"Li Chu, what are you doing here?"
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you this? This area is in the opposite direction from your factory, what are you doing squatting there?"
"Don't even mention it," He Yuzhu said, taking a deep drag on his cigarette butt before throwing it away.
"Sister Qin's son, Banggeng, was sent to the countryside and couldn't come back. She tried everything she could and finally got him a job sweeping the streets from the neighborhood committee so that he could come back. But after working for two days, he felt ashamed and refused to continue. I don't know where he went. He hasn't come home for two days, so I'm helping to look for him."
Li Chu smiled and said, "Okay, that's a great joke."
"Zhu Zi, what's the current situation between you and Qin Huairu?"
Hearing Li Chu ask this, He Yuzhu was silent for a moment, then his face was full of bitterness: "Sigh, I promised to give her mother-in-law five yuan a month for her old age. Aunt Jia has agreed now, but Bang Geng doesn't agree. I can't do anything about it now."
"Zhu Zi, you're over forty years old. Have you thought about what you'll do in the future?"
He Yuzhu slowly shook his head without saying a word. Perhaps he was also very confused, or perhaps he had simply grown accustomed to his current life.
Looking at this man who was about the same age as himself but looked much older, Li Chu was filled with emotion. How spirited and ambitious this guy was back then, but now he had become like this.
"By the way, Li Chu, when you have time, come back to the compound and take a look. You came back once after the earthquake and haven't been back since. Now the compound is completely destroyed, especially your front yard."
"It's all messed up? Who built what?" Li Chu hadn't even realized what was going on yet.
"During that earthquake, didn't Uncle San get tricked by his son and daughter?"
"Hmm," Li Chu nodded, "I know that. Didn't we say we'd dismantle the earthquake shelter when we got back?"
"After the earthquake, the third uncle had two more rooms built outside his house. Other neighbors followed suit and started building houses. Now, apart from our middle courtyard, the front and back yards are almost full of houses. There is only one path left for people to pass through, and it is difficult to push a bicycle through."
"No... really? The neighborhood committee doesn't care?" Li Chu really didn't know about this, and he hadn't heard Xu Damao and his wife mention it either.
“The neighborhood committee did come to talk to us, but there are too many people building here. It’s not just in our yard; people in other yards are building here too. They can’t manage it all, so they just turn a blind eye.”
At this point, Li Chu vaguely remembered that when the state issued unified property ownership certificates later, the houses they had added themselves were not included in the calculation.
When some of the large courtyards were demolished in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the compensation was based on the property registration, which caused quite a stir for a while.
However, the area where they lived was not demolished and was later designated as a protected area.
Forget it, he's too lazy to care. The neighborhood committee can't even manage it, so what good would it do him if he went back?
Thinking of this, he said perfunctorily, "Okay, I'll go back and take a look when I have time."
"Li Chu, I'd like to ask you for a favor." He Yuzhu said this with a slightly embarrassed expression, his face flushed.
"What's wrong? Tell me and I'll take a look."
“Now that you’re so capable, could you arrange a new job for Banggeng? He absolutely refuses to sweep the streets. He’s a young man in his twenties, he can’t just stay out all the time. It’ll be hard for him to find a girlfriend. Besides, if he’s always out and about, what if he picks up a bad influence from someone?”
Tch, he's following others and learning bad habits. Just don't lead others astray.
"Hey Zhuzi, what's this? Is Banggeng your son? You're so concerned about him."
These words made He Yuzhu's face turn even redder, and he opened his mouth for a long time, not knowing what to say.
Finally, he sighed helplessly, "Sigh, I just wanted to help Sister Qin because I saw her worrying about her son every day."
“Zhu Zi, I understand you mean well, but your kindness needs to be appreciated in return.”
He Yuzhu is getting old now, unlike in previous years when he would definitely talk back if anyone dared to lecture him.
"Li Chu, I understand what you mean. I'm not thinking about that anymore. I just want to help Sister Qin."
Li Chu didn't know what to say about He Yuzhu's saintly kindness, nor did he want to say anything more. Everyone has their own way of living, and the path he is on now is his own choice. As for the fact that the He family has no descendants and that the line has ended with him, that is his own doing.
"I want to help that kid Banggeng find a job, but I don't have any connections. You know I'm just a soldier now."
Li Chu's words made He Yuzhu inwardly complain.
It's strange that you're just a soldier; how many soldiers can just casually have a car to ride in?
However, he only thought about it to himself. It was a favor if someone was willing to help, and it was their right not to. They weren't his own children, so no one could say anything about it.
"Forget it, let's think of another way later."
"Zhu Zi, where are you going? Do you want me to give you a ride?"
"No need, no need, you go ahead with your work, I'll go find some more 'banggeng' (a type of glutinous rice cake)."
"Okay, let's talk again another time. I'll be going now."
Sitting in the car, the car slowly started moving. Li Chu turned around and looked through the car window at He Yuzhu, who was still standing on the roadside in a daze. He shook his head speechlessly.
A promising young man had his life ruined by a widow with a family to support.
Although they ended up living together, what does that even mean? Is it just finding a life partner?
However, no matter what others say, it can't change the fact that the person involved says, "I'm happy to do it."
The car returned to the main hospital, and was blocked by oncoming cars as soon as it entered the gate.
"Vice Dean Li, that's Dean Liu's car."
Tian Jun glanced at the car opposite him, turned his head and said.
Before Li Chu could say anything, he saw the car door opposite open and Dean Liu get out of the car.
He hurriedly opened the car door and got out.
"Xiao Li, get in the car, take your ride." Dean Liu waved to him when he saw him.
What's going on? What happened again? Li Chu got back into the car, completely bewildered, and Dean Liu followed suit.
"Xiaotian, go to the sanitation department."
As soon as they got in the car, Dean Liu said to Tian Jun, then turned to Li Chu, "The ministry just notified us of a meeting about reforming the review system."
Li Chu was even more confused: "No, Dean, I've already resigned from that job."
"I know, the minister personally requested your attendance at the meeting."
"Well……"
Well, I was singled out by my boss to participate, so what can I say but obediently comply?
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