Chapter 160 Chapter 160
Before Ye Qing could even open his mouth, the gloomy deputy director on the opposite side spoke up, looking at the newcomer in surprise:
"Old Zhao, do you know this girl?"
When Mr. Zhao saw the deputy director's reaction, he knew he had made the right choice. He was immediately shocked and astonished:
"Are you really Ye Qing? Oh my god, why are you here? Aren't you cutting in line in some village?"
Ye Qing was also a little confused. She didn't know who the person in front of her was. She searched her mind for a long time, but couldn't remember when she knew this person.
The man saw Ye Qing's confused look and immediately laughed:
"I'm the director of this street revolutionary committee. My name is Zhao Zhiqiang. You don't know me, but I've seen you on TV and in newspapers. You look familiar. I didn't expect it was you. Why did you come to Jicheng for no reason? Are you... back in the city?"
Zhao Zhiqiang seemed to remember something, and a look of understanding suddenly flashed across his eyes.
That's right, this girl has been reported in newspapers and on the news broadcast of Jicheng TV. The higher-ups will definitely not let such a talented person stay in a remote place, and will definitely find a way to transfer her back to the city. However, what Zhao Zhiqiang didn't expect was that Ye Qing actually showed up in the street revolutionary committee under his jurisdiction. Could it be that this girl was transferred to work in their street?
When he thought of this possibility, the street revolutionary committee director's eyes immediately lit up and he became energetic. He looked at Ye Qing like a hungry wolf seeing meat.
As soon as Ye Qing saw Director Zhao's expression, he knew that he had misunderstood, and he quickly waved his hand to explain:
"No, I didn't go back to the city. I just came to Shangji City for a few days on business. After I finished my business, I had to go back to Kaoshantun to join the team."
"But I have a house in Zhima Hutong, which was inherited by a distant relative. But I was in the countryside and didn't have time to go to Jicheng to handle the formalities, so this matter has been delayed. Now, while I am on a business trip, I hurried here to register the information."
"It's just that this deputy director said that since my house is vacant, in order to improve the housing problems of other needy households in this street, I must give the house to the street office to rent it out. But this house is my private property. Although I don't live here for the time being, I may return to the city one day, and then I will definitely move here. If the house is rented out, where will I live when I return?"
The deputy director had never read any newspaper news, so naturally he didn't know any Ye Qing. But when he saw Zhao Zhiqiang chatting enthusiastically with Ye Qing, he subconsciously thought that Ye Qing and Zhao Zhiqiang had some kind of relationship.
He had always disliked Zhao Zhiqiang, who was suppressed by someone younger than him. He always wanted to find an opportunity to kick Zhao Zhiqiang out so that he could be promoted to a regular position as deputy director. So when he saw Ye Qing complaining to Zhao Zhiqiang and Zhao Zhiqiang seemed to want to protect Ye Qing, his expression froze and he subconsciously mocked:
"You have been sent to the countryside to work in the fields. It is not easy to return to the city. There are so many jobs in the city now. How can you return whenever you want? Let alone three or five months, given the current situation, you may not be able to return in three to five years. It is a waste of national resources to leave such a large house empty. Let those who are short of housing move in first to give them a buffer period. This is also a reasonable use of resources. What's the problem?"
Zhao Zhiqiang looked at the deputy director and was practically drunk on the spot.
He really wanted to curse, Li Aijun, what the hell are you talking about? The jobs in the city are all over the place, what does that have to do with Ye Qing? This girl is a top high-tech talent in agriculture. If she really wants to go back to the city, as long as she expresses her intention, the higher-ups will immediately handle the procedures for her. Not to mention three or five months, it will probably take less than three or five days to complete the process!
Zhao Zhiqiang came from the countryside, so naturally he paid special attention to agriculture. Ever since the news report about Ye Qing's scientific breeding became popular a few days ago, Zhao Zhiqiang paid special attention to this matter. He even went out of his way to find the previous news reports related to Ye Qing, including the headline last year when Ye Qing first appeared in the Jicheng Daily about a heroic woman who went to the countryside to fight traffickers and catch female thieves, as well as Ye Qing's news in the "Women's Daily" and her serialized novels. Zhao Zhiqiang looked them up one by one and even made clippings of them.
Not only that, Zhao Zhiqiang even called the Jicheng Daily and the Women's Newspaper, hoping to learn more about Ye Qing from the newspapers. Of course, he got nothing in return. The newspapers' understanding of Ye Qing was limited to interview materials, and they would never reveal these things to an ordinary person.
From this, we can see that Zhao Zhiqiang is very curious about this educated youth from Shanghai. Although he is not a die-hard fan of Ye Qing, at least he sincerely admires this girl from the bottom of his heart.
This is why Zhao Zhiqiang recognized Ye Qing after just a quick glance after entering the room.
It was precisely because he knew about the great things Ye Qing had done after he went to the countryside to work in the production team that Zhao Zhiqiang naturally knew that Ye Qing was a capable man.
For an educated youth to go to Jicheng on a business trip, it must not be an easy job. In all likelihood, she was summoned by the Ministry of Agriculture. Moreover, with her current fame, there are countless state-owned units watching her. They are probably trying to use a hoe to pry open the wall and bring her into their own land.
Therefore, Zhao Zhiqiang did not dare to ignore Ye Qing at all. He was not like Li Aijun who was stupid and unaware, and offended such a big shot completely with just a few words. Now when he heard that Ye Qing had a house in Zhima Hutong under his jurisdiction, Zhao Zhiqiang was so happy that he almost jumped up, and he wished he could get close to this big shot immediately.
This is God's gift to him. Regardless of whether Ye Qing lives in this house or not, he has to find a way to help take care of the yard. As long as he manages the logistics of this big boss properly, his relationship with Ye Qing will surely be quickly improved. Maybe one day in the future this big boss will like him and give him a hand, and he will be able to rise to prominence. If he still can't seize this God-given opportunity, then he deserves to be depressed in this cramped street revolutionary committee for the rest of his life!
Thinking of this, Zhao Zhiqiang became more enthusiastic about Ye Qing, and hurried over to Ye Qing and said:
"Comrade Ye, don't listen to Li Aijun's nonsense. As long as the procedures for your house are in compliance with the regulations and laws, whether it is rented or idle, it is up to you to decide. The Street Revolutionary Committee can only give suggestions, but will not force expropriation. Not to mention the Street Revolutionary Committee, even the District Revolutionary Committee does not have this power."
"Have you completed the registration procedures? If not, I will do it for you. I also live in Zhima Hutong, which is only three yards away from your house. I will take you to the other side of the hutong and greet the neighbors there. From now on, just mind your own business. I will definitely take care of this house for you. No one will dare to go in and cause trouble."
Ye Qing was stunned and subconsciously looked at Gu Weidong who was standing beside him.
She really didn't expect that this director of the Revolutionary Committee, whom she had never met before, was actually such a nice person. He made a lot of promises right from the start and promised to look after the house for her. This made Ye Qing a little wary and suspicious. She always felt that this person had some other purpose.
Gu Weidong was also observing Zhao Zhiqiang quietly, but no matter how he looked at it, he didn't seem to have any ulterior motives or ill intentions.
Since there was no apparent problem, the two of them decided not to get entangled. After all, she was the director of the Revolutionary Committee, and the house was under the jurisdiction of the Street Office. She did have certain rights to interfere in her house, and Ye Qing did not want to offend anyone right away. Since she was helping out with good intentions, Ye Qing would naturally not be ungrateful.
So, after Zhao Zhiqiang helped her register her information, he gave her a stamped certificate issued by the Street Revolutionary Committee and then took her to Zhima Hutong.
When they arrived at the alley, Zhao Zhiqiang greeted the residents in the alley enthusiastically and introduced Ye Qing to those uncles and aunts.
When the uncles and aunts first heard that the house that had been vacant for many years had changed hands and that the owner was an underage girl, they all started to have some ideas. Many of them had already secretly thought about using their connections to move into the house. But when Zhao Zhiqiang brought people to meet the girl, as if he was protecting her, the uncles and aunts immediately calmed down a bit. Everyone looked at each other, wanting to know what the relationship was between this new girl and Director Zhao.
Zhao Zhiqiang didn't care what those neighbors were thinking. After saying hello to the neighbors in the alley, he took Ye Qing and turned into a large, dilapidated courtyard at the end of the alley, and entered the inner courtyard, which looked very quiet and elegant.
As soon as I entered, I saw a gray-haired old man teasing a mynah bird in the yard. When he saw Zhao Zhiqiang and his men coming, the man didn't even look up, but just tapped the bird cage with the fan in his hand, looking very comfortable and leisurely.
Ye Qing and Gu Weidong were both confused. Zhao Zhiqiang did not explain and waited patiently for the old man to finish playing with the bird and sit down on the stone bench before he quickly walked forward with a smile:
"Uncle Cui, the owner of Courtyard 34 is here. She is a young girl who went to work in the countryside. I brought her here to get acquainted with you. I will look forward to your care for the house later."
The old man glanced at Ye Qing casually, not caring much, and waved his hand to let Zhao Zhiqiang take the people out.
The next second, Zhao Zhiqiang added:
"Didn't you watch the TV news the other day and praised the girl who developed the scientific breeding technology? It was this girl. I didn't expect that she was the owner of the house at No. 34."
After these words came out, the old man suddenly raised his head and looked at Ye Qing with sharp eyes:
"You are Ye Qing?!"
Ye Qing didn't know who this old man was, but after a quick observation, she could see that the old man had a slight limp in his legs and a hunched body. He would occasionally cough once or twice, which seemed to indicate that there was something wrong with his lungs. In addition, the old man was missing two fingers on his left hand, and his right hand did not seem very flexible.
He was clearly just a skinny and ordinary-looking old man, but the moment he raised his head and glanced at him, Ye Qing instantly felt a powerful aura.
The aura of authority that emanated from the old man made Ye Qing's scalp tingle. Almost subconsciously, she nodded and honestly introduced herself:
"I'm Ye Qing, hello, Master Cui. I didn't expect Director Zhao to bring me to your home. I'm sorry for coming so hastily and not having any gifts to bring."
The old man didn't really care about the gift for the meeting. What he cared about more was the pig-raising technology that Ye Qing had developed. Now that he had met the real owner, he naturally had to pull Ye Qing aside to ask him questions in detail.
Ye Qing didn't know who this old man was, but since he was interested in scientific breeding, Ye Qing didn't want to offend him. She would just answer whatever he asked. Anyway, since this technology has been fully disclosed now, there are no confidentiality regulations. She can tell anyone who asks her.
The old man resolved the confusion in his heart, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Ye Qing immediately became friendly and warm, as if the fierce force before was just Ye Qing's illusion.
"Good boy, what a good boy!"
The old man patted the back of Ye Qing's hand and sighed deeply. After a while, he said to Zhao Zhiqiang,
"This kid is great. I won't keep you here any longer. Just leave a key to the house with me."
Zhao Zhiqiang heaved a sigh of relief immediately, and quickly made a wink at Ye Qing. Ye Qing took out a key in a daze and placed it on the stone table, then followed Zhao Zhiqiang out of the yard again.
When they got outside the yard, Zhao Zhiqiang explained in a low voice:
"This Uncle Cui was a member of the Special Branch of the Soviet Security Bureau before liberation. I don't know what he did specifically, but it is said that he killed many secret agents and spies. After retiring a few years ago, he moved to Zhima Hutong. He is a low-key person, but no one dares to mess with him. The neighbors around him are also very respectful of him. If your house is idle and not rented out, there may be some jealous people who will secretly damage it, but as long as you go through this old man's clear path, you don't have to worry about any problems. No one dares to do anything under the nose of this old man."
Ye Qing couldn't help but pause.
She finally understood why Zhao Zhiqiang brought her into this courtyard in a mysterious way. Introducing those uncles and aunts to her was secondary. The most important thing was to pay her respects to this old man Cui.
However, if this man really worked in the Special Branch of the Security Bureau before, he must be an outstanding unsung hero. The defects and injuries on his body are probably medals of honor left over from that special era.
Ye Qing glanced at Zhao Zhiqiang, and her previous suspicion and vigilance towards this director was reduced a little. After all, she could tell from the fact that this man took her to see Old Master Cui that this man was really considering her and had no ulterior motives. Otherwise, Ye Qing, a foreigner who had just arrived and was unfamiliar with the place, had no idea that there were hidden dragons and crouching tigers in such an alley, and that there were even big shots like Old Master Cui living in seclusion. Even if she had lived there for three to five years, she might not know how much intimidation this old man had in this old alley.
"Uncle Cui never lets anyone leave a key with him. There are only a handful of people in this alley who he respects. But he let you leave a key today, which means he has recognized you. With his favor, your house will be fine even if it is vacant for ten or eight years. So don't worry. With Uncle Cui here and me here to look after it, I guarantee that when you come back, this house will be exactly the same as when you first got it!"
Zhao Zhiqiang was afraid that Ye Qing had not yet understood the situation, so he patiently added some explanation.
Ye Qing quickly expressed his sincere gratitude to Zhao Zhiqiang, and after looking at Gu Weidong beside him, he decided to invite Director Zhao to the state-owned hotel for a good meal at noon.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
