Life in siheyuan era

Whenever Xiaodang walked into his office, she would put on a show, picking up a rag to wipe the cabinets and tea table, and then wipe the desk while saying to him, "Second Uncle, get up for a moment, this chair needs wiping."

Zhou Zhiyuan leaned back in his chair, watching her wipe back and forth, before finally saying indifferently, "The cleaning lady already wiped it."

Xiaodang replied cheerfully, "I know, but I don't wipe as cleanly as I do."

Zhou Zhiyuan still said indifferently, "Xiaodang is very suitable to be a cleaner."

Hearing him say this, Xiaodang's hand paused slightly while wiping the table, but she immediately continued wiping, complaining, "Just because I didn't get into college? You've been angry for almost a year, and it's still not over."

"My dad said that this is the first time recruiting students in more than ten years. There are so many people who have been holding back for so many years. Huaihua's ability to get into college is just her good luck, and I'm just unlucky. You can't blame me for failing the exam."

Xiaodang was clever, and after complaining, she immediately brought up Zhou Zhining.

Zhou Zhiyuan could only sigh and then say, "Being a teacher is also good. Sign up for the national self-study exam in September."

"Don't worry, I will definitely get a college diploma for you."

Xiaodang's subtext was, "I'm studying for you."

Then, before Zhou Zhiyuan could open his mouth to criticize her, she sat on the chair opposite him and said in a low voice, "Uncle Zhang introduced me to someone."

This remark really caught Zhou Zhiyuan's attention, and Xiaodang continued, "He's not bad looking, wears glasses, looks gentle and refined, works in the District Cultural Bureau, both parents are cadres, and he himself is a college student from a worker-peasant-soldier university, also with cadre status."

She stated the other party's conditions, and seeing that Zhou Zhiyuan didn't react, she looked up at Zhou Zhiyuan, lowered her eyes, and continued, "You're still not satisfied with these conditions?"

Zhou Zhiyuan replied faintly, "Continue."

Xiaodang cleared her throat and continued, "But when the other party heard that I was a teacher at the Steel Rolling Mill's children's school, with collective status, he immediately refused."

After saying this, she looked up at Zhou Zhiyuan with a pitiful look.

But Zhou Zhiyuan still said faintly, "Continue."

"You're so cold-blooded and ruthless, without any sympathy."

Xiaodang muttered, then said cheerfully, "He didn't agree, and I didn't care, but Uncle Zhang told him that I was your niece, and his attitude immediately changed. He took the initiative to go to the children's school to find me and wanted to date me."

"At that time, I refused. Afterwards, I called Uncle Zhang and learned the reason, so I decided that next time I go on a blind date, I will engrave eight big characters on my forehead, 'I am Zhou Zhiyuan's niece'."

Saying this, she looked at Zhou Zhiyuan with a smile, and seeing his indifferent expression, she heard him say faintly, "Continue."

"So cold-blooded that you don't even have a sense of humor anymore."

Xiaodang muttered again, and continued cheerfully, "I heard that many people are contracting to open companies and become managers, and they all hire female secretaries."

"I thought, why doesn't Second Uncle have a female secretary? Then I understood, because Second Aunt won't allow it. So I thought, if I become Second Uncle's secretary, Second Aunt will definitely approve. So I came, from now on I am your secretary."

Xiaodang went around and around, finally stating her purpose.

Zhou Zhiyuan asked faintly, "What did your mother tell you?"

Xiaodang jumped up and shouted, "I knew you would say that. You were a hundred times unwilling when my mom married my dad. Over the years, my mom has diligently served Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad, but you're still uncomfortable, and you feel that my mom is not worthy of my dad."

"I don't blame you for looking down on Banggeng. He was instigated by my grandma to be distant from your family, but Huaihua and I treat Grandpa Zhou and Grandma Lin as our own grandparents, and we treat your brother as our own father. Aren't you still not treating us two as your own nieces?"

Xiaodang's tone was fast and aggrieved. She rattled off a bunch of words, turned around and left, and reached the door when she heard Zhou Zhiyuan's stern voice, "You impudent thing, how dare you say that to your Second Uncle? Get back here."

Xiaodang immediately stopped, turned around and asked cautiously, "Are you really going to let me roll back?"

Zhou Zhiyuan snorted softly, and Xiaodang immediately walked back and sat on the chair, listening to him say coldly, "You're still too young to play tricks with your Second Uncle."

Xiaodang immediately replied, "I won't dare to do it again."

Seeing her admit her mistake, Zhou Zhiyuan softened his tone and said slowly, "Second Uncle was indeed unwilling at first, but your mother has been married to my brother for fifteen years, gave birth to Shuhua, is filial to her parents-in-law, and takes care of her husband. What else can I say?"

"But you are a thankless wretch. My kindness to you has nothing to do with your parents."

Hearing him say this, Xiaodang immediately smiled happily and said cheerfully, "I knew you treated me like your own daughter."

Zhou Zhiyuan snorted softly, and Xiaodang immediately lowered her head and pretended to be well-behaved, listening to him continue, "The reason Second Uncle asked you that question just now was to find out how much news the neighbors in the courtyard knew, but you chattered a lot and didn't say anything that Second Uncle wanted to know. How can you be Second Uncle's secretary like this?"

"What do you think a secretary does? Is it... um, Second Uncle will tell you, the secretary Second Uncle wants needs to have several qualities."

"First, promptly report all kinds of useful information to Second Uncle. Second, be able to fully understand Second Uncle's various arrangements, refine the general arrangements and implement them. Third, be able to provide good suggestions for Second Uncle's decision-making and be able to represent Second Uncle to direct deployments."

"Do you have these abilities? Do you think a secretary just takes notes, runs errands, and relays messages? Anyone can do that, there's no need to set up a secretary."

Hearing him say this requirement, Xiaodang lowered her head and said in a low voice, "Isn't that asking too much?"

"Is it too much? These are just three basic requirements, and there are other requirements that haven't been mentioned."

Zhou Zhiyuan replied faintly, then said in a deep voice, "If you want to work for Second Uncle, you have to accept three conditions. The first condition is that there is no guaranteed job for all people, whether it is state-owned or collectively owned. If you don't do well, you will be fired, regardless of whether you are my niece or not."

"Second, start from the grassroots level. If you do well, Second Uncle will promote you. If you don't do well, you will stay at the grassroots level."

"Third, obey orders and listen to commands. There are no special treatments. If you can't do it, you will be fired without hesitation."

Hearing these conditions, Xiaodang pouted and said, "Aren't you always nepotistic? I'm your daughter."

Zhou Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Those in key positions are all people cultivated by Second Uncle. If they say that, does Second Uncle still have to argue with them?"

"But Second Uncle is indeed nepotistic. Under the same conditions, of course, you will be promoted first. Only you can be used in key positions, but the premise is whether you can do well? That's why you have to start from the grassroots level."

Hearing Zhou Zhiyuan say this, Xiaodang immediately called out happily, "I'll go back and resign now, and report tomorrow."

Saying this, Xiaodang jumped up and ran out, and Zhou Zhiyuan's voice came from behind, "Don't you want to think about it anymore?"

"What is there to think about? You won't let me starve, will you?"

Xiaodang replied and ran out the door, but Zhou Zhiyuan sighed softly. Whether it is starting a business or maintaining it, the most difficult thing to deal with is these relatives. You can't be too light or too heavy, you need to use your brains.

And Xiaodang was persuaded by him to start as a waitress, just to set an example for the relatives behind.

This will be stable for a few years, and when Zhou Shuhua, Zhou Shuwen, and Zhou Shuxin also start from the grassroots level, the rules will be established.

This is his long-term plan and needs to be carefully considered. While he was pondering, the waiter quietly ran in and said in a low voice, "Boss, the eldest sister-in-law and Director Han are here, booked in the Hongfu room."

Hearing this news, Zhou Zhiyuan was stunned, and a question arose in his mind: "What does Lanyin want to do?"

Shen Lanyin's actions were not only incomprehensible to Zhou Zhiyuan, but also to Han Xue. The two sat opposite each other in the Hongfu room, talking about Li Jing's matter.

Han Xue didn't know why Shen Lanyin was so concerned about Li Jing's studies, but she solemnly replied, "Zhiyuan's plan for Xiaojing is to study law in the future, specializing in international economic law, and then go to the United States to study for a master's degree before returning to China. He will arrange Xiaojing's employment here."

Han Xue frankly told Shen Lanyin about Zhou Zhiyuan's plan for Li Jing. There was no need to hide this matter.

Hearing her finish, Shen Lanyin smiled and said, "Zhiyuan treats Xiaojing like his own daughter."

"Yes."

Han Xue would definitely not say a word more at this time.

Then she heard Shen Lanyin ask, "What's going on with Li Bo?"

Hearing this, Han Xue immediately became vigilant and replied solemnly, "I don't know. He went to my house some time ago and wanted to take Xiaojing out for a meal, but my parents scolded him and drove him out. Xiaojing was also unwilling to go with him, and he hasn't come since."

Han Xue was unwilling to mention Li Bo, but Shen Lanyin said indifferently, "I heard that Li Bo is not doing very well. During the movement, he betrayed his own uncle and actively participated in the movement to rectify people. Although his uncle didn't hold it against him afterwards and even protected him, it left a heavy mark in his file, and promotion is impossible."

"Seeing that he had lost power, Zheng Hong wanted to divorce him, but he didn't want to divorce, so the two quarreled every day. The child was out of control, truancy became the norm, and he hangs out with gangsters all day long, so the result won't be too good."

Shen Lanyin's disclosure of these messages brought Han Xue's vigilance to its peak.

She understood Shen Lanyin. If there was nothing going on, she wouldn't pay attention to Li Bo. Her ability to know these things meant that she had arranged for someone to investigate specifically.

She didn't know what Shen Lanyin wanted to do, but she knew that she should have an attitude at this time, so she said faintly, "These things have nothing to do with me, and nothing to do with Xiaojing. Xiaojing takes Zhiyuan..."

Saying this, Han Xue hurriedly shut her mouth, and heard Shen Lanyin say faintly, "Xiaojing treats Zhiyuan as her father, I know."

Shen Lanyin's attitude made Han Xue know that she was going to show her cards, but she still didn't know what cards Shen Lanyin was going to show her?