Who is Si Tawfiq, and why does he come to see Larbi in Chapter 2?

Si Tawfiz is an old friend of Larbi's that he has not seen for 14 or 15 years. They had lived next door to each other in a new apartment in downtown Rabat. When they moved to the suburbs, they lost touch. Si Tawfia has come to see if Larbi can get his niece a job in Rabat when she finishes her degree next summer.