Jianghe, you're right, but where do we find a backer?
Zhang Peng's heart stirred, and he nodded silently.
In those days, without a temporary residence permit, some people were even beaten to death. Without a backer, what were they?
They were just street punks.
Worthless lives.
"Find him!"
Chen Jianghe pointed at An Jianguo in the photo, then pulled out five or six bills from the two stacks of money. He tucked the money close to him, bought two boxes of tea with Zhang Peng, and headed towards the Branch Bureau's family quarters.
"What are you doing here?"
As soon as the two arrived outside the family quarters, the old gatekeeper vigilantly stopped them.
"Uncle, we're looking for Director An Jianguo!"
Chen Jianghe smiled.
"You're looking for Director An? What do you want Director An for?"
The old man quietly reached out and gripped his police baton. He had seen many punks like them and couldn't let them cause trouble here.
"Director An is my dad's comrade-in-arms. My dad is gone, and we're here to deliver the news to Director An!" Chen Jianghe lied without changing his expression, showing the photo to the old man.
"It really is Director An. Young men, go on in. Director An lives in the northern room on the second floor. Don't wander around once you're inside!"
The old man's attitude improved significantly when he saw the photo. He waved them in, allowing the two to enter.
"Jianghe, I heard that only officials live here!"
Zhang Peng followed closely behind Chen Jianghe, unable to resist looking around. When he saw someone looking his way, he quickly averted his gaze.
"If you can make something of yourself, these officials will also treat you politely!" Chen Jianghe walked straight ahead, went up to the second floor, and knocked on the door of the northernmost room.
"Who is it?"
The wooden door creaked open, and a simply dressed woman under forty appeared from inside, looking surprised to see Chen Jianghe.
"Aunt Liu, it's me, Chen Jianghe!"
"Jianghe, when did you get out!" Aunt Liu hesitated, standing in the doorway, not opening the door completely.
"Just got out today!"
Chen Jianghe said in a low voice.
"You child, sigh, come in!"
Aunt Liu sighed, hesitated, but still moved aside, letting Chen Jianghe and Zhang Peng into the house.
The furnishings in the room were simple, everywhere revealing the atmosphere of the 80s and 90s. The only somewhat valuable item in the living room was the large color TV placed opposite the gray fabric sofa.
It was said that wealthy families now had plasma TVs.
A middle-aged man sat on the gray fabric sofa, his expression stern and his gaze firm. Seeing Chen Jianghe enter, a complex look also appeared on his face.
"Jianghe, you're out?"
An Jianguo put down his newspaper and waved for Chen Jianghe to sit down.
Chen Jianghe sat down properly, placing the tea on the table. He knew the man in front of him was very principled and not easily swayed, but he was confident he could persuade An Jianguo today.
Because his father had died, and also because his father had saved An Jianguo's life on the battlefield back then, carrying An Jianguo out from a pile of dead bodies.
The hardest debt to repay in this world was a debt of gratitude, and An Jianguo happened to owe his family that debt.
Zhang Peng stood awkwardly beside Chen Jianghe, not daring to sit down.
"Uncle!"
Chen Jianghe respectfully called out.
"Jianghe, in the three years you were inside, I never visited you once. You don't blame me, do you? I told your dad back then that if he went down that path, we would cut ties, but he still went down that path and ended up like this!"
An Jianguo was a little angry, and a little helpless.
"Uncle An, maybe this is fate. My dad chose his own path, and he doesn't blame anyone for ending up like this!" Chen Jianghe looked at An Jianguo sincerely, "I know you made arrangements with the prison, which is why I didn't suffer much inside these past three years!"
"Jianghe, have some tea!"
"You're Jianghe's friend, right? You sit too, have some tea, don't be so stiff!"
Aunt Liu brought over two cups of tea, inviting Zhang Peng to sit down.
Zhang Peng's hands were on his knees, his back straight, and his eyes fixed forward.
"Thank you, Aunt Liu!"
Chen Jianghe thanked her, taking the tea with both hands.
"Jianghe, now that you're out, live a good life from now on, and don't follow your dad's old path again!" An Jianguo pondered for a moment, "You have a record, so you can't join the police station. I'll find someone to arrange for you to work in a factory, which is also a legitimate job!"
If Chen Jianghe hadn't had a record, he could have arranged for Chen Jianghe to work as an auxiliary police officer, and it wouldn't have been difficult to become a regular officer after a few years.
But Chen Jianghe had been to prison, so working at a police station was inappropriate.
"Uncle An, I came to you precisely for this matter. My dad is gone, but his hard work cannot be taken by others. I want to get his arcade back. Can you talk to the Branch Bureau on North Street? I want to report it to the Branch Bureau and ask the people there for help!"
Chen Jianghe shook his head, directly refusing.
"You still want to follow your dad's old path?"
An Jianguo frowned.
"I just want to get my dad's arcade back. I haven't decided yet whether to sell it or continue operating it!" Chen Jianghe didn't lower his head, looking directly into An Jianguo's eyes.
An Jianguo stared at him, and he met An Jianguo's gaze without backing down.
"Jianghe, you're still young, don't go down the wrong path. Jianguo, don't argue with the child. It's only right that he wants his arcade back. It was originally his family's property, and it shouldn't be taken away for no reason. Didn't you always talk about a society ruled by law? In a society ruled by law, can someone just take someone else's shop for free?"
Aunt Liu quickly smoothed things over.
"Jianghe, the scariest thing in life is to go down the wrong path. I don't want you to end up like your dad!" An Jianguo's expression grew cold, "I can make this call for you, for your dad's sake!"
"Thank you, Uncle An!"
Chen Jianghe smiled, stood up, and looked at An Jianguo.
An Jianguo wanted him to walk the straight path, but he was an ex-convict. He couldn't even get a certificate of no criminal record from the police station, so what kind of legitimate job could he do?
His path was sealed the moment he stepped into prison.
"Old Tang, this is An Jianguo. I have a matter. A nephew of mine..., okay, I'll have him come find you later. Help him file a case and see how to handle it!"
An Jianguo made a call on the home landline in front of Chen Jianghe, then wrote Chen Jianghe an address and phone number. "Old Tang is the Branch BureauChief of the North Street area. Go find him, and he'll take you to report the case!"
"Thank you, Uncle An. I'll be going now, Aunt Liu, I'm leaving!"
Chen Jianghe thanked him, then nodded to Aunt Liu, and turned to walk out.
"Jianghe, eat before you go!"
"Aunt Liu, no thanks, I have something else to do!"
Chen Jianghe and Zhang Peng quickly left the family quarters, and Zhang Peng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Jianghe, next time you come, don't make me go in again. Since I was little, I've been afraid of those in uniform!" Zhang Peng chattered.
But it seems this An Jianguo didn't agree to be their backer.
"Okay, you wait for me outside later!"
Chen Jianghe bought two more boxes of tea, poured out the tea, put it into a plastic bag, then stuffed the twenty thousand yuan into the tea boxes, and left with Zhang Peng.