First date

  Liu Ziguang was promoted to Minister of Public Security and had his own dedicated office. Previously, the Ministry of Public Security's office was occupied by Captain Bai, who now had to move out with his belongings in a sorry state.

  Two colleagues helped Liu Ziguang clean up the room, and Liu Ziguang sat in a rotating air-pressure office chair, turning around once, putting his legs on the table, and started making phone calls to those temporary security guards who were dismissed by Captain Bai.

  The other party was surprised when they received Liu Ziguang's phone call, and then immediately agreed to rush back. The old man became a minister, what else can be said, anyway, they have to come and support the scene.

  After finishing the phone call, Liu Ziguang picked up the attendance sheet.

  Zhicong Garden is a medium-end, large-scale residential community with hundreds of buildings, including high-rise, mid-rise, multi-story and townhouse-style villas. There are five entrances and exits, as well as green spaces, ponds, clubhouses and other public facilities, plus a large underground parking garage, making management very busy.

  The property company is divided into customer service department, security department, engineering department, greening department and a comprehensive department responsible for internal affairs. The security department managed by Liu Ziguang alone has nearly 100 security guards. The community is really too big, and the current public security environment is deteriorating day by day, so it's necessary to strengthen the security forces.

  Among the nearly hundred security guards, only one minister, one team leader and four leaders have formal establishment, while the rest are contract workers. Contract workers are also divided into three, six and nine grades, including long-term contract workers arranged by the community street office, such as Old Zhang and Old Wang, for whom the company pays the minimum endowment insurance. There is an even lower level, namely temporary workers like Wang Zhi-jun, who earn 800 yuan per month without insurance premiums, and can be dismissed at will by Bai Team Leader.

  The property company uses lower-cost laid-off workers and temporary workers because the company's income and expenses are really unbalanced. Although the district is so big, a considerable number of people refuse to pay property management fees, resulting in long-term losses, and can only be maintained by reducing expenses.

  Liu Ziguang became the minister, and this arduous task was then shouldered by him. He had to ensure the safety of the community while keeping costs low, using as few personnel as possible to complete the security tasks.

  Liu Ziguang only knew about these things after reading the internal documents. He curled his lip, "These idiots, the key to success is to cut expenses and increase revenue. They only know how to cut expenses, but they should focus on collecting property management fees."

  But for now he didn't have to worry about that, first holding up the attendance sheet he said: "Where's Captain Bai? Call him over for me."

  The security guard who was wiping the table quickly ran out and came back after a while to report: "Captain Bai is not feeling well, he has gone home."

  "Hmph, it's strange if he's comfortable with this. What's with the attendance sheet? Early leave, let me circle it!" Liu Ziguang took a ballpoint pen and circled something on the attendance sheet, then threw down the pen: "From now on, you several guards pay attention to Bai Team Leader's working hours, one minute late is considered tardy, don't forget."

  The security guard smiled and said: "I won't forget, I'll remember it for him even if it's just a second."

  The white captain is a stingy and unkind person. Everyone has been displeased with him for a long time. Now that he's been replaced by a new superior, it's like the dark clouds have parted to reveal the bright moon.

  Liu Ziguang picked up the intercom and called several team leaders, asking them to dispatch young and strong colleagues to guard the gate, and swap those old colleagues in their 40s and 50s to easier posts.

  Looked at the time difference was almost, Liu Ziguang prepared to go home, away from home is not considered far, did not shout Ma Chao over to pick up, but himself went to the underground garage to open that Jetta left by Zhang Biao.

  The white Jetta is the favorite of the contractor, it's durable, easy to operate and cheap spare parts, even the street repair shop can fix it. It should be a good car, but Zhang Biao is really too much, he doesn't drive, he eats cars, the good Jetta has been tortured to the point where it's about to fall apart, no matter how hard you try, it won't start, maybe the battery is dead.

  Having no choice, Liu Ziguo had to walk home. He passed by the bike repair stall of Old Man Guo and stopped, finding a stool to sit on. He tossed an expensive cigarette to the old man: "Old Man Guo, have a good one."

  Mr. Guo stretched out his hand, and the cigarette was just between his two fingers, brought it to his nose and sniffed it, his eyes behind his old glasses blinked: "Hmm, good cigarettes, but I'm not used to smoking them." He said, tucking it behind his ear.

  Liu Ziguang smiled and said: "What does Old Man Guo usually smoke? It can't be a water pipe, can it?"

  "Wait a minute, my horse will be here soon."

  Just then, Old Man Guo's little yellow dog came running over, a box of cigarettes in its mouth, the blue and white cigarette pack looking very elegant.

  Mr. Guo took the cigarette from the little yellow dog's mouth and asked: "Where is the change?"

  The little yellow dog stuck out its tongue and licked its mouth, making a low humming noise.

  Mr. Guo pretended to be very angry and raised his palm: "You let you buy sausage again, you dog thing!"

  The little yellow dog quickly knelt down on its two front legs to apologize to Old Man Guo, causing Liu Ziguang to burst out laughing.

  "Old Man Guo, can this dog still buy things?"

  "Yes, I gave it five bucks and it helped me buy a pack of cigarettes. With the remaining one buck, I bought a hot dog to eat. This dog head is more clever than humans! Go, give Uncle Liu some cigarettes."

  The little yellow dog really understood human language, it snatched a pack of cigarettes from Old Man Guo's hand and ran to Liu Ziguang with its tail wagging. Liu Ziguang wanted to take the pack of cigarettes, but it suddenly took a step back.

  "You can only take one, if you take more it won't dry." Old Man Guo explained from behind.

  Liu Ziguang chuckled and pulled out a cigarette from the pack, then patted the little yellow dog's head, praising it: "The little dog is really clever."

  The little yellow dog licked Liu Ziguang's hand, indicating that it accepted his praise, and then ran back to Grandpa Guo's side with a wagging tail.

  "This little dog, I rescued it from the Flower River Dog Meat Restaurant. I have no children, so this dog is like my own grandson, right, Guo Xiaosi?" Old Man Guo affectionately patted the little yellow dog's head.

  Liu Ziguang looked at the cigarette in his hand, the filter tip was white, with three blue characters: Zhongnanhai.

  Took a deep drag, feeling indeed different from Zhonghua, this cigarette's flavor is more intense and stronger.

  "How's that, not bad, right? This is what men smoke, four yuan a pack and it's not expensive. One of your Zhonghua cigarettes is worth half a pack of mine." Old Man Guo lit one up for himself and started puffing away.

  Liu Ziguang had never smoked a blended cigarette before, but now that he's tried one, he thinks it's not bad at all. He chuckled and asked, "Old Man Guo, I didn't expect your taste to be so refined, you like smoking this foreign-tasting cigarette."

  "Got used to it," said Old Guo, exhaling a stream of smoke. "I started smoking Camels when I was young and never got out of the habit."

  Liu Ziguang took a look at his phone and saw that it was getting late, so he stood up and said: "Uncle, actually I came to find you for something. The traffic hasn't been very convenient these past two days, I was thinking of borrowing a bike to ride."

  "Ah, this child, why didn't you say so earlier? Wait a minute!"

  As he spoke, he walked behind his small bungalow and pushed out a black, heavy-duty 28-inch frame bicycle.

  "Little Guang, this is Old Perpetual, I've replaced the spokes, inner tube and tire with new ones, and also applied butter. Take a look." As he spoke, he shook the pedal, the rear wheel spinning like it was flying, the chain moving, making a pleasant and crisp sound. Mr. Guo squeezed the brake lever, the rear wheel screeching to a stop, extremely responsive.

  "Mr. Guo, this bike?" Liu Ziguo scratched his head, if he really rode it out, it would be a bit too eye-catching.

  "Old Guo patted the car seat: 'This is a man's car! I'll give it to you, just buy me two Zhongnanhai cigarettes tomorrow.'"

  Liu Ziguang threw away his cigarette butt: "Alright, deal!"

  Liu Ziguang rode this refurbished 28-type heavy-duty Everlasting bicycle back home, and his old man was also shocked, praising it non-stop, claiming that if he had this bike twenty years earlier, it would be even more impressive than a car.

  Liu Ziguang was speechless, it seems that the aesthetic view of these old people is surprisingly consistent. However, upon closer inspection, this bike indeed exudes a kind of masculine beauty, with its frame, handlebars and wheels all being genuine manganese steel. If I had been riding this Forever bike that day, I should have been able to catch up with the human traffickers even faster.

  That's it!

  Time was running out, and it was almost Fang's time to get off work. Liu Ziguang hastily changed his clothes, washed his face, shaved under the urging of his mother, and rode his heavily loaded bicycle at a breakneck pace towards the Municipal Hospital.

  ……

  Fifteen minutes later, at the entrance of the municipal hospital, Fang Fei changed into casual clothes and ran over with a hop, skip and jump. She looked around for half a day before discovering Liu Ziguo straddling his bicycle, puffing on a Zhongnanhai cigarette.

  With a "pa" sound, the little nurse's shoulder bag fell to the ground, and her small cherry mouth opened wide enough to fit in a light bulb.

  "Yours... is this your car?" Fang Xi's eyes widened, her small hand pointing at Liu Ziguang's new ride.

  "Yeah, isn't it cool?" Liu Ziguang said with a pleased smile.

  "Ah, cool! I used to do that when I was a kid too." Fang Fei picked up her backpack and ran over, lifting up her long legs clad in jeans and straddling the back seat of the bicycle.

  "I'm done, you can start now," said the nurse.

  "Let's go." Liu Ziguang kicked his foot and 28 Yuan left the municipal hospital under everyone's gaze.

  "Where shall we go to eat?" asked Liu Ziguang.

  "Whatever."

  "Where is it?"

  "Hmm, anyway, you can't fool me with that spicy rice noodle soup. Humph, I'm helping you out today, so you'd better show some sincerity."

  "Then, Pizza Hut?"

  "No way, it's expensive and doesn't taste good, so I won't go."

  As they chatted, they arrived at the city's food street. Liu Ziguang also felt that this meal should be a bit more formal, and seeing a Western restaurant sign by the road, he stopped and said: "Let me treat you to a Western dinner?"

  "Western food is really expensive." Fang Fei seemed a bit tempted, but also somewhat hesitant.

  "It's nothing much, I didn't tell you, but today I got promoted and now I'm the head of the security department." Liu Ziguang said.

  "Really? That's great! Why didn't you say so earlier? Let's have Western food then, and celebrate!" Fang Fei excitedly punched Liu Ziguang's back with her small fist before jumping down from the car.

  Liu Ziguang got off the bike, locked it by the roadside and took Fang Wei into this western restaurant.

  The environment inside is still quite good, fresh and elegant, the service staff are polite and courteous, although they can't shake off their knockoff nature, but at least they're seriously knockoff.

  I went up to the second floor and sat down in a card seat by the window. When the waiter went to get the menu, a woman next to me called out: "Fang Xi."

  Fang Fei turned her head and saw a girl of similar age not far away, dressed very heavily, holding a copy of "Zhiyin" magazine in her hand, sitting alone, seemingly waiting for someone.

  "You're Wang Yali, from Class 2, right? Where are you working now?" Fang Fei also recognized this old classmate from the military academy.

  "Hehe, I'm now at the epidemic prevention station, and soon I'll be transferred to the Health Bureau. Being a nurse has no future, but now I'm on the career path, and soon I'll be able to switch to administrative work." Wang Yali said with some pride.

  "Really? That's great, congratulations." Fang Xi just smiled faintly.

  "By the way, where are you working now? Are you still in the emergency department of the municipal hospital? Nurses are too tired, no day off for a whole year... Maybe it's time to change jobs...” Wang Yali kept talking, seemingly caring about Fang Wei, but actually showing off her own stable government job.

  At this moment, a black Audi A6 came down from the building and drove onto the curbstone, stopping right in front of the Western restaurant. A young man with a briefcase got out of the passenger seat and shouted enthusiastically towards the driver's seat: "Give my regards to County Chief Wang." Then he rushed upstairs with his bag.

  Seeing her boyfriend arrive, Wang Yali hastily stood up: "Why are you so late?"

  "The county leaders have arrived, I need to accompany them, and as the head of the department, I'm not free to leave." The young man wore a Lirang business suit on top, with a Mengtaijiao long-sleeved T-shirt underneath, and a Seven Wolves logo buckle on his belt shone with silver light. His Bird's Nest pants and Sendal leather shoes also showcased his taste.

  "With a crisp slap of his hand, the department head gave a stylish and mature gesture. The waiter from afar quickly walked over, speaking in a low voice: 'What does sir need?'"

  "The '94 Dynasty Red Star cognac, a bottle of Snowflake, you have to listen to the packaging." The section chief said very professionally.