Siheyuan: Domineering life

My niece's marriage was finally settled.

In fact, being able to meet once basically means that the marriage has been decided, and it is just a formality. For the Yang family, although the Zhang family is not as well-off, it is still good in the outside world. The accumulated connections and background of two generations of grandfather and parents should not be underestimated.

Yang Mei is too proud and sometimes looks down on people below her. That's because she has a good brother who supports her. If it were just based on her family background, the Zhang family would be fully qualified to be hers.

Sometimes, family marriages cannot only consider the background of a single person, but also the people and backgrounds with vested interests behind their family. For example, when it comes to Liu Xiaozhuang's marriage, it cannot only consider the Yang Mei family, but also Yang Jun's side. After all, the relationship is not too distant and the interests are definitely dense.

After the marriage was decided, the next step was the engagement stage. The ceremony still had to be held. After all, they were a wealthy family. Sometimes the engagement ceremony was not for themselves, but for outsiders to see, to tell everyone that the two families had formed an alliance of interests.

Naturally, Yang Jun would not participate in such meaningful activities. Not to mention his niece's engagement, he would not even attend his own children's engagement. The main reason was that he had a special status, so he would try not to attend such small occasions to maintain his mysterious image.

That day, Yi Qiu Shui went to attend Liu Xiaozhuang's engagement ceremony, and Yang Jun went to Diaoyutai after breakfast.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, so now we have put up parasols and even frozen fruits on the table.

Yang Jun soaked the fishing rod in the water and lay on the rattan chair as usual, wearing sunglasses on his face and holding the back of his head with his hands, enjoying everything in front of him.

At this time, the mobile phone on the coffee table rang.

Sun Zhaocai picked up the call, then covered the receiver and said, "Uncle Yang, Yang Jianguo is here."

"Yang Jianguo?"

When Yang Jun heard the name, he was stunned for a moment. He felt very familiar with it, but he couldn't remember who it was for a moment. After all, he knew too many people and couldn't remember all their names.

Sun Zhaocai looked at Yang Jun with a frown on his face and quickly reminded him, "He was your colleague at the steel mill."

"Oh, it's Comrade Yang Jianguo."

Yang Jun suddenly remembered who he was. When he first went to the steel mill, Yang Jianguo was the director of the steel mill and he was the chief of the purchasing department. Originally, the two were both subordinates of Guo Caodi and had a good relationship. Yang Jun received a lot of care and promotion from him. Strictly speaking, Yang Jianguo was also a benefactor in his career.

When a distinguished guest comes to visit, Yang Jun naturally has to entertain him.

He is also very bored now, so he wants to find someone to chat with.

"Invite him in."

After giving the instructions, Yang Jun told Ding Erzhu to get some wine and food so that he could have a good drink with Yang Jianguo.

After a while, Yang Jianguo came.

"Great leader."

Yang Jianguo started to greet people from a few dozen meters away, then trotted towards Diaoyutai.

Hearing the call, Yang Jun also stood up from the rattan chair and stood there with a smile.

"Brother Jianguo."

Yang Jianguo reached out from a distance, held Yang Jun's hand, bent slightly, and said repeatedly: "I dare not call you that as a big leader. If you think highly of me, just call me Lao Yang."

"It's okay if I call you Lao Yang, then you can call me Xiao Yang." Yang Jun said with a smile.

"Then how dare I ..."

"You must dare. If you don't shout, go home now."

"Yes, I heard from the leader."

Yang Jianguo had no choice but to do as he was told.

In fact, through a few brief exchanges, Yang Jianguo discovered that Yang Jun was still the same Yang Jun as before. At least his habit of joking had not changed. The fact that he could joke with a small figure like himself showed that Yang Jun really did not treat him as an outsider.

Seeing Yang Jun's attitude, he finally felt relieved.

"Big...Little...Yang," Yang Jianguo tried a few different names, and finally said, "I brought you some local specialties. I left them at the gatehouse. Remember to take a look at them later."

"I say, Old Yang, you are too polite. Given the relationship between us... forget it, Old Yang, I'll accept your specialty." Yang Jun.

"Thank you, great leader."

Afterwards, Yang Jun poured him a cup of tea and the two chatted while drinking.

Yang Jianguo did not explain the purpose of his visit, but instead talked about their previous work together, mainly talking about some wonderful things about the cooperation, while also remembering Guo Caodi.

“Oh, if the big boss were still alive, he would definitely be pleased to see your achievements today,” Yang Jianguo said with emotion.

They both respected and loved their former common leader Guo Caodi from the bottom of their hearts, and felt somewhat regretful when they thought that he was gone at such a young age.

"Yes, if it weren't for Uncle Guo, I, Yang Jun, wouldn't be where I am today." Yang Jun sighed.

He said this from the bottom of his heart. Without Uncle Guo's support, he would have spent his whole life working in a steel rolling mill. The best position he would have gotten would probably have been deputy factory director or something like that. A person without power or background would have had a hard time making any progress.

But he is different. With the strong promotion of Uncle Guo, his career has soared like a rocket. In just a few years, he has completed the life of others. That’s not all. Now he has climbed to the top of the pyramid through his own efforts.

If I work harder, it will not be impossible to pick the stars with my hands.

Everything was within his plan, and he also had long-term considerations. While running a huge business, he was also making a comprehensive layout, building orphanages, doomsday shelters, and various schools to train professional talents, all in order to make himself a big tree with deep roots and lush leaves that no one could touch.

"Old Yang, I heard that your son is engaged to the grandson of the big boss?"

Yang Jianguo did not dare to call him Xiao Yang directly. After all, Yang Jun was already fifty years old, so he decided to call him Lao Yang.

As to whether this Old Yang is that Old Yang, only the two of them know.

"Yes, the engagement was made last October." Yang Jun was delighted when he mentioned the marriage. He paused for a moment and continued, "Let them get married after they graduate from college."

He did not let down Uncle Guo's care and promotion. Now the two families have become relatives, and they have become one family. If nothing unexpected happens, Yang Jun will definitely strongly support his son-in-law in the future and help him revitalize the Guo family.

"Congratulations! Don't forget to invite me to their wedding when they get married." Yang Jianguo congratulated them.

"That is required."

After not seeing each other for many years, they have become a little unfamiliar with each other. It may be because of Guo Caodi's death, or it may be because Yang Jun's high position and power. Now Yang Jianguo is no longer in Yang Jun's eyes. In fact, this is understandable. You can't become the richest man in the country and still eat coarse food with your childhood playmate.

Since they are not in the same circle, they definitely don’t interact as much.

It’s not that Yang Jianguo doesn’t want to interact with Yang Jun, but he can’t find a way.

He had come here countless times before, but was turned away every time. This time, if it weren't for the relationship with Yang Jun's former secretary Jiang Haitao, who asked him to say hello to Luo Xiaojun, the guard would not have informed him of his presence.

The situation is stronger than people. When you are under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Yang Jun is the top of the pyramid. If you don't look up, you won't be able to see him.

After a while, the nanny brought up the wine and food.

"Oh, big boss, I am... so honored..."

Seeing that Yang Jun had already prepared the meal, Yang Jianguo was deeply moved.

He didn't dare to ask for anything, just asking Yang Jun to meet him once. He didn't expect that Yang Jun still remembered their friendship and prepared a banquet in advance. "Old Yang, don't be so sentimental. It's noon now, and I have to eat lunch myself." Yang Jun said with a smile.

"Then... then I am even more honored. It is a great honor to have lunch with such a great leader."

It is only ten o'clock in the morning, and it is far from time for lunch. Yang Jianguo firmly believes that this must have been prepared for him by Yang Jun in advance.

"Okay, you can have the honor if you want."

Yang Jun picked up the wine glass and said, "It's been many years. Come, let's have a drink."

"Cheers to the great leader." Yang Jianguo held the wine glass with both hands.

Afterwards, the two drank it all in one gulp.

Putting down their wine glasses, they began to eat.

They lowered their heads and ate, but were thinking about their own things.

Yang Jun lamented how the world has changed. Now, the two of them are in different worlds and are no longer from the same world. They lack the free and easy attitude they had before, and also the frankness. No matter how approachable he behaves, he still cannot narrow the distance between them.

Yang Jianguo was thinking in his mind that he would try every possible way to curry favor with Yang Jun, hoping to gain his recognition and approval, and then cling to this thigh tightly. Although he also wanted to chat and gossip with Yang Jun freely and without any scruples like before, he didn't dare to do so.

After all, Yang Jun is a big leader, a figure that a small fry like him can never reach. He must be careful at all times and dare not make the slightest mistake.

"Boss, let me toast you." Yang Jianguo said, holding the cup with both hands.

He was previously called Xiao Yang, then Lao Yang, and later changed back to the original name. After all, Yang Jun's position was there and he could not tolerate any disrespect.

"Come, I toast you too."

They both drank it down again.

After putting down the wine glass, he started another meaningless chatter, talking about the past, over and over again.

Yang Jun took a bite of the food, put down his chopsticks, and said with a smile,

"Old Yang, are you in trouble? If so, just tell me and I will definitely help you."

Yang Jun didn't want to keep talking nonsense like this. From a public and private perspective, Yang Jianguo did help him in his promotion, and if he really encountered difficulties, he wouldn't mind helping him.

"Look at what the big boss said, what kind of difficulties can I encounter..."

Seeing Yang Jun's understanding look, Yang Jianguo suddenly fell silent in the middle of his words.

Yang Jun has already taken the initiative to extend an olive branch, which is giving him face and a way out. If I am still hypocritical at this time, I am afraid I will not have this opportunity in the future.

"Yes, nothing can be hidden from the leader."

Yang Jianguo blushed, then smiled slightly and said embarrassedly: "I'm about to reach retirement age..."

"Don't you want to come down?" Yang Jun said with a smile.

"Yeah!" Yang Jianguo nodded with a red face.

In the past, he prided himself on being noble and was not willing to accept help from others. He felt that it was charity and an insult to himself as a top student studying abroad. Even though he had followed Guo Caodi before, he wanted to use his own efforts and achievements to prove that he did not rely on connections to get to where he is.

Since Guo Caodi passed away, he no longer had a backer. He prided himself on being noble and was unwilling to join Yang Jun, so he didn't do very well later on. He first worked as the director of a steel rolling mill, then went to a steelmaking plant, and later to a chemical plant, where he stayed for nearly ten years. However, recently, his superiors considered his age, so they transferred him to a less busy department to allow him to retire.

"Which unit are you in now?" Yang Jun asked.

"In the Ministry of Chemicals, currently serving as deputy director of the petroleum department."

In response to Yang Jun's questions, Yang Jianguo answered them one by one.

"Deputy?"

"Yeah." Yang Jianguo's face turned even redder when he heard Yang Jun ask this.

After working for so many years, he ended up being just a deputy. He felt even more ashamed.

"Okay, I see."

Yang Jun didn't say anything, holding up the wine glass and said, "Come on, cheers."

“I respect the great leader.”

Yang Jianguo did not continue to ask. This kind of matter is very delicate and he cannot ask. If he asks, it means he does not trust Yang Jun. If he does not ask, he will feel unsure. However, he knows Yang Jun's character. Once he agrees to something, he will definitely help to the end.

He is a workaholic and loves to work. The reason why he is unwilling to retire is mainly because he can't sit idle. It's not that he wants to be promoted, but he really likes to work. In order to continue working, he can only shamelessly ask Yang Jun for help. If it were in the past, he would never ask anyone for help.

Afterwards, the two continued drinking and chatting about the past.

After about an hour and a half, Yang Jianguo said goodbye at the right time.

Yang Jun walked him to the shore and watched him leave.

After he left, Yang Jun asked someone to call Luo Xiaojun over.

"Uncle Master."

Luo Xiaojun shouted, then stood there respectfully with his hands crossed on his abdomen, waiting for Yang Jun's instructions.

"Did you ask the guard to notify you?"

Yang Jun was dozing off on a rattan chair. He had just drunk some wine and now felt a little dizzy.

When Luo Xiaojun heard this, his heart skipped a beat, thinking that Yang Jun was going to blame him.

Yang Jun had already given orders not to see anyone, unless it was a good friend or buddy like Wang Erwa. As for Yang Jianguo, he was completely out of this scope.

"It was only after Jiang Haitao called many times to beg for mercy that I... reluctantly agreed."

After saying that, Luo Xiaojun stood there trembling with fear.

Yang Jun didn't mean to blame him, but waved his hand.

"It won't happen again."

"Yes, uncle."

Then, Yang Jun said, "Let's do some work and let Yang Jianguo continue to stay in office."

"No, be promoted to a higher level and stay in office." Yang Jun continued.

"Yes, Uncle Master, I'll do it right away."

After saying this, seeing that Yang Jun had nothing else to say, he left. (End of this chapter)