Chapter 420

Deng Hanyu's words not only shocked me but also left me completely baffled.

Guo Wei introduced Liang Tianxing? If you told anyone that, they would shake their heads. When Liang Tianxing first entered Chunshan County, he moved forward with great momentum and acted in a high-profile manner. Except for County Party Secretary Guan Peishan, it was hard for anyone else to even meet him.

How could Guo Wei and Liang Tianxing have any connection? Where did this talk of him introducing him come from?

When Liang Tianxing came to Chunshan, Guo Wei was conducting social education in Chengguan Town. Logically, he was a young cadre sent down from the Municipal Committee, and he had no complex social connections before this, so how could he know the wealthy Liang Tianxing? Moreover, Liang Tianxing was from Guangdong, and Guo Wei was a native of Hengyue City. Although both were in the south, they were in different provinces, and even their dialects were mutually unintelligible.

"Boss Liang's son is Guo Wei's classmate." Deng Hanyu revealed the secret in one sentence.

I finally understood; Liang Tianxing coming to Chunshan was not Guan Peishan's doing. But after Liang Tianxing arrived, why was there no sign of any relationship between him and Guo Wei?

Did Guo Wei hide it well? Or did Guan Peishan intentionally exclude him?

These questions weighed on my chest like mountains, leaving me unable to breathe.

When Liang Tianxing was riding high, Guo Wei couldn't even get near the door. When Liang Tianxing was in crisis, they threw Guo Wei out to take the blame. Only Deng Hanyu could pull off such a move!

I was fuming inside and said irritably, "Guo Wei is at most a referrer; he should have nothing to do with this matter."

"Why do you say that?" Deng Hanyu asked with a forced smile.

"Liang Tianxing has been in Chunshan for six years. Who has ever seen them talk or eat together? Even a ghost wouldn't believe they have any relationship."

"It doesn't matter if ghosts don't believe it. As long as people believe it. After all, that is the fact." Deng Hanyu sighed and said, "Guo Wei probably had good intentions in introducing Liang Tianxing to develop Chunshan County; the goal was clear and good."

I waved my hand and said, "Forget it, let's not talk nonsense. Whatever the truth is, it will be judged."

Deng Hanyu smiled sinisterly: "The old Secretary's meaning is that everything has a root. Liang Tianxing's root is with Guo Wei. I hope you can uphold justice and report the situation to the relevant authorities based on facts."

My heart skipped a beat; it really was Guan Peishan's idea. I even suspected that Deng Hanyu waiting at the door was specifically to tell me these things.

"I have my own judgment." I said, leaving him alone and going downstairs.

Sitting in the car, my heart was still pounding. Thinking about the entanglements between Guo Wei and me over the years, although we never had a direct confrontation, there were always some grudges regarding Huang Weiwei and our time governing Suxi Township.

Life between people is inherently composed of countless contradictions. Without contradictions, the world could not exist.

If Guo Wei is involved in this, even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he wouldn't be able to wash away his suspicion.

He has no malice toward me, and I certainly wouldn't drive him to ruin. For me, Guo Wei and I are like two parallel tracks; even if there is a station, they will never intersect.

The ever-calculating Guan Peishan, after this scare, has lost his former arrogance. He is racking his brains to distance himself, and I am the only chess piece he can use to do so.

I suddenly remembered that since Guo Wei returned from the United States, he had been nowhere to be seen. Deng Hanyu had been in charge of the town construction in Suxi Town.

Where did Guo Wei go? Could it be that he hasn't appeared because of Chen Meng's situation?

I decided to give him a call.

The call connected, and Guo Wei's voice sounded lazy and weak.

"Something up? County Magistrate Chen."

"Indeed there is."

"What is it? That you, the great County Magistrate, have to call personally."

"A very important matter." I said, emphasizing my tone: "Where are you? I want to see you."

He let out an "oh," clearly perking up a bit, and asked urgently: "I'm in the city. Are you coming here, or should I go back?"

"Stay in the city, I'm coming." After hanging up, I called Yu Wei and told him to get the car ready; I needed to go to Hengyue City.

I rarely used his car during this time. I usually drove my own car everywhere. For this, the County Government Office Director Wei Yan reminded me several times, the gist being that leading cadres must follow regulations. For driving, one should still use a dedicated driver. Otherwise, if something happened, no one could take the responsibility.

Each time, I just smiled noncommittally. I didn't care about his reminders. Actually, there was one thing I didn't tell him: for some things, it's more convenient to drive yourself.

Yu Wei had no car to drive and spent his days playing cards in the motor pool; it was said he had won quite a bit of money lately.

When I arrived at the county government compound, Yu Wei had already prepared the car. He also called Zhu Hua Yu; the two of them watched me park the car and opened the door for me to get in.

Just as I sat down, Zhu Hua Yu said, "Boss, there's a Standing Committee meeting tomorrow to study the development of township enterprises in the whole county. Can you attend?"

"Of course I'll attend." I said, letting out a comfortable breath, preparing to use this time to close my eyes and rest, and clear my head.

"Are we coming back tonight?" Zhu Hua Yu asked me.

"Let's come back." I didn't want to talk anymore.

Zhu Hua Yu sighed in disappointment, looking ahead, and said nothing more.

My heart stirred; with such an expression, Zhu Hua Yu must have something on her mind.

So I said, "Xiao Zhu, is something wrong?"

Zhu Hua Yu smiled indifferently and said, "Nothing, Boss."

Yu Wei, on the side, interjected, "If there's something, just say it. Our boss isn't an unreasonable person. I know why you're sighing; it's because Secretary Huang is at home on vacation, and Xiao Zhu just happens to be going to see her lover."

Zhu Hua Yu was both shy and anxious, reaching out to pat Yu Wei's head.

Yu Wei dodged while shouting, "The boss is in the car, watch your safety!"

I watched them bicker with a smile, thinking that since these two started following me, they were quite impressive in front of others. But after all, Zhu Hua Yu was listed as a rehired employee in the Personnel Bureau, and Yu Wei was just an ordinary driver in the county government motor pool.

People value practical benefits; without practical benefits, no matter how glorious things look, it's of no use.

Hearing Yu Wei just now, I realized Huang Qishan had returned to Hengyue City; no wonder I hadn't seen him lately.

"Qishan is on vacation?" I asked.

"Yes." Zhu Hua Yu answered with a shy "mm," turned her head to look at me, and said, "Boss, he's taking half a month off."

"Why so long?" I asked in confusion. There were strict regulations for cadre vacations; if Huang Qishan took half a month off, who would be in charge of the Youth League Committee's work?

"Vacation plus leave." Zhu Hua Yu said softly, handing me a tissue.

"Leave for what?" I was still puzzled.

Yu Wei held back a laugh and said solemnly, "Secretary Huang is getting married. So he asked for leave to go home and prepare."

I was shocked and asked, "Xiao Zhu, are you getting married?"

"Boss, don't listen to his nonsense." Zhu Hua Yu made a move to hit Yu Wei again.

"Am I talking nonsense?" Yu Wei said with a cheeky grin, stepping on the gas to overtake a large semi-trailer.

"It is nonsense." Zhu Hua Yu said, annoyed and embarrassed, glaring at Yu Wei.

Yu Wei remained unmoved; with me in the car, Zhu Hua Yu didn't dare to go too far. After all, they were both fully responsible for my safety.

"Marriage is a good thing." I said, "Qishan is not young anymore; it's time for him to get married."

"Boss, you aren't married yet, how can we go ahead of you." Zhu Hua Yu's face flushed red.

I laughed out loud, easing the atmosphere in the car, and said, "Can you compare? If I never get married in my life, does that mean you won't either?"

Zhu Hua Yu was rendered speechless by my question. After fidgeting for a while, she said, "I just feel it's not right. Qishan wants me to go to the city to meet his parents, and I haven't agreed yet."

"You should go." I said, "An ugly daughter-in-law must eventually meet her parents-in-law."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized I had made a mistake. Zhu Hua Yu was a beauty who could make flowers speak; she had the figure and the looks, how could she be an "ugly daughter-in-law"?

Sure enough, she glared at me with dissatisfaction and said, "Am I very ugly?"

I chuckled. A man must never tell a woman she is ugly in front of her. Calling a woman ugly doesn't just hurt her self-esteem; it strikes at her foundation.

Of course, I didn't mean she was ugly!

Zhu Hua Yu naturally understood I didn't mean she was ugly. To be a woman, one must have confidence. Zhu Hua Yu might have lacked confidence in the past, but in the intimacy we shared after she was drunk, she would gather her confidence and become a woman full of self-assurance.

"Ugly, ugly. Ugly to death." Yu Wei laughed gleefully.

"Yu Wei, shut your mouth!" Zhu Hua Yu scolded lightly, "We are the boss's people. Can people around the boss be ugly? Is it that he has no taste, or are we really ugly?"

Yu Wei was silenced by her shout.

I understood they were both joking. Even Zhu Hua Yu's shy anger was just a seasoning to adjust our dull lives.

"Qishan asked you to go home to meet his parents?" I asked.

She gave an "mm," and I saw the back of her ears turn red.

"Good thing!" I said, "Go. Yu Wei, you take Xiao Zhu there."

Yu Wei was stunned for a moment and said, "Boss, you don't need the car?"

"I don't need it." I said, "A major life event is more important than anything."

Zhu Hua Yu said a sweet "thank you" and pursed her lips, stealing a smile.

There was no more talk along the way; I closed my eyes to rest. Yu Wei drove seriously, and Zhu Hua Yu leaned back in her seat, smiling contentedly.

When the car reached Hengyue City and exited the highway, I called Guo Wei, confirmed he was at the Xinlinyin Restaurant, and told Yu Wei to head straight there.

Seeing Xinlinyin at a glance, I couldn't help but feel a thousand emotions. This place seemed to have an inextricable bond with me. From the first time I brought Xi Meizhu and the others into the city, to later meeting Xuelai, and the intimate moments with Huang Weiwei during the expanded meeting, everything was related to it.

I hadn't expected Guo Wei to be at the Xinlinyin Restaurant. At this time, he should be at Chen Meng's house!

After getting out of the car, I waved for Yu Wei to take Zhu Hua Yu away first. I stood in front of a large bronze mirror in the lobby, tidying myself up after the dusty journey.

After adjusting my thoughts, I pressed the elevator button, preparing to go upstairs.