The next day was Sunday, Zhao Yufeng asked the room to prepare flour and soybean oil, and went to the back house to report to Chen Zikun: "Handsome, everything is arranged, you can go." ”

Chen Zikun said that Secretary Liu was notified, and it would be impolite to go rashly.

Zhao Yufeng said that there was no notice, if this matter was said in advance, it would have no effect, what I wanted was the taste of a private visit to Weifu, and by the way, take a look at the situation of Secretary Liu's house, handsome, you had better wear casual clothes, don't scare people.

Chen Zikun thinks about it, and he runs to the little girl's house, not to mention scaring the Liu family, but the whole street will be a sensation, which is not good.

So, Chen Zikun changed into a green cloth gown, wore a top hat, pulled Ruan Mingchuan together, and went to Liu's house in microclothes, Zhao Yufeng also changed into civilian clothes, waited before and after the saddle, and did not use the car, this thing is still rare in the provincial capital, for fear of shocking the people, only found a few foreign cars, pulled flour and soybean oil, and went straight according to the home address written on Liu Ting's registration form.

Liu Ting's family lives in an alley next to the street in Luomashi, the provincial capital, a group of wild children are fighting, Zhao Yufeng saw it and scolded: "Whatever you are doing, get out of the way!" ”

The half-grown children scattered in a hurry, only to see a boy lying on the ground, covered with footprints and dirt, Zhao Yufeng said: "This child, don't break it." ”

The little boy got up suddenly, his eyes were bright, he patted the dust on his body, and said with a big grin: "It's okay, I should tickle the master." ”

Zhao Yufeng said, "Yo, the kid is a little interesting, show me the way, and I'll give you a dime." ”

The little boy said, "Where are you going, who are you looking for?" ”

Zhao Yufeng said: "I found a family surnamed Liu who lived in this alley, and his family had a daughter named Liu Ting, who was a student of Jiang University. ”

"I know, come with me." The little boy led the way, leading them to the door of a house in the depths of the alley, the red lacquer gate is some years old, the paint is peeling, the calligraphy on the couplet is very skillful, the couplet is usual, the gate is half open, you can see a clump of green bamboo growing in the depths of the yard.

The little boy pushed the door in: "Sister, there are guests." ”

"Where's the guest?" Liu Ting's voice came from the yard, she was resting at home today, not wearing the clothes she wore when she went to work, but a gray cloth coat with patches and patches, with pancreatic foam on both hands, and was sitting on a small bench to rub her clothes.

In the yard, several children are playing, the older ones are holding the younger ones, all of them have vegetables, their clothes are shabby but they are very clean, which shows that the housewife is a good housemaker.

A group of children of all sizes stared at this group of uninvited guests, Liu Ting saw that it was Supervisor Chen and Director Zhao who came to visit, and she was at a loss for a while, and panicked: "Supervise ......"

Zhao Yufeng interrupted her: "The Office of the Superintendent is here to send warmth to the staff, you're welcome, let's go." ”

Liu Ting saw that they were all dressed in casual clothes, and immediately understood that this was a private visit to Weifu, so she stopped talking and invited them into the house to sit for a while.

The help of the cart pulled the noodle bag and soybean oil from the car, and a group of children were silent, standing timidly, with joy in their eyes.

Zhao Yufeng took out a dime and said, "Little brother, reward you." ”

The boy who led them in hurriedly waved his hand: "Sir, you are a guest, how can I ask for your money." ”

Entering the door, Chen Zikun took a look, the Liu family was really poor, but it was obvious that it was a fallen scholarly family, hundreds of classics were loaded on the bookshelf, the table was full of four treasures, and there were a few words hanging on the wall, which were the same as the Spring Festival couplets at the door, and it seemed that it was written by the owner himself.

Liu Ting was busy making tea, but there was no hot water in the kettle, she was in a hurry, Zhao Yufeng said: "Secretary Liu, you're welcome, let's sit for a while and leave, Ling Zun is not at home?" ”

"My dad is out, you have something to do with him?" Liu Ting was puzzled.

"Didn't Ling Zun work in the newspaper office, it just so happened that this friend of mine wanted to run a newspaper in Jiangdong, and he wanted to consult Ling Zun about some things." Chan explained.

"That's right." Liu Ting shouted outside: "Xiao Yong, go and call my father." ”

Xiao Yong was the boy who led the way, answered and went out with a smoke, but soon ran back and shouted at the top of his voice: "Sister, Dad is back." ”

A thin middle-aged man came in a hurry, and when he entered the yard, he saw the flour bag under the eaves, and he was stunned, and when he entered the door, Chen Zikun and the other three stood up, and Liu Ting generously introduced: "Dad, these are my ...... Friends, Mr. Chen, Mr. Zhao, and Mr. Nguyen. ”

"Sit down, Ting'er, make tea." Father Liu said busily, but there was a hint of vigilance in his eyes.

Ruan Mingchuan took the lead in taking out his business card and handed it over: "Mr. Liu, contemptible Ruan Mingchuan, from Beijing Beijing Daily." ”

Father Liu took the business card with both hands, took a step back and said: "It turned out to be the famous Ruan reporter in Beijing, who has been admired for a long time, and his brother Liu Cunren." He understood that these uninvited guests were here to find him, not to beat his daughter's idea.

Chen Zikun didn't have a business card, he and Zhao Yufeng both appeared as Ruan Mingchuan's servants, and the two sides just simply greeted each other, said a good meeting, shook hands, and sat down.

"Mr. Liu, that's the case, I'm going to run a newspaper in Jiangdong, I heard that you are a veteran of the newspaper industry, and I have come to consult one or two, and I hope to give advice." Ruan Mingchuan got straight to the point.

When it comes to newspapers, Liu Cunren immediately became energetic, and he didn't stutter anymore, he was a veteran figure of the Jiangdong Times, and all the published articles passed through his hands, and when it came to his views on the news and the direction of the newspaper's development, he talked eloquently, with profound understanding and profound knowledge, which impressed Ruan Mingchuan.

"Jiangdong is really the land of the hidden dragon and the crouching tiger, Mr. Liu, are you willing to run a newspaper with me." Ruan Mingchuan is a straightforward person and immediately sent out an invitation.

Who knew that Father Liu hesitated.

Liu Ting was impatient on the side, but it was difficult to interject.

After a while, Liu's father said: "Don't hide it from you, I only resigned from the newspaper a few days ago, according to the rules of the industry, at least within three months, I can't engage in the same industry, so ...... Also look at Haihan. ”

Ruan Mingchuan and Chen Zikun glanced at each other and nodded secretly, Father Liu is really a gentleman.

"Okay, let's not bother, we'll come back another day." Ruan Mingchuan said goodbye, and Liu's father did not force him to stay, so he got up to see him off.

When I arrived at the door, I met Liu's mother coming back, and she had to introduce it again, Liu's mother couldn't help but say, and pulled Ruan Mingchuan to stop: "It's noon, where are you going, stay and eat, Ting'er, wash the vegetables, Xiaoyong, go to drink, don't be idle, talk to the guests, we don't have any good dishes at home, you Haihan." ”

Everyone was surprised, Liu's father was humble and gentlemanly, but Liu's mother was like a heroine among women, and it was difficult to resist her kindness, Ruan Mingchuan and Zhao Yufeng both looked at Chen Zikun.

"Since Mrs. Liu is so polite, let's be respectful and obey." Chan said.

A trace of doubt flashed in Liu Cunren's eyes, it turned out that this young man with a beard was the leader.

The lunch meal was simple and elegant, a fish, a plate of bamboo shoots, a plate of shallots and tofu, a plate of fennel beans, plus a pot of wine, the four of them reported the wine, and then talked about politics. ”

Chen Zikun said: "Beiyang is faint, and it is a matter of time before it falls, why is Mr. Liu so clear?" ”

Liu Cunren said: "There is a providence in the dark, Yuan Shikai for four years, Duan Qirui for four years, Cao Kun for four years, and now Fengzhang is in charge, it must be another four years, 446, about 178 years of the Republic of China, Beiyang is bound to collapse." ”

Chen Zikun and Ruan Mingchuan glanced at each other, and said with a smile: "Gao Zhi." ”

Liu Cunren said proudly: "Where, where." ”

Chen Zikun said: "Mr. Liu, dare to ask what you think of the political situation in Jiangdong? ”

Liu Cunren's expression became serious, and he said: "Supervisor Chen, this person, has done a lot of superficial articles. ”

As soon as these words came out, the air became a little nervous, Zhao Yufeng coughed dryly, and motioned to Liu Ting, who came in with the dishes, to dissuade his father, Liu Ting understood and said, "Dad, you are drunk, don't talk nonsense." ”

Liu's father was drunk, ignoring his daughter's hints, squinting his eyes, and pointing with chopsticks in the air: "The people's livelihood in Jiangdong Province is withering, every year during the flood season, the Huaijiang River will burst and flood, the people will be displaced, the countryside is full of hunger, and the rural land annexation is serious. ”

The people in the room were silent, but Chen Zikun raised his glass: "Mr. Liu, well said, I respect you, Chen Zikun is better than Sun Kaiqin?" ”

Liu Cunren raised his cup, took a sip of dryness, smacked his lips, picked up a fennel bean and ate it, and said: "Chen Zikun is naturally more than ten times stronger than Sun Kaiqin, but it is limited to character, in terms of governance, there is no difference between Chen and Sun, don't you believe it?" Don't believe it, look at what he has done since he took charge of Jiangdong? Most of the time is in Shanghai, spending all day drinking in Beijing, sending electricity all day long, earning fame and eyeballs, hehe, this is exactly the same as his mentor Wu Peifu, four words, used to do show! ”

"Daddy!" Liu Ting was about to cry, and couldn't help but stomp her feet and shout.

"Oh, Daddy drank too much." Liu Cunren finally realized what he was doing, and said with a sneer: "I'm a person, I like to drink two glasses, and I don't drink well and love to talk nonsense, three of them are not strange, not strange." ”

Ruan Mingchuan said with a smile: "Lao Liu, I see that you are a proofreader of Qu Cai, it is better for me to run a newspaper, you will be an editor, and we will write articles together to scold Chen Zikun." ”

Liu Cunren hurriedly said: "Don't dare, don't dare, I just drank too much, just talking nonsense, how can I be in the newspaper." ”

The political discussion ended here, everyone was a little unhappy, the banquet was withdrawn, Chen Zikun and others said goodbye and left, and Liu Cunren took his eldest daughter to send the guests all the way to the alley.

Back at home, Liu's mother complained: "You, you, don't be reckless if you don't have enough alcohol, drink too much nonsense, scare people, who would dare to hire you." ”

Liu Cunren took a small teapot and drank tea, and said: "It's okay, I know this Ruan reporter, he has always been known for his fierce words, by the way, Ting'er, what is the origin of the other two guests, but the professor of Jiang University?" ”

Liu Ting: "The tall one is Director Chen, and the white-skinned one is Director Zhao of the Adjutant Office of the Independent Office." ”

"What!" The small teapot fell to the ground and shattered, and Liu's father was stunned.

~