Chapter 158: Please Give Me Some Dignity

While I was looking at housing projects, Guo Wei called, asking loudly where I was. He asked if I was hiding in Teacher Xue's bed, so happy I forgot to return. He laughed ambiguously, appearing to be in an incredibly good mood.

I covered the mouthpiece and walked to the side, stealing a glance at Huang Weiwei. She was talking to the saleswoman and didn't notice me.

"Something up? Secretary Guo," I asked cautiously after his evil laughter stopped.

"Yes, something big," he said, "The township received a notice. Comrade Zhu Shizhen is transferred to the County Martyrs Cemetery as the Director of the Management Office. He's taking office immediately, so we have to hold a farewell party in the township."

"Just this?" I was a bit displeased. I thought the sky had fallen. Was this trivial matter worth making such a fuss about?

"Is this matter small?" Guo Wei said, "Old Zhu is transferred away, personnel in the township need to be adjusted, the land acquisition contract for Laoyingzui needs to be signed, and the matter of investment promotion needs to be studied at the Party Committee meeting. All these things piled together make it a big deal."

I flattered him, "Secretary Guo, you are the Secretary; you have the final say. I'll just execute."

Guo Wei tapped the table and said, "Democracy, we are a democratic government. How can I have the final say alone? Get up, good men die in the land of gentleness! If Teacher Xue won't let you go, tell her the township government will find trouble for her." He teased and hung up the phone.

Huang Weiwei walked over and asked softly, "Was that Guo Wei?"

I nodded and said, "Something in the township; I have to rush back."

"Haven't bought the house yet?"

"No rush. In Hengyue City, there are at least a thousand empty houses waiting for us; we can buy them whenever."

"Housing prices are rising every day."

"Can they rise faster than the big money we're going to make?" I smiled bitterly, "Weiwei, why don't you work hard and take more care of it? You make the decision on buying the house. I agree to everything."

"No, the house is our future home; we must make the decision together."

"But I..." I hesitated, not knowing how to answer.

"Guo Wei, this person, is like a workaholic, not caring about others' feelings."

I smiled and said, "If he also had a girlfriend like you, let's see how crazy he could be. Isn't this emotional emptiness? He has to find things to fill the void. Or..."

"Or what?" Huang Weiwei looked at me vigilantly.

"We introduce Chen Meng to him; what do you think?"

Huang Weiwei blushed and pouted, "Chen Feng, how can you think that the daughter of a municipal leader would like you township cadres? Hengyue City is so big, how many young talents are there, and how many people treat Mengmeng as their dream lover? Guo Wei is not bad, but he's just a township Party Secretary; it's not a match. You can think of anything."

I hugged her shoulder and said, "Wife, I'm also a township cadre. If this toad can eat your swan meat, why can't Guo Wei?"

"Are you a toad?" Huang Weiwei giggled, hitting my chest with her small hand, "I'm not a swan. Even if I were a swan, my lover couldn't be a toad. Don't say that again, you know?"

I nodded seriously, looking sincere, "So, Guo Wei still has a chance."

"Not a chance," Huang Weiwei said incredibly positively, "You don't understand her."

I was waiting for her to continue, but she took me out, started the car, and said, "I'll take you to the station; go back to the township. Work is important."

Now it was my turn to be confused. I said, "Not buying the house?"

"Buying. Didn't you say I make the decision? When you come back next time, I'll take you to see the new house," she smiled and reached out to me, "Give me your ID card."

"What for?"

"To sign the contract."

"Use yours."

"No. Use yours. I'm marrying into your Chen family; the owner of the house should naturally be surnamed Chen."

I was moved and almost burst into tears.

"Hurry up," she urged me, then said softly, "Feng, go learn to drive. If you know how to drive, you can drive the car back to the countryside yourself. It's convenient to come back," she patted the steering wheel and said, "My mom said, the car she's giving me as a dowry is for us to choose."

I slowly took out my ID card from my pocket, thought about it, and took out my bank card, handing them both to her.

She looked at me in astonishment and said, "Why give me your bank card?"

I said, "Wife, I have a little money I've saved over the years. Since the house is surnamed Chen, if I don't put in money, what am I?"

Huang Weiwei giggled and said, "Small-minded."

I said solemnly, "Wife, please give me some dignity."

She threw the ID card and bank card in front of the dashboard and said, "Fine, our Chen family should have such a man, daring to take responsibility."

When the car reached Chunshan County, dusk had already shrouded the whole city. Guo Wei had called me several times on the way to urge me, and finally, upon learning that I had rushed back from Hengyue City, he cursed, "Son of a bitch, you know how to enjoy life."

Sun Demao's minibus had long since left. I was thinking about how to return to Suxi when I suddenly heard the sound of a motorcycle, and then I saw Hao Qiang stop his sidecar beside me, with Liu Hongyan sitting in the sidecar, both looking at me with a smile.

Hao Qiang jutted his chin and said, "Township Head Chen, why are you here?"

I said in surprise, "Why are you here?"

"Hongyan came to the county bureau to handle some business, and I happened to come to attend the county bureau's meeting on demolition work. So, we're ready to go back."

"I'm also going back to the township. Old Sun's car is gone, right?"

"Sit in my car," Hao Qiang patted the back seat and said, "Let's go together."

I climbed on. As soon as I sat steady, Hao Qiang's sidecar shot out, almost throwing me off, scaring me into a cold sweat, so I quickly grabbed his belt.

As soon as the sidecar shot out of the county town, the sky turned completely dark. There wasn't a single car on the road to Suxi Township; only we were running alone.

Hao Qiang turned on the headlights, the light piercing the night sky like a sharp blade, tearing open the heavy curtain.

"Township Head Chen, you should also get a car," Hao Qiang shouted loudly, mixed with the roar of the motorcycle, spreading in the empty wilderness.

"I don't know how to drive," I also shouted.

"If you don't know how to drive, why don't you learn?" Hao Qiang shouted, "In our Suxi Township, there are three cars in the whole township: Secretary Guo's, Old Sun's, and this broken sidecar of mine. You, a township head, don't have a car; you can't represent the prestige of our township!"

I said, "No rush, take it slow."

As the car passed Laoyingzui, Hao Qiang freed a hand and pointed to the place planned by the township government, saying, "Township Head Chen, you have to mark a piece of land for our police station. The county bureau agreed, and our police station is moving together."

I shouted loudly, "Fine, definitely."

Suddenly, a hand reached out and tugged at my trousers. I turned my head and saw Liu Hongyan's calm smiling face.

Turning a mountain corner, the surroundings were empty and quiet. Hao Qiang suddenly stopped the car, jumped off, and walked to the side of the road. I looked at him in surprise. He happened to turn his head, beckoned to me, and said, "Township Head Chen, let's sing a song together."

"Sing what song?" I asked hesitantly.

"Peeing," he laughed loudly, ignoring us, unzipped his trousers, took out his tool, and wantonly sprinkled it toward the night sky.

Liu Hongyan blushed and scolded, "Hao Qiang, can you have some shame?"

Hao Qiang turned his head carelessly and said, "What shame? Township Head Chen is a man just like me. You're my wife, so why would there be shame?"

I smiled awkwardly and said, "It's fine, it's fine. People have three urgencies; I can understand."

"Exactly," Hao Qiang walked and buttoned his trousers, walked to the sidecar, patted it, and said, "Wife, you don't want your husband to get sick, right?"

"I don't see you getting sick."

"That's because I pee whenever I have to," Hao Qiang climbed onto the car with a grin, gave Liu Hongyan a grin, and said, "Wife, you don't want your husband to get sick, right?"

Watching the two of them flirting, a layer of sorrow washed over my heart. In Suxi Township under the night, what was Xue Bing doing? In the brightly lit Hengyue City, what was Huang Weiwei busy with?

I suddenly felt incredibly heavy, as if a thousand-pound boulder was pressing on my back, making me unable to breathe or shout.

"Let's go," Liu Hongyan said shyly, "I'll settle the score with you when we get back. You hooligan."

Hao Qiang laughed, started the motorcycle, and sped away with us into the night sky. ===== CHAPTER 159 =====