Chapter 77 Thirteen, three-inch golden lotus

After Xia Wentian returned to Dongzhou, He Zhendong was always in a depressed mood. Although Lin Dake was double-regulated by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, Xia Wentian underwent a gallbladder removal operation and seemed to be a different person. Whether it's the municipal government executive meeting or the mayor's office meeting, they have changed their previous gentle style and made decisions without doubt. The most embarrassing thing for He Zhendong was that Xia Wentian revoked his title of chief commander of relocation, demolition and resettlement of Yaowangmiao community on the first day he returned to Dongzhou.

At present, the relocation of Yaowangmiao community is progressing very smoothly. Mr. Huang Hanchen, chairman of the board of directors of Hong Kong Yellow River Group, personally called Xia Wentian to express his satisfaction. He Zhendong was disappointed, but also secretly happy, because after all, Lin Dake was shuanggui, and he was ranked behind Xia Wentian. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. However, it is not suitable to be a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee or the Executive Deputy Mayor anymore, and it is very likely that he will be transferred to a certain department in the province. This opportunity cannot be missed, and it will never come again. He Zhendong thinks that he should go to Beijing. .

Mr. Niu was introduced by Huang Mengran to He Zhendong. He works as a health care doctor in "Hai Li". People who work in Zhongnanhai all say that they work in "Hai Li".Niu Lao worked as a health care doctor for the three chiefs, not only with superb medical skills, but also highly respected in the medical field. Although he has retired, he still has a very close relationship with "Hai Li". Huang Mengran met Mr. Niu through a classmate in the university. This classmate worked for the Ministry of Health. Huang Mengran was the director of the reception office of the Dongzhou City Office in Beijing at that time. In order to win over political resources, we must also win over many important resources such as education and medical care. The first-class universities and hospitals in the capital are the goals of Huang Mengran's public relations. Otherwise, what if the leader’s children go to Beijing to study, and their family members go to Beijing for medical treatment when they get sick?

Of course, the health care doctors in "Haili" are a hot double resource. Not only are they good at medical skills, but they can also talk directly to the superiors. I like to collect three-inch golden lotuses, and a few pairs of small shoes are given away, and the two of them become friends. He Zhendong also likes to collect, but he is different from Niu Lao. He collects whatever is good for him, as long as it is a good thing, it is within the scope of his collection.He Zhendong is quite satisfied with his hobbies, and believes that collecting should become the taste of all leading cadres.

However, even though He Zhendong likes to collect, people mostly give him celadon, jade, calligraphy and painting, and golden Buddha. I like to collect three-inch golden lotus.From then on, He Zhendong asked Huang Mengran to find a way to buy a pair of three-inch golden lotuses from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and give them to Niu Lao. For this pair of small shoes, Huang Mengran traveled all over Shanxi, because the wind of foot binding has spread to most of China, especially in Shanxi, and there is a saying that "novel Shanxi from never feet", and Datong is the most popular in Shanxi.

According to legend, from the reign of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty to the beginning of the Republic of China, every year on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, Datong will hold a game of feet, that is, a small feet exhibition.During the selection, only slender feet are allowed, and no peeking at the appearance is allowed. The women participating in the competition will show a pair of small feet, and officials and experts will judge according to the criteria of thin, small, pointed, curved, fragrant, soft, and straight, and win the top three. Those who were named "lord", "tyrant" and "empress" respectively.He Zhendong's understanding of this knowledge is from the last time he invited Niu Lao to dinner.

Huang Mengran lived up to the trust and got a pair of three-inch golden lotuses from the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. Anyway, they are considered an antique. He Zhendong and Huang Mengran discussed and went to Beijing to visit Niu Lao on weekends. To be on the safe side, Huang Mengran went back to Beijing to make arrangements. In the evening, Huang Mengran called from Beijing, saying that Mr. Niu was very happy to hear that He Zhendong was going to visit him in Beijing. After hearing that, He Zhendong felt relieved. The whole night, He Zhendong slept soundly, but had a dream all night, dreaming that he kept climbing up the mountain, the mountain was so high that he couldn't climb to the top, he was so tired that he was out of breath, and there were many ridicules around him. When he looked up, he found that Niu Lao laughed and pointed at him on the top of the mountain. With a wave of his hand, he took down a pair of three-inch golden lotus.

When He Zhendong went to Beijing, he directly lived in the Beijing VIP Building. The reason why he lived here was because Mr. Niu liked to eat the crab wings in the VIP Building.In the evening, Huang Mengran drove Niu Lao to Mingyuan in the VIP building. The private room is full of antique charm, and He Zhendong has found a sense of dignity similar to the former emperor. The floor is covered with simple and elegant patterned carpets, the walls are decorated with pine and crane ink paintings, and rosewood Ming-style furniture With silk cushions, it reveals a lingering ancient feeling, quiet and peaceful.

Niu Lao has always been a fairy, and he has the demeanor of a great doctor with sincerity. As soon as he entered the private room, he smiled heartily and said: "Zhendong, it's rare that you still remember that this old man loves to eat crab wings, and he flew here specially from Dongzhou to give him a good meal." !" He Zhendong hurriedly went up to shake hands with Mr. Niu warmly and said: "Mr. Niu, you are always a dragon in the 'sea'. You have never seen anything before. You are doing Zhendong face!" He Zhendong said while Fu Niu sat on the table.Huang Mengran signaled to the waiter to take the dishes, and the three of them sat down and chatted while drinking tea.

"Zhendong, I heard from Mengran that something happened in Dongzhou again?" Mr. Niu asked while wiping his face with a hot towel. "Isn't that right, Lin Dake, the executive deputy mayor who is in front of me, has been slapped with double regulations by the province." He Zhendong said with feigned regret. "How much did you charge?" Mr. Niu asked, taking a sip of his tea. "I heard that they received a bunch of valuable relic beads, which were from the Ming Dynasty." He Zhendong said with a sigh. Niu Lao said, "I recently discovered a new trend of official corruption, which is the evolution from 'vulgar greed' to 'elegant greed'."

"Old Niu, what is vulgar greed? What is elegant greed?" Huang Mengran asked wonderingly. "'Vulgar greed' means greed for money and sex, and elegant greed means greed for antique calligraphy and paintings. Just like what Yan Song did in Ming Dynasty Shen Defu's "Wanli Ye Huo Bian": "Hundreds of jasper and white jade chess sets, and hundreds of gold and silver chess pieces Vice... However, the collection of famous calligraphy and paintings is the most, so that the "Surfing the River During the Qingming Festival" was specially jailed. "Shen Defu concluded: "It is greedy, but also elegant." Today's officials also learn to be "elegant and greedy." ' is." As soon as Mr. Niu finished speaking, all the dishes were served. Although Mr. Niu was old, he loved Moutai all his life. He Zhendong poured Moutai for Niu Lao and said: "Niu Lao, I think there is an essential difference between 'elegant greed' and 'vulgar greed'. Strictly speaking, 'elegant greed' can only be regarded as arty, but I think Shen Defu It would be more appropriate to call it refined taste.” "Zhendong, I don't agree with what you say. Whether it's 'elegant greed' or 'vulgar greed', they are essentially people with power who take advantage of their positions to satisfy their personal desires, accept bribes from others, and Seeking illicit benefits for others. The harm these corrupt officials do to society does not lie in what they are greedy for, but that they use their power to disrupt social order, harm the interests of the country or others, and give the green light for bribers to seek personal gain!" Niu Lao took a sip of Moutai after finishing speaking, then picked up the soft bag Zhonghua from the dining table, and took out one. Huang Mengran quickly lit Niu Lao and asked, "Since Niu Lao wants to be greedy, it's so fun to be greedy for money. Why do you want to be greedy?" Ya greed'?" "In recent years, our party's anti-corruption efforts have been continuously intensified. Disciplinary inspection and supervision departments and mass supervision have formed a high-pressure situation. Although corrupt officials have undiminished greed, they still have fear in their hearts. The way of collecting money has to be more concealed! Didn't someone say that , Aren’t you afraid that the leader will talk about principles, but you’re afraid that the leader is not interested? Now some leading cadres have seen many powerful figures have been sacked, so they have to be vigilant in terms of money, beauty and sex, and strictly discipline themselves. Bribery people can’t impress corruption with these ordinary means The target, had to start from the other hobbies of officials, and leading cadres with calligraphy, painting, collection and other hobbies are often praised as well-cultivated, high-style, and have nothing to do with corruption and bribery, so the bribers have spotted this 'Breakthrough', violent attack, your executive deputy mayor, Lin Da, will be hit by an arrow!" Mr. Niu said meaningfully. "Old Niu, it's really a pity that Lin Dake got hit by an arrow this time, but it's a good opportunity for Mayor He to make progress!" Huang Mengran told the truth. Niu Lao smiled and said: "Zhendong, I have already guessed the meaning, but, after all, I am a person who 'goes ashore', and I seldom ask about 'sea' matters." He Zhendong thought to himself, the old man just talked loudly and denounced "elegant greed", it seems that he just had his mouth full.Thinking of this, He Zhendong took out a delicate red sandalwood box from his bag with a big smile on his face. "Mr. Niu, I know that you have always loved the 'Lian Xue' all your life. After much deliberation, there is nothing to honor you, so I bought you a new pair of shoes. I'm a layman, so I don't know if I can enter Your old eyes." After He Zhendong finished speaking, Niu Lao's eyes lit up, and he said with a smile on his face: "Zhendong, it seems that you are here to put on my shoes." After talking, Mr. Niu couldn't wait to open the red sandalwood box, revealing a pair of "golden lotus with goose heads". The red uppers were embroidered with gold thread patterns, which was very festive. Mr. Niu quickly took out a magnifying glass from his pocket and excitedly took pictures. "Okay, Zhendong, these are a pair of 'shoes'!" "Old Niu, what does it mean to step on the shoes? Is there anything special about it?" Huang Mengran asked knowingly. "You don't understand this. 'Stepping shoes' are also called 'happy shoes'. They were worn by girls when they got married. These shoes are from the late Ming Dynasty. They can be called a god among shoes. Look at the exquisite embroidery. , gorgeous colors, fully embodies the ingenuity and artistic creation of the working people!" "Old Niu, could it be that the three-inch golden lotus is divided into nine grades like a black gauze hat?" He Zhendong asked with a smile. "Of course, there are nine grades of black gauze caps, and there are also nine grades of three-inch golden lotuses. These nine grades are divine grades, wonderful grades, fairy grades, rare grades, pure grades, gorgeous grades, sublime grades, ordinary grades, and fakes. It's a coincidence. "Old Niu said with great interest. "Boss Niu, footbinding is a very painful thing. As the saying goes, 'One pair of feet, one vat of tears', why did women in the old days suffer from this crime?" Huang Mengran asked puzzled. "The custom of women's footbinding has lasted for more than a thousand years in China. I call it an ugly national quintessence. According to legend, Li Yu, the empress of the Southern Tang Dynasty in the Five Dynasties, had a favorite concubine who was light and good at dancing. The empress ordered the craftsmen to make a six-foot lotus platform. Decorate it with jewelry and silk brocade, and then order the concubine to bind her feet with silk to form a crescent moon, and then put on plain socks to dance on the lotus platform, just like a fairy descending to earth. The concubine's slender feet immediately aroused the envy and imitation of the court ladies It quickly spread outside the palace and became popular among the people. The purpose of dancing with the feet of the beloved concubine was to enhance the beauty of the dance and create a sense of beauty in the performance. Unfortunately, the foolish women in the world imitated it and pushed it to the extreme, making nearly half of China's population Become disabled, this is the same reason as modern women who cut double eyelids, breast augmentation, and waist for beauty, women who love beauty endure cruelty to themselves in order to maintain a beautiful appearance, from ancient times to the present, it has always been like this!" Niu Lao said happily while playing with the little shoes in his hand. "Old Niu, you are the healthy 'Vassili' of the chief ministers. The secret of your longevity is not playing with these three-inch golden lotuses, is it?" Huang Mengran asked with great interest. "Chairman Mao's secret of longevity is to jump out of the Three Realms and be in the Five Elements. I have worked in the sea for more than 20 years. This sentence has the greatest impact on my life. Since I am still in the Five Elements, of course I have to take care of Zhendong. , people, always have to talk about feelings." Niu Lao put the three-inch golden lotus into the red sandalwood box, took a sip of Moutai and said kindly. He Zhendong finally put his heart into his stomach, he thought to himself, as long as Mr. Niu is willing to talk, his appointment as a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee will be considered. Thinking of this, He Zhendong felt a surge of heat all over his body. He controlled his excitement and said emotionally: "Old Niu, I also want to do more for the common people!" "Okay, Zhendong, being an official doesn't make decisions for the people, it's better to go home and sell sweet potatoes. Come, let's make a drink for your truth!" Niu Lao toasted, He Zhendong and Huang Mengran toasted Niu Lao respectfully, and Niu Lao raised his glass for the first time in the whole night!