Without a second thought, Li Maocai took off his apron, his face expressionless, and said, "Oh, I'm sorry to trouble your sister to cook a meal for my son and me. I'll have a ready-made meal today." He handed the apron to Qi Zhifang without any ceremony, and Qi Zhifang accepted it with a smile and said politely, "Not at all, it's my honor to cook a meal for Director Li."
Li Maocai didn't stand on ceremony and said, "Stew that fish for me, and make some tomato and egg soup, and cook the rice. Everything is on the stove."
Qi Zhifang readily agreed, "Okay! I know." Then she put on her apron and went inside.
Li Maocai strode into the house, with Qi Zhijun following behind, bowing and scraping. He said, "Director Li, I didn't expect you to cook at home. You're such a good father!"
Li Maocai laughed and said, "There's nothing I can do. My wife passed away from illness a couple of years ago, so I have to be both the father and the mother. Please sit down!"
As he entered the room, Li Maocai sat down on the sofa with an air of authority. Qi Zhijun only sat on a third of the sofa and put his things on the floor. Li Maocai glanced at him and said, "Normally, you shouldn't be reporting to me. What do you want?"
Qi Zhijun said embarrassedly, "It's like this. I'm so grateful to Director Li for helping me out back then. Otherwise, my political career would have ended. I came back this time and thought I'd come and see you."
Li Maocai smiled and said, "It's nothing. I can't bear to see you young people ruin your political future over something so trivial. If I can help, I'm willing to!"
After discussing work for a while, Li Maocai noticed Qi Zhijun's hesitant expression and asked, "Xiao Qi, is there something else you need?"
Qi Zhijun said apologetically, "Director Li, there really is something I need your help with. My sister's second daughter signed a form to go to the countryside, and she's going in a few days. I was thinking, Director Li, could you do something to prevent her from going? Or could you give us some guidance?"
Li Maocai smiled and said, "This child's response to the nation's call shows good ideological awareness! He deserves praise. Young people should dedicate their passion to the motherland and go to the vast countryside; this is commendable!"
Upon hearing this, Qi Zhijun felt a chill in his heart; Li Maocai, that old fox, was clearly not going to get involved.
I still tried to persuade him, saying, "This child hasn't suffered much hardship, Director Li, what do you think..."
Li Maocai waved his hand to stop Qi Zhijun from speaking, saying, "This is a matter for the educated youth to handle, and it's a national policy. I can't interfere. I understand what you mean, but once she fills out the application form, she definitely has to go to the countryside."
Qi Zhifang came in and said, "Director Li, the food is ready."
Li Maocai nodded and said, "Then bring it up!" Then he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Hongqi, dinner's ready!"
Then Li Hongqi came over, just as Qi Zhifang brought all the dishes to the dining room. Li Hongqi glared at her and snorted.
Qi Zhifang was baffled, wondering where Li Hongqi's hostility came from. In fact, ever since Li Maocai's wife died, all sorts of people had been trying to introduce him to potential partners, eager to become stepmothers for his child. Qi Zhifang, with her vixen-like appearance, really annoyed Li Hongqi.
Li Hongqi sat down and started eating. Seeing that the siblings showed no sign of leaving, Li Maocai couldn't help but ask, "Would you two like to eat with us?"
Qi Zhijun quickly stood up, shook his head, and said, "Then that's settled. We won't disturb Director Li's meal any longer."
As she spoke, she gave Qi Zhifang a look, and Qi Zhifang gritted her teeth and said in a low voice, "Director Li, I'm sorry to trouble you. Please take care of my Wang Fang's matter. I only have three children, and now that my second child has encountered such a thing, I, a widow, really have nowhere to turn for help..." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, and she was full of charm.
Li Maocai, who should have refused outright, glanced at Qi Zhifang, made a sound on his tongue, and said, "I told your brother, she's definitely going to the countryside. After all, she's already filled out the application form, and nobody has the right to tell her to stay. If you wait like this for a year or two, they might recruit a job for her then, or you could try to get a job quota to go back to the city. Don't make it seem like a life-or-death separation."
Qi Zhijun said, "Oh! I'll have to trouble Director Li then. Well, you go ahead and eat, my sister and I will be leaving now."
As he was about to leave with Qi Zhifang, Qi Zhifang bent down to pick up a bag from the sofa. She wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye and inadvertently noticed that Li Maocai was staring straight at her.
She smiled gently at him, turned and left. Li Maocai saw her to the door, and after she left, he thought to himself, "She really is a female hooligan. Her petite figure and tender skin are quite alluring."
Furthermore, Wang Fang's assignment to the countryside was a done deal, and Qi Zhifang had no choice but to find a way to prepare the necessary items. She thought of Lao Liang, who worked at the Materials Bureau, and took leave that day to go to the Materials Bureau.
In the office, Lao Liang poured her a glass of hot water and said, "Zhifang, I thought you never wanted to see me again. I felt so guilty." Seeing the cold expression on Qi Zhifang's face, it was clear she wasn't there to reminisce. He stopped what he was about to say, smiled, and asked, "Is there something you need?"
Qi Zhifang glanced at him and said, "My daughter Wang Fang is going to the countryside. There's not enough time to buy some things. I was wondering if you could spare some for me, or lend me some. I'll pay you back when I get my salary."
Old Liang immediately nodded and said, "What do you need? Let me see if I can get you some of these."
Qi Zhifang said, "Cloth, cotton, food, grain coupons, and so on, how much do you think you can spare for me?"
Old Liang turned back to his desk, opened the drawer, and took out grain coupons, cloth coupons, cotton coupons, meat coupons, and canned food coupons. After counting them out, he handed them to Qi Zhifang. Just as she was about to take them, Old Liang grabbed her hand, kissed her, and leaned forward, saying, "Zhifang, I've missed you so much..."
"No, don't touch me..."
"I've thought about you for years, and I can't take it anymore..."
After their lovemaking, Qi Zhifang dressed and turned around, saying angrily, "What do you take me for?"
Old Liang patted Qi Zhifang on the shoulder and said, "I've always considered you the woman I love most."
He went back and wrote a note saying, "As for the rest, take this note and collect it!"
Qi Zhifang glared at him, grabbed the note, and started to walk out, but Lao Liang pulled her back and hugged her tightly, murmuring, "I really wish I could just hold you like this and never leave you again!"
"Let me go! Someone will see this!"
"Okay, promise me you won't avoid me anymore, okay?"
Qi Zhifang sneered, "If I don't hide from you, will you be with me every day? What's the point of saying all this!" Then she turned and left.
After preparing everything, he hurriedly returned to pack Wang Fang's luggage. Wang Fang looked at the stack of receipts, the brand-new bedding, and the overcoat, and her expression was not very good. These were clearly not things that an ordinary family could easily afford.
Wang Dong also looked at her with a disgruntled expression, but ultimately didn't say anything harsh and gave Wang Fang 50 yuan.
The next day, Wang Fang was sent away. Qi Zhifang cried bitterly, and Wang Dong finally held her in his arms...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
