Chapter 862

Chen Bo said: "This time, I estimate County Magistrate Zhao will probably be caught off guard again."

Su Yang said: "How could that be? If we can get the news, they can get it too."

Chen Bo chuckled: "Because the Standing Committee meeting just ended, Department Head Lu required absolute confidentiality from attending leaders in discipline, and Secretary Guo and Mayor Wang also agreed, so basically the news won't be leaked."

"And you also know, these people basically parachuted down from provincial direct units, have little necessary connection with the city, and each is rather aloof; some just go through the motions reporting to the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department, not even visiting Secretary Guo."

Su Yang laughed: "Wasn't it supposed to be confidential? Then how did you know?"

Chen Bo giggled: "Such matters are supposed to be confidential in principle, but it also depends on who holds that principle."

Su Yang burst out laughing: "This is truly great news!"

A moment later, Li Lingyu called: "County Magistrate Su, am I disturbing your rest? If possible, I'd like to invite you for a casual late-night snack—what do you think? Otherwise, I really can't get it off my mind; I might not sleep tonight."

Su Yang naturally understood what she was thinking. If it were him, he probably couldn't hold it either. He almost got thrown into a small black cell, then after balancing various connections he came out safely; generally, being able to keep his original job,

is already not easy; for anyone invited by the Discipline Inspection Commission for tea, 90% basically end up ruined. But Li Lingyu not only survived the ordeal, she even got a chance to join the County Party Committee Standing Committee—a blessing he never dared dream of.

Others said he almost got in; even if he managed to stay out of it this time, she wouldn't dare hope for it. Yet, through various twists of fate and intertwining connections, this actually happened. She certainly knows the credit doesn't belong to Su Yang, but if it weren't for Su Yang speaking up, if it weren't for Su Yang accepting her, if it weren't for Su Yang overcoming opposition to nominate her at the Standing Committee meeting, even if the higher-ups had the idea, it would be hard to realize.

Su Yang didn't waste words: "Fine, you pick the place. But just the two of us going out to eat alone would be a bit awkward; if someone saw us, it might look bad. So call Department Head Chen as well, or Secretary Zhou, or Secretary Hou—any of them will do."

Li Lingyu instantly understood: "Then I'll call Department Head Chen. Going out for a late-night snack with you, having a beautiful female department head along is better than two old guys."

Don't look at Li Lingyu being sometimes stern at work; privately she can be quite cheerful, and she can accurately grasp the normal psychology of a normal man.

Exactly, who wants to spend the wee hours eating late-night snacks with a bunch of old guys? Better to go home and sleep. Though the system sounds high-end and stern, in reality they're far more jovial in this regard than ordinary working stiffs.

Half an hour later, Chen Bo appeared at the agreed night market wearing a black down jacket and sneakers. As the two just met and exchanged greetings, they heard Li Lingyu already shouting there: "Boss Su, we're here, I'm here, I'm here!"

Saying that, she stood up and waved at them. At this moment Li Lingyu looks slightly different from usual; precisely, her figure is still the same standard, her makeup still as lovely, only her demeanor has changed.

Some say demeanor is innate, but actually it's related to education from childhood, family background, and one's own achievements.

Chen Bo strode over, gave Li Lingyu a warm embrace, then said to Su Yang: "Boss Su, won't you give us a warm hug too? Give our comrades some spring-like warmth."

Su Yang said: "Don't set me up; it's fine if you trick me, but don't trick them too."

The three laughed as they spoke.

Li Lingyu's face flashed a hint of red, she said: "County Magistrate Su, I won't waste words; I toast you with this bowl of wine."

Saying that, she lifted the already-poured large bowl of beer and gulped it down with a glug-glug-glug.

Chen Bo laughed: "Look, it's all because of your austere, frugal document spirit; otherwise we'd at least have some baijiu now. And our little gathering doesn't really violate the document spirit, does it? We're paying ourselves, and we're at a night market stall. Or should I go buy a bottle? I feel like I haven't had a drink in days."

Li Lingyu quickly said: "That's fine too, but if we're buying liquor I'll get it; plus this is after work, we're out privately for a meal, spending our own money shouldn't be a violation."

Su Yang thought: that's also true; essentially this isn't a violation, and it's indeed a big happy event for them.

"Okay, okay, but don't overspend—just get some baijiu that costs ten or twenty-odd yuan, grab it and drink. I used to drink this kind of baijiu often in school, but now people call it low-quality baijiu, saying drinking too much will kill you; back then I never saw anyone die from drinking it."

Li Lingyu wanted to say more, but Chen Bo said: "Alright, to be honest, I've never drunk this kind of baijiu before; this is a good chance for me to open my meat."

Li Lingyu had no choice; she grabbed a bottle of red-capped erguotou from the side. This time all three used large bowls, each poured more than half a bowl, and the liquor was gone.

Su Yang laughed: "You don't need to say anything; everything's in the wine, saying more would be awkward. Besides, we're not allowed to buy more wine or drink too much, or else people will say I took two female comrades out at midnight trying to get them drunk, and then I'd reckon we'd all be ruined."

After saying that, the three burst into loud laughter; Li Lingyu's earlier restraint vanished completely. She gulped a big mouthful for herself and immediately choked.

Chen Bo tugged Su Yang's arm: "What are you looking at?"

Su Yang's old face instantly reddened: "Can't you be a bit serious?"

Chen Bo retorted: "Look around—whoever comes out to eat and drink isn't just wildly carousing? Say what you want, talk about what you can, don't stick to your boss identity; just treat yourself as the boss, and us as your secretaries—wouldn't that be more fun?"

Su Yang felt a tingling on his scalp; he had thought only female cadres from the grassroots would be like this, but he didn't expect Chen Bo to be so unrestrained, so he deliberately teased: "Hey, today's fine—I've already feasted my eyes; another day I'll find a place to study privately."

Li Lingyu looked bewildered, wiping the liquor dripping at her chest with a napkin while asking: "What are you two talking about? You're so happy."