Chapter 118

It was Saturday, and Yan Peiheng had just returned from the Henan Military Region after finishing his morning meeting.

Assuming Chen Meilan hadn't prepared lunch, Secretary Mao brought some food prepared by the Henan Military Sub-district for the old man. They could just heat it up and eat together.

Yan Peiheng and Deputy Director Zheng were old acquaintances. As soon as the old man entered, Deputy Director Zheng stood up to greet him: "Uncle Yan, you must be tired. Did you just get off work and rush back from Henan?"

Seeing a little girl beside Yuanyuan, Yan Peiheng smiled and asked, "Is this your granddaughter?"

As the saying goes, speak appropriately to your audience. To Yan Zhao, Deputy Director Zheng was a superior and needed to exercise his authority.

But in front of Yan Peiheng, he was extremely flattering: "Yes, yes, she's my granddaughter, but she's not as pretty as your granddaughter. Yours is like a little star."

Yan Peiheng loved hearing people praise Yuanyuan's cuteness and enjoyed such compliments, though he modestly waved his hand: "Not at all, all children are lovely."

"It's precisely for these lovely children that we must work hard," Deputy Director Zheng raised his glass and said, "To the honor of the army and the future of Factory 291, I'd like to toast you."

"It's midday, drink less. Let's eat. Yan Zhao, go help Meilan serve the food," Yan Peiheng said.

Deputy Director Zheng's face was now full of wrinkles from smiling, and looking at Yan Zhao, he remarked emotionally: "Uncle Yan, your life has been truly glorious. Your son is obedient and capable, and your daughter-in-law is like a white dragon horse, hardworking and virtuous. I can match you in maintaining personal integrity, but I'm not as good as you in educating children."

The art of being an official - while flattering Yan Peiheng, he didn't forget to glorify himself.

Chen Meilan was serving rice when she heard Deputy Director Zheng compare her to a white dragon horse, and she was so angry she almost spat in the rice.

This man was too shameless, comparing her to an animal.

Indeed, Yan Peiheng also found it inappropriate: "My daughter-in-law is much more capable than my son, how can she be compared to a white dragon horse? She's our family's..." For a moment, the old man couldn't find a suitable comparison for Chen Meilan.

But everyone likes to hear praise and flattery, so he changed his tone: "As leadership cadres, maintaining personal integrity is essential. In modern society, the temptations of beauty and money are too great. You're in the public security department, you must maintain your principles and not be corrupted by money and beauty."

Deputy Director Zheng held his wine glass and said: "I wouldn't dare boast about other things, but money and beauty can't corrupt people like us."

He spoke as if money and beauty really couldn't corrupt him.

The children also joined the table for lunch. Zheng Beibei was particularly close to her grandfather and sat in Deputy Director Zheng's lap. Seeing him drink, she reached out to pull his beard: "Grandpa, no drinking, it stinks!"

"Look, Uncle Yan, I actually drink very little. The child keeps me in check, won't let me drink," Deputy Director Zheng said.

His way of presenting himself was so skillful that if Chen Meilan didn't know his true nature, even she would think he was a good official.

Sure enough, Yan Peiheng nodded repeatedly: "Good, this is how a people's cadre should behave."

Seeing Yan Peiheng still holding his wine cup, Yuanyuan imitated Zheng Beibei and said: "Grandpa, don't drink anymore, it's not good for your health."

"Alright, alright, I won't drink anymore." Yan Peiheng put down his wine cup, but when Yuanyuan reached out wanting him to hold her, he stiffened for a moment and ultimately didn't pick her up, pushing the child away instead.

Halfway through the meal, Deputy Director Zheng suddenly noticed that Yan Peiheng seemed unhappy, so he smiled and asked: "Uncle Yan, do you have something troubling you?"

"No, let's eat," Yan Peiheng said.

Deputy Director Zheng continued: "Look at you - Yan Jun's family is doing so well in America, and Yan Zhao and Yan Wei are making you proud here in China. You're truly life's winner."

If he hadn't mentioned Yan Jun, Yan Peiheng's expression might have been better, but at the mention of Yan Jun, the old man's face darkened further: "Just eat."

After lunch, it was time for Deputy Director Zheng to take his leave.

Father and son Yan both saw him out, and along the way, he kept patting his chest and assuring Yan Peiheng, saying he would take full responsibility for Yan Zhao's work promotion, and that he would definitely take good care of Yan Zhao and support his work.

These were complete lies - among the four leaders in the city bureau, he was actually the one blocking Yan Zhao's promotion.

Speaking differently to different people - this man was truly skilled at it.

The children had to do their weekend homework this afternoon so they could enjoy themselves properly tomorrow.

As for Yan Peiheng, he neither played chess nor read books, nor did he speak to anyone. He just sat silently in the courtyard, listening to the rustling of locust tree leaves behind the yard, sitting there for half a day.

However, after dinner, he suddenly suggested that since he hadn't been out for a long time, he wanted to take the children out for some fun.

With grandfather at home, the children already felt uncomfortable, and hearing about going into town, Little Wang cleverly said: "Sure, grandpa, you can stay at home, we'll go by ourselves."

Unfortunately, Little Wang couldn't fool his grandfather, who grabbed him by the back of his collar. Yan Peiheng said: "We'll go together."

To take the children out, the old man specially kept the official car, a seven-seater Leopard, the leaders' exclusive car, very spacious. Before getting in, seeing Little Wang being slick and unwilling to get in, the old man got angry and said: "Get in quickly. You can only ride in this car now while I'm still working in the unit. After I retire, you won't even have the chance to ride in it."

With one motion, he lifted Little Wang into the car.

The family headed straight to the night market in the city.

These days, the city wasn't exciting during the day; it came alive at night.

Especially in the square in front of the People's Department Store, there were stalls everywhere selling small toys, thread spools, socks, insoles, clothes, various small notebooks, hardware, key chains, tape recorders - a dazzling array that caught the eye at every turn.

As they walked, they passed a ring toss game. The ground was covered with various small toys and accessories like hair clips, with a cylinder in front for throwing balls. Hit it once, win a toy. The children had never seen this before and naturally wanted to play.

"That's a scam, you can never win," Chen Meilan, well-versed in such tricks, knew that if people won, how would the vendor make money?

She gathered the children and was about to leave.

"Let's play, Mom, I have money," Little Wang said, reaching for his pocket.

Little Lang and Yuanyuan didn't want to leave either. The children were fascinated by this novelty they'd never seen before.

Yan Peiheng had been gloomy all day, seemingly preoccupied, but wanting to make his grandchildren happy, he took out ten yuan and said: "Go play, use up all these ten yuan."

Little Wang got ten rings from the vendor, aimed at his favorite videotape, and tossed one over - of course, he missed. With ten rings in hand, he got anxious and quickly threw eight of them in succession, naturally not getting any.

"This is a scam," Little Wang said angrily, with one ring left.

Little Lang, however, remained calm, took the last ring from his brother, and asked Yuanyuan: "Sister, what do you want from all these things here?"

Yuanyuan spotted a spittoon at the far end and surprisingly said: "I want that one."

Little Lang just stretched out his arm, and whoosh - the ring flew out and perfectly landed on the spittoon that was almost exactly the same size as the ring.

"This kid got lucky, how precise for such a young child," someone exclaimed.

The vendor brought over the spittoon, smiling and saying: "Here you go, young man, the spittoon is yours."

They still had eight yuan left, and the vendor, seeing two well-dressed, distinguished-looking men standing behind the children - clearly officials taking their kids out for fun - pointed to the ball-throwing game nearby and said: "Come on, young man, try throwing the balls. For each one you get in, I'll give you ten yuan back."

This was actually harder. Although the bucket was close, basically no one could get it in. The prize money sounded big, but it was designed to take people's money. The vendor wanted to get the children's ten yuan.

However, Little Lang didn't listen to the vendor. He walked to a javelin setup, stood on tiptoe, touched it, and said: "If I win at this, I can get the doll up there, right?"

A doll hung above the javelin - it was the currently popular Snow White.

"See that moving target inside? You need to hit the eight-ring with this javelin to get the doll. Little one, you can barely reach it, don't even try."

The boss thought he was too young and didn't have the heart to cheat him out of his money with such a complex project.

But Little Lang turned over a chamber pot, stood on it, and said, "I want to win a doll for my sister."

This was a child who had never touched a gun before, and when the boss turned on the machine, the target immediately started to move. It was almost impossible to hit it.

When grabbing the gun, Little Lang placed the doll in Yuanyuan's hands: "Sister, this is yours now."

A child who had to stand on a chamber pot to shoot at a target actually believed he could hit the eight-ring. The boss found it a bit amusing and turned back to smile at Yan Zhao and his son: "This kid doesn't seem to understand the rules."

The first shot missed the target, and Little Wang and Yuanyuan anxiously asked, "Little Lang, can you do it?"

A crisp sound, and Little Lang hit the bullseye.

At this moment, Chen Meilan saw some nice socks and was picking out socks for the children.

Yan Peiheng sighed deeply, chatting with Yan Zhao about something. Yan Zhao rarely heard his old man confide in him, so he was listening attentively.

No one paid attention to whether a child standing on a chamber pot could hit the remaining rings.

But suddenly, the boss exclaimed in surprise, and the woman next door selling socks also stood up.

Yan Zhao was also attracted by his son and walked over to stand behind him, holding his breath. He saw Little Lang firing in quick succession, the small nails from the dart gun chasing the target, hitting the nine-ring in a row, all in one go.

"What incredible luck!" the boss exclaimed.

Yan Peiheng also walked over, staring in disbelief at his son: "How did this kid get such good aim?"

Little Lang was only six and a half years old, in the first grade this year.

He could use an old, slipping dart gun to hit a moving target nine times in a row.

Both Yan Zhao and Yan Peiheng had been on the battlefield and were seasoned gunmen. It was precisely because they knew guns well that they understood how difficult Little Lang's feat was.

Yan Zhao couldn't believe it and took out another two yuan, signaling Little Lang to try again.

Little Lang had already tried once. He silently picked up the gun, waiting for the boss to turn on the machine. Leaning over the dart gun to aim, he fired a burst of steel needles, turning the small target into a porcupine.

Yan Zhao was dumbfounded, and Yan Peiheng took a deep breath before finally exhaling: "This kid, when he grows up, will be a top-notch sniper. Third, I've reserved him. He must join the army in the future!"

Yan Zhao knew that his son could do it because he had always practiced his stance well, his fists were solid, his hands were strong, and his eyes and mind were steady.

But hitting ten shots in a row was too difficult.

The child didn't know how shocked the adults were at that moment. He only knew that he had won two of his sister's favorite things for her. Slowly getting down from the chamber pot, he picked it up and handed it to Yuanyuan.

Yuanyuan, however, turned around and presented it to Yan Peiheng, mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa, I give you a chamber pot. You won't need to go out to the toilet at night anymore!"

Yan Peiheng's face had been very poor today, as if he had something on his mind. At that moment, Chen Meilan was standing behind him.

As the old man took the chamber pot, he suddenly collapsed backward, his face pale. If not for Chen Meilan catching him, he would have fallen straight to the ground.

The old man was advanced in age, and getting up at night to go to the toilet in the countryside, where there were no lights, was indeed inconvenient.

Yuanyuan winning a chamber pot for him was such a thoughtful gesture that his feelings can be imagined.

But Chen Meilan was puzzled. She thought that even if her father-in-law was moved, he wouldn't lose control and collapse on the spot.

After shopping, it was time to go home.

Yan Zhao drove, and Yan Peiheng remained silent throughout the journey.

When they arrived at the first detachment, Yan Zhao got out of the car and helped the old man into the house.

But as soon as he turned around, Yan Peiheng came out of the house again, holding the chamber pot, staring at Yan Zhao's back under the moonlight. The old man's eyes were clearly glistening with tears, clearly indicating that he was extremely distressed.

The relationship between Yan Zhao and his father was too poor; the two could easily cause world-ending arguments. Chen Meilan felt it was very necessary to understand her father-in-law's emotions.

So after washing up and getting into bed, Chen Meilan asked Yan Zhao to see what was wrong with the old man.

Yan Zhao said, "There's news from my older brother."

There was indeed a problem.

Not only did Sister-in-law Liu Xiuying want to call Chen Meilan, but there was also news from Yan Jun.

"Did Big Brother write a letter to Dad?" Chen Meilan asked.

Yan Zhao shook his head.

It wasn't that Yan Jun wrote a letter to Yan Peiheng, but an old army buddy who had retired and moved abroad, currently living in New York. He had recently run into Yan Jun and learned some news about him, then called Yan Peiheng from across the ocean.

Coincidentally, Chen Meilan also needed to tell Yan Zhao about what Deputy Director Zheng had said today, that Sister-in-law wanted to call her.

Deputy Director Zheng's intention was for Chen Meilan not to tell Yan Zhao about this, but Chen Meilan would definitely choose to say it. She hadn't even seen what Sister-in-law looked like, so why should she hide anything from her husband?

After hearing this, Yan Zhao said, "I guess Sister-in-law is coming back for Mike. Big Brother's eldest son, Mike, is 17 this year. He recently received a recommendation from a mentor to attend an interview at West Point. If he passes the interview and subsequent evaluations, he can attend West Point Military Academy. West Point is the top military academy in the world, and upon graduation, he will serve in the U.S. military. However, his father's identity is sensitive. Once Mike is actually admitted to West Point, Dad will be in trouble."

So Yan Peiheng's mood was very bad today.

Not only had Yan Jun become an American, but his son was also going to apply to West Point.

In the future, he might even become an American soldier.

Currently, the military's policy is lenient, and there are no hard requirements for the children of leaders to go abroad.

Most of the children of leaders who go abroad hold short-term visas and retain their Hua Country citizenship. Occasionally, some get green cards, but not many. People just curse them in private, but since it's not against the law, too many leaders' children have gone abroad to enjoy paradise lives.

But serving in the U.S. military is different.

Once West Point admits Mike, it means he is already a U.S. citizen. At that moment, Yan Peiheng, without resigning, will face military legal scrutiny and accountability.

Having a grandfather in the Hua Country military and a grandson serving in the U.S. military is not only against the policy but also a great shame for the Hua Country military.

It can be said that at the moment Mike is admitted to West Point, Yan Peiheng's entire life will be a disgrace to the Hua Country military.

In severe cases, he might end up in the military prison with Wang Gebi.

"Is Dad okay? Why don't you go sleep with him tonight?" Chen Meilan empathized; if she were in such a situation, she might be so angry that she'd want to hang herself.

Yan Zhao sighed deeply, looking down at Chen Meilan, his eyes slightly red but smiling: "He'll be fine."

"Can you really tell if an old man is okay?" Chen Meilan said.

Yan Zhao, surprisingly, sighed again and then said, "The old man just told me that at the moment he heard the news, he reflected on his failure in education and wanted to resign in disgrace. He didn't even want to continue. In fact, today he took the children out to play to spend their last time together before committing suicide by gun. But just now, when he saw Little Lang standing on the chamber pot, able to hit ten shots in a row with a broken dart gun, the old man suddenly let go. He said that once Mike is admitted to West Point and insists on going, he will file a military lawsuit, sever ties with his older brother, and have the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issue an expulsion order, never allowing his older brother to return. He will remain in the Hua Country military, staying on the job as long as the military does not expel him. He wants to set an example for Yan Minglang."

The younger generation surpasses the older, each generation stronger than the last.

If Yan Jun's son really gets into West Point, it's indeed something to admire.

As a senior, Yan Peiheng can't stop the child from pursuing his ideals. But just now, when Little Lang hit ten shots in a row, the old man suddenly realized that although the eldest son's children were all excellent, the third son's children were not bad either.

Little Lang, who was usually quiet, was rarely noticed by Yan Peiheng. After all, the old man naturally favored the eldest grandson and liked Little Wang.

And Yuanyuan always unconsciously attracted his attention.

But Little Lang's stunning performance reignited Yan Peiheng's fighting spirit as a soldier and his indomitable military spirit.

A mix of joy, anger, and unparalleled loss.

Although he was indeed in great pain, Little Lang was the hope of Old Master Yan, and he still wanted to see him grow up, join the army, and make a name for himself as a qualified, sharpshooting sniper. How could he possibly consider suicide?

Mike was excellent, but Yan Peiheng believed that given time, Yan Minglang would not be inferior to him!

...

After they finished talking, Chen Meilan suddenly remembered something: "The medicine, it's getting cold."

Yan Zhao suddenly sat up: "What medicine?"

"The medicine I got for you, for rheumatism," Chen Meilan said as she sat up and got out of bed to heat the medicine for Yan Zhao.

Up until this point, Yan Zhao still thought Chen Meilan was talking about the medicine she had bought from Yu Xiaoqiao.

Seeing that it was a bowl of cooked Chinese medicine, and even the dregs, he was even more surprised: "Yu Xiaoqiao didn't say it was ointment? How come this is Chinese medicine?"

Chen Meilan was afraid the medicine would seep, so she specially put a plastic bag over the cloth bag containing the dregs, which not only kept it warm but also prevented seepage, allowing Yan Zhao to apply it even while lying in bed. She didn't let him get out of bed, placing the medicine bag on the bedside table and putting Yan Zhao's hand inside it, then asked: "Is it too hot? If it is, should I blow on it for you?"

She then took back the medicine bag and pretended to blow on it.

In her pajamas, she squatted by the bed, her red lips puffing on the medicine bag, the heat reddening her entire face.

Yan Zhao, who had spent his whole life as a hardworking ox, had never received such treatment from a woman. He was so uncomfortable that he simply ignored the heat and put his hand into the dregs, then pursed his lips and took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

But just as he closed his eyes, he heard Chen Meilan say: "By the way, do you even know which way the hospital gate faces?"

The way she said it sounded strange. Yan Zhao thought for a moment and said seriously: "The provincial hospital faces east, and the district hospital faces south."

"So you do know," Chen Meilan said with a smile, looking at Yan Zhao. "Then remember to go to the hospital if you're not feeling well, and don't just ask anyone for a prescription, okay?"

It was only then that Yan Zhao realized Chen Meilan was jealous, and it was because of the ointment, she was jealous of Yu Xiaoqiao.

But even though he knew Chen Meilan was jealous, he didn't know what to say, only managing to utter three words: "I'm sorry!"

Chen Meilan remained light and easy, with a calm demeanor. She got back into bed, unfolded another blanket, and casually said: "There's no need to apologize. It's fine to try some folk remedies, but I'm just worried that the ointment other women give you might not be good. What if it's some kind of magic oil?"

You see, Zhou Xueqin had hinted that Yan Zhao's future promotion might be affected by his relationships with women.

If it were Yan Xishan or Lu Jingyu, Chen Meilan wouldn't care at all, wishing they would die of syphilis on the spot.

But Yan Zhao was different. It wasn't that he was particularly special, but because of the children. Little Wang and Little Lang were Chen Meilan's children, and she didn't want their future prospects to be affected by their father's affairs.

Although the matter with Yu Xiaoqiao was small, since it had happened, Chen Meilan had to use it as a case study to remind Yan Zhao.

She needed to remind him that if Yu Xiaoqiao gave him a tube of Indian magic oil, it wouldn't cure his rheumatism and might even make him itchy. Even if he didn't want to cheat, could he control his physiological desires?

Although her words were light, the implication was serious.

"Indian magic oil?" Yan Zhao frowned, suddenly sitting up, his voice raised: "I'm a public security officer. I know that's a prohibited item. How could I possibly use it? It's a tool for committing crimes and evidence of a crime. Anyone who produces it, I can arrest them."

"Lie down, lower your voice!" Chen Meilan quickly said.

His voice was too loud and might wake the children next door.

"It's my hand that's the problem, not other parts," Yan Zhao still sounded angry, his ears turning red: "Besides, I've seen all kinds of magic oils on the market. Don't I know how to distinguish them by smell?"

"Lie down and lower your voice, can you do that?" Chen Meilan asked.

This man couldn't take a joke.

Clearly, he had almost fallen into Yu Xiaoqiao's trap, and Chen Meilan should have been the one to be angry. But after making a joke, he got angry first.

Yan Zhao lay down, still looking resentful.

His ears were red and about to burst.

Chen Meilan then turned around and hugged Yan Zhao, asking again: "Yan Bureau, let's assume, if Yu Xiaoqiao were to bypass me and give you the ointment alone, would you accept it?"

You know, a woman like Yu Xiaoqiao has very subtle and artistic ways of conquering men.

Today she gives a tube of medicine, tomorrow she asks Yan Zhao to help with something small, the day after tomorrow she invites him to dinner. Before he even realizes it, he's been conquered.

Chen Meilan asked this to judge, based on Yan Zhao's answer, whether he would be tempted if Yu Xiaoqiao tried to corrupt him.

As long as he gave an answer, she could tell.

After all, she had seen too many such things in her previous life.

Yan Zhao looked down at his wife.

"Go on, just assume!" Chen Meilan still had a smile on her face.

Aliali: 6747c480c4f3f33ac46fd021

Yan Zhao, with a serious expression, looked down at Chen Meilan, probably thinking about how to answer the question.

After a long while, he cleared his throat, ready to speak, but at that moment, just as luck would have it, Chen Meilan's mobile phone rang. There was no caller ID, so she picked up: "Hello?"

"Hello, are you Chen Meilan?" the other person said. Sёarch* The NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Yes, I am!" Chen Meilan replied.

The other person's voice was particularly enthusiastic: "I'm your sister-in-law, by the way, is Yan Zhao with you?"

Chen Meilan pressed the speakerphone button, indicating that Yan Zhao should listen too, but she said: "He's not here!"

Sure enough, the sister-in-law really called.

Chen Meilan wanted to hear what she had to say.

However, the other person's tone sounded very envious. Liu Xiuying said: "I never thought you could afford a mobile phone?"

Chen Meilan thought to herself that a mobile phone was nothing special, they were everywhere in America. Wasn't the sister-in-law's question a bit out of character for someone who was supposed to be rich?