[{"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-940":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},2314990,4526,"Chapter 940: Free Lunch","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-940",940,"\u003Cp>“Hey, Xuewu, what are you doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the factory gate, Wei Zai first told the driver to stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he glanced at the guard booth entrance, saw it was indeed Li Xuewu, and jumped out to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned his head, smiled, and waved: “Comrade Wei, on duty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I was just wondering if I’d mixed up the duty schedule.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai smiled, sizing up Li Xuewu—dressed in a wool overcoat, wearing a black otter fur hat, posture straight, bearing dignified—and said: “I was about to head home when I thought you were on duty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dream on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu pulled out a cigarette, offered one over, lit up, then explained: “Today, Deputy Director Wang is back—coming to pick up the train.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh~ oh~ Deputy Director Wang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai paused, then realized who he meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Li Xuewu again, whispering: “Assigned by leadership?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu took a drag and said: “Deputy Director Wang’s been transferred to the training ground—gotta show some respect, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of respect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai shot him a look and hissed: “You’re just full of shit—spoiling her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced left and right, waved to He Yuan at the booth to keep his distance, then added: “It’s not your fault—why bother with her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell me you’re scared of who she’s got behind her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai tapped Li Xuewu with his cigarette finger: “Her old boss is nothing next to your father-in-law—tell her to knock it off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it—we’re colleagues, and this is your security zone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu had heard about Wang Zongli’s situation—he didn’t fear her, nor did he dread any “ashes rekindling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never mind the rest—she’s a woman who followed us to the frontier, and after returning, the Office didn’t assign her anything—it’s not right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re such a pushover!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai protested for him: “Think about yourself! In your position, would she come to meet you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, I’d be terrified!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu chuckled, then pointed at Wei Zai’s GAZ jeep: “Wanna swap cars? Director Li still has a sedan quota for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t have that kind of face!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai sneered, squinting: “Who asked you for it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Ding—right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew it was him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai rolled his eyes, annoyed: “That guy’s shameless—don’t even bother with him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, not that bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu gestured to his own car: “I’m used to this one—easier going up and down the hills. Don’t like sedans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bullshit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai smirked, jabbed Li Xuewu: “But you’re right—don’t rush to swap. Wait till you get a Red Flag outright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it—thanks for the good luck!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu bowed playfully: “If I never get one, I’ll ride on yours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai waved him off, climbing into the jeep: “Fine, fine—wait for that day!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the GAZ jeep honk and drive off, He Yuan returned to Li Xuewu’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the departing jeep and grinned: “Wei Zai and Director Ding have bad blood—they were supposed to be in-laws, but it fell through. Their spouses work in the same unit and keep fighting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu nodded, asking He Yuan: “How do you know this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuan opened his mouth, then saw his leader’s expression and clammed up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu tapped his lips: “Remember—illness enters through the mouth; disaster comes from it too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Qizhi stepped out of the guard booth, teased He Yuan, then pointed toward the gate: “Alright, today’s little guests have arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu turned—some kids were cycling around aimlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Per the earlier plan, the Foreign Affairs Office organized progressive students and teachers to visit and exchange with the steel mill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the first day of implementation; Li Xuewu had seen Sha Qizhi on the way and got off at the gate to chat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just checking in—rare free time, so he inspected guard post discipline and asked frontline security staff about their mindset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Qizhi had gotten snow in his cotton shoes that morning and was drying his insoles on the radiator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew that stink—no one could stay in the booth anymore, so he stood outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d just gone in to tidy up, and now here came work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking with Li Xuewu, he waved to the Foreign Affairs Office staff chatting in the opposite booth: “Alright, time to welcome the guests.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The train was still a while off—Li Xuewu stood by the guard booth, curious what these little guests were like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance, groups of bicycles headed this way, clearly timing their arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin adjusted his cap, blinking his wind-stung eyes, and shouted: “Comrades! Victory is waving at us! Charge!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Charge!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Charge—cough cough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Tong wasn’t in great shape—he’d ridden hard all the way, and shouting into the wind left him choking on cold air, drawing laughter from other youths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...you idiot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mocking voice came from behind, laced with insults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His glasses were fogged from coughing and tear duct moisture—he blinked hard, trying to spot who was laughing at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’re you staring at?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The joker wasn’t backing down—he turned, glared, and shouted back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hey, this guy was asking for trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Tong memorized his face, pedaled hard, caught up with Zhong Yuemin, and started complaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ignore them for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin glanced back, pedaling: “We’re almost there—deal with him then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Hua tugged his white cotton mask down, spat, and said: “Cut him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait and see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin eyed the mill gate—armed guards stood there; if they pulled knives, they’d get the worse end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone here was young, energetic—the kind who’d play in Dongcheng in the morning, eat in Nancheng in the afternoon, sleep in Xicheng at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With policy and rumors in hand, these bored fools were itching to cause chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Youth is all about stirring up trouble!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, today’s visit wasn’t impromptu—no one could just barge in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Hua had a distant cousin working here; they were close, and he’d overheard about a “restricted” visit program—so here they were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These troublemakers were always restless; even if factories invited them, they’d refuse—only places ordinary people couldn’t enter made them feel special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other areas? Who knows. But in Beijing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yuan Hua told Zhong Yuemin and the others, he said you had to book in advance and show ID.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning: only progressive students from school could come—not individuals, only groups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No visits on weekdays, but Sundays offered “special” experiences and “work-study” fun activities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly—what convinced Zhong Yuemin to sign up—was the presence of dancers from the Cultural Troupe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Hua didn’t care about the rest—he was only interested in that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Funny thing—he wanted it, and so did everyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the first batch of 500 slots filled up instantly once word spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look now—on a weekend, the steel mill gate swarmed with youths, chattering nonstop, buzzing with energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five hundred people, plus spectators pushing bikes—blocking the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Qizhi and the reception staff used a loudspeaker to repeat the visit rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After each announcement, they let a group in to park, then formed lines with guides for the tour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin and the others ignored the mill officials’ announcements—they circled around the guy who’d insulted Yuan Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“F*** you, was it you yelling just now?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Hua grabbed the guy’s collar and shoved a fork right against his stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even through the cotton coat, the blade’s sharpness was clear—say one more word and it’d pierce in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guy was bold—he tilted his neck, looked up, and said: “Go ahead, stab me. If you don’t, I’m your grandson!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“F*** you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Jun glared and tightened his grip, cursing: “You think I’m a fool?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin grabbed Yuan Jun’s arm and shoved him toward the group that had just rushed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You started by spitting filth at us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what if I did?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arriving group was even more brazen—they grabbed Zhong Yuemin’s collar and shouted: “You little brat, if you’ve got no guts, don’t go around bluffing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think I’m some nobody?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck your mother!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Jun grew frantic, clamped his lips shut, raised his hand to strike—but suddenly the crowd parted, and Zheng Tong bumped into him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the guard at the gate, rifle pointed their way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These brats weren’t stupid—they knew to dodge gun barrels. Seeing the guards were serious, they all stopped watching the spectacle and retreated like a tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm~~~ Keep going~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu stood with his hands behind his back at the gate, eyelids drooping as he stared this way, licking his lips as if the sound came from his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the brats had calmed down, he added: “Fight? Why stop? Is your fork just a toy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stick him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him, Yuan Jun recognized who it was and instinctively released his grip on the other man’s collar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin and the opposing group reacted the same way—immediately loosening their holds on each other and stepping back quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu stood there, eyes half-lidded, watching. The scene fell utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stick him, fight—our factory’s security department hasn’t had a chance to earn merit in a long time. Today’s a gift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, Li Xuewu waved to He Yuan: “Search everyone entering. Seize anyone carrying weapons for interrogation—might even be someone here to hand us a reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuan snapped to attention, saluted, then glared at the men outside the gate as if ready to strike at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Jun’s face changed—he quickly tucked the fork into his sleeve, but realized it was pointless, glanced at Zhong Yuemin, unsure what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin, however, was clever—he took the weapon from Yuan Jun’s hand, walked up to He Yuan, and smiled: “Comrade of the Security Department, we just picked up this fork off the ground. Don’t know who dropped it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think I’m an idiot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuan copied Li Xuewu’s half-lidded stare—but Li Xuewu had already gotten in his car and left. He lacked the same aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than three metallic clinks came from behind Zhong Yuemin. He looked down—sure enough, more forks had been “dropped” on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin looked at He Yuan with amusement, his expression utterly comical—as if staring at an idiot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuan ignored him, picked up the forks, and waved to the other group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were quick to catch on—immediately picked up the forks and handed them over willingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d reacted fast: hearing Zhong Yuemin use that excuse to avoid punishment, they instantly copied him and ditched their weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they hadn’t expected the Security Department to question it—by then, it was too late to retrieve them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene grew awkward. The group stood before He Yuan, utterly speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… actually, I know the leader you were just talking to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuan stared blankly, rolled his eyes: “I know plenty who know our leader. Do I have to smile at all of them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean—we know each other personally!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man grew agitated, gesturing: “Last year around this time, we watched a movie together at the cinema—he sat in front of us with a girl…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must be mistaken!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuan’s face darkened: “Our leader’s too busy to go to the movies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides—what are your names? Come with me to register. Don’t think this is over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You there—come over!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After scolding the group in front of him, he waved toward Yuan Jun and the others: “Try to run, and I’ll shoot you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Jun and the others looked at each other, then reluctantly stepped out of the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this really necessary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing trouble brewing, Zhong Yuemin smiled and called out to the other side: “Hey, brother, where you from? No harm done—we were just fooling around. Let’s call it even.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group was sharp—they realized if this kept up, today they’d be handing themselves over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Zhang Jianguo, from Dongcheng Beigouyan Middle School. Today ends here. If you’re not satisfied, we’ll settle it tomorrow, one-on-one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jianguo was the one who’d claimed to know Li Xuewu. Li Xuewu hadn’t looked closely earlier—if he had, he’d have recognized these boys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was back when he was dating Lin Tingting—he’d brought her to the movies after returning from the Northeast, fumbling with nuts in front of them, and these guys had mistaken him for some kind of patriarch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jianguo, Li Heping, Yan Shengli—names with a peculiar flair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kids raised in the alleyways, unlike Zhong Yuemin’s courtyard-bred peers who’d seen the world and knew caution, carried a raw, untamed wildness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put kindly, they were fearless; put bluntly, they were reckless and ignorant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a courtyard kid had been pinned by a fork, he’d have said a few words, backed down—it was called knowing when to bend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Zhang Jianguo and his crew, it was different—they had nothing left but their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they lost their dignity, there’d be no place left for them in society.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even their reply to Zhong Yuemin carried the alley kid’s stubborn defiance toward courtyard kids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Courtyard kids called themselves “veterans”; alley kids called themselves “hooligans.” The two groups were sharply divided, kept their distance, sometimes clashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, “hooligan” became a broad term—later, anyone could be called one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fashion of the era always carried wide inclusiveness and fluidity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least for now, neither side saw the other as their own—they were youth-class tensions within the same generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuan was young too, but he was already employed, never involved in such things, and due to his job, he disliked these brats intensely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So seeing Zhang Jianguo like a rooster ready to fight, he raised an eyebrow: “So? Want to settle this with a fight right here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could we? We’re progressive youth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin, ever the smooth operator, was the type who’d never take a loss—even if he had youthful fire, it was faint; mostly, it was adolescent impulsiveness and a sense of participation in the times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He put his arms around Yuan Jun and Zheng Tong, smiled at He Yuan, spoke a few flattering words, then generously chatted with Zhang Jianguo’s group—and that was that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuan wouldn’t make trouble for them. Though he disliked them, such incidents would happen often—he couldn’t arrest everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he did write down both sides’ names and warned them to behave themselves during their factory tour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These brats had come under the highest directives—who’d dare stop them from visiting? Who’d dare block their exchanges?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tide of the era shaped its character. To truly understand what happened in this time, you had to observe it with the eyes of the era itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The train, trailing a long plume of white steam, slowly rolled into the switching yard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Wang Zongli’s current status, she couldn’t ride the special train. Her train reached the steel mill only because it was a freight-only service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Ning was expected to complete handover duties with Han Zhan in Gangcheng this week, arriving at the steel mill around next Wednesday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was assigned to the frontier and needed to report to Li Xuewu, hear his leader’s instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also needed to meet his family and make arrangements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wouldn’t actually assume his frontier post until next weekend at the earliest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By normal procedure, Wang Zongli should have waited until Xu Ning reached the frontier before returning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But was the situation normal now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the sudden upheaval last Saturday settled, Wang Zongli didn’t receive news of victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, on Monday, the factory’s administrative meeting removed her from her post. So her return now wasn’t inappropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sad part? The order assigning her to the training ground had been telegraphed by Sun Jian of the Security Department’s General Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one cared when she’d report, how to handle her personnel transfer, or how to return from the frontier—no one asked, no one inquired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, the frontier special train was returning after delivering cargo, so she boarded it. No hope for an official car—just getting a seat in the crew car was a blessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The train screeched to a halt. Wang Zongli stood at the carriage door and saw Li Xuewu on the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This train carried no passengers from the steel mill—so Li Xuewu was here only for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This train had no passengers from the steel mill, so Li Xuewu standing here must be waiting for her—no one else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve worked hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled faintly, took her luggage from her and handed it to Peng Xiaoli, then extended his hand to help her down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zongli looked at the steps—the gap between the crew car door and the ground was high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no choice but to take his hand and step down slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you. It’s rare you still let me keep some dignity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once on solid ground, she scanned the empty platform—only Li Xuewu, his secretary, and the command vehicle remained. No one else connected to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The switching yard, however, buzzed with activity—the new round of trade had begun. This year, the steel mill workers’ meals might hold an extra slice or two of meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu gestured toward the command vehicle: “Get in. It’s the weekend—everyone’s off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Deputy Director Li is working today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zongli looked at him, raised an eyebrow: “No need to comfort me. Winner takes all. I accept the loss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nodded toward Peng Xiaoli beside the car: “Give me my luggage. I can go home myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t come here to watch your spectacle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu’s face still wore that faint smile, his voice genuinely sincere: “At least I’m here, aren’t I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu’s face still wore that faint smile, and he sincerely said, “At least I’m here, aren’t I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Yes!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zongli looked deeply at Li Xuewu, thought for a moment, and nodded: 'You’re right—at least you’re still here.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Let’s go.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned back, walking toward the jeep as she said: 'If it’s convenient, could you please take me home? Riding that train was truly exhausting.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Xiao held the luggage, stood beside the car, glanced at Li Xuewu, saw no further orders from the superior, and opened the door for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled at Wang Zongli’s back, then stepped toward the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the hell is this ‘winner takes all, loser accepts defeat’ nonsense—if you truly accepted defeat, how could you act so stubbornly proud?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who know know she colluded with Cheng Kaiyuan to stir up trouble; those who don’t think Li Xuewu and Li Huaide bullied her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai, head of the Political Group, said Li Xuewu is just idle, just a pushover, just coddling people like Wang Zongli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s true, and yet not true—according to Li Xuewu’s nature, and in Wang Zongli’s mind, him coming to meet her at the train station today was surely hiding some ulterior motive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, watching her suffer was out of the question—Li Xuewu, in her eyes, was never that shallow, never that childish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the top figures in the rolling mill, Li Xuewu was Wang Zongli’s number one threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had mentioned this repeatedly to Cheng Kaiyuan, and even written in letters to Yang Yuansong and others about her cautious stance toward this operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But despite Cheng Kaiyuan taking the matter seriously, even formulating a concrete plan against Li Xuewu, it still failed at the last moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the deputy head of the Security Group and director of the General Office couldn’t control the Security Department when Li Xuewu was away—clearly, this man was an extreme danger to the Security Department, to the rolling mill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zongli refused to accept this failure—she believed none of her own actions in this operation contained any factor that could have caused it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why they say success always has its reasons, and failure always has its causes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back, Wang Zongli had been thinking: what exactly caused this reform to fail?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, eliminate personnel influence: with top leadership support, middle-management advocacy, and grassroots response, these were advantages Li Huaide never had in his own reform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, environmental influence: the timing was chosen because the external environment was favorable—the higher-ups’ expanded meeting was a perfect opportunity, and both Li Huaide and Li Xuewu were far away on the frontier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Kaiyuan advocated acting at this moment not without considering Li Huaide might be prepared—but he judged the timing ripe and demanded immediate execution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back now, the final factor—timing influence—was the primary reason for the operation’s failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Kaiyuan’s judgment on the timing of preparation and execution was flawed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially after the operation began, his control over the factory was indecisive, even leading to traitors emerging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zongli sat in the car, watching the factory scenery flash by outside, and couldn’t help sighing deeply inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying ‘winner takes all, loser accepts defeat’ sounds simple—but actually living by it is incredibly hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least in her view, from the moment Yang Yuansong approached her, convinced her to join this operation, and even enlisted her former superior to advocate for her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This whole affair was a mistaken beginning; its ending in failure was therefore not so unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Why did Sun Jian help you?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Hm?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Oh~'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu was startled by her question, then turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow: 'Why couldn’t Director Sun help me?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Wang Zongli could respond, he asked again: 'Is Director Sun helping me? Why Director Sun?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zongli was stunned by his three consecutive questions, staring at him blankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled and said: 'Maybe I’m a good leader, or maybe he wants to stand on the side of justice, or maybe you’ve misjudged him.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three questions, three answers—self-posed and self-answered—perfectly replied to Wang Zongli’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zongli thought seriously for a moment, then looked at Li Xuewu and nodded: 'I accept the idea that you’re a good leader.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Thank you.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu nodded politely: 'You’re the same in my eyes—so I welcome you to join the Security Group.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Heh, sincere?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zongli studied Li Xuewu’s expression, saw no pretense, and her smile grew serious: 'I sincerely appreciate your recognition—it’s the best, most honorable evaluation I’ve received in all my years at the rolling mill.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Thank you.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sincerely thanked Li Xuewu; the burden she’d carried since returning from the frontier lifted at once, as if freed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And until he dropped her off at home, Li Xuewu didn’t say another word to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that’s the pride a cadre should have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re asking about Cheng Kaiyuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—what Cheng Kaiyuan embodies is precisely the coldness and shamelessness a cadre should have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Xuewu’s command vehicle left the rolling mill, someone in the office building happened to be watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even on weekends, the factory always had people working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Including the boiler workshop, metallurgy workshop, equipment workshop, and other production departments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also including maintenance, fire control, security, and other functional departments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each office and section in the administrative units had designated on-duty personnel to ensure critical work didn’t stall on holidays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, every office had on-duty requirements, and factory leadership also had on-duty duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ruoweng, newly appointed deputy director of the Management Committee Office, was on duty for the first time as a department cadre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coincidentally, Wei Zai was also working on the third floor; the two sat together drinking tea and chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation turned naturally—Wei Zai saw the familiar command vehicle pass from view, mentioned meeting Li Xuewu at the gate, and added that Li Xuewu had gone to pick up Wang Zongli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ruoweng was a veteran bureaucrat, with years of experience in the factory office, having written materials for Li Huaide for years—this posting was finally his long-awaited reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a poor impression of Wang Zongli—perhaps the common flaw of writers: disdain for those who rose through nepotism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially someone like him, who had been neglected for years and never advanced, he despised those who stole his opportunities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disdain for nepotism naturally extended to disdain for young upstarts—young people should follow their path, step by step, like they did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, of the two people Wei Zai mentioned, Shi Ruoweng disliked both—especially now, with clear political alignments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What does Deputy Director Li mean?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ruoweng asked with a mocking smile: 'Afraid of the wind, trying to ride two horses?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Not that extreme.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai had just spoken offhand, never expecting such a strong reaction from Shi Ruoweng; he tried to soothe him: 'Deputy Director Li? He looks stern, but he’s actually a good man.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'In political matters, is there good and bad?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ruoweng asked, then sneered: 'I think he’s just inexperienced, unreliable, and overthinking.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai sensed the tone was off, and raised an eyebrow: 'Deputy Director Shi, what exactly do you mean?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No! I don’t mean anything!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ruoweng had sat on the cold bench for so long, his heart now as solid as stone—he wouldn’t be probed by Wei Zai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I’m just speaking from my own perspective—Deputy Director Li, heh, after all, he’s my peer~'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he picked up his teacup and stood to leave, shaking his head as he walked out, radiating an aura of solitary aloofness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Zai sat there, amused—he thought: this old windbag—if his cultivation were truly complete, he wouldn’t be talking about peers and non-peers, would he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thinks he’s something special—does he really believe his Management Committee Office deputy director position is the same as Li Xuewu’s?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest joke in the world is overestimating oneself—bringing ridicule upon oneself!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is ‘bringing ridicule upon oneself’?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It means being mocked by those with broad insight or deep expertise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who came to the rolling mill for observation and exchange—Zhong Yuemin and others—felt they themselves were now bringing ridicule upon themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did they say when they arrived?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would carry the spark of reform to the workers, bring the passion of youth into the steel workshops, carry the sweat of labor to the construction sites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Progressive youth and reform-minded workers hand in hand, heart to heart, igniting a greater wave of progress and learning in the factory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the factory’s first stop for these little guests? The boiler workshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think about it—workers inside wear thin cotton uniforms and still feel hot; these progressive students, dressed in cotton-padded coats and pants, would be what after walking around for twenty minutes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they came out, they were all sneezing, shivering, hugging their arms and hunching their necks—like little quails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soaked in sweat from cotton-padded clothes, suddenly stepping outside into minus twenty degrees—no matter how high their flame or passion, it had cooled almost completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You say progressive youth have passion, blood heat—can it be hotter than a boiler?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Want to cause trouble? First, give you a lesson!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the high-heat workshop, the second stop was the rolling mill’s founding history hall and honor room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was prepared for leadership inspections, visits from sister units, and new employee ideological education.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, these little guests had to go through this routine—to learn how the veteran workers bled and sweated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning the history, they’d see the mill’s honors and achievements, see which advanced individuals and deeds the mill had produced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, they’d listen to retired model workers recount their personal experiences, and the living map of the mill’s struggle and construction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You say progressive youth have opinions, ideas, experience—can they surpass our model worker elders in ideological awareness and life experience?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Want to speak? First, take a worker’s iron fist!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the lesson and the fist, it was time for a sweet date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, after listening to the model workers’ lecture, the little guests watched the most popular movie of the moment in the honor hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You came carrying sparks—but by now they were nearly extinguished; even if any passion remained, after watching the movie, you’d be distracted, indulging in frivolity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s called taking someone’s hand and being short on words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then there’s the saying: “Who eats at another’s table grows soft-spoken!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the movie, as the young visitors relaxed their nerves and burned through the morning’s boundless enthusiasm, their stomachs growling loudly, they were led to the big canteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Free lunch? It really exists in this world!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All progressive youths visiting for study and observation are entitled to free meals at the steel rolling mill—limited to just this one noon meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the food isn’t special in any way; they eat exactly what the workers eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These progressive youths wouldn’t complain or pick and choose; they remembered why they’d come here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So each of them held their iron trays, curious and eager, lining up to get served.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Zhu stood behind the serving window, grinning broadly at these clueless youths, their eyes shining with innocent stupidity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t blame himself for laughing at these kids—what could they possibly serve for lunch on a non-workday?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless you went to the small canteen, where meals were cooked fresh on individual stoves—not like this place, where everything got dumped into giant basins and stirred like pig slop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing these kids’ hopeful gazes, especially their eager anticipation of tasting the workers’ meals, he couldn’t help stifling his laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin picked up his tray and sat down beside Yuan Jun and Zheng Tong, asking casually: “Tasty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Tong let out a deep sigh, staring at his meal: “The workers really suffer, don’t they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it that bad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin scooped up a forkful of stir-fried cabbage and shoved it in his mouth, then, after chewing a few times, looked at Zheng Tong and Yuan Jun: “What’s this taste?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It smells like sweat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Jun dipped his steamed bun into the cabbage broth and grimaced: “Either the cabbage was overcooked, or it’s just bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn! Is the cook here insane?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin grumbled: “Do they dare fool the workers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sit down~ sit down!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Tong pulled Zhong Yuemin back, whispering: “Who’s fooling whom? Who knows where these cabbages even came from—maybe the peasants are fooling the factory!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it all! What kind of world is this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin grumbled: “I think the peasants need reform more—we should go to the countryside and solve the root problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You go! I’m not going!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Jun looked up and said: “Face the earth, back to the sky—it’ll kill you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them ate their meal with laughter; though the cabbage stank, the potatoes were passable—they managed to fill their bellies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, of course, there was no nap—do you think this is a welfare home?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reception staff fully understood and followed their superiors’ instructions, wholeheartedly supporting the progressive youths’ enthusiastic attitude toward labor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So right after lunch, once everyone had regained their strength, they headed to the construction site to carry bricks and stones alongside the laboring workers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reception officer explained: this was called uniting progressive youths with laboring workers—joint labor to summarize experiences of reform and development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Yuemin and Zhang Jianguo and the others were stunned—what the hell was this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d come to observe, exchange, and learn—why the hell were they supposed to work?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the youths standing there, reluctant and frozen, the reception officer had a trick—he pointed to a staff member with glasses holding a camera: “Today’s labor gathering will be reported in the Worker’s Daily, Iron and Steel Daily, and other media.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it—photos, and they’d be in the papers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youths exchanged glances, realizing they were trapped—time to roll up their sleeves and get to work!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the energetic youths, the reception officer thought: Youth—still care about face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the glasses-wearing staff member snapped photos of them working, these progressive youths pushed themselves even harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who could carry five bricks now carried six; two people carrying a stone? One person grabbed it and sprinted off—this was the power of propaganda!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the construction workers—they were bastards too!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing fresh hands arrive to help, they lavished praise: “So strong!” “Young people really are amazing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young people couldn’t resist praise—they swung their arms, exerted themselves, and worked like mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look at that—five hundred of them were as productive as a thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even crafty Zhong Yuemin, dodging the camera, muttered under his breath: “What a load of crap—this ‘free lunch’ costs more than eating at Lao Mo’s!”\u003C\u002Fp>",5346,"2026-06-20T13:47:03.676Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","092f32e46f78ec57b6f0268bd81775b0e1e21018364b7e06a07e263839c04c77","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-941","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-939",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-cover.jpg"]