Chapter 330

Chunshan County was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers everywhere, creating an atmosphere of the New Year. Those who knew the inside story understood that these were all paving the way for the upcoming County, Township, and Village Three-Level Cadre Meeting.

As soon as the Hengyue City Three-Level Cadre Meeting ended, all the counties under the city were busy preparing for the county-level meeting. Such a scene could only be seen frequently during the initial victory of the revolution.

Holding a big meeting is a mass movement. A mass movement must have a basic rule, which is something of common concern. People who have traveled far know that now in the coastal areas, everything is economy-oriented; as long as there is money, everything is negotiable.

At the entrance to the county, I saw two brand-new banners hanging on the iron archway, which read: As long as you come to Chunshan, everything is negotiable. The horizontal banner: Great Prospects.

This place once hung couplets for the public memorial service of the County Martyrs Cemetery. Before that, it hung: Never forget class struggle, family planning is a basic national policy.

I had to marvel at the speed; in less than two days, these newly changed banners seemed to have signaled the upcoming social change.

My Aunt and the others were already waiting for me at the "Huihuang Hotel." As soon as I entered, I saw a room full of people, men and women, bustling. Seeing me enter, they all cheered in unison: "He's here, he's here. The County Magistrate is here!"

I thought the County Magistrate had followed behind me, but when I looked back, it was empty, and only then did I realize they were calling me.

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly waved my hands to make them stop. Miscalling official titles is a major taboo in officialdom; I am just a Town Mayor, being called County Magistrate—if this reached the ears of the County Magistrate, how would I be able to face anyone?

Looking closely, most of the people in the room I didn't recognize. Except for my Aunt and Uncle, I only saw Wu Qian, pursing her lips and laughing secretly on the side.

"Sit down quickly!" My Aunt pulled me, pushed me into a chair, looked at me carefully from top to bottom, and then patted her chest and said, "Thank God, no missing arms or legs."

I laughed, "Aunt, why make such a big deal out of it?"

My Aunt rolled her eyes at me and scolded, "You, you don't know what's important. If the car is broken, it's broken, can't you come back first? Guarding the car alone in the deep mountain snow valley, are you choosing money over your life?"

I was very surprised that my Aunt knew such news and asked, "How did you know?"

"Who doesn't know? I'm afraid there's no one in Chunshan County who doesn't know." My Aunt still had a worried expression and said, "Our headquarters is now at the Huihuang Hotel. Last night, a Town Mayor from your county came back in the middle of the night, shouting and looking for people everywhere, so we knew."

In my mind, Mao Ping's boisterous appearance appeared. Mao Ping liked excitement, and when something happened, he liked to magnify it infinitely. I had a car accident; such a big event, how could he not find a radio to broadcast it?

"It was Mao Ping, right?" I asked, knowing my Aunt knew more people than I did now.

"Who else could it be?" My Aunt scolded angrily, "This person has many tricks, he's not a good person."

I laughed, "Why evaluate him like that?"

"Isn't he? We wanted him to lead the way, but he refused to death, saying you had food and drink, and a beauty to accompany you. Tell me, what kind of person is that?" My Aunt laughed and pinched my arm.

"Where was there any beauty? It was the wife of Lao Mo from the detention center," I said, picking up the teacup and taking a sip of water.

"So it was Li Fulian," my Aunt said with a smile, "I know her." Then she didn't say anything more and called the waiter to serve the food.

I was hungry; all I had on the way were a few steamed buns, and they were brought by Lao Mo. In such weather, the buns were as hard as stones, and when I bit into them, my mouth was full of crumbs.

Before the food was served, my Aunt seemed to suddenly remember something, picked up her phone from the table, and dialed.

"Qishan? Xiao Feng is back, come over and have dinner together."

Only then did I know my Aunt was calling Huang Qishan, and I asked strangely, "Aunt, we're just having a meal, why call him?"

"What do you know? It's not just a simple meal, I have something to do." My Aunt scolded me unceremoniously.

I stuck out my tongue; in front of her, I felt like a child who would never grow up. She always liked to act as the head of the family and would take all my problems upon herself.

Uncle handed me a cigarette and asked me with concern, "Are you okay?"

"Very good!" I said, lighting the cigarette for Uncle.

Uncle introduced the people in the room, saying, "These are the backbone of our company, Engineer Gu, the company's Chief Engineer. Xiao Mi, my secretary. Da Shan, the company driver. And Wu Qian, no need to introduce her, right?"

The people introduced came over one by one to shake hands with me, all with humble expressions.

I was wondering, and Uncle said, "Town Mayor Chen is a major shareholder of our company. I've told you all this, remember?"

Engineer Gu and the others smiled and nodded vigorously.

Among them, the girl named Xiao Mi had a doll face, a doll haircut, a round head, round face, and round nose, wearing a fiery red down jacket, tight pants underneath, and a pair of dark red small leather boots, making her look cute and clever. I smiled at her and used a little force when shaking her hand.

Xiao Mi seemed to feel it, blushed, and said sweetly, "I didn't expect Boss Chen to be so young."

My Aunt took over the conversation and said, "Not only young, isn't he handsome?"

"Handsome, I didn't say he wasn't handsome," Xiao Mi said, hiding to one side, "No matter how handsome the boss is, what does it have to do with us employees?"

Wu Qian was still laughing on the side, not talking to me, but occasionally helping me refill my teacup.

"Now let's talk about business," my Aunt said seriously, "You all know that Chunshan County is going to elect a Deputy County Magistrate this time. I got the news from Qishan yesterday. He is not the only candidate, there are three. You all say, what should we do?"

Uncle spoke first, "This matter is quite precarious. Generally, the appointment and removal of cadres is the business of the Organization Department. Making such a big move this time, I'm afraid it's not simple."

"I know it's not simple, that's why I asked you all to come and discuss it," my Aunt rolled her eyes at her husband.

"We people have no friendship with the Chunshan County cadres, what kind of method can we discuss?" Uncle said worriedly.

"Didn't you see I called Qishan?" My Aunt seemed dissatisfied with her husband's words.

"Okay, okay, okay. Let's see if Qishan has any news." Uncle obviously didn't want to have a dispute with my Aunt, immediately stopped talking, walked to the side, and sat on the sofa watching TV.

My strong-willed Aunt! I felt unfair for Uncle in my heart.

The door was pushed open, and Huang Qishan hurried in, his clothes wet in several places.

"Too busy, too busy." He shouted as soon as he entered, shouting outside the door: "Come in."

And then we saw Zhu Hua Yu, lowering her head, entering with a faint smile.

"My girlfriend." Huang Qishan proudly introduced her to everyone, and then cupped his hands to my Aunt and said: "Aunt, you are an elder, you have to help me check."

Huang Qishan's words surprised me. This guy, what means did he use to actually get Zhu Hua Yu? Just as I was wondering, Huang Qishan came over, punched me on the shoulder, and scolded: "Chen Feng, why didn't you die outside?"

I laughed, "Secretary Huang, what good would it do you if I died?"

"Good my ass, I'd have to spend money to buy a wreath." He cursed and sat down next to me, beckoned to Zhu Hua Yu and said: "Hua Yu, you know Town Mayor Chen, right?"

Zhu Hua Yu didn't dare to look at me, blushed and said: "Who doesn't know Town Mayor Chen."

Huang Qishan laughed loudly, leaned into my ear and whispered: "Chen Feng, now she is my wife."

I looked at him, and he was looking at me with a half-smile. My heart skipped a beat; was this kid reminding me?

The food was served, and everyone sat around, naturally wanting to drink.

My Aunt's Luqiao Company moved to the county, and this was my first time meeting them. As the landlord of Chunshan County, I naturally had to take on the responsibility of the host. Moreover, I was a shareholder in this Luqiao Company; if I added the shares of Huang Weiwei's family, I could be considered the person with the most shares.

I raised my glass and said: "It's cold! Everyone being able to gather together is fate, and also happiness. Let's finish this glass, we are all one family."

My Aunt stood up happily with me, holding her glass and looking for people to toast.

Engineer Gu was an old engineer, wearing glasses as thick as beer bottle bottoms, and never drank in his life. Da Shan was a driver, drivers avoid alcohol, so he didn't drink either. Of the remaining people, Wu Qian said she had a cold and couldn't drink. Uncle was from the military, could drink and dared to drink. Huang Qishan was a person with the courage to drink but no capacity, and besides, he emphasized that he had to arrange the meeting in the evening and couldn't drink.

The only ones left were Zhu Hua Yu, Xiao Mi, my Aunt, and me.

My Aunt naturally wouldn't let Huang Qishan go, staring and saying: "Qishan, if you dare not drink, I will pour it into your clothes."

Huang Qishan had no choice but to smile bitterly, raise his glass, and beg for mercy: "Aunt, if you want me to drink, I'm willing even if I die from drinking. If Chen Feng asked me to drink, I'd have to kick him three times first."

I said in surprise: "Secretary Huang, why hate me so much?"

Huang Qishan tilted his neck and poured the wine down, smacked his lips and said: "The whole county's cadres are choosing sides, and you are still acting like nothing happened. If I don't kick you, who do I kick?"

"Choose what side?" I asked, my heart skipping a beat.

"Let me tell you a shocking piece of news." Huang Qishan mysteriously raised a finger, made a gesture to speak quietly, which made me laugh out loud.

"Speak quickly, what kind of bullshit news!" I urged him and poured him wine.

"Secretary Guan is fine! He's going to come out to work." Huang Qishan looked at the door with lingering fear, lowered his voice and said: "The Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection just reached a conclusion."

My heart turned cold. What kind of sacred person was Guan Peishan, to actually be unscathed?

"Is the news accurate?" I asked, nervous enough that my palms were sweating.

"Accurate." Huang Qishan sat back in his chair, his expression serious: "The cadres from the Commission for Discipline Inspection are staying in this building right now."

I said "Oh" and said: "Is that what you meant by choosing sides?"

"Not entirely. Secretary Guan is fine, but that doesn't mean he can still serve as the Chunshan County Party Committee Secretary. But he is fine, and the Chunshan County official relationship network he meticulously wove cannot be broken. Can those who stand in opposition to Secretary Guan have any good fruit to eat?" Huang Qishan looked at Engineer Gu and the others, hesitating to speak.

My Aunt said: "It's okay, you can speak with confidence. They are all our own people."

Only then did Huang Qishan sigh and say: "So, don't you think it's very abnormal that the Deputy County Magistrate candidate is to be determined at the Three-Level Cadre Meeting this time?"

I nodded, feeling like there was an abyss under my feet.

"However, you don't have to worry too much. The fact that they could put you forward for the election this time shows that they still have scruples; at the very least, they dare not act recklessly." Huang Qishan concluded.

I pretended to be indifferent and smiled: "Qishan, don't scare people with your gossip."

Huang Qishan looked at me contemptuously, snorted through his nose and said: "Chen Feng, just wait and see."

"How to see?" I asked, pressing him.

"Deng Hanyu came to see me this morning, this is what he gave me." Huang Qishan took an envelope from his body and threw it on the table, saying: "People have even done their work up to me, which shows they have placed a big bet."

"What is this?" I curiously wanted to take the envelope.

My Aunt slapped my hand and scolded: "You, you'll never grow up!"