Chapter 20 Shi Er appears
Two months after returning from the provincial capital, Director Shi was indeed promoted to deputy director. This greatly boosted He Qiaobo's reputation. Meanwhile, Mr. He invited his master to the provincial capital, where Director Shi hosted a long conversation.
From then on, Shi Ting became Master's "tightrope." Not only Shi Ting, but even Shi Ting's younger brother, Shi Qiang, knew Master. Master thus became the Shi Ting family's "consultant on important matters."
Shi Qiang was a world away from his brother, the department head. He was probably like Liu Bang before his rise to fame, hanging out with friends in the village, doing nothing. He was known as "Second Brother Shi."
When Director Shi was a director, he had some power and could delegate work, but he never delegated to his second brother, Shi, fearing he would ruin his plans. After being promoted to deputy director, he ignored Shi Er even less. Director Shi knew that he felt more at ease handing over work to someone like He Qiaobo.
After being advised by others, Shi Er never looked for his eldest brother, but instead tried to get to know the contractors.
The contractors were smart, of course, and they took over the projects from Shi Chu and gave some small projects to Shi Er. Shi Er brought a group of people from the village and formed a construction team, so he became the small contractor.
After a few years, Shi Er had made some money and wanted to renovate his house in his hometown. After the Spring Festival, he made a special trip to invite the master to look at the site.
One morning in March, Shi Er arrived in a Toyota SUV.
Shi Erfei was the A'mon of Wu in his day, dressed very lavishly. He knew his master didn't like shaking hands, so he made a solemn promise as soon as he entered the room, clasping his fists and bowing: "Hello, Master. I am here to pay my respects to you."
We had spoken on the phone before, so it wasn't awkward at all. The master said, "It's a pleasure to have friends from afar. Please take a seat."
I made tea and served some fruit and pastries while they exchanged some polite words. They sat there for less than ten minutes before the master said, "Let's set off early while it's still light."
Shi Er led the way, and the two cars drove one in front, the other behind. Just before noon, we arrived at Shijiazhuang. It was a place surrounded by verdant mountains and clear waters, with a small river surrounding the village.
When the car entered the village, the master looked out of the car and explained to me as he looked, saying that the mountains in Shijiazhuang were not very attractive, they were discontinuous and had no kingly aura, and it was impossible for any great figures to come out of this place.
But the hills are so well-grown that each one stands alone. If you stand high and look at them, their unique characteristics become apparent, like "a fan and a half of lotus blossom, dewdrops scattering across the fan."
I didn't dare look around while driving, so I followed my master's words and said, "Disciple, I understand what you mean. The entire mountain range is like a half-open fan, and those hills are like dewdrops scattered on the meridians of the fan."
The master said, "Your understanding of the mountain direction is very vivid. But this is a conversation between us, master and disciple. When we talk to others, we need to be more professional and make sure they don't understand. The less they understand, the more comfortable we will be in advancing and retreating."
The car stopped in front of Shi Er's house. Seven or eight people were already waiting there. Master got out, and some offered cigarettes, others offered tea. Master waved his hand. I took Master's special water cup from the car and handed it to him.
The master stood on the ground, holding the cup in both hands, looking around and ignoring everyone.
Shi Er was delighted. The more his master ignored him, the more respect he gained. Have you ever seen a master who bowed and scraped to everyone? How could he still be called a master?
Shi Er stood beside his master, his back bent like a shrimp, and reminded him casually, "Master, the food is ready. Please..."
The master glanced at him and said, "Where is the rule about watching after noon?"
Shi Er shrank his head in fear, then straightened up, waved his hand to his family and kitchen helpers standing at the door, and said sternly, "Hurry up and heat up the food. The dishes that haven't been cooked yet will be cooked later."
The master asked, "Rebuild on the original site?"
Shi Er nodded and bowed: "Yes, just stay where you are."
The master walked out onto the terrace alone, standing a hundred meters away from the house, clasping his hands and gazing at the mountain peaks ahead. A crowd of onlookers gathered around.
Shi Er drove them away and said, "Why are you surrounding the master? The master needs quiet."
Despite Shi Er's loud scolding, those unafraid of boiling water still surrounded him.
The master lowered his hand from his forehead and said to me, "It's a good place. Take a look, is it a good place?"
My eyesight is better than my master's, so I don't need to put my hand on my forehead, but I still put my hand on my forehead. If you don't do some additional movements in this line of work, people will think you are an amateur.
I looked over and saw it was indeed a good spot. Suddenly, I dozed off. I clearly remember seeing a thousand-foot cliff as the car came around the mountain's flank. In other words, behind the two pearl-like hills opposite Shi Er's house lay a sheer cliff.
The master said, "It is indeed a good place."
My heart tightened. For the sake of Master's reputation, I should express my dissenting opinion. If Master failed, it would not only damage his prestige but also offend the History Department.
I said, "This place... is good!" Because everyone around me, including Shi Er, had heard Master's judgment. How could I contradict Master?
Shi Er thought my words were insignificant and I was just agreeing with my master. Moreover, I took a long time to say the word "OK", so he thought I was indecisive and had no opinion.
It was basically settled, and all that was left to do in the afternoon was the detailed positioning. So Shi Er waved to the kitchen staff and said, "Serve the food in three minutes."
Shi Er welcomed us into the living room. Although it was an old house, the living room was immaculately clean and very impressive. He had everything a city dweller would have in their living room.
Shi Er introduced the several people who accompanied him. They were all well-known local figures, and one was quite special: a retired university president. In Shijiazhuang, most people were surnamed Shi, but his surname was Zhang.
From my observation, this person is not a university president, at most a vice-president of a technical secondary school, in charge of logistics. Because he lacks the air of refinement, he looks more like a retired cadre.
When honoring guests, Shi Er asked Principal Zhang to sit at the head of the table with Master. The village secretary and the village head also sat with me, and Principal Li from a local elementary school sat with me. Shi Er and another person sat at the head of the table. The others sat at a separate table.
The hot dishes arrived, and Shi Er personally poured the wine. After filling each one, Shi Er stood up, and everyone else stood up. He said, "Thank you, Master Hongyi, for your kindness and for visiting my humble home. These simple vegetables and wine are not enough to show your respect. Let us all toast to the Master first."
Everyone toasted together.
If one first heard this toast, someone who didn't know Shi Er well might have thought he was a learned man. Actually, Shi Er didn't know much else, but when it came to polite table talk, he could come up with it easily.
Environment changes people. In the provincial capital, Shi Er has been invited to dinners by others, or he has been the one to invite others. So, it is not surprising that he can speak politely at the dinner table.
Today, the master is the protagonist and everyone should revolve around him, but Cheng Yaojin suddenly appears halfway through. When Principal Zhang picks up the wine glass, the situation changes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
