Chapter 179: Untying the Heart Knot
lunch.
Although Lin Ming was transferred, because today was the day Lin Ye came to pay New Year's greetings, Aunt Lin Ye still prepared a table full of dishes.
"Can I have a drink?"
Lin Tang took out a bottle of good wine from the room, and Lin Ye nodded.
"Dad, I can too. I don't have to go on duty this afternoon." Lin Ming looked at the wine his father took out and was envious. He knew that his father had kept this bottle of wine for many years.
This bottle of wine has been in his father's study for at least ten years. When he was admitted to university, he asked his father to take it out, but his father was reluctant to do so.
"Lin Ye, it's good that you're here. My dad took out the best wine from his collection. I'm grateful to you today."
Although his job was transferred, Lin Ming was not too upset about it. That's just his personality, he is an optimist.
"Then drink a few more glasses later."
Lin Tang looked at what Lin Ye and Lin Ming were saying, but his eyes fell on the wine: "It's not that I don't want to open this bottle of wine, it's from a winery in Raocheng. When I first started working in Quanzhou, your uncle bought me one. Now there is only this bottle left. If you drink more, it will be gone."
Lin Ming's expression also darkened. He had just entered high school when his uncle passed away. Due to academic reasons, his mother did not rush back to see his uncle for the last time. His father and mother had quarreled several times over this matter.
When his uncle and aunt were still alive, his father would take him back to Raocheng every summer vacation, and that was the day he looked forward to most at that time.
In Raocheng, he could take his cousin to play everywhere without his mother to supervise him, and he was even less afraid of his father. If his father dared to be mean to him, he would just hide beside his uncle, and then his uncle would take his turn to teach his father a lesson.
"Your grandfather passed away early, and I was raised by your uncle. Our family was poor at the time, so the village gave us a place to join the army. Your uncle took the initiative to give it to me. If it weren't for this place, and I hadn't joined the army, you wouldn't have such a good life now."
Lin Tang was very emotional, as his eldest brother's death was a pain in his heart. As the saying goes, the eldest brother is like a father. But it happened that his work had reached a critical moment and his nephew had to stay in Raocheng. Therefore, he always felt guilty towards his eldest brother and his wife over the years.
Although he is in Quanzhou, he has been paying attention to his nephew's situation over the years. When his nephew was in high school, he privately added his nephew's class teacher's phone number. Once his nephew had any bad performance in school, he would return to Raocheng and bring his nephew to Quanzhou.
Whether one studies well or not is another matter, but we must never let our nephew go down the wrong path.
"Fortunately, you have done your best and have not brought shame to your elder brother and his wife. As their uncle, I, on the other hand, have not fulfilled my responsibilities."
"Uncle, do you still have the phone number of my class teacher?" Lin Ye didn't expect that his uncle was still in contact with his high school class teacher.
"At that time, every time I went back to Raocheng to see you, I would ask your class teacher to come out for dinner. Your class teacher's brother and I were comrades-in-arms, so I asked him to look after you more often and tell me if there was any situation."
Listening to his uncle's words, Lin Ye thought back to his three years in high school. The teacher seemed to have taken care of him. If nothing else, given his height, he should have sat in the last one or two rows, but the teacher arranged a seat in the middle for him.
There were also some grant scholarships and I was selected for them.
"Old Zhao is not a kind person. I thought he was a good teacher, but it turns out he was bribed by you, uncle."
Lin Tang listened to what he said and said seriously: "Don't talk nonsense, I just invited him to dinner. As the head teacher of a key high school, how could he miss this meal?"
"Uncle, I was just kidding."
Lin Ye quickly explained that he was just joking, Lao Zhao was still very responsible, and just as his uncle said, as a class teacher in a key high school, if he could be bribed with a few meals, that would be too cheap. Or it was because his uncle and the other person's brother were comrades-in-arms, and he was selling favors and face.
"Your uncle sent me a message saying that you bought a car. Did you make money right after graduation?"
Lin Tang asked this question because when his eldest brother and sister-in-law died in an accident, there was a compensation money, which was in the name of his nephew. However, he was the guardian at the time and he was in charge of keeping the passbook. The passbook has not been touched until now, which means that his nephew bought the car with the money earned from work.
"Well, I bought a mobility scooter."
"Buying a car is a good thing. It's normal for young people to buy a car after graduation. But you should focus on your work now, and don't think about having fun. Next, you should buy a house and get married. The current house price in Raocheng should be around 8,000. The last time I went back to Raocheng, I looked at a few newly built real estate projects that were pretty good. You can pick one and reserve a house first."
Lin Tang knew very well that he was just an uncle. If his nephew kept the money with him, even if his nephew had no objection, the relatives on his eldest sister-in-law's side would definitely gossip. As early as when his nephew was about to graduate, he considered giving the money to his nephew so that he could buy a house.
Young people spend money without restraint and are easily cheated, so it is most appropriate to use their money to buy houses.
Lin Ye felt warm at heart after listening to this. He had not expected that his uncle would think so much about him. Over the years, he always felt that he had been alone and did not have much contact with his relatives.
But from the conversation with his uncle on the first day of the Lunar New Year and his uncle's words now, he understood that the elders actually cared about him silently, but unlike his aunt, they did not express these openly, but cared about him .
"Uncle, I have found a good job now, and I have bought a house."
"You bought it. You bought a house so soon?" Lin Tang suddenly became nervous. "It's okay for you to buy a car. You young people understand it. But why didn't you tell me about such a big thing as buying a house? This house is for you to live in for the rest of your life. You have to choose it carefully. Where did you buy the house?"
"Over at Xinjiang Bay Court..."
"Xinjiang Bay Court, that place is not bad. No, the houses there seem to cost over 15,000 and more, and they are all large flats, Lin Ye!"
Lin Tang's expression suddenly became serious. Having worked in the public security field for so many years, he has seen too many young people taking the wrong path in order to get rich quickly, especially now that the Internet has provided many young people with a path to crime.
He was afraid that his nephew would follow the same path.
Just when Lin Tang was about to ask for clarification, his cell phone suddenly rang. It was Xiao Geng calling. However, he was in no mood to care about his son's work matters right now. In comparison, his nephew's affairs were more important.
Lin Tang didn't answer the phone. After a while, Lin Ming, who was sitting on the other side, received a phone call.
"Dad, it's Director Geng calling. It might be something urgent. I'll take it."
Lin Ming didn't dare to refuse to answer the call like his father did, so he pressed the answer button and said, "Director Geng..."
A minute later, Lin Ming hung up the phone with a strange expression. Seeing his son's expression, Lin Tang couldn't help but scold him, "Just say it if you have anything to say."
"Director Geng told me that Director Xiang is going to hold a team meeting to readjust the work, so I may not have to go to town. In addition, Director Geng also said that he has not come to our house to pay New Year's greetings this year, so he asked if you are free and will come to pay New Year's greetings to you later."
"Wish me a happy new year?"
Lin Tang was stunned. It was already the seventh day of the first lunar month. Why would people come to pay New Year's greetings now?
It is different from visiting relatives, where people come to pay New Year's greetings in the first month of the lunar year. But people from work units usually come on New Year's Eve. Besides, no one would come suddenly.
"I'll call my colleagues and ask them."
Lin Tang picked up his phone and made a call. After hanging up, he looked at Lin Ye and said, "Xiao Ye, who is your friend? He actually made the project department hold a meeting in the morning and then reconvene it in the afternoon, and specifically mentioned Xiao Ming's job change."
His son did not hold the position and was not exposed to some things, but he called to ask, and it was Director Xiang who sent the message personally. You should know that in a public security system like theirs, it is usually the deputy general manager who is in charge of the work, and people like Director Xiang are more likely to steer the general direction.
After all, Director Xiang also holds other positions.
Not to mention that he has already retired, even if he hadn't retired he wouldn't have such a big face, and it's even more impossible for his son. If he had such a capability, he would still be bullied and transferred to the countryside. The only possible reason is the call that his nephew just made.
"Uncle, I don't know either, but he should be very powerful."
"That's a bit too much. I heard from an old colleague that they are planning to make your brother the captain."
"Uncle, it's not like my brother doesn't have that ability. Under the influence of an old detective like you, you can't not believe in your own strength."
Lin Ye didn't feel at all that he was abusing his power for personal gain. Even if he did, it didn't matter. This society itself was not absolutely fair. There was a saying on the Internet that said it very aptly.
Why should the hard work of three generations of their ancestors be defeated by your ten years of hard study?
"Since you can know such a friend, it is normal for you to buy a house. But uncle still wants to remind you that you must consider everything before doing anything." Lin Tang did not ask his nephew who that friend was.
"Uncle, don't worry, I know what I am doing."
"Well, you have made it. Your parents should be relieved. Come have a drink with your uncle today. Lin Ming, call Xiao Geng and tell him that I am busy this afternoon and ask him not to come."
"Okay." Lin Ming nodded. He was also unhappy with Director Geng. His father had taken good care of him when he was in office. This time when he retired, his father pushed him when the higher-ups asked if there was a suitable successor. But as soon as his father retired, not only did he not come to pay New Year's greetings this year, but when others wanted to deal with him, he didn't even say a word to help.
The drinking session finally lasted until two o'clock in the afternoon, and a total of three bottles of wine were consumed. Lin Ye watched his aunt send the drunk uncle back to the room, and he smiled. Last time it was his uncle who got drunk, and now it was his uncle's turn.
"Lin Ye, to be honest, my dad should be the happiest today in all these years. He feels that he can explain to his uncle and aunt. When my dad was under a lot of pressure at work, he would lock himself in the study. I eavesdropped outside the door several times and heard my dad crying quietly, calling out his uncle's name."
Lin Ming patted Lin Ye's shoulder and sighed, "An elder brother is like a father. In my dad's heart, my uncle is actually his father. If my uncle were still here, my dad wouldn't have been unable to vent his sufferings."
Lin Ye pursed his lips and said nothing. He remembered a saying: old people look helpless because their parents are gone. If their parents were still alive, they would not suffer.
The two brothers decided to go downstairs for a walk, but just as they got downstairs, Lin Ming saw a middle-aged man standing at the entrance of the unit building. He was stunned for a moment and hurriedly said, "Director Geng, why are you here?"
"I'm here to wish your father a happy new year. My relatives brought some special products from the countryside, so I'm delivering them to you."
"My dad got drunk at noon and is sleeping now. This..."
"It's okay. Since the old leader is asleep, I'll come next time. You take these things. The bureau will have a meeting soon, and I have to rush back. Don't worry, Xiao Ming. I will definitely speak for you at the meeting. I can't send you to the countryside just after the old leader retires. Wouldn't this chill the hearts of the old people in our system?"
"Thank you very much, Director Geng."
Lin Ming took the gift and looked at Director Geng who got into the car and left. He curled his lips at Lin Ye and said, "Lin Ye, see, this is called a face. He must have heard the news and thought my dad knew some important person, so he came here immediately and spoke for me. I asked my colleagues in the office and they wanted to adjust me this morning, but he didn't say a word."
"Since you were promoted by our uncle, there's no reason for you to be so snobbish, right?"
Lin Ye was a little puzzled. Often those in office would promote one or two people so that after they retire, there would still be someone to take care of their descendants and relatives. This was also to prevent the situation where people would be forgotten after they left.
"Why else? In order to continue to climb the ladder, the deputy who works as the abbot now has a feud with my father. Although they are both deputies, the deputy is different from the current deputy, and he has connections behind him. He wants to curry favor with him. Bah, he still wants to come to my house to wish me a happy new year."
"I know he is this kind of person. Just ignore him in the future." Seeing his cousin's indignant look, Lin Ye also gave him some advice.
"After this incident, he will become a laughing stock. He will probably use his connections to get himself transferred." Lin Ming nodded, and seeing Lin Ye's puzzled look, he explained.
There are no secrets about many things in the system, especially those involving personnel adjustments. Geng Minghai was promoted by his father and did not speak for him, so the news must have spread.
Now his home has become a hot spot again. I don't know how many people will laugh at Geng Minghai. If Geng Minghai had any shame, he would be embarrassed to stay in the bureau. He would either volunteer to go down or find connections to transfer.
"We have no right to interfere in other people's affairs. Since we are the captain, we must live up to this position."
"Of course. If I dare to neglect my duties, my father will kill me first for the sake of justice."
"I believe you." Lin Ye nodded. He still believed in his uncle's tutoring.
"Since uncle is asleep, I won't wait for him anymore. I will go back to Raocheng. You can talk to uncle then."
"Go back now and stay a few more days. Let my sister take you to visit various scenic spots in Quanzhou. You haven't even stayed for a day, how can you leave so soon?"
Lin Ming refused to give in. Lin Ye shook his head. To be honest, he originally thought that he didn't have many relatives in the real world. He thought that apart from his aunt, there was no one he cared about. Many times he thought about just staying in the real world for three to five years and living in another world.
This first month of the year made him change his mind. In the real world, there are still many people who care about him.
"Something's going on."
Lin Ming stared at Lin Ye for a long time before he said, "My dad was right when he said that at the dinner table, no matter what you are like now, remember, my dad will always be your uncle."
"Well, I remember it. Go back and apologize to my aunt for me."
"My mother is like that. Now your status in my family is higher than my father's. I will tell my mother."
…
After leaving his uncle's house, Lin Ye chose to stay idle on the high-speed train back to Raocheng.
Another world.
It’s also New Year’s Eve.
Early in the morning, Uncle Xu had already replaced the entire house with new lanterns and the couplets at the door.
"The sound of firecrackers sends away the old year and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu"
"When the sun shines brightly in every household, people always replace the old charms with new ones."
Lin Ye sighed, and Xu Bo asked curiously, "Master, what is a peach charm?"
"Peach charms... something from my hometown."
There are no peach charms in the other world. After Lin Ye chatted with Xu Bo for a few words, he turned and walked towards Qingfeng Temple.
"Junior Brother Lin."
Daogu put on a new Taoist robe today and was very excited. Lin Ye nodded and continued to walk inside. Just then, the old Taoist came out towards him.
The old Taoist priest is also wearing a new Taoist robe today, and he looks very happy and energetic.
"Master, you look radiant today, like a spring breeze blowing on your face. This is a sign that a withered tree will soon be reborn in spring."
"Nonsense." The old Taoist glared at Lin Ye, but then exclaimed in surprise and looked back and forth at Lin Ye.
"Master, what's wrong?"
"My disciple, what have you done these past few days? Your temperament has changed a bit, becoming more in tune with nature."
"Is there?"
Lin Ye thought about it and decided that the biggest possibility was that this trip to the Spring Festival in the real world helped him to resolve some of his worries.
"Wulian Tianzun, this is really strange."
The old Taoist was amazed. Lin Ye changed the subject and asked, "Master, have you ever heard of a pawn shop?"
"Turn left after you go out, and there's one on two streets. However, the owner of that pawnshop is rather unscrupulous. Across the street, there's Chen's Pawnshop, which is fairly fair."
Lin Ye: ...
"I'm talking about the kind of pawnshop that claims to pawn even souls."
"The third pawnshop?"
The Taoist's subconscious answer made Lin Ye's pupils shrink. Is there a third pawnshop in this world?
"Come with me."
Seeing Lin Ye's expression change, the old Taoist seemed to have thought of something and turned around and walked towards the Sanqing Hall.
