Chapter 522: Is This Appropriate?

"Li Chu is off work."

"Hehe, is this your granddaughter?"

When Li Xuewu walked over, what he saw was a woman holding a child dressed like a little girl, chatting with the old lady.

"Yes, it's the second son's."

The woman clearly recognized Li Xuewu; after exchanging greetings, she smiled very proudly when she saw Li Xuewu acknowledge her.

Perhaps she was happy to be remembered by a section chief, as the smile on her face was quite smug.

"You go ahead and be busy. It's time to get off work, I need to hurry back to cook."

The woman realized Li Xuewu hadn't come over to greet her, so she said a word to the old lady while holding her granddaughter and headed out of the alley.

Before leaving, she politely said goodbye to Li Xuewu, and Li Xuewu responded with a smile.

"Ba-ba~ Ba-ba~"

As soon as Li Shu saw Li Xuewu, she reached out for him. Seeing that her father wasn't talking to her, she kept calling out in her mouth.

Li Xuewu smiled, took his daughter, and kissed her little hand, which made Li Shu giggle.

"Who is this?"

"..."

The old lady was clearly stunned for a moment, then laughed: "From the front yard, the Wang family."

Li Xuewu asked without much thought: "Isn't Old Mrs. Wang seventy or eighty? This one doesn't look like her."

"It doesn't look like her, because it isn't her."

The old lady knew her second grandson was sharper than a monkey; he hadn't recognized the person at all when they were greeting each other.

"That is Old Mrs. Wang, this is Mrs. Wang!"

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu grinned, dodged a slap swung by his daughter, glared at her to scare her, and then said: "I got it mixed up. I was wondering why she looked so unfamiliar."

After answering the old lady, he glared at Li Shu, who was still trying to hit him, and said: "You're hitting Dad? Have you gotten too bold?"

Li Shu stared with her big eyes at her father, swung her raised hand hard, and almost hit herself.

"This daughter is no good anymore, she's too ruthless. She's so ruthless she even hits herself!"

Li Xuewu handed the bag in his hand to the old lady, held his daughter in reverse, and gave her two slaps on the bottom.

Li Shu didn't care at all after being hit, because it didn't hurt much.

At this moment, being held in reverse, she actually saw the person behind Li Xuewu, pointing with her little finger and making "ah-ya-ya" sounds.

Li Xuewu sighed at his daughter. This little demon was clearly past the stage of identifying things by sound; as she learned to walk, her way of exploring the world had become touching things with her hands.

A child's strength is unpredictable; you never know when she'll give you a slap that leaves you dazed.

It's not that the child is bad, nor that she wants to hit people, but that children want to imitate actions when they see adults using tools or expressing emotions.

The old lady clearly knew Li Shu had reached this stage; she didn't scare the child, nor did she stop Li Xuewu from scaring the child.

For generations, children have been raised in this muddled way; no one has summarized how to correctly and effectively raise and educate children.

Li Xuewu couldn't bear to hit his daughter; after scaring her a bit and giving her two pats, he held her close.

Following Li Shu's finger, Li Xuewu turned and saw a girl with two large braided pigtails riding a bicycle into the alley.

Many people rode bikes in and out of this alley, so Li Shu pointing specifically at this girl was clearly special.

"Hello, is this Courtyard 99?"

The girl rode up to this side, saw someone at the entrance, stopped her bike, and asked the kind-looking old lady.

The old lady nodded with a smile: "Yes, but the main gate is over there."

"Thank you, ma'am."

The girl thanked her with a smile, pushed her bike loaded with two large canvas bags, and headed toward the gatehouse.

Li Shu was also curious about the girl's uniform and the special nature of the bicycle; a mail carrier was a very prestigious profession at the time.

A "28-inch" bike, with canvas bags hanging on the frame, the front basket, and both sides of the back seat; special letters even needed to be wrapped in cowhide.

Li Xuewu just took a glance and didn't look again, instead asking the old lady: "Why did someone from the front yard wander over here?"

"Hi, just passing a message."

The old lady smoothed Li Shu's sleeve and said: "She said your cousin-aunt wants to ask you when you're getting married."

"Cousin-aunt?"

Li Xuewu twitched his mouth, thought for a moment, and asked: "Isn't she in Fangshan? Is the news that fast?"

"Hehe, poverty in a busy market goes unnoticed."

The old lady muttered, then explained: "She is from the same village as your cousin-aunt. When she went back to her maiden home, she mentioned our family. Isn't that why she's rushing over to ask?"

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I really wouldn't have remembered we had this relative."

Li Xuewu said casually. Seeing his daughter twisting her body to get down, he looked at her little shoes and placed her on the ground.

The old lady didn't mind and said: "Relatives are about courtesy; that's just how it is. Your cousin-aunt is a bit younger than me, has three children at home; the third works at the road office in the city, the eldest and second work the land in the village."

Li Xuewu had an impression of these relatives in his memory, but they hadn't interacted for years and had little contact.

Furthermore, he had been away from home for three years and had long since lost touch; after he returned, his family hadn't mentioned them to him either.

"If they come to the house later, don't give them a cold shoulder; it's not good."

"Got it."

Li Xuewu nodded. Seeing the mail carrier girl coming back, he agreed.

His personality was a bit solitary, but he couldn't hinder the older generation's interactions, and it wouldn't sound good if word got out.

People of this era still valued relatives; if rural relatives were struggling, those in the city would always help out.

"Hello, are you Comrade Li Xuewu?"

The mail carrier girl was clearly a bit annoyed at being kept waiting, so her tone was a bit stiff when she asked Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and asked: "A letter for me?"

"Yes."

The mail carrier took a letter out of her cowhide bag and said to Li Xuewu: "I need to see your identification."

Li Xuewu nodded and handed over his work ID.

Li Shu was a bit shy; seeing the girl talking to her father, she instinctively hugged her father's leg.

The old lady hadn't expected the letter to be for their family; seeing the mail carrier's attitude, she squatted down to hold the child.

The girl checked the work ID, which had a photo, verified the information, and handed the letter to Li Xuewu.

She wasn't surprised, just softened her tone a bit.

"Comrade, you need to sign for me."

As she spoke, she took out a hard cardboard notebook and handed it over.

Li Xuewu took it, signed his name, and asked casually: "Where is it from?"

"Within the city."

After replying, she took back the notebook, kicked the kickstand cleanly, and rode away.

Li Xuewu looked at the letter and only then realized who had sent it.

The old lady didn't treat her grandson like a child anymore; she had no intention of prying into his correspondence and didn't even ask.

Li Shu was concerned about her father; she pointed with her little hand, widened her big eyes, and said: "Ya!"

This meant: "Give it here, let me see!"

Li Xuewu ignored her, opened the envelope, and took a look: two tickets for the Central Song and Dance Troupe, *The Red Detachment of Women*, for the evening of the 30th.

This was something he had agreed upon with Huang Ganjian a few days ago, to go watch the performance on Sunday.

Seeing her father looking so mysterious, Li Shu became even more anxious; she hugged the old lady's neck and pushed hard toward Li Xuewu.

The old lady turned around, changed her direction, and carried her toward the storefront.

"Look, look, see what Aunt Xiaoyan is doing."

Basically, when the weather was good, the old lady would bring Li Shu here to play, and today was the same.

Seeing the Li family's little demon enter the room looking like she was going to be a handful, Xiaoyan quickly cut a small piece of pig liver and stuffed it into her hand.

This child was easy to coax; as long as there was food, she wouldn't be a handful.

Li Xuewu put the envelope away, followed her into the room, took the bag from the old lady's hand, and greeted Xiaoyan and the others.

At this moment, only Second Uncle and Xiaoyan were busy in the room; Shen Guodong and the others hadn't returned yet.

There weren't many customers; there was a family looking at furniture next door, and their voices came through the cloth curtain.

Li Xuewu didn't go over there, just walked around looking at the shelves and the counter.

Wen Saner had been gone for over half a month, and more than half of the appliances on the shelves were gone.

Because only Wen Saner had the skill to repair appliances in this shop, there were many broken ones in the warehouse now, and basically no good ones left.

This year's economic situation was improving; although there were constant storms, the workers' wage levels remained unshakable.

"Not many people coming to the shop to sell scrap anymore, huh?"

"Yeah, it's fewer."

Second Uncle took the cigarette Li Xuewu handed him and replied: "We have more vehicles now, and our collection range is larger, so it's normal for the shop to have less."

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "Discuss it with Old Biaozi tonight; these shelves can't be empty."

It was rare for him to come by, so he pointed out any problems he saw.

Old Biaozi was busy with overall management, including delivering and picking up goods; Shen Guodong was in charge of ten vehicles and those few boys; Erhai was going to serve those fixed clients alone.

Wen Saner was gone, so the account book had been handed to Erhai. Although these fixed clients had low demand, it was a steady stream, and the profit generated for the recycling station every month wasn't small.

The items Li Xuewu had brought back several times were about to be cleared out, and this didn't include the vegetables, chickens, rabbits, and eggs that Old Biaozi brought back from Hongxing Village from time to time.

Second Uncle tapped his cigarette, put it in his mouth, lit it, took a puff, and said to Li Xuewu: "He went to the supply and marketing cooperative and hasn't returned yet. He said he went to talk to them to see if there were other goods they could act as agents for."

Seeing that Old Biaozi had already thought of it, Li Xuewu didn't say anything more. He nodded to Second Uncle, said a word to the old lady, and headed toward the courtyard through the back door.

"Yo, so lively."

When Li Xuewu entered the courtyard, he saw the neighbors standing in the front yard, all looking toward the middle courtyard.

"Hehe, Seeing Sha Zhu has gone crazy."

Wang Laoqi, who had probably just gotten off work, replied when he saw Li Xuewu.

At this moment, dust was rising in the middle courtyard, and everyone was looking into the middle courtyard through the gatehouse where Wang Laoqi lived.

When they saw Wang Laoqi talking, everyone turned back and realized Li Xuewu had entered.

Li Xuewu didn't know if Seeing Sha Zhu had gone crazy or not, but he figured that if there was no wind, the dust in the courtyard would take a while to settle.

"Demolishing the house or blasting it?"

Li Xuewu took one look and lost interest, turning to enter his own house.

Liu Yin was burning the fire; seeing Li Xuewu enter, she said: "Did you see your grandma?"

"She's at the storefront, what's wrong?"

Li Xuewu replied while carrying his bag into the inner room.

Li Xue was writing homework at the desk; seeing Li Xuewu enter, she greeted him.

"I was thinking of telling Grandma not to come over right now; Seeing Sha Zhu is demolishing the house and it's all dusty."

Li Xuewu looked out the window, sat on the edge of the kang leaning against the wall, and asked his mother: "The roof is being demolished too?"

"You bet."

Adding a piece of firewood, Liu Yin walked into the room and said: "They just notified every household to collect their clothes and not let them get dirty, saying they were going to tear down the roof and even the main gable wall."

"Hehe, no wonder Wang Laoqi said he went crazy."

At this time, house repairs rarely involved major demolition; at most, they would tear down the roof. Based on what Seeing Sha Zhu was doing, he was leveling it to rebuild.

Liu Yin stood in the living room leaning on the fire poker, looking through the window glass at the backyard: "They said it was all beyond repair. When Master Dou came, he saw the wall bricks in the west room were broken."

"He's also too diligent; he only cares about living, not about repairing."

Li Xuewu couldn't go home for a while, so he could only stay here. He pulled the pillow from the kang cabinet and lay down on the kang.

Liu Yin didn't say anything seeing her son's casual manner, just asked: "Did you get a reply from Xiao Ning's side? We need to prepare here."

"Got it, they said to do as I said."

Li Xuewu replied to his mother while thinking of Gu Ning's tone at the time.

"That's good, prepare early and be at ease."

Liu Yin turned back to continue adding firewood and asked: "I'll go buy quilt covers for you this weekend. When are you bringing back the cotton?"

"Tomorrow."

Li Xuewu only then remembered the matter he had promised his mother and replied: "I'll bring back the fabric for the quilt lining too; you don't need to buy it."

"Got it."

Liu Yin responded and continued to be busy.

Li Xuewu looked toward the south room and asked: "Where are Aunt Zhao and the others? Why don't I see them?"

"They went to the school."

Li Xue took the initiative to answer her brother: "They went to see the eldest sister-in-law, said they'd come back together tomorrow."

Li Xuewu nodded. Seeing his sister had finished her homework, he beckoned her over and said to his mother, who was busy in the living room: "Gu Ning said her mother wants to go to Haiyuncang with you. What time would be good?"

Liu Yin stopped her work when she heard her son's words, walked to the door of the inner room, and asked: "Her mother said that?"

"Yes."

Li Xuewu took two yuan and an industrial coupon from his pocket and handed them to Li Xue. Li Xue felt a bit embarrassed and took them after glancing at her mother.

Liu Yin didn't stop her, just continued: "I probably won't have time this weekend; I still have to pick out your luggage, and your sister-in-law's mother is here too. We have to take them out for a stroll; they said they're going back on Monday."

"Why not stay a few more days?"

Li Xuewu watched his sister sit next to him and pushed her with his knee, telling her to move further away.

Li Xue had received the benefit and was thinking of pleasing her brother. Seeing her brother push her, she also learned to be thick-skinned, took off her shoes, got on the kang, and sat beside Li Xuewu.

"They said there's still a whole family at home, and work in the fields."

Liu Yin also understood the in-laws; after all, it was rural life, and they couldn't live like people in the city.

Whether it was taking care of the old and young at home or working in the fields to earn work points, staying for these few days was long enough.

They were honest and simple people by nature; staying here made them feel a bit uncomfortable, always wanting to help but not having much work to do.

Except for Liu Yin and the old lady accompanying them for a stroll or chatting, there wasn't much to do.

If it weren't for wanting to wait an extra day for their daughter to return, they would have already started planning to go back.

"Then go back with me on Monday; take the commuter bus to the steel mill."

Li Xuewu made arrangements and said to his mother: "Let's make it next weekend; go to Haiyuncang next weekend."

"Then let's set it for next weekend."

Liu Yin agreed with her son's opinion and added: "Just in time, after a week, the luggage will be finished, and we can send it to the new house over the weekend."

"No rush, it'll take a few days."

Li Xuewu hadn't thought his mother would be so anxious, wanting to finish the quilts in a week.

They had already agreed to take the fabric and cotton to the back-row room to make them, because the kang there was spacious and convenient for cutting.

During the day, every family was busy, so who could help? Even if Yu Li and the others in the back-row room had to work during the day, they could only rely on the time after dinner.

Liu Yin had calculated it well: "You say no rush, but have you submitted your report?"

"Submitted, Gu Ning's is submitted too."

At this time, you had to submit a report to get married. Li Xuewu didn't think his mother didn't know and replied: "I submitted mine the day before yesterday, Gu Ning's was yesterday."

"Based on the time, it should be approved next week."

Liu Yin calculated and said: "Once the application is approved, you can get the certificate. If the luggage isn't finished by then, is that appropriate?"

"Hehe."

Li Xuewu smiled bitterly: "You say no rush, but you're chasing me like a rabbit. Once the date is set, is there no time to rest?"

Liu Yin glared at her son: "You said you'd find someone to make new clothes; did you find anyone?"

"Looking for them now."

Li Xuewu had long forgotten about this; he went to work every day, how could he think about it?

Besides, he really didn't feel the time was that tight; it would be fine to get the new clothes made before the wedding. There was still a month left.

Liu Yin knew he hadn't remembered as soon as she saw his answer and nagged: "Find them quickly. You have to take photos when you get the marriage certificate, right? Are you going to wear old clothes?"

Li Xuewu only felt his head grow a size larger. If it were according to his mother's calculations, he could get the certificate next week.

According to the law, he and Gu Ning could live together then.

But he was just daydreaming.

Getting the certificate didn't mean they could live together, because at this time they still had to follow etiquette and hold a wedding before they could live together.

Otherwise, although there was no legal error, in the eyes of both families, it would be imperfect.

After all, that award-certificate-style marriage certificate only represented that the two were married, but they hadn't completed the ceremony.

So, the two of them could use that certificate to openly purchase wedding supplies.

"I estimate it won't work."

Li Xuewu lay on the pillow, pushed away his sister's hand, and replied to his mother: "She has to wear a uniform, and I have to wear a uniform."

Li Xuewu wasn't talking about wedding photos, but ID photos, marriage ID photos.

This was the custom at the time; if one or both parties in a couple were in special professions, they could wear uniforms for photos on their marriage certificate.

"I'll see, if not, take two sets."

Li Xuewu raised his head and looked at his mother: "Take the marriage photos first, then after the clothes are made, we have our own camera, we'll take them ourselves."

"As you wish."

Liu Yin just nagged a bit; seeing her son had his own ideas, she didn't say anything more and turned back to the stove.

Li Xue looked at her second brother and asked: "Are you annoyed by getting married?"

"What? Are you going to share my worries?"

Li Xuewu lay on the pillow and rolled his eyes; this sister was starting to become uncute.

Li Xue looked at her second brother and said: "Shall I knead your shoulders and pound your back?"

"Don't even think about it."

Li Xuewu lay on the pillow, closed his eyes to rest, and said: "My pockets are cleaner than my face right now; all I have left is what I gave you."

"I don't believe it!"

Li Xue pouted: "The Third Uncle across the street said you earn over three hundred a month, and the tickets you get are more than a deck of cards."

"You believe his words?"

Li Xuewu knew there were no good people among the masses. The Third Uncle across the street had been recuperating at home for over a month and had lost all his cultivation; all he did was gossip.

"Dad only earns seventy-something a month; could I earn more than Dad?"

"Ahem."

Just then, Li Shun entered the room. Hearing his son seemed to be mocking him, he coughed in dissatisfaction, reminding his son not to be presumptuous.

Li Xuewu was unlucky; he had intended to fool his sister and hadn't expected his father to hear it.

If he had said this behind his father's back, it would be fine, but if his father heard it, it would inevitably make the old father lose face.

Because Li Xuewu really did earn more than his father now.

Li Xue also saw her second brother's awkwardness, pursed her lips, and made a face to tease Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu was about to pinch his sister's ankle to retaliate, but seeing his father enter, he let go.

"No sitting posture."

Li Shun glanced at his son, scolded him in a bad mood, and went to wash his hands.

Li Xuewu knew his father would find fault with him; even if he had a good sitting posture, he would scold him for something else.

After his father went out, Li Xuewu scared Li Xue: "If you act up again, your pocket money for next month is gone."

"I don't believe it."

Li Xue looked at her second brother: "If you don't give it to me, I'll ask the second sister-in-law."

"Hehe~ As you wish."

Could Li Xuewu be threatened?

"Second Brother~~"

Li Xue saw her plan had failed and quickly remedied it: "I'm not spending money recklessly."

As she spoke, she leaned into Li Xuewu's ear and whispered: "The second sister-in-law's younger sister is here. I want to buy her something, but Aunt Zhao keeps stopping me, and I don't have enough money in my pocket..."

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at his sister and asked: "Really?"

"You don't believe me!"

Li Xue looked as if she had suffered a great grievance, her eyes wide and about to cry.

Li Xuewu pursed his lips, narrowed his eyes, and said: "Who did you learn this trick from? It's a bit of a poor imitation."

"I don't care, anyway you have to support me. Third Brother was robbed by me, but he doesn't have money either, so I have to rely on you."

Li Xue acted spoiled, shaking Li Xuewu's clothes, begging: "Good Second Brother~"

"Eww~~~"

Li Xuewu grinned and rubbed his arms: "I have goosebumps. I beg you, okay? Stop talking like that."

He took another five yuan from his pocket and handed it over: "We've agreed, use a suitable opportunity to give the gift, pay attention to your attitude, it can't be too expensive, and it can't be just for show."

Li Xue was a clear-hearted girl and smiled: "I know, Yaping is very sensitive, I'm very careful even when I take her out to play."

"Treat her with a normal attitude."

Seeing his sister was sharp, Li Xuewu pointed at her: "The more polite you are, the more uncomfortable she will be."

"Got it, Second Brother."

Li Xue responded and was about to get down, but was held back by Li Xuewu.

"What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?"

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow: "Didn't we agree on kneading shoulders and pounding the back??"

"You said you didn't need it."

Li Xue smiled, waved the money in her hand, jumped off the ground, and replied to Li Xuewu: "The money is in hand, why should I waste the effort?"

"Fine, I'll remember that."

Li Xuewu made a fierce face to scare her and continued lying down. This scare had no power at all; he was too lazy to even get up and chase her, so Li Xue naturally didn't take it to heart.

She knew her second brother had a good heart. If Zhao Yaping weren't her sister-in-law's own sister, she wouldn't have thought to pay attention to this little girl from the village.

In the past, her sister-in-law often talked about the bitterness of her childhood at home, and Li Xue understood a bit.

But seeing Zhao Yaping wearing somewhat worn-out clothes, she only then knew what the poverty her sister-in-law described looked like.

Even during the most difficult times, the Li family never ran out of food, and the clothes Li Xue wore were never that old.

A girl's heart is ultimately softer; she always wanted to repay her sister-in-law for her kindness, so she wanted to give Zhao Yaping some help.

But children from the countryside grow up faster. When Zhao Yaping came from home, she had been warned by her mother and father that she couldn't just ask for things when she came here, and she couldn't just take things if given.

This was the last bit of persistence of rural people.

Li Xue also saw the meaning of Zhao Yaping and her sister-in-law's mother, so she thought about saving some money to buy books and stationery for Zhao Yaping, and also wanted to buy her a pair of shoes, just like the white ones she wore.

Every time she could see Zhao Yaping secretly looking at her white shoes, she must have liked them very much.

Li Xue went out, and Li Shun came in to talk to Li Xuewu about the house.

It was the house of the Third Uncle in the east courtyard. The money was settled by Li Shun with Master Dou, but he felt Master Dou had asked for less, so he thought it was because of his second son.

Li Xuewu didn't explain his relationship with Master Dou to his father, because Master Dou was an independent contractor, and there was no public involvement, so Li Xuewu didn't care much whether it was more or less.

Seeing his son knew about this, Li Shun didn't say anything more. He was afraid Master Dou would use this to corrupt his son in the future.

Don't look at Li Shun's disdain for his son's actions in certain matters, but he didn't deny his son's excellence.

This excellence wasn't something he said, but what others said.

After waiting for more than half an hour, the old lady came back holding Li Shu, and only then did Li Xuewu return to the backyard.

When he entered the middle courtyard, he saw Master Dou and Seeing Sha Zhu standing in the courtyard, talking about the house that had been opened.

Yes, Seeing Sha Zhu's main room had been opened, opened in that way: the roof was gone, the gable wall was gone, only the base remained.

The base was higher than the ground in the courtyard and was a stone foundation, which didn't need to be moved; they could just build on the original foundation.

"They all say you've gone crazy."

Li Xuewu walked up to Seeing Sha Zhu, who was greeting him, and replied.

"Hehe, I am going crazy."

Seeing Sha Zhu smiled bitterly: "Living here just fine, but after tearing it open and looking, the rafters are all rotten."

"If you lived like this, it's a miracle the main beam didn't rot."

Master Dou smiled and said: "Who doesn't tighten the tiles while living? It's been over ten years without maintenance, and the rain leakage is so severe. How did you get through the summer?"

"Used basins to catch it."

Seeing Sha Zhu smiled and said: "Heavy rain outside, medium rain inside, hehe."

Li Xuewu also followed with a smile. Seeing Sha Zhu's mentality was just good; it seemed like he didn't take anything to heart, laughing and joking all day.

"Still okay, the main beam and such don't need to be hit, it'll be fast to build."

Master Dou threw away the cigarette butt in his hand and explained to Seeing Sha Zhu and Li Xuewu: "A week, about a week. I'll put in the effort to get it done for you, and you can start decorating in a week."

As he spoke, he asked: "What kind of decoration do you want? Like Li Chu's?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Seeing Sha Zhu smiled and said: "Just follow that standard. Anyway, it's all a toss-up, why not aim for the best?"

Li Xuewu looked around and said with a smile: "If you don't have enough money, just let me know."

After saying that, he went to the backyard to change clothes.

Seeing Sha Zhu replied to Li Xuewu and followed Master Dou outside.

Today was the first day, and Master Dou was working overtime. Only after Seeing Sha Zhu sent him out to the gate did he say: "It's not that I'm treating you differently, but Li Chu's decoration materials are hard to find. If I can find them, I won't talk nonsense; if I can't find them, you find them yourself; if you still can't find them, then we'll have to replace them."

"I understand."

Seeing Sha Zhu nodded: "If I can't find them, I'll ask Li Xuewu. If he can't find them, then I don't need to find them anymore."

Master Dou hadn't expected Seeing Sha Zhu to have such a good relationship with Li Xuewu. He nodded with a smile, greeted him, and left.

Seeing Sha Zhu didn't consider it using Li Xuewu's banner to do anything. He returned to the backyard, looked at his home that had been demolished into ruins, twitched his mouth, and came to the backyard.

Entering the backyard, he saw Liu Guangtian coming out to fetch water. Seeing Sha Zhu looked down on the Liu Haizhong family, so how could he bother with Liu Guangtian? He turned his face away, pretended not to see him, and went to Li Xuewu's house.

Liu Guangtian also had a stubborn temper; if you don't bother with me, I don't want to bother with you either. He also pretended not to see him and carried his water bucket toward the moon gate.

His father was now squatting in the detention center of the security department, so all the work at home had to be done by him and his younger brother, and his mother could only do light work, so now she could only cook.

After he fetched the water and returned, he glanced at Li Xuewu's room and returned home, gritting his teeth.

He no longer fantasized about entering the security department; with his current family background, it would be good enough not to be squeezed out in the workshop.

Fortunately, he had been working in the workshop for some time, otherwise he would really suffer.

Even now, many people looked at him with contempt, as if he had done the things his father had done.

The water faucet for the whole courtyard was in the middle courtyard, and it was right next to the First Uncle's house.

Every time Liu Guangtian went to fetch water, it was like going to the execution ground, and he had to carry a burden in his heart.

The First Aunt probably saw his emotions too; every time she saw him fetching water, she would hide in the room, not wanting to intensify the conflict, but also not wanting to actively ease it.

Yi Zhonghai thought a bit too wishfully; since a conflict had arisen, there was no possibility of returning to the original state.

Not to mention the punishment Liu Haizhong suffered, just the money the Liu family paid, who could feel comfortable with that?

In the hospital, Liu Haizhong apologized, but after returning to the courtyard, he never spoke to Yi Zhonghai again, nor did they meet.

Liu Guangtian was now the pillar of the Liu family; he didn't dare to hate Li Xuewu, but that didn't mean he didn't resent Li Xuewu.

He had long begged Li Xuewu to enter the security department, but he was disappointed time and time again, from winter to spring.

If he had entered the security department earlier, wouldn't his father's matter have been resolved earlier?

Not to mention how much less his father would have suffered, at least he wouldn't have had to pay so much money.

People don't do things perfectly; even Li Xuewu can't.

He was already trying his best to maintain relationships and live as comfortably as possible.

To his family, to his neighbors, this was all he could do.

The environment and society have certain invisible restrictions; the more you ask for, the more you pay.

When a person's desires cannot be satisfied, they will take risks.

When facing sudden wealth, their family will also fall, which is the viciousness of money.

"Everyone, assemble!"

Wei Tong jumped off the passenger seat, then waved his hand with a serious face to signal the team to assemble.

Bringing several hundred people down from the mountain today was enough to keep him busy.

They set off at five in the morning, and by the time they reached the west of the city, the sun had long since come out.

Breakfast was eaten on the road, two steamed buns per person, better than usual.

All personnel in training at the training ground wore neat uniforms, carried no weapons, and stood in formation under the command of Wei Tong and the leading cadre.

Then, led by the cadres here, they walked toward the observation position closest to the execution ground.

"Have you always been this ruthless?"

Li Xuewu stood by the car, standing with the leading cadre of the branch bureau team.

Shen Fang also came, bringing two squadrons of the public security brigade, standing on one side with the people Wei Tong brought.

Wang Xiaoqin looked at the execution vehicle, then at the observation teams on both sides, and couldn't help but ask Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu didn't answer, but took a puff of his cigarette, his eyes looking toward the execution ground.

There was only a pit there now, not very big, because they weren't buried immediately after being shot.

The pit was dug just so the blood wouldn't flow everywhere, and what was buried was the blood, as well as the bean curd-like brains splashed out after the head was shattered.

Han Yating looked at Li Xuewu, then at Wang Xiaoqin, and didn't reply.

This wasn't the first time she had seen this scene; she had the honor of following Li Xuewu to witness it last time.

Not to mention that the ones being punished today were Fu Bin's relatives, even if it were the section chief's... she hadn't seen him blink.

This couldn't be called ruthless.

The first one to come from the security department was Fan Hua, who had been transferred from the confidential section and hadn't seen such a scene.

However, she understood a bit why Han Yating had warned her not to eat breakfast this morning.

The one responsible for the execution wasn't from the First Detention Center, nor the public security brigade, but from the district's legal department. Li Xuewu didn't know the leading officer.

But they had already communicated, and the personnel from the two units he brought could observe from nearby.

However, the leading cadre still looked toward this side from time to time; he knew the one standing in the middle was the deputy section chief of the branch bureau in charge of public security and operations.

This was a newcomer, and a ruthless one. He really rarely saw anyone use executions to train teams.

However, this training method was indeed effective; teams that had seen blood and those that hadn't were fundamentally different.

To say Li Xuewu was ruthless, he also knew that this deputy section chief had actually applied not to observe from nearby, but to execute.

Yes, he had applied for the two teams he brought to send people to carry out this action.

However, this suggestion was rejected by his superior, because Li Xuewu's influence was already big enough.

If even this kind of task were handed to him, it would really be a one-stop service.

After the execution ground was set up, the team leader first led the execution squad to inspect the site, gave final instructions, and only then beckoned toward the prison truck.

The cadre in charge of the prison truck waved a hand at the escort personnel, and two uniformed armed police officers walked to the side of the truck; the police officer on the truck, also in uniform, escorted the first prisoner—who was wearing a hood—down, while the two men below grabbed the prisoner's arms to receive them.

There was no wooden sign behind the prisoner, nor was there any farewell wine; this was not a public execution, so there were none of those formalities.

The cadre in charge of the prison truck walked to the first prisoner with a notebook, and let the officer beside him remove the hood.

"Fu Changhua?!"

It was indeed Fu Changhua being escorted; Li Xuewu recognized him, and he also saw Li Xuewu.

Hearing the cadre in front of him verify his identity, Fu Changhua did not answer, but instead stared at Li Xuewu.

He still remembered the conversation from his first meeting with Li Xuewu; this little section chief was too damn arrogant.

But he never expected that his miserable state today was caused by the very section chief he had looked down upon.

"How is my father?"

Fu Changhua knew his father had fallen ill, because he hadn't seen his father since he was taken into custody.

During interrogations, he had asked many times, and after the case was finally closed, the detention cadre, fearing he would cause trouble, told him the truth.

Li Xuewu took a drag of his cigarette, and seeing the escort cadre look over, he did not express an opinion.

He was not in charge today and could not interfere with the other party's execution of their duties, but since Fu Changhua had asked, he gave a slight shake of his head.

Fu Changhua's already pale face instantly turned ashen; he had lost his vitality before even being executed.

The two had never fought, nor had they ever clashed head-on, so it could be said that Li Xuewu held no particular attitude toward him.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have told him the truth; it was a gesture of gratitude for his cooperation back then.

Fu Changhua stopped looking at Li Xuewu, for there was no longer any light in his eyes; after the escort cadre asked twice, he nodded stiffly.

The escort cadre frowned and waved his hand, and the two escort personnel grabbed his arms and headed toward the execution ground.

As per custom, he had to kneel; the hemp rope on his body was untied at the edge of the pit—not entirely, but leaving the part around the arms to make it easier for the escort personnel to fix the prisoner's posture.

The two escort personnel each grabbed an arm, while the executioner held a semi-automatic rifle, the muzzle pressed against the back of Fu Changhua's head.

"Open your mouth!"

"Bang!"

The gunshot was crisp; Li Xuewu frowned slightly and tilted his head up.

He was no stranger to such scenes—not the last one, but back in the South, where things were more intense and dangerous than this.

Fighting with superior numbers was something that never happened; a platoon fighting a company on the other side was a common occurrence, and fighting a battalion also happened.

After the gunshot, Fu Changhua's body lunged forward, and not even a speck of dust was kicked up.

Dust to dust, earth to earth; his world ended here.

After firing the shot, the executioner shouldered his rifle and stepped back; his task for the day was complete.

The two men holding the ropes untied the rope on Fu Changhua's body, flipped him over, and gave him a kick.

Actually, there was no need for such trouble; Wei Tong watched very carefully—the bullet entered from the back of Fu Changhua's head, the entrance was very small, and the exit in the front was very large.

Fu Changhua was already unrecognizable; verifying life or death was just going through the motions.