The paper money was quickly set ablaze. After a few bursts of flames, it turned into black charcoal ash. Blown away by the north wind, it slowly drifted away, leaving no trace behind.
Li Rui hugged Lu Qingman and looked at the tombstone with a sorrowful expression. It was as if he could see the figure of a middle-aged woman who looked like Qingman looming inside. He said to her in his heart, "Mom, don't worry. I will definitely be good to Qingman. I will also take good care of Dad."
After returning from the cemetery, the couple drove back to Qingyang. Tomorrow was the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. It was the first day of work after the holidays, so they had to go back today. Of course, in the first few days after the end of the Lunar New Year, the party and government agencies could not do any official work. Basically, people would visit each other in various units and departments and eat and drink. After the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, they would officially enter the working period.
Many people might have noticed that in the first week after the Lunar New Year, which was from the seventh day of the Lunar New Year to the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, the government agencies basically did not do anything. Even if they did, their efficiency was extremely low. For example, if you went to the police station to apply for an ID card or change your household registration, the police would usually tell you that the internet was not good or that the computer was broken. They would find all kinds of excuses to deal with you. In short, they would not do anything. Why? It was because they had not recovered from the Lunar New Year holiday and still needed a week of buffer time. This kind of thing was also an unspoken rule in the government agencies and was common in all parts of the country.
When the couple returned home, Lu Qingman laid out the local specialties she brought back from Phuket. Among them, the cashews and dried tropical fruits were edible for Li Jianmin. The rest of the waxworks and tin pots were handicrafts that could not be eaten. They could only be looked at.
Li Jianmin curiously tasted the cashews and said, "It tastes the same as the ones we buy at home." Lu Qingman smiled and said, "Not all cashews taste the same. Try some of those dried fruits, they definitely taste different from the ones we buy here. " Li Jianmin tasted a few and praised them profusely, saying that he had never eaten them before. He then called the housekeeper, Xiao Hong, who was busy with the housework, over to eat.
Seeing Xiao Hong, Li Rui suddenly remembered the gifts he received during the New Year. The garage was almost full, so he had to get rid of them quickly. He hurriedly went downstairs and picked out four gifts from the garage. He brought them upstairs and told Xiao Hong to bring them home when she returned home at night.
Lil 'Red thanked him profusely as if she had taken advantage of his family.
Indeed, from her point of view, these gifts were worth at least seven to eight hundred dollars. She was indeed taking advantage of his family for free. However, from Li Rui's point of view, these gifts had no value at all. After his family had enough to eat and wear, these gifts had become a burden. He just wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible so that he wouldn't be affected negatively by accepting other people's benefits. But then again, it was not a big deal for government officials to receive gifts (pure gifts) during festivals. No one would criticize them. After all, this was a normal thing. Leaders also gave gifts themselves. Why would they be afraid of receiving gifts?
Li Jianmin suddenly thought of something and said, "Xiao Rui, a few days ago, your old classmate, Zhang Bing, came over. He said that he was here to pay a New Year visit. When he saw that you weren't home, he didn't stay for long and left. Why don't you give him a call and ask him if something happened? "
Li Rui nodded. He took out his phone and went into the house to call Zhang Bing. The phone rang once before it was picked up.
Zhang Bing smiled and said, "Xiao Rui, you're back?" Li Rui smiled and said, "Yes, I just came back from the provincial capital. How was the New Year? I'm here to pay you a visit." Zhang Bing said, "It was pretty good. Haha, we're old classmates. There's no need to be so polite." Li Rui said, "I was just about to look for you. I wanted to ask you for a favor." Zhang Bing was puzzled and asked curiously, "Did I hear wrongly? You want my help? What can't you do? "Li Rui smiled and said," Let's talk when we meet. I'm going to have lunch first. After lunch, I'll go to your house to look for you. " Zhang Bing was very happy and said, "Okay, then I'll wait for you. I have something to tell you." Li Rui said, "Okay, let's talk when we meet."
After lunch, Li Rui picked out four gifts from the garage and put them in the trunk of his BMW. He then drove to Zhang Bing's house. Zhang Bing was already waiting for him at the entrance of the neighborhood. When he saw that he drove a BMW, he was very surprised. However, when he thought about his identity, he felt that there was nothing to be surprised about. He respectfully sat in the front passenger seat of the car and guided him into the neighborhood and parked the car in front of his house.
After getting out of the car, Li Rui opened the trunk and took out the four gifts and put them on the ground. Zhang Bing walked over and said in surprise, "Aiya, it's fine that you're here. Why did you bring these? Aren't you treating me like an outsider? " Li Rui smiled and said, "My house is full of these things. I can't fit them all. You can help me get rid of a small part of them. Hehe."
Zhang Bing heard that he was very casual and modest. There was no arrogance in his tone at all. Instead, there was a sense of modesty in his tone. He was secretly impressed. He thought that if it was Li Zhichao, he would definitely not give him gifts. Even if he did, he would definitely give him some worthless trash. He would definitely exaggerate the value of the gifts so that he would remember him. Compared to the two of them, Li Rui was better at dealing with people. He was also more honest. Zhang Bing felt a layer of regret in his heart. He regretted hanging out with Li Zhichao for so many years.
The two of them carried two gifts each. They chatted and laughed as they went upstairs. Soon, they sat down in the living room of Zhang Bing's house.
Zhang Bing's wife had already prepared the tea set. When the two of them entered the house, she immediately poured tea. When Li Rui sat on the sofa, she immediately handed him a teacup. She even had a smile on her face and looked respectful and careful.
After his wife served the tea, Zhang Bing chased her back to the bedroom. It was because he was going to talk about some private matters. It would not be good if she heard it.
Zhang Bing said in a low voice, "Let me tell you something first." Li Rui said with a happy expression, "Okay." Zhang Bing said, "A few days ago, I went to Ding Yijing's house with Li Zhichao and Yu Zhen …" Li Ruixin's head jumped. He immediately put down the teacup and asked, "Is Ding Yijing at home?" Zhang Bing said, "Yes, of course. Isn't she divorced? Of course she has to go home for the New Year." Li Rui asked, "Why did Li Zhichao and Yu Zhen go there?" After saying this, he felt that there was no need to ask this question. What else could Li Zhichao go to Ding Yijing for? It was nothing more than courting and flirting. Unfortunately, he did not know that Ding Yijing had already fallen in love with him. He had no chance. Zhang Bing said, "He said he went to pay Ding Yijing a New Year's visit. In fact, he went to chase after her."
Li Rui nodded and asked, "Is Ding Yijing still at home?" Zhang Bing shook his head and said, "I'm not sure. Why don't you give her a call and ask? Actually, I wanted to tell you that Ding Yijing's mother once called Li Zhichao into a room and asked him something. When Li Zhichao came out, he knew that you once … "Li Rui frowned and asked," Once what? " Zhang Bing carefully observed his expression and said tentatively, "You once hugged Ding Yijing and … kissed her." Li Rui's expression did not change. He knew that Ding Yijing's mother must have told Li Zhichao. It was very strange. He did not know why Ding Yijing's mother told him this. Did she want to remind him that Ding Yijing was already with him and he should not pester her anymore? Zhang Bing said again, "After Li Zhichao heard this, he was very unhappy and wanted to mess with you."
Li Rui did not say anything. His expression did not change. He acted indifferent as if he was not surprised. However, his heart began to turn upside down. He thought that in order to help Li Zhichao be promoted to the deputy director of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce in the northern district of the city, he did not hesitate to make friends with Gao Hongliang, the director of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, whom he had never dealt with. It was not easy for him to become the deputy director of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, but he did not thank him. Today, he even turned against him and wanted to plot against him because of a woman. Was he still a human? He was worse than an animal.
Zhang Bing saw that he did not change his expression and secretly admired his bearing. If it were him, he would have been furious. No wonder he could be the secretary of the Municipal Party Committee. He got up and poured tea for him. After sitting back, he began to express his opinion. He said, "This Li Zhichao, I don't want to criticize him, but he is really not a good friend. Who doesn't know that without your help, how could he become the deputy director of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce? With his little connections and ability, no one would be able to make him the deputy director. You've helped him so much. It's fine if he doesn't repay you. After all, you're old classmates. You don't expect him to repay you. But he wants to fall out with you because of Ding Yijing. He wants to secretly deal with you. Isn't that too much? Alas, how can there be such a person who bites the hand that feeds him? I must be blind to make friends with such a person. "
Li Rui smiled and said, "I just think that this person is very interesting. I don't know where he got the courage to try to mess with me. I am not bragging, but I can destroy him with a little finger. He still wants to mess with me. I don't know how he wants to mess with me. Haha. "
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