Season 2 Episode 39: Encounter at the Railway Station

  Send Fang Fei downstairs, Fang Fei still hesitated and didn't want to get out of the car. A pair of eyes stared at Liu Ziguang, as if they could drip honey: "Hmm... do you want to go up and have a cup of tea?"

  Although it was a question, it was actually an imperative sentence. Liu Ziguang readily agreed and held up the large black umbrella to get out of the car first, protecting Fang Fei as she came down. The little nurse stuck close to him, her teeth chattering: "I'm cold."

  Liu Ziguang wrapped his arms around Fang Wei, and the two of them leaned against each other on the empty space in front of the building. The fine rain floated around them, but under the umbrella was a small warm and safe space. The lights from the residential buildings twinkled like stars, and a shiny red sedan stood quietly to the side. The atmosphere was warm and romantic.

  Fang Fei Yang raised her head to look at Liu Zi Guang, slowly closing her eyes, her petal-like lips slightly parted, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. Her small body trembled slightly, with an air of "help yourself". Liu Zi Guang couldn't help himself and was about to lean in when the red flag car window came down and Xuanzi's voice said stiffly: "Leader, urgent telegram from Diaoyutai."

  Liu Ziguang is really something, Xuanzi is very interesting, he has numbered all the places Liu Ziguang often goes to. Home is Zhongnanhai, company is State Council, Fang Fei's home is Beidaihe, Huachengchi is Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. It's so late and there's something going on, could it be that someone is making trouble, even Zhuo Li can't calm the scene?

  Liu Ziguang went to answer the phone, and Fang Fei also opened her eyes, took a look at the upstairs and said: "Oh dear, I forgot that Dad is returning home today. The light in his study is on. Alright, alright, you go ahead with your business, I'll go up first." After finishing speaking, she quickly ran into the unit door.

  "From now on, when the captain is handling official business, don't even answer the chairman's phone calls, got it?" Liu Ziguang couldn't help but say.

  ……

  The phone call was made by Manager Li, who solemnly invited Liu Ziguang to discuss something, but didn't say what it was about over the phone. Liu Ziguang had no choice but to drive to Huaqing Pool.

  The empty space in front of the Huqingchi gate was already filled with mid-to-low-end cars. Although it was raining today, there were still many cars coming and going. The parking lot attendant increased from one to three, but it was still not enough. When he saw this big red flag coming over, the attendant was startled. The big red flag stopped directly at the entrance, and Xuánzǐ jumped out to help Liúzǐguāng open the car door. The attendant and the doorman and security guard all shouted respectfully: "Liu Ge has arrived."

  As soon as Liu Ziguang entered the hall, he saw a group of people sitting on the sofa smoking and chatting, apparently all customers.

  "Hello, Mr. Liu!" The receptionist greeted Liu Ziguang with a bow and handed him a pair of slippers.

  "Hey! Didn't they just say there was no more room in the changing room? How can they still be putting people in?"

  Liu Ziguang turned around to take a look, it was a customer who had drunk too much, dressed as a township entrepreneur, with four or five similarly dressed local tyrants following him.

  "I'm sorry sir, this is our boss," the receptionist explained.

  "Oh, I see, sorry about that, sisters." The township entrepreneur nodded and fell silent.

  "Business is so good?" Liu Ziguo asked while changing his slippers.

  "Yes, Liu Ge, it's always packed."

  Liu Ziguang nodded, vaguely guessing why Manager Li had called him over.

  They went up to the fourth floor private room, where Manager Li and Zhuo Li were already waiting for him. Seeing Liu Ziguang come in, they hastily offered tea, water, fruit platter, and cigarettes. After a flurry of activity, Manager Li chased the service staff away and said to Liu Ziguang: "Brother, I've got something to discuss with you."

  Liu Ziguang said: "Is it business booming, scale can't keep up, want to expand a bit?"

  Manager Li slapped his thigh: "Ah, brother, you've got me! Business has been booming lately, and the hardware of the bathhouse really can't keep up. The bathtub is too small, there aren't enough showerheads, the audio equipment and sofas in the lobby need to be replaced, and the decoration is not upscale. Most importantly, there are not enough private rooms, which directly affects income."

  Liu Ziguang said: "Then what's the point of telling me? What can I do to help?"

  "Come on, brother, don't tease me. You have the most influence in this area, if I don't find you, who else can I find? There are several hardware stores around Huqingchi, and their business is not good. I've talked to them, and they all agree to withdraw. The key is still this factory area, the facade is Mingguang Mechanical Factory's. I want to buy out the adjacent row of buildings and invest in large-scale renovation, turning Huqingchi into a high-end club with accommodation, dining, bathing, and other facilities..."

  Liu Ziguang interrupted him and said: "Wait a minute, you first tell me what you want me to do."

  Manager Li smiled and said, "Well, I'm not capable enough, so I'd like to invite you, brother, to join the company. With our combined efforts, we can achieve great things and make a fortune!"

  Liu Ziguang smoked silently, with a wisp of smoke curling up. Manager Li's eyes were filled with expectation, staring straight at Liu Ziguang. Next to him, Zhuo Li also looked at his old classmate with wide eyes, his throat moving slightly, probably swallowing saliva.

  Liu Ziguang pinched out his cigarette butt and said: "This line of work, I don't really want to get involved in."

  "Why, Photon, you don't know, tens of thousands are earned in a day! Doing this is absolutely lucrative!" Zhuo Li jumped up and shouted, his face red with anxiety.

  Liu Ziguang smiled: "Zhuo Li, don't be impatient, Old Li, don't look at me with that kind of gaze. Just because I'm not participating doesn't mean I won't help out. If there's anything that needs to be arranged, just give me a call, okay? That's it, I'll take my leave first."

  As he spoke, Liu Ziguo stood up and went downstairs, with Manager Li and Zhuo Li accompanying him. Zhuo Li was still chattering away, trying to persuade his old classmate to change his mind, but Manager Li had already understood Liu Ziguo's intention and remained silent.

  After seeing Liu Ziguang off, the two returned to their room. Zhuo Li said anxiously, "Oh my, this Liu Ziguang, I really don't know what he's thinking. He doesn't even do lucrative business, isn't that just pushing gold away?"

  Manager Li smiled faintly: "Ali, you don't understand your old classmate. He is a person with high aspirations and doesn't want to be delayed by the things in our bathhouse."

  "What kind of future are you looking for? Photons have already mixed so well, what else do you want?" Zhuo Li asked dazedly.

  "So, you're still young. Your old classmate's ambition isn't in the underworld; his ideal is something that people like us can never attain." Manager Li lit a cigarette, his eyes narrowing as if lost in some sort of reverie.

  Manager Li is a southerner, so he likes to call Zhuo Li "A Li". He was once sentenced to life imprisonment, but later commuted to 20 years. After several reductions in sentence, he finally spent 10 years inside. In his words, it was like attending university for 10 years. Prison is indeed a complex social university. Old Li learned many things and gained deeper insights into life than Zhuo Li.

  Zhuo Li nodded slightly as if he understood and said: "Then what should we do? I'll listen to you, Brother Li."

  Old Li said: "He doesn't invest, but we still have to do it. You go and take care of the factory side, spend as much money as you need to spend, and make sure to crush them. I'll think of a way for the expansion and renovation funds."

  "Alright, let's do it!" Zhuo Li became excited again. Now he was already the second-in-command of Huqingchi, participating in decision-making for major and minor matters, with a monthly income of no less than 10,000 yuan. The security guards at the factory followed him around, and with Liu Ziguang as his backing, he had also become a well-known figure in the Gaotushan area, known as "Li Ge".

  ……

  The next day, Monday, the rain that had been pouring down all night finally stopped. In the afternoon, Liu Ziguang suddenly received a call from Fang Fei, saying that doctors and nurses who signed up for the African project today would go to the provincial city for a collective examination, and asked him to come to the train station to see her off.

  The train departed two hours later, and Liu Ziguang hastily took a taxi to get there. In broad daylight, he didn't dare use the large red flag of Xuanzi, as it was too eye-catching and didn't have a license plate. The police were gathered in the bustling area around the train station, and if they were caught, it wouldn't look good. Although he could find someone to get it back, it would still be troublesome.

  Upon arrival at the train station, I saw a large banner that read "Wishing our colleagues supporting the African project a smooth examination". Ah, it was indeed the place. As I walked over, I saw a sea of white clothes, all of whom were elite medical personnel from Jiangbei City and surrounding counties who had been dispatched for this project. This project is a joint effort between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, with great political significance, so city leaders and health officials are extremely concerned about it. The subsidies for foreign aid projects are also high, with salaries paid in US dollars, which is several times higher than domestic salaries. More importantly, it increases one's seniority, and upon return, they will be promoted, so grassroots doctors and nurses signed up enthusiastically.

  Liu Ziguang was still standing there looking around when suddenly a pair of warm little hands covered his eyes from behind, giggling and saying: "Guess who I am?"

  Liu Ziguang suddenly turned around, and just as he was about to give a fierce hug, he suddenly found an old man standing behind Fang Fei, wearing a suit and tie with gold-rimmed glasses, who was none other than his future father-in-law, Deputy Director Fang.

  Liu Ziguang's outstretched arm awkwardly withdrew, accompanied by a very embarrassed smile. Seeing him like this, Fang Fei smiled complacently and introduced: "Dad, this is Little Liu. Liu Ziguang, this is my dad."

  Director Fang stretched out his hand warmly: "We've met before, Little Liu."

  Liu Ziguang shook hands with Dean Fang: "Hello, Uncle, I'm Liu Ziguang."

  Director Fang's hands were thin and delicate, but very powerful, the kind that came from long-term holding of surgical knives. He grasped Liu Ziguang's hand, sizing up his daughter's boyfriend from head to toe, who was tall and slender like a green pine, dressed simply, with bright and spirited eyes, and the feeling transmitted through his hands was strong and steady.

  The young man is quite good, Principal Fang thought to himself.

  "Where does Little Liu work? Is there anyone else at home?" The old man asked with a smile, which was equivalent to an official inquiry.

  Liu Ziguang, neither arrogant nor humble, calmly introduced himself: "I work as a deputy manager at the first phase of Zhicheng Property Company and have some small business on the side. My parents are both laid-off workers living in Gaotushan."

  "Not bad, not bad." Dean Fang said with a smile. He had heard about these basic situations from his daughter before. He wasn't someone who attached great importance to family background. He was also very satisfied with Liu Ziguang's demeanor. Although the young man was a bit older, he looked absolutely like a steady and considerate good husband who took care of his family. And in terms of career, he would definitely achieve great success. Dean Fang had also risen from the grassroots level step by step and had been to many countries in Europe and America for inspection, so he had a discerning eye for this kind of thing.

  "When Fang Fei comes back, I'll meet your family elders." Dean Fang said with a smile, this sentence was equivalent to agreeing to the two people's matter. Fang Fei blushed and didn't speak anymore.

  ……

  The train finally departed, and the train station was still bustling as usual. Liu Ziguo declined Dean Fang's kindness to let him ride in his car and took the bus home instead.

  To get back from the train station requires two bus transfers. After getting off the first one, while waiting for the next bus at the stop, a red Volvo suddenly stopped in front of Liu Ziguang.

  The car window rolled down, revealing Li Ni's pretty face wearing sunglasses.

  "Get on the bus." Li's voice was crisp and sharp.