Chapter 286

Guo Wei interviewed Chen Meng for three days. On the fourth day, he called me to say that Chen Meng was going back to the city and hoped I could see her off.

Three days can change a piece of history!

I brought Sister Xiao Mei and set up a table at the County Party Committee Reception Office to see Chen Meng off.

The County Party Committee Propaganda Department acted upon hearing the news. Over the past few days, Chen Meng had sought them out to verify some materials. Hearing that Chen Meng was going back to publish her report, the propaganda staff naturally wouldn't miss such an opportunity to show their sincerity. The County Public Security Bureau was not to be outdone either; the Municipal Daily was going to report on the front page about the heroes of the Chunshan County public security system. This was the glory of all the officers, and they naturally wanted to thank her.

Seeing so many people had come, I simply made a phone call and summoned Huang Qishan. This way, there were two full tables of people.

These three days, Chen Meng had a bountiful harvest. She had unearthed a hero of the new era, which was more righteous than publishing any number of exposé articles. In this day and age, one always hears that people's hearts have turned bad; who would still believe that right beside everyone, there are people like Hao Qiang who have silently dedicated their whole lives?

Chen Meng had come with the mindset of investigating the deaths at Laoyingzui, never expecting to pick up the story of such an outstanding figure. In the eyes of many reporters, whether planting flowers or planting thorns, planting flowers is always better than planting thorns.

Everyone was gathered around Chen Meng talking. Guo Wei sat alone on the side, his eyes revealing restlessness and helplessness.

I went over and sat next to him, not expecting him to reach out and ask me for a cigarette.

Huang Qishan was the last to arrive. As soon as he arrived, he pulled me aside and whispered in my ear, "Chen Feng, there's a play to be had."

I looked at him, puzzled. What play?

Seeing my confused look, Huang Qishan lowered his voice and said, "Secretary Liu already knows about this Municipal Daily interview and praised you at the Standing Committee meeting."

"What does that have to do with me?" I deflected, "It's all Secretary Guo's credit; he was the one who discovered the heroic figure."

Huang Qishan punched me and said, "Just keep pretending. Would you die if you didn't pretend?"

I smiled and said, "I would die! And I'd die a miserable death."

We were laughing and joking when Guo Wei followed us over. After glancing at Huang Qishan, he said to me, "Chen Feng, I have something to tell you."

His expression was grave, which surprised both me and Huang Qishan.

However, for so many years, Guo Wei had always liked to act profound, so we didn't think it was particularly unusual. It was just that today was a good day, and his profoundness seemed somewhat out of place with reality.

We stood under a tree in the courtyard, and Guo Wei suddenly asked me, "Chen Feng, you have to tell me honestly, were you doing it on purpose, or did you really not know?"

I shook my head while looking at him, extremely surprised, and said, "Secretary Guo, can you not be so serious? What are you talking about? I really don't understand."

"You don't understand, right?" He gritted his teeth and glared at me hatefully: "Whose child is in Chen Meng's belly?"

I deliberately acted shocked and asked in surprise, "Is there a child in Chen Meng's belly? Who told you that?"

"No wonder Huang Qishan said you were pretending! You old fox, racking your brains—let's see how you die." Guo Wei asked me for another cigarette.

His words at least made me understand one thing: the fact that Guo Wei knew about this meant his relationship with Chen Meng was not just that of work partners.

"Your girlfriend is Huang Weiwei now, right? What is the relationship between Huang Weiwei and Chen Meng? Don't tell me you don't know that either." Guo Wei gritted his teeth, his expression desolate.

I smiled foolishly, indicating my tacit consent.

"Let me tell you, your calculations are wrong. This time, I won't fall for your trap." Guo Wei threw down these words and was about to leave.

I grabbed him and said, "What do you mean? Fall for what trap?"

Guo Wei looked at me with contempt and sneered, "Do you think I'm someone who values official rank? You are a man too; we men have our own dignity, and I hope you can respect me."

He shook off my hand and strode away, leaving me standing alone in the empty courtyard, stunned like a wooden chicken.

Could I have really misjudged Guo Wei? Would this man with such deep hidden motives, a man who viewed his official career as his life, equate dignity with his future?

Before I could figure it out, I saw Chen Meng coming over with a smile, asking me, "Why are you standing here alone? You're the host, and the host is missing—what do you expect me, the guest, to do?"

I smiled bitterly and said, "I came out for some air; I'll go back in."

Chen Meng smiled and said, "What did Guo Wei say to you just now?"

I said nonchalantly, "Nothing much, just chatted about some work matters."

"Liar!" She gave a shallow smile and said, "I just saw his face turn green."

"None of my damn business." I spat on the ground hatefully.

"It is your business." Chen Meng said calmly, "Do you know? These past three days, Guo Wei expressed that he wanted to pursue me."

"That's a good thing!" I said with a giggle, "Beautiful women have people pursuing them everywhere; it's not strange."

"But I cut off his thoughts."

"How did you cut them off?"

"I told him I was pregnant." Chen Meng remained calm, her eyes fixed on me.

"And then what?"

"The problem is, I said the child is yours." After Chen Meng finished this sentence, a flush of red rose on her face, and then she said with deep apology, "Don't blame me; I just don't like him."

It was as if a stone had fallen from the sky and smashed into my head; I was dizzy and couldn't tell which way was up.

"What do you want?" I was exasperated, anger rising from the bottom of my heart, and I wished I could tear the woman in front of me to shreds.

"I don't want anything." Chen Meng left me behind and walked into the room alone.

What is a bolt from the blue? This is a bolt from the blue! Huang Weiwei and I both knew Chen Meng's joke was a joke. But would Guo Wei believe it? If he took it seriously and spread this matter around, wouldn't it be like getting yellow mud in one's crotch—if it's not shit, it's still shit?

I calculated this way and that, and in the end, the calculations fell on my own head. This is a very self-deprecating thing! What should I do?

Just as I was feeling so irritable I wanted to curse, Sister Xiao Mei flew over like a swallow, shouting, "Town Mayor Chen, the guests are all here, waiting for you."

I smiled bitterly and followed her into the room. Everyone in the room stood up, shouting loudly that they wanted to drink to their heart's content.

I had no mood left at all, mechanically accompanying them with a smile, drinking silently, not saying a word.

Huang Qishan was the person with the highest rank at this table; he was a member of the County Party Standing Committee. As for other figures like me, in Chunshan County, you could hit eight of us with a single pole.

According to custom, the person with the highest rank should give a toast, but Huang Qishan refused to say a word, saying that since I was the one hosting this dinner, I should be the one to speak.

Sister Xiao Mei was the first to applaud and cheer, Chen Meng also smiled and encouraged me, and others agreed it made sense. When it came to Guo Wei, he stuck his chopsticks into the table and said, "Town Mayor Chen should say a few words, talk about the stories behind the heroic figures, and our Reporter Chen should also say a few words. Don't let heroes emerge among us while we are still acting like fools."

Guo Wei's words had a hidden meaning, and some people looked at me in confusion. The table went cold; no one spoke, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

Sister Xiao Mei glanced at the whole table, stood up alertly, and took her glass to find the propaganda department cadres to drink with. The propaganda people didn't know this beautiful little woman, but because she was a beautiful woman, they didn't refuse and picked up their glasses to drink heartily. Seeing that she had won the first battle, Sister Xiao Mei simply took the wine bottle and went to drink with them one by one.

When a beauty takes the initiative to toast, even a man who doesn't drink a drop cannot bear to refuse. With this, the atmosphere became lively again.

When it was Guo Wei's turn, Sister Xiao Mei actually bypassed him and stopped drinking, set the wine bottle on the table, smiled weakly at everyone, and then leaned her head on the table, pretending to sleep.

The whole table burst into laughter, and Guo Wei followed along with an awkward smile.

Chen Meng, however, picked up her own glass and said, "Secretary Guo, I will drink this glass for her. Firstly, to express my gratitude for your hard work these past few days, and secondly, to express my apologies on behalf of us women."

Guo Wei naturally understood the meaning of my words, secretly gave me a wink, handed me the car key and said, "I'll help Reporter Chen drive, this car will stay here, convenient for your urgent use. Anyway, you are bold, and dare to drive without a license."

Chen Meng sighed with a sense of loss and said, "I brought some things in the car, you go and get them."

I followed her to the car, she opened the car door, bent over and busied herself for a long time, came out and handed me a bag and said, "Chen Feng, I understand your intention, but unfortunately you don't understand me!" ===== CHAPTER 285 =====

Chen Meng readily agreed. Looking at Sister Xiao Mei, who was fast asleep in the back seat, a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and she said softly, "This woman is truly cute."

After seeing Chen Meng off, I turned to look for Guo Wei, only to find that he had already driven away.

Just as I was about to start cursing, a text message came through on my phone. I opened it to see it was from Chen Meng, and it said only one sentence: I'm sorry, Chen Feng!