Chapter 323: Leave Your Name, General!

"Come, let's see the little sister."

Wang Wang Shuhua took the hands of her grandson and grandson-in-law to see Li Shu.

Zheng Zheng Xicai's wife sat beside Li Shu, and seeing her son reach out to touch Li Shu, she quickly caught his hand.

"You little mud monkey, look at your hands, they're ice-cold and covered in mud!"

Li Shu was not shy; she stared with her big eyes at the two little beans before her, found them uninteresting, and turned her big eyes toward Wang Wang Shuhua.

Li Xue sat at the other end with Zheng Zheng Shusen and the others, smoking and chatting about their recent situations.

Zheng Zheng Xicai smiled and glanced at Li Xue, asking as if casually: "I heard from my mother that you were promoted to deputy division chief before the New Year?"

Hearing this, Li Xue's eyes narrowed, then he smiled and nodded: "It's a concurrent position, nothing to take seriously."

"Hahaha, that's still a deputy division-level rank."

Zheng Zheng Xicai took a puff of his cigarette and asked with a smile: "You're only twenty this year, right?"

Li Xue smiled, neither nodding nor denying, and took the apple Zheng Chen Xiaoyan handed him, placing it on the coffee table without eating it.

Li Xue felt something was off about this question, but since he was at his godmother's house, he just smiled and said nothing.

Zheng Zheng Xicai's wife, who was teasing Li Shu on the other side, heard the conversation and paused, then looked toward Li Xue's side.

She finally understood why her mother-in-law and father-in-law had come out to greet them; this was a scene she hadn't seen in many years.

Earlier, when she had gone out with her husband, sister, and brother-in-law to follow her father-in-law, she had been wondering who this young master was.

Before Zheng Zheng Xicai could continue, Zheng Chen Xiaoyan glared at her brother from the side, then signaled him to look at their father.

Zheng Zheng Xicai finally noticed his father's expression and awkwardly swallowed his words.

"Xue, eat an apple, your sister brought it back from Jinmen."

Zheng Zheng Shusen offered, then added: "The rabbit you sent last time, I brought it to your sister."

"That's right."

Zheng Chen Xiaoyan nodded with a smile: "The rabbit my dad brought last time was delicious; our little Jun still misses it."

Li Xue smiled and said: "I just finished eating at home, there's no room in my stomach. If Chen Xiaoyan sister wants more rabbit, I'll go up the mountain again in a few days."

Actually, there were rabbits stored at home, brought by Yin Yin Mancang every time he came, but Li Xue didn't want to give them away like that.

If Zheng Zheng Shusen and his godmother wanted to eat, Li Xue could go home and get them right now.

But Zheng Zheng Xicai and Zheng Chen Xiaoyan didn't have that privilege.

Because that wasn't how relationships were handled.

Wang Wang Shuhua saw that Li Shu didn't want to sit anymore, so she carried her around the room, and hearing Li Xue talk about going into the mountains, she said: "Eat what? Your younger brother going into the mountains is dangerous."

She glared at her daughter while speaking, then said to Li Xue: "Your work is so busy, don't go looking for trouble."

After scolding Li Xue, she went back to teasing Li Shu.

Li Xue smiled and winked at the embarrassed Zheng Chen Xiaoyan, who returned a mischievous, stolen smile.

"Chen Xiaoyan sister, does the radio factory sell parts?"

Zheng Chen Xiaoyan looked at Li Xue and asked: "Why do you ask?"

"Well, a childhood friend works at a recycling shop and likes to tinker with radios; he wants to repair old ones and sell them."

Li Xue didn't say who it was for, just mentioned a purpose.

At this time, the management of radio equipment was very strict; it was a regulated material, and sales, procurement, and use all required permits.

Zheng Chen Xiaoyan looked at her mother, then smiled and said: "Then have him bring the unit's introduction letter and authorization letter to the factory to handle the procurement."

Li Xue nodded with a smile and didn't say anything more, as Zheng Chen Xiaoyan had already said everything that needed to be said.

This wasn't Zheng Chen Xiaoyan shirking responsibility, but rather that this wasn't her department; she meant for Li Xue to take the person directly to the radio factory and then find her.

Some say this country has a tradition of hereditary succession, but that's not necessarily true.

Cadres' children aren't necessarily cadres; it's just a matter of the environment they grow up in.

Children of crosstalk performers find it easier to learn the craft, children of dancers can usually perform a bit of ballet, and children from the Northeast can always spout a few lines of Errenzhuan.

So in the Zheng family, both children had very sensitive instincts, which had a lot to do with their family environment.

Li Xue didn't stay long at his godmother's house; if Zheng Zheng Xicai and the others hadn't been home, Li Xue might have stayed for a meal.

But today wasn't appropriate, so despite his godmother's insistence, he wrapped Li Shu up again.

His godmother took a handkerchief, wrapped a ten-yuan bill in it, and tucked it into Li Shu's swaddling clothes.

"Mom, no need to give her money."

"Go on, it's not for you, it's for the child."

Not letting Li Xue refuse, Wang Wang Shuhua tucked the little handkerchief into Li Shu's tiny hand.

"This is the 'waist-pressing money' from Grandma for my eldest granddaughter."

This was a tradition; during the New Year, if a relative brought a child to visit, they had to give some 'waist-pressing money' to the child they were meeting for the first time.

The amount didn't matter; it was just the gesture.

Seeing Wang Wang Shuhua give the money, Zheng Zheng Xicai's wife and Zheng Chen Xiaoyan each took out five yuan and tucked it in, and Li Xue couldn't stop them.

With laughter and chatter, Li Xue picked up Li Shu and walked out, accompanied by his godmother.

"Xue, keep your mind on the neighborhood affairs. The peace and stability we've worked so hard to create must not be allowed to resurface with those troublesome matters."

Wang Wang Shuhua adjusted the corner of the blanket over Li Shu's head and said to Li Xue: "The thing I'm most proud of this year is you. Regardless of whether you're a division chief or a section chief, you have a strong force under your command. I see the momentum of the patrol guards now is different. Well done; those three years in the South weren't in vain."

Li Xue didn't boast in front of his godmother, just bounced Li Shu and laughed: "Mom, whether I'm doing well or not, whether I'm a chief or not, aren't I still your son? You work in the neighborhood office, how could I not support your work?"

Wang Wang Shuhua nodded: "Good, I like hearing that."

After scolding Li Xue, she added: "Especially now that you've gone to the branch bureau, you need to be even more attentive. Be cautious in your words and actions, do more and talk less."

Wang Wang Shuhua cared a lot about Li Xue; this godson wasn't recognized in vain. He had already started to leverage their connection.

Not to mention holidays, even on weekends, Li Xue visited more often than her own children.

The gifts he brought weren't necessarily expensive, but Zheng Zheng Shusen and his godmother didn't care about the food; they valued Li Xue's character.

Furthermore, with Li Xue's current status, Wang Wang Shuhua could at least get a word in at the branch bureau.

This was also why Zheng Zheng Shusen had given his eldest son a cold look earlier when Zheng Zheng Xicai had been rude to Li Xue.

"The workers in your factory are mostly settled in our district; as a cadre in the steel mill, you have to manage them. Conversely, many residents in our neighborhood are workers from various factories; as a cadre in the branch bureau, you have to manage them too."

After explaining the conflicts within the neighborhood, Wang Wang Shuhua continued: "You know the situation best. Many graduates are waiting for placement, but the units that can accept them are basically full, and there are no enterprises in the neighborhood."

"Although we've temporarily curbed the chaos in the neighborhood after this rectification, I'm worried about whether we can control it in the future."

Li Xue knew the situation Wang Wang Shuhua was talking about; they had discussed it during casual chats at the branch bureau, and the people involved in the recent case were of this nature.

Li Xue nodded and said: "We've discussed this issue at the security department, but we don't manage recruitment or employment, so we don't have many solutions."

"Furthermore, the branch bureau's jurisdiction is vast, the population is large, and the police force is small. The police stations are currently operating at full capacity, but committing a crime takes ten minutes, while investigating it can take ten days or half a month."

Wang Wang Shuhua nodded in understanding, but still said: "This is when we need to leverage the functions of the patrol guards. Since you're now at the branch bureau, you should be more capable of handling this issue."

Li Xue thought for a moment and said: "I think it's better to have local monitoring, investigation by the police stations, and coordinated strikes by security forces like the steel mill's."

After speaking, fearing Wang Wang Shuhua wouldn't understand, he explained to his godmother: "There are thieves for a thousand days, but no one can guard against thieves for a thousand days. No matter how many people we have, we can't solve all these problems. We need coordinated action from the relevant parties."

Wang Wang Shuhua also frowned, feeling a bit lost regarding the current neighborhood security management.

Li Xue explained: "The steel mill can't mobilize that many people to the neighborhood, and the police stations can't either, so the neighborhood needs to organize its own manpower. Every courtyard has elderly people; we can pick a few security guards to watch the courtyards during the day."

"The stations can send a few case specialists to specifically investigate the idle people currently causing trouble. We can set up a few monitoring posts in the neighborhood."

Li Xue thought for a moment and continued: "I'll send a patrol car over at night. Our mobile force at night is strong, and we can react in time as long as there's a signal. It also serves as a deterrent, doesn't it?"

"Just like the one in your courtyard?"

Director Wang knew about the gatehouse Li Xue had set up in his courtyard, which was manned day and night, and agreed it was a good method.

Li Xue nodded and said: "The neighborhood belongs to everyone, and safety should also rely on everyone, so we need you to exert your influence and organize retired and physically fit elderly people to come out and contribute their remaining energy."

Director Wang nodded: "I'll organize a study session after work starts in the New Year. I think this method is feasible, especially the gatehouse system in your courtyard."

Li Xue added: "You have a 'strong force' under your command now. Those street loafers who have nothing better to do are the best patrolmen."

Director Wang shook her head: "We're forcing them to work now so they can pay back their debts, so they have some enthusiasm, but if we ask them to contribute voluntarily, that's hard to say."

"Easy!"

Li Xue leaned toward Director Wang and said: "It's impossible to recruit all of them into the neighborhood, but it shouldn't be a problem to recruit three or five from them every year."

"Then contact the surrounding factories. They don't need many, just five or eight from each factory. That adds up to quite a lot over a year."

Director Wang became interested when she heard Li Xue say this and said with a smile: "Tell me more."

Li Xue laughed: "You already know, what do I need to say? You're better at dangling a carrot in front of a donkey than I am."

"How can you talk to your mother like that!"

Director Wang laughed and hit Li Xue, then straightened her expression and said: "The industrial and commercial inspection before the New Year has been clarified. It was a resident who lost something and wasn't satisfied with the compensation for the stolen goods, so they reported you when they saw you handling those materials."

Looking at Li Xue's expression, Director Wang warned: "You must not retaliate. Mass work is like this. You were wronged this time, but you also received recognition and approval from above, so I won't tell you who reported you. Just treat it as a normal inspection."

Li Xue rolled his eyes and said with a smile: "Mom, do I look like a petty person? I didn't take it to heart anyway. With you as my backing, who am I afraid of!"

Seeing Li Xue's good attitude and his playful behavior, Director Wang thought he had let the matter go and said with a smile: "Stop talking nonsense!"

She touched Li Shu's little face and said with a smile: "Alright, hurry home, don't let the child catch a cold."

After giving the instruction, she shooed Li Xue home.

Watching Li Xue walk away, Wang Wang Shuhua closed the gate and returned to the inner room.

In the room, Zheng Zheng Shusen was lecturing Zheng Zheng Xicai with a stern face, while Zheng Zheng Xicai kept his head down, smoking and not daring to retort, and the others sat to the side, silent as cicadas in winter.

"I'll say one last thing: you can come back if you want, but don't bring that work-unit attitude into this house. If you're not used to it, don't come back!"

Zheng Zheng Shusen finished speaking and took the book beside him back to the study.

Wang Wang Shuhua glared at her eldest son and said: "Wasted a whole year, not a bit of progress."

Zheng Zheng Xicai's wife quickly stood up, took her mother-in-law's hand, and said: "Zheng Xicai didn't mean it; he knows he was wrong. Please don't lecture him anymore."

Seeing her eldest son keeping his head down and not speaking, Wang Wang Shuhua glared and said: "Your father is doing this for your own good. Stop messing around with Li Xue in the future."

Zheng Zheng Xicai didn't dare talk back to his father or his mother, but he still dared to complain.

"It wasn't you who mentioned it last night; I just asked, I didn't mean anything else."

"You still think you're right?"

Wang Wang Shuhua said with a straight face: "Li Xue treats your father and me like family, but you treat this house like a work unit? Asking about rank and age so bluntly, what are you trying to do? An investigation?"

"Mom, he didn't mean that."

Zheng Zheng Xicai's wife sat beside her mother-in-law, glared at Zheng Zheng Xicai, and spoke up for him.

"Mom, what is the relationship with Li Xue? Tell us so we can get along better in the future and avoid him saying foolish things again."

Wang Wang Shuhua looked at her daughter-in-law, knowing she was giving her son a way out.

But there's an old saying: "Harmony in the family leads to prosperity." Wang Wang Shuhua didn't want to hear complaints from her son and daughter-in-law during the New Year.

"Li Xue is the son of the doctor who treated your sister. He was mischievous when he was young, and I disciplined him a lot. After he returned from the army, we recognized each other as god-relatives. This child is very righteous."

"Exactly!"

Zheng Chen Xiaoyan chimed in when she heard her mother's words: "He's very particular about his character. He even saved me once when he was fourteen or fifteen, just a kid, leading a group of boys with iron chains, beating that man until he crawled on the ground."

When it came to Li Xue, Zheng Chen Xiaoyan always remembered his kindness and was dissatisfied with her brother's words today.

Zheng Zheng Xicai's wife was surprised: "Didn't you say last night that he..."

Wang Wang Shuhua looked at Zheng Zheng Xicai and said: "Li Xue is now the deputy division chief in charge of security at the branch bureau and the section chief of the security department at the steel mill. He has people and power. You don't think about building a good relationship, but instead, you talk nonsense."

Zheng Zheng Xicai held the cigarette in his hand and said indignantly: "Isn't it all because of the care from you and Dad? If he didn't have this idea, why would he be sucking up to our family?"

Hearing his mother and elder speak highly of an outsider and belittle him, Zheng Zheng Xicai felt full of grievances and dissatisfaction.

"You ungrateful wretch!"

Wang Wang Shuhua said angrily: "Your father and I don't even take care of you, how could we take care of him?"

After speaking, she let go of her daughter-in-law's hand, stood up, and said: "Your father is right. If you want to come back, behave yourself; if you don't want to stay, go home."

Zheng Zheng Xicai's wife quickly stood up and held her mother-in-law's hand, glared at Zheng Zheng Xicai, and advised: "Stop saying angry things; it's the New Year, are you trying to anger Mom?"

She also advised her mother-in-law: "Mom, don't be angry with him; he has that stubborn donkey temper, and he's not well-liked at work either."

Wang Wang Shuhua looked at her aggrieved eldest son and said: "Don't blame your father and me for being strict with you. This isn't a time when you can grow just by relying on connections. If your virtue doesn't match your position, disaster will surely follow."

"Then can he grow? Can he rely on your connections? He's not even as old as I am!"

Hearing his mother say this, Zheng Zheng Xicai felt aggrieved. Which parents or elders don't take care of their own children?

Zheng Zheng Xicai was twenty-eight this year and still a section chief at the Urban Construction Bureau. When he came home for the New Year, he felt disdain when his mother mentioned Li Xue's story of turning over a new leaf.

Seeing his father's evaluation of Li Xue and his mother's pride in him, Zheng Zheng Xicai felt uncomfortable.

Why help an outsider instead of their own son?

Wang Wang Shuhua understood her son best; she mentioned Li Xue to motivate him, but it had the opposite effect.

"That you can say such things means you haven't grown up yet and still need training!"

Looking at her eldest son's unconvinced expression, Wang Wang Shuhua explained: "Li Xue reached where he is today entirely through his own ability. Your father and I have never spoken for him or done anything for him. Moreover, as far as I know, he has never asked others to run errands for his promotion or position."

"But go ask around on the street; anyone with ears and a mouth will say Li Xue is a somebody."

Zheng Chen Xiaoyan also knew that her brother's temper today wasn't directed at Li Xue, but rather at the long-term lack of concern from their parents regarding his progress.

This year happened to be his chance to advance, and he had mentioned it to his father when he returned for New Year's Eve.

His father had first asked about his performance and achievements at work, and finally encouraged him to report his work to his leaders himself, but forbade him from mentioning his father's name or status.

Zheng Zheng Xicai felt that since his father affirmed his work this year, why couldn't he help him?

Zheng Chen Xiaoyan remembered her father saying: "If your work has merit and you advance, it's as it should be, and my help is redundant. If you don't advance this time, it means your work isn't good enough, or someone else is doing better, and my help would be even more redundant. What you need to do is correct yourself and strive to do better."

Although Zheng Zheng Xicai didn't refute his father at the time, his unwillingness was written all over his face until he met Li Xue today.

"Brother, compared to you, I see it more clearly."

Zheng Chen Xiaoyan sat beside Zheng Zheng Xicai and said to her brother: "Neither Zhutong nor I are cut out to be cadres, so I don't force him to advance, and we're living quite well now."

"You have ambition, which is a good thing, but if you're obsessed with advancement, what was your original intention for becoming a cadre?"

"I don't believe my brother is a power-hungry person; I think my brother is still a good man with ideals and political aspirations."

Seeing her son lower his head under his sister's persuasion, Wang Wang Shuhua walked to her son's side and said softly: "Fame is won on horseback; a true hero is a real man. I believe my son is no less foolish than others, and I believe my son has the capacity to carry a boat in his belly. Why then be jealous of Li Xue, who started from a lower point than you?"

Stroking her son's hair, she taught him earnestly: "Your father and I have always been worried about you."

Zheng Zheng Xicai's son saw his grandfather get angry and his grandmother scold his father, so he hid behind his mother.

Zheng Zheng Xicai's wife pulled her son over, glared at Zheng Zheng Xicai, and said: "Look at you, your son is already running around, and you still need Mom to reason with you and coax you. Aren't you ashamed?"

"If you are this unable to withstand the wind and waves, or lack the capacity to tolerate others, and you want to be an official, I don't want to be an official's wife. I don't want to cry 'regret teaching my husband to seek a marquisate' while taking care of my son and coaxing you."

Zheng Zheng Xicai looked at his mother and sister, then at his wife and son, and said shamefully: "I was wrong, I'll reflect, I'll go make an inspection with Dad."

Just as Zheng Zheng Xicai stood up to find Zheng Zheng Shusen in the study, the study door opened.

"Rather than listening to your inspection or self-criticism, I'd rather hear your heartfelt words of concern for your parents, wife, and children. Rather than watching you rise step by step at work, I'd rather see your progress in thought."

It turned out Zheng Zheng Shusen had been standing at the study door listening to the conversation in the living room. Walking out now was giving his son a way out.

Which parents don't love their children? Compared to Li Xue, even though they complained that their own children weren't as good as their godson, Zheng Zheng Shusen and his wife certainly hoped their children would be better than Li Xue.

But hoping for their son's progress and success didn't mean they would allow him to advance this way, nor would they allow him to develop the bad habit of jealousy.

"Dad, I was wrong."

Zheng Zheng Xicai faced his father and properly made his self-criticism.

Zheng Zheng Shusen nodded with satisfaction, abandoning his previous attitude, patted his son's shoulder, and walked back to the sofa to sit down.

"You're twenty-eight this year, a mature adult, but you need to be mature not just physically, but also in thought."

He waved his hand to signal his son to sit, then continued: "Only when a person is mature in thought can they remain invincible, make progress, walk steadily, and stand firm."

Wang Wang Shuhua, along with her daughter-in-law, daughter, and son-in-law, sat back on the sofa, took her grandson, and said to her eldest son: "Your father and I have always been worried about you."

Zheng Zheng Xicai stood up guiltily and said: "I was wrong, Mom, for making you worry."

Wang Wang Shuhua waved her hand to let her son sit, then said: "Some people are no longer young, but they may not have strong willpower. Their surface composure is just a disguise, and when problems arise, they easily lose their composure."

Zheng Zheng Xicai knew his mother was pointing at him, and he reflected on his own shortcomings.

"Mature thought leads to independent thought, which leads to mature political thought."

Zheng Zheng Shusen let his son light his cigarette and began his earnest teaching.

"People with independent thought don't pin their hopes on others. Let me tell you about Li Xue, whom you disdain."

He waved his hand to stop his son from arguing and said: "Li Xue recognizing your mother and me as god-relatives indeed has the intention of building a connection. You weren't wrong about that, but he has never relied on us to make any decisions for him."

Wang Wang Shuhua sat to the side and recounted how Li Xue had established the scrap recycling station with his childhood friends, and explained the help she and Zheng Zheng Shusen had provided.

Zheng Zheng Shusen pointed at his eldest son and said: "Li Xue is an extremely opinionated person. Don't look at him as only twenty years old; this child would never do anything that relies on others, and he certainly wouldn't be passive."

"That's why you see him as very confident and composed now. He's not afraid of you looking down on him, he's very confident in dealing with you, and very confident in dealing with your mother and me as god-relatives."

"Because he can maintain clarity and independence, and dares to make choices within our family's network—he doesn't hesitate to associate, and he doesn't panic when he cuts ties."

Looking at his thoughtful eldest son, Zheng Zheng Shusen asked: "Do you have this confidence to handle a network of relationships?"

Zheng Zheng Xicai thought for a moment and asked his father: "Dad, I admit I'm not as good as Li Xue in this regard, but as far as I know, he was just a good-for-nothing street hooligan. How did he grow to be as mature as you say? Can the melting pot of the army really change a person that much?"

"That you can think of these things shows you're already making progress. 'When you see a wise person, think of becoming his equal; when you see someone not so wise, reflect on your own self.'"

Zheng Zheng Shusen wasn't just educating his son; he was also interpreting Li Xue, who had always been a curiosity to his children, for his daughter and son-in-law.

"Your mother says he's a prodigal son who has returned, but I don't believe the environment can change a person that much. He must have had some special experiences or a process of diligent learning."

Wang Wang Shuhua nodded: "A person's change can't be summarized in a few words. Looking at Li Xue's attitude toward dealing with people, I'm reminded of a sentence from Yang Jiang: 'The ways of the world and human feelings can be read as a book or watched as a play.'"

Zheng Zheng Shusen raised his head and said: "This is what I told you earlier: know how to protect yourself and don't easily give your heart, but this sentence has a deeper meaning."

He flicked the ash into the ashtray on the coffee table and continued: "When a person is in trouble, they can best see the coldness of human feelings. This is why Li Xue is so close to your mother."

"But look, has Li Xue ever truly crossed that line, treating us unconditionally as his parents? Does he ever ask for this or that from us as casually as you do?"

Wang Wang Shuhua felt this most deeply in her interactions with Li Xue. In the process of getting along, her godson always maintained a reasonable distance.

He was never overly intimate, nor was he deliberately distant.

It was that natural feeling, which was why Wang Wang Shuhua liked this godson more than any of the Li family children.

"In this world, the hardest thing to see through is the human heart. Young people nowadays, as long as they can talk to each other, will invest all their emotions."

"But in the end, they find that those who seem good to you on the surface are just pretending. When you lose your value, they show their true colors."

Wang Wang Shuhua lectured her children: "Because Li Xue sees clearly that human feelings are as thin as paper, he doesn't easily give his heart to others, but associates with those who are worth associating with. That's why he has so many connections. 'Those who follow the Dao have many helpers; those who lose it have few'—that's the principle."

Zheng Zheng Shusen pointed at his children and said: "This is the third point I want to make, and it's also the quality I've always admired most in Li Xue: clear goals and strong execution."

He waved his hand to stop his son from lighting his cigarette.

"You only see his progress—deputy division chief at the branch bureau, and soon to be promoted to deputy division chief at the steel mill. What a glorious sight! To me, he's a stunningly talented character."

"But if you review the work and preparations he's done, you'll find how steadily and ruthlessly he's taken every step."

Thinking of Li Xue's path of progress, even Zheng Zheng Shusen shook his head in admiration: "It's as if someone paved the way for him; everything proceeded exactly according to his design. What terrifying political control and foresight this is."

"I want you to become such people too—people with independent thought and extraordinary foresight. Don't be confined to the sky your mother and I have created for you."

"If you want to achieve something—whether it's progress at work or satisfaction in life—plan ahead. Only when your goals are clear enough can you maintain higher self-discipline and not waste time on meaningless things like self-pity or jealousy."

Finally, Zheng Zheng Shusen concluded: "I like Li Xue's quality of always being full of passion for his goals, having excellent decision-making ability, and strong execution."

"If one day you can do the same, there's no need for you to say anything; your mother and I will do what we should do for you."

"Instead of doing what you asked—carrying you as you run, only to watch you fall harder and never recover because of our help."

Zheng Zheng Xicai finally understood his parents' painstaking efforts and nodded earnestly: "I feel ashamed of my performance today. Just as you and Mom said, 'When you see a wise person, think of becoming his equal.' I will reflect on myself and strive to improve."

Zheng Zheng Shusen nodded: "Tomorrow, bring some gifts and visit Li Xue's house. He'll definitely be waiting for you, and he'll definitely keep you for a meal."

Zheng Zheng Xicai wouldn't doubt his father's words, but he was still amazed and terrified by the wise-as-a-demon Li Xue.

Wang Wang Shuhua touched her grandson's little head and said to her children: "Chen Xiaoyan, you go too. Take the children. Li Xue bringing the child today is an attitude, and you should treat Li Xue as family."

This is how political families educate their children, and it's why political families produce more political talent.

No wonder the old saying goes: "Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the son of a mouse digs holes."

Cadres' children easily become cadres, and workers' children easily...

Hmm?!

Li Xue was just entering the outer courtyard with Li Shu in his arms when he saw Liu Liu Guangtian, the son of a worker, leap out from the front courtyard.

Was this kid trying to "defy the heavens and change his fate" by becoming an athlete?

Liu Liu Guangtian had just flashed out of the second gate when his right foot stepped on the courtyard tiles, his body turned ninety degrees, and with his left foot pushing off the ground, his right foot was already sprinting toward the main gate.

It all happened in a flash!

Li Xue felt a gust of wind fly past his eyes and, feeling playful, shouted with a laugh: "Leave your name, general!"

"Zhao Zhao Zilong of Changshan!"

Liu Liu Guangtian replied in the middle-school-style dialogue they often used as kids.

Perhaps finding it funny himself, when he reached the bend at the main gate, his right foot, which was supposed to be the pivot for the turn, didn't land firmly. His body didn't turn at the right angle, and he almost crashed into the gatehouse wall.

Fortunately, this right-angle Z-turn was a route Liu Liu Guangtian ran every year, and he was as familiar with the road conditions as an AE86 pressing into a drainage ditch on Mount Akina.

Liu Liu Guangtian twisted his body to maintain balance, had time to give Li Xue a smile, and then flew out of the courtyard gate in one breath.

Was this Zhao Zhao Zilong of Changshan?

This was more like "The falcon turns its golden wings and falls from the clouds, the dog with golden bells flies over the grass"!

"You little brat, stop right there!"

Li Xue stood with Li Shu at the corner of the outer courtyard, fearing he would delay the Second Master's pursuit.

The Second Master panted as he crossed the threshold of the front courtyard, wanting to continue the chase, but saw Li Xue standing by the wall with the child in his arms, laughing at the spectacle.

"Li Xue!"

Perhaps feeling his tone was too harsh, or perhaps looking at Li Xue's smile, which was becoming a bit like the smile from that night when he pointed a gun at him.

The Second Master roared this sentence, then consciously stopped, looked at Li Xue with some fear, and then forced himself to ask calmly: "Did... did... did you promise to transfer that brat?"

Li Xue looked at the Second Master with a smile and asked back: "Have you gone senile from the New Year?"

The Second Master felt his hair stand on end from Li Xue's gaze, raised the fire tongs in his hand, and bluffed: "Stop talking nonsense. Just tell me if you promised our second son a transfer to the security department."

"Hahaha."

Li Xue looked at the fire tongs in the Second Master's hand and turned Li Shu around so she wouldn't see the Second Master's face.

"I said you've gone senile, and you're still offended. I don't know if you remember that I'm the section chief of the security department, not the section chief of the personnel department."

"Besides, even if I were the personnel section chief, I wouldn't privately promise anyone a transfer. Do you think the steel mill is your home? You can go wherever you want!"

After speaking, Li Xue carried Li Shu past the Second Master and walked toward his home in the front courtyard.

The Second Master looked at Li Xue's back, then angrily threw the fire tongs in his hand, glared at the direction Liu Liu Guangtian had fled, and cursed: "If you have the ability, never come back!"

Actually, Liu Liu Guangtian had long since vanished, and the Second Master knew it, but he felt something was missing if he didn't say it.

After cursing to ease his anger, he turned back to enter the second gate to go home, but saw the Third Master coming out of the room.

"Yo, Old Liu, is this 'father kind and son filial' again?"

Seeing Yan Yan Fugui watching the fun, the Second Master sneered: "Don't laugh at me; you'll have a day like this too."

The Third Master narrowed his small eyes and laughed: "Even if I do, I'm not afraid. I have three sons; I can cultivate them slowly, and there will always be one who turns out well."

Heh, this meant that none of the Second Master's three sons were any good.

The Second Master raised his eyebrows and said: "Then you'd better look carefully. Maybe one of your second or third sons will be like your eldest—a good-for-nothing when following you, but a success once they leave you. That would be truly embarrassing."

"You!"

The Third Master wanted to say more, but saw the Second Master had already turned and walked toward the back.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at the Second Master's back, then turned his eyes toward the Li family, who were talking happily.

Finally, as he turned back, he looked at the inverted room again.

"Oh my, what is my eldest granddaughter holding!"

Liu Yin laughed and teased Li Shu, wanting to take the handkerchief from her hand.

But Li Shu knew it was a good thing, dodged her grandmother's hand, placed the handkerchief under her bottom, and shook her head seriously.

"Hahaha."

"Who does this stingy look take after?"

Liu Yin teased Li Shu and glanced at her second son.

Li Xue's skin was now so thick that even an awl couldn't pierce it; would he care about his mother's insinuation?

"Whoever raised her, she takes after!"

"Hahaha."

Liu Yin didn't expect to be countered by her son and hit him.

After the old lady took Li Shu away, Liu Yin pulled her son and asked: "Are you going out again today?"

"Not going out. It's the New Year; everyone has been busy all year and wants to rest."

Li Xue lay back on the kang and lay directly on Li Xue's lap.

"Ouch, heavy!"

Hearing his younger sister's cry, Li Xue took out an industrial coupon he had prepared earlier from his pocket.

"Who said they wanted to exchange for a fountain pen before the New Year?"

"Second Brother!"

Li Xue was pleasantly surprised to see the industrial coupon in her second brother's hand and reached for it, but Li Xue had already pulled his hand back.

"Is my head too heavy? I'd better get up."

The latest chapter is under review, please wait until tomorrow morning to see it.

Li Xue was pleasantly surprised to see the industrial coupons in her second brother's hand and was about to take them, but Li Li Xuewu had already retracted his hand.

"Is my head too heavy? I'd better get up."

The latest chapter is under review, please wait for it during the day.