Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 613 The Return Journey

Because it wasn't quite what they had imagined, the group only stayed in Beidaihe for two days before heading back. They didn't go to Nandaihe either, and the Golden Coast hadn't been built yet, so it was just about speedboats and cruise ships, which immediately lost their appeal. None of them had much desire to swim in the sea. There were really very few things to do here at that time; even Lianfeng Mountain was still a restricted area and not open to the public.

After settling the bill with the proprietress, the four of them said goodbye to her, carrying their luggage, and hailed a taxi to the train station.

Even during the day, there are still quite a few people in black suits on the streets. From outside Lianfeng Mountain, you can see soldiers with live ammunition on guard in the bushes. There is a tense atmosphere in the air. The locals are used to it and go about their business as usual.

Upon arriving at the train station, several neat human walls were lined up in the square. Police officers, people in black suits, and railway staff stood in pairs, forming several paths. Xiao Wei and his three companions were told that they could only walk along the paths in the middle of the human walls and were not allowed to wander off.

The feeling was bizarre. The path formed by the human wall was less than two meters wide. Four people dragged their luggage through the middle, with countless eyes fixed on them. The feeling was indescribable. Anyone with a crime on their hands would probably be prostrate on the ground confessing their sins by now. The way these people looked at others was different from that of ordinary people; it was filled with intense aggression and oppression.

Finally, after entering the station and buying tickets, the four of them sat down in the waiting area and breathed a sigh of relief. At least no one was standing a meter away staring at them anymore, and they felt an indescribable sense of relaxation.

Xiao Hong looked at Xiao Wei and the other two, burst out laughing, and said, "Don't you guys feel like, like you're walking down the street naked, feeling incredibly insecure?"

Xiao Wei glanced at Xiao Hong and said, "You've never been out in public dressed like this before?"

Gazi and Xiao Liu both chuckled, Xiao Hong's face turned bright red, and he threw a punch.

Xiao Wei laughed as he took a few punches. Ga Zi said, "Looks like someone with a powerful background. There's a bunch of people standing outside the toilet. I wonder if they'll be watching you if you go in and pee?"

Several people turned their heads to look, and sure enough, there were several burly men standing by the toilet, coldly scrutinizing the waiting room. People going to the toilet and those passing by subconsciously quickened their pace, lowering their heads and jogging.

Xiao Liu said, "Everyone who comes here to escape the summer heat is from a national-level government, but this ostentatious display must have been put on by the local authorities. How could the real top leaders be so bored? These days, the higher-ups have good intentions, but the lower-ups twist them."

Xiao Wei said, "It's for safety. If something really happens, even a small thing, it could ruin your life. Anyone would be terrified in that situation. It's normal. Even if you were the mayor or party secretary here now, you'd probably feel the same way."

Xiao Liu nodded: "That's true. I guess among the city-level leaders, those in QHD are under the most pressure. Their chances of having a heart attack must be extremely high. They have to live in fear every summer. Didn't you see those people by the sea? They can't do anything they want. Do you really think it's because the local government doesn't want to? It's because they dare not. They have the highest resources in the country but can't use them. It's also very frustrating."

The train pulled into the station, and Xiao Wei and his three companions dragged their luggage onto the train. They boarded the sleeper train and set off with a rumble back to Fengtian.

……

"We're back!" Xiao Hong shouted as soon as she popped her head out on the second floor of the guesthouse.

Aunt Wang's face lit up with joy, but she muttered, "That crazy girl, she's always rambling on and on." Cheng Shi's body had already stood up and walked outside, while Geng Hui and Aunt Liu secretly chuckled behind him.

"You little brat, come here right now." Chen Xiao's voice came from his and Xia Maosheng's bedroom. The door was open all summer.

Xiao Hong hugged her mother who came to greet her and kissed her twice on the cheek: "I missed you so much, you old hag."

Aunt Wang couldn't hide her smile: "Crazy girl."

Xiao Wei followed behind, dragging two large suitcases, and turned to look into the office, asking, "Where are Xiao Hui and Lao Xia?"

Aunt Wang said, "Xia has gone to work; she's been working at your uncle's place for several days now. Xiao Hui is at the Wanliu construction site; they started digging the foundation for the office building these past two days."

Xiao Wei asked, "Have the blueprints been finalized?"

Aunt Wu said, "It was decided a long time ago. Since you weren't home, your uncle and Xiao Hui discussed it. The design institute's plan is good, and there's nothing to complain about. Just the two of you?" Aunt Wang glanced behind Xiao Wei.

Xiao Wei said, "Gazi went straight back to Beixi; he was in a hurry to get back the things he bought for his family. Xiao Liu went back to the station to report for duty."

Aunt Wang asked, "Isn't it a good dish?"

Xiao Wei said, "It's great. I've traveled to many places and broadened my horizons."

Xiao Hong said, "Mom, you have no idea how expensive things are outside. A hotel room costs several hundred yuan a night. I don't want to get out of bed because I'm afraid of losing money."

Chen Xiao, heavily pregnant, waddled out of the house and leaned against the doorframe: "You damn little Hong, can't I get you anymore?"

Xiao Hong rolled her eyes: "Who is this disheveled person? Why are you letting people into the office like this? Get them out of here right now."

Xiao Wei turned to Chen Xiao and asked, "How many more days?"

Chen Xiao said, "My due date is the 20th, I don't know if it will be okay, I haven't shown any signs of labor at all. Geng Hui's reaction is much stronger than mine."

Xiao Wei glanced at Geng Hui, who was hugging Xiao Hong, and said, "She's too weak, you're in good health."

Chen Xiao said, "That crazy girl, come here and let me pinch you and you'll be fine. Otherwise, you wait and see tonight, I'll make sure you can't sleep."

Xiao Hong, arm in arm with Geng Hui, walked over to Chen Xiao and said with a smile, "You dare? I'll make sure your son can't sleep at night."

Chen Xiao held out his right hand: "Where's the gift?"

Xiao Hong placed her left hand in Chen Xiao's and said, "What a beauty! Surprised? Aren't you delighted?"

Aunt Wang asked Xiaowei, "How was your trip? Everything went smoothly, didn't it?"

Xiao Wei placed his suitcase against the wall and said, "It's alright. There was a bit of a hassle at the Chang'an factory, but everything else went smoothly."

Upon entering the office, Aunt Wang took the case file and handed it to Xiao Wei, asking, "What happened at Chang'an Factory? I only heard Xiao Hui mention that you went to Chongqing, but he didn't say anything else."

Xiao Wei took the file, opened it, and said, "There was a section chief who didn't want outsiders to touch the sales department. He used both yelling and intimidation, and it turned out he was a big embezzler. I heard the amount involved was over a million yuan. He's already in jail. The deputy factory director behind him also fell. After that, things went quite smoothly, and the contract was signed. Uncle Chen really gave it his all this time; he handled this matter so quickly."

(End of this chapter)