modes of housing in the city.

One is the local resident. Their ancestors were the residents here. No one can drive them out to arrange their own people.

Of course, Master Ding is an exception. Master Ding's background is still to be discussed. In view of Master Ding's performance, no one went to find trouble with him.

The second type is the workers who followed into the city after entering the city to restore economic production, whether from the whole country or from the countryside.

Their housing was collected through multiple channels and then distributed to them. It is considered a cooperation between the street and the factory.

Providing housing for factory workers, and the factory also provides some convenience to the street.

I won't talk about the convenience and benefits here.

The nature of these houses is like Li Xuewu's south-facing room; it is his, and it can be given to his descendants in the future.

The third type is housing where the owner cannot be determined, or where the owner can be determined, or housing without sovereignty through some channels, which must be rented to people who moved into the city later.

If your family has a house to rent, you can't rent it yourself; the housing management office will rent it for you. You can't control who lives there; you just go to the housing management office to collect the rent when the day comes.

The current rent is not expensive, about two yuan and four cents per room. The annual housing price is set by the relevant departments.

But it is said that it hasn't changed for many years. Li Xuewu knows that it was still two yuan and four cents in the seventies.

But there is one thing: the rent doesn't change, and the price of pork doesn't change either; it has always been seventy-six cents.

The west courtyard's housing has nothing to do with these three. This is public property. It is considered that the street cashed it out. Li Xuewu bought the land from the public, so no one dares to say Li Xuewu is a landlord in the west courtyard.

The east courtyard is different. The east courtyard is considered undistributed housing.

Although there is no house on it, there are four horse pens on the drawing, so it must be counted.

Li Xuewu alone cannot occupy the entire east courtyard, although no one wants the east courtyard.

"Mom, isn't Yan Fugui's family across from us? Yan Fugui's eldest son split out to live alone, and Yan Fugui drove his son out. I just thought about letting him be neighbors with my brother."

"Oh, oh, oh."

Director Wang nodded and said: "So you've already arranged it."

Li Xuewu accompanied her with a smile and said: "The third one doesn't want to leave my parents, and my parents don't want him to live far away, so I thought this was quite suitable. It's nothing more than spending more money to turn the east courtyard over."

As he spoke, Li Xuewu pointed at the drawing and said: "There is still earthwork left over when my west courtyard was renovated, just right for him to use."

"Fine, you really have the look of an older brother."

Director Wang had no opinion on this matter. That courtyard no one wanted, and it was empty anyway. Now that someone wants it, just split it out.

"Tomorrow, let your third brother and Yan's eldest take their household registration to handle the procedures."

"Fine, thank you, Mom."

"Alright, you go do your work."

Li Xuewu greeted Director Wang and went out.

Actually, there is nothing difficult. The land is in the hands of the street, just like young people in the village splitting from their parents to live alone, and the village has to approve the homestead. It's just this principle.

Li Xuewu didn't come to the meeting here alone; he also brought Old Xing. Li Xuewu was leaving now, so he had to leave Old Xing here.

"Old Xing, work hard. We won't be able to come over until later, Li Kezhang Shen."

"It's okay, Li Kezhang Li, I'll wait for you here."

Waving his hand, Li Xuewu drove the car home.

There was still someone waiting to go to work at home.

When he entered the courtyard gate, it was just six o'clock.

Seeing Li Xuewu's jeep coming, the main gate was opened.

Driving into the courtyard, he didn't turn off the engine. Yan Jiecheng still had to return to the rolling mill in a while, so it saved him from warming up the car.

He got out of the car and asked Yu Li: "Back? How is it? Is everything good at home?"

Seeing that Li Xuewu didn't seem to know about her affairs in the morning, Yu Li just asked casually, so she gave a simple reply.

"Very good, thank you for the things you gave. My dad was so happy."

"Hehe, as long as you like it."

Li Xuewu zipped up his leather jacket; it was already hot in the car just now.

"Where is Yan Jiecheng? Didn't drink too much, right?"

"No, didn't let him drink. The snow was too heavy today, I was afraid he wouldn't be able to handle driving."

Yu Li followed Li Xuewu to the south-facing room, explaining to Li Xuewu as she walked: "Stayed at home for a while, ate lunch, and we came back after three o'clock this afternoon."

Before they even entered the room, Yan Jiecheng came out.

"Li Kezhang, any arrangements?"

Li Xuewu waved his hand at Yu Li to signal her to go into the room, then pulled Yan Jiecheng to the west courtyard, saying as they walked: "Like this, you drive back to the rolling mill, report to Li Kezhang Han, she will tell you what to do, remember to bring my equipment from my office."

"Understood, Li Kezhang."

Understanding that there was an action tonight, Yan Jiecheng didn't talk nonsense, agreed, and ran toward the jeep.

Li Xuewu watched Yan Jiecheng drive the car away and closed the main gate before returning to the south-facing room.

It wasn't that Li Xuewu was lazy, but he was used to being cautious and careful, and didn't want to be discovered acting abnormally at the last moment.

Just as he was about to enter the south-facing room, he saw a bunch of fireworks rising in the distance, which was particularly eye-catching in the pitch-black night sky.

There was no one else, just that one bunch, which opened in the sky with a "swoosh," illuminating the night sky.

"Hehe, really burning money."

Wen Saner stood at the doorway, pushed the door curtain with his head, said a word to Li Xuewu, and then retracted his head.

But from behind the door curtain came Wen Saner's voice: "Hurry in, it's freezing, what's so good to look at."

Li Xuewu didn't think about looking at the fireworks in the sky.

He lifted the door curtain, entered the room, and said while closing the door: "It's not very cold on a snowy day. It'll be cold when the snow melts tomorrow."

He looked into the kitchen and saw that besides Yu Li and Xiaoyan, Wen Saner's wife was also busy.

Li Xuewu walked into the inner room and asked Wen Saner: "The work in the north warehouse is all finished, right?"

"Finished, there were many people, finished in half a day."

Wen Saner poured a cup of hot water for Li Xuewu and said: "Biaozi and the others helped clear the snow in the courtyard. The first grandfather even came to praise us twice in the evening."

"Fine, this work wasn't in vain."

Li Xuewu nodded, took off his shoes, and got on the kang.

Standing outside the door for just a while, the fur-lined leather shoes on his feet were a bit cold.

At this time, it really tested a person's physical function. It was not uncommon for people to freeze to death in winter.

He took the teacup and leaned against Seeing Sha Zhu, saying: "Why did you come back so early?"

Seeing Sha Zhu yawned lazily and said: "Nothing, just came back. There was no food in the small cafeteria today, and it happened to be snowing. I was afraid it wouldn't be easy to walk if it got late."

Seeing Sha Zhu's work was easy. He could leave early when there was no work. Because he often cooked for the small cafeteria, the leaders didn't care about him.

After chatting and joking for a while, just when Wen Saner's son was looking for his mother, Yu Li and the others brought dishes to the kang table.

Because it was Little New Year's Eve, Seeing Sha Zhu made two fish, one for each kang table. Yu Li stewed tofu and stir-fried shredded potatoes, and Xiaoyan cut a plate of braised goods, which made up four dishes.

Everyone, led by Old Man Biao who liked excitement, raised a glass, said auspicious words, and ate the Little New Year's meal in a lively manner.

Today, Li Xuecai didn't come over to eat. The food at home wasn't bad today, and Liu Yin also knew that the food here was good, so she didn't come to find Li Xuewu to go back to eat.

After eating, Li Xuewu drank some water and went to his home in the front courtyard.

As soon as he entered the door, he caught up with the family just clearing the table. The eldest sister-in-law was helping her mother. Seeing Li Xuewu enter the room, she also greeted Li Xuewu with a smile.

Li Xuewu smiled and asked about his eldest brother's school. Li Xuewu was quite happy; the school had started its winter break.

Teachers are good like this, with two holidays a year, winter break and summer break.

Li Xuecai was happy because it was a break. After the break, he could go out to play with Ji Yuxiu.

"Second Brother."

Li Xuecai greeted Li Xuewu and then said: "Ji Yuxiu invited us to go skating on Sunday. Are you going?"

"Skating?"

Li Xuewu was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "I'm so busy now that my feet are hitting the back of my head, where would I have time to skate?"

"Sunday is the 29th, are you still busy?"

As soon as Li Xuecai finished speaking, he was hit by his mother.

"You think your second brother is like you, knowing only how to play all day? He used to be fine, knowing how to help your dad at home during the break. How come you're like a fur rabbit as soon as you find a partner?"

"Mom, there has to be a time to relax, it's the 29th."

Li Xuecai really wanted to go out and play with Li Xuewu. He wasn't close to Li Xuewu before because he didn't dare to play what Li Xuewu played.

Now Li Xuecai was also an adult, thinking about going out to play with his second brother and seeing the world. Li Xue caught up last time and even made a fuss about leather shoes, and he wanted them too.

Li Xuewu patted Li Xuecai on the shoulder, pressed him into the chair, and sat opposite him.

"Tomorrow you go to the south-facing room to find Yu Li. You two go to the street to find Director Wang together. I've already arranged it. Remember to bring your household registration book."

"Tomorrow, you go to the back-row rooms to find Yu Li. The two of you go to the neighborhood office together to find Director Wang. I've already talked it over; remember to bring your household registration book."

Li Xuecai instantly knew what his second brother was talking about and asked with some delight, "Is the house approved?"

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "The land is approved, but the house won't be built until spring. If I let you go live in a horse pen without a roof right now, would you be willing to go?"

"Hehehe."

Li Xuecai chuckled twice and then happily went to find his household registration book.

At this time, everyone who went to university was like this; their household registration had to be separated, and their grain ration books and such were also separated.

Li Xuewen and his wife had an independent household registration book.

That is to say, under Li Shun's household registration book, there were only three relatives: the old lady, Liu Yin, and Li Xue. Even the grandmother had a separate household registration book.

Li Shun frowned as he looked at the third son, who was like a furry rabbit, but he didn't say anything.

Li Xuewu, however, started talking to his father about the matter of giving gifts during the holidays.

"Dad, it's almost New Year's. When are you going to visit the leadership at your hospital?"

Li Shun's furrowed brow didn't relax. He looked at Li Xuewu and said, "Visit them for what? Why are you always thinking about doing this kind of thing?"

Li Xuewu turned his head and asked Li Xuecai, "Third brother, when we sent the pork last time, did Dad's leadership accept it?"

Li Xuecai's head was buried in the cabinet searching for the household registration book. Being asked by Li Xuewu, he pulled his head back out.

"Only a fool wouldn't accept it."

Li Xuecai said to Li Xuewu, "Wherever Mom and I carried the meat, they all opened the door with a smile. It's just our dad who can't bring himself to do it."

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at Li Shun and said, "If they accept it, it represents an attitude. At the very least, it means they want to make friends with you."

"Where did you learn these crooked ways?"

Li Shun waved his hand at Li Xuewu and said, "Don't mention it again. Last time, someone was already talking about me behind my back."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Let them talk. They didn't talk about you to your face, did they? Besides, why don't they talk about you in front of the hospital leadership?"

Not caring about Li Shun's attitude, Li Xuewu said to Liu Yin, "Mom, go around to the homes of Dad's unit leadership again in the next few days. There are fish in the Bai Bai Xiyuan warehouse; send two to each family."

Li Shun glared at Li Xuewu, wanting to reprimand him, but he knew his son was grown up and it wasn't easy to talk to him anymore.

Liu Yin, however, understood the ways of the world. Hearing what Li Xuewu said, she nodded and said, "Last time we went, Dean Zhou said your dad has good medical skills and is a good person, and he also wanted to visit your dad more often."

"We're all colleagues; how could we not visit each other?"

Li Xuewu nodded at his mother and said, "If they come to visit, you should accept it too. Reciprocity is the rule. Human relationships are built this way. Every family has its ups and downs, and everyone has a day when they need someone else."

Seeing Liu Yin and his son settle the matter with one sentence after another, Li Shun helplessly acquiesced.

Li Shun also gradually understood that his son had grown up and understood things. He knew many things should be done, but he just couldn't bring himself to do them.

Last time Liu Yin took the third son to deliver pork, the hospital leadership's attitude toward him was different. Li Shun understood this, so he went along with the opinions of his son and daughter-in-law.

After staying at home for a while, Li Xuewu prepared to go to the back-row rooms to take a nap and wait for Yan Jiecheng to come call him in the evening.

Just as he left the house, he met a young woman with two large braids pushing a bicycle as she walked in.

Seeing Li Xuewu, the young woman nodded and smiled slightly, though the smile was a bit crooked.

"Hello."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile and stepped aside to head toward the back-row rooms.

Yan Jiefang, who was on duty in the gatehouse, saw Li Xuewu come out from the second gate and hurriedly withdrew his gaze from the young woman.

Just as he entered the back-row rooms, he saw Qin Huairu sitting on the kang chatting with several people. Seeing Li Xuewu return, she greeted him, "I've been waiting for you. I heard from Biaozi that you went home, so I've been waiting for you here."

"I went home to see the kids. What's up, Qin Jie?"

Qin Huairu said with a smile, "It's about the guesthouse. I went to your office to find you this afternoon, but there was no one there. Director Xu called you, but couldn't get through, so he asked me to come back and discuss the guesthouse reopening on Friday with you."

"Not bad. Master Dou is quite efficient over there; is it about to be finished?"

Li Xuewu was preparing to sleep, so he took off his shoes and got on the kang.

Qin Huairu nodded and said, "It'll be finished today. The beds, cabinets, and such in the rooms are all set, and even the curtains are installed. It's just waiting for the final reopening."

"Just do what needs to be done. The reopening is right before the New Year. Does Vice Factory Director Li have any requirements over there?"

Qin Huairu said uncertainly, "I haven't heard anything. He just said to get it ready and seems to want to take a look first."

"Let Xu Ning handle the small canteen; he understands this. The variety of goods in the Workers' Service Department should be richer, and the hygiene of the guesthouse must be well-maintained, especially in the rooms. If you do this well, the first step of reopening will be successful."

"And the fourth floor...?"

Li Xuewu knew what Qin Huairu meant and nodded, "Let Xu Ning go find Vice Factory Director Li and have him arrange it, but go through the Finance Section for the accounts as usual. Don't be sloppy about this."

"Understood."

Li Xuewu and Qin Huairu were talking about work, and no one else in the room spoke. Seeing them start to discuss work, Wen San'er asked his wife to take the child back to the back courtyard.

While they were talking, Banggeng ran in and told Qin Huairu that the teacher had arrived.

Qin Huairu greeted Li Xuewu and was about to head home, but Seeing Sha Zhu, who had been playing dead on the kang, suddenly perked up.

"Banggeng, which teacher is here?"

Banggeng shook his chubby face and said, "Teacher Ran."

Seeing Sha Zhu sat up from the kang with a start and said to Qin Huairu with a smile, "Qin Jie, I should head back too. Let's go together."

Qin Huairu knew Seeing Sha Zhu's intentions; it was nothing more than the fact that he hadn't succeeded in getting the Third Master to introduce Teacher Ran last time, and he wanted to try again this time.

"It's only two steps away, do you need me to wait for you?"

As she spoke, she led Banggeng out the door.

Seeing Sha Zhu hurriedly got off the bed, put on his shoes, took his coat off the wall, and chased after them while putting it on, saying, "Qin Jie, hey, wait for me."

Li Xuewu watched Seeing Sha Zhu's antics with a smile and lay back. He needed to rest a bit more now; he would be busy later.

Seeing Wen San'er's family of three go to the back courtyard and Seeing Lao Biaozi and the others go to the bathhouse across the way, Yu Li was the only one left in the room with Li Xuewu. She picked up a stool and sat down on the edge of the kang next to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu saw Yu Li's pouting expression and knew she had something to say.

"What's wrong?"

Yu Li glanced at Li Xuewu, then lowered her head and told him what had happened that morning.

Li Xuewu found it somewhat amusing as he listened to Yu Li's account. They say it's hard for even an honest official to settle family disputes, and Li Xuewu didn't dare to meddle in their family affairs.

"The Third Master has been like this for more than a day or two. Is it worth getting this angry?"

Li Xuewu lay on the kang looking at the dejected Yu Li and said with a smile, "The more you stand up to him, the more it shows you have no ability, and the more he'll bully you."

"But he can't be like that. That's just blatant robbery."

"Hehehe."

Li Xuewu patted the kang mat with his hand and said, "If it were someone else, I could help you vent this anger, but it's your father-in-law and mother-in-law. You know what's going on without me saying it."

"I know."

Yu Li nodded and said, "I didn't think about venting anger or anything; I just felt uncomfortable inside and wanted to talk to you about it."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Alright, talking to me is fine. Then I'll tell you something happy."

Yu Li raised her head upon hearing Li Xuewu's words.

"What happy thing?"

"Hehehe."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "About the house."

"The house!... Is it approved?"

Yu Li first exclaimed in surprise, then realized something and lowered her voice, but still asked nervously.

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Tomorrow, our third brother will come find you. The two of you take your household registration book and go to the neighborhood office to find Director Wang. I've already talked it over for you."

"Ying~"

Yu Li stood by the kang and covered her mouth to keep from crying out loud. She bit her lip hard, but tears still streamed down uncontrollably.

Li Xuewu saw Yu Li crying and it wasn't convenient to wipe them for her, so he took a handkerchief out of his pocket and tossed it to her.

Yu Li stood on the ground for a good while before she stabilized her emotions.

She had a house. Yes, she had a home.

The people on this land value houses and land beyond the imagination of foreigners. Almost everyone must have a fixed place to live before they call it a home.

"Xuewu~"

Yu Li called out affectionately, but Li Xuewu didn't dare to respond affectionately. Instead, he teased with a smile, "You cry when you're angry, and you cry when you're happy. Women really are made of water."

"Hmph! ~"

Yu Li playfully patted Li Xuewu's lower leg, then sat on the stool and asked, "Did it cost money?"

Li Xuewu was stunned for a moment, then realized Yu Li was asking if he had spent money to get someone to secure this land.

"No, none."

Li Xuewu felt his heels tingling from Yu Li's playful touch, so he crossed his legs and moved to the side.

"Director Wang has some connections with our family. When you go, you don't need to worry about anything. Just say you're the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yan family and that I told you to go."

"Thank you, Xuewu."

Yu Li blinked at Li Xuewu and said, "If it weren't for you, I don't know when I would have ever gotten my house."

That was the truth. Nowadays, let alone a house, even having enough to eat requires having a job.

But getting a job is a problem. Although it hasn't reached the difficulty of the later years, ever since 1962, job allocation has been a troublesome issue.

Don't look at Li Xuewu; Li Xuewu's situation is different.

The ones who have difficulty with job allocation are those without education. Those with education are still in short supply.

Just as mentioned before, if you have a middle school diploma, you can manage if you put in some effort; it's only in a few years that it won't work.

But a high school diploma is different; people will actively invite you to be a cadre.

So, a high school graduate who transferred like Li Xuewu is a hot commodity. Although he is "sick," it doesn't hinder him from working, right?

So when Director Liu took Li Xuewu to find Factory Director Yang, his cadre status was decided on the spot.

People like Yu Li and Yan Jiecheng, because they are already married, do not fall under the policy of "reducing the urban population," so they won't be going to the vast countryside in the future.

But staying in the city only means engaging in the most basic production work. So many people have nowhere to live; it's basically impossible for the neighborhood office to allocate houses.

There aren't many opportunities in the factory either, so Yu Li was already unable to control her emotions after getting the confirmation.

"Don't mention this; it's too formal."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "You only have this one wish; how could I not fulfill it for you?"

Yu Li playfully patted Li Xuewu again. Thinking of the scene when she returned to her parents' home today, Yu Li still couldn't help but say thank you to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu didn't pay much attention to it. To him, it was nothing—just a matter of a single sentence. Besides, his third brother was involved in it too.

Yu Li's ears turned slightly red as she said, "Since I got married this year, I haven't dared to go home much because I was afraid my parents would worry about me."

Speaking of this, Yu Li's emotions fluctuated, and tears fell naturally.

"Every time I go back to my parents' home, we end up arguing. Whatever I bring, my parents-in-law have to deliberate over and over, cutting it down again and again. They also watch me and guard against me, afraid I'll bring things home."

Li Xuewu understood Yu Li. This is the most contradictory part of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, and it's the first thing in the saying that "poor couples have a hundred sorrows."

If Yan Jiecheng had money, he wouldn't have let Yu Li be unable to hold her head high in front of her family.

"Before we split the household, I took the pork you gave me. I said my mother-in-law got a piece, and I brought a piece home so my family could taste the meat. But instead, wuwuwu..."

Li Xuewu didn't know much about the situation inside; this was something from when he had just returned.

"Set your mind at ease; don't think about these things anymore."

Li Xuewu's consolation helped Yu Li stabilize her emotions. She said, "The two fish you gave last time were the same. My mother-in-law brought Yan Jiefang to snatch them, and Yan Jiecheng didn't dare to say a word. He didn't even dare to come home. It made me so angry."

"I thought I wouldn't bother with their family, but this happened again."

Seeing Li Xuewu frowning along with her, Yu Li knew that Li Xuewu would just listen and wouldn't actually interfere.

She wiped her tears and said, "I had a huge fight with him this morning, and I lost all my face. That's the only way I managed to keep the things. Do you know how surprised my parents were when they saw these things?"

Yu Li looked at Li Xuewu and said, "This surprise is the greatest irony to me. It's like asking why my father-in-law's family is suddenly being so polite and suddenly being so generous."

Li Xuewu advised, "Every family has its own difficulties. Only when you live your own life well does it count."

"Yes."

Yu Li nodded and said, "Every time I go home, my sister-in-law makes snide remarks, but this was the only time she couldn't say anything."

Thinking of what happened when she went to her parents' home today, Yu Li's mood improved.

"Seeing us drive back, and hearing that we split the household to live on our own, my sister-in-law was green with envy, especially when she saw... saw the shoes you bought me."

Speaking of this, Yu Li said with a slightly red face, "Knowing that he drives for a cadre, and knowing that I got a cotton-padded jacket and leather shoes..."

Li Xuewu saw that Yu Li didn't finish the rest of her sentence, but he understood.

After suffering so many grievances, suddenly being able to hold one's head high—anyone would have this kind of emotion.

Not to mention a woman who is even more sensitive.

What do women seek when they are young? Isn't it just wanting some face in front of others?

And the face when returning to one's parents' home is what one wears, what one holds, and what one says.

Men look for women, women look for men—isn't it just about these little things?

Over at the back-row rooms, Yu Li was talking about a woman's pursuits, while Seeing Sha Zhu, who had left the house, was off to pursue a woman.

Seeing Sha Zhu braved the cold wind, put on his cotton-padded jacket, and took two quick steps to catch up with Qin Huairu.

"Qin Jie, you're not being very fair, are you? Why didn't you wait for me?"