Chapter 2, Liu Lao Liu

I find myself lost in thought, and before I know it, time has slowed down. The reason I say I have more leisure than others is not because I work in the neighborhood committee, but because I can freely squander the extra time I have. As long as I wish, I can stretch your one second into an hour.

After I graduated in a daze from a third or fourth-tier university, I was directly assigned here, to the community committee, in the position of director

Wangfu Street was analyzed as a historical phenomenon by a certain historian a few years ago. In the face of numerous unfriendly remarks, this professor stood out by emphasizing the importance of not viewing issues in a one-sided manner. According to his analysis, the inexplicable hostility of the residents of Wangfu Street towards everything is not solely due to distorted self-esteem and feelings of inferiority, but more so because the indigenous people of this old street have endured the torrents of history for a century, witnessing countless changes in societal conditions. They have seen through all worldly matters, and their attitude towards the world actually represents a true noble philosophy of existence: to remain noble by disregarding everything, observing the affairs of the world with a hint of cold laughter at the corners of their mouths.

We have discussed that the exclusivity of Wangfu Street is quite strong; I am completely a stranger here. Although it is not as dire as a sheep entering a wolf pack, at the very least, it is akin to sending an orangutan to deal with baboons. Moreover, I have to face one more issue: my arrival has resulted in the former neighborhood committee director, Madam Meng, being demoted to deputy director, which is undoubtedly seen as a serious provocation by the locals.

I am smarter than scholars and understand a truth: if you want to make children angry, kicking them a couple of times will definitely have a greater impact than smiling at them. All the insights into the world's affairs and the currents of history are nonsense—poverty and harsh environments breed cunning people, and you must deal with them accordingly

Oh, Mr. Lü, may I address you this way

Just when I was being pressured to donate at the threshold, someone suggested an idea: use a soft approach! The specific method is to treat myself as a minor assistant, emulating the little eunuchs in the braid plays. More specifically, every time Aunt Meng calls me Director He, I automatically filter it to "Little Anzi," using my actions to make them understand who the real boss is here—actually, it is a process of making them realize that I am not the boss and do not wish to be the boss.

I am not afraid of him; acting tough with me on Wangfu Street is akin to robbing a military police dormitory

Indeed, there is a distinction between coming to consume and coming to sell. The vegetable vendor is a typical example—he is the only one who dares to ride a human-powered tricycle to Wangfu Street to sell vegetables without being driven away. The next day, Aunt Meng mentioned him, saying, "I still owe him 5 cents," but she did not mention him the following day. After that, I never saw him again; it seems the vendor was indeed frightened.

The same object can be perceived differently by different individuals. When a gun is placed before a marksman, it signifies a series of bullseyes to him; when a ball of thread and a frame are presented to a skilled girl, she may very well see them as a completed piece of embroidery. If you give a needle and thread to the marksman, he could prick his fingers and still not produce a single target ring. This is entirely due to the differences in individual abilities. If you give a needle and thread to the marksman, he could prick his fingers and still not produce a single target ring. This is entirely due to the differences in individual abilities.

Later, I came to understand that this is political persecution! Wangfu Street, the most terrifying place in this city in the 21st century, is inhabited by residents who are not only tough to deal with but also adept in political struggles. Just think, they have been following that shameless old man with the surname Zhu for hundreds of years; how could they not be skilled in this regard? Otherwise, they would not have survived until the liberation relying solely on their arrogance and unreasonable behavior. Aunt Meng is a prime example of this in her dealings with vegetable vendors and her strategies of close and distant engagement with me

The office of the neighborhood committee is quite spacious, about 40 square meters. This is a reward for me after becoming a son-in-law several times. Anyway, Wangfu Street is far from the Third Ring Road, with a vast area and sparse population. The tallest building on the street is a six-story structure, and all the shops along the street are self-built by the residents. We are also very close to a large auto repair factory and a long-distance bus station.

Such a fortunate opportunity was not originally meant for me. Since the government implemented the enhancement of grassroots management a few years ago, a college diploma has become a requirement to join the neighborhood committee. Our most basic level has quickly turned into a coveted stepping stone for many university graduates. The reason I was able to become the director of the neighborhood committee on Wangfu Street is that I received special favor from the government—because I am an orphan

I immediately wore a mournful expression and said to Lü Weimin, "From now on, when you call his name, make sure to say it completely—Liu Lao Liu, not just Liu Lao"

I do not know why, but the first time I saw him, I felt that he looked very out of place coming out of that Santana car; he should be in a better vehicle

It is I, who are you

My door is open, allowing me to see the face of the visitor clearly. It is a middle-aged man, dressed quite ordinarily, with a slight bald spot.

This ability cannot be used at will; it is akin to the strength of a person and the principles illustrated in diagrams and books. If one wishes to run faster, one must exert more effort. Similarly, if I wish to slow down time, I must expend more energy. This energy is difficult to articulate and define, yet it is certainly not inexhaustible. At times, if I slow down time too much, it shows signs of decline. Fortunately, this is sufficient for daily needs: for instance, running errands, delivering messages, or chasing after a vegetable vendor.

The world has never truly changed; what is referred to as slowing down is merely a perception of mine. In this world that appears to be slowed down, if I wish to act normally, I may seem to you like a person who is erratic and frantic, akin to watching a video played at 8 times the normal speed. Fast and slow are inherently relative concepts

I was somewhat surprised and said: "Unfortunately, if you want to close your account, you have come to the wrong place; this matter falls under the jurisdiction of the police station."

Of course, in my eyes, an hour is still an hour, the world remains the world, and a second is still a second

Understood, right? Focus on two key concepts: self and mass. It is somewhat akin to the study groups we formed under the teacher's authorization during our childhood

I am still sitting on a circle of artificial leather chairs secured with thumbtacks, sipping on a cup of flower tea that costs 2.5 yuan per liang, with a copy of the "Reference News" spread out in front of me, closing my eyes to rest.

Regardless, after a period of effort, everyone has finally stopped treating me as an outsider—after all, a son-in-law is half a son

Lü Weimin suddenly raised his head, looked at me intently, and said: "I am here to ask you to save her!"

Lü Weimin suddenly turned his head and pleaded towards the door, "Old Liu, isn't it time for you to come out?"

My surname is Lü, Lü Weimin

I hurriedly stood up: "Do you need something?" Perhaps this person still falls under my jurisdiction; the several communities on Wangfu Street, with around 2,000 residents, are all managed by our neighborhood committee, and it is normal not to have seen half of them (the disabled) before.

I was confident and reminded him, "Don't get agitated; even if I don't help you, no one can interfere with this matter"

Lü Weimin, however, seemed to have heard the underlying meaning, filled with hope yet resolute, said: "So you must help me!" These words were spoken through gritted teeth

I began to think that I was fortunate, after all, this opportunity is something that many graduates from prestigious universities seek but cannot attain; however, I soon realized that I was unfortunate, as the place I was headed to was Wangfujing Street

Lü Weimin stared into my eyes and asked word by word: "Are you sure you won't help me?"

He first shook hands with me in a manner reminiscent of a gentleman, maintaining a certain distance with a light grip. Unintentionally, he revealed the Omega watch on his wrist, yet it was evident that he did not harbor any disdain towards me. His face even bore a hint of humility: "You must be Mr. He Anyi, right?"

Lü Weimin rested his arm on the table, dejectedly ran his fingers through his sparse hair, and said weakly: "Not long ago, my only relative in this world, my daughter, passed away"

Its benefit is that I still have plenty of time to daydream. I believe that when I grow old, regardless of my mental age, I will certainly have lived longer than my peers

I placed one hand on the table, my mind racing, imagining how an ordinary person would handle such a situation. Finally, I said: "Has your mind been stimulated by something recently?"

It was only then that I realized I had let something slip, and feeling guilty, I said: "If you continue like this, I might have to call the police. Our neighborhood committee has business dealings with the police station!"

I wonder if the scholar noticed the "slight cold smile" hanging at the corner of the residents' mouths on Wangfu Street when he left. I feel quite sorry for him; to use a term from historiography: this person is simply a 2B.

Community committee director, a one-year annual herb...! ... Uh, it operates on a three-year rotation system. Currently, especially among young people, there is a high likelihood that they have little understanding of it, and may even confuse it with the street office, which is entirely different: the director of the street office is indeed a civil servant

These two sentences are the original words of a certain scholar. In order to complete this article, he personally visited Wangfu Street for interviews. At that time, the neighborhood committee director, Aunt Meng, received him. After the scholar collected a large amount of first-hand information and left with great ambition, he discovered that two local children were letting the air out of their bicycles. The scholar, filled with lofty thoughts, wore a smile and, with an all-encompassing heart, took it lightly. He returned home and swiftly completed the aforementioned article. After the article was published, the scholar revisited the place, feeling that he had vindicated the residents of Wangfu Street and should have been fully accepted. However, when he left with great ambition, he found that Aunt Meng still received him with indifference. The scholar felt a deep sense of loneliness. When he left, he was mentally prepared for the possibility of having his bicycle let down again, but this time, he truly did not have his bicycle—it was gone.

I was sitting when a Volkswagen Santana stopped at the office entrance. The car door slowly opened, a hand gently rested on the door, and a foot cautiously stepped out... I hurriedly restored the order of time, and only then did the person inside the car exit in a normal manner. He walked to my door and politely asked, "May I come in?"

I just don't understand. I posted a regular notice reminding residents to pay attention to hygiene at the east gate of the community, yet they insist on tearing it down and putting it up at the west gate. When it comes to collecting the sanitation fee, even though there are people at home, they refuse to open the door. When they do open it, they claim they have no money and will go to the bank tomorrow—it's clearly just 36 yuan!

Anyone with a modicum of social experience can sense that this middle-aged man is far from ordinary. He appears to be the type who has been somewhat sheltered from the harsh realities of life by an exceptionally privileged existence. Despite his ordinary attire and smiling demeanor, he remains inaccessible to the average person. I suspect he deliberately chose to ride in a dilapidated vehicle to avoid drawing attention to himself

A clear cough sounded from outside the door, and I turned my head in surprise, only to see a dirty old man casually walking in with a birdcage in hand

Thus, during the first few months of my arrival, I was subjected to inhumane treatment. Under the leadership of Aunt Meng, the local residents engaged in a struggle with me that appeared calm on the surface but was, in reality, a bloodbath—my blood was the one being shed.

"Please have a seat." I glanced around the shabby office and had no intention of sharing my two-fifty flower tea with him. Rubbing my hands together, I said, "You are here to..."

In the past, we often spoke of the neighborhood committee aunties with a tone of mockery, but that was then; things are different now. Back then, the neighborhood committee only distributed condoms, but now they also organize social dance parties. Nowadays, our neighborhood committee is also paid by the government, and I earn around 800 to 900 a month.

I do not use this power very frequently; sometimes I may go an entire day without using it. You see, there are times when one wishes for time to pass slowly, yet at other times, one wishes it would hurry by. For instance, during childhood at school, and later at work, or while waiting in line. Unfortunately, I can only slow down time; I cannot make it slip away entirely. However, perhaps this is for the best, as I truly fear that if I possessed such a capability, I would age into an old man within a single day. Just think about it: in the long and tedious course of a human life, how much time is truly necessary to be spent with care and significance? Ah, how profound.

The official explanation of the residents' committee is that it is a mass autonomous organization for residents to engage in self-education, self-management, self-construction, and self-service. It operates under the guidance of grassroots governance or its affiliated agencies

Lü Weimin, noticing that I seemed to have uncovered his identity, smiled absentmindedly and said, "Whatever, no need to be polite"

In this manner, with the *illustrated* book, I treated every elderly lady's words as imperial edicts and regarded each resident as my own master. Although I am not a civil servant, I have taken the initiative to embody the identity of a "public servant." My advisor also informed me that when dealing with a politically sensitive group, service must not be superficial; one must focus on the details and genuinely attend to practical matters, treating them as if they were my mother-in-law, father-in-law, younger brother-in-law, or older brother-in-law to win their favor. Later, I reflected and felt somewhat unfortunate; while I have indeed managed to treat every family as if they had a mother-in-law, where is my wife? This is not merely appeasement; this is a marriage alliance!

I find it difficult: "I probably can't be of much help to you; if it's something within the neighborhood, it's more reliable to ask Aunt Meng." I believe he definitely cannot be looking for me to handle the low-income subsidy, and the possibility of needing a temporary residence permit is also quite low

After being neglected for a period of time, I gradually began to understand how desolate the words "Just leave it" that Xianglin's wife received at the home of Master Lu Si (Again, Xianglin's Wife) truly are

I can't believe it, it's even deeper! I truly suspect that because of this ability, I will prematurely adopt a mindset of a 40-year-old by the age of 25. After all, on that day when I took the online test, I was already 37 years old, even though I am not yet 25. Of course, it is also possible that the test is inaccurate; the girl living downstairs is 16 this year and tested as 56, just because she experienced two heartbreaks.

I never expected Lv Weimin to stand up abruptly: "Of course I have been stabbed and hurt, haven't I told you? My only daughter is dead!" He glared at me hysterically

I was startled and instinctively said, "What are you joking about?"

I felt uneasy under his gaze, yet I could only say: "I have the intention but..."

Wangfu Street is, after all, an ordinary street in 21st century New China. It is neither the Water Margin of Liangshan nor a drug trafficking area in the Golden Triangle. Although it has a slight notoriety, only the locals have a vague understanding of it. People with a fast-paced lifestyle do not particularly pay attention to the name of this street, so there will always be some customers for businesses operating here

Lü Weimin seemed a bit uncomfortable, but he still firmly said: "You are the only person in this world who can help me"

Take today’s matter as an example; if Aunt Meng had not regarded me as one of her own, she would never have dispatched me with such ease. The residents of Wangfu Street, in their dealings with outsiders, are not only rude but also possess a certain sense of self-importance.

Lü Weimin hurriedly inclined his body slightly after just sitting down and cautiously said: "I am here to ask for your help"