For Li Qiang, retirement should have been a good time for recuperation and family harmony, but this period of peaceful years has become uncertain due to a request for help.
Li Qiang's days in the private company have always been vigorous and resolute, as a leader, his subordinates are all obedient to him. However, when he retired, he found that the authority that had once been awe-inspiring was gone. Once, he picked up the phone as usual and dialed Zhang Hai's number, wanting to ask this capable subordinate for a small favor. On the other end of the phone, Zhang Hai's voice seemed to be a little alienated and impatient.
"Brother Hai, how are you doing? I'm going to have some tax matters here, and I'd like you to take a look at it. Li Qiang pretended to speak easily.
"Ouch, Mr. Li, I'm still so busy after retirement." Zhang Hai responded politely but not enthusiastically.
"Hey, it's not that I'm busy, it's that there are some things that we outsiders can't handle. You tax veteran, it should be easy to help me with some advice. Li Qiang tried to impress Zhang Hai with his past friendships.
"Okay, okay, Mr. Li, can I not listen to your old man's words? But you know, I have a lot of work on my hands right now, as soon as possible, as soon as I can. ”
After the conversation, Li Qiang was a little relieved, but he also felt Zhang Hai's perfunctory call. He smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking that maybe he was too sensitive. However, with the passage of time, Zhang Hai procrastinated again and again, and this originally simple tax treatment problem gradually became Li Qiang's heart disease.
At the dinner table, Li Qiang looked at his daughter Li Xiao, who was eating with his head down, and thought about whether to mention this matter to her.
"Xiaoxiao, is Uncle Zhang's Zhang Peng okay lately?"
"Huh? It's okay, he seems to have been under a lot of pressure to study lately, and he often adds late self-study. Li Xiao replied with chopsticks.
"Look at this kid, it's good to have good grades, but you can't be too tired."
Li Qiang chewed on his daughter's words repeatedly, and became more and more resentful of Zhang Hai's behavior in his heart, and the matter of "good grades" seemed to be laughing at his predicament at this time.
Two months have passed, and Li Qiang's calls to Zhang Hai have become more and more frequent, and Zhang Hai has always been "too busy recently" and "at the end of this month". Once, he even heard Zhang Hai explain to his wife on the other end of the phone: "You just say that I am not at home, avoid it, so as not to be annoyed by him all the time." ”
The betrayal and disregard of his old friend made Li Qiang feel powerless and aggrieved like never before, and he began to realize that after the support of the working network receded, the warmth between people was so fragile.
"Dad, why have you been frowning lately?" Li Xiao finally noticed his strangeness one day.
"No, it's fine." Li Qiang put away his worried expression, "Dad is just thinking that when I retire, I really have to learn to let go of some things, and I can't do it like when I was working." ”
But he knew in his heart that this matter was not only about money, but also about the dignity of an old leader and the stability of his old age.
Li Qiang sat in the study at home, holding the inheritance tax document in his hand like a hot potato, with a sad face. He suddenly regretted a little, regretted that he had trusted Zhang Hai so much, and regretted that he had not made adequate preparations in advance. The figures on the documents clearly show that if not dealt with in a timely manner, he could face a large financial loss.
Daughter Li Xiao pushed the door in, and when she saw her father's sad face, her heart was full of puzzlement: "Dad, what's wrong with you?" I've been worrying about you these days. ”
Li Qiang sighed: "Dad has a tax problem here, and he asked an old friend to help, but he hasn't solved it." ”
"That old friend, isn't it Uncle Zhang?" Li Xiao asked.
"That's right, it's him." Li Qiang's voice was filled with helplessness and disappointment, "I thought he would help with this." ”
"I'll go to school tomorrow and ask Zhang Peng by the way. Maybe he knows something. Li Xiao proposed, hoping to alleviate his father's troubles.
The next day, at school, Li Xiao met Zhang Hai's son Zhang Peng. Zhang Peng always seems energetic and busy with various school activities.
"Zhang Peng, have you heard your father mention my father at home recently?" Li Xiao asked tentatively.
Zhang Peng was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "Hey, I heard my father mention this." He's been really busy lately, so he probably hasn't had time to help your dad deal with it. ”
While the two were chatting, Zhang Peng's mobile phone rang, and he pressed the speakerphone: "Son, help me bring that document home tonight, I have to work overtime tonight." ”
The voice is very familiar, it is Zhang Hai. Listening to his father's still energetic voice on the phone, Zhang Peng replied: "Okay Dad, no problem." He hung up the phone and said to Li Xiao again: "My dad is really busy during this time, you see, he has to work overtime again." ”
Li Xiao shook his head, "It's okay, thank you Zhang Peng." ”
Li Xiao returned home and told Li Qiang about the situation at school. Li Qiang became even more anxious after hearing this, time passed day by day, and the tax issue was like a sword hanging over his head, which could fall at any time.
In the end, Li Qiang, who couldn't bear it anymore, decided to visit Zhang Hai in person again. He went straight to the tax bureau where Zhang Hai was.
"Zhang Hai, are you not worried about me?" Li Qiang couldn't help but ask.
Zhang Hai looked a little cramped and smiled: "Mr. Li, I really didn't mean it, you also know that we are doing things efficiently now, so you have to wait for a long time." ”
Li Qiang stared at Zhang Hai, trying to find the sincerity and sense of responsibility in the eyes of his old friend.
Time passed in the confrontation between the two, Zhang Hai finally opened the safe, took out the documents handed over to him by Li Qiang, but said casually: "Mr. Li, I'll take a good look at this matter, and I'll give you a reply in the next two days." ”
Li Qiang looked at Zhang Hai, and a hint of realization flashed in his eyes. He realized that Zhang Hai's attitude and procrastination were no longer simply a matter of busyness or efficiency, but a deliberate alienation and evasion.
After leaving the tax office, Li Qiang felt lonely and helpless like never before. What was supposed to be a bond of trust and camaraderie has become so complex and distant.
But life always needs to go on, and Li Qiang knows that he can no longer rely on others, nor can he show weakness in front of his daughter. He decided not to wait for Zhang Hai's 'reply', but to race against time to find a solution on his own, even if he visited all the tax agencies, he had to solve the matter.
Li Qiang, who was depressed, sat at the dining table, with all kinds of tax information and personal account books in front of him. The tax issue was like a boulder, overwhelming him, and his daily mood was like a shadow.
Li Xiao looked at her father's increasingly thin back, and felt very uncomfortable, she knew that her studies had also begun to be affected by this family crisis. In a recent math test, she got an unsatisfactory score because of distraction.
"Dad, do you want to let this matter go?" Li Xiao cautiously persuaded him, hoping to relieve his father's pressure.
"Xiaoxiao, Dad is fine, I can handle these things myself." Li Qiang pretended to be calm, but he couldn't hide the gloom on his brows.
"However, the teachers at school are asking me if there is something at home that my grades have dropped." Li Xiao hung his head.
This sentence was like a heavy hammer, smashing on Li Qiang's heart. "Xiaoxiao, I'm sorry, it's Dad's problem that affects you." Li Qiang was full of guilt, he never thought that his problems would affect his daughter's future.
Time passed day by day under heavy pressure, until one time, Li Xiao had an unintentional conversation with Zhang Peng at school, which tore open the scars of the family.
Li Xiao and Zhang Peng met by chance at the door of the library, and the two talked about their grades while chatting.
"My dad said, when your dad gets through this matter, your family will understand that it is not easy for anyone to mix in society, and you can't always think about finding others for help." Zhang Peng truthfully conveyed his father's thoughts, but he didn't know that these words deeply stung Li Xiao.
Li Xiao's mood collapsed instantly, "What does your father mean by this?" Our Li family is like this, he still says this? ”
Zhang Peng was stunned, he didn't realize that his words would lead to such serious consequences, "I, I'm just ......"
Li Xiao didn't want to listen to it anymore, tears welled up in her eyes, and she ran out of the library.
Back home, Li Xiao cried bitterly and told Li Qiang what Zhang Peng had inadvertently said.
After Li Qiang heard this, anger and disappointment surged into his heart. For a long time, he thought he was a friend, the relationship that he thought he could rely on no matter what, but so, he endured his grief and anger, "Xiaoxiao, Dad was wrong, I thought Zhang Hai would be on our side." ”
"Daddy, we'...... What do we do now? Li Xiao's voice choked.
"Daddy will figure it out. Zhang Hai's attitude can't decide our fate, we can. Li Qiang found a decision in his grief, and he could not let his daughter be affected by this disappointment again.
So, after this painful climax, Li Qiang began to ask for help everywhere, contact his former business partners, study the legal provisions, and even if it was difficult, he had to rely on his own strength to solve the problem and save the family from getting out of control.
The wheels of time slowly moved forward, and finally brought a turnaround. Li Qiang turned to a former business partner who had extensive experience and resources in taxation.
In their conversation, Li Qiang confessed his predicament: "Lao Yang, I really didn't expect that I would fall into this field. ”
Yang Zhiyuan was silent on the other end of the phone for a moment, and then said in a firm tone: "Lao Li, don't worry, this matter is nothing." I'll connect you with the best tax accountant tomorrow. ”
Sure enough, the request for help was not in vain, and it was not long before the estate tax issue was resolved professionally and efficiently. Although there are still many twists and turns in the process, Li Qiang has deeply released the burden in his heart as if he has been reborn.
Li Xiao saw that his father finally showed a long-lost smile, and his mood was greatly relaxed. The father and daughter sat on the veranda that was gradually green, and Li Qiang whispered to Li Xiao: "Xiaoxiao, Dad was too stubborn in the past, and used the set at work for retirement, but he suffered a big loss. ”
"Dad, I knew you could solve this problem." Li Xiao shook Li Qiang's hand, "We will get better in the future." ”
Li Qiang stroked his daughter's head, "Yes, no matter what problems we encounter in the future, we can face them together." ”
In this experience, Li Xiao's achievements are also back on track. Li Qiang had a new understanding, and he began to organize his relationships and re-evaluate his lifestyle. As a retired private business leader, he began to learn how to live as an ordinary person in society and earn respect.
Li Qiang pondered repeatedly in the study late at night, and there seemed to be a light flickering in front of his eyes, which was the dawn of a new life after retirement. He began to write, documenting his experiences and insights, hoping to help retired leaders who were going through the same story as him.
As the last word was written, Li Qiang leaned back in his chair tiredly and asked himself softly: "After retirement, are we really ready to face everything?" ”