Chapter 10: Returning the Gift

“You chose it yourself? Even better! Solid! Just be solid! I was most afraid you’d become ambitious and aim too high after going to university.” Zhang Guodong excitedly patted his son’s shoulder. “In our system, it’s about skill and experience. Getting a chance to work at a power plant is very good experience. It’s very important for future dispatching operations, safety production, and comprehensive management!”

“Right, right, that’s what I think too.” Zhang Yifu couldn’t help but look at his father with new respect. Even though his eyesight wasn’t good, his vision was very broad. He was, after all, a former cadre of the Electric Power Management Bureau.

“Hmm…” After his initial happiness, Zhang Guodong’s expression gradually relaxed. He thought for a moment. “In that case, that gift should probably be returned.”

“What gift?”

“It’s fine, your mom and I will handle it.”

Zhang Yifu looked around and then noticed several cigarette cartons with red and white packaging under the tea table. They were definitely Marlboros, with not a single Chinese character on them. Considering the times, they were probably smuggled foreign cigarettes, and Zhang Guodong happened to enjoy this brand.

“Is it this?” Zhang Yifu took out a carton of Marlboros and asked.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. I’ll go to Section Chief Song’s house tonight and return it.” Zhang Guodong gave a helpless smile. “I was foolish. I should have understood the meaning behind his gift earlier.”

The Section Chief Song that Zhang Guodong mentioned was named Song Yuanshan. He was a section chief under the Measurement Department of the Jijing Power Supply Bureau, making him Zhang Guodong’s direct superior. Logically, there was no rule about a superior giving gifts to a subordinate, let alone such a rare item. In those times, it was considered quite a substantial gift.

Zhang Yifu’s mind worked quickly, and he soon guessed the reason. “It wouldn’t be… something about marriage, would it?”

“Haha, you really are clever.” Zhang Guodong laughed heartily. “Xiaoni grew up with you in the same compound, and you played well together. I just figured out Section Chief Song’s intention. He wanted to bring our families closer through marriage.”

“Hmm… That makes sense.”

“But now you’re going into a power plant. I guess this matter will fall through.” Zhang Guodong shook his head. The reasons behind it were somewhat annoying, so he didn’t plan to say more.

Zhang Yifu, however, continued the thought for him. “I know a bit about Section Chief Song’s personality. He doesn’t really like me. He mainly valued my status, hoping I’d graduate and go straight into the Ministry or the Electric Power Management Bureau. That way, his daughter marrying me would be a good catch. Given the current situation, he’ll probably look down on our family now.”

“Heh, our family might not necessarily look up to his either.” Seeing his son understood things so clearly, Zhang Guodong stopped hiding his thoughts. “I actually refused these two cartons of cigarettes already. His wife forced them on your mom. I was thinking about how to return them without causing offense. Now it’s actually easier to explain.”

Logically, if Song Yuanshan proposed such a thing, it should be considered his daughter marrying beneath her, since he was Zhang Guodong’s Leader. Zhang Guodong should have been grateful. But judging from his father’s words, he had no intention of giving Song Yuanshan any face, likely because he respected his son’s opinion very much.

Zhang Yifu also knew that rejecting a Leader like this could affect his father’s future work.

“Dad… won’t this make things difficult for you?” Zhang Yifu gritted his teeth and said. “Maybe I should go talk to him. I could say I found a girlfriend in university…”

“It’s fine. Your dad can handle a little thing like this.” Zhang Guodong looked at his son and nodded with satisfaction. “Your dad made a big mistake before. My life is set. Offending one more person doesn’t matter.”

“But…”

As they were talking, a knock suddenly sounded at the door. Zhang Yifu thought his mother had returned and quickly got up to open it. He found a middle-aged woman with permed, wavy hair standing there.

“Aiya! Yifu is really back!” The woman was very affectionate when she saw Zhang Yifu and moved to enter. “You came back and didn’t even tell us!”

“Auntie Lu…” Zhang Yifu knew this was the wife of that Section Chief Song.

Zhang Guodong had no choice. When the Leader’s wife came, he had to stand up and greet her. He forced a smile and said politely, “Yifu just got back. I only just found out too.”

“Heh Heh.” The woman didn’t stand on ceremony. She pulled Zhang Yifu inside and sat him down on the sofa. “Yifu… I heard from the neighbors that you were assigned to a power plant?”

“Yes, the Jibei Power Plant.”

“Very good, I’d say very good. The power generation field is quite good too.” The woman was all smiles, her eyes already glancing under the tea table. “See, to celebrate your graduation, Old Song sent two cartons of cigarettes for your dad…”

“I was just about to mention this.” Zhang Guodong hurriedly took out the two cartons of cigarettes. “American cigarettes. I’m just not used to them. I’m afraid they’ll go bad if I keep them too long. Maybe…”

“How could that be…” Seeing Zhang Guodong speak up first, the woman responded verbally while her hands already gathered the two cartons. “It was us who weren’t thoughtful. How about this, I’ll exchange them for two cartons of domestic ones for you?”

“No need, no need.” Zhang Guodong repeatedly refused. “I don’t smoke much these days anyway.”

“Heh heh…” The woman’s eyes shifted. He knows his place, she thought. Then she turned to Zhang Yifu. “Yifu, someone recently introduced a match to Xiaoni. We can’t judge him well. When you have time, meet him and help Xiaoni vet him.”

“Auntie Lu has such sharp eyes. If you can’t tell, how could I?” Zhang Yifu felt a bit heavy. The change of attitude was too fast.

“Heh heh, young people understand each other. I can’t understand.” The woman picked up the cigarettes. Her words were said, her task was done, and she was ready to leave. “You two should have a good chat. I won’t disturb you any longer.”

She was the one who forced the gift before, and now she was the one taking it back. She took the things and was about to leave. The key point was, she made him and his family swallow a bitter pill without being able to complain. This made Zhang Yifu a little angry. He wanted to throw in a bit of sarcasm. But then he thought, if he provoked her now, his father might suffer at work later. Zhang Yifu didn’t want his father to experience that feeling of being targeted by a Leader again.

Hold it in, hold it in. Zhang Yifu grabbed his pants, forcing himself to calm down. Verbal and written attacks could wait until his own wings were stronger.

Zhang Guodong’s expression clearly wasn’t good either. He just wanted to quickly escort this Leader’s wife out the door.

Reaching the doorway, Lu Qingxiu seemed to feel she hadn’t made herself clear enough. She added another sentence to Zhang Yifu. “Yifu, the neighbors are always gossiping, saying you and Xiaoni have this and that. Don’t take it seriously. She’s already starting to date her match now. When you have a chance, clarify it with the neighbors. Don’t hold Xiaoni back.”

Zhang Yifu’s face twitched. Before he could reply, Zhang Guodong couldn’t hold back anymore and said bluntly, “Lu Qingxiu, my son knows how to speak and act with proper judgment. Naturally, he won’t have any dealings with your daughter in the future. Now the gift is returned. Let this matter end here.”

Lu Qingxiu was startled, then quickly laughed and tried to backtrack. “Heh heh, I was just afraid Yifu might believe the rumors and pester Xiaoni.”

Now, seeing his father had gotten serious, Zhang Yifu felt he could also make his position slightly clear.