Siheyuan: Sizhu starts blindly and takes a new path

"Later, I became one of them. In every battle, I fought bravely, was wounded, received awards, blocked bullets for my comrades, and was carried off the battlefield by my comrades. I drove away the Japanese devils and later fought Chiang Kai-shek. I wanted to cross the Yangtze River, but when I fought in Cangzhou, I was bitten by shrapnel and was seriously injured. I couldn't follow the team to cross the Yangtze River. After my injury healed and the battle was over, the organization asked me to stay in the army. I saw that there was no battle to fight, and the injury made me unable to move as conveniently as before. Staying in the army would hold me back, so I didn't agree and said I would go back to my hometown and family. Everyone in the village died, and I was the only one left. The organization arranged for me to go to Beijing and work in an office, managing all kinds of complicated matters. I was illiterate to begin with. If I hadn't joined the Eighth Route Army and had literacy campaigns in our team, I would still be illiterate, and I wouldn't have worked in that office. The organization also saw what I was thinking, so they put me where I am now. It's good. I have a place to eat and sleep, and I can go to Tiananmen Square from time to time to see the Monument to the People's Heroes and reminisce about my past comrades. I'm really content."

"Contented?"

"Yes, compared to those comrades who died lying on the ground, I am still alive, so of course I should be content." Uncle Guan picked up the teacup and raised it into the air, then sprinkled some on the ground.

Sha Zhu also picked up the teacup and poured some wine on the ground, "Cheers to those ancestors who sacrificed their lives for our peaceful life now!"

The two of them drank and ate in silence, and Grandpa Guan finally broke the silence: "So, I am just an old man living alone, really nothing. You can't get anything from me. There is no need to be attentive to me."

"Uncle Guan, you are wrong. Let's not talk about who you are or that I have no feelings towards you. In the beginning, you were the one who blackmailed me into cooking for you. You reminded me so many times that day, but you forgot. I was forced to deliver the dishes to you, right?" Sha Zhu told Uncle Guan the truth but he didn't get used to it.

"Hmm..." Uncle Guan thought for a moment, "It seems so. Then why did you send it later?"

"Hey, old man, you are being unreasonable, aren't you? You've always told Yu Li explicitly or implicitly that you wanted to eat the food I cook. Even this time, it was you who asked." Sha Zhu said, pouting and looking at the other person.

"Hehe, I'm old and my memory is not good. It's all because of the head injury I suffered back then." Uncle Guan wanted to play it off.

"Tsk, just pretend. I'll just watch the show if nothing else happens."

Sha Zhu lit up another cigarette and said, "In fact, I've known for a long time that you're not a simple person. When I first offered you a cigarette, I noticed that you were missing a finger, as if it had been chopped off by a knife."

Uncle Guan also took a puff of his cigarette and said, "Then I can't have cut it myself?"

"Hey, have you ever seen anyone chop off his little finger with a knife? I won't tell you if you can do it, I'll just ask if you can do it easily." Sha Zhu was disdainful of Uncle Guan's words, "If you don't believe me, try it yourself."

Uncle Guan stretched out his hand and made a few chopping movements, but it was indeed inconvenient and he was unable to refute Sha Zhu's theory.

"You have nothing to say, right? Besides, where do you work? The subdistrict office. This 'government office' is not big, but it is still a state unit, a government agency. Ordinary people can work here. It is also responsible for guarding the first line of defense of the gate. Do you think you can still be an ordinary old man after what I have said?"

"It seems impossible. I have to be a big shot, flying in the sky and doing everything." Uncle Guan joked.

"If you want to be a god, then you have to bless me." Sha Zhu followed Uncle Guan's words and stopped joking, "Our steel mill has also organized lectures on combat heroes. I have listened to them many times and was deeply moved. Although I cannot be a soldier, it does not prevent me from respecting soldiers. It just so happens that you don't bother me and Yu Li also works here, so it's convenient. I will just treat it as a chance meeting and someone will take care of Yu Li for me."

"Okay, let's make a connection. Yu Li can come to work, you can find my severed finger, and I also like the food you cook. This is fate. Let's just go with it. Cheers!" Uncle Guan picked up the teacup again and clinked it heavily with Sha Zhu's, then took a big sip.

Sha Zhu also took a big sip, (thinking to himself: Just think about it, old man. It’s fake, the author said so.) thinking: From now on, there will be one more old man.

Time passed quickly, and India was so defeated that it moved its capital from New Delhi to Mumbai. When the news came back, the whole country celebrated, and Sha Zhu had another drink with Uncle Guan.

During this period, Zheng Xi called out the head of the Propaganda Section, and Sha Zhu arranged a meal of stir-fried meat for them. The two of them became friends over the drinks.

"Lao Jin, after this drink today, we are all friends now. You must not abandon Zhuzi if he has any problems in the future."

"Don't worry, your brother to Lao Zheng is my brother." The propaganda chief Jin Dachui hugged Sha Zhu, "Brother Zhu, you used to be really not that good, like a bomb that blew up anyone you caught, but now you are doing well, you have done a few good things, you have a certain prestige among the workers in the factory, and you have helped Lao Zheng to improve. You are a real person, you can be trusted, don't worry, I will definitely help you if I have the chance in the future."

After hearing this, Zheng Xi took the opportunity to say, "Don't wait until later. You have the chance now, and it's a piece of cake for you."

"Oh, what's the matter?"

"Your subordinate Xu Damao doesn't get along with our Zhuzi and has harmed him many times. He is under your command. Please think of a way. I don't ask you for anything else. When you arrange work, give him a secluded place and give him some trouble so that Zhuzi can vent his anger."

"This is simple. Not only do we look for remote places, but we also look for places without oil and water, which makes him tired and has no extra income."

"Look, it's you, the direct supervisor, who has to do this. This trick is enough to give Xu Damao a hard time without making any noise. Zhuzi, hurry up and toast Old Jin." Zheng Xi praised Jin Dachui while urging Sha Zhu to toast.

"Come on, Brother Jin, I toast you." Sha Zhu clinked glasses with Jin Dachui and drank the wine in his glass, "Drink first as a toast."

"Okay, I'll do it too." Jin Dachui also drank in big gulps. "I'll reschedule tomorrow. From tomorrow on, Xu Damao's workplace will need to be 20 kilometers away from the city."

"That's great. Let's have a drink together." Zheng Xi raised his glass to invite them, and the three of them had another drink.

The three of them drank to their heart's content and then went home.

When Sha Zhu got home, Yu's mother was talking to Yu Li. Seeing that Sha Zhu's face was red from drinking, she was a little unhappy, "Zhuzi, Li Li is pregnant, you should drink less and spend more time taking care of her. I will only stay for a few more days, and I will be back in two days. You should be more careful in the future."

Sha Zhu shook his head, trying to stay clear-headed and calm, "I know, Mom. Today I am with the head of security and the head of publicity in our factory. We have been talking about this for a long time, and I really can't refuse. I will try to go less often in the future, don't worry."

Yu's mother nodded, said nothing more, and went out to the rainwater room, leaving the space to her daughter and son-in-law.