Chapter 151 Conflict Resolution

"No matter who you are, you should abide by public order." Lu Liangchen's voice was low, but every word was powerful. "Please line up at the back."

The man's face darkened, and he threatened unhappily, "Who do you think you are? Do you believe I can make sure you can't buy anything today?"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

No one, including the old man who spoke first, dared to say a word, and some were even glad that they had not spoken out.

Jiang Haitang nervously pulled Lu Liangchen's sleeve and whispered, "Forget it, don't cause trouble... We don't necessarily need the radio."

Although the Lu family's status does not mean they are afraid of the department store manager, it would be bad if things got out of hand and affected the Lu family.

Lu Liangchen patted her hand gently, signaling her not to worry, and then looked directly at the man.

The man had a gloomy face.

"Comrade, if you are causing trouble, please leave." At this time, a staff member came over and said to Lu Liangchen.

He wanted to push Lu Liangchen out, but Lu Liangchen turned around and clamped his arms behind his back to hold him down.

"Is this how you serve the people? It seems that the department store is no longer the people's department store, but the Li family's department store."

When Lu Liangchen said this, many people's faces changed on the spot.

Although they can do whatever they want by relying on their power in the department store, if the news of the department store changing its name gets to the ears of the higher-ups, then the matter will become serious.

"What nonsense are you talking about? It's obviously you who caused trouble in the department store and wasted other people's precious time." Another staff member came out and scolded Lu Liangchen.

"It seems that you are planning to cover up for your own people in today's incident. I don't mind talking to Director Zhao from your commercial department. I think he doesn't want the reputation of the department store to be damaged because of this kind of thing, especially on the eve of the Spring Festival." Lu Liangchen's words were neither humble nor arrogant, and his tone was steady and natural, as if he was saying that the weather was a bit cold today.

The man's expression changed, and even the other staff members in the department store changed their expressions.

Obviously, they didn't expect to encounter a young man who would compete with the department store, and this young man seemed to know the leader of the Ministry of Commerce.

They stared at Lu Liangchen again and again, and began to worry about the background of this person.

This is the capital city, maybe this person is really a big shot.

"Who are you? Do you think you can see Director Zhao whenever you want?"

"Whether I can see you or not is my problem. Whether I apologize or not is your problem."

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, a man in a Mao suit, looking like a cadre, hurried over and asked, "What's going on?"

"Director Li!" the salesperson quickly explained, "This comrade is making a fuss here and disrupting our order..."

Jiang Haitang immediately stepped forward and said, "Comrade, with so many people watching, you dare to lie with your eyes open. Do you really think the people are blind? You are clearly violating the rules and regulations by allowing the leader's family to jump the queue at will."

After Jiang Haitang finished speaking, she looked at Director Li and said, "Are you Li Gang, the director of the department store? Just now, this young man claimed to be your nephew and arrogantly said that we couldn't buy anything."

Director Li took a look at the scene and immediately understood the situation.

He glared at his nephew fiercely. What an idiot! Isn't he just digging a hole for himself?

"Nonsense! Get in line at the back!"

Then he turned to Lu Liangchen and said apologetically, "Comrade, I'm really sorry. It's my fault for not disciplining you properly."

Lu Liangchen nodded: "Director Li is sensible. We just hope to make a fair purchase."

"Why don't you apologize to this comrade right now?" Director Li kicked his nephew, then shouted at the salespeople, "Is this how you serve the people? Apologize!"

Several staff members and Director Li’s nephew were very surprised. Director Li didn’t seem to be like this usually. Why was he so polite to customers today?

Could it be that this young man in front of me is really a big shot?

Thinking of this, Director Li's nephew and several salespeople apologized to Lu Liangchen. After apologizing, Director Li's nephew obediently went to the back of the line.

The onlookers and people waiting to buy radios praised Director Li again and again, saying that he was a good comrade who truly served the people.

Only Lu Liangchen snorted coldly and said nothing.

Yuan Yinan stood aside with a gloomy expression on his face. It seemed that the department store needed to be rectified.

The storm subsided and the queue order was restored.

What was even more surprising was that Director Li, in order to express his apology, specially asked someone to take out another batch of radios from the warehouse to ensure that everyone in the queue could buy one.

Yuan Yinan's face became even uglier. The problems of the department store seemed to be more serious than he had imagined.

She had no doubt that Director Li acted like this because he recognized her.

Lu Liangchen finally bought a radio. The radio was maroon in color, with a fine metal mesh cover on the front, an FM knob and volume switch on the side, and a pull-out antenna.

When he handed the brand new Red Star radio to Jiang Haitang, Jiang Haitang smiled happily.

At noon, they had lunch at a state-owned restaurant near the department store.

He Wanyi ordered a table full of dishes: braised pork, sweet and sour carp, stir-fried vegetables, spicy and sour shredded potatoes and a large bowl of egg soup.

Yuan Yinan was still angry, and He Wanyi smiled and said, "Don't be angry, it's not worth it on such a good day."

"I still get angry when I think about it. Is the good reputation we've built up over the years going to be ruined by someone like this?"

"We'll just have to clean things up after the Lunar New Year. Besides, this kind of thing is actually very common. Every industry has its problems."

"That being said, in the end... never mind. Today is a good day, let's not talk about this. Let's eat quickly. We still have to continue shopping after dinner."

Seeing Jiang Haitang looking bewildered, Lu Liangchen leaned close to her ear and said, "Second Aunt is the head of the Commerce Bureau, so this area falls under her jurisdiction."

Jiang Haitang finally understood. No wonder they had somehow gained the upper hand in today's dispute. They had thought that Director Li was really a good person. Now that she thought about it, she thought that he must have recognized Second Aunt.

Jiang Haitang was not too surprised by her second aunt's identity. After all, for a family like the Lu family, the status of both the son and the daughter-in-law should not be low.

The family finished their meal quickly and then went shopping.

Shopping in the afternoon was relatively relaxing. They first went to the fabric area and selected a piece of navy blue gabardine fabric to make a new Zhongshan suit for Lu Liangchen.

He went to the clothing area again and bought a maroon tweed coat for Jiang Haitang and a bright red cotton coat for Xiao Taozi.

According to He Wanyi's idea, she wanted to continue selling, but was stopped by Jiang Haitang.

"Auntie, you don't need to buy too much. Liangchen and I both work in a textile factory, and the clothes our company gives us are enough for us to wear."

"Yours is definitely not as good as the ones in Beijing..." Lu Simin had just said something when she suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, I remember now, the woolen fabrics from your factory seem to be very good."

"It was Haitang who improved the technology, and it achieved good results at last year's Canton Fair." Lu Liangchen immediately began to praise his wife.

After buying some odds and ends, the group thought that since tomorrow was New Year's Eve, they might as well buy some meat and vegetables to take back.

Yuan Yinan said, "I'm going back to work first, so I won't be buying with you guys."

He Wanyi said: "When you speak, be gentle and don't be too anxious."

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I know my limits."

After watching Yuan Yinnan leave in a hurry, everyone went to buy vegetables for New Year's Eve.

It was not until sunset that the jeep set off on its way home.

The people in the back seat were obviously very tired. He Wanyi and Xiao Taozi slept comfortably in each other's arms, and Shi Shulan's head was also gradually becoming drowsy.

Jiang Haitang secretly glanced at Lu Liangchen who was concentrating on driving.

"What are you thinking about?" Lu Liangchen noticed her gaze and asked softly.

Jiang Haitang smiled and shook her head: "Nothing, I just feel... really good."

Lu Liangchen seemed to understand what she meant. He reached out and gently shook her hand, and the two smiled at each other.

When she returned home in the evening, He Wanyi took out a box of wool from her home.

"This is the wool your Aunt Ding brought back for me when she went to Shanghai a while ago. She also brought it back for Haitang to knit a sweater for."

"Mom, we have plenty of yarn. Knit yourself a sweater."

He Wanyi rolled her eyes at her son and said unhappily, "At my age, how can I look good in a red sweater? People will laugh at me to death. This wool was originally prepared for you."

In the end, Jiang Haitang accepted the yarn.

"That's right!" He Wanyi smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits. "After waiting for so many years, I finally saw Liangchen get married, and he's such a good wife. I'm so happy. Haitang, I really treat you as one of our family, so don't be polite with me."

Jiang Haitang felt warm in her heart and wanted to say something, but Shi Shulan spoke first: "Haitang, Mom is the best mother-in-law in the world. She has nothing to say about her daughter-in-law."

There was no conversation all night. Before dawn the next day, the rustling sound of a broom sweeping across the ground could be heard in the yard.

Through the window, Jiang Haitang saw brothers Lu Liangchen and Lu Liangjin cleaning the yard.

Lu Liangchen was not wearing a cotton jacket, only a dark blue sweater, and the white breath he exhaled was particularly obvious in the morning light.

He seemed to be aware of the gaze, and looked up towards the kitchen window, where his eyes met Jiang Haitang's.

Jiang Haitang hurriedly lowered her head and pulled down the curtains. She felt her cheeks getting a little hot. Thinking that everyone in the family should be up, she hurriedly put on her clothes.

After getting dressed and looking at Xiao Taozi who was still sleeping soundly, she closed the door and went to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, He Wanyi and Shi Shulan were already busy.

Seeing Jiang Haitang, Shi Shulan hurriedly said, "Haitang is up? Why don't you sleep a little longer?"

"Breakfast is ready. Haitang, you can have breakfast first. After that, help me and your sister-in-law prepare the New Year's Eve dinner." He Wanyi didn't hesitate and started making arrangements directly.

Jiang Haitang saw that the water in the big iron pot on the stove was bubbling, He Wanyi was cutting meat, and Shi Shulan was washing a basket of winter cabbage that had just been taken out of the cellar.

On the stove, there is a small pot of fragrant porridge with a few fried dough sticks next to it.

Jiang Haitang scooped a bowl of porridge and ate it quickly with fried dough sticks.

"Auntie, let me cut the meat."

"This job is tiring. Don't help. Go and see if there is anything else you can do." He Wanyi hurriedly pushed Jiang Haitang away.

"Auntie, I'm very strong."

He Wanyi looked at the persistent Jiang Haitang and said with a smile, "I'll just cut it a little bit. The job of chopping the meat will be handed over to the men later."

Jiang Haitang was stunned. In a family like the Lu family, do men still need to cook?