Liu Haizhong's actions left Wang Dabao somewhat bewildered.
Why are you offering me cigarettes? You've known I'm the section chief for a long time now, isn't it a bit late to offer me cigarettes now?
I took it out of my pocket and looked at it. Wow, not bad, Ashima!
"Hey Lao Liu, what are you doing? You're a leader, you know this is a mistake!"
Wang Dabao smiled and handed the cigarettes back. He didn't need any cigarettes, so why should he let people gossip about him over a pack of cigarettes? Yan Bugui, however, was watching closely with his small eyes.
Liu Haizhong chuckled and whispered in Wang Dabao's ear, "Yi Zhonghai sent these over to me. He sent four boxes, and I thought it would be perfect for the four of us to each have one."
"When I woke up this morning, I saw that Da Bao's place was still closed. I thought it was like before, that I would sleep until nine or ten o'clock on the weekend. So I came to Lao Yan's place."
"I see."
Wang Dabao nodded, understanding, but still stuffed the cigarettes back into Liu Haizhong's hand. "Yi Zhonghai gave you these cigarettes to thank you, it has nothing to do with me. You can keep them, I have more on hand."
Wang Dabao didn't waste any time with them. He stuffed the cigarettes back into his hand, pushed his bicycle, and left.
"Alright, that's all for now. I have to go."
After carrying the car out the gate, Wang Dabao checked the time and rode his bicycle towards the cadre family quarters.
"Old Liu, I think we should split the cigarettes. Da Bao doesn't need cigarettes, but he's a section chief, he wouldn't even look at these." The weather has been warmer lately, so Yan Bugui can't wear his dog-skin hat anymore, but he still instinctively reaches out to help it up.
Liu Haizhong glanced at Yan Bugui with a crestfallen expression: "Old Yan, what are you saying? Is this about cigarettes? Whoever's cigarettes are whoever's. If I hadn't brought them to you, would you have known that Yi Zhonghai gave me cigarettes?!"
That makes sense.
Yan Bugui became more obedient, after all, he had always been the third in command, but now Yi Zhonghai was no longer above him, and Liu Haizhong was still there.
"Alright, take a break. I'm going to check on Xu Damao." With that, Liu Haizhong left with his cigarettes in his pocket.
Share a cigarette with you?
We've already given you one box, and you still want to share this one? How can you be so shameless? If Da Bao doesn't want it, why doesn't he keep it for himself? Why should he share it with Yan Bugui?
If he weren't afraid of leaving evidence against him, he wouldn't have wanted to share even a single pack of cigarettes.
If something really happens, since the cigarettes have already been distributed, we'll all share the responsibility.
Liu Haizhong arrived at Xu Damao's house and began knocking on the door with an impatient look on his face.
"Who is it? It's so early in the morning. Would it kill you to knock less?"
Xu Damao opened the door with wide eyes and exclaimed, "Oh my, it's Liu Haizhong!" A hint of doubt appeared on his face: "Oh, it's Grandpa Liu! I was a bit out of line earlier, please don't take offense. But what's the rush this early in the morning?"
Liu Haizhong, with a stern face, explained his purpose and took out a pack of cigarettes from another pocket, handing it to Xu Damao.
Xu Damao's eyes lit up, and he took the cigarette. "I didn't expect to be able to smoke cigarettes given by Yi Zhonghai. Not bad, but these cigarettes are a bit low-grade."
Despite saying that, he unceremoniously stuffed the cigarette into his pocket.
"Da Mao, just take this cigarette and smoke it. Don't go around talking about this and that in the yard," Liu Haizhong couldn't help but instruct.
He was also afraid that Xu Damao would gossip and spread rumors outside.
Xu Damao chuckled: "Don't worry, old man, I'm tight-lipped."
Liu Haizhong nodded and walked away with his hands behind his back, but what he gave Xu Damao was not Ashima.
...... ......
At this moment, Wang Dabao also arrived downstairs at Xiao Su's house.
Xiao Su had been watching from the window, and when she saw Wang Dabao arrive, she immediately rushed downstairs.
"Slow down, don't fall."
Xiao's mother couldn't help but nag, and after she finished speaking, she also went to lean against the window.
Xiao Zhenguo sat on the sofa smoking: "When did you two develop the habit of peering out the window?!"
"when?"
Xiao's mother snorted, "Ever since your daughter started dating someone..."
Looking at Wang Dabao on his bicycle downstairs, Xiao's mother felt an increasing affinity for him; this was the son-in-law that God had chosen for her.
Every time it was time for Xiao Su to get off work, her mother would wait by the window.
Watching Xiao Su get on the bicycle and the two young people ride away, Xiao's mother finally sat back down on the sofa.
"Da Bao is such a pitiful child. His whole family was killed on the battlefield, and he has no relatives left. I don't know how he has managed all these years."
Thinking of Wang Dabao's background, Xiao's mother's mood immediately became depressed.
Xiao Zhenguo, who was standing next to him, also fell silent for a moment before speaking: "No matter what, this child has grown up to be very outstanding. When the weather gets warmer, we should talk things out about their relationship."
Xiao's mother nodded: "Yes, we'll discuss it with Brother Hu first and settle things with the two children as soon as possible. We can't let such a good son-in-law slip away."
Wang Dabao carried Xiao Su on his back, and the two chatted animatedly, unaware that Xiao Su's parents were discussing their marriage.
After strolling around all morning, Wang Dabao bought two sets of clothes for Xiao Su.
Although the ready-made clothes were expensive in other people's eyes, Wang Dabao thought that as long as Xiao Su liked them, that was enough.
After getting tired of shopping, Wang Dabao wanted to find a restaurant to eat. He had plenty of money and tickets, so he simply went to a state-run restaurant.
The two entered the state-run restaurant, which wasn't too crowded.
Looking at the small wooden sign in front of him, Wang Dabao asked Xiao Su to order the dishes.
Xiao Su ordered a home-style dish of shredded potatoes, while Wang Dabao added a braised pork rib dish.
Just as the two were waiting for their food, several well-dressed young people walked in. When they saw Wang Dabao and Xiao Su, one of the young men paused for a moment, a hint of jealousy flashing in his eyes.
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