Chapter 18: Youth

The door of the audio-visual room was knocked gently, and Chu Xiaodong’s voice came: “Did I disturb you? Is Xiao Lu available? I have something to tell you.”

Finally, the main show came. The matter with Aunt Chu and Daitou E was just an appetizer. The one who really wanted to talk to him should be Chu Xiaodong. After temporarily saying goodbye to the monitor, he left the audio-visual room and followed Chu Xiaodong into the study. At the signal of the Prime Minister of Chuanhai City, he sat on the sofa, but his butt was not sitting comfortably.

Chu Xiaodong’s study was very simple, with three rows of bookshelves full of various books, a desk and a computer with three external monitors, and a leather sofa. The sharp-eyed Mr. Lu saw a small photo frame in front of the computer, which showed a happy family of three. It can be seen that Chu Xiaodong is a good man who cares about his family.

Chu Xiaodong didn’t put on airs. He sat casually next to Lu Li and asked in a chatty tone like a friend: “Xiao Lu, how old are you this year?”

“Sixteen, seventeen next month.” His birthday is in October.

“Haha, don’t be so nervous. Let’s just chat casually.” Of course you are not nervous, how can I, a poor student, not be nervous?

Lu Li’s household registration is linked to his school registration. Legally, he is considered a person with limited capacity for conduct. He has no corresponding legal rights in all social affairs except for his studies. In other words, Chu Xiaodong can turn Lu Li from a student into an illegal resident with just one sentence. This is also the reason why Lu Li cannot apply for a student loan.

“How long have you and Yibao known each other?”

Is that how you parents call the class monitor in private? But it is indeed appropriate. The silly goose is as pure as pure water, and occasionally he is silly and pretentious. Calling him Yibao is the most appropriate.

“We were assigned to the same class last year, but we were not particularly familiar with each other throughout the whole year last year.”

Chu Xiaodong smiled very calmly, and his emotions did not change at all. This kind of person is the most terrifying type of person in life. They are cunning and can smile generously even when stabbing someone in the back. Lu Li finally understood why Chu Xiaodong always liked to squint his eyes when he smiled, because this way others could not see his eyes - just like lowering a curtain, locking all emotions firmly under those eyes.

“I heard from Yibao that your guardian ran away. Why didn’t you report the situation to the government? It must not be easy for you to come here alone all these years?”

“There is not much chance to contact government officials.”

This is a lie. When he was a child, Sister Yameng took him to the government building and waited for a whole day. The office staff said lightly, “The certificates are not complete. Go and get them completed before coming back.” Then it was an endless shirking of responsibility. The two children ran back and forth between four or five relevant departments. In the end, both little Lu Li and little Zou Yameng sat down on the street and cried loudly, deeply feeling the malice of this world.

So he hated bureaucracy.

It represented his helplessness, his sadness, and his despair. Chu Xiaodong may never imagine that after the seven-year-old Lu Li cried on the street, he felt so detached that he was almost angry, as if he was not a part of this world.

Chu Xiaodong seemed to notice that Lu Li’s mood was not right, and he laughed: “The main reason for talking to you is this matter. I know that the grassroots work in our Chuanhai City is not ideal. There are policies and countermeasures. There are some things that we who give orders cannot control. How about this, Xiao Lu, do your uncle a favor and count the names and reasons of all minors without guardians in your low-rent area, so that we who eat for free can make some compensation, how about it?”

Hearing this, the only thought that emerged in Lu Li’s mind was: Why me? What does Chu Xiaodong mean?

“Xiao Lu, you are the person involved in this matter, and I feel relieved to leave it to you.”

“But I have to go to school every day, and I may not have much time to do it...”

“You can use the weekend to complete it.” Chu Xiaodong blinked at him, and this time he did not deliberately hide the emotions in his eyes, “How about it?”

He understood that Chu Xiaodong was taking revenge on him. Revenge Lu Li ordered his daughter like a servant. What a petty man. But he really wanted to agree to this matter. With Chu Xiaodong’s promise, the lives of minors in their low-rent area would be much better.

“Okay. I will definitely do my best.”

“Please organize the situation into an electronic file and send it to me. By the way, do you have a computer?” Chu Xiaodong suddenly slapped his head, and seeing Lu Li’s wooden expression, he smiled apologetically, “Then how about this, I will lend you a laptop for office use, which will also facilitate our work.”

He walked to the desk and took out a brand new computer bag from the drawer. It can be seen that this old thief was well prepared. Lu Li took the heavy computer bag without checking it, and bowed his head and said, “Thank you, Uncle Chu.”

“Then Xiao Lu, you have worked hard on this matter.” Chu Xiaodong patted Lu Li on the shoulder, “I heard that Xiao Lu, you got the first place in the grade this time, and your grades are very good. Do you have a target university?”