Chapter 818: The Children Come to Wuzhou

A few days later, one evening.

When Lin Dongfan pushed open the front door, he was so startled by the sight before him that he almost took a step back.

In the living room, two suitcases lay wide open on the floor, clothes, snacks, game consoles, and manga spilling out like volcanic ejecta.

Thirteen-year-old Lin Fuxing lay sprawled on the sofa, chips in one hand, phone in the other, game sound effects crackling loudly.

Twelve-year-old Zhao Xia sat cross-legged on the carpet.

The little girl resembled her mother, growing prettier by the day, her features quite delicate.

Five workbooks lay before her, Zhao Xia biting her pen as she glared at a math problem, fully embodying the air of a poor student.

"Dad!"

Lin Fuxing caught sight of the person at the door, sat up with a carp's leap: "You finally came back! Mom said she'd wait for you to eat, I'm about to starve!"

Zhao Xia didn't even look up, directly retorting: "Brother, you just finished a pack of beef jerky half an hour ago."

"That's a snack! Can that count as a meal!"

Lin Fuxing always acts righteous and bold, never having backed down since childhood.

Lin Dongfan stood in the doorway.

For a moment he thought he'd come to the wrong door.

It took him two seconds to recall—last week Chu Lingxi had mentioned the kids were on summer break and needed to be picked up to stay in Wuzhou for a while.

"Honey, you're back?"

Chu Lingxi poked her head out from the kitchen wearing an apron, the apron brand new, clearly just unpacked, with four cartoon characters reading "Chef God Descends" printed on it.

She held a plate of a dark, unidentified object, beaming: "Wash your hands, I'm cooking personally..."

"Mom!" Zhao Xia shot up in alarm: "Didn't you say the nanny auntie would cook today?!"

"The auntie had something at home, so I sent her back." Chu Lingxi placed the plate on the table; the black mass wobbled: "I made the braised pork ribs according to the recipe—don't worry, it's absolutely delicious."

At the mention of "absolutely delicious," Zhao Xia's whole demeanor turned into one of utter hopelessness.

Clearly she'd suffered plenty from her mother's cooking.

Lin Fuxing leaned in to sniff, his features instantly scrunching: "What's this smell… Mom, did you mistake vinegar for soy sauce?"

"You think I'm stupid? Impossible—how could I confuse vinegar with soy sauce?"

Chu Lingxi lifted the braised pork ribs to sniff; it seemed normal, and she even felt her cooking had noticeably improved.

She then criticized: "If you don't want to eat, don't; go hungry!"

The two kids were left speechless, asking the heavens: in their memory, Mom had never done anything reliable! Oh, except dancing—Mom's dance skills are truly awesome.

Lin Dongfan took off his jacket and walked over.

Looking at the plate of braised pork ribs on the table, he also furrowed his brow.

All one could say was that the shape of the bones was barely discernible, coated in a layer of black, thick, paste-like substance, giving off a complex, indescribable sour odor.

He figured his simple-minded rhinitis must have flared up again; otherwise, how could his sense of smell have failed?

Lin Dongfan fell silent for three seconds.

He patted Chu Lingxi's shoulder, comforting: "Honey, you've worked hard, but… next time the nanny's not here, you can wait for me to come back and I'll cook."

Chu Lingxi pursed her lips: "Honey, you despise me…"

"Really not."

Lin Dongfan decisively planted a kiss on her forehead, soothing his wife's resentment.

In the end, dinner was settled by takeout.

The family of four sat around the table, eating pizza and fried chicken, while a variety show played on the TV—noisy, yet it brought back Along-missed homely atmosphere.

Lin Fuxing gnawed on a chicken leg while mumbling: "Dad, can I take a look at that limited-edition One Piece figurine set in your study?"

"No." Lin Dongfan didn't even lift his eyelids: "Last time you said 'just look,' and Luffy's straw hat vanished forever."

"That was an accident!" Lin Fuxing said solemnly.

Zhao Xia gave a sideways glance, bluntly adding: "Last week, you broke the living-room vase and called it an accident too?"

The siblings bickered and fought; Chu Lingxi was used to it and simply ignored them.

Chu Lingxi slipped a piece of pizza onto Lin Dongfan's plate, smiling: "Honey, are you tired today? Your complexion doesn't look great."

"Not bad."

Lin Dongfan took the pizza, paused, then added: "Tomorrow afternoon we'll hold the Democratic Life Meeting, with Wang Qigang presiding."

Chu Lingxi pondered: "Democratic Life Meeting? Isn't that for criticism and self-criticism? Will Secretary Wang…"

"Sure will." Lin Dongfan smiled: "But it's fine—I'm mentally prepared."

Just as they were speaking, the doorbell rang.

Lin Fuxing jumped up to open the door; Shi Liantang stood outside holding a fruit basket.

"Uncle Shi!"

The two children shouted in unison.

When Chu Jinsong governed Wuzhou, Shi Liantang was a frequent visitor to the Chu family; thus the kids weren't strangers to him.

"You've grown taller, Fuxing, and Xia, you're even prettier."

Shi Liantang laughed as he entered.

He handed the fruit basket to Chu Lingxi, then said: "I passed a fruit stall, saw the lychees looked good, and bought some."

Lin Dongfan greeted Shi Liantang to sit in the living room, then told the kids: "Go upstairs to do your homework; I need to talk with Uncle Shi about something."

Lin Fuxing replied: "I've already finished my summer homework!"

"Then preview next semester's." Lin Dongfan didn't allow argument.

He waited as the two children reluctantly went upstairs.

Shi Liantang lowered his voice: "Mayor Lin, the notice for tomorrow's Democratic Life Meeting has been officially issued. The theme is 'Strengthening team unity, consolidating development consensus'."

Lin Dongfan nodded: "Normal procedure, Secretary Wang will preside?"

"Yes." Shi Liantang pushed his glasses: "According to convention, this Democratic Life Meeting mainly revolves around work style and team building. However……"

He paused briefly.

Shi Liantang then spoke solemnly: "Recently the cases of Zhou Hongwei and Yuan Ben Zhong, as well as Tang Yuchao's voluntary surrender, have caused quite a stir. At tomorrow's meeting, comrades may raise opinions about the related work."

His words were rather implicit.

But the meaning is clear——tomorrow's Democratic Life Meeting won't be too peaceful!

Lin Dongfan lifted his water cup.

His expression calm: "The Democratic Life Meeting is originally meant for everyone to speak freely. It's normal for people to have opinions, and criticism should be welcome. As long as it's for the public good, it's all for the work."

Chu Lingxi, listening beside him, felt a little nervous and grabbed Lin Dongfan's sleeve.

Lin Dongfan patted her hand and comforted her.

He then continued to Shi Liantang: "As for the case handled by the Discipline Commission, just follow procedure. Investigate what should be investigated, handle what should be handled, don't let other factors interfere."

"Understood."

Shi Liantang nodded, then said: "Besides, the audit of the Cloud Peak Mountain Villa project has made new progress. Preliminary findings show multiple violations in the planning approval and land transfer links, involving……"

The two chatted about work for another twenty-plus minutes, then Shi Liantang rose to take his leave.

Seeing Shi Liantang off.

Chu Lingxi looked worriedly at Lin Dongfan: "Fanfan, tomorrow's meeting……"

"It's fine." Lin Dongfan gently put his arm around her waist: "Normal organizational life, the wind and rain that ought to come will come sooner or later; you don't need to worry."

Although he said so.

But Lin Dongfan knew clearly that, in this sensitive moment, this Democratic Life Meeting would certainly not be just a "normal" organizational life.