Chapter 169: Worldview Completely Shattered
The next day, Cao Weida was woken up by Liu Rusi’s imported lollipop.
After giving her a beating with clubs as education, he felt refreshed as he just stepped out of the room, only to be met with a resentful gaze.
Leaving behind the words “I’ll reward you tonight,” Ru Qiulan turned from resentment to joy and dutifully saw him off at the courtyard gate.
He had just left the courtyard when the gate of the courtyard diagonally opposite also opened, and Yan Zhensheng, dressed in a long gown and jacket with a slicked-back hairstyle so shiny even a fly would slip off, walked out at the same time.
“Yo, Boss, good day to you! Heading to work?” Yan Zhensheng showed a neither humble nor arrogant smile and cupped his hands in greeting.
Cao Weida had moved to a new place and openly brought in two concubines one after another; even if he deliberately kept a low profile, it wasn’t done secretly, so the people around naturally saw it.
As a businessman, Yan Zhensheng was tough at heart but also understood human relationships and social etiquette.
Cao Weida’s reputation was not bad; it could even be said to be quite good in the eyes of the people.
For an officer like this, he was very willing to get on good terms with him; who knows when he might need to ask for his help.
Of course, he didn’t fawn over him deliberately; after all, deep down, he still somewhat looked down on Cao Weida.
After all, although Cao Weida was a good person, he was working for the little devils; even if it was to make ends meet, a stance was a stance, and that couldn’t be changed.
“Shopkeeper Yan, good morning.” Cao Weida smiled and cupped his hands; that face of his, which resembled the Silly Pillar from the TV series by four points, just made him seem a bit silly.
“Isn’t it just going to work? Us, we’re just runners doing odd jobs for others; not like you with such freedom. If we’re late or absent, the whole family would have to go hungry.”
Yan Zhensheng, the protagonist of Sesame Hutong, the boss of Qin Fang Ju.
A man who valued loyalty and responsibility, stuck to principles and had bottom lines, mild-tempered yet with a fiery spirit, a tiny figure in the torrent of the era with great ups and downs in life.
Cao Weida had a pretty good impression of him.
Not to mention anything else, just the fact that Yan Zhensheng, bearing the belief in resisting Japan and saving the country, sent his only son, who had just turned sixteen, to the battlefield—that wasn’t something ordinary people could do.
After all, though the Yan Family couldn’t be called wealthy, they had some family assets and could live without worry for food and clothing.
Going to the battlefield meant risking death—didn’t Yan Zhensheng know that?
He knew, but sent him anyway; just this alone made Cao Weida look at him in a new light.
Yan Zhensheng cupped his hands and begged for mercy: “Boss, don’t tease me. What you’ve got is steady income through thick and thin, unlike us in business—that’s truly tough.”
“Don’t look at my outward success; all I’ve got left is this bit of face. These days, doing any business is hard.”
“It’s only because you’ve taken charge that our days are a bit better. If it were before, our days were really tough.”
“Today the officers come to sit, tomorrow the gang comes to chat, then someone else comes to talk; our business barely makes a few coins a month—it’s all hard-earned money, and in the end, we could hardly fill our stomachs.”
Cao Weida nodded; speaking of before, wasn’t it referring to Qiu Ziming?
If Yan Zhensheng hadn’t mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten that name.
Speaking of which, he was personally screwed over and killed by Xiao Tian, the little devil he thought was his backer—quite laughable.
Being praised to his face, Cao Weida felt quite pleased inside.
At that moment, a young lad walked out, full of displeasure: “Dad, what’s this? What’s there to talk about? Hurry up, don’t we still need to go to the shop?”
Yan Zhensheng’s face changed slightly and he immediately scolded: “What are you saying! No manners!”
The young lad was clearly unconvinced and just about to retort when he was stared down by Yan Zhensheng’s stern gaze, so he could only lower his head grudgingly and shut up.
After scolding his son, Yan Zhensheng cupped his hands in apology: “Boss, really sorry. This kid was spoiled since young and doesn’t know how to speak; I apologize on his behalf.”
“You little brat, what are you doing? Come greet the Boss!”
“Hey, Shopkeeper Yan is too polite. This is your son, right? If I remember correctly, Yan Kuan?” After sizing him up a bit, this was Yan Kuan; since he had taken his future wife, he had to give some face.
He smiled and praised:
“Your son is really handsome, full of vigor and spirit; clearly smart and clever. He’ll definitely make something of himself; Shopkeeper Yan, you’ve got someone to carry on the family line.”
It had to be said: dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the mouse’s son knows how to dig holes.
Yan Zhensheng was a good man, and he had raised his son very well.
Only, as for this dad of his, his brain was somewhat… anyway, to Cao Weida, it seemed a bit mushy.
To be honest, when watching that TV series back then, he felt the Yan Family was truly chaotic; he didn’t know if it was for the plot or what, but it made Cao Weida shake his head.
As mentioned before, people married early in this era, and Yan Kuan was no exception; though only sixteen, he was already married.
His wife was Guo Binghui; from memory, he married Guo Binghui when he went to resist Japan, and soon after went to enlist.
Later, it was rumored that Yan Kuan had died on the battlefield, and not even half a year later, Guo Binghui wanted to remarry Feng Dafu, who did odd jobs like serving tea and water in the Yan Family!
Feng Dafu was Yan Kuan’s good brother! The good brother he entrusted his wife to before leaving!
The brother had only been gone half a year, and he poached his brother’s corner like that.
Anyone with a shred of propriety and shame wouldn’t do such a thing, right?
Crucially, Yan Zhensheng not only agreed but actively pushed for it.
And at that time, Guo Binghui was already showing pregnancy!
Forget this era—even in modern times, this news would be explosive!
But that wasn’t the craziest part; the craziest was that later, Guo Binghui even wanted to change Yan Kuan’s son’s surname!
At that time, the Yan Family had no other boys; Yan Kuan’s son was their only heir!
If this happened to an ordinary person, wouldn’t they be furious?
But Yan Zhensheng just didn’t play by the rules and readily agreed.
My god, when Cao Weida saw that plot back then, his scalp went numb and his worldview shattered!
Thinking of this, Cao Weida couldn’t help but look at Yan Kuan with sympathy.
Tsk, running into such a dad who pits his son—poor him.
Truly didn’t know what great sins he committed in his past life to end up with such a weirdo dad and awesome wife in this life.
One had to know, this era placed great emphasis on women’s virtue; look at Jia Zhangshi—regardless of her faults, at least she never remarried her whole life!
That was her greatest contribution to the old Jia family!
Hearing himself being praised, Yan Kuan couldn’t help but be stunned.
To be honest, he didn’t have a good impression of Cao Weida; growing up in such a family with a patriotic father, he was naturally influenced.
Crucially, he was young and didn’t understand the times or view things with mature eyes, leading to his somewhat extreme and one-sided perspective.
He didn’t know what Cao Weida had done; he only knew Cao Weida worked for the little devils.
Thus, he felt some repulsion inside.
But unexpectedly, his usually strict father rarely praised him, yet Cao Weida, whom he disliked, praised him at their first meeting.
He felt a bit confused: Officer, you’re praising me like this; it’s hard for me to dislike you now.
“Boss, you’re too kind. This kid of mine has been naughty since young, too straightforward in temperament; I’m worried he’ll suffer for it later. If he can carry on our Yan Family’s heritage in the future, I’ll thank the heavens.” Though he said this, Yan Zhensheng’s face glowed with pride at his son being praised.
Yan Kuan didn’t realize his dad was being modest and really thought that’s what he believed, feeling indignant: others praise your son, and you as dad won’t praise him?
Seeing all this, Cao Weida found it amusing; China’s tradition was to belittle oneself.
It showed in the terms, like “my son” or “my humble wife”; outsiders might think it’s degrading, but it’s actually reserved humility.
“Shopkeeper Yan is too modest. You go ahead with your business; I’ll go report for duty. We’ll chat when we have time.”
“Yes, yes, won’t delay your business. Boss, take care.”
After Cao Weida left, the father and son got on a rickshaw: “Lushan, to the shop.”
As the vehicle moved, Yan Zhensheng said sternly: “Kuan’er, next time you see Officer Cao, be respectful and polite! It’s only because Officer Cao is broad-minded; if it were someone with a smaller heart, you’d be in trouble, you know!”
Yan Kuan hadn’t taken it to heart at first, but being scolded like this sparked his stubbornness: “Dad, why? He’s a traitor.”
“Yan Kuan!” Yan Zhensheng’s face changed, and he immediately covered his mouth, looking around nervously; seeing no one noticed, he relaxed.
He said sternly: “Are you crazy? Seeking death?”
“Don’t you know how turbulent all of Beiping is now? Those people are grabbing folks everywhere like madmen; if someone overheard, you’d lose nine lives and still not have enough!”
Yan Kuan also realized the severity; though young at heart, he wasn’t brainless—it was just a momentary impulse.
“Dad, I get it. I was just indignant; I’ll be careful next time.”
Seeing his son understood the gravity, Yan Zhensheng relaxed and said earnestly:
“Son, Beiping now isn’t like before. We’re all living under the little devils’ guns; everything must be extra careful, cautious to the extreme!”
“Whether speaking or acting, think three times before proceeding!”
“Moreover, that Officer Cao isn’t what you imagine; in fact, under his jurisdiction, us Chinese people can live somewhat like humans!”
“I tell you to respect Officer Cao not just because he has Japanese backing, but because he has genuinely done real things for us ordinary folks!”
“A gentleman judges by deeds; just for his contributions to us people, it’s only right to respect him—got it?”
“Dad, I got it.” Yan Kuan nodded shamefacedly.
Meanwhile, at the police station, Cao Weida, unaware of the father-son talk, finished roll call and was pulled aside by Duomen.
“Cao’er, we’ve caught quite a few people these two days. Many have come to me wanting me to think of a way; really no leeway with Ono?
