Courtyard Houses: Starting with the principle of hard work paying off

Chapter 181: Setting a Trap for Fan Jinyou, Fan Jinyou is Numb

Most of the tavern's customers are old patrons who know each other well. Li Hongbing is a "newcomer," but because of the rumors and fame surrounding him, everyone is familiar with him.

Today was Li Hongbing's first public appearance, and everyone was full of curiosity about him. Li Hongbing's humble and polite behavior won him a lot of goodwill, especially from Niu Ye and Pian'er Ye who were sitting at the same table.

As Guo Youzhong's last disciple, Li Hongbing is already a leading figure among the younger generation in the culinary world.

Given time, Li Hongbing's achievements and reputation may not be inferior to his master Guo Youzhong, and he may even become a titan in the culinary world.

After all, at his age and with his achievements, he is virtually unparalleled in the entire culinary circle of Beijing; no one can surpass him.

"Manager Xu, it seems the government is pushing for public-private partnerships now. Is your little tavern going to participate?"

Just as Li Hongbing was getting into the atmosphere of the tavern, Niu Ye, who had just had a drink, suddenly asked Xu Huizhen a question.

"Public-private partnership?"

Xu Huizhen was slightly taken aback, and looked at Master Niu with some surprise, saying, "Master Niu, you've heard about this too?"

There have been some rumors about public-private partnerships lately, but Xu Hui doesn't really know much about them.

The main reason is that too many things have happened to her and the tavern recently. Xu Huizhen had just finished her postpartum confinement and immediately began preparing for the tavern's reopening, so she didn't have much energy to pay attention to these things.

At the end of last month, just a few days ago, the higher authorities convened some business representatives for an expanded meeting on joint public-private ownership, and newspapers also published numerous reports about joint public-private ownership.

In the last couple of days, Xu Huizhen has gradually learned some things, but not much.

Now that Master Niu has brought it up, Xu Huizhen naturally takes the topic to heart.

Noticing Xu Huizhen's reaction, Master Niu knew she probably didn't know much, so he said with some smugness, "Manager, you really need to know this. Public-private partnership is our socialism, unlike capitalism. There can't be individual businesses, so what do we do? The government has to take over..."

"Uncle Niu! Where did you hear all this from?"

Just as Uncle Niu was speaking eloquently and getting to the "key" point, Li Hongbing suddenly tapped the table and interrupted him.

This action is undoubtedly quite impolite.

However, Li Hongbing did it on purpose.

If we let him continue talking, we'll get into trouble.

Li Hongbing had already noticed Fan Jinyou, a street office cadre, when he came in.

This person is cunning and wicked; he's no good.

There are too many bad things about Fan Jinyou to mention.

Driven by profit, opportunistic, unprincipled in pursuing personal gain, narrow-minded, jealous, vain, overly ambitious, ungrateful, treacherous, and backstabbing... It's rare to find so many negative adjectives applied to one person at the same time, but Fan Jinyou has managed to do just that.

In the tavern, Fan Jinyou committed far more than just one or two bad deeds, let alone three or five.

Here are a few examples.

In the drama, because Xu Huizhen's tavern business is booming, Fan Jinyou takes the initiative to pursue her. After being rejected, he immediately tries to sabotage her, jealous of other men who are pursuing Xu Huizhen, such as Xu Hesheng and Cai Quanwu, and repeatedly interferes with her.

Later, Xu Huizhen helped him through a difficult time and recommended him for reinstatement. However, Fan Jinyou took advantage of the situation and retaliated, setting traps for him on multiple occasions. He even deliberately framed Xu Huizhen during a transaction with a foreign businessman, causing her to be on the verge of bankruptcy.

What Master Niu just said may not be wrong in essence, but the wording he used was obviously inappropriate for the current situation. If Fan Jinyou seizes on this and makes a big deal out of it, coupled with the fact that the other party is a Manchu, he will be in serious trouble.

Li Hongbing consistently supported Chen Xueru's active participation in the public-private partnership, not because it was particularly good, but simply because it was an inevitable trend that could not be reversed.

to be frank.

Li Hongbing didn't have much of a relationship with Niu Ye, but he felt that Niu Ye was alright. He simply disliked Fan Jinyou, a despicable person.

"I heard that from someone else."

Being interrupted halfway through his sentence naturally left Uncle Niu a little annoyed and also somewhat puzzled.

Based on his interaction with Li Hongbing, he felt that Li Hongbing did not seem like such a rude and ill-mannered person.

"So you heard it from someone else. I've also read some reports and policy announcements about public-private partnerships in the newspapers, but my understanding of the policy might not be perfect. I see there are some street office cadres here, why don't we invite Cadre Fan to come out and explain it to everyone?"

As soon as Li Hongbing said these words, Master Niu was startled and indeed saw Fan Jinyou not far away in the tavern.

at the same time.

Fan Jinyou, who was suddenly called upon by Li Hongbing, was stunned for a moment, then his face darkened quickly. He pretended not to know Li Hongbing and said irritably, "Who are you? You think I'll just tell you to say something? I won't!"

Fan Jinyou and Li Hongbing were complete strangers before.

However, when Li Hongbing was talking to Niu Ye and Pian Ye, many people in the tavern were listening, and some even chimed in. Li Hongbing also chatted with them for a few minutes.

It's true that he didn't recognize him, but it's impossible to say that Fan Jinyou had absolutely no idea about Li Hongbing's identity.

Obvious.

Fan Jinyou's words just now were intentional; he deliberately wanted to embarrass Li Hongbing.

The reason is also very simple.

It was simply because of jealousy.

Li Hongbing is a few years younger than Fan Jinyou, but at such a young age he has already achieved what he has. Just now, the people in the tavern were flattering and praising Li Hongbing, as if he were some kind of extraordinary person.

This made Fan Jinyou feel very uncomfortable.

As a street office cadre, he had never received such treatment before.

The key point is that Li Hongbing is not only young and promising with a successful career, but he also married a rich and beautiful woman like Chen Xueru, which makes Fan Jinyou even more resentful.

Moreover, when Master Niu was talking about the public-private partnership policy, Fan Jinyou, who knew Master Niu well, had already anticipated what he was going to say next. He was just about to put on airs and show off the power of a street office cadre when Li Hongbing interrupted him before Master Niu could finish his rant.

Isn't this obviously ruining his "good deed"?

only.

Fan Jinyou's words instantly turned the previously harmonious atmosphere in the tavern into an awkward one.

"Fan Jinyou, how dare you speak to me like that?"

Seeing that Fan Jinyou was showing no respect to Li Hongbing, Chen Xueru, as his wife, immediately changed her expression and stood up to defend her husband, saying, "Our Hongbing is politely asking you for advice. If you don't want to talk, no one is forcing you. Who are you trying to embarrass?

Making things difficult for her husband was clearly worse than bullying her, and Chen Xueru couldn't stand it for a moment longer.

"Xueru, don't be angry. Cadre Fan probably didn't mean any harm. I was just being presumptuous."

Seeing Chen Xueru speak up for him, Li Hongbing smiled, stood up, gently pressed her back into her seat, and said, "It's after get off work hours now. Although Cadre Fan is a street office cadre, he also has his own private time. Even if you want to serve the people, you have to wait until Cadre Fan is on duty."

"I originally thought that the task of public-private partnership was the responsibility of the street office, and that Officer Fan, as a street office cadre, would obviously understand the policy spirit of public-private partnership better than us ordinary citizens. But I overlooked the fact that he's already off work and has no obligation to answer policy questions for us ordinary citizens and small business owners..." "Nonsense! You, surnamed Li, you're talking nonsense!"

Before Li Hongbing could finish speaking, Fan Jinyou immediately became agitated.

At first, Fan Jinyou didn't realize what was going on, but as he listened, he realized something was wrong.

Li Hongbing is clearly trying to frame himself and dig a hole for himself; he has absolutely no good intentions.

If word gets out, it will make him appear to be putting on airs in front of the masses, being detached from them, and irresponsible in his work.

Forget about work hours and personal time. As a street office cadre, you are supposed to serve the people anytime, anywhere. Even after get off work, you can't forget your identity and responsibilities.

After all, as cadres, the country's requirements for them are different from those for ordinary people.

If Li Hongbing is allowed to firmly attach this label to him, he will inevitably suffer the consequences and be criticized, and his recent efforts to join the Party will also be in vain.

More importantly.

What are the most important things for the higher authorities and the local street office right now?
It was a joint public-private partnership!

At this moment, among the business owners in the small tavern, there were at least Xu Huizhen and Chen Xueru. Li Hongbing, as Chen Xueru's family member, publicly asked him about the policy issues of public-private partnership. However, he arrogantly refused to answer as a cadre and even had a bad attitude. This was tantamount to going against the policy from above, hindering the implementation of the policy, and tarnishing the reputation of the street office.

"Cadre Fan, I admit I shouldn't have asked you to answer the question so abruptly. It was a rather abrupt move, and I've already apologized. But even if you're unhappy, you don't have to insult me ​​like that, do you?"

Seeing Fan Jinyou's angry and reckless words, Li Hongbing felt relieved, but pretended to be angry and said directly to Chen Xueru, "Xueru, let's go! I don't know what I said that made Cadre Fan so hostile towards me. Today is the day the tavern reopens. If we stay, we will only cause trouble for Huizhen and spoil everyone's enjoyment."

Even Li Hongbing himself felt that this round of tea talk was a bit too over-the-top.

"Okay, I don't think I can drink any more of this wine."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xueru glared angrily at Fan Jinyou, then stood up and said to Xu Huizhen at the counter, "Huizhen, I'm really sorry about what happened today. Hongbing and I will come back another day to support you."

After saying that, Chen Xueru and Li Hongbing walked out the door.

"Sister Xueru, Hongbing, wait a moment."

Seeing this, Xu Huizhen hurriedly chased after him from inside.

At this time.

Li Hongbing, who was leading Chen Xueru to the door, stopped again, clasped his hands in greeting to the people in the tavern, and said, "Gentlemen, it is my first time meeting you all today, but we have had a very pleasant conversation. Unfortunately, I am truly sorry to have spoiled your enjoyment."

"To express my apologies, Huizhen, could you please serve another small glass of wine to all the guests present, and put it on my tab? We'll settle the bill later..."

Seeing Li Hongbing finish speaking those two sentences and then resolutely leave with Chen Xueru, ignoring Xu Huizhen's attempts to persuade him to stay, Fan Jinyou, who hadn't had a chance to say a word throughout the entire process, was completely stunned.

Sensing the sudden shift in everyone's attitude, from unfriendly to contemptuous and disgusted, Fan Jinyou, still sitting there, was torn between leaving and staying.

For a while.

Fan Jin felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, as if the sky was about to fall.

His leaving in a huff at this point proves that he was in the wrong and felt guilty.

But if he stayed, Fan Jin felt that he was now a bad person and a bad cadre.

"Gentlemen, this Master Li seems a bit too stingy, which has caused some misunderstandings about me."

Fan Jinyou didn't care whether Li Hongbing was angry or not, but he couldn't let so many people in the tavern have a "misunderstanding" about him, so he quickly stood up and explained: "I was just joking with Master Li. I didn't expect that Master Li, who is not old, has such a big temper."

He just said that once they get off work, the street office cadres stop serving the people. Isn't that nonsense?
I swear!
I, Fan Jinyou, swear that I absolutely did not have such a thought!

Whether we're at work or off work, our street office cadres are absolutely dedicated to serving the people.

His baseless speculation and labeling of me is clearly slander and damaging to the reputation of state cadres. Tell me, how could I not be angry?

However, I was also in a moment of excitement and accidentally said something I shouldn't have. I need to reflect on that. My attitude just now was somewhat inappropriate, and I apologize for that…

"Officer Fan, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to talk about Master Li like that?"

“That’s right! Although this is the first time I’ve met and gotten to know Master Li, I feel that he is a good person. It’s clearly your attitude that’s the problem.”

“Master Li just wanted to ask you some questions about policies. Now that you’ve finished work, you’ve come to the bar to relax, which we can understand, but you can’t have that attitude.”

"Fan Jinyou, I don't know if Master Li misunderstood you, but he's definitely not petty."

"I think, before Master Li and Manager Chen have gone far, Cadre Fan, you should go out and apologize to them. Maybe this matter will be over."

"..."

Everyone already had a good impression of Li Hongbing. After all, a renowned young talent like him wasn't aloof; instead, he chatted and laughed with ordinary people like them. In addition, before leaving, Li Hongbing gave each of them a small glass of wine, showing them great respect and instantly winning their favor.

No matter how young Li Hongbing is now, his achievements and reputation already place him in a position of social standing compared to most ordinary people, and these actions undoubtedly earn them all great respect.

People from Beijing, especially those who have lived there for a long time, always value appearances, no matter where they go.

Li Hongbing had given them plenty of face, so they couldn't just accept a small drink without giving anything in return.

The key issue is that Fan Jinyou's actions and attitude just now were indeed problematic.

What Li Hongbing said was not without reason.

Even if it involves a certain degree of moral blackmail, cadres are not ordinary people.

Everyone has their own scale in their heart to judge right and wrong, and they will also have their own stance and inclinations.

Although Fan Jinyou is a street office cadre, no one has any dirt on him, so they're not really afraid of him.

Now we live in a new society with new policies. Even if Fan Jinyou is a cadre, he cannot oppress the masses for no reason.

however.

Hearing these words from everyone, Fan Jinyou was furious.

at the same time.

Fan Jinyou felt immense regret.

If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have bothered Li Hongbing.

At this moment, Fan Jinyou felt immense hatred for those who had spoken earlier, as well as for Li Hongbing and Chen Xueru who had left in a huff.

He had only been a little rude in his attitude and tone, but Li Hongbing had done this to him on their first meeting. What grudge did he have against him?
Especially the people in the tavern, many of whom were acquaintances of his, ended up siding with Li Hongbing and speaking up for him because of his small drink.

There were even people who told him to chase after Li Hongbing and apologize to him. What kind of person is that?
A bunch of treacherous people who betray their principles for personal gain!

(End of this chapter)