Tong Yao's mysterious behavior made me a little curious, but I immediately understood roughly what it was about.
It turned out to be this. Now I completely understood it in my heart, and at the same time, I felt funny in my heart: Where have you been thinking of?
I smiled and said: "Auntie, you can just call me and talk about this kind of thing. I think your idea is good, so I'll do what you say. But Auntie, I have a few ideas.
Let's consider it. First, it's okay for the restaurant employees to take leave early and let them go home, but the purpose of them coming out to work is to make money, so I think we should still pay them wages. This is considered to be for them.
Let’s increase the year-end bonus by a portion. The restaurant’s business is so good, and the employees’ remuneration should be improved accordingly.”
The old lady smiled and said: "Okay. You are the boss, you have the final say."
I then said: "As for the decoration issue, I think it is best to find a professional company to design. The design style should be combined with the dishes of our restaurant, and it is best to be able to decorate the entire floor above."
Rent it and decorate it into a private room, and turn the entire downstairs floor into a lobby, so that more ordinary people can come to eat home-cooked food here, and at the same time, it also allows slightly higher-end consumers to have a better environment and privacy for dining.
Sex. Finally, there is the issue of decoration costs. Auntie, if you need money, please let me know at any time, and I will transfer the money to the restaurant's account immediately."
She hurriedly said: "There is no problem with money. The profit in the second half of this year should be completely sufficient. I still think that our restaurant should not be too luxurious. It is best to be fresh and simple, so it does not cost much. I will follow you on the decoration."
Whatever you say, I think that's best."
I shook my head and said: "Auntie, the profits in the second half of the year are your hard-earned profits, and you still have to keep your share. Let me pay you 500,000 first. If it's not enough, we'll talk later."
She immediately said: "How can that work? I think this way, we should pay for the decoration costs according to our shares. This is a matter for the two of us."
I suddenly realized something: if I paid all the money for the decoration, it would probably cause her to misunderstand, and she would think that I didn’t want to continue to cooperate with her. So I nodded and said: "That’s okay, Auntie.
, let me tell you, although this restaurant is mine in name, you are actually in charge of it. Starting from next year, the distribution of profits will be based on you, otherwise I will feel very guilty."
She said: "How can that be done? This restaurant is yours. You let me help you manage it because you take care of me and feel at ease with me. Xiao Feng, please don't say that, otherwise I will
I thought you were chasing me away."
I smiled bitterly and said: "That's fine. But Auntie, there is one thing you must listen to me. Starting from next year, your shares will be increased by 10%. Don't say any more about this matter, it's just decided. Otherwise
I would really feel guilty."
She was still saying goodbye. I said: "Auntie, I said, it's settled. Just consider it a gift from me to Tong Yao for her future marriage, so as not to have a bad impact on her if I give her money directly.
"
She kept shaking her head and sighed: "Xiao Feng, you are such a kind-hearted kid. Why doesn't Yaoyao like you? Hey!"
I was suddenly startled: Listening to what she just said, she might have asked her daughter about us. My heart suddenly felt sad, and I said to her with a wry smile: "Auntie, I'm not worthy.
She. She's right."
She was still sighing and said: "She is not good enough for you, okay? You are so good, you are the mayor, and you have money, aren't you just married? Hey! This child, I really don't know what she thinks.
"
I didn't want to talk to her about this matter anymore. Although she was Tong Yao's mother, she didn't understand her daughter. I stood up immediately, "Auntie, I have to go back to Shangjiang right away. The restaurant matter is
Just do what we just said, you can call me anytime if you need anything. By the way, I may go abroad for a few days recently, but I will be back soon."
She also stood up hastily, "Okay. That's it."
On the way back to Shangjiang City, I called Guan Qin, mainly to ask her how the procedures for going abroad were going.
She said: "I am applying for a visa through a travel agency. The other party wants to charge a certain fee, but they are unwilling to issue an invoice. I am still negotiating with them."
I smiled and said, "Here, I'll handle the money. They won't charge too much, right?"
She said: "It's 20,000 yuan. Can you reimburse me for this kind of money? I don't have an invoice." [
I laughed and said, "Can't I pay the bill personally? That's it. It's a small matter. Don't waste too much time on such a matter."
She smiled and said: "What rich people say is different. Well, since you said so, I will do it as soon as possible. By the way, Teacher Feng...hehe! Forget it, I will still do it from now on.
Let me call you Mayor Feng, now I think calling you Professor Feng or Teacher Feng seems a bit disrespectful."
I smiled bitterly and said, "You might as well call me Teacher Feng, that's better. By the way, you seemed to have something to say just now?"
She said: "Yes. I took your materials to the Provincial Public Security Bureau for filing, but they told me that you must go in person."
I suddenly frowned: Why is it so troublesome? I said: "Okay, you can complete the procedures for leaving the country as soon as possible. I will go to the Provincial Public Security Department tomorrow."
The next morning I finished processing all the documents and reports in the office. At the same time, I called the heads of several departments that needed to solve the problem to study the relevant issues. In the afternoon, I returned to the province.
city.
Registration with the Public Security Department is actually very simple. They mainly looked at the opinions of the leaders in the province. In addition, they simply asked me a few questions. Under normal circumstances, they would not embarrass cadres like me. In the final analysis, this is just
It's a procedural matter. Of course, I also need to sign the relevant procedures.
I went to the Provincial Public Security Bureau with Guan Qin, because I had to go to her to get information at the beginning, and she told me that she wanted to go with me. She said to me at that time: "Anyway, I don't have anything else to do today.
, I will accompany you there, which is equivalent to being your secretary."
I didn't say anything more, I just joked with her, "I don't dare to be a female secretary. Let's wait until I resign and become the big boss."
She smiled and said to me: "As far as I know, no one who is a leader seems to want to be a boss, but there are quite a few bosses who want to be officials."
I couldn't help laughing. She was right, because it is a fact. In our country, the awareness that "everything is inferior, only reading is good" has long been infiltrated into people's bones, and the meaning in this sentence is "
"Studying well" actually refers to getting into an official career through studying, because studying was the only way for ordinary people to become officials in ancient times. Furthermore, our country has pursued a policy of "focusing on agriculture and suppressing business" for thousands of years, and businessmen
There is not much social status at all. Even in today's commercial society, the status of businessmen has not improved much. When people look at them, they will always use derogatory words such as "unscrupulous" and "unkind" to associate them with them.
Together.
Moreover, the businessman himself also has an inferiority complex about his social status. Even Lin Yi cannot be detached from the secular world. Otherwise, why would he try his best to infiltrate the Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference?
In fact, I can feel the inferiority complex in Lin Yi's heart. Although he is already so rich, he can still only be respectful in front of Governor Huang and Lin Yu. However, he is arrogant in front of the department-level cadres below.
He behaved very high-profile at times. This contrast is actually very revealing.
Sometimes I think that maybe Lin Yi can reflect the true inner world of many businessmen in our country. Although they have created a lot of wealth for this society and themselves, their social status is in a
A rather awkward position.
After coming out of the Provincial Public Security Department, Guan Qin asked me in surprise: "I thought you would go find an acquaintance. I didn't expect you to do it in person."
I smiled bitterly and said, "Do you need to find an acquaintance for this kind of thing? I'm not going out to do bad things, let alone absconding with money. I can just go through the procedures openly, so why should I find an acquaintance?"
She smiled and said: "That's true. Mayor Feng, let's go to that travel agency now. I've already made an agreement with them."
At this time, I thought to myself: It’s definitely not that she can’t come up with the 20,000 yuan to pay for it first, and she’s probably still worried that my words won’t count. This is not a question of trust or distrust, but it shows that she has deep feelings in her heart.
There is a kind of precaution against me.
From this, I understood something in my heart: although she appeared to be straightforward and educated in the West, on the inside she was relatively conservative and closed.
Sometimes when you look at a person, you can only see the truest aspect of him or her through small things. Of course, it may be that my thinking at this time is too narrow.
But isn’t this so-called just to go through the formalities? Isn’t it just a matter of 20,000 yuan? For me now, the most important thing is to be able to go out immediately and come back as soon as possible.
This is an important task assigned to me by Lin Yu, so I must complete it. And this matter will have a certain impact on my next arrangement, so I can't let this matter cause unnecessary unnecessary damage to me.
loss.
But in my heart, Hong Ya doesn't seem so important anymore. Sometimes even I feel that I am a passionate person. After Hong Ya left, I found that my feelings for her had already become indifferent. Maybe
It's because there are always people around me replacing her, and more likely, it's because I don't have deep feelings for her in the first place.
In addition, it was only now that I discovered that Hong Ya's appearance had already become blurry in my heart, including the past events when I was with her.
But I have to admit that I still have her in my heart, because when Lin Yu told me that Hong Ya wanted to see me, I felt an excitement in my heart, and at this time, I also had a sense of expectation in my heart.
Hope.
This is a very complex mentality. After I conducted a simple analysis of my own mentality, I attributed my complex mentality to a commonality among most people today, and that is reality.
Yes, I find that I am becoming more and more realistic, which is in sharp contrast to the innocence I once had. I don’t know if this change in me comes from this society, or because of my selfish nature.
Things at the travel agency were done very quickly and very easily. After they got the money, they promised to complete the procedures for us to go abroad as soon as possible. I said: "Well, if you can complete it tomorrow, I will give you another five thousand."
piece."
The organist tried to stop me but I pretended not to see it. The person from the travel agency smiled and said to us: "Then let's do our best."
After coming out of the travel agency, Guan Qin scolded me: "Their asking price is already very high, and maybe they can complete the procedures themselves tomorrow. Your five thousand yuan is not worth it."
I smiled and said, "What's not worth it? My only thought now is to get out as soon as possible."
She smiled and said: "What rich people say is different. Anyway, it is your own money. Otherwise, I would really feel sorry for us taxpayers."
I couldn't help but laugh.
She then continued: "Actually, the status of taxpayers in our country is the lowest. It's so low that we don't even know what the taxes we pay are used by you officials, let alone that we have the decision
You have the power. Mayor Feng, I found that you are different, at least you don’t like to mess around like other officials."
I found that I quite liked the way she called my position. It sounded pleasant to me, so I didn’t correct her. I said, "Doctor Guan, what you said is wrong. Most of the officials in our country are good.
, Corrupt elements are only a minority."
She immediately laughed, "What you said is very much like what the mayor said. In fact, you and I both understand the current situation of our country very well, but I am a common person and I dare to tell the truth. You are an official, so I only
Can we use official words to say such things: Our country’s human rights are the best in the world; our officials are the most popular among the people; corruption in our country is not serious... Haha! Mayor Feng,
I’m friends with you now, you don’t think I’m reactionary by saying this, do you?”
I smiled bitterly, "You..."
But she showed great interest, "Mayor Feng, I'm a little curious: Is that really what your officials were thinking when they said these words?"
I waved my hand to her and said, "Can we not talk about this matter?"
She kept laughing, "I think today's officials are used to telling lies, and eventually even they themselves believe those lies. This is called self-narcosis."
I asked her: "Doctor Guan, are you very dissatisfied with the environment in our country? If so, why did you come back then?"
She said: "For people of my level, it is not easy to get along abroad. It is better to return to China to develop. This is also the idea of many of us returnees. What's more, this is my own country, I can come back whenever I want." Feng
Mayor, you won’t be unhappy because I told the truth in front of you, right?”
I smiled and said: "How could it be? Actually, I quite like hearing you tell the truth, because I was just like you when I was in the hospital. This is a very free state, from soul to action.
Freedom. But now I can't be like this. In fact, as a politician, whether it is in our country or any country in the West, you cannot talk randomly. This is what politicians must have.
quality. You think so?"
She nodded, "That's true."
I smiled and said: "So, your previous statements are actually very one-sided. Even the president of the United States has to find a high-sounding excuse for the war he launches. The truth is the same. So, we
You cannot look at certain things in isolation. Political issues are very complex and not as simple as most people imagine."
She smiled and said: "It seems that what you said really makes sense."
I smiled and said: "It's not that there is some truth, but that's how it is. Doctor Guan, have you ever heard of Li Ao's saying? He said that politics is dirtier than a woman's vagina. Although his statement is somewhat
It's an exaggeration, but it also tells part of the truth. Politics is like this, and politics in any country is like this. Nowadays, many of us always like to completely separate our country from foreign countries when looking at problems, and only look at
Problems in our country, without thinking about the fact that the situation abroad is similar, and in many places is even worse than the situation in our country. This is wrong. Haha! Doctor, I don’t mean to criticize you, but I think
Like many people, you just don’t see the problem so well. And sometimes I have the same problem myself, but I believe that whether it’s you or me, and most of us, we all do it because we want our own
The country is good, that’s why there are so many dissatisfactions, and that’s why there are so many commotions. Don’t you think so?”
She smiled and said: "Mayor Feng, now I finally understand why you can be the mayor but I can't. Hehe! Your eloquence is indeed very good, I can't speak to you. But Mayor Feng, I would like to
Let me ask you a question: Liang Qichao said that one of the reasons why China is weak is that the Chinese people cannot correctly distinguish the concepts of country and court, so that patriotism is not used in the right place, so that patriotism turns into love for the court, and even becomes love for the court.
Love the leader. People need to understand common sense that the country is not the court and the government, and people should love the country rather than the court. Mayor Feng, what do you think of this issue?"
I asked her in surprise: "Did Liang Qichao say such a thing?"
She replied: "Of course. His original words were: Looking at the twenty-four histories, among the famous ministers, famous generals, outstanding achievements, and brilliant reputations, besides giving up Yi to help the imperial court, did they do anything else?
To increase the interests of our people by one share, is it necessary to fulfill one share of the obligations? And the people of the whole country say: This is the hero of our country. I am a slave and lackey of a family with the same surname, and I pretend to be a hero of a country, and the country
Nothing more humiliating than this! Even more than being a slave and lackey, a man who has been praised for thousands of years, what a shame for the nation! But the 400 million compatriots in our country do not even consider it humiliating or ashamed.
, to misunderstand the imperial court as the ideal of the country, and to go deep into poverty without realizing it. Moreover, somewhat later than Liang Qichao, Chen Duxiu also wrote an article titled "Should we be patriotic?" The article said:
When asking whether we should be patriotic, we must first ask what a country is. It turns out that a country is just an organization for people to gather to resist oppression by others, and an organ for mediating people's disputes internally. Good people can use it to resist foreign oppression and mediate domestic disputes; evil people can use it to resist foreign oppression and mediate domestic disputes.
We can oppress aliens from the outside and oppress the people from the inside. Therefore, if someone asks: Should we be patriotic? We will answer loudly: What we love is a country where the country seeks happiness for the people, not a country where the people make sacrifices for the country.
.”
I nodded and said, "Yes, I think what Chen Duxiu said is right. The function of the state is to resist foreign oppression and mediate domestic disputes. The former is external and the latter is internal. The realization of state functions must be through the government.
To complete. If the government can complete the national functions, the country will be a country that seeks happiness for the people; if the government cannot complete the national functions, the country may become a country where the people make sacrifices for the country. Our current government has done a very good job, so
Patriotism and love for the government should be the same."
She looked at me and said with a smile: "Mayor Feng, shouldn't it be the government itself that has the final say on whether the government is doing well or not?"
I replied: "In front of our country's government, I am also a common person. If I am asked to answer this question realistically, I think our government has done a really good job. Our country has such a large population and such a backward economy, but
It is indeed not easy for us to develop to the extent we are today. Of course, we have many problems, but we cannot erase the achievements of our national government because of this. Don’t you think so?"
She replied: "I agree with what you said. But I think our government should and can do better. But why hasn't it done better? I think it's still the government's problem, and this is also ***
The inevitable result of *.”
I hurriedly said: "Doctor Guan, let's not talk about such a sensitive political issue, okay? These problems are not something you and I can solve. You are a doctor and I am an official. We just need to do our jobs well."
Okay. As I have said before, political issues are very complex and cannot be explained simply in terms of good or bad. Do you think so? National conditions vary from country to country, and we cannot deal with such issues.
In general terms.”
She smiled and said: "Okay, let's not talk about this issue anymore. In fact, I don't like to talk about such issues with others on weekdays. I am a woman and a doctor, and I am not interested in such issues. It's just because you are
Officials, we have to strengthen cooperation in the future. I think this may be one of the issues of common interest between us, so I mentioned it casually."
Hearing what she said aroused my interest, so I immediately asked her: "So, Doctor Guan, what do you think patriotism is?"
She smiled and said: "I think patriotism means loving the land where you live, not the ruler of this land; patriotism means loving the people of this country, not the government of this country; patriotism means loving the country.
We must make this country move toward democracy instead of toward autocracy; patriotism means letting the people move toward freedom instead of becoming slaves; patriotism means having the courage to support the righteous behavior of vulnerable groups and the courage to oppose the tyranny of corrupt officials and powerful people; patriotism means sympathizing with the people.
Although suffering, we must also hate the corruption of corrupt officials; patriotism, we must be proud of the glory in history and today's achievements, but also feel ashamed of the traditional autocracy and today's backwardness; patriotism, we must have the courage to recognize the advantages of other countries, and also be ashamed of today's backwardness.
We must dare to face up to our own shortcomings; patriotism means resisting barbaric foreign aggression and rule, but also learning foreign values, science, technology, civilization, and political systems; patriotism means having the courage to sacrifice for the freedom of the people, rather than being used as xenophobic
Tools for the authoritarian regime to maintain its rule. Patriotism is not about boycotting Japanese goods, but understanding that to surpass Japan, we must first respect Japan and learn from Japan. Respect is the expression of self-respect, and learning is the forerunner of transcendence; patriotism is not about boasting about what our ancestors have created.
What, but what we can leave to future generations; patriotism is not clamoring for the liberation of Taiwan by force, but trying to understand why Taiwan is at odds with the mainland and taking a look at what enlightenment Taiwan's political independence process has for us; patriotism is bravely defending
With its own freedom and rights, the country will understand that its power has boundaries, and it will become competent and lovable; patriotism means working hard, creating wealth, and exerting one's maximum potential, so that I can support myself, my family, and the country;
Patriotism means telling the truth and doing practical things. If the country does not let me do this, I must stand up bravely, criticize it, improve it, and rebuild it; patriotism means that when the country infringes on my rights, someone must stand up to protect my rights.
.If I do this, my personal freedom and rights will be guaranteed, and our country will become legal, civilized, and lovely..."
I looked at her in astonishment because I didn't expect her to speak such a skillful sentence so smoothly and quickly, "Doctor Guan, these things shouldn't be what you just thought of, right?"
She laughed and said: "How can I have such a level? When I was abroad, many visiting scholars from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong often talked about such topics together, so I wrote it down. Of course, I agree with this view.
of."
I looked at her and said, "Doctor Guan, since you regard me as a friend, I feel the need to advise you. Although I think your words have some truth, some of them are very dangerous. What does it mean if the country
If you don't let me do this, I have to stand up bravely and rebuild it? In this case, we can talk about it together, but it is best not to talk in front of other people. You are a doctor, so it is best not to get involved in politics. Politics is not
So fun.”
She smiled and said: "I forgot, you are the government's supporter and beneficiary. But Mayor Feng, I don't think it is as terrible as you said. If the government of a country cannot even accept criticism from our people,
Then this government will become decadent and backward. I always believe in one thing: that is, any country will move towards democracy and freedom, because this is the trend of common development of all mankind. No government or individual can stop this trend in human history.
The law of development. Mayor Feng, although I am just a young doctor, I am a member of this country. I love this country, and I feel that a person’s patriotism cannot just be verbal, but should really care about it.
It. Without Sun Yat-sen back then, our country would still be under the rule of the Qing court. Don’t you think so?"
I stopped talking. At this time, I suddenly felt a hidden worry in my heart, because I thought her thoughts and remarks were terrible. But I couldn't find a suitable reason to convince her.
I also have to admit that there is some truth to what she said, and the crux of the matter is that this is a very sensitive political issue. For her, she is just a doctor, and she is also a woman. If she is concerned about such an issue,
If you sink too deeply, big problems may occur in the future.
After a while, I sighed and said: "Doctor Guan, I still say the same thing, it's better that we don't discuss such an issue. For you personally, if you have to intervene in such an issue, then you
First of all, you should be prepared to bear the various consequences that may arise from getting involved in such things in the future. Doctor Guan, I hope you can understand what I mean. As I said, politics is a complex matter.
It is a problem, and sometimes it is a very scary thing. It is not a problem that can be explained clearly in terms of right and wrong. Any of us are very weak in front of the powerful state machine, so I hope you can take it seriously.
Please think about this. Doctor Guan, since you already think we are friends, I feel it is my responsibility to remind you of this."
She looked at me and smiled, "Mayor Feng, look how scared you are! Aren't we just talking and joking? Actually, I want to hear your views on these issues. I want to know about the young people in our country.
How did a generation of officials view this issue? That’s all.”
I felt relieved immediately, and then smiled and said, "So, I've disappointed you today, right?"
She smiled and said: "Haha! I can't say disappointed or disappointed. But I think you are still relatively conservative, but you are not as conservative as I thought. At least you did not use big words and clichés to criticize me. And I am also very grateful.
You, because those words you just said were full of true concern for me. So, I think I should thank you. How about it? Can I treat you to dinner tonight?"
I smiled and said, "Let's talk about the meal later. In this way, I'll treat you to a Western meal before we go abroad, and I'll treat you to a Western meal if I have the chance after we go abroad. How about that?"
She smiled and said: "It seems that you are really a chauvinist. Okay, let me be a chauvinist. That way I can save money."
I laughed.
One thing I didn't expect was that later on, Guanqin really had a problem, and that's when I found out that she had actually joined a radical organization when she was abroad, and her subsequent problems were not just
It is as simple as radical speech, but it involves issues that endanger national security.
Moreover, I almost got involved later. Fortunately, I expressed my opinion very clearly this time, and when she mentioned this issue several times later, I refused to continue talking to her. In addition,
, I don’t know if she actually wanted to lure me into their organization at the time, but one thing I later learned was that at least she felt grateful to me in her heart, that is, she thought I really cared about her.
Instead of trying to talk to her hypocritically like she thought some people did.