Siheyuan: The Era of Struggle

Chapter 395 Pay back the money
The journey was uneventful, and the two vehicles arrived safely at the military base after about forty minutes.

After entering the military compound and parking the car, Li Hongtao got out first, but told He Yuanchao and the others to wait in the car, saying he would call the regimental commander first to ask what was going on.

After all, the source of this grain was somewhat illegitimate. As a subordinate, one should not bring honor to one's superior, but one should never cause trouble for one's superior.

Li Hongtao went into the guard room at the entrance to make a phone call, and came out less than five minutes later.

"Uncle Zhang, Yuanchao, the regimental commander has gone to the company for inspection and probably won't be back for a while, but he instructed that the grain should be handed over to the logistics department as usual."

Actually, there was one more thing the regimental commander said that Li Hongtao didn't say.

That is, "Once the grain enters the army, it becomes the army's supplies, and no matter which local department comes to investigate, it won't matter." He told Li Hongtao to accept it boldly, and he would take the blame if anything went wrong.

Whether or not they met with the regimental commander Zhang Lide and He Yuanchao was not important, as long as the commander didn't mind that the grain was bought on the black market and was willing to accept it.

The two exchanged a glance, both understanding each other's meaning. Zhang Lide hesitated for a moment before speaking:

"Since Regiment Commander Liu is not here, please ask Chief of Staff Li to convey our gratitude. This matter has really caused trouble for the leaders and the troops."

Another issue is Zhang Zhao's demobilization paperwork; I wonder when the regiment will be able to process it.

When Zhang Zhao heard about his own affairs, he didn't move, but his ears perked up and his eyes were fixed on Li Hongtao.

Li Hongtao knew that Zhang Zhao's matter was the key point of Zhang Lide's words, so he didn't hide it and said with a smile:
"Don't worry, Uncle Zhang, Zhang Zhao's transfer procedures are almost complete. The division has already signed and stamped them. Now it's just a matter of the regiment's procedures. I'll go with the logistics department to handle it when the grain arrives. It shouldn't take long."

With Li Hongtao's words, Zhang Lide was completely relieved. He couldn't help but look at He Yuanchao with gratitude. If it weren't for this son-in-law, he would have been worried sick about this matter. It wouldn't have been resolved so easily.

He Yuanchao understood the meaning in his father-in-law's eyes, but this was not the time for casual conversation, so he could only use the opportunity of thanking Li Hongtao to smooth things over.

Knowing that Zhang Lide was anxious about Zhang Zhao's demobilization, Li Hongtao didn't waste any time. After exchanging a few words with He Yuanchao, he walked to the truck and said to the soldier driving it:
"Xiao Li, go to the logistics department and tell Director Li to hurry up and put the grain into storage. When he's done, have him call my office."

The soldier driving the car was quite familiar with Li Hongtao. Hearing this, he smiled and responded before driving towards the regimental headquarters logistics area.

The logistics department wasn't far from the regimental headquarters. Li Hongtao led He Yuanchao and his two sons back to his office. Not long after, before they had even finished a cigarette, the phone on his desk rang.

Li Hongtao picked up the phone, responded with a few "uh-huhs," and then asked if there was a shortage of grain. After receiving a reply, he hung up the phone.

"Alright, Uncle Zhang, Yuanchao, the matter of the grain is settled. You two wait in my office for a while, and I'll take Zhang Zhao to the regiment's political department to complete his demobilization procedures."

The military involves many classified matters, and He Yuanchao and Zhang Lide, both of whom had served in the military, were very knowledgeable about the rules.

Seeing Li Hongtao get up and beckon Zhang Zhao to leave, He Yuanchao and Zhang Lide also got up and followed him out of the office.

Seeing this, Li Hongtao offered a few words of advice, but when He Yuanchao and Zhang Lide insisted on waiting in the jeep downstairs, he didn't say anything more and turned to lead Zhang Zhao up to the third floor.

Zhang Zhao's transfer to civilian work was decided long ago by the division and the regiment. The division had already prepared and issued his personnel file, administrative introduction letter, supply introduction letter, organizational relationship certificate, and transfer certificate to the regiment. Only the seal of the regiment's political department and the transfer fee were missing.

During this period, there was no exact and unified standard for the specific amount of transfer fees for officers at the battalion level. The transfer fee included a resettlement allowance and a living allowance. The resettlement allowance was calculated based on the rank and length of service. For those who had served for less than fourteen years, four months of their original salary was paid. For those who had served for more than fourteen years, an additional half month of their original salary was paid for each additional year starting from the fifteenth year.
For eight to nine consecutive years of military service, the living allowance is three months' worth of the individual's original salary. For more than nine years, an additional month's salary is added for each full year of service, up to a maximum of sixteen months' worth of the individual's original salary. Zhang Zhao served in the army for less than thirteen years, receiving a settlement allowance of 404 and a living allowance of 707, totaling 1,111.

In the 1950s, a thousand yuan was a huge sum of money, equivalent to two to three years' wages for an ordinary worker.

After getting the stamp, receiving the money and various receipts from the military, Zhang Zhao looked at the documents and certificates in his hand and suddenly felt empty inside. The military, which he used to find distasteful, now made him feel incredibly nostalgic.

Zhang Zhao followed Li Hongtao downstairs, looking dejected, and walked to the jeep outside the office building.

Before Zhang Lide, who was standing next to the car, could ask how things were going, Zhang Zhao suddenly squatted down and burst into tears.

The crying was quite loud, heart-wrenching, and most of the people inside the military office building who heard the noise poked their heads out of the windows to watch.

Looking at the various documents and certificates scattered on the ground, Zhang Lide immediately understood the reason.

This time, he did not scold Zhang Zhao, nor did he say any words of comfort. He silently squatted down, picked up the documents and certificates on the ground, and then stood up quietly to the side.

He understood that this was a knot in his son's heart, and no amount of advice from others could help; only his son could figure it out and get through it.

Seeing this, He Yuanchao and Li Hongtao remained silent, standing to the side, taking out cigarettes and lighting them in silence. The atmosphere was too tense to be casual.

The man in his thirties sobbed for a while, and only after he felt a little better did he remember that there were other people beside him. With snot and tears streaming down his face, he was too ashamed to face anyone. He got up, lowered his head, and without saying a word, quickly opened the car door and chased after them.

Seeing Zhang Zhao's startled reaction, Zhang Lide became somewhat uneasy and quickly got into the car as well.

Li Hongtao originally intended to extend the hospitality of a host and have a few drinks together that evening, but Zhang Zhao's sudden outburst made it inappropriate to say such things again. He could only change his mind and ask He Yuanchao how many more days he could stay in Yangqu.

He Yuanchao guessed what Li Hongtao was thinking, but he had to treat him to a drink. Not to mention that Li Hongtao had been busy helping out these past two days, he had to treat him to a drink just for the kindness of driving for him.

After all, feelings are something that are developed over time; even the strongest feelings will eventually run out if one side is always making demands.

Both of them wanted to maintain their camaraderie, so it could be said that both parties were interested in each other.

After He Yuanchao explained how long he would stay in Yangqu, Li Hongtao immediately agreed to meet in the county town at noon the next day.

Having agreed on the time and place, He Yuanchao glanced at his father-in-law and brother-in-law in the car, then said goodbye to Li Hongtao and got into the car.

Li Hongtao didn't try to stop him. He stood there watching the jeep drive out of the military compound before turning back to the office building.

The jeep hadn't gone far from the military base when Zhang Zhao, who had been silent all along, suddenly pulled a large wad of cash from his pocket, counted out five hundred yuan, and handed it to He Yuanchao, saying:

"Here's the five hundred yuan I borrowed from you. I'm paying you back. I'm not used to owing money to others."

(End of this chapter)