You're supposed to be a security officer, what case are you solving?

Chapter 199 Yang Dachuan Gets Beaten Up! (Begging for Monthly Tickets)
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, at daybreak.

Yang Dachuan loitered around the house furtively, looking around suspiciously.

When he encountered familiar villagers, he would greet them with a smile, take out a pack of Hongmei cigarettes that cost 1.2 yuan a pack, and distribute them to them.

When he came back last night, he was in high spirits, bragging to his parents about how well he did in Shenzhen and how much money he made.

Indeed, judging from his demeanor, he must have made a lot of money.

Although the elderly couple didn't know their grandson well, they knew their only son very well.

Although Yang Dachuan loved to boast, he never lied to them.

Besides, the elderly couple were aware of the one million yuan he had deposited with Yang Jinwen.

But this morning, before dawn, Yang Dachuan quickly got out of bed and slapped himself.

He covered his Santana 2000, which he had driven back, with a dust cover, and also brought a large pile of dry branches and grass from behind the house and threw them into the car.

He took off the expensive suit he was wearing last night and put on his old uniform from the Anan Steel Plant.

This shirt belonged to his father, Yang Bin. It was too small for him; the blue fabric had faded from washing, but at least it fit.

At this moment, he was squatting on the ground, looking melancholy, with messy hair and wearing his father's shoes. He looked exactly like a down-on-his-luck deputy factory director.

There were also relatives of steel factory workers in the village, and when they saw him like that, they all sighed and lamented.

"Director Yang, why did you choose to go into business in Shenzhen? It's not that easy to make a living in Shenzhen. It's two thousand kilometers away, far from home. It's going to be so tough. If someone is going to be laid off, it won't be you."

"You're right, I was confused," Yang Dachuan said, looking annoyed.

"But your son is doing well. I heard he's in the police force now?"

Yang Dachuan nodded repeatedly: "Yes, my son is more promising than me."

"That's great. When can you have your son arrange a job for my little brat? Your father always wants to farm some land, so I'll give him half an acre."

Yang Dachuan shook his head: "Xiao Wen is just an ordinary policeman, serving tea and water to his superiors. What skills does he have?"

The other person laughed and said, "I think so too. Your family used to be so powerful, but now it's all gone."

"Yes, yes," Yang Dachuan said with a bitter smile.

When Yang Dachuan returned, the villagers he knew all came over to chat for a few minutes. A few people felt sorry for his situation, but most of them had a gloating expression.

After these people left, Yang Dachuan stood up, flicked his hand to take out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes, flicked his hand again to take out a silver lighter, flicked his hand again to light the cigarettes, and flicked his hand one last time to put the lighter in his pocket.

He had just taken a puff of his cigarette when a soft, sweet voice came from behind him.

"Uncle Yang."

Yang Dachuan turned around and saw Yanzi looking at him with a flushed face.

"Ah, Swallow, you've grown so tall."

"Uncle Yang, I thought you weren't going home for the New Year."

"I just got back last night. Come in, I brought you a gift."

Yanzi was wearing newly bought clothes: a black cotton-padded jacket, black corduroy pants, and a pair of black patent leather men's shoes, all of which looked like they were bought from a small town stall.

Yang Dachuan frowned. What were Yanzi's parents doing? Dressed entirely in black, it was hardly the kind of clothes they'd bought for a girl.

However, Yanzi looked very happy, after all, she only got to wear new clothes a few times a year.

After Yanzi entered the house, Yang Dachuan took out a large box of candy from the inner room and handed it all to her.

"Swallow, here you go."

Looking at the colorful candies, Yanzi quickly shook her head: "Brother gave me candy yesterday, but I haven't finished eating it yet."

"Can what he gives you taste as good as what I buy?"

Yanzi didn't say anything. Indeed, the candy wrapper in front of her looked better; it was something she had never eaten since she was a child.

"Take it." Yang Dachuan shoved it into her hand, then smiled and instructed, "Remember, hide it, don't eat too many, just one a day is enough."

"Mmm." Yanzi chuckled.

"By the way, how's your studies going?"

"That's great, first in the class."

"Awesome."

Yang Dachuan found a chair and sat down. While watching her eat candy, he asked, "Uncle Yang hasn't been back for a long time. Has anyone come to Grandpa Yang's house to cause trouble?"

Swallow shook her head: "No."

"There's none?"

Yanzi nodded heavily: "When my brother came back, he asked me about it too. Grandpa Yang and Grandma Yang don't like talking to other people in the village, and they didn't cause any trouble for Grandpa."

"Okay, that's good. Don't eat too many sweets in the morning. That's a filled candy with crushed peanuts inside; it's delicious."

Yanzi peeled off a candy wrapper and handed it to him: "Uncle Yang, have some."

"Alright," Yang Dachuan said with a smile, "Yanzi is the best behaved."

Yanzi put a piece of candy in her mouth and said, "My dad said that it's useless for girls to study, and he said he would save the money for my younger brother's education."

Yang Dachuan asked in surprise, "Your younger brother? When did you have a younger brother?"

“I’m still in my mom’s belly. This new outfit of mine was bought for my little brother. I can only wear it until the New Year, after which I have to take it off.”

"Nonsense, it's only useful for girls to study. Forget about your dad, I'll support your education from now on."

Yanzi said, "Brother said so too, but I can make money."

Yang Dachuan asked curiously, "How do you make money?"

“I can earn one yuan by harvesting rice, wheat and corn for Da Wa’s family.”

Who is Da Wa?

"The family across from us, the eldest child is two years older than me."

Yang Dachuan sighed: "Good boy, don't go home yet, wait for me."

He went inside, and when he came out again, he was holding a red envelope, which he handed to Yanzi. Yanzi took two steps back and said nervously, "Grandpa Yang, Grandma Yang, and my brother all gave me lucky money."

Yang Dachuan laughed and asked, "How much did they give you?"

"Grandpa gave me five yuan, Grandma gave me ten yuan, and my brother gave me twenty yuan."

Where did you hide the money?

The swallows remained silent.

Yang Dachuan frowned: "Your dad took it?"

The swallow lowered its head.

"You silly child." Yang Dachuan stuffed the red envelope into her pocket, then, after thinking for a moment, took it out again and stuffed it into her sleeve.

"The New Year's money I give you is not allowed to be given to your parents. You should hide it well. If you need to buy books for school, you should give it to your teacher."

Yanzi's eyes sparkled: "We need to pay tuition when school starts."

Yang Dachuan shook his head: "The tuition is your parents' business. Don't give them this money. The teacher won't ask you for it. Listen to me, okay?"

Yanzi nodded, looking rather awkward.

"Yanzi, listen to Uncle Yang, study hard and do your best in your studies." Yang Dachuan stood up.

At this moment, Yang Jinwen came out of the kitchen. Every morning when he got up, he would help his grandmother make breakfast.

Upon seeing Yang Dachuan's attire, he narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking to himself, "No wonder my old man is so successful in Shenzhen."

Yang Jinwen had been worried about him for the past six months, ready to go to Shenzhen to rescue his old man at any time. Little did he know, the man was quite clever.

After Grandma came out with her rice bowl, she saw Yang Dachuan's appearance and laughed, "What's wrong? You're not returning home in glory? Stop pretending to be pitiful."

Yang Dachuan said, "Mom, you don't understand. If I go into business and make a fortune, you won't have a good life in the village. Besides, Xiaowen is in the city and doesn't live with you. We should be more careful."

Yang Bin, carrying a hoe, came in from outside and glanced at him: "Hey you, your childhood friend, bought a motorcycle before the New Year and has been bragging about it in the village for days."

Yang Dachuan shook his head: "I am not him."

"That's true," Grandma agreed.

Yang Bin asked, "Da Chuan, tell me the truth, what are you thinking? You've made so much money, why can't you revitalize the steel plant?"

Yang Dachuan shook his head: "Dad, what is this little bit of money? It's not even enough to fill a tooth gap. Besides, in addition to earning the funds to revitalize the steel plant, I also need to attract investment. I can't handle it all by myself."

In addition, we need to establish our brand and find sales channels in Shenzhen…

Grandma said angrily, "Even the factory director doesn't care, so why are you, a mere deputy, worrying about this? If you ask me, you shouldn't go to Shenzhen. You're already working so hard all by yourself, why are you carrying such a heavy responsibility?"

As Yang Jinwen set out the chopsticks, he said, "And the most important point is that Annan Steel Plant isn't completely dead yet!"
Before the Lunar New Year, Secretary Zhang organized several meetings in the city and injected several sums of money into the steel plant in an attempt to salvage the situation.

So, Dad, don't worry. Wait until the government can't handle it anymore before you come back. If you're going to do something, do something to help those in need.

To revitalize the factory and save laid-off workers, you need to take full control of its operations.

Upon hearing his son's words, Yang Dachuan frowned and said, "You're doing something like this..."

Before he could finish the word, Yang Jinwen interrupted him: "If you had listened to your grandfather back then and worked as a fitter with him, do you think you could have become the deputy factory director?"

Yang Dachuan took a breath: "That's true."

Grandpa asked, "Da Chuan, when are we leaving?"

Upon hearing his question, Grandma, holding her rice bowl, suddenly stopped walking, and Yang Jinwen also stopped what he was doing.

Yang Dachuan lowered his head and replied, "I'm leaving today."

Grandpa glared at him, then shouldered his hoe and went out again.

Grandma watched his retreating figure: "Where are you going? Aren't you going to eat breakfast?"

"There's still work to do." Grandpa walked away without looking back.

Grandma sighed and said, "Let's eat."

Yang Dachuan and Yang Jinwen, like two dogs kept at home, quickly sat down on stools, picked up chopsticks, and began to eat dumplings.

To ease the tension, Yang Dachuan laughed and said, "Mom, the dumplings don't have vinegar? They're not very tasty."

"Take it yourself."

"I'm lazy."

Yang Jinwen glanced at him with a look of disdain.

Yang Dachuan chuckled: "You don't understand, kid."

Grandma went to the kitchen, grumbling and cursing.

Yang Dachuan pointed at Yang Jinwen with his chopsticks and said, "You should learn from this. Parents need to be needed. No matter how old I am, I will still ask your grandma to cook for me, even if it's just a bowl of noodles."

Yang Jinwen nodded and said, "Then go and make me a bowl of noodles?"

"roll!"

Yang Dachuan continued, "When your grandpa was young, he was really fierce. He would whip me with a tree branch, leaving me covered in red welts, like a zebra."

Yang Jinwen imagined what a zebra would look like and found it somewhat amusing.

He glanced at the doorway: "Was Grandpa whipping you with a bamboo stick?"

Yang Dachuan frowned: "How do you know? Did your grandfather tell you?"

Yang Jinwen shook his head and pointed to the door with his chopsticks: "Look behind you."

Yang Dachuan turned his head and saw the old man holding a bamboo stick, rushing in aggressively.

Yang Dachuan was startled. Holding the bowl in both hands, he dodged and the bamboo stick struck the long bench where he had just been sitting.

Grandma saw it from the kitchen and started yelling and cursing, "You old fool!"

Yang Jinwen sighed deeply and silently ate his dumplings for the first day of the Lunar New Year.

(End of this chapter)