Chapter 45

The three-wheeler drove for nearly half an hour before reaching the government compound, where both the County Party Committee and the County Government were housed in a newly built high-rise building.

Fang Qingye was stopped at the gate by a security guard and had to register before being allowed entry.

The County Party Committee Office was on the fourth floor; luckily, the high-rise had an elevator, or else they’d have had to carry everything up step by step and kill themselves from exhaustion.

Fang Qingye parked the three-wheeler at the entrance of the lobby and didn’t rush to unload; instead, he and Bai Ou went up to the fourth floor first to find Deputy Director Chen Zhidong, who handled the office affairs.

He had some memory of this man, but didn’t know which office he was in—there were several offices with “Deputy Director” signs hanging on their doors alone.

He saw a door marked “Comprehensive Division” slightly ajar, knocked, then pushed it open, and saw a young man in his early twenties sitting at the entrance, Ditou playing with his phone.

Hearing movement at the door, he quickly put his phone down and looked up at Fang Qingye.

“Hello, could you tell me which office Director Chen is in?” Fang Qingye asked politely.

The young man didn’t answer directly but eyed him with cautious suspicion: “What do you want with Director Chen?”

“We’re from Siji Nursery, here to deliver potted plants to the offices.” Fang Qingye replied.

“Oh, he’s out in the countryside.”

“When will he be back?”

“I don’t know.”

This...

Fang Qingye hesitated, then said: “Can we bring the potted plants up anyway?”

“Do as you like.”

The young man said nothing more and picked up his phone again, engrossed in it.

Fang Qingye didn’t hesitate—he took Bai Ou and went downstairs to start moving the plants.

“Ye Zi, I noticed several offices are closed—how do we deliver if the doors are locked?” Bai Ou asked softly as they walked.

“Normally, the person in charge of comprehensive office work keeps spare keys for every office, especially the leaders’ rooms, to handle emergencies when the leader is out and someone needs to enter.”

Fang Qingye explained quietly: “But given the situation now, we’ll deliver to offices with people first, and deal with the rest later.”

Bai Ou fell silent; the two went downstairs and began carrying the potted plants up via the elevator.

Some pots were small enough for Fang Qingye to carry alone; others were large and required Bai Ou’s help—especially the Blood Dragon Tree, which took both of them all their strength to move from the elevator entrance to the center of the Comprehensive Division office.

Fang Qingye was already sweating; when he looked at Bai Ou, her small face was flushed red.

The young man from earlier still sat motionless behind his desk, playing with his phone!

Fuck...

He didn’t even help out.

Whatever. They look down on manual laborers, and right now we’re serving them—they’re the customers, the gods.

After moving that last pot, Fang Qingye stepped out and saw a middle-aged man in his thirties hurrying toward them, briefcase in hand—it was Deputy Director Chen Zhidong.

“Director Chen.” Fang Qingye greeted him immediately.

“Who are you?” Chen Zhidong stopped in his tracks.

“We’re from Siji Nursery, here to replace the potted plants in all the offices.” Fang Qingye replied.

“Oh, go ahead and replace them.” Chen Zhidong said, then continued walking; he glanced at Bai Ou behind Fang Qingye and added:

“Why isn’t Xiao Zhang delivering today? Are you two interns from the nursery?”

“We’re not. I’m Fang Qingye—I work at Dongfang Bank. I’m helping my grandfather.”

“Your grandfather is the owner of the nursery? Then you’re the son of Principal Fang from Chengguan Middle School?” Chen Zhidong asked.

“Yes.”

“So Director Fang from the Finance Bureau is your second uncle?”

“Yes, my real second uncle.” Fang Qingye answered honestly.

Chen Zhidong’s attitude instantly warmed: “I know your father and your second uncle very well—I even had dinner with your second uncle not long ago.”

“I’ve heard my father and second uncle mention your name too,” Fang Qingye smiled.

“Hmm, young man, you’re truly impressive.” Chen Zhidong complimented him, then looked at Bai Ou beside him: “Is she your girlfriend?”

“No, she’s my childhood friend—Bai Ou. She’s doing her master’s at East China University of Political Science and Law. Her father is Director Bai from the Education Bureau.” Fang Qingye explained.

“Director Bai’s daughter—a graduate student! What a bright future, what a bright future.” Chen Zhidong smiled again: “Come, let’s go to my office—I’ll pour you tea.”

“No need, Director Chen. I need to get the plants up quickly—they can’t be left in the sun too long.” Fang Qingye politely declined.

“Alright, I’ll get someone to help you.” Chen Zhidong said.

Perfect.

Fang Qingye thought, but still pretended to refuse: “No trouble needed—I can manage myself.”

“How can that be! These pots are heavy!” Director Chen said, then pushed open the half-closed door of the Comprehensive Division office; just as he opened his mouth, the previously indifferent young man jumped to his feet.

Beaming: “Director Chen, I’ll help!”

This guy must’ve overheard the conversation outside.

“Alright, Xiao Wang, thanks for your help.”

“No trouble at all, no trouble at all!” Xiao Wang beamed.

The shift from cold to warm was too fast.

Fang Qingye and Bai Ou exchanged glances but said nothing.

The three went downstairs; Fang Qingye and Bai Ou walked ahead.

“Ah...” Bai Ou suddenly sighed softly: “Now I understand what Zhang Xiaoqiang felt when he delivered plants.”

“This is reality—get used to it.” Fang Qingye said calmly.

The three went downstairs and began loading the pots into the elevator—mainly Fang Qingye and Xiao Wang doing the work, carrying the plants up to the fourth floor and delivering them one by one to each office according to his grandfather’s list, even opening locked offices to replace the plants inside.

Finally, they watered them all, collected the old pots, and loaded them into the vehicle—it took a full hour.

After finishing, Fang Qingye found Chen Zhidong and had him sign the rental list; he’d take it back to his grandfather, and after six months, return to the County Party Committee Office to settle accounts with Chen Zhidong.

Finally, Fang Qingye and Bai Ou sat in Chen Zhidong’s office drinking tea for a while before leaving, then went to the fifth-floor Organization Department to tend to the plants—watering those dry, removing dead leaves—but Fang Qingye didn’t lift a finger.

Bai Ou did it.

Watering plants was an art—Bai Ou was better at it than he was.

Another half-hour of work, and today’s task was finally complete.

“Finally done,” Bai Ou whispered as they walked down the corridor. “Your grandfather’s business is huge.”

“That’s all thanks to my second uncle,” Fang Qingye smiled.

Fang Qingye knew clearly: his grandfather had secured so many government plant rental contracts mainly because of his second uncle.

It was a small favor, not a matter of principle—each department’s leaders could easily grant it as a courtesy. Why not?

Now that his second uncle was Director of the Finance Bureau, his grandfather’s nursery business would likely expand further.

Fang Qingye had originally planned to chat with Liu Dong, but when he went to the Propaganda Department on the seventh floor, he learned Liu Dong had gone to the countryside with the leadership for research.

Definitely a busy man.

With nothing else to do in the government compound, Fang Qingye rode the three-wheeler back to the nursery with Bai Ou—it was nearly twelve.

“Xiao Ye, Xiao Ou, go wash up—you’re both sweating,” Grandma called warmly. “Then come eat.”

Fang Qingye didn’t refuse—he sent a text to his mother explaining the situation. Bai Ou hesitated but accepted; she’d eaten here before.

Chives with fish balls, stir-fried young rooster, loofah with green beans, shepherd’s purse tofu soup—each with a bowl of white rice. Fang Qingye ate heartily.

You know what? Grandma’s cooking is delicious!

After eating, Bai Ou helped wash the dishes, and only then did they leave.

“Bai Ou, I’ll drive you home,” Fang Qingye said.

“No need—I came on my bike.” Bai Ou pointed to a small scooter outside the gate.

Since that was the case, Fang Qingye didn’t insist; they bid farewell to Grandpa and Grandma and left the nursery. He was about to get on his vehicle when Bai Ou suddenly called out to him.

“Ye Zi, tomorrow’s Saturday—my class is having a reunion. Are you coming?”