“That’s right, the purpose of establishing the position of Grandpas of the Courtyard back then was to eliminate enemy agents lurking in Four Nine City.”
“Now that the enemy agents are weak and dare not show their faces, you haven’t forgotten your responsibilities. That’s very good.”
Director Nie praised.
Yan Fugui’s face broke into a smile.
His performance today had made an impression on the Leader.
His daily gatekeeping wasn't for nothing.
After a few words, Director Nie, accompanied by Yan Fugui and his followers, strolled leisurely through the Courtyard.
As the Neighborhood Office Director, he couldn’t claim to know the situations of all the numerous residents in his jurisdiction 100%, but for households involving five-guarantee households and martyrs’ families, Director Nie had to know a thing or two.
During holidays and festivals, when patrolling the area, Director Nie always had to pay a visit.
When they arrived at the Middle Courtyard, Yan Fugui called out to Yi Zhonghai.
Yi Zhonghai hurriedly came out of the house, uttering a string of polite words.
Director Nie merely grunted noncommittally and continued walking inside.
Upon reaching the Backyard, wailing sounds came from Liu Haizhong’s house.
“What’s going on?”
Director Nie was secretly vigilant, while simultaneously asking Yan Fugui behind him.
“It seems Second Master Liu Haizhong is disciplining his sons.”
Yan Fugui replied a little awkwardly.
He was just about to go to the Liu Family to call Liu Haizhong.
Liu Guangtian shot out of the house in a flash.
Liu Guangfu followed closely.
Soon, Liu Haizhong, holding a leather belt, swung it with a formidable whoosh, chasing them out.
As soon as he stepped out, seeing Director Nie and the other Three Great Masters, the Seven Wolves in Liu Haizhong’s hand drooped like a deflated balloon, losing all energy.
“Lao Liu, why aren’t you coming to greet Director Nie?”
Yi Zhonghai said irritably.
“Director Nie, I’m sorry to have made you laugh.”
“I was just disciplining my Kid, sigh.”
Liu Haizhong folded the belt and held it in his hand, sweat beads appearing on his forehead.
His Leader saw him hitting his son.
What kind of situation was this?
“Disciplining children is fine, but maintain a proper measure.”
“My own children were very mischievous when they were young and often got beaten by me, but not like you, actually beating them.”
Director Nie said with a smile, easing the atmosphere.
“I will definitely change, definitely change from now on.”
Liu Haizhong quickly pledged.
“Hmm, it is a great virtue to correct one's mistakes.”
“I believe Comrade Liu Haizhong will certainly be a good father if he can correct his errors.”
“Walk around the Courtyard with me.”
Director Nie lightly glossed over the matter.
Regardless of his internal evaluation of Liu Haizhong, outwardly, he couldn't say anything negative about Liu Haizhong over such a small matter.
What if Liu Haizhong had a bad temper and cursed him out?
Then he would become the laughingstock of the area.
As a Leader facing subordinates, especially when there are many people, one must display a benevolent attitude.
“Director Nie, why don’t we go to the Old Lady’s place and sit for a bit?”
Yi Zhonghai suggested proactively.
“No need, my main purpose for this trip is to stroll around, so I won’t sit.”
Director Nie waved his hand.
“We’ll all follow the Leader’s arrangements.”
Yi Zhonghai smiled, very sensibly moving past the matter.
“Has anything happened in the Courtyard recently?”
Director Nie circled the Backyard and returned to the Middle Courtyard.
He asked casually.
“Nothing much, the Courtyard has been very stable.”
“Everyone is striving in their positions, working hard to build a strong motherland.”
Yi Zhonghai replied very officially.
“Really nothing?”
Director Nie asked with a smile.
“There’s a small matter, Chen Tuntian from the Chen Family had an accident at the Rolling Mill, and his wife also passed away due to overwork and illness.”
“Besides these two funerals, everything else is good.”
Yi Zhonghai thought for a moment and said.
“Tsk, husband and wife following each other, it’s good that they went together, at least they’ll have company on the way.”
“What about the people left behind by the Chen Family? Have you done a good job of caring for them?”
Director Nie sighed, then continued to ask.
“Yes, the Chen Family couple only had one child, who has already taken over a position at the Rolling Mill...”
As Yi Zhonghai spoke, his face twitched a few times.
He instinctively felt something was amiss.
A question suddenly popped into his mind: Could Chen Jianye have run into Director Nie when he went to the Neighborhood Office this morning to get his replacement certificate?
Is that why Director Nie is here tonight?
After a brief thought, Yi Zhonghai felt it was very likely.
Perhaps Chen Jianye said something to Director Nie that made Director Nie very dissatisfied with the Courtyard’s affairs.
“Entered what?”
Director Nie still asked very calmly.
Yi Zhonghai immediately felt a ball of fire burning in his throat.
He didn’t know whether to confess to Director Nie or bite the bullet and continue to lie.
“Entered the Rolling Mill as a replacement.”
Yan Fugui, who was beside him, didn’t understand the situation, and seeing Yi Zhonghai not speaking, he quickly continued.
“That’s quite good.”
“Is that room the Chen Family’s?”
Director Nie pointed with his hand.
Mainly because he knew the location of the Jia Family.
Back then, when Lao Jia died at the Rolling Mill, Jia Zhangshi went to the Rolling Mill to make a fuss several times, and she wouldn’t stop even after receiving enough compensation.
At that time, Director Nie, who was a clerk, ran to the Jia Family several times and witnessed Jia Zhangshi’s fierce temper.
“Yes, that’s the Chen Family over there.”
Yan Fugui simply took over Yi Zhonghai’s task.
It was a chance to show his face more in front of the Leader.
Director Nie walked to the Chen Family’s door and knocked.
Thump-thump
“Who is it?”
Chen Jianye asked from inside the room.
“It’s me.”
Director Nie replied with a smile.
“Director Nie!”
Chen Jianye got up and hurried towards the door.
He opened the door, and indeed, the smiling Director Nie stood outside, along with the Three Great Masters of the Courtyard.
“Director Nie, please come in and sit.”
Chen Jianye invited, going to the cupboard to pour water.
Director Nie glanced around the room.
Although there was only Chen Jianye inside, the items were neatly arranged.
He sat at the dining table and saw Chen Jianye’s notebook on the table, a look of appreciation in his eyes.
Being eager to learn is an excellent quality.
A young person with such character will certainly not be mediocre in the future.
“Director Nie, please have some tea.”
Chen Jianye served the water.
“Thank you.”
Director Nie took the tea, his eyes smiling as he asked, “Xiao Chen, what are you studying?”
“I’m studying Carpentry knowledge. Today was my first day as a replacement, and I didn’t quite catch some of the knowledge the Team Leader taught, so I’m writing it down to explore on my own later.”
Chen Jianye answered truthfully.
“Excellent, with this dedication, you will surely achieve something in Carpentry in the future.”
Director Nie took a sip of water and praised him.
Ever since Director Nie entered the room, Yi Zhonghai felt numb.
‘I’m so stupid, I’m really too stupid.’
Yi Zhonghai cried out in his heart.
Leaders often act like a hanging antelope, yet there are traces to follow.
Director Nie was like this.
Yi Zhonghai had already figured it out: it must have been something Chen Jianye and Director Nie discussed when they met this morning, which led to Director Nie’s evening inspection.
Especially now, Director Nie saw the gauze wrapped around Chen Jianye’s head but didn’t ask a single word, which meant Director Nie already knew the whole story.
With the result, it was naturally simple to deduce the cause.
Director Nie sat for a few minutes, chatted casually with Chen Jianye, then got up to leave.
For his status, it was enough.
Although Director Nie was only a Neighborhood Office Director, in terms of rank, he was a legitimate departmental-level cadre.
If Director Nie had accepted Yi Zhonghai’s suggestion to sit for a while at the Deaf Old Lady’s house in the Backyard, Yi Zhonghai could have concocted seven or eight versions and boasted about it in the Courtyard for half a year.
Even Director Nie coming to the Courtyard had to specially visit the Deaf Old Lady, showing how much Director Nie cared for the Deaf Old Lady and kept her in his heart.
How the Deaf Old Lady was in earlier years...
Everyone in the Courtyard would believe it deeply.
This was the charm of a Leader’s endorsement.
While Director Nie was chatting at the Chen Family’s house, Jia Zhangshi of the Jia Family saw an opportunity.