[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji":3,"chapter-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-69":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Siheyuan: Food, Love, and Family in 1960s Beijing",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2314119,4526,"Chapter 69: He Threatened Me!","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-69",69,"\u003Cp>Hearing the child stop crying and seeing Li Xuewu soothing it, the others nearby turned to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cadre frowned, about to reprimand Li Xuewu for showing up on his own, when the young man pointed at him and shouted: “Didn’t he rescue the kid? Let him take responsibility—who asked him to meddle? That brat should’ve stayed under the train...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fell silent before finishing, terrified by Li Xuewu’s murderous glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The child in Li Xuewu’s arms, startled by the sudden shout, began crying again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaying gently, he moved closer to the group; when the child quieted, he pulled the upper corner of the wrap over the child’s head to shield its eyes from the fluorescent light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you dare yell at me again, I’ll break your legs and see whether your shouting or your screaming’s louder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled by the scar-faced officer in uniform, the youth blustered at Zhou Ganbu and Director Liu: “This cop is threatening me! Threatening a victim’s family—aren’t you going to do anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Ganbu, irritated by the youth’s outburst, lowered his head and scratched his ear, muttering: “Getting old. Your yelling just gave me a ringing in my ears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rebirth: Financial Titan\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the youth turn to him again, Director Liu smirked: “He’s not ours—he’s a Beijing cop. If you want to report him for threatening you, go to Beijing and complain to their superiors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the dead woman had suffered so terribly, they’d felt pity and treated the family with courtesy; the foreign affairs officer, accustomed to consoling victims, hadn’t realized their kindness was mistaken for guilt or an offer of compensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu watched the youth, humiliated, being dragged away by his girlfriend, and ignored him entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a dog bites you, you don’t bite the dog back—just break its leg and be done with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding the child, Li Xuewu said to Zhou Ganbu: “Since none of you want this child, give him to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you say?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Ganbu stared at him in disbelief; everyone else in the room turned to Li Xuewu with varied expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said I’ll adopt this child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu spoke seriously to Zhou Ganbu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Li Xuewu’s words, the family fell silent; the woman looked at him gratefully, her husband glared without speaking, and the young couple whispered quietly among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Ganbu studied Li Xuewu again and asked: “How old are you? How will you raise this child? This isn’t a cat or dog—it’s a living human being.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu shifted the child in his arms and said: “Even cats and dogs have people who want them, but no one wants this child. Since none of you will take him, better he comes with me than gets passed around by you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out his work ID and handed it to Zhou Ganbu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cadre took it, glanced through it, and said: “I know your record, and I trust your character—but your circumstances?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tugged Zhou Ganbu’s sleeve and walked toward the bedroom; Director Liu and the foreign affairs officer followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young clerk at the door quietly shut it and stood guard outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the bedroom, Li Xuewu said: “My address is on that note. I’m a security officer at the steel mill. My father is a doctor at the Chinese Medicine Hospital. My brother and sister-in-law are university professors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My mother and grandmother can help care for the child. My brother’s family, my younger siblings, and I—all nine of us—live together. I’m confident I can afford to raise him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your ID says you’re only nineteen. You’re not married, are you? Don’t you think about your future?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, but you know my record—my character has been tested.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know, I know,” Zhou Ganbu nodded repeatedly, but his expression remained hesitant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Liu tugged Zhou Ganbu’s sleeve: “Li Baowei’s conditions are perfect. This case can’t drag on any longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know...” Zhou Ganbu hesitated, then looked squarely at Li Xuewu: “Do you know the child’s parents’ situation? Are you still determined to adopt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I’ve learned roughly what happened to his parents from the railway staff. But the child is innocent.” Li Xuewu gently rocked the child in his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think?” Zhou Ganbu asked the foreign affairs officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both nodded in agreement and asked for Li Xuewu’s address.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I’ll go tell the family,” Zhou Ganbu moved to open the door, but Li Xuewu stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need a signed, fingerprinted statement from the family relinquishing custody—everyone must sign. And where’s the money I put in the child’s wrap?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you really need a statement? I can give you the case closure documents and proof—there are embassy witnesses. As for your money, it should be with the family—I’ll ask them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu said firmly: “I want their statement. I want your closure documents and proof too—and the embassy must sign and stamp them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Ganbu studied Li Xuewu, saw his resolve, feared he’d walk away, and nodded before stepping out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The embassy staff said to Li Xuewu: “Though we can’t handle the child directly, we’ll provide you with a maintenance allowance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. If I adopt him, I can support him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he’d decided to adopt, the child would take his surname, his nationality—no need for these people to pretend kindness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The embassy staff shook their heads: “That’s your view, but our procedures are fixed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So you won’t take no for an answer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu said nothing in response to their words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Zhou Ganbu had left the door open when he exited, Li Xuewu’s conversation with the diplomats was clearly heard outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two diplomats spoke broken Chinese, but it was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man outside started another fuss: “Listen, if there’s compensation or maintenance money, it should go to me—it’s my sister’s child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t you say that before?” Zhou Ganbu glared at the clerk by the door and snapped at the youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was then. We’re not signing anything. Give the child back to us.” The youth moved to storm into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Director Liu exploded, slapping the youth across the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you act up again, I’ll send you to the lockup to loosen your bones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Local cops weren’t as polite as Beijing’s—they spoke and acted with ruthless edge, or they couldn’t control the local chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially a director—Liu had clearly been worn thin by this youth and finally had his chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How dare you hit me?” the youth cried, clutching his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slapping you’s too gentle. Where’s the money in the wrap? The guard and train conductor saw Li Baowei put it there—hand it over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I... I thought it was my sister’s money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bullshit. The guard’s testimony says he clearly told you. Don’t play dumb—give it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why should I? He gave it to me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He gave it to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t stall with me. If you don’t hand it over, you’re coming with me today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the old cop was serious, the youth clutched his face and pleaded with his girlfriend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl reluctantly pulled out the money, shoved it hard into his hands, glared at him, and spun away, running out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth wanted to chase her but couldn’t—two cops blocked the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth handed the money to Director Liu, signed under Zhou Ganbu’s stern gaze, then bolted out to chase her.\u003C\u002Fp>",1220,"2026-06-20T13:46:54.288Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","66fd8059280bd72c4ef4cf9dea4debfbe16bcf4210e4b80a44ea7453c4c2b5ab","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-70","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-68",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-cover.jpg"]