Chapter 824

Su Yang said, "Okay, okay, I'll go over first and wait for you."

Just after hanging up the phone, he said to Shi Haoyun, "This time inviting Director Bai and them to a meal is indeed for an important matter. The locals have arranged it; we'll bring the wine over."

Hearing this, Shi Haoyun immediately put on a bitter-gourd face: "Leader, this probably isn't appropriate, right? To entertain such a high-ranking leader, plus two department directors, we can't bring out this liquor; otherwise I'll go buy a bottle of Wuliangye or Maotai?"

"Don't even talk about entertaining someone of that rank; normally, leaders in our county drink at this level. Although our county has explicitly forbidden it, when we go out on official business, this would be hard to justify."

Su Yang said, "No need, just our Shuanggou Daqu. We've said in the county that if official reception is necessary, we use Shuanggou Daqu. I can't set an example of violating the rule; besides, Shuanggou Daqu is also pure grain liquor—what's lacking? It's also our local specialty."

Shi Haoyun broke out in a cold sweat, thinking: Whether it's someone from the County Party Committee and County Government inviting investors, or dining with those county leaders, using Shuanggou Daqu is perfectly acceptable.

But to dare use Shuanggou Daqu at the best Chinese restaurant—what gall the boss must have! Specialties are supposed to be local; to talk about specialties with such a high-ranking leader here is practically asking for death.

Yet, regarding what Su Yang said, he didn't dare interject further, though his heart kept trembling.

Shortly after, Su Yang received a message from Bai Zhantang on his phone; the restaurant name sent was "Jingcheng Memories," located in the alley behind the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government.

Su Yang and Shi Haoyun wandered around for half a day before finally finding this faux-antique storefront "Jingcheng Memories" at a corner of the back alley. But as soon as they pushed the door, they saw a sign hanging at the entrance saying "Temporarily Closed."

Su Yang was a bit dazed: "What's going on? The place arranged by Chief Secretary Bai isn't open for business?"

He was just about to call and ask when Shi Haoyun suddenly said, "Maybe the place has been booked out; let's go in and ask."

Indeed, as they were speaking, a gorgeous woman in a cheongsam came up to greet them: "May I ask who you're looking for?"

Shi Haoyun said, "We have an appointment with Director Bai to come here for a meal; if you're not open to the public and it's inconvenient, we'll go elsewhere."

The woman said, "Are you Mr. Su? Please go upstairs."

Su Yang glanced at Shi Haoyun and said, "You sure know the ropes, kid; otherwise I would have almost called to ask."

After going up to the second floor, a familiar yet unfamiliar guzheng sound echoed in their ears. The second-floor space, nearly three hundred square meters, had only a table and a tea stand, beside which sat a woman playing the instrument. The woman, dressed in a cheongsam with long hair, had her back to them. A faint fragrance permeated the whole space, giving anyone who entered a very comfortable feeling.

Su Yang understood in his heart that this must be Bai Zhantang's private stronghold. He never imagined that the stronghold of this provincial-level chief secretary would actually be located in the alley behind the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government—truly a great hidden retreat in the city.

Su Yang and Shi Haoyun had just steadied themselves when the music stopped abruptly and the graceful figure slowly turned. Su Yang thought she looked familiar, though he couldn't place her yet, and the woman said, "Hello, County Magistrate Su, I'm Qinhuai Ru; we've met before."

Su Yang's head buzzed; upon hearing that name, he suddenly recalled—wasn't Qinhuai Ru previously someone of Li Jianguo? And Li Jianguo had already been expelled from public office for being implicated in a case. How could this woman appear here? If Li Jianguo and Bai Zhantang had some connection, then Li Jianguo shouldn't have been just a lowly secretary back then. This relationship really puzzled him, but he absolutely did not believe that after leaving Li Jianguo, this woman had latched onto Bai Zhantang.

Although Bai Zhantang's status doesn't seem particularly prominent, his actual power and influence are enormous. Normally, someone of Li Jianguo's rank would never get to see Bai Zhantang; even if he could know Bai Zhantang, Bai Zhantang would certainly not know him. Yet there is such a link between them, and he even suspects they are like-minded.

At that moment, Qinhuai Ru also noticed the doubt in Su Yang's eyes and said, "County Magistrate Su, do you find seeing me strange? Actually, I too thought it was extremely bizarre. Li Jianguo and Director Bai are distant relatives, but they previously didn't know each other; it was their ancestors who, in a chance encounter, straightened out this relationship. However, it has already been two months since Li Jianguo was removed from office; otherwise, he wouldn't have been dismissed now, and perhaps his situation could still turn around. But I'm not entirely clear on the specifics; roughly speaking, that's how it is."

Saying that, it actually makes sense; otherwise, if they had any camaraderie, how could Li Jianguo have been dismissed from office? And if they truly had camaraderie, he wouldn't be serving as a secretary in the county. This kinship really sounds far-fetched, yet one cannot deny its plausibility and truthfulness.

However, he also had no intention of digging deeper into this matter, as it held no significance for him.

After placing the wine in a corner, Shi Haoyun said, "Leader, I'll head down first; call me whenever you finish."

Su Yang nodded slightly; although he also knew Shi Haoyun's background, Shi Haoyun's current status is merely that of a secretary, unsuitable for appearing in such a setting.

Qinhuai Ru said, "County Magistrate Su, Director Bai instructed that when you arrive, you should treat this as your own turf. I'll first make you tea; we have top-grade Tieguanyin and Wuyi Mountain Dahongpao here—these are what Director Bai himself drinks. Ordinary visitors wouldn't brew these two teas; at most they'd just be given tea leaves others brought. If you're tired, there's a hidden door beside you leading to a bedroom where you can rest; I'll call you when Director Bai arrives."

This is treating Su Yang as an honored guest here in earnest, or rather, Bai Zhantang regards Su Yang as one of his own.

Su Yang said, "I've rested a bit today and still feel energetic, so I won't sleep; I'll just have some tea."

As he was speaking, footsteps came from the stairs, and then he saw the woman who had greeted them downstairs earlier walking in with two men. Those two men didn't know Su Yang, but Su Yang recognized them—they were the heads of the Finance Department and the Transport Department.

When these two saw Su Yang, their steps visibly halted, then in unison they asked, "Are you County Magistrate Su? You've already arrived? We thought we were early; if you had arrived, we would have gone downstairs to meet you. This has made us late—how embarrassing."