freenovelworld Chapter 1984 The problem you're worried about, I've also thought of it.
Chapter 1984 The problem you're worried about, I've also thought of it.
When Luo Jianguo brought the fire brigade, Li Xiangnan easily resolved the situation. This week, Weimin brought staff from the epidemic prevention station for an inspection, which was also easily dealt with by Li Xiangnan. The neighbors in the courtyard were all very nervous and turned their attention to Director Qian of the Cultural Relics Bureau, who hadn't said much since entering the courtyard.
They had never dealt with such a high-and-mighty old scholar before, and their hearts began to pound with apprehension, secretly worried for Li Xiangnan.
Yanjing is an ancient capital of six dynasties. There are countless protected buildings in the city, and many ordinary residences have been identified as protected units. The courtyard at No. 80 has a long history.
Li Xiangnan is a doctor, and no one could figure out how he would deal with Director Qian and find a reason to hold the wedding banquet tomorrow!
Not only did the neighbors in the courtyard become nervous, but Wang Defa, Song Ziming, and even the Li family members also became secretly nervous.
Even the old man Li Dequan frowned as he looked at his grandson, pondering how to step in and support him.
At this moment, Director Qian had already walked up to Li Xiangnan and said with a serious expression, "Comrade Li, this courtyard is, after all, a century-old building! Holding a banquet with dozens of tables here, with people coming and going, tables, chairs, benches, drinks, and open flames, will inevitably cause damage to the ancient building!"
As he spoke, he took out a document from his briefcase: "Comrade Li, take a look. This is the draft for soliciting opinions on the 'Regulations for the Implementation of the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics.' It clearly states that buildings with historical value should be protected and overuse should be avoided!"
He handed the document to Li Xiangnan, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes.
This draft for soliciting opinions has not been officially promulgated yet, but he is certain that Li Xiangnan is unaware of it. As long as he uses this as a pretext and acts in a serious manner, he will surely be able to intimidate the other party!
Li Xiangnan took the document, casually flipped through a few pages, then looked up and smiled!
"Director Qian!" He chuckled, his tone relaxed. "You're using a draft for public comment that hasn't even officially taken effect yet to enforce the law? That's not in accordance with regulations, is it?"
Director Qian's face stiffened.
He didn't expect that before he could even say he would refuse their invitation to hold a banquet in the courtyard, Li Xiangnan would shut him down with a single sentence!
"However!" Li Xiangnan changed the subject, smiling slightly, "Since Director Qian mentioned cultural relic protection, then I'd like to report to you on our protection measures!"
He took out a few more items from the brown paper bag.
The first drawing is a hand-drawn map, which marks the various areas of the yard.
"Director Qian, look!" Li Xiangnan pointed to the blueprints: "The main area for our banquet is set up in the central courtyard. The ground here is paved with blue bricks, which are hard enough to not put pressure on the building structure! Moreover, all the table and chair legs are covered with thick cloth to prevent scratching the floor tiles!"
He then took out the prepared photos: "Take a look at these detailed pictures! The base of the pillars is covered with rags, the threshold has been padded with wood, and even the lantern hooks have been specially padded!"
Director Qian stared at the photos with eyes wide open, bigger than a bull's.
Every detail in the photo is captured clearly.
The rags on the pillar bases were thick and neat, the wooden pads on the thresholds were perfectly fitted, and the soft pads on the lantern hooks were made from old cotton-padded jackets, both soft and thick.
"Furthermore," Li Xiangnan continued, "I invited an architecture professor to come and take a look! He said that the courtyard houses built in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China were originally designed for family life and entertaining guests! As long as the number of people is controlled and protective measures are taken, holding banquets will not cause any substantial damage to the buildings!"
As he spoke, he immediately pulled out a handwritten appraisal opinion, signed "Liang Mingyuan, Associate Professor of the Department of Architecture, Yenching University," and stamped with his personal seal.
Director Qian's hands were trembling as he took the appraisal report.
Li Xiangnan not only anticipated that the cultural relics department would come, but he also invited senior professors and experts from the architecture department.
“Director Qian,” Li Xiangnan looked at him, “do you think our protective measures are adequate? If there are any shortcomings, please point them out and we will fix them immediately!”
Director Qian opened his mouth, wanting to say that doing this might damage the floor tiles, but seeing that the surrounding stools and chairs already had their bases covered, he swallowed his words.
His face turned from white to red, then from red to green. He gritted his teeth and decided to use another move immediately.
"Comrade Li!" Director Qian's voice turned stern. "Even if all the protective measures you mentioned are in place, even if the tables and chairs are wrapped with pillar legs, so what? You still have a fundamental problem that you haven't solved!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the courtyard held their breath.
Li Xiangnan looked at him calmly: "Director Qian, please speak!"
"This courtyard of yours was built in the 28th year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign, almost 80 years ago!" Director Qian had clearly done his research and couldn't help but raise his voice: "The structure of such a century-old building is already aging! The vibrations generated by your dozens of banquet tables and hundreds of people walking around, making noise, and celebrating inside are the most fatal thing for the building!"
He became more and more agitated as he spoke, pointing to the beams and pillars in the courtyard: "Look at these pillars and beams, they're all old wood! When there are many people walking around, the floorboards will vibrate! Once or twice is fine, but your banquet lasts from morning till night, for more than ten hours! What if a beam or pillar cracks because of the vibration, what if a tenon or mortise comes loose due to resonance..."
He paused, meeting the agitated expressions of Luo Jianguo and Zhou Weimin, whose faces suddenly flushed red, and then glanced at the neighbors in the courtyard: "What if, I mean what if, during the banquet, something goes wrong in this courtyard, or even collapses... then, if someone gets hurt, or someone dies? Who will take responsibility? Our Cultural Relics Bureau absolutely does not want to see such a thing happen!"
These words were like a piece of ice thrown into a pot of boiling oil!
The yard was in an uproar in an instant.
"It collapsed?" an old woman asked, her voice trembling.
"Impossible, I've lived in this courtyard for decades, how could it have collapsed?" someone muttered.
"Bullshit! You're spouting nonsense! Your family is the one that's collapsed!" Yuan Zhencheng shouted even louder.
Wang Defa also panicked: "Yes, Director Qian, please don't scare us, our yard is perfectly fine!"
"Am I bluffing?" Director Qian said sternly, "I'm just stating the facts! Comrade Li, you may not care about this old building, but my cultural relics department cannot! We are responsible for the buildings, but even more so for the safety of people's lives! The interests of the people come first!"
His words sounded grand and dignified, elevating the mission's protection to the level of personal safety.
Everyone in the courtyard looked at Li Xiangnan.
Even his neighbors, who had always supported him, showed worry in their eyes!
Yes, what if... what if something really happens?
According to the Li family, the Li family's wedding banquet was held in both courtyards, with a total of 88 tables. Even if each table had at least ten people, that would still be 880 people!
Nearly a thousand people were eating here. Such a large-scale banquet was definitely the most lively it had been in Beijing for many years!
The noise will be deafening, enough to lift roof tiles off. What if... what if something really happens?
Everyone fell silent!
Li Xiangnan was silent for a moment, then he smiled.
The smile was faint, yet it inexplicably made Director Qian's heart tighten.
"Director Qian," Li Xiangnan smiled calmly, his voice steady, "I've also thought of the problem you're worried about!"
"???"