Life in siheyuan era

At dinner, Zhou Zhiyuan handed Lin Shurong five hundred yuan and said softly, "I sold my brother's 'Phoenix Facing the Sun' painting for five hundred yuan."

After saying this, he looked at Lin Shurong's expression, then at Zhou Dehou and Zhou Zhining's expressions, and explained softly, "I definitely didn't lie. I didn't expect to sell it for such a high price. I originally thought it would sell for three hundred yuan."

He explained, but Lin Shurong still didn't take the stack of money, saying firmly, "The other party must have ulterior motives for giving such a high price. Return the money."

Hearing Lin Shurong say this, Zhou Zhiyuan turned to look at Zhou Dehou, and saw him nodding.

He glanced at Zhou Zhining again, and heard him say faintly, "My paintings are good if they can sell for one hundred yuan. Your master's price of two hundred yuan is already sky-high. It's too much for you to sell it for five hundred yuan. Don't look at the short-term gains, but considering the long-term, I'm afraid the losses will be greater. And the question is, what does he want you to do?"

Zhou Zhining was very clear-headed; he hadn't read history books for nothing.

Zhou Zhiyuan placed the stack of money on the dining table and said in a low voice, "Brother, your attitude has relieved a lot of pressure on me. In the future, selling your paintings may not fetch this price, but it must never be lower than two hundred yuan."

"The other party's purpose in doing this is very simple: 'A thousand gold coins to buy a horse's bones.' He wants to use me to appraise his antique collection because my master has retired. My appraisal can represent him; it's a golden signboard."

After Zhou Zhiyuan finished speaking, Lin Shurong said resolutely, "Return the money. We can't be used by others."

"Mom..." Zhou Zhiyuan said softly, "My view is different from yours. A person's greatest value is to be used. A person with no value is worthless."

"Like my dad, why do the leaders and coworkers respect him? Besides my dad's character, the important thing is that few people can match my dad's lathe skills."

"Like my brother, his fitter skills are average, but in terms of maintenance, he can tell where the machine's fault lies just by the sound. No one can match this skill, and the workshop director and coworkers have to admire him."

These words were pleasing to Zhou Dehou and Zhou Zhining, and they nodded frequently.

Having convinced the two of them, Zhou Zhiyuan then spoke to Lin Shurong, "Mom, you..."

But Lin Shurong interrupted him, "You don't need to say it. Mom has no skills."

Lin Shurong took the initiative to strike. A clothing factory tailor working in the steel mill's real estate department was equivalent to being unemployed.

Hearing their statements, Lin Shurong looked at Zhou Dehou and Zhou Zhining, then turned to look at Zhou Zhiyuan, and said lightly, "You've learned to flatter me."

Zhou Zhiyuan immediately replied, "Absolutely sincere words. Mom, I admire your eloquence the most. You can see everything clearly, and you can convince people with reason. I think it's a major loss to our country's foreign affairs work that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn't let you serve as a diplomat."

These words once again received Zhou Dehou's strong endorsement, "Zhiyuan is absolutely right. Why is your mom the head of the family? I am completely convinced."

Zhou Zhining immediately added, "I admire my mom the most."

Lin Shurong looked at the two of them again and said in a deep voice, "Enough with the flattery."

Then she turned to Zhou Zhiyuan and said, "I solemnly tell you, if you dare to violate the law and discipline, when the police come to arrest you, Mom will die in front of you."

"Absolutely not..." Zhou Zhiyuan said with a smile, "Our political commissar is now the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau. He told me today that selling my brother's paintings is considered a writing fee, which is allowed by the state."

Zhou Zhiyuan took the opportunity to mention Zhang Limin, but Lin Shurong asked vigilantly, "What does he want you to do? Does he want to use you?"

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Of course he wants to use me. His wife is about to return to Beijing, and he wants to take this opportunity to tidy up the house, but he's too busy and often stays in the bureau at night. He wants me to go over at night to help him look after the house."

Hearing this, Lin Shurong breathed a sigh of relief and said lightly, "The chief trusts you. It's okay to help with this matter."

As she spoke, Lin Shurong took the stack of money, and her voice turned serious, "Mom will save this money. If the other party uses this to blackmail you, return the money to him."

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Mom, this is a legal transaction. One is willing to hit, and the other is willing to be hit. I don't owe him anything. Why should he blackmail me?"

Seeing Lin Shurong put away the stack of money, Zhou Zhiyuan relaxed, but at this moment, Zhao Ping's shout came, "Zhiyuan, phone call."

Zhou Zhiyuan got out of bed, put on his shoes and coat, and went with Zhao Ping to the store. He picked up the phone and shouted, "Answer the phone."

Shen Lanbo's voice came from the other side, "I'm not at home. This is the political commissar's internal line. Remember the phone number..."

Shen Lanbo said the phone number and continued, "Four things: First, I will officially report to the Public Security Bureau tomorrow."

"Second, the political commissar borrowed a house in that building. Tidy it up tomorrow, and you go over the day after tomorrow. The Black Cat matter will be handled by the two of us."

"Third, the museum has formally applied to the Public Security Bureau. Director Li has decided to send police officers to cooperate with the museum's investigation. The political commissar has once again made it clear that the two of us should not intervene for the time being."

"Fourth, Hu Biao has been diagnosed with a severe concussion and is recuperating at home. Hu Feng is the captain of the sanitation department's motorcade and is working normally."

"Official business is over. Let's talk about personal matters. Did you go to find Lanyin?"

Shen Lanbo could still ask about this at this time, and Zhou Zhiyuan asked strangely, "Can I say it casually?"

Shen Lanbo replied, "The political commissar is in a meeting in the conference room. I'm the only one in this office."

So Zhou Zhiyuan said in a deep voice, "I'm going bankrupt. The food at Mo Di Western Restaurant is too expensive. I want to get reimbursed, but she won't let me. I'm worried about how I'm going to live the second half of the month."

"Heh..." A light laugh came from the other side of the phone, followed by Shen Lanbo's pleasant voice, "Western restaurants are suitable for couples to eat. This is a good choice. Tomorrow night, take her out to dinner and see a movie."

"You have to hurry up with this. You may not have time to move into that building the day after tomorrow. There's no need to talk tomorrow night. I'll find you the day after tomorrow. End of call."

"Wait a minute..." Zhou Zhiyuan hurriedly shouted, "Aren't you going to support me?"

"You're chasing my sister, and you want me to give you money? Is there such a thing in the world? End of call."

"Beep..." A dial tone came from the receiver, and Zhou Zhiyuan muttered, "Unreasonable." Then he hung up the phone.

At this time, Zhao Ping, who was standing aside, asked in a low voice, "Who did you go to the Western restaurant with?"

Zhao Ping was curious, and Zhou Zhiyuan sighed and replied, "A guest insisted on eating Western food. That stuff is expensive and not tasty. I paid for it, but half of it can't be reimbursed. The leader won't support me either. I'm worried about that."

Zhou Zhiyuan explained and walked out, and Zhao Ping's voice came from behind, "That leader is quite young."

Zhou Zhiyuan walked out the door and replied casually, "Young leaders are unreliable."

After saying this, Zhou Zhiyuan walked home, still thinking in his heart, "Lanbo is indeed a bit unreliable."

Thinking this way, he arrived at the entrance of the courtyard, but saw Yu Li standing in front of the door and waving at him.

Seeing her walking to the side, the curious Zhou Zhiyuan followed, and the two stood in a secluded place to talk.

"I want to ask you for a favor," Yu Li said in a low voice.

Zhou Zhiyuan immediately thought of the infertility issue. He could find an opportunity to put the hat of infertility on Yan Jiefang's head.

"What kind of story are you going to tell?"

He was thinking about the story when he heard Yu Li say in a low voice, "You beat up Hu Biao. He should be quite afraid of you. Can you ask him not to pester me?"

The thing Yu Li wanted him to help with was actually related to Hu Biao. Zhou Zhiyuan put aside the infertility story and asked in a low voice, "What's the situation?"

Yu Li replied in a low voice, "Hu Biao came to the store to buy things in early February, and then he kept pestering me. He blocked me twice when I got off work, and he also wanted to talk to Yan Jiefang..."

As Yu Li narrated, Zhou Zhiyuan felt that Hu Biao's courage was big enough. Yu Li could report the case, and a hooliganism charge would make him suffer.

But listening further, Zhou Zhiyuan knew why Hu Biao was so bold. Yu Li didn't want to report the case, and didn't even want people to know.

She explained, "I was just promoted to team leader. If this matter spreads, those who are jealous of me will say that I attract bees and butterflies. Where will I put my face?"

What Yu Li said made some sense. This is a typical case of blaming the victim. There are many psychologically twisted people in the world.

Zhou Zhiyuan expressed his understanding, "I understand. Don't worry, leave this matter to me. If he dares to pester you, I'll beat him until he can't take care of himself."

The last sentence came from decades later. Zhou Zhiyuan said it casually, but it startled Yu Li, who quickly said, "Even if you know the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau, you can't kill him. Just make sure he doesn't pester me in the future."

Yu Li's attitude made Zhou Zhiyuan realize that he had said the wrong thing, and he replied in a low voice, "Don't worry, Sister Yu, I'll do as you say."

Yu Li breathed a sigh of relief, then said nervously, "I have to go back quickly. It's not good for people to see me."

"Wait a minute." Zhou Zhiyuan said this too late. Yu Li walked out in a hurry, but saw a light shining over.

Seeing this light, Zhou Zhiyuan sighed. Even answering a phone call could lead to trouble.