Chapter 33

After their intimacy, Zhao Desan was so drained he nearly couldn't get up from the car, but thinking of the important business he had to attend to, he forced himself to climb up. Ma Lan used her mouth to clean him up, saw him off the car, and waved, saying, "Little man, I'll call you when I'm free."

Zhao Desan looked back with a smile and walked into the residential compound.

Back in his room, the first thing Zhao Desan did was unplug his knock-off phone from the charger. He turned it on and checked; it was fully charged.

He checked the time; it was already seven o'clock. He had originally wanted to lie down for a rest, but Ma Lan had worn him out so much he had a headache, and his legs were trembling as he walked.

It was getting late, so he had to hurry to his unit to get his business done. Zhao Desan washed his face in the bathroom and headed straight out.

He bought two steamed buns at the compound entrance to eat. Fearing that waiting for the bus would be a waste of time, he hailed a taxi and went straight to the Coal Bureau.

After getting out of the car, the Coal Bureau's main gate had just opened, and the janitor was sweeping up fallen leaves in the courtyard. Seeing him enter, the janitor gave him a respectful smile. Anyone working here had the right to lecture these temporary workers. But since Zhao Desan had been intimate with Zhang Ai, he was thinking about whether he could help her with anything in the future.

Chinese society is just like this; working in a state unit, people are bored to death all day long. The old timers never show up on time in the morning, and before the afternoon shift is even over, they all slip away one by one.

Zhao Desan had just arrived, and he felt he had to keep his head down for a while, let Deputy Director Wang lose all suspicion of him, and then he could be just like them—arriving late and leaving early. Who cares!

Zhao Desan entered the Coal Bureau office building, went up to the second floor, and arrived in front of the office door. He looked left and right, opened the door, went in, and locked it from the inside. He ran over, stood on the desk, took out his knock-off phone, and turned on the video recording function. He carefully aimed the lens at Deputy Director Wang's inner lounge and wedged the phone into the gap of the air conditioner. He had specifically chosen a white knock-off phone, so once it was wedged in, he jumped down from the desk and checked it several times; unless one looked very closely, it was impossible to see that a phone was hidden there.

This knock-off phone could record continuously for five hours; its functions were too powerful. Zhao Desan thought that even if no "spring scenery" appeared in there during the morning, he would just recharge it and put it back at noon. He had already seen through Deputy Director Wang—the man would panic if he didn't get close to a woman for a single day!

Everything was ready. Zhao Desan smiled with satisfaction. He looked at the watch on his wrist; it was almost eight o'clock. He hurried to clean up, hoping that when Deputy Director Wang arrived, he would see him working diligently.

He took a broom and opened the door to Deputy Director Wang's lounge. There was rarely any dust in there. He swept once, then unfolded and refolded the quilt that had been balled up on the bed, feeling like he was Deputy Director Wang's servant. Government units had such unwritten, rigid rules: to avoid gossip, male leaders could not be assigned female secretaries. If it were possible, Zhao Desan estimated that Deputy Director Wang would have wanted to replace dozens of secretaries. However, Zhao Desan was a man; as long as he became Wang Anguo's trusted aide, his future career path would be smooth sailing.

Zhao Desan cleaned every corner of the office, wiped the desk and chairs again, and tidied up Wang Anguo's lounge until it was neat and clean; anyone who saw it would want to stay inside.

Wang Anguo didn't arrive until after nine o'clock. He was beaming, humming a little tune, and walked in with a smile. Seeing that Zhao Desan had already cleaned the office until it was spotless, he praised him happily: "Comrade Xiao Zhao, you young lad are very diligent! Oh, you've tidied up my room so cleanly. It seems I made the right choice having a young lad like you work by my side; you're even more meticulous than a girl. Keep working like this in the future; you have a bright future ahead, young man."

Zhao Desan bowed respectfully and smiled: "You're too kind, my lord. I hope you will continue to guide me in the future."

Wang Anguo chuckled: "You're a sharp lad. Keep it up. As for your future, your uncle will certainly recommend you to the leadership. Keep working hard, lad."

Zhao Desan nodded and bowed: "Yes, yes, as you say, my lord." He busied himself getting Wang Anguo's teacup, brewed him a cup of tea, respectfully placed it on the desk to his right, and then, with a humble smile, was ushered out by Wang Anguo as he closed the door.

Sitting in front of the computer, Zhao Desan turned and looked up at the air conditioner. The knock-off phone was wedged in the gap between it and the wall. Although it was hard to discover, he was still a bit fearful and anxious, his heart pounding, waiting for Wang Anguo's prey to enter.

Wang Anguo leaned back in his boss chair, lit a Zhonghua cigarette, and leisurely enjoyed his work as deputy director. He casually picked up the notes he had taken at the Coal Bureau meeting that day, but his note-taking was just for show; his hand held the fountain pen, but while the pen moved, no writing appeared.

Vice Mayor Yu Yinliang had tasked the Coal Bureau with handling the bidding for the development of the new coal mine in Baishui Town, but the head of the bureau, Zhang Ju, hadn't made any moves yet, which made him a bit anxious. Under normal circumstances, the official documents from the Municipal Committee and Municipal Government would be faxed to the Coal Bureau's General Office first.

So Wang Anguo opened the door and said to Zhao Desan: "Comrade Xiao Zhao, run an errand for me. Go and call Xiao Zhang from the office to come over."

Zhao Desan nodded and bowed: "Very well, my lord, I'll go right away."

Walking out of the office, Zhao Desan secretly rejoiced, thinking that this bastard couldn't even sit still for half an hour. Once he recorded the spring scenery in the lounge later, he would go back tonight and enjoy it, to see just how much "power" that bastard had, being so formidable as to "enforce the law" on innocent girls in the office every day.

Zhao Desan walked downstairs quickly and arrived at the General Office. As soon as he entered, the female director of the General Office said with a smile: "The leader is here! What work do you have to guide us on?"

Zhao Desan said modestly: "What leader? Director Wang, please stop joking with me."

Director Wang of the General Office was in her thirties, with a sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked appearance—the ultimate in ugliness among women. It made him want to vomit, especially when she smiled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth; it was disgusting.

"You are Deputy Director Wang's secretary; you are certainly our superior in the General Office. What brings you to the General Office, leader?"

Zhao Desan smiled humbly and looked around. He didn't see Zhang Xiaoyan in the General Office. He was a bit curious and asked: "Is Zhang Xiaoyan not here? Deputy Director Wang asked me to call Zhang Xiaoyan to his office."

The office director smiled: "Oh, Xiaoyan went to the restroom. I'll tell her when she gets back."

Zhao Desan said: "Then thank you, Director. I'll head up first."

She used bureaucratic jargon to try to keep him: "Leader, you're leaving already? Won't you sit for a while?"

These people who had worked at the Coal Bureau for years were all shrewder than the next. Even if it was just a small secretary to a leader, they generally didn't dare to offend them.

"Director, no, I have other things to do."

Zhao Desan smiled respectfully and walked out of the office. When he reached the corner of the stairs, he felt a figure flash by. Looking sideways, he saw that Zhang Xiaoyan had finished in the restroom and returned to the General Office.

Zhao Desan returned to the office first. A moment later, Zhang Xiaoyan knocked on the office door. Zhao Desan said: "Come in."

Zhang Xiaoyan entered, and seeing him, she was clearly a bit embarrassed. She didn't dare to look him in the eye, lowered her head slightly, and asked in a low voice: "Deputy Director Wang is looking for me?"

Zhao Desan squeezed out a strange smile and said: "Director Wang is in the lounge, waiting for you. Go on in."

Zhang Xiaoyan gave Zhao Desan a shy look, lowered her head, and pushed open the door to Deputy Director Wang's lounge. Once she went in, the door closed. Zhao Desan tilted his head, raised his face, and looked at the knock-off phone hidden in the gap between the wall and the air conditioner, a wicked smile appearing on the corner of his mouth...

Just as he was secretly feeling proud, the lounge door opened. Deputy Director Wang poked his head out and instructed: "Comrade Xiao Zhao, by the way, go to the warehouse. Pick out a few good folders and bring them back. Make sure you pick them carefully, pick the good ones."

Wang Anguo knew Zhao Desan was a sharp lad. Hearing this, Zhao Desan naturally smiled and nodded, understanding Wang Anguo's intention—he wanted to send him away!