Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

Han Ming did not leave the compound the whole day today, but Wang Peng went to Zhengjia Hutong again in the evening. It seemed that he had a lot of fun in this place, dancing with women every day and drinking.

After resting for a day in Yard 95, Zhang Dabao had a hunch that Han Ming would come out today, so he had to prepare in advance.

Around three o'clock in the afternoon, Zhang Dabiafa left the yard, put away his motorcycle in an empty place, took out a bicycle from the space, and changed his clothes. Now he was riding a bicycle, wearing leather shoes, a white shirt, and black pants. At first glance, he looked like an official in an office. There was a briefcase hanging on the handlebars, and two small mustaches at the corners of his mouth.

I rode my bike through the small alleys near Zhengjia Hutong. When it was almost dark, I arrived at the edge of an alley, stopped my bike, and sat under the shade of a tree to cool off.

At 5:30 in the afternoon, Zhang Dabao felt the strong signal from the crows and Han Ming came out.

Today, Han Ming was the same as yesterday, wearing Liberation shoes, a white denim shirt with his sleeves rolled up, and black trousers. He was pushing a bicycle and stopped Wang Peng at the gate of the compound.

"Xiaopeng, where is the friend you mentioned the day before yesterday? Call him out. Doesn't he have good stuff in his bag?" Han Ming asked.

"Fuck, Han Ming, do you have any business? I called you that day, but you didn't come out. Now that you are out, you are looking for him again. Where can I find him for you? Does he have nothing else to do in Beijing? Are you the only one in Beijing who can get a transfer?" Wang Peng was quite rude to Han Ming.

"That's not what I meant. The main thing is that there are good things in his bag. We can take them and share them. Doesn't he have foreign cigarettes? Maybe even foreign liquor. The Northeast is very close to the Russians. Our relationship with Russia is not good now, so many things can't be brought over," said Han Ming.

"Foreign liquor? I didn't see it. The key point is that I forgot to ask him what his name was that day. It's my fault too," said Wang Peng, slapping his head.

"Did you really not ask his name? If I knew where he lived, I could go find him." Han Ming was a little disappointed with Wang Peng's answer.

"Would it be useful if I lied to you? It's because my father doesn't allow me to interfere in the work of the unit. Han Ming, can't I transfer someone from the Northeast? My father is the deputy minister in charge of personnel affairs in the department. If my father doesn't care about me, would I come to you for such a good thing? What are you thinking? Don't follow me, I have things to do, I'm going to buy some things, and I have to go dancing later." Wang Peng looked at Han Ming with contempt.

"Everyone knows that Uncle Wang is a high-ranking official, but he is too strict with his children. Xiaopeng, take me with you to dance. I can treat you to dinner at Lao Mo," said Han Ming.

"Can you dance? We are dancing ballroom dance? Do you know what slow dance is?" Wang Peng asked Han Ming.

"I don't know. Don't you want to broaden your horizons?" Han Ming said with a smile, licking his face.

"No, I can't take you with me. Brother Hao doesn't like strangers and he tells everyone not to bring strangers with him. The supervision from above is very strict now. Who will be held responsible if something goes wrong?" Wang Peng still disagreed.

"My father has some foreign liquor, I think it's Remy Martin, I heard it's very valuable. I'll take it out and bring it to you, is that okay? You talk to Brother Hao, I'm not a stranger either, don't you know me? We are from the same courtyard," Han Ming offered.

"Do you have foreign liquor? It's not a problem to bring it with you. How about this, you go to No. 8 Zhengjia Hutong at o'clock in the evening, mention my name at the door, and don't let anyone follow you. Don't go without foreign liquor, do you hear me?" Wang Peng agreed to Han Ming's request.

"Don't worry, Xiaopeng, I will definitely bring some foreign wine," Han Ming agreed.

Wang Peng walked away, and Han Ming returned to the compound. "Xiao Ming, why are you back again? Didn't you go to find Wang Peng?" Wei Jingjing asked his son.

"Wang Peng and I have an appointment to have a drink together in the evening. Mom, where is the bottle of foreign wine my dad has? Find it for me and I'll bring it over," Han Ming said to his mother.

"That bottle of foreign liquor? It's your father's favorite thing. It's quite expensive." Wei Jingjing was a little reluctant.

"How expensive is it? Do you know who are the people having dinner with us? They are all children of departmental and bureau-level leaders. Doesn't my father want to move up to a higher position? Wang Peng's father is in charge of the personnel work in the department. I asked him to put in a good word for my father," said Han Ming.

"That makes sense. Xiao Ming is smart and much better than your father. Old Han just doesn't know how to climb up the social ladder. He has so many comrades and classmates who are high-ranking officials, but he just doesn't go looking for them. Look at his classmates, who one of them has a higher position than him?" Wei Jingjing said.

"After all, he is my father. Of course I have to consider him," said Han Ming.

Wei Jingjing went to find the foreign wine and put it in a bag.

Time passed by minute by minute. At 6:30 in the evening, Han Ming left the compound and rode his bicycle towards Zhengjia Hutong. In late September, at 6:30 in the evening in Beijing, it was already dark and there were very few pedestrians on the road. When Han Ming was about to reach Zhengjia Hutong, a man came out of a small alley. This man was Zhang Dabao. He ran behind Han Ming, jumped high, and hit Han Ming on the neck with a knife. Han Ming was knocked unconscious and his bicycle tilted to one side.

Zhang Dabao held the bicycle with his hands and stopped it, but Han Ming fell heavily to the ground. He felt his body shaking twice, but fortunately Han Ming did not wake up. Zhang Dabao parked the bicycle at the side of the alley, carried Han Ming into the alley, poured a bottle of wine on him, poured half a pound of wine into his mouth, and let him lie down against the wall.

Zhang Dabao looked at his watch and saw that it was six fifty. He poured a bottle of wine on himself and did not ride his bicycle. Instead, he picked up the small bag of foreign wine from Han Ming's bicycle and staggered to the gate of No. 8 Zhengjia Hutong.

"Who are you looking for?" The guard at the door stopped the staggering Zhang Dabao.

"I'm looking for Wang Peng. We are from the same courtyard. My name is Han Ming. I brought some foreign wine. Wang Peng and I have made an appointment. You can ask him." Zhang Dabao lowered his head and shook it from time to time. It was obvious that he was drunk.

"Wait!" A young man entered the yard.

About two minutes later, the young man came back and said, "Come in." Zhang Dabao went in with shaky steps.

"Han Ming, did you bring any wine? If you didn't bring any, just get out. How much the hell did you drink? You didn't drink your father's wine, did you?" Zhang Dabao heard Wang Peng say loudly as he just entered the yard.

"Who the hell are you telling to get out of here?" Zhang Dabao cursed again with his head down.

"I told you to get out, where's your wine? You bastard, you dare to talk back?" Wang Peng cursed as he walked towards Zhang Dabiao. Obviously, he felt that Han Ming dared to talk back and embarrassed him in front of his friends. Wang Peng had already drunk two glasses tonight, which was a bit too much for a 16 or 17-year-old kid.