Chapter 300: Why Are You Allowed to Attend the Wedding?

Zhao Jinzhu is a member of the Sixth Group; in theory, several group leaders have no need to attend this wedding.

But when they heard the news that Zhao Jinzhu was getting married, they all scrambled to go.

Only because they later learned that Zhao Jinzhu, Da Kui, and Chang Jinbu—the three—had an unusual connection with Lei Zhan Ge.

At first, when Wang Fengshi tried to assign the three to their group, no group leader wanted them; after learning their link to Lei Zhan Ge, their guts turned green with regret.

If they had taken the three into their own group back then, the matter of becoming Police Chief would have been almost certain.

Zhao Jinzhu is practically Lei Zhan Ge's grandson; not going would seem impolite.

If, due to impoliteness, Captain Lei gave them a hard time again, that would be bad.

So when they learned Zhao Jinzhu was marrying, the group leaders conferred and decided they must go, and even bring extra gifts.

However, when Lei Zhan Ge learned of the group leaders' intentions through Wang Fengshi, he had Wang Fengshi decline their requests to attend the banquet on his behalf.

This isn't because Lei Zhan Ge, as a bureau‑level officer, looks down on the small group leaders; he simply wanted a modest affair, no grand ceremony—just his own relatives celebrating.

Even Bureau Chief Tang Qiusheng from the General Bureau was turned down.

Initially the group leaders thought Lei Zhan Ge disdained them or had some opinion, which is why he refused them; when they learned that Director Tang Qiusheng also couldn't attend, their minds settled.

But when they learned that Lu Cheng could attend, the group leaders instantly felt unsettled again.

If everyone goes, everyone goes; if none go, none go—what gives you the special right?

Just then, Lu Cheng, who was in the team preparing to go with Wang Fengshi, was blocked by the group leaders.

Lu Cheng was hauled into the courtyard by several of them: "Hey, hey, what are you all doing? My newly bought clothes—don't ruin them, let go…"

Jiang Yuanchao and Deng Hairong dropped him, and Fan Dashan stepped forward and grabbed Lu Cheng's tie.

"Damn it, what the hell are you wearing?"

Deng Hairong said, "It's a suit."

"Suit? Damn, that's bourgeois stuff; how can you wear that, looking all pretentious? Someone who doesn't know might think you're going to a wedding."

Fan Dashan kept cursing, but his curious hands didn't stop—flipping left, feeling right; the fabric was really good.

This suit was bought by Lin Qingyan; she thought Lu Cheng looked great in a suit.

Nowadays ordinary people still mainly wear Zhongshan suits and Liberation uniforms; Lu Cheng's full suit made him stand out, attracting many young women's gazes along the way.

Disgusted, he brushed off Fan Dashan's hand and scolded, "Go, go, go, wash your hands! Look at how ignorant you all are—times have changed, got it? I wear whatever I want, move aside…"

After finally catching Lu Cheng, Deng Hairong hurriedly grabbed him: "Are you going to attend Zhao Jinzhu's wedding?"

"Ah, what's up?"

"What's more? Captain Lei explicitly said we can't go; his own relatives can just gather, why are you joining the fun?"

Fan Dashan added, "Right, don't go; you say all six small groups didn't go, but you did, making us look bad."

Lu Cheng laughed; it turned out they blocked him because of this.

"Then can I be like you?"

"Then why not? You've got an extra nose, or an extra eye."

"Exactly, what gives you the right to go?"

Lu Cheng considered himself qualified: "I'm Zhao Jinzhu's group leader; what's wrong with me going?"

"Of course there's a problem; you as a group leader would immediately become a former group leader. When the six small groups are dissolved, there'll only be a Police Chief, no small groups."

"Right, maybe later you and Zhao Jinzhu will be under my leadership as Police Chief, so if anyone should attend, it should be me, the Police Chief, attending."

The speaker, Deng Hairong, noted that based on current assessment scores, the Group Three leader Jiang Yuanchao ranks first, far ahead.

Second place belongs to the rising Fifth Group, while Group One leader Deng Hairong barely sits third.

The reason Deng Hairong is barely third is that he's only one point ahead of fourth‑place Fan Dashan.

The last place, naturally, is the Sixth Group.

Because the flood just ended, many plans had to be postponed, like Zhao Bin's autumn wedding being pushed to the year's end; Lu Cheng will give two ceremonies this year.

Another postponed matter is the Police Chief assessment period, slated to be announced next spring.

Thus Deng Hairong accurately said he's not yet a Police Chief, because with the extended assessment period, Fan Dashan is eyeing the position.

A one‑point gap could easily be overtaken.

But none of this concerns Lu Cheng; even if they bust their heads fighting for the Police Chief spot, Lu Cheng has already secured the Police Chief Position early thanks to his work on the Snow Removal Machine Project.

Lu Cheng patted his suit: "Fine, since I can't go as a group leader, I'll attend as a matchmaker; that should be fine."

"Matchmaker?"

"Ah, you didn't know? Zhao Jinzhu's wedding happened because I pulled the strings; Captain Lei explicitly invited me, and I'm even slated to sit at the main table."

Deng Hairong and the others were left speechless; Lu Cheng attending as a matchmaker was perfectly normal.

Patting Deng Hairong's shoulder, Lu Cheng smiled, "Don't worry, I won't forget you guys; when I return I'll bring you some red eggs."

Deng Hairong pulled his hand away: "Nobody eats that; when you see Captain Lei, mention it and see if the Police Chief candidate can be announced before year‑end."

If it's announced before the year ends, Deng Hairong can secure the Police Chief seat.

But Lei Zhan Ge plans to finish the assessment period next spring, so Deng Hairong is understandably anxious; the longer the assessment drags, the riskier it becomes for him.

But for Fan Dashan, the delay is actually advantageous.

Sure enough, Fan Dashan is even more eager than Deng Hairong.

"What are you saying? You can't say that! This is Captain Lei's decision; it can't be easily changed. I support him ending the assessment next spring."

Deng Hairong complained, "Why wait until next year? We agreed to settle this this year, so it should be announced before year‑end."

"What else? Are you scared I'll surpass you?"

"Ridiculous, I'm not afraid of you. Even if it's extended three years, you still can't beat me."

"Bullshit, three years? Give me another three months, and I'll definitely surpass you."

"You're dreaming!"

You're just dreaming!

Group Leader Lu, Group Leader Jiang, give us some sense… Hey, where's the person? Group Leader Lu, why did you leave?

Lu Cheng waved his hand, boarded the jeep driven by Wang Fengshi, and went together to the staff family courtyard.