Chapter 41: 040 Second Uncle Becomes Bureau Chief

Fang Qingye naturally knew nothing of the messages in that group; he returned home, ate dinner, and went to the stadium again that evening to play a match of badminton. He had intended to find Liu Dong, but when he called, the other party said he had matters to attend to that night.

It seemed inappropriate to seek out Xia He, so he simply went alone. He encountered a middle-aged man—he did not know him either—but the man's skill was not bad. They played a match, and by the time they returned home, it was already past nine o'clock at night.

He played another round of Warcraft, then logged into QQ, only to see the Sailor Moon avatar of Dongguan Girl flashing. He clicked it and saw the message.

"Husband, you are so amazing. The data you wrote instantly wiped out that bunch in the group—of course, they won't admit it."

"However, the 500,000 I promised you, I cannot transfer to you immediately. I did not expect you to write so fast. Contact the Research Center of the Banking Department tomorrow and submit your numerical model to them for final evaluation. It will still take two to three days for the funds to arrive."

"Wow... I like you more and more, Husband. What should I do? Fragments of love gather at this moment. If it is just to realize a small wish, perhaps the longing I cannot convey to you..."

Seeing this sentence, Fang Qingye knew the other party's chuunibyou had struck again.

He did not reply, glanced at other groups, found nothing of substance, and logged off directly.

Dongguan Girl kept her word. Three days later, the 500,000 in funds arrived, but she left another message: "Husband, Director Zhou of the Research Center of the Banking Department greatly admires your modeling skills. He asks if you are willing to come to Yanjing to serve at the center? The salary is high."

Go to Yanjing?

Build numerical models every day?

What difference is there between this and doing securities analysis in Shencheng in my past life?

Am I sick? Going back to being a beast of burden?

Fang Qingye decisively refused.

Without hesitation, he used the entire 500,000 yuan to buy shares of Yanjing Tourism. This stock was still in its early rise stage; everything was still in time.

Done!

Time reached the end of June. The weather was already very hot, but the plum rain season had not yet passed. Continuous overcast rain, high temperatures, and high humidity made precipitation almost the main theme of Nanxin's weather. Almost every day came with rain, making Fang Qingye feel irritable.

Today was Friday. Fang Qingye had arranged to play ball with Xia He at Yikang Center. Now both of them had set the time for Friday night, and Xia He was not in a hurry to rush home.

It was raining today. Originally, Fang Qingye did not want to go, but Xia He insisted on dragging him along, leaving messages on QQ and calling to urge him. Unable to push her away, Fang Qingye packed his things and went to Yikang Sports Center with her in the rain.

After the match, Fang Qingye sat in Xia He's car on the way home. As he entered the door and prepared to return to his bedroom, his mother Zhang Meili, who was cracking melon seeds and watching TV in the living room, suddenly said, "Went to play ball again?"

"Mm."

"With your classmate Liu Dong?"

"Yes."

"That's not right, is it? I saw you get into a white BMW at the community entrance a little after seven. Did Liu Dong buy a BMW?!"

Seeing his mother's sharp gaze, Fang Qingye had to say, "Not with Liu Dong, but with President Xia."

"You went to play ball with President Xia?!" His mother's tone was slightly surprised.

"Yes, what's wrong? She likes playing badminton, and her skill is not bad, so we occasionally play a match." Fang Qingye told the truth.

"Do you often play together?"

"Not often, at most once a week."

"Where do you go?"

"Kangyi Sports Center."

"From what time to what time?"

"Start at seven-thirty, end at nine-thirty, two hours."

Zhang Meili looked at her son again. Seeing his calm expression, she said nothing more.

Seeing his mother like this, Fang Qingye prepared to return to his bedroom, but was called back by Zhang Meili.

"Tomorrow night, your second uncle is treating. Don't forget."

Fang Qingye was a bit surprised upon hearing this: "My second uncle is treating? Why?"

"He became the bureau chief, that's why."

Oh... this matter.

He remembered.

Fang Qingye's grandfather had two sons. The eldest was Fang Jianwen. The second, Fang Qingye's second uncle, was named Fang Jianhua. He was forty years old this year. He was originally a secretary of a township and was recently transferred to the county seat and appointed as the director of the County Finance Bureau.

Although both were section chiefs and considered a lateral transfer, the director of the County Finance Bureau held high position and great power, commonly known as the God of Wealth. Moreover, Fang Jianhua was forty years old this year, the golden age for a man to build his career, with a boundless future.

In this situation, as a nephew, he naturally could not be absent.

Fang Qingye agreed, and only then entered the room.

The next afternoon, Fang Qingye returned home from work, changed into a T-shirt and jeans. Fang Jianwen, who usually did not eat dinner at home, returned early for the first time, naturally to attend his younger brother's banquet.

The dining location was Zhao Ji Hotel. Fang Qingye originally intended to drive, but his father Fang stopped him: "Why drive? Won't you toast your second uncle? Won't you have a couple of drinks with your grandfather?"

So the whole family took a taxi straight to the hotel.

Arriving at Zhao Ji Restaurant on Changle Road, they entered the private room. In fact, it was a small family banquet. Seated at the head were two elders—Fang Qingye's grandfather and grandmother.

Grandfather Fang Guisheng was originally an employee of the County Forest Farm. After retirement, unwilling to be idle, he leased a plot of land on the edge of the county town to specialize in planting seedlings and flowers. The business was quite good.

Now the two elders, having a house they did not live in, resided in a simple house beside the nursery, guarding it all day. Their days were quite fulfilling.

Fang Jianhua and his wife had naturally already arrived and were chatting idly with their parents.

Fang Jianhua's wife was named Liu Ying, a section chief at the County Radio and Television Bureau. Seeing Fang Jianwen's family enter, she immediately greeted them with a smile.

"Big Brother, Sister-in-law, you have arrived."

"Little Ye, is work at your job busy?"

Fang Jianwen and the others naturally replied. After everyone was seated, Fang Qingye noticed an empty seat and asked:

"Where is Xiao Lin?"

Hearing Fang Qingye ask this, Fang Jianhua's expression became somewhat gloomy, but he said nothing. Liu Ying beside him sighed and explained, "He hasn't returned yet. Don't know which internet cafe he went to. This child... sigh."

Xiao Lin was named Fang Qinglin, the second uncle's precious son. He was fourteen years old this year and in the second year of junior high at Chengguan Middle School. He had been quite smart since childhood with good grades, but last year he became obsessed with games, went to internet cafes every day to play, and his grades plummeted.

Fang Jianhua was too busy with work to manage him, and his mother Liu Ying could not control him, so it became like this now.

Hearing his second aunt say this, Fang Qingye said, "How about I go to the internet cafe to look for him?"

"Don't mind him, let's eat," Fang Jianhua replied, and Fang Qingye said no more.

With the whole extended family present, there was no need for such formality or the many rules of officialdom; they poured the wine as needed and ate while chatting. The two Jianwen brothers discussed some news from the official circles, while Fang Qingye chatted idly with his grandparents about the nursery. Liu Ying and Zhang Meili, the two sisters-in-law, talked about whose son had gotten into university, whose daughter had married into a good family, and so on.

For the most part, Liu Ying spoke while Zhang Meili listened silently.

Just then, Liu Ying seemed to think of something. She glanced at Fang Qingye, who was seated lower down, and asked with a smile, "Xiao Ye, do you have a girlfriend yet?"

"No," Fang Qingye answered truthfully.

"Now that you have a formal job, it's time to look. How about Second Aunt introduces someone to you?"