Chapter 2507: Chapter 2571: Letting Go of Past Grievances
The 2571st: Letting Go of Past Grudges
Regarding the vegetables Father Su bought, it was actually just two kinds, a fish, and a piece of meat. Without a fridge, it could be directly frozen on the windowsill. The kitchen conditions were also quite poor. Li Yifei walked over, turned the tap, and found not a drop of water, not even any sound from within. From the side of the sink stood a big barrel, almost out of water.
Li Yifei walked back and asked, "Dad, does the water always get cut off around here?"
Father Su turned his head upon hearing and nodded, "It’s not good here, the water and electricity frequently cut out. If you’re not careful, you’ll suddenly be without water and electricity. We’ve tried many times to get help. They come to fix things, but in a few days, it’s broken again. With electricity, the aging lines and remote location mean they don’t want to replace the lines. But water is worse. The pipes are buried underground, and no one comes to fix them when they break. We don’t have money, so they naturally don’t care. I suspect the pipe burst again this time. Water started gushing out in front of the building days ago. We called, but no one came, and they just shut off the water gate, leaving us without water for days."
"It’s New Year, and they still cut off the water. How shameless!" Su Yiyi said.
Li Yifei nodded, "It really is over the line!"
Father Su smiled wryly and said, "The water company isn’t really to blame either. This place is isolated, with only a few buildings, home to poor and elderly folks, people without much means. If they want to fix the water, they’d need to replace the whole pipeline and dig up all the lines. That’s not a small amount, even shared evenly among families. Some might pay, but most wouldn’t, hoping the water company would foot the bill, but they aren’t foolish."
That’s reasonable, but the water company is a government public service, not always about profit. They should earn but also invest. Li Yifei wasn’t familiar with these matters, judging by instinct, he said, "Dad, when Yiyi and I were going upstairs, several elders were downstairs discussing this!"
"Talking won’t help. If they’re unwilling to pay a few thousand, then there’s no water!" Father Su shook his head, "But most can’t help it. If all agreed, they’d pay, but there’s always someone protesting they definitely won’t pay, leading others not to pay either."
"No water during New Year, it really is..." Li Yifei didn’t know what to say, there’s always a troublemaker, and such things can be really annoying.
With a kind heart, Su Yiyi softly said, "If it’s not a bother, maybe we can help them out. Celebrating without electricity or water is hard."
"If you have a way, Yifei, maybe help out a bit. But today is really tight, so finding someone might be hard. Maybe let them hang on for a couple of days and discuss after the holidays." Father Su considered but said looking at his son-in-law.
Li Yifei thought for a moment, nodding, "Then I’ll find someone to look into it. If it needs fixing, we can negotiate after the holidays. Let’s deal with these few days first."
Being without water and electricity is truly pressing; since we’re here, let’s lend a hand, at least as an act of goodwill.
Seeing Li Yifei agree, Father Su smiled happily, "Thank them for me. It’s helpless, really. Most living here are elderly or idle folks without much income, unable to move. They’re constantly unrestful, being stuck here all day."
"As long as we can help!" Su Yiyi quickly said, fearing her father might demand something excessive, like giving those people money. She must first curb her father’s thoughts.
Father Su indeed had no such idea, he was just expressing concern.
Li Yifei nodded, "I’ll make some calls first. Today’s special, it can be hard to find someone!"
It’s more than difficult to find someone; Li Yifei was somewhat unsure who to contact. Despite the date, in Mile City, even if Li Yifei wanted to contact someone at midnight on New Year’s Eve, they wouldn’t refuse help, whether sincerely or not, they’d agree. That’s his reputation. But... he can’t go to the city, to the Party Secretary, or the Mayor for this little issue, nor can he contact any Deputy Mayor or the Director; just water and electricity... hmm, suddenly Li Yifei thought of Ye Yunzhu, the Deputy Mayor in charge of cultural, educational, and health, do these fall under the Health Department’s jurisdiction?
Maybe not, Li Yifei wasn’t sure so quickly called Deputy Mayor Ye.
"Hello, Yifei, you’re back?" Ye Yunzhu asked as soon as the call connected.
"Not yet, there’s a bit of an issue here, Yunzhu, as Deputy Mayor, I need your help." Li Yifei explained the situation, after which Ye Yunzhu promptly said, "Don’t worry, this indeed falls under my area. So... I’ll contact the responsible people directly, let them handle it, and specific line repairs post-holidays, but let’s get the water and electricity supplied first!"
"Good, I’ll leave it to you, sending you the address now!" Li Yifei said.
"Okay, you and Yiyi, along with Uncle, come back soon, everyone’s waiting!"
"We’re coming right away!" Li Yifei hung up the call and told the Su family, "Yunzhu will handle it, we don’t need to worry. She’ll arrange for someone to come for repairs!"
This son-in-law... truly remarkable, Father Su thought, a call directly to the Deputy Mayor, well, this Deputy Mayor is also his wife’s sister... the father and mother-in-law of Li Yifei had long accepted his many women, so they didn’t mind.
With Li Yifei having solved the issue, Father Su was reassured. Li Yifei carrying a small bag packed with Father Su’s change of clothes, the three of them went downstairs, Father Su carrying the purchased vegetables and fish and meat, handing the fish to the old lady, the meat to the old man, and vegetables to another old man.
"Old Su, what’s going on? Giving us these groceries, what will you do?" the old man receiving meat asked.
"No problem, I’m going to my daughter’s for the holidays. Her and son-in-law came to get me!" Father Su replied smiling.
"Daughter and son-in-law? When did you have them, I thought you were an old bachelor!" the old lady hearing perked up, glanced at Li Yifei and Su Yiyi, reprimanding, "You two, as the kids, it’s not for Auntie to say, driving such a nice car, how can you treat your father so poorly? You seem affluent but leave him in such a place, how can you bear it?"
"It’s not like that, I’m the one who left on a whim. Now they’ve come looking!" Father Su quickly explained.
Su Yiyi nodded repeatedly, "Auntie, I was wrong. I promise it won’t happen again."
Li Yifei nodded along, Auntie hummed twice, "Never mind, Auntie shouldn’t interfere with your family matters. Your father’s health isn’t great, take him for a check-up at the hospital while you’re celebrating. We old folks, once sick, it’s usually severe, early diagnosis means early treatment."
"Absolutely, thank you Auntie!" Su Yiyi promptly said.
"Oh really... Old Su, don’t come back, what’s there to live in this place? As you age, don’t be too stubborn, if your daughter’s house is comfortable, stay more." Auntie seemed uneasy, advising.
A truly caring person, Li Yifei thought, with Father Su agreeing, "Don’t worry, my daughter and son-in-law are filial, not as you think. All right, I’ll be off, we’ll chat again post-holidays, Happy New Year to you all."
"Same to you, all of you happy!" the elders blessed, but their faces ultimately didn’t light up. After all, without water or electricity, they didn’t know how they’d prepare or eat the New Year’s dinner.
After walking a few steps, Father Su suddenly turned back, shouting, "Don’t worry, my son-in-law called the relevant departments, they’ll send people soon to sort out the water and electricity. They’ll get you water and electricity first."
"Really?" the auntie perked up hearing this, quickly stepping closer with doubt, asking, "Old Su, you’re not joking, your son-in-law truly succeeded?"
As they spoke, a few elders sized up Li Yifei, disbelief on their faces, with Father Su reassuring, "Rest assured, I wouldn’t fool you, if he says repair, they’ll repair, no mistake on this!"
"Your son-in-law actually has it in him?" Auntie asked, glancing at Li Yifei again, saying, "Young man, Auntie doesn’t mean anything by this, it’s just... for the water and electricity, we’ve asked many times but didn’t succeed."
"Auntie, you’re my dad’s friends. I wouldn’t deceive you; people should be arriving within half an hour to an hour, they’ll ensure water and electricity for these days, discussing line replacements with you post-holidays." Li Yifei said,
"Oh my, this is great news! Young man, you truly have the skill, excellent! I must tell everyone, fantastic, with water and electricity, the holiday’s doable!" the old lady said delightedly.
Father Su chuckled, "Relax, my son-in-law is reliable, what he says, he does."
"So impressive, Old Su, you have a good son-in-law. We blame him wrongly, we spoke casually, didn’t think he’d take it seriously. You said if there’s water and electricity, we’d be ever so thankful."
"No thanks needed, neighbors live nearby, we help when we can. You all stay for the holiday, let’s chat again post-holidays." Father Su said, waving his hand, heading towards the car a dozen meters away.
"Dad, watch out!" Li Yifei just waving to the elders, turned around to see a flowerpot falling from above, almost hitting Father Su. He dashed over, punching the pot aside.
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