Chapter 121

Huang Weiwei took me to Secretary Guan Peishan's house with ease.

When the daughter of Minister Huang, Huang Weiwei, a cadre from the Municipal Women's Federation, appeared, Guan Peishan was clearly taken aback.

The few men who had been sitting in the room all stood up after we entered, said goodbye to Guan Peishan, smiled politely at us, and left.

It was impossible for Guan Peishan not to be familiar with Huang Weiwei! He had watched this girl grow up; he was as familiar with her as he was with his own child. To put it politely, perhaps even more familiar than with his own child.

Huang Weiwei's father, Huang Shan, used to live just a wall away from him when he was the Chunshan County Party Committee Secretary. Secretary Huang Shan loved drinking Pu'er tea, so Guan Peishan would find someone to get authentic thirty-year-old Pu'er from Yunnan and invite the secretary to his home to drink it. It was only a step away, and Secretary Huang Shan would always come happily, bringing Huang Weiwei, who still wore her hair in pigtails.

Later, Guan Peishan used the excuse that his tea-brewing skills were too poor and he wanted to drink tea brewed by an expert like Secretary Huang Shan, so he would send the Pu'er to Huang Shan's house. As long as Secretary Huang Shan was home, he would knock on the door after dinner and worship the tea brewed by Huang Shan.

Later, when Huang Shan was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Municipal Organization Department, Guan Peishan took over the position of Chunshan County Party Committee Secretary.

Secretary Guan showed unprecedented enthusiasm toward Huang Weiwei, getting up to pour water himself and ordering his wife to bring out a pastry box.

In Hengyue City, during the New Year, every household prepared a pastry box. The box was divided into six or eight compartments, each filled with different candies, pastries, and red dates. In the center, a round plate held a piece of "fa bing" (prosperity cake), symbolizing wealth for the coming year. It was generally not meant to be eaten, but some ignorant children would ignore the colorful candies and pastries and insist on eating the dry and hard prosperity cake. The host would usually let the children eat it.

When I was a child, I once loved the prosperity cake so much that my mother gave me a long lecture.

When guests came during the New Year, the pastry box had to be served at the same time as the tea. Otherwise, the guests would blame the host for not understanding social etiquette, or think the host looked down on them.

Huang Weiwei's visit for the New Year was both a surprise and a shock to Guan Peishan. Ever since Huang Shan was transferred to the Municipal Organization Department and rose from Deputy Minister to Minister, he had never arranged for his daughter to pay a New Year visit. Before the New Year, Minister Huang had followed Secretary He to Suxi Township for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Secretary He had a sudden whim to visit the Martyrs Cemetery, which scared Guan Peishan so much his legs were shaking, but Minister Huang had cleverly covered for him. Even though Secretary He had returned, Guan Peishan still felt a heavy stone pressing on his heart. Who could guarantee that Secretary He wouldn't suddenly remember this matter one day?

Huang Qishan coming to Chunshan County to be the Youth League Committee Secretary was something Minister Huang had entrusted to the Cadre Division to handle; from beginning to end, Minister Huang hadn't given him a single word of explanation.

Huang Weiwei suddenly coming to pay a New Year visit was definitely not as simple as just visiting relatives!

Besides, what kind of relatives were Guan Peishan and Minister Huang? They weren't related at all, at most they were colleagues. When Minister Huang left his post as Chunshan County Party Committee Secretary, he made a request to the organization to let Deputy Secretary Guan Peishan take over as Chunshan County Party Committee Secretary. Because of this, Guan Peishan had always regarded Minister Huang as his benefactor and backer.

After Guan Peishan was confirmed in his position, he naturally had work connections with Municipal Secretary Chen, so he focused on Secretary Chen's line and neglected Minister Huang's existence.

Could Minister Huang have sent his daughter to pay a visit to remind him? Thinking of this, a layer of cold sweat broke out on Guan Peishan's back.

Three years ago, Secretary Guan sent his son to study in the United States, leaving only the old couple at home. The nanny had been sent back to the countryside for the New Year and hadn't returned yet.

Secretary Guan's wife, Aunt Deng, worked at the County Cultural Center and held the title of Deputy Director, but she hadn't gone to work for many years.

Aunt Deng brought the fruit plate with a smile, looked at Huang Weiwei, and said, "Weiwei, a girl changes eighteen times, it's really true. Look at our little Wei, she's grown up so beautifully."

Huang Weiwei blushed and said coyly, "Aunt Deng, I'm just average."

Secretary Guan told Aunt Deng to go back to the room, saying that Weiwei coming to pay a New Year visit was a guest he couldn't even invite, and as an elder, he had to give the child a red envelope. He had wanted to give it before the New Year, but the county committee had too many trivial matters and he couldn't get away. Giving it now wasn't too late. He gave Aunt Deng a look to go get it. Aunt Deng understood and went. Guan Peishan then asked how Minister Huang's health was, and how Director Chen's health was.

Huang Weiwei answered one by one, saying that although her parents were older, they were still very healthy, perhaps because they had been drinking the water of Chunshan County for half their lives; compared to other municipal leaders, her father's health was still reassuring.

After asking, she turned her head toward me with an inquiring look in her eyes.

I quickly explained Uncle Secretary He's intention for him to pay a New Year visit, and deliberately expressed my own desire to pay a visit to the secretary. I said I was sorry for the intrusion and asked for the secretary's forgiveness.

When Secretary Guan heard that Uncle Secretary He wanted to pay him a visit, he was so grateful he rubbed his hands together and muttered repeatedly, "I haven't visited Secretary He's house yet, it's truly my fault. When you have time, Xiao Chen, you must lead the way; I want to visit Secretary He personally."

As they were talking, Aunt Deng returned with two red envelopes, wanting to give one to each of us. Huang Weiwei smiled and said, "Aunt Deng, do you still think I'm a child?" She firmly refused to take it.

Guan Peishan patted the arm of the sofa and said, "Weiwei, this is your aunt's heart. No matter how old you get, in the eyes of us old folks, you'll always be a child." He persuaded Huang Weiwei to take it, saying it was for good luck.

I didn't even dare to think about declining. The Minister's daughter had accepted it; as a small official, how could I dare to act mature? I had to stand up quickly, accept it with both hands, carefully tuck it into my pocket, sit up straight, and listen to Secretary Guan's teachings.

Guan Peishan didn't mention at all that we had come together, as if Huang Weiwei and I were supposed to come together.

After chatting for a while, they talked about Huang Qishan. Secretary Guan asked with concern, "Secretary Huang returned early this year and has been working in the office since he got back. Young people shouldn't overwork themselves during the New Year; they should pay attention to their health."

Huang Weiwei didn't take Secretary Guan's words to heart at all, but instead said, "A young cadre like him should study more."

Guan Peishan smiled and said, "Weiwei, didn't you tell him you were coming?"

A smile appeared on the corner of Huang Weiwei's mouth, and she said, "The place I'm staying now was arranged by him. After all, we were colleagues in the past. Since an old colleague has come, as the host, he should make arrangements for me."

When Secretary Guan heard she was staying outside, he firmly insisted she stay at his house, saying there was no one else at home, just him and Aunt Deng, so it would be very convenient. Besides, the daughter of the old secretary coming to pay a New Year visit and staying outside wouldn't be right in terms of reason or sentiment.

Huang Weiwei declined Secretary Guan's kindness, saying she was only staying in Chunshan County for one night and had to rush back to the city early tomorrow morning, so there was no need to trouble Secretary Guan.

Seeing her attitude was very firm, Secretary Guan followed her wishes and didn't insist further. Then he changed the subject and asked Huang Weiwei if Minister Huang had any new requirements for his work.

Huang Weiwei shook her head and said she didn't know. She said she was only here for a New Year visit, a junior paying a visit to an elder. Finally, she said lightly, "My mother will be the commander of the highway headquarters after the New Year. She heard that your Suxi Township will be re-electing the township head after the New Year, and she hopes a young cadre will be elected. Actually, I think, what does her highway have to do with someone else's township head?"

Guan Peishan was a very smart person and immediately understood the meaning. But he didn't say it directly, only saying, "Is this Director Chen's intention?"

Huang Weiwei smiled faintly and said, "My mother's intention, absolutely correct."

Guan Peishan laughed, "Director Chen is indeed an old leader; she can plan ahead."

He looked at me and said, "Xiao Chen, you are from Suxi Township; what is your opinion on this?"

I quickly waved my hands and said, "Secretary Guan, I obey the organization's arrangements. Whoever becomes the township head is the same; I will firmly cooperate with the work."

He smiled meaningfully, looked at Huang Weiwei, and shook his head, saying, "When your municipal committee sent four social education cadres, now except for you, Weiwei, the other three have all returned to Chunshan County. It seems our holy land of revolutionary martyrs is still very attractive."

Huang Weiwei blushed and said, "Uncle Guan, it's not that I don't want to be in Chunshan County; my umbilical cord is still left in Chunshan. Logically speaking, I have more feelings for Chunshan than any of them. It's just that my ability is not enough, so I had to return to Hengyue City to muddle along."

Guan Peishan laughed, "Weiwei, you really are the daughter of our Chunshan County."

Just as they were chatting happily, Huang Weiwei's phone rang. She stood up apologetically, hid on the balcony to answer the call, and came back saying, "Uncle Guan, Guo Wei is here; he asked us to go and get together."

Guan Peishan waved his hand and said, "Tell him to come here and sit for a while."

Huang Weiwei apologized, "I already promised him I'd go to the reception house."

Secretary Guan stood up and said, "Alright, you young people don't want to talk to an old man like me, so go ahead."

As we walked to the door to say goodbye to Secretary Guan, he said earnestly, "Weiwei, go back and tell Director Chen and Minister Huang that I will definitely not let the two leaders down regarding the re-election of the Suxi Township head."

After we left, I still wanted to go to County Magistrate Liu's house to sit for a while, but Huang Weiwei pulled my clothes and said, "You must go to County Magistrate Liu's house during the day."

I looked at her, not understanding, and she said seriously, "Coming to Secretary Guan's house was to offer opinions, but going to County Magistrate Liu's house is a task."

I became even more confused, and she smiled slightly and said, "Chen Feng, do you think I really have nothing better to do than come to Chunshan County to pay New Year visits to these old men?"

I said seriously, "If you're not here for New Year visits, what else is there?"

She looked at me, shook her head, and said, "I don't know if you're really smart or just pretending to be stupid. No matter what you're thinking, I'll only tell you one thing: go back and prepare well for the election for township head."

"Me?" I pointed at myself and said, "I'm going to run for election?"

"That's right, you." She nodded affirmatively. "This is the first time I've ever run around for someone else's official position."