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

Chapter 215 Unlucky Yan Bugui is in jail (1 words, please vote)

In most industries, if you can reach the top, you'll generally be doing well.

Although the cooking profession was considered one of the lowest classes in ancient times, and its status was not high.

To put it nicely, they are service industry workers; to put it bluntly, they are people who serve others.

However, with social development and the founding of New China, the respect for the profession of cook has increased, and it has risen from being considered a "lowly profession" to a recognized professional and technical position, with its status gradually improving.

Clothing, food, housing, and transportation are things that no one, whether high-ranking officials, common people, or modern workers and farmers, can avoid.

What remains constant is that people without strong backgrounds, such as drivers, cooks, and doctors, are often the ones who have the easiest access to high-ranking figures.

Even without the opportunity like that of Master Xu, a master chef like Li Hongbing is incomparable to ordinary people.

Putting everything else aside, just the fact that you can cook for those big shots, have the opportunity to meet them, and even speak to them is something many people would dream of.

If they encounter injustice, they may even have the opportunity to appeal to the highest authorities.

For this reason alone, no one would dare to provoke them easily, except for those who are mentally unstable.

Of course, this also includes those with a narrow perspective and those who are unaware of the inside story.

After all, doing things for the big shots, even something as simple as cooking a meal, is a confidential matter and cannot be casually divulged or publicized.

Like Sha Zhu in the original drama, if it weren't for this, he wouldn't have met that big leader, wouldn't have become the Lou family's so-called savior, and wouldn't have been able to thrive so much after the reform and opening up.

Since he neither pursued a political career nor failed to understand the historical trajectory of the next few decades, Li Hongbing did not have much intention to curry favor or curry favor with Xu Lao. Instead, he respected Xu Lao's enormous contributions to the country and the people.

This may also be part of Li Hongbing's "cleverness".

Perhaps it was precisely because of this that Mr. Xu felt something different about Li Hongbing, and his appreciation was not solely based on Li's excellence.

There are countless outstanding people in the world.

Especially in this vibrant era, exceptional talents in various fields are emerging like a river flowing through the water.

Even more so.

It's because Li Hongbing is interesting.

It's not just his speech; Li Hongbing always manages to offer unexpected insights or perspectives that are both eye-opening and inspiring.

After all, it was knowledge and experience that was decades ahead of its time.

Of course.

Li Hongbing would never presume to discuss national affairs or flaunt his "talent" in front of truly important figures like Xu Lao; that would be tantamount to courting death.

Today, fishing is just fishing.

However, Li Hongbing did not deliberately go easy on the other party.

Watching Li Hongbing catch fish one after another, Old Xu was a little depressed. Fortunately, although he was at a disadvantage, Old Xu himself did not come away empty-handed, which was somewhat comforting.

Like the big boss in the drama, many big shots, despite being in high positions, like to associate with some small people and are willing to "humble themselves to befriend them".

The reason is very simple.

People always yearn for what they don't have. Perhaps it's because the higher you climb, the colder it gets, or because you're used to being looked up to. Sometimes, you long for a moment of quiet ordinariness and hope to be treated as an ordinary person, even if only temporarily.

There are also unique characteristics of this era.

Many great figures come from humble beginnings and have experienced many difficult times. Sometimes, their actions are simply a way of searching for and reminiscing about their former selves and past.

Mr. Xu genuinely enjoys fishing. Although he often loses out to Li Hongbing, he always manages to learn some fishing techniques from Li Hongbing and often reaps rewards. His fishing skills are improving day by day, which is one of the reasons why Mr. Xu is so enthusiastic about fishing.

After a morning, Li Hongbing and Old Xu had caught quite a few fish together.

With so many fish, even if they take them home, they won't be able to finish them in a short time.

Moreover, liking fishing doesn't necessarily mean liking to eat fish. Even if you like it a lot, you'll eventually get tired of eating it every meal.

Fortunately, besides the anglers, there were also many citizens who came to watch the excitement or to take their children for a walk. Seeing that Li Hongbing and Xu Lao had caught so many fish, some of them came up to "ask the price".

The fish here are not only fresh, but also usually priced lower than the market price, and there is room for bargaining. Many locals who live nearby often come here to "pick up" a fish whenever they want to eat fish.

In front of Old Xu, Li Hongbing didn't shy away from bargaining with those who asked about the price. As long as the value was similar, they would exchange the fish for money or tickets.

soon.

Because Li Hongbing and Xu Lao caught a lot of fish, and the fish were all quite large, and the prices were relatively affordable, a lot of people gathered here, and the scene became lively for a while.

Old Xu naturally didn't participate in this scene. Instead, under the covert protection of his bodyguards, he quietly retreated to the side, watching this scene full of life and local flavor, and Li Hongbing handling the crowd with ease. A knowing smile appeared on his face.

If you didn't know Li Hongbing, you might think he was a fishmonger who made a living by fishing since he was a child.

"Uncle Xu, these are for you, please keep them safe!"

After selling the fish, Li Hongbing returned and quickly counted and sorted the money he had earned. He then divided it into two equal parts, roughly half of which he handed to Old Xu.

Of the fish that were just sold, some belonged to Old Xu, in addition to those caught by Li Hongbing. We should share some with him.

Let alone a big shot like Old Xu, even Li Hongbing wouldn't care too much about this amount of money. However, since it was earned through hard work, it was absolutely unacceptable to keep it all to himself.

"Isn't that too much?"

Old Xu did not reach out to take it, but instead looked up at Li Hongbing with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

Old Xu had naturally seen Li Hongbing selling fish earlier.

The reason for not stopping it was not out of favoritism or indulgence, but because this behavior did not fall under the category of speculation or violation of policy.

The fish were caught by the fishermen themselves; it wasn't a matter of buying and selling, nor was it about reselling for profit. So, it couldn't be considered disrupting the market or violating the policy of unified purchase and distribution.

Logically speaking, these were supplies not included in the planned procurement and were not within the scope of centralized purchase, so it can be considered that they took advantage of a small loophole.

Moreover, neither Li Hongbing nor the citizens who came to buy fish used the words "buy" or "sell," but always used "exchange" or "swap."

Having seen many ups and downs, even life and death, Mr. Xu naturally wouldn't take this kind of petty-bourgeois "wisdom" too seriously, narrow-mindedly labeling them and making things difficult for them.

Although a planned supply and planned economy are currently in place, and corresponding policies have been introduced, the government does not necessarily support, but at least largely condones, some self-regulation by the people.

As long as no major actions are taken and the overall planned supply and planned economy are not disrupted, they often turn a blind eye.

Otherwise, the seemingly hidden pigeon markets throughout the city would have long since disappeared.

If they were truly determined to crack down, given the current execution capabilities of the team, a place like Pigeon City, which most people know about, wouldn't have survived to this day.

What truly surprised Mr. Xu was that when Li Hongbing distributed the money, he deliberately gave him a larger share, which was not in line with Li Hongbing's usual style.

Could it be that this kid has also gone astray and is trying to curry favor with this "big shot"?
"Not much!"

Li Hongbing smiled and shook his head, looking at the young man in the same Zhongshan suit behind Old Xu, and said with a smile, "Although I caught more fish this morning, if Brother Chen hadn't gone to dig up some earthworms later, I wouldn't have had the skill of Jiang Taigong fishing. Brother Chen deserves some credit for this, and these extra notes are for Brother Chen."

The two guards following Old Xu were one in the open and one in the shadows. The one who was Chen, whom Li Hongbing had just mentioned, was the young man in the Zhongshan suit.

The other party was naturally in the open, appearing this time as Xu Lao's nephew.

Having become so familiar with Old Xu, Li Hongbing naturally wouldn't be unfamiliar with the guards beside him.

before this.

Li Hongbing even specifically sought Xu Lao's opinion, asking his bodyguard to teach him a few self-defense techniques.

Li Hongbing now has the physical fitness and strength, but when it comes to fighting, he often wins by brute force, as technique and movement are his weaknesses.

Li Hongbing was naturally not going to miss the rare opportunity to learn from the masters of the palace.

The talent and strength that Li Hongbing displayed during this process shocked the guards, and even Old Xu was quite surprised.

With Li Hongbing's "extraordinary talent," how many Japanese soldiers could he have killed if he had appeared on the battlefield back then?

It was this discovery that made Mr. Xu pay even more attention to it and look at it with new eyes.

The key is that Li Hongbing possesses not only brute strength and kung fu skills, but also knowledge and intelligence.

If he had appeared twenty years earlier, Old Xu would have definitely recruited him and trained him into one of his top generals.

"so……"

Upon hearing Li Hongbing's explanation, Old Xu was taken aback for a moment, then looked at the guard behind him. Seeing that he seemed to want to say something, he smiled.

Followed by.

Old Xu took out some of the money notes from his hand and handed them to the other party, teasingly saying with a slight smile, "This was my oversight. Without your help, Xiao Chen, this kid Li wouldn't have been able to beat me this morning. Since he said it, this money is rightfully yours. Just keep it and tell the truth if anyone asks."

If it weren't for Old Xu's words, the bodyguard whom Li Hongbing called Brother Chen would never have dared to accept the money.

Even ordinary cadres and public officials cannot arbitrarily accept a needle or thread from the people, let alone the internal security personnel who already have a set of strict rules and regulations and discipline.

If I take this money, I'll be locked in a dark room that night.

But with Mr. Xu's approval and guarantee, there were no problems.

The money wasn't much, and as an internal guard, his treatment was naturally excellent. It was impossible for him to feel grateful to Li Hongbing for such a small amount of money. However, the other party took the initiative to give him a friendly smile.

The reason is not only that the two knew each other before, but also that they had competed with each other and respected each other.

If it were a simple contest where life and death were at stake, the opponent would have no confidence in defeating Li Hongbing, because Li Hongbing's physical attributes and strength were truly terrifying.

Only by using lethal techniques can the opponent have some confidence.

But then it wouldn't be a competition or contest anymore.

Therefore, Li Hongbing gained the other party's heartfelt recognition and respect. In addition, given Li Hongbing's relationship with Mr. Xu and Mr. Xu's attitude towards Li Hongbing, the other party did not dare to regard Li Hongbing merely as a famous and capable young chef.

Old Xu knew a little about these things, but he didn't take them to heart and was happy to see these young people getting along well.

Although Li Hongbing is highly conscious and principled, he also knows when to advance and retreat and is quite good at dealing with people. Fortunately, Old Xu is not averse to these qualities.

Being tactful without being worldly-wise is actually quite rare.

Those who are single-minded and good-natured can be trustworthy, but sometimes they are too rigid and inflexible, which can be a headache.

Each has its own advantages and benefits.

……

noon.

They didn't go to a restaurant, and Li Hongbing didn't prepare any special ingredients or cook for Old Xu. Instead, they took the money they earned from selling fish and found a noodle shop on the street nearby, where they each ordered a bowl of affordable braised pork noodles.

Given Li Hongbing's appetite, one bowl of braised pork noodles was definitely not enough, so he had another bowl after finishing it. Seeing this, Old Xu, who also had a large appetite, was in a great mood and had a big appetite.

After finishing their meal, the two did not go their separate ways, but instead found a roadside tea stall nearby, each ordered a large bowl of tea, and chatted while drinking.

They refilled their tea several times and stayed at the tea stall for quite a while, though they didn't chat the whole time.

In this land he had built with his own hands, having eaten and drunk his fill, watching the passersby and the peaceful and prosperous scene, Old Xu's gaze fell on the energetic and hopeful young people in front of him, and he couldn't help but recall a sentence that the leader had said.

The world belongs to you, and to us, but ultimately it belongs to you.

A strong new generation leads to prosperity for generations to come, and the nation has hope!
Maybe.

In Xu Lao's heart, Li Hongbing represents and symbolizes the hope of the next generation and the future of the motherland.

The country needs development, and he hopes that thousands upon thousands of "Li Hongbings" will emerge in all walks of life.

Noon passed.

The sun wasn't so strong outside, so Li Hongbing and Old Xu returned to the riverbank and continued fishing.

only.

Not long after they restarted, the guard surnamed Chen suddenly strode over and whispered a few words in Old Xu's ear with a solemn expression. This caused Old Xu, who had been all smiles, to turn stern, and a faint murderous aura emanated from him.

Faced with this situation, Li Hongbing naturally kept his eyes down and focused on fishing, as if nothing had happened.

Sometimes, it's good to be less curious, especially when it comes to important figures like Mr. Xu.

soon.

Old Xu withdrew his imposing aura, waved for the guard surnamed Chen to leave, and glanced at Li Hongbing inadvertently.

Seeing Li Hongbing's "undistracted" appearance, Old Xu couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. However, he didn't say anything and focused on fishing, acting as if nothing had happened.

Just not for long.

The guard surnamed Chen came over again and said a few words as before. Old Xu sighed helplessly, put down his fishing rod, and turned to Li Hongbing, saying, "Young Li, I'm afraid we won't be able to continue this afternoon..."

"Important business is important, please do as you please, Uncle Xu. I'm just a free man, I'll have plenty of time later."

Compared to a pillar of the nation like Elder Xu, even though Li Hongbing now has his own career and achievements, he can still only be considered an idle person. Not daring to delay the other party's affairs at all, he quickly expressed his opinion.

If the other party has free time, Li Hongbing will cooperate unconditionally. Even if there are other circumstances and they stand him up on the spot, Li Hongbing will not and will not have any dissatisfaction or complaints.

Seeing Li Hongbing's expression, Old Xu knew that he had misunderstood him, and immediately said, "It may not be my business, it may also be related to you."

"What does this have to do with me? This..."

For a moment, Li Hongbing was completely dumbfounded.

It was possible that it was because of him that Mr. Xu had to interrupt his planned afternoon schedule, and Li Hongbing was completely unaware of the situation.

"Let's talk as we go! It's nothing serious, it might just be a misunderstanding."

Noticing Li Hongbing's surprised expression, Old Xu smiled and stood up to speak.

then.

Li Hongbing and the guard surnamed Chen packed their things together, and then the three of them left.

"Yan Bugui?"

"What is he doing here?"

"He said he came here to find you, not that you arranged to meet him?"

"No, Mr. Xu has already made an appointment with me, how could I possibly make an appointment with someone else? But I did mention it this morning, saying that I had made an appointment to go fishing, but I didn't say anything else, not even where we were fishing."

"That's strange. What's he doing here? And how did he find his way here? He's acting all sneaky..."

"Well, Brother Chen... Old Xu, how about I go see him and have a chat with him?"

"Okay! Maybe it really is a misunderstanding, but this is Chen and his team's job after all. Li, could you please help them out and cooperate?"

"Mr. Xu, you flatter me. I've caused you and Brother Chen trouble with your work. Please don't take offense."

"What are you saying? Do you think I'm that kind of petty person? You're asking for a beating!"

"..."

Li Hongbing never expected that the reason why the afternoon's schedule had to be interrupted was because of Yan Bugui's arrival.

No one knows how Yan Bugui found this place. Because of his suspicious behavior, he was arrested as a spy.

The other guard who was usually by Chen Lao's side was not here at the moment, obviously he had gone to deal with this matter.

Old Xu had seen his share of ups and downs, so he was naturally not going to be affected by such a small matter. However, being in a high position, he couldn't really act like an ordinary person. In order not to cause trouble for his subordinates, Old Xu couldn't be willful, so he had to temporarily interrupt his afternoon schedule and go back first.

It didn't take long.

Old Xu and the guard surnamed Chen were picked up by a special car, and Li Hongbing was also taken to a relatively secluded place by a special person, where he met Yan Bugui.

“Hongbing, what brings you here? Oh, right, quickly explain to them that I’m really not a spy, and I have no other intentions, I…”

Upon learning that he had been arrested as a spy, and even being questioned for no apparent reason when they showed him their identification, Yan Bugui was still filled with anxiety as he arrived at this place.

The only thing to be thankful for.

They simply asked themselves some questions; they didn't do anything to themselves.

When Yan Bugui saw Li Hongbing appear, after a brief moment of stunned surprise, he grasped at a straw and immediately cried out for help without hesitation. In such a helpless and almost desperate situation, the sudden appearance of someone familiar must have been an overwhelming experience, one that even Yan Bugui at that moment could hardly describe.

"Uncle Yan, could you please tell me how you got there this afternoon?"

As the staff left, and Yan Bugui calmed down, Li Hongbing glanced at Yan Bugui and asked a question.

Prior to this, Li Hongbing had already learned all the details from the staff, including the preliminary interrogation results and testimony of Yan Bugui.

Even though he knew in his heart that Yan Bugui couldn't possibly be a spy, his suspicious actions that afternoon and the answers he gave made Li Hongbing suspect that Yan Bugui really had a problem.

The idea that he invited him here to fish is pure nonsense.

If this situation isn't understood clearly, Li Hongbing himself will run into trouble, and it might even cause Old Xu to have negative thoughts about him and distance himself from him.

Li Hongbing strongly suspected that Yan Bugui had deliberately come to frame and harm him, even if the possibility was not high.

But I didn't invite Yan Bugui here, so why is he here and lying about it?
Yan Bugui went fishing today, and there's no problem with that.

But here's the thing.

Under normal circumstances, Yan Bugui should not be at the place where he and Old Xu went fishing that afternoon.

It's not because this place is a restricted or controlled area, but because the section of the moat they are in is near the Qianmen gate.

It's several kilometers from Nanluoguxiang to here. Yan Bugui would never go that far to fish; he always chooses a closer spot.

"This... Hongbing, actually, the thing is like this..."

After hearing Yan Bugui's explanation, Li Hongbing was speechless and had an urge to rant.

It turns out that Yan Bugui had missed out on fishing that morning and, feeling his luck was bad, decided to move to another spot.

Just then, Yan Bugui remembered that Li Hongbing had also made plans to go fishing today, and since Li Hongbing had driven Chen Xueru to work in the morning, the fishing spot today probably wouldn't be too far from the silk shop. So he analyzed the suitable fishing spots nearby and came over to try his luck, hoping to run into Li Hongbing.

As for why he had to keep an eye on Li Hongbing, it was mainly because Li Hongbing usually caught a lot of fish. Yan Bugui felt that in addition to his good fishing skills, Li Hongbing also had exceptional luck, and by following him, he could also share in his good fortune.

This falls into the category of somewhat mystical, or even superstitious, ideas.

as predicted.

Whether it was Yan Bugui's "good" luck or his calculations and analysis being too accurate, he deserved to be "unlucky," and as a result, he actually found Li Hongbing here, as well as Old Xu next to him.

Yan Bugui could not possibly have met Old Xu in person. Even if he had seen his face in the newspaper, the distance between them at the time would have made it impossible for him to recognize him.

Seeing that there was someone else with Li Hongbing, Yan Bugui naturally remembered what Li Hongbing had said that morning and knew that the other person was the person Li Hongbing had arranged to meet today.

Yan Bugui knew that his sudden visit was somewhat presumptuous, and having already run into Li Hongbing here, leaving like this would obviously leave him feeling somewhat unwilling.

and.

Every human being is bound to have curiosity.

Yan Bugui was naturally curious about who Li Hongbing had met with today.

After all, if it weren't for the other person, Li Hongbing would be fishing with him today.

Curiosity killed the cat, and it also ruined Yan Bugui's life.

Amidst the tug-of-war of various thoughts, Yan Bugui naturally didn't want Li Hongbing to notice before making a decision. However, while he was hesitating, he was noticed by Old Xu's personal guard, which led to what happened next.

After learning about these circumstances, Li Hongbing was speechless for a moment.

If it weren't for the fact that they were in this place, and that they didn't have to worry about their behavior or image, Li Hongbing would have wanted to start a tirade, curse Yan Bugui, and beat him up.

They're just bored out of their minds!
Li Hongbing never expected that Yan Bugui would use all his scheming tricks on these things.

Especially the lies he made up after he came in, in order to extricate himself and prove his innocence.

His overconfidence nearly ruined his own life and almost got Li Hongbing into trouble as well.

"Red Soldier..."

From the moment Li Hongbing appeared, the staff's attitude towards him, combined with everything that had happened that afternoon and the conversations just now, made Yan Bugui realize something.

Yan Bugui wanted to plead with Li Hongbing to intercede for him or help him get away with it, but Li Hongbing, who had already guessed what he wanted to say, preemptively advised him:

"Uncle Yan, please cooperate fully with the investigation, maintain a proper attitude, and don't try anything funny. If there are no problems, you will be released naturally."

Li Hongbing clearly rejected Yan Bugui, not even giving him a chance to speak.

This matter wasn't a big deal, but it wasn't insignificant either. Li Hongbing already had an answer in his mind: it was probably a false alarm.

before coming.

Although Old Xu did not say it explicitly, he vaguely revealed his attitude and meaning: if Li Hongbing confirmed that it was a misunderstanding and wanted to plead for Yan Bugui, Yan Bugui would be able to leave soon.

But Li Hongbing didn't want to do that because he was in a terrible mood.

If Yan Bugui hadn't messed things up himself, this whole thing wouldn't have happened this afternoon. There's no need for anyone to plead for him now; it's all Yan Bugui's own doing.

Why do you have to pry into other people's privacy? Why are you so curious?

If Yan Bugui had been more frank today and greeted everyone openly, even if he had come specifically for Li Hongbing, no one would have done anything to him even if he had seen Old Xu or recognized him.

Since he was traveling incognito, even if Old Xu didn't want to be recognized and just wanted to fish quietly outside, he wasn't really ashamed of being seen by others.

Even if he is recognized, it is a minor matter for Mr. Xu, and he has his own way of dealing with it.

The biggest problem was that Yan Bugui's behavior was suspicious, leading to him being mistaken for a spy.

Once spies are involved, especially since they are related to Old Xu, his bodyguards and relevant departments will inevitably take it seriously, and no one will dare to be careless.

Li Hongbing had no obligation to do so, nor did he want to help Yan Bugui skip the normal review process. He was afraid of trouble and taking risks, even if they were only minor.

As long as Yan Bugui is innocent, he will be released naturally after the investigation is completed and he passes the test; the outcome will be the same.

This is a good opportunity to teach Yan Bugui a lesson and make him remember it well.

……

"Where are you going? I'll take you!"

Just as Li Hongbing came out and was about to leave, a military jeep stopped beside him, and the young man driving it spoke to him.

"No need, Brother Sun, I can walk a few steps by myself."

Upon seeing the newcomer, Li Hongbing shook his head, showing no intention of getting into the car.

The other party was another bodyguard who was with Old Xu today. Obviously, he came here specifically to follow up and resolve Yan Bugui's matter. He was the one who brought Yan Bugui here earlier.

"Hurry up, don't dawdle. After I get you to your destination, I still need to go back and report to Old Xu!"

Faced with Li Hongbing's actions, the other party urged him on, then reminded and emphasized, "You came here to cooperate with our work. We invited you here, so naturally we have to send you back. Otherwise, if Old Xu finds out, he will definitely scold me."

Sun Yong had known Li Hongbing for some time and naturally knew that Li Hongbing was a principled person who clearly distinguished between public and private matters.

Previously, when Li Hongbing went to Mr. Xu's house to cook for his private banquet, Mr. Xu offered to have someone drive Li Hongbing home, but Li Hongbing refused.

The reason was that cooking for Mr. Xu's private banquet was a private job, not an official business, and Li Hongbing couldn't ask the other party to send someone to pick him up and drop him off.

Li Hongbing is not a rigid person, nor did he deliberately resort to such an embarrassing act to attract Xu Lao's attention and appreciation. Rather, it stems from his heartfelt respect for Xu Lao's meritorious service and his desire not to cause him any controversy, even if it is only slightly possible.

Moreover.

As a chef, Li Hongbing goes to a client's home to cook for them, taking money to do the job. He not only has to cook good food to satisfy the client and guests and give them a good experience, but he also cannot bring shame to the client because of his own actions.

This demonstrates good professional ethics.

Old Xu was approachable and courteous, so he wouldn't be fake polite, but Li Hongbing couldn't be ungrateful.

Although Li Hongbing has no intention of pursuing a political career, and his current career path has little to do with officialdom, it does not mean that he is ignorant of human relationships and social customs.

Moreover, while being invited by Master Xu to cook at his home is an honor, Li Hongbing should keep a low profile in his words and actions. Being too flamboyant and vain is not a good thing.

If he does that, it's not a big deal if no one asks him to cook next time; the real problem is the damage to his reputation, or even a matter of his personal character and values.

Even worse, it might displease the host family or cause rumors to spread.

Perhaps a prominent figure like Mr. Xu wouldn't be so narrow-minded as to bother with such matters, much less take any deliberate actions that would invite criticism.

However, it's hard to guarantee that those below won't have their own ideas.

Small things reveal great principles.

It was because of this incident that Li Hongbing, who was already well-known, attracted Xu Lao's attention and interest, which led to the subsequent developments.

Sun Yong said that just now to remind Li Hongbing that sending him back was an official business, and to put his mind at ease.

Li Hongbing didn't get on the car right away because he hadn't thought about these things. He was just feeling down about Yan Bugui's matter and wanted to take a walk alone to clear his head.

However, after hearing what Sun Yong said, Li Hongbing did not insist.

"Don't overthink it. This is basically a misunderstanding. Old Master Xu is a man of principle and won't blame you."

Seeing that Li Hongbing was in a bad mood, Sun Yong smiled and comforted him.

Sun Yong could actually understand this kind of thing.

After all, Yan Bugui was Li Hongbing's neighbor, and he only appeared here because of Li Hongbing. Although it was just a misunderstanding, it alarmed the relevant departments and disturbed Old Xu's mood. Anyone in his position would probably not be able to pretend that nothing had happened.

The reason Sun Yong told Li Hongbing these things was not only because he recognized Li Hongbing's strength and character, but also because he understood Old Xu and Old Xu's previous attitude and appreciation towards Li Hongbing.

He had never seen any young person treated like that by Old Xu, not even Old Xu's nephews and nieces.

The key is.

To gain Xu Lao's approval and appreciation, and to frequently appear by his side, Li Hongbing's background and past must have undergone rigorous scrutiny from higher authorities, tracing back three generations.

If there was even the slightest flaw or any doubt, Li Hongbing would never have the chance to see Xu Lao again.

Therefore, Sun Yong trusted Li Hongbing completely.

In any case, Li Hongbing was also rigorously vetted and approved by the organization, making him no less capable than these internal security guards.

"Brother Sun, I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me."

Hearing Sun Yong's well-intentioned words of comfort, Li Hongbing smiled.

It's impossible that Li Hongbing didn't care about this matter at all and wasn't affected in the slightest.

While I was inside, I basically figured out the situation and confirmed that what Yan Bugui said was untrue.

If Li Hongbing made another appointment with someone else after Xu Lao had already made an appointment with him, regardless of Xu Lao's status, such a thing would be extremely inappropriate and impolite.

Moreover, if we were to do this, we would have to consult with Mr. Xu and even report it to him. Otherwise, if something really happens, even if Li Hongbing is lucky enough to escape being held accountable, he won't get away with it.

Now that the investigation has been completed, Li Hongbing's innocence has been cleared.

However, the fact that Yan Bugui was able to find his way here from the morning's conversation suggests that although Li Hongbing did not subjectively "leak" anything, there were still some oversights if we were to be honest.

The most important question is whether Mr. Xu's attitude towards him will change negatively because of this incident, or whether he will harbor any resentment towards him.

When he first arrived in this era, even with the existence of the system, Li Hongbing never imagined that one day he would be able to cross paths with a legendary figure like Old Xu.

In my previous life, I probably could only admire Mr. Xu's figure from history books and documentaries.

Such close "idol worship," even gaining the other party's recognition and appreciation, makes Li Hongbing feel a dreamlike sense of fantasy when he thinks about it late at night.

Li Hongbing never boasted about this matter, and even Chen Xueru was unaware of it. He had no intention of seeking any benefit from important figures like Old Xu or actively using this relationship to do anything.

But the other party was, after all, Elder Xu…

……

Time passes gradually.

Li Hongbing, who did not intend to go directly back to the courtyard house, asked Sun Yong to take him to Daqianmen.

Watching the other person drive away until they disappeared around the corner, Li Hongbing let out a quiet sigh, but the expression on his face gradually became more relieved.

How things will unfold next is beyond Li Hongbing's control; there's no point in thinking about it too much.

Being able to get to know such an important person as Mr. Xu, and the experience of spending time together in the past, is enough for Li Hongbing to brag about for a long time when he is old.

If Xu Lao really distanced himself from him because of what happened in the afternoon, Li Hongbing would accept it, since he did have some shortcomings.

I should just settle down and continue living my life peacefully. Anyway, I didn't intend to do anything big through Mr. Xu or curry favor with him to achieve a leap in social class.

Having such a powerful backer is indeed invincible, but at least when things get turbulent, it will definitely not be needed. With the connections of the street office and the women's federation, plus some other preparations made beforehand, we can rest easy.

The upheavals at the top are not something a nobody like him can get involved in, nor has he ever had the inclination to.

What happens next is still a long way off!
if I get it I am lucky, but if not, it is fate.

After figuring these things out, Li Hongbing's mood improved significantly.

……

night.

When Li Hongbing picked up Chen Xueru from get off work and took her back to the courtyard, he heard that the district's education department had a task and had temporarily transferred some teachers, including Yan Bugui. The school sent someone to inform him and even returned the fishing rod that Yan Bugui had taken with him that morning.

This matter naturally aroused everyone's curiosity and discussion, but they only talked about it briefly and did not raise any suspicion.

Only Li Hongbing knew that Yan Bugui's investigation was not yet over and he could not return for the time being, which was why such an arrangement was made.

The next afternoon, while Li Hongbing was resting and chatting in the kitchen of Fengzeyuan Restaurant, Sun Yong, who had come over the day before, came over and said that Old Xu had asked him to pass on a message, inviting him to go fishing together or to visit him for a game of chess next time.

The specific time was not mentioned.

For someone else, it might have been a perfunctory response with no end in sight.

But at this time, and since Old Xu specifically asked Sun Yong to make this trip, it was clear that he wouldn't do such a pointless thing for no reason. Li Hongbing instantly understood what the other party meant.

The other party was clearly trying to reassure him, and it was also a way of making a statement.

That night.

After Li Hongbing finished get off work, he picked up Chen Xueru at the silk shop. When the two returned together, they found that Yan Bugui, who had finished his investigation that afternoon and been released, was waiting for them outside the courtyard.

Judging from Yan Bugui's posture, Li Hongbing clearly knew that he had something to say to him, and it was related to yesterday's events, so he let Chen Xueru go in first.

“Hongbing, the one who was with you yesterday afternoon…”

When Li Hongbing discovered that Yan Bugui was actually asking questions, he almost thought he had misheard. Before Yan could finish his question, Li Hongbing's face turned cold, and he interrupted him, saying, "Uncle Yan, do you still want to go in? Didn't anyone tell you anything before you came out?"

When the higher-ups were investigating Yan Bugui and letting him go, they certainly wouldn't have told him about Xu Lao's identity. Given Yan Bugui's shrewdness, he could probably guess that Xu Lao's identity was not simple. However, Li Hongbing didn't believe that the relevant departments would just let Yan Bugui leave without doing anything.

Li Hongbing wouldn't tell the other party, nor could Yan Bugui find out.

"I……"

Before he left, someone spoke with him, subtly reminding and sternly warning him.

However, Yan Bugui felt that the mystery weighing on his mind was too heavy, considering the experience of these two short days.

Now that Li Hongbing had reminded him, Yan Bugui immediately remembered something, his expression tightened, and he dared not utter a sound.

"Uncle Yan, I advise you not to be so curious!"

Seeing that Yan Bugui was frightened, Li Hongbing waved his hand, reminding and warning him: "Don't ask about things you shouldn't ask about, or you won't be so lucky next time."

"Yes Yes Yes……"

Seeing this, Yan Bugui dared not say anything more, but a deep sense of awe quietly crept into his gaze toward Li Hongbing.

Although Li Hongbing did not say it explicitly, based on the experiences of the past two days, Yan Bugui had basically made up his mind.

The guy who was fishing with Li Hongbing yesterday afternoon is definitely a very influential figure with unfathomable connections!
Originally, Yan Bugui thought Li Hongbing was already quite capable, but he never expected him to be so cunning.

(End of this chapter)