Chapter 266: Secretary He's sorrow

I finally waited for my uncle, Secretary He, to come home.

From the moment he entered the house, I felt that Secretary He was like a different person from the past. Although he didn't smile much in the past, a hidden kindness was vaguely revealed under his serious appearance. But now, in his expression, the kindness I was familiar with in the past seems to have disappeared.

No one knows that in the past few days, his heart has experienced pain and helplessness that he had never tasted in his life.

My cousin-in-law, who came from a military background, had spent most of his life struggling in places where dust obscured the sun; the silk-and-bamboo music of the Jiangnan region only appeared repeatedly in his dreams. Since his father passed away, the only attachments he had left in this world were his wife and son. Although Secretary He looked like a northerner, he never once called his beloved "wife" (xifu); from the moment he married my cousin-in-law Wanru, on their wedding night, he addressed her directly as "Lao Po" (my old lady/wife).

In the eyes of my well-read and cultured cousin-in-law, my cousin-in-law appeared incredibly vulgar and rude. In the education she had received, "Wife" was a term for the lower classes; men calling their wives "daughter-in-law" was the northern way of speaking, and calling them "madam" was the way of the upper class. My cousin-in-law did not know that in our south, "Wife" was the most intimate term of address, a promise for a lifetime.

My uncle loves his wife and son, which was already famous in Zhangjiawan City. My uncle, who was upright all his life, inherited the tradition left by the army—hating evil like an enemy. He couldn't tolerate a grain of sand in his eyes. He would name and scold those officials who exploited the people at meetings, and he dared to speak out and contradict his superiors. He would shed tears when he saw people squatting in the cold wind chewing steamed buns, and he would overturn tables when he saw the bustling scenes of pleasure.

Therefore, there are very few people he trusts, and very few people trust him. He is lonely, wandering, nervous, and helpless. He is like a lonely blade of grass, growing life tenaciously in the vast Gobi.

Until one night he woke up from a dream, and the silk and bamboo music of the south seemed to be ringing in his ears. He decided to return to his roots.

My aunt didn't understand my uncle very well. She felt that she was molding and rusting in the misty rain of the south. My aunt, who was used to the life of desert sand, insisted on returning to the north. My uncle was silent, silent like a volcano about to erupt. But in the end, he endured it. In the depths of his soft heart, he couldn't watch his son be as lonely as a wolf in the north.

Aunt's return made him overjoyed, and he suddenly felt that the light of life was so brilliant. He even drew a beautiful picture for his wife and children. He hoped that after he retired, he would live a life of grandchildren around his knees that his old father had not enjoyed.

But all this was shattered by the visit of a strange girl. My uncle didn't even let anyone into his office. He sat quietly behind the large desk, listening to the girl from the north—Xuelai—confess her request.

When he heard that on the night his son came to Hengyue City, he had a romantic story with the girl in front of him, he felt no joy, only anger! He almost crushed the pencil he was holding in his hand. Although the girl in front of him spoke very vaguely, he still saw the girl's sadness from her painful face.

He personally sent the girl away and sat in his office, blaming himself deeply.

He felt that he had not fulfilled his responsibility as a father, and he had not fulfilled his responsibility as a son. He felt that his life was extremely failed. From the north to the south, he never escaped the fate of failure. At that moment, he suddenly felt cold-hearted.

A meaningful remark from Minister Huang of the Organization Department made waves in his heart. The girl who had just left had a night of passion with his son, while his son was entangled with Secretary Chen's daughter.

The girl named Xuelai was a pity to be in the pleasure house. If her background wasn't unclear, he even had the thought that having such a daughter-in-law would be a good choice.

He knew very well the stubbornness of his wife Wanru. She would not let Xuelai enter the door, let alone Secretary Chen's daughter, who was several years older than his son.

He withered in the chair until his secretary came to turn on the office lights, and he knew that it was already completely dark outside.

My uncle, with a dark face and even somewhat withered, entered the house with such an image. Seeing me, a half-smile appeared on his face, and it disappeared in an instant.

I am a person with two hidden agendas. After my uncle's smile disappeared, I could only honestly help Sister Xiao Mei serve dishes and soup.

Aunt Wanru came downstairs in high spirits. Her complexion was very good, and it could simply be described as glowing. Such an expression shows that Aunt's mood is very good. Compared with my uncle, it is simply a sharp contrast.

"Don't talk while eating" is the traditional rule of our family. At the dinner table, I lowered my head and shoveled rice quickly, not daring to look at my uncle who was lost in thought and my aunt who was smiling like a flower.

"Little Feng, is your unit busy?" My uncle spoke first, leading me to talk.

I swallowed the last bite of rice, pushed the bowl and chopsticks away from me gently, and said with a full face of smiles: "Uncle, not very busy."

My uncle said "Oh" and lowered his head to eat again. After eating a bite, he asked me: "Are you in love with Old Huang's daughter?"

This is the concern of an elder for a younger generation, and also an investigation by the organization. I answered sincerely: "Yes."

A smile bloomed on my uncle's face, and he turned to Aunt Wanru: "Little Feng being with Old Huang's daughter can be considered a match made in heaven."

Aunt Wanru said "Hmm" noncommittally and turned to call Sister Xiao Mei, who was standing by the kitchen, to bring a bowl of ginseng soup.

My uncle frowned when he saw the ginseng soup in front of him. He told Sister Xiao Mei to take another bowl; he wanted to share half a bowl with me.

How dare I drink it! This is the soup carefully brewed by Aunt Wanru, which contains the thick love between the husband and wife.

I declined and smiled awkwardly.

"Drink it if I tell you to," my uncle ordered. He picked up the bowl, drank it in one breath, wiped his chin exaggeratedly, and stood up to take me to his study.

"Little Feng, tell me honestly, is it because of the selection of the deputy county magistrate in Chunshan County?" My uncle went straight to the point, leaving me speechless for a while.

"Uncle, I..." I hesitated, not daring to confess.

"If it is, it is; if it isn't, it isn't." My uncle clearly wanted to make the atmosphere more relaxed. He took a pack of cigarettes out of the cabinet, waved it at me and said: "To tell the truth, I'll reward you with a pack of cigarettes."

I laughed. These actions of my uncle show that we are a family, and we have a relationship that others can hardly hope for.

"A little bit," I said, and quickly explained: "I'm not here to ask for an official position, let alone run for one. Because I know my qualifications are not enough."

The word "running for an official" is the representative of evil in my uncle's dictionary.

My uncle laughed, and kindness appeared faintly on his face again.

"A child who can be taught!" he said, pointing to a photo of him and Jiaxiao hanging on the wall and asking me: "Do you know about Jiaxiao's matter?"

I nodded in acknowledgment.

"If it were you, what would you prepare to do?" he asked bluntly.

I shook my head to indicate I didn't know.

"I want to hand over all these things to you to handle. Can you handle them well?" My uncle looked at me, and the faint light hit his face, showing his old age and haggardness.

I nodded vigorously. I didn't want to let the old man in front of me be exhausted.

He nodded with satisfaction, took a bankbook out of the cabinet and handed it to me: "Little Feng, this is a little savings of your uncle over the years. Take it and handle these things well. Remember, everything must be eliminated invisibly. Your younger brother is still young and can't stand the tossing."

I didn't expect my uncle to handle it in such a way. For a Municipal Committee Deputy Secretary, handling such a small matter is simply not worth mentioning. He could just signal a subordinate, and it could be handled silently. But he didn't do that. There must be many things he couldn't say.

I suddenly felt a heavy burden on my shoulders, so heavy that I couldn't breathe.

I was awkward and didn't dare to take it, and sweat began to appear on my forehead.

"This is also your aunt's meaning," my uncle said lightly, stuffing the bankbook into my hand.

"I... I..." I hesitated for a long time without saying a word.

"Little Feng, it's hard for you. You also know that in Hengyue City, besides being able to trust you, who else can I trust? No matter what, the same blood flows in our veins."

I was extremely excited all of a sudden and almost cried.

"When you encounter things, be steady," he patted the back of my hand lightly, walked to the wooden chair and sat down.

"Uncle," I choked, my face flushed: "I'm afraid of messing things up."

"Do it boldly. Your aunt and I trust you." My uncle stared into my eyes, conveying confidence and courage to me.

I said "Hmm" and stuffed the bankbook into my pants pocket. Suddenly, a heroic spirit rose from the bottom of my heart, and I thought, even if I am smashed to pieces, I must handle this matter flawlessly!

"Jiaxiao left you a letter, take it back and read it," my uncle waved his hand powerlessly: "The selection of the deputy county magistrate in Chunshan County this time will have opinions from the city. You must remember the four words: 'unmoved by favor or humiliation'."

Coming out of his study, I felt as if a thousand-pound weight was hanging under my feet, and I could hardly take a step. After finally reaching the stairs, I lifted my leg, and without paying attention, I stepped into the air, and I rolled down like a spinning top. ===== CHAPTER 267 =====