mijobooks Chapter 26: Utilization
Chapter 26: Utilization
Back home, Tang Zhenghong brewed a pot of tea and tapped his thigh to sort through the original owner's memories.
However, regarding the sudden passing of Mr. Tang in 1953, it seems that there is no discrepancy with the investigation results of the Military Control Commission.
That day, the old man went out to find work. A spy escaped from a courtyard in the alley by climbing over the wall. Several comrades chased after him from the gate of the neighboring courtyard and warned the old man and other passersby that he was a spy.
At the time, the enemy agents fled in haste and had no weapons on them.
When Grandpa Tang saw the enemy agent being captured, he offered to help by parking his car in the middle of the alley to block the enemy's path.
Seeing that they were about to be caught, the enemy agent grabbed Grandpa and held him hostage with a knife. Taking advantage of the agent's distraction, the old man tried to fight back and knock the knife out of the agent's hand. However, the enemy agent was not easy to deal with. In desperation, he stabbed Grandpa several times to warn the pursuers.
The old man fell to the ground, his hands still tightly wrapped around the other man's calves. After being dragged for a while, the enemy agent was killed, but the old man was still gone.
According to Du Yu today, there were two other people with Grandpa at the time, both from the same courtyard. Grandpa was a hired hand in the courtyard.
However, Tang Zhenghong had no memory of this incident.
"Xinzhong Street...the Lou family? It shouldn't be, they're out of reach."
The Lou family?
The only family in this courtyard that could be connected with the Lou family was the Xu family, who later even married their daughter to Xu Damao.
Is it Xu Fugui?
Or is it Xu Damao?
Thinking back to Yang Ruihua, who seemed a bit strange when I left home today, and Du Yu, who suddenly appeared on the way and recognized me at a glance after more than ten years.
This style and the skill level are unlike anything Xu Damao can achieve now; it seems only his father, who likes to scheme behind people's backs, could pull it off.
Who is Xu Fugui trying to get rid of?
Did they hear that they had become railway police officers and were now of use?
"Second brother, my stomach hurts."
Tang Zhenghong's thoughts were interrupted when he saw the little girl rubbing her stomach pitifully. He slapped his forehead, realizing that the food was too oily and had caused her stomach problems.
"Come on, let your second brother take you to the toilet. Does it hurt a lot?"
"I just feel uncomfortable and need to go to the toilet."
After running to the toilet twice, the little girl drank some hot water and was full of energy again, playing with Da Mao and the others from the next courtyard.
In the village, the boys didn't play with these girls, but Da Mao and the others were different. Tang Hongxin, who was originally shy, soon joined in and played wildly, and her giggles could be heard from time to time in the yard.
"Zhenghong...Brother, my dad wants us to have the meeting in the front yard."
When Yan Jiefang went to the courtyard in the west corner to announce the meeting, he couldn't help but change his mind the moment he saw Tang Zhenghong look up. He felt he had lost face, so he straightened his chest and wanted to say a few polite words, but when he saw the clothes on Tang Zhenghong's body, he chickened out and only said "hurry up" before slipping away.
Liang Ladi also came out, carrying a stool in her hand: "Brother Zheng Hong, thank you for the pickles last time."
"Master Liang, you're welcome. Da Mao deserves it. Hong Xin, stay here and play with Da Mao and the others. Don't wander off. Second Brother will be back soon."
Now that Tang Hongxin had a friend, she no longer cared about where her second brother had gone; she simply waved her little hand to let him know.
"Zhenghong, do you know what this college-wide meeting is about? Why is it that only our two colleges hold these college-wide meetings all the time? Other colleges don't have so many trivial matters."
Liang Ladi also mentioned the neighboring courtyard, which was practically identical to hers, and held courtyard-wide meetings every few days.
However, Tang Zhenghong wasn't too surprised. With people like Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong in this courtyard, and talents like Liu Yizhen and Zhao Tiejun in the neighboring courtyard, it would be strange if things weren't peaceful.
"It seems to be about fixing the toilet."
Liang Ladi was quite in favor: "It should be repaired. In the summer, the smell wafts into the yard. I just don't know if the fee is charged per person or per household."
By this time, quite a few people had gathered in the front yard, chatting in twos and threes.
Liu Haizhong sat on the upper left of the table with his eyes closed, seemingly resting, but his mouth never stopped; he was probably practicing his lines.
Yan Bugui was muttering to himself as he calculated the accounts, holding a piece of paper.
At this moment, Yi Zhonghai helped the deaf old lady out of the backyard. It is said that she recognized her godmother in 1953, but she still calls her "old lady" when they meet.
Yan Bugui watched as Yi Zhonghai took his seat and then chaired the meeting, saying, "Everyone is here now, so let's begin the meeting."
Sha Zhu, who loved to show off, quickly interrupted, "Hey, Third Uncle, you're not that old, but your eyesight isn't what it used to be. There are missing people. Xu Damao isn't here."
Yan Bugui, not one to tolerate such behavior, adjusted his glasses and scolded, "Shazhu, how can you talk like that? Xu Damao went to show a movie. Why don't we just sit here and wait for him to come back before we start?"
"Alright, let's start the meeting now. Zhu Zi, sit down. Xu Damao isn't here. When he gets back, Lao Liu, convey the results to him."
As he spoke, Yi Zhonghai glanced around and spotted Tang Zhenghong, who was dressed conspicuously: "We have to thank Zhenghong from our compound for reminding us about this today. The toilet pits are getting bigger and bigger, and some kids can't help but make a mess everywhere. So the three of us old men discussed it and, after reporting to the neighborhood office, decided to find someone to repair the toilets."
Liu Haizhong, having prepared his words for a while, eagerly spoke up: "Old Yi is right. This concerns the safety of the children in the yard, so we must take it seriously. I think it's very necessary. As for how to fix it, let's invite Uncle San to tell us."
Sha Zhu below chuckled: "So you've been rambling on for ages. Third Uncle, hurry up and get to the point. Stop with the nonsense and say something useful."
If Xu Damao were here, he'd be arguing with Sha Zhu again.
Yan Bugui could tolerate it, but Liu Haizhong couldn't: "Old Yi, look at him! This idiot Zhu has no respect for leaders and elders at all. How can this meeting proceed?"
Yan Bugui remained silent, his attitude clear: he would only speak after Sha Zhu was dealt with.
Yi Zhonghai had a bit of a headache. He glanced at the deaf old lady who hadn't said anything and said, "Old Liu, don't take it to heart. You all know Zhu Zi's personality."
Yan Bugui had always wanted to teach Sha Zhu a lesson, so this time he wasn't going to mince words: "Old Yi, that's not right. If that's the case, then we shouldn't hold this meeting. When the neighborhood committee asks, we can just say someone deliberately caused trouble. If any child gets into trouble in the future, they can just tell them to go to Sha Zhu."
Liu Haizhong was very concerned about his reputation, and seeing so many people acting foolishly made him lose face. He angrily grabbed his enamel mug and was about to leave when Yi Zhonghai stopped him.
"He Yuzhu, do you have any discipline at all? Everyone saw it today. You deliberately disrupted the order. You're fined five yuan. Take it to Uncle San later."
Yan Bugui chuckled and corrected him, "Old Yi, it's not a punishment. We have no right to punish him. This five yuan is a donation from Sha Zhu, intended for repairing the toilet."
Sha Zhu protested, "Hey, why should we? Just because the three of you are the bosses? Five yuan? Old Yan, you only make a few five-yuan bills a month, and you dare to ask for that?"
Even Yi Zhonghai got angry: "Silly Zhu, are you dissatisfied?"