Chapter 30: Distinctions Between Men and Women

Jin Zhihai had left. Li Yancheng wandered out into the alleyway alone to find a restroom; he disliked keeping a chamber pot in the house, feeling the smell was simply too overpowering, so he preferred to go outside even if it was a bit of a hassle.

He had forgotten his overcoat and returned shivering from the cold. Just as he reached his door and reached out to lift the curtain, he heard a rustling sound inside that startled him. The lights were still on in the various homes in the courtyard; surely no thief would be bold enough to strike now?

He carefully lifted the curtain and peeked inside, only to lock eyes with little Ningning, who had been kneeling on a chair in the living room and turned at the sound of the movement.

"Pfft... Brother Yancheng, what are you doing? You look like a thief," Ningning burst into laughter at the sight of Li Yancheng’s furtive, head-first intrusion.

"You’re one to talk. Why aren't you sleeping in your own room, little girl? You snuck over here, and when I heard the noise, I thought we had a burglar."

"Tch, with my brother in this courtyard, what thief would dare show their face?"

That was true enough. Because of the late elder Jin and now Jin Zhihai, Meishan East Alley was genuinely the safest in the neighborhood. For years, there had been hardly any thefts, let alone any fights or brawls.

"Don't change the subject. Why are you here instead of sleeping?"

The girl was thirteen now, not three or four years old; it wouldn't look good if word got out that she was in a man’s room in the middle of the night.

"Brother Yancheng, you promised to help me with my tutoring," Ningning pouted, looking a bit aggrieved.

Unfortunately, her feigned pitiful expression could not fool Li Yancheng, who had watched her grow up.

"None of that now. Stop putting on an act and go back to your room to sleep. Tutoring is for the daytime; who studies at nine o'clock at night? Besides, aren't you getting help from Nana’s aunt? She’s a top student from the Normal University, much more capable than a technical school graduate like me."

"There are too many people at Sister Weiyu’s place, and she’s always jumping from one topic to another. I can’t understand half of it."

This time, the distressed look on Ningning’s face seemed genuine.

"I’m happy to tutor you, but it’s not happening now. We’ll do it during the day."

"Hehe, thanks, Brother Yancheng! I actually just came to drop off these books. My brother borrowed these middle school textbooks for me. Have a look." Jin Wuning patted the books on the table and hopped down to the floor.

This girl...

Seeing the bright, radiant smile that suddenly bloomed on her face, Li Yancheng shook his head helplessly. He’d been taken in by her act again.

"Alright, I get it. Go on home now."

"Got it! See you tomorrow, Brother Yancheng."

Ningning flashed her little canine teeth in a smile, waved her hand, and scampered off like a little rabbit.

In the east wing, where Jin Zhihai and his wife lived, Xing Lihua stood behind the curtain. Watching her sister-in-law run back from the main house to her own room, she let out a long sigh.

She dropped the corner of the curtain and turned to her husband, who was lying on the bed. "Zhihai, you should talk to Ningning. She really shouldn't be running into a man's room in the middle of the night anymore."

"You're just worrying over nothing. Her relationship with Yancheng is just like that of a brother and sister."

"I'm not talking about their relationship, but the propriety of her being in a man's room at this hour. Even if they were real siblings, it wouldn't be appropriate. She’s grown up now; people will gossip if they find out."

Jin Zhihai put down the case file he was holding, frowned, and thought for a moment before nodding. "You're right, dear. I should have a talk with her. Wait—why don't you do it? You're both women; it’ll be easier to talk."

"I'm only her sister-in-law. I'm afraid if I say too much, she’ll think I’m being meddlesome."

"That won't happen. Ningning thinks the world of you. It’s better if it comes from you. Just tell her that men and women should keep their distance, and that she shouldn't cling to Yancheng like she did when she was a child. She just needs to know there are boundaries."

When a girl grows up, the adults in the house inevitably have to worry more than they do about boys.

...

Meanwhile, in a certain office building in Beijing, a meeting had just concluded. The attendees were filing out of the hall, looking listless after a day of discussions.

A middle-aged man in a grey Zhongshan suit was following the crowd toward the stairwell when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"Director Zhuang."

The middle-aged man turned, and upon seeing who had called him, he stiffened; his pupils contracted slightly.

"Section Chief Luo."

The man who had stopped him was Luo Yang.

"Director Zhuang, I apologize for the interruption, but I need a few minutes of your time."

Though he was puzzled—they worked in different departments and were merely nodding acquaintances—the middle-aged man stopped his descent, stepped out of the flow of people, and walked over to the young man.

Although he was a deputy director, he only held a district-level position. The young man before him, however, worked at the municipal level. Even if his rank was lower, it was best not to offend someone with such connections, and the young man had another identity that made him impossible to ignore.

"Section Chief Luo, is there something..."

"Director Zhuang, let's talk over here."

Luo Yang gestured toward the side.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man said nothing more and followed him to an empty area on the other side of the floor. Many in the crowd glanced their way, but they merely looked and kept moving.

Reaching the other side, Luo Yang pushed open the door to an office and signaled for the middle-aged man to enter. It was a reception room, furnished only with a few sofas and a coffee table.

After they both sat down, Luo Yang took out a cigarette and tossed one to the middle-aged man. Seeing the look of confusion on Director Zhuang's face, he smiled slightly. "Director Zhuang, I’ve asked you here for a private matter. I’m hoping to ask you about someone."

The middle-aged man’s confusion deepened. He wasn't even a local; he had only come to Beijing after transitioning out of the military and didn't know many people. Being asked about someone felt...

"I’m not sure who it is you’re looking to ask about, Section Chief Luo?"

Despite his internal reservations, his tone remained polite.

"Li Yancheng. Do you happen to have any impression of him?"

"Li... Yancheng?" At the mention of the name, the middle-aged man looked momentarily stunned.

"If the person you're referring to is the doctor currently at the First Hospital, then yes, I do know him. He was a doctor in our military hospital before transitioning back to civilian life the year before last."

"That’s exactly who I’m asking about."