[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-in-a-small-county-and-you-say-i-m-a-big-shot":3,"chapter-i-m-in-a-small-county-and-you-say-i-m-a-big-shot-i-m-in-a-small-county-and-you-say-i-m-a-big-shot-chapter-68":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm in a Small County, and You Say I'm a Big Shot?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2297479,4494,"Chapter 68","i-m-in-a-small-county-and-you-say-i-m-a-big-shot-chapter-68",68,"\u003Cp>From Shencheng to Jinghai was even closer than returning to Nansheng County; Fang Qingye drove there in just over two hours. After exiting the Shenhai Expressway, he called Xia He.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, I’ve just gotten off the expressway and am about to enter the city. Where are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re driving, right? Then head straight to Oasis International Holiday Hotel. I’ve already booked Room 806 for myself and reserved Room 807 next door for you. Check in at the front desk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Qingye navigated to Oasis International Hotel, drove another half-hour to arrive, parked in the underground lot, checked in at the front desk, took the elevator to the eighth floor, returned to his own room to shower, then went to visit Xia He next door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knocked and entered to find Xia He wearing a white collarless shirt and black wide-leg pants, elegant and refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Already checked in?” Xia He asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sit down. I’ll brew you some tea... I know you’re particular about tea—this is Yuhua tea I brought specially from home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Xia He took a small tin of tea from her suitcase and brewed a cup for Fang Qingye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Qingye sat on the sofa beside her, cradling the teacup and sipping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Fang, how many people showed up at your class reunion? How was it?” Xia He asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad—almost everyone working in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai came. We hadn’t seen each other in over a year, and everyone was happy to meet again.” Fang Qingye added, “Everyone’s doing pretty well at work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course... how bad could a Shengcai graduate be?” Xia He chuckled. “But in a few years, as people’s personal paths diverge and distances grow, attendance at these reunions will gradually dwindle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was true; Fang Qingye nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had felt it firsthand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his rebirth, his university class group had long since gone dead, let alone any class reunions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At this reunion, did you meet any classmates you were especially close to in college? Especially female classmates?” Xia He asked with a sly smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So nosy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, I didn’t have any female classmates I was especially close to in college,” Fang Qingye replied bluntly. “There was one guy—the organizer of this reunion—who now works at the Shanghai Banking Regulatory Commission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Qingye briefly described Liu Shuai’s situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm. You should keep in touch with this classmate of yours—after all, you share professional common ground,” Xia He said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me tell you about one of my classmates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Go on,” Fang Qingye became interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In college, I had a female classmate who shared a dorm with me. We were extremely close—throughout the four years, we were practically inseparable. Some classmates joked we were lesbians.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia He laughed at the memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Later, I went on to graduate school, but she got married shortly after graduation—to a rich second-generation. We still chatted on QQ at first, but eventually there was nothing left to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She only talked about beauty, pets, shopping and playing mahjong with other wealthy wives, even gossiping about their romantic scandals. Now she has a precious son, and all she talks about is the baby.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not interested in any of that. I enjoy discussing finance, economics, and work-related trivialities. We grew farther apart. Now we rarely talk—just send holiday greetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Qingye nodded and said, “Someone once said: life is like this—many people only walk a portion of the path with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re absolutely right. You can only truly connect with people in your own circle—like you and your classmate Liu Shuai. The people I’m taking you to meet tonight are the friends you need to know and cultivate at this stage—at least in your career.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Qingye didn’t answer, but lifted his teacup and took a small sip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, we had two other classmates who took a leave of absence to teach in Sichuan Province,” Fang Qingye added, describing Li Ye and Zhang Dongwen’s situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? That’s admirable,” Xia He said. “I heard the conditions in Mount Daliang are extremely harsh—but since they’re a couple, they can look out for each other.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Qingye nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he vaguely remembered that a year later, Zhang Dongwen returned to continue her studies, graduated with a master’s, and joined an investment bank in Shencheng—he’d even met her a few times since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Li Ye, he eventually lost contact; rumors said he stayed in Chuanxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone walks their own path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After spending some time in Xia He’s room, Fang Qingye returned to his own room for a nap. Around 5:30 p.m., Xia He knocked and woke him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They drove to the underground parking lot. Fang Qingye sat in the driver’s seat, fastened his seatbelt, and asked Xia He in the backseat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, where are we going now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yunshang Biyuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yunshang Biyuan was a famous upscale restaurant in the Zhongnan Century City CBD. In less than half an hour, they arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After parking and entering, the ambiance was elegant—flowers filled every corner. Fang Qingye followed Xia He into a private room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was large and luxurious, but three men sat on the sofa beside it. They smiled and greeted Xia He as she entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One man, around thirty, with a buzz cut and sharp appearance, said to Xia He: “Xia He, you’ve brought our little alumnus?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, this is Fang Qingye—he’s now also a bank manager’s assistant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard your Oriental Bank is piloting the manager’s assistant role in Jinghai. Xia He, you’re really going all out for your junior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. And Xiao Fang is genuinely outstanding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia He smiled and turned to Fang Qingye: “Xiao Fang, let me introduce you one by one.” She pointed to the middle-aged man, around forty, with a slicked-back hairstyle on the sofa: “This is our senior, Yang Kehua, Deputy General Manager of the Municipal Construction Bank, graduated from the School of Statistics and Management.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xia He, you don’t know? Our senior’s about to drop the ‘Deputy’ from his title,” the thirty-year-old interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? General Manager Yang, then we must congratulate you properly tonight!” Xia He immediately said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t listen to Lei Ming—he’s just guessing. Nothing’s official yet; everything could still change,” Yang Kehua replied humbly, though a flicker of pride crossed his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, General Manager Yang,” Fang Qingye extended his hand with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Manager Yang was equally warm, shaking Fang Qingye’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, Xiao Fang. Young and accomplished. Very accomplished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Deputy Director Mei Shuwei of the Municipal Finance Bureau, graduated from the Accounting School,” Xia He pointed to the man near forty, wearing glasses and with a stern expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, Director Mei,” Fang Qingye said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Shuwei shook his hand, instinctively adjusting his glasses, and asked: “Xiao Fang, you’re surnamed Fang—do you know Fang Jianhua, the newly appointed director of your county’s Finance Bureau?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s my second uncle,” Fang Qingye smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah? What a coincidence!” Mei Shuwei was surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then tonight, Xiao Fang, you’ve got to pour extra drinks for Director Mei on behalf of your second uncle,” Lei Ming chimed in again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Definitely, definitely,” Fang Qinglin echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, absolutely not,” Mei Shuwei hurriedly said: “Lei Ming, you don’t know—last week, Director Fang came to report to the municipal bureau. At dinner, he alone drank down Director Liao, Director Liu, Director Wu, and me. Afterward, Director Liao joked we should avoid anyone with the surname Fang from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My second uncle does have a good liquor capacity—but I don’t,” Fang Qingye said plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Ming, you don’t know, last week when Director Fang came to the city bureau to report on work, at dinner he got our Director Liao, Director Liu, Director Wu, and me all drunk by himself. Afterwards, our Director Liao joked that from now on we should avoid anyone with the surname Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fortunately, his aunt said he never drank at home—only for business obligations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After introducing Mei Shuwei, Xia He turned to introduce the last man, Lei Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lei Ming was eager: “Xia He, no need—you let me introduce myself. Lei Ming, working at the Municipal People’s Bank, graduated from the Economics School, same class as your Director Xia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Head of the Currency and Credit Management Division at the Municipal People’s Bank,” Xia He added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, Director Lei,” Fang Qingye shook hands again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all the people in the private room were introduced, a beautiful waitress in a silk qipao entered, followed by a man around fifty, and behind him a young man a few years older than Fang Qingye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Director Lei,\" Fang Qingye shook hands again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After everyone in the private room had been introduced, a beautiful waitress in a silk qipao entered with a man around fifty, followed by a young man who appeared a few years older than Fang Qingye.\u003C\u002Fp>",1464,"2026-06-20T05:58:40.725Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a479d2edabc89c900659026358bccc11ed50b465f64e98615cb9f2ee78eaf970","i-m-in-a-small-county-and-you-say-i-m-a-big-shot-chapter-69","i-m-in-a-small-county-and-you-say-i-m-a-big-shot-chapter-67",215,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-in-a-small-county-and-you-say-i-m-a-big-shot-cover.jpg"]