Chapter 9: Pure and Lovely Yao Lili

  The next day was Saturday, Tao Ruxuan thought a bit and felt that if he gave all the money to his little sister, it wouldn't be quite right. After all, his little sister had only been slapped in the face, how could she be worth 10,000 yuan? So he took out 3,000 yuan from the 10,000 yuan cash that Yuan Shigui had given him yesterday and went to Second Uncle's house.

  Ershu's name is Tao Jinshan, but he didn't dig up any gold or silver mountains. Like his father, he was a worker all his life. Erjie used to work in a textile factory and only retired last year when she reached the age limit.

  As soon as they entered the house, Auntie Er was busy in the kitchen. As soon as she saw Tao Ruxuan, she immediately put down her work and came over to greet him. Uncle Er might not have any children of his own, so he treated Tao Ruxuan like his own son. Hearing Tao Ruxuan call out "Auntie Er", he also rushed out of the house. Without saying anything else, he first scolded his daughter.

  "Bao'er, didn't Swallow go to find you yesterday? This child is really too much trouble. A little girl, actually fighting with someone at a restaurant, what a sight. And she had the nerve to run to your place to tattle. You mustn't listen to her and go find them. When she came back yesterday, I scolded her severely. Isn't this just causing you more trouble?"

  Second Uncle is reasonable, every sentence is for Tao Ruxuan to consider. Second Aunt also said on the side: "Your second uncle is right, don't listen to Yanzi's nonsense. This morning, Yao Lili came and told us what happened. The other party didn't do anything to her, but she beat up the younger brother of the factory director so badly that he was hospitalized. If they didn't come to bother us, it would be fine."

  Tao Ruyan listened to the two old men in the house, not only did they not speak up for themselves, but instead blamed themselves. How could she bear it? She ran out of the house with a pout and a scowl, stamping her foot and saying: "How can you be like this? Your daughter was beaten, and you don't even stand up for me. Instead, you blame me! Are you happy to see someone beat your daughter to death?" As she spoke, tears fell down, and she muttered: "If my third uncle were still in Fen City, he would definitely not let me suffer such humiliation. He would cut off the hand of that broken factory owner's brother-in-law!"

  The second uncle and aunt knew that their daughter had been wronged, but they didn't dare say anything. At this time, another girl came out of the house, pulled Tao Ruyan's arm and whispered: "Yanzi, how can you talk to your parents like that?"

  No need to ask, this is Xiao Mei's younger sister Yao Lili. She is a fresh and elegant girl with a round face, a pair of big watery eyes, straight hair tied up in two ponytails that naturally fall on her shoulders. A white T-shirt with a yellow cartoon rabbit printed on it, slightly revealing her budding breasts, exuding a hint of youthful shyness. Her legs are wrapped in a blue jeans, showcasing her slender and beautiful long legs. On her feet is a pair of light blue sandals, with ten adorable toes arranged neatly together.

  Yao Lili seemed to have also realized that Tao Ruxuan was looking at her and hastily blushed as she lowered her head.

  Tao Ruxuan suddenly realized that he was a bit out of place, so he quickly took out the 3,000 yuan from his pocket and returned to the topic: "Second Uncle, Second Aunt, this matter cannot be blamed on Yanzi. It's just that Yuan Shigui's younger brother-in-law is too overbearing. Yanzi standing up for her friend is also a matter of course." As he spoke, he handed the money to Second Aunt and continued: "I found Yuan Shigui yesterday, and he said this was his younger brother-in-law's fault. This is the medical expenses he gave Yanzi as compensation. Not much, just 3,000 yuan. You take it."

  Second Aunt immediately showed a embarrassed smile and said: "Yanzi didn't do anything, why take people's money? It's already polite to decline, you should return the money to them. Besides, Yanzi will still work at the textile factory in the future, it's not good to take the factory owner's money."

  Tao Ruyan snatched the money away, counting it as she spoke: "What's good or bad about it? Who made Yuan Shigui's younger brother hit me? Let him compensate me for some medical expenses, that's only right. Besides, what's so great about that broken textile factory? The salary is only over a thousand yuan a month, and he wants me to wear small shoes for him? I won't do it even if you paid me. This money is just enough for me to buy a new phone."

  "Second uncle immediately shouted at his daughter: 'Unlucky child, quickly give the money to your brother. Why do you have to spend so much money on a cell phone?'"

  It's not easy to get the money, Tao Ruyan is not willing to return it. She coquettishly said: "I won't return it, others are now using iPhone mobile phones, can't I change to a better Samsung?"

  My second uncle is already over fifty years old and doesn't know what an iPhone is, so he bluntly said: "Crazy about mobile phones? I think they're all becoming crazy girls!"

  Little sister immediately retorted: "You say I'm crazy, then I'm crazy. Anyway, this money is already mine." After finishing speaking, she pulled Yao Lili and turned around to enter the house.

  Because little sister is the youngest and has been beautiful and clever since childhood, she naturally receives the favor of the whole family. It's also reasonable to be a bit arrogant, even her parents can't handle her.

  Seeing his daughter not listening to advice, Second Uncle had no choice but to say to Tao Ruxuan: "Look at your sister, she's been spoiled by everyone." The implication being that Tao Ruxuan might also be dragged into this.

  Before long, the little sister came out of the house again, pulled Tao Ruxuan into the house, and hung a silver Buddha pendant around Tao Ruxuan's neck, saying: "This is your reward."

  A silver thing, itself is just a matter of dozens of dollars, Tao Ruxuan did not decline. After thanking the little sister, Tao Ruxuan suddenly realized that although the little sister had been beaten up for taking sides, Yao Lili was actually bullied by Yuan Shigui's younger brother, and now seeing Yuan Shigui compensate the medical expenses for the little sister, she, who was truly bullied, did not even hear an apology, and it was inevitable that her heart was not happy.

  Tao Ruxuan then found an excuse to pull his little sister into another room and said: "Yanzi, you give your brother the money he just gave you, first give half of it to your good sister. Just say that there is also Yuan Shigui's medical expenses in it. Later, your brother will give you two thousand more. What do you think?"

  Tao Ruyan is a clever girl, and as soon as she heard it, she understood Tao Ruxuan's thoughts. She looked at Tao Ruxuan's face for half a day with a strange expression, then pulled out a long tone and said: "Oh, I know, you must have taken a liking to Yao Lili." Immediately after that, she patted her chest and said confidently: "Brother, don't worry, this matter is on your sister's shoulders. I guarantee that you two will be together in the end." She also said with some helplessness: "However, about this money, I estimate she definitely won't want it. Yao Lili is a girl who loves face after all. Think about it, since she clearly knows this money isn't compensation for her, how could she possibly accept it?"

  Tao Ruxuan only then realized that he was indeed foolish, staring at Yao Lili with an anxious heart but forgetting this matter. It seems that love can truly confuse one's mind, and he had even forgotten such a simple truth.

  Two people were talking in another room, and Yaoli was outside calling out to Xiaomei, saying she wanted to go back. As they came out of the house, Tao Ruyan gave Tao Ruizhuan a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling glance, and said to Yaoli: "Your home is also quite far away, I think it's better if my brother sends you back."

  Yao Lili immediately understood Tao Ruyan's meaning, and secretly took a glance at Tao Ruxuan's face before quickly lowering her head, her face suddenly turning red all the way to the base of her neck as she said: "No need to trouble you, I can just ride my bike back."

  Tao Ruyan said with a deliberate tone, "No need to bother, anyway my brother doesn't have anything important today." Then she turned to Tao Ruizhuan and asked, "Brother, what I said is right, isn't it?"

  The little sister was always clever and quick-witted, and she had asked Tao Ruxuan so much that he had nothing to say. So Tao Ruxuan simply said to Yao Lili, "Why don't I send you off? It just so happens that I have some business on the street, it's on my way."

  Tao Ruyan immediately chimed in, "Right, right, you can still go for a stroll on the street. Anyway, my brother's money is just going to waste, so you might as well take advantage of him this time." She then giggled and said, "All government officials are corrupt, it's only fair that you take some from them. You taking from him is also a form of anti-corruption, giving us ordinary people a chance to vent our frustrations."

  Yao Lili however was somewhat unhappy and said: "Yanzi, how can you say such things about your brother? I don't think your brother is a corrupt official at all."

  "Hey, hey, hey... it's already like this and you're still protecting him? I can't even say two words to him."

  Yao Lili knew she had misspoken and immediately turned red like a crimson cloth. Tao Ruxuan then rebuked his little sister, saying: "Yanzi, you mustn't be too excessive. Do you think everyone is like you, thinking that those who work in the government are corrupt?"

  Tao Ruyan deliberately made a serious face, waving her hand and saying, "Sorry, sorry, I was wrong." She then pulled Tao Ruizhuan's sleeve and whispered, "Brother, should I start calling you Sister Lili from now on?" Her voice was still quite loud, but she just pretended to be whispering.

  Tao Ruxuan hadn't spoken yet, but Yao Lili couldn't wait any longer. She turned around and walked out while saying goodbye: "Yanzi, I'm leaving." After that, she pushed her bicycle away.

  Tao Ruxuan had wanted to really chase after him and send him off, but then thought that showing too much enthusiasm at their first meeting might make the other person uncomfortable, so he also gave up.

  After chatting with Second Uncle and Second Aunt, it was already around 10 o'clock. Then I remembered that Sunday would be a good opportunity to visit several deputy ministers' homes, so I stood up and bid farewell.

  In addition to Liang Hongyan, the Propaganda Department has two deputy ministers. One is Zhao Yongkui, who is in charge of the department's internal work and the office of the Ministry of Culture. The other is Qu Peixian, who also serves as chairman of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles and is in charge of propaganda work. Perhaps due to their work nature, these two people also have their own characteristics. Zhao Yongkui doesn't like to talk much, no matter what he does, he always has a leadership attitude, and when doing things, he always has a casual look. When meeting him, if you call him Minister Zhao, he will be happy, but if you call him Deputy Minister Zhao, he will immediately show you his displeasure.

  Qu Yuan's descendants are diligent and serious in their work, fond of quoting classical texts, and always claim to be the descendants of Qu Yuan. They say that the origins of Chinese surnames are quite complex, especially for large surnames like Zhang, Li, and Wang, which are difficult to trace back to a single origin. The surname Qu, on the other hand, is relatively simple and has been passed down through generations with little change, and there have been no instances of people from other ethnic groups changing their surname to Qu. Therefore, the Qu surname is also one of the most pure-blooded descendants of the Yellow Emperor. This is because in the first sentence of "Li Sao", Qu Yuan wrote: "The emperor's high yang's descendant, my imperial father said Bo Yong." Who is High Yang? High Yang is Zhuanxu, the grandson of the Yellow Emperor. Based on this, it can be concluded that all people with the surname Qu are descendants of the Yellow Emperor.