Siheyuan, my new life

Political Commissar Zhao at the side shook his head helplessly and said, "Old Han, they were welcoming you back. They said you were ignorant and unskilled but you still refused to accept it. They asked you to read more books when you have time, but you always made excuses. It's only because Comrade Lin Yu is not an outsider, otherwise you would be laughed at."

Commander Han stiffened his neck and said unconvincedly: "I am a blind man who can't read a single word. It's not easy for me to get three of the four-character phrase right."

Lin Yu smiled and said, "Okay, okay, it's okay for you, Old Han, to be well-read and eloquent, right? Come and eat quickly, we didn't eat this morning."

Political Commissar Zhao hurried out and said as he walked: "I will immediately arrange for the comrades from Beijing to eat and rest. You two can go directly to the canteen."

When Lin Yu and Commander Han walked into the private room of the small cafeteria, in addition to Political Commissar Zhao, there was also a young woman in her twenties with a reserved demeanor standing there with a little girl of four or five years old.

Lin Yu had of course guessed that this graceful young woman was the widow of martyr Wei Dashan, so he took the initiative to say, "Hello, Comrade Liu Yan, I am Lin Yu, and I am also the battalion commander of martyr Wei Dashan in the Pioneer Battalion. Due to various reasons, I learned about the bullying your family suffered so late, and I am really sorry."

Liu Yan never expected that such a senior leader would apologize to her directly as soon as they met. For a moment, she was at a loss and didn't know how to start. She was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes.

It was Commander Han who spoke up: "Comrade Liu Yan, Director Lin's situation is rather special. He was seriously injured in the North Korean battlefield. After returning to China, he was first treated at the Beijing Union Hospital. Later, when his condition stabilized, his superiors arranged for him to recuperate at the Shijingshan Sanatorium. That's where I met Lin Yu. Director Lin didn't leave the sanatorium until last month and went to work at the Beijing Public Security Bureau. That's why I sent someone to visit you so late. I hope you can understand."

Liu Yan waved her hands and said, "You misunderstood, leaders. I didn't mean to blame Director Lin. I just didn't know how to express my gratitude for the moment."

Political Commissar Zhao smiled and said, "Come on, everyone, sit down first, let's eat and talk."

Liu Yan said a little embarrassedly: "We two mothers won't stay here to interrupt the leaders' discussion."

Commander Han waved his hand and said, "Comrade Liu Yan, please take a seat. You and your daughter are invited to lunch today. Come, little girl, sit next to Grandpa Han."

The little girl glanced at her mother, and after Liu Yan nodded in agreement, she ran to Commander Han with her short legs.

Commander Han carried the little girl to the chair beside him, and asked Liu Yan to sit next to his daughter. As for Lin Yu and Political Commissar Zhao, they had already sat down casually.

The dishes were served quickly, all of them were representative works of Shandong cuisine, including "Nine-Turn Large Intestine", "Stir-fried Kidney", "Sweet and Sour Carp", "Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin" and a "Four Happiness Meatballs".

Commander Han first gave the little girl a piece of sweet and sour pork with his chopsticks, and then invited everyone to eat.

Political Commissar Zhao poured a glass of Fenjiu for Lin Yu and Commander Han respectively, and after asking Liu Yan, he poured her a glass as well.

Commander Han picked up half a four-happiness meatball for the little girl, then picked up the wine glass, smiled and said: "Today at noon, I would like to take the opportunity of inviting Comrade Liu Yan to toast everyone with a glass of wine. Everyone can feel free to do as they please." After saying that, he tilted his head back and poured nearly half a tael of white wine directly into his mouth.

Political Commissar Zhao and Lin Yu looked at each other, then raised their glasses with a smile. Even Liu Yan drank the white wine in the glass without hesitation. It was obvious that this was not her first time drinking.

Everyone was enjoying the classic Shandong cuisine on the table while chatting casually, and the conversation was mainly about Liu Yan and her little daughter.

The little girl was now eating various meat dishes that were piled up like a mountain in the bowl in front of her. It was the first time for her to eat such delicious meat dishes in her life, so her eyes never left the bowl in front of her, and she kept stuffing meat into her mouth with a spoon.

The little girl scooped up a piece of sweet and sour pork tenderloin with a spoon, stretched out her hand and held it in front of her mother, whispering: "Mom, the meat is sour and sweet and delicious, you should eat it quickly."

Commander Han at the side said with a smile: "Old Zhao, did you see that? The daughter is still good. She always thinks of giving her parents all the delicious food. What about the bad boy? Besides being naughty and making people angry, what else can he do?"

Political Commissar Zhao smiled bitterly and said, "Old Han, you are biased. Other families value boys over girls, but in your case, it's the other way around. You value girls over boys. You treat your two daughters like treasures, but you order your son around all the time. You're worried that he won't support you when you're old."

Commander Han waved his hand nonchalantly: "I have two precious daughters. When I am old, if my son wants to take care of us, he can do so. If not, we still have our two daughters."

Lin Yu's eyes widened: "Old Han, what's wrong with you? When we were in the Shijingshan Sanatorium, I remember asking you how many children you had. You told me you had two daughters, but you never mentioned a son."

Commander Han grinned and laughed, "I forgot to tell you at the time, and I regretted it later. Who knew you would send chocolates and all kinds of imported milk powder to the two girls every New Year and festival? I should have told you earlier that I have an older son. Wouldn't I have gotten more good things that way?"

Lin Yu shook his head helplessly and said, "Let's not talk about being fair, but at least it should be about the same, right?"

Commander Han smiled bitterly and said, "Our family is divided into two factions. My mother and wife particularly love their son, and I am close to my two daughters. If I don't suppress them, won't that brat at home rebel?"

Lin Yu also knew that it was difficult for an official to judge family affairs, so he smiled and asked: "Old Han, how old is your son this year? As an uncle, I can't come to Dongchang Prefecture empty-handed, right? Oh, Xiao Nannan's gift is in your car. After dinner, Xiao Nannan and uncle can go get it."

Without waiting for Liu Yan to refuse, Commander Han smiled and said, "Comrade Liu Yan, don't be polite to Lin Yu. Although Lao Zhao and I have higher ranks than him now, when it comes to the good things in our hands, the two of us combined cannot compare to him." Then he looked at Lin Yu and said, "My eldest son is sixteen years old this year. What good things are you, as an uncle, going to give to your nephew?"

Lin Yu smiled and shook his head. Almost all of these old guys were thicker-skinned than the city walls. They really didn't know what it meant to be embarrassed. So he smiled and said, "I have a few watches captured from the Northern Dynasty battlefield. Let your nephew pick one out. I don't know if he likes guns. An old comrade of mine brought back all the pistols I captured on the Northern Dynasty battlefield when he came to visit me not long ago. He put them in the trunk of the car before coming to Dongchang Prefecture this time. If he likes, let him pick one out. They are all sidearms for officers above the rank of lieutenant in the Bald Eagle Alliance."