Chapter 360: Old Master Hu's Suggestion

Lin Wei's maternal grandfather lives in Hu Family Village, ten li outside the eastern suburbs of Xingcheng. According to Lin Wei's introduction, most of the villagers have the surname Hu; if you randomly meet someone on the road, they might be related to her.

Moreover, the economic conditions in Hu Family Village are not bad; every household has built a new house. Wherever vehicles pass, each household's front gate is hung with bright red lanterns. Some houses also have various brand cars parked outside.

Lin Wei's maternal grandfather's home is located in the center of Hu Family Village, a large three-story courtyard. The courtyard is surrounded by stone walls; looking through the open main gate, one can see the courtyard filled with greenery. Moreover, an Audi with a Guangdong A license plate is parked inside.

After Lin Feng parked his Land Rover in the courtyard, Chen Yang's car had no space left and could only be parked on the roadside outside.

When he got out of the car, he unexpectedly saw Hu Shiyou and his wife walking toward him and Lin Wei with a young man and woman.

"Uncle, Aunt, Happy New Year!"

"Uncle, Aunt, Happy New Year!"

Chen Yang and Lin Wei almost simultaneously spoke to greet each other.

"Weiwei, Chen Yang, Happy New Year!" Hu Shiyou greeted while pulling two big red envelopes from his pocket and handing them to Chen Yang and Lin Wei.

After Chen Yang and Lin Wei received the red envelopes, they thanked him. Then they also greeted the young man and woman behind Hu Shiyou and his wife.

Through Lin Wei's introduction, Chen Yang learned that the man was Hu Shiyou's son, Hu Haiquan, and the woman was Hu Haiquan's wife, Xue Jiaja. They both work at state-owned enterprises in Deep City.

After exchanging greetings, everyone entered the Hu Family Grand Courtyard together.

Hu Laoyezi and the old lady sat on the sofa in the living room chatting with Lin Jianguo and Hu Qingwan, while a middle-aged couple and a bespectacled greenhorn youth also sat nearby.

Chen Yang had heard Lin Wei mention that she also had a maternal uncle named Hu Qingfeng who works in a government department in Goat City. He guessed that this middle-aged couple were her maternal uncle and aunt, and the bespectacled youth was her cousin.

Everyone took turns paying New Year's respects to Hu Laoyezi and the old lady; when it was Chen Yang's turn, the old gentleman gave him a few extra glances.

"Chen Yang, to silently steal Weiwei away right under my nose—you're the first person in all of Dongjiangsheng to do that."

"Grandfather, I must clarify one thing—I'm the one who was abducted..." Seeing that Hu Laoyezi's tone carried no blame, Chen Yang relaxed his speech.

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present laughed.

Hu Laoyezi also burst out laughing, then gave Lin Wei a thumbs-up. "Weiwei, your judgment is better than your mother's!"

Lin Wei smiled proudly, then protested on behalf of Lin Jianguo: "Grandfather, my mother's eyesight is not bad either! Look at my father—tall and mighty, and as the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary and Public Security Bureau Director of Qingshui City, he maintains public safety in a city of several million people. How many can achieve such accomplishments?"

"That's not comparable." Hu Laoyezi gave a soft hum and said: "When your mother married your father, he was just an ordinary criminal police brigade captain in Xingcheng, living in a small dormitory assigned by his unit, eating at the unit cafeteria, and having to go to public baths for showers. Every once in a while he'd come to my place to mooch off me. That life was truly hard to describe."

"Take another look at Chen Yang: right after graduating college, he invested in several companies. Within a few months he made a name for himself in Dongjiangsheng. Several of my old subordinates in the province all praise him."

Lin Jianguo had suffered a lot of frustration at the Lin family, then ran to his father-in-law's place only to be scolded again, leaving his face rather embarrassed. He instinctively reached into his pocket for a cigarette to take a couple of puffs, but Hu Qingwan stopped him with a glance.

At this point, Hu Laoyezi again said to Lin Wei: "You little girl, you're blessed but unaware of it. There are many great places in Deep City; your maternal uncle has the ability to transfer you there, yet you insist on adopting your father's stubbornness. The agriculture and industry of Qingshui City are relatively backward in Dongjiangsheng—how many years would you have to struggle there to get ahead?"

Lin Wei pouted and said: "Grandfather, my current job is quite good; I go to the grassroots every day with Mayor Xu for research, and I can learn a lot."

Hu Laoyezi replied unhappily: "If you want to go to the grassroots, you might as well spend a few years in a township. It would both train you and accumulate experience. With Chen Yang's economic strength as backing, creating a distinctive township industry would quickly yield results."

"Xu Li that girl is just gilding herself in Qingshui City; she'll be transferred back to the province soon. She keeps you nearby because she values the Lin family's local background in Qingshui City. If she returns to the province, you could go along with her back to Xingcheng—that would be fine. But if you don't want to return to Xingcheng, you'll ultimately have to rely on the Lin family's connections to find another path in Qingshui City. What's the point of your job as Deputy Mayor's secretary then?"

Lin Wei frowned, feeling dissatisfied with Hu Laoyezi looking down on her job, but she didn't know how to oppose him.

Hu Laoyezi seemed not intending to end the topic, continuing: "Since this secretary job is destined not to last, you might as well go directly to the grassroots after the year. On the Qingshui City side, if your father lacks influence, I can make a call for you. You just need to pick a place you want to go."

Lin Wei said somewhat awkwardly: "I've only been a secretary for half a year; if I leave now, how would Mayor Xu explain it?"

Hu Laoyezi waved his hand and said: "Don't think you're that important; the world keeps turning without anyone. Once you leave, Xu Li will naturally find a suitable secretary."

Chen Yang also felt that Lin Wei going to the grassroots earlier would have better prospects; seeing his wife still hesitating, he immediately said to Hu Laoyezi: "Grandfather, why not let our wife work in Double Phoenix Town, Dongyang County?"

Hu Laoyezi curiously asked Chen Yang: "What's the situation in Double Phoenix Town?"

Chen Yang replied: "I've built a large-scale pig farm in Double Phoenix Town with an annual output of over 100,000 heads. If Lin Wei works there, it's not only close to home but also easy to achieve results."

Upon hearing this, Hu Laoyezi nodded slightly and said: "Since Double Phoenix Town already has your project paving the way, going there is perfect."

Then he looked at Lin Wei again and asked: "Girl, have you decided? Will you go to Double Phoenix Town or not?"

"Alright, then I'll go to Double Phoenix Town!" Lin Wei, seeing that her husband also supported Hu Laoyezi's suggestion, could only nod.

Seeing Lin Wei willing to work at the grassroots, Hu Laoyezi's face instantly broke into a smile.

"The mayor of Qingshui City, Kong Jie, still owes me a favor; I'll call him later to get him to resolve Weiwei's job transfer issue."

Chen Yang hadn't expected Hu Laoyezi to also be acquainted with Mayor Kong Jie, feeling a bit surprised. Because Kong Jie had never mentioned Hu Laoyezi to him.

"Grandfather, the large-scale pig farm in Double Phoenix Town was built at Mayor Kong Jie's request. I asked him to help transfer my wife there; he should have no objection. So, your favor can be kept for now."

"You can go say that too." Hu Laoyezi was not surprised. He had long investigated Chen Yang and knew he had a close relationship with Kong Jie.

If Chen Yang can settle Lin Wei's job transfer, then this favor in his hand will still be of great use later.