Chapter 5620

After being put this way by Fan Jianghai, Zhao De naturally felt embarrassed to refuse. Besides, it was thanks to him that he was able to contact that reporter; otherwise, he really wouldn't have known how to handle the exposure of the textile factory's pollution. Zhao De thought for a moment and said, "Jianghai, look at what you're saying. How could I not give you face when you're treating? I happen to be in the city tonight. You name the place, and I'll go straight there. By the way, who else is coming?"

"Hehe, just the two of us. The other old classmates from the training class are all too busy to find time. I've already set the place: the Royal Supreme private room on the second floor of the Haitian Hotel. I'll be waiting for you, Secretary Zhao." Fan Jianghai said the location with a chuckle.

After hanging up, Zhao De knew that this guy hadn't been in touch with him for years. They had just gotten in touch by phone these past two days, and he wanted to treat him to dinner tonight. It wasn't because he wasn't doing well in the Provincial Propaganda Department? Seeing his own career path going smoothly, while envious, he wanted him to contact Liang Shaobo, the chief of the Personnel Cadre Division of the Provincial Organization Department, who had also studied in the Provincial Committee training class, to give him a hand in his career. The officialdom values reciprocity. Since he owed Fan Jianghai a favor because of the exposure of the environmental problems in the district, this favor naturally had to be repaid.

Zhao De drove directly to the entrance of the Haitian Hotel, got out of the car, and walked straight to the door of the Royal Supreme private room on the second floor. Fan Jianghai, who was sitting inside puffing away, saw Zhao De coming, hurriedly got up to greet him, stretched out both hands to shake Zhao De's hand vigorously, his face piled with enthusiastic smiles, and said with much emotion, "Oh my, De San, we haven't seen each other for a long time. Look, you haven't changed at all; you're still so young and handsome. But now you're already the top leader of the Chanba District. It's truly amazing."

"Yeah, it's been a year or two since we last met, right?" Zhao De looked at Fan Jianghai, who was having a somewhat unsatisfactory career, and felt very emotional. "Sit down, let's sit and chat slowly."

The two sat down, and Fan Jianghai called the waiter in to start ordering dishes. He enthusiastically handed the menu to Zhao De for him to order. After the two pushed it back and forth with polite formalities, Zhao De couldn't resist Fan Jianghai's enthusiasm and finally ordered a few simple dishes.

After ordering the dishes and the waiter left the room, Fan Jianghai suddenly took out a very exquisite box and handed it to Zhao De, saying, "You're now the acting secretary of Chanba District, and I haven't had a chance to congratulate you, my old classmate. So, today I specially prepared a small gift for you, just to express my feelings."

"Oh my, Jianghai, what are you doing?" Zhao De looked at Fan Jianghai's actions and immediately frowned. This was clearly Fan Jianghai looking for an excuse to give him a gift, and Li Desan could guarantee that the gift in this box was definitely not cheap. But Li Desan also admired Fan Jianghai's political sensitivity. He hadn't even spoken to Liang Shaobo about his matter yet, and this guy already acted as if he knew he would repay that favor, having prepared the gift long ago.

"Secretary Zhao, please don't overthink it. It's just that we haven't met for so long. Logically speaking, since you've become the acting secretary of Chanba District, I should congratulate you properly. Just consider this a make-up gift, just a small token of my appreciation." As soon as Fan Jianghai saw Zhao De frown, he hurriedly smiled and found a reason that was somewhat passable.

Zhao De couldn't say anything more; after all, the guy's reason was also quite legitimate. Besides, didn't he owe him a favor? However, Zhao De still opened the very exquisite little box in front of Fan Jianghai. Immediately, he saw a glittering pendant inside, dazzling to the eye. Most importantly, this thing wasn't just gold; it was also inlaid with three diamonds. Zhao De secretly thought that Fan Jianghai was really generous.

While looking at the pendant, Zhao De deliberately pretended to be indifferent and said, "Jianghai, not bad. This thing isn't cheap, right?"

"It didn't cost much, just an ordinary pendant. I just found a gold shop and bought it." Seeing Zhao De say this, Fan Jianghai hurriedly said dismissively.

"An ordinary pendant? The gold is ordinary, but the workmanship is quite fine. It should be over twenty grams, right? What grade are these three diamonds? I don't know much about this stuff, but I can guarantee this isn't an ordinary diamond. It shouldn't be cheap, right?" Zhao De looked up, a faint smile on his face as he looked at Fan Jianghai, making it impossible for him to guess what Zhao De was thinking.

"Secretary Zhao, the price isn't important. What's important is my token of appreciation. I just thought that Secretary Zhao has done such an outstanding job in Chanba District and is now the acting secretary, so I should express my congratulations." Fan Jianghai hurriedly explained with a smile.

Fan Jianghai had said as much as he could, so Zhao De didn't deliberately avoid anything, but he still pushed the box to Fan Jianghai and said with a smile, "Jianghai, this thing is too valuable. You know the current situation. If it's like the environmental problem in our Chanba District, once it's exposed, it won't just affect me; it will affect you too."

"Secretary Zhao, I know what you're worried about. I've already thought it through for you. I bought this in Yuyang and had it specially crafted. I didn't use a credit card; I bought it with cash. I even specially had someone register it with an ID card. That's it. This is a fake ID card I had someone forge, and this is the receipt for buying this thing. I'll give this to you too. Secretary Zhao, to tell you the truth, although I, Fan Jianghai, am not very likable and didn't make many friends when I was in the Provincial Committee training class, I'm still flesh and blood. You agreed so readily to what I said on the phone. Regardless of whether you can help me with this favor in the end, I'll remember your kindness. I don't have any other intentions; I just want to thank you. If you don't accept it, I won't feel at ease." Fan Jianghai gave a receipt and an invoice to Zhao De. Zhao De looked at them and thought that this guy had really put in a lot of effort to give him a gift.

Zhao De looked at Fan Jianghai carefully and felt that what he said shouldn't be a lie. When he was in the Provincial Committee training class, he indeed didn't make many friends, while he himself, because of his cheerful personality and the rumors in the training class that he had a background and backing in the Provincial Committee, had made many friends, especially Liang Shaobo, who had already become the chief of the Personnel Cadre Division of the Provincial Organization Department. He had been very close to him during the training class. Since Fan Jianghai had already opened his mouth like this, it wouldn't be right if he didn't find an opportunity to talk to Liang Shaobo about this situation.

"Fine, then I'll accept this." Zhao De put the box into his briefcase and then said to Fan Jianghai, "Jianghai, I don't treat you as an outsider anymore. After I finish handling the exposure of the textile factory, I'll find time to contact Liang Shaobo and tell him about your situation."

"Then thank you so much." Seeing that Zhao De had verbally agreed to help him, Fan Jianghai was immediately happy and hurriedly greeted Zhao De, saying, "Eat, let's eat. We haven't seen each other for so long, let's have a good chat today."

As the two ate, Fan Jianghai toasted Zhao De from time to time. Back and forth, two empty wine bottles were already on the table before they knew it. Both of them were flushed with drink, and they were no longer so formal when they spoke.

Seeing Zhao De feeling for something in his pocket, Fan Jianghai hurriedly offered a soft Zhonghua cigarette and diligently lit it for him.

Zhao De took a puff of the cigarette, squinted his eyes, and looked at Fan Jianghai with a drunken haze, saying, "But Jianghai, although you started working earlier than me and have more experience than me, I still have to remind you of a few things. Mixing in the officialdom circle, there are two ways, and you can move up if you do either of these well. One is the relationship route, and the other is the practical work route. I have to say, more people succeed by taking the relationship route. I always thought I should take the practical work route because I felt that as long as I really achieved some results, I wouldn't be afraid of others' slander and framing. But after experiencing some things, I found that I was wrong. Last time I had dinner with an old leader from the province, the words the old leader said to me gave me a lot of food for thought. I finally summarized what kind of person can go further. That is to be round on the outside and square on the inside. In officialdom, if you want to stand tall and not fall, you not only need good superior-subordinate relationships, but you also need strength, ability, and a spirit of hard work. This way, you can always be invincible. I'm just saying this little bit. Everyone has different standards for what is right or wrong. This is just my own standard. I hope that this time I find Liang Shaobo to talk about your matter, he can help you bridge it. After you get promoted, you must show some spirit of practical work and do a few things that people can praise."

"Secretary Zhao, you're right. As long as the organization can give me this opportunity, I will definitely work hard, I will definitely strive to do it well, and I will follow your example." Fan Jianghai stated his position.

Zhao De felt that he had drunk enough, so he refused to drink any more. Fan Jianghai suggested going out to relax, but Zhao De didn't agree. He knew what this so-called relaxation meant. He had so many women around him that he couldn't even take care of them all, so how could he have the energy to waste on those women outside? Moreover, he and this Fan Jianghai weren't that close; they had only eaten this one meal together. Going to do that kind of thing together naturally felt a bit unjustifiable.