Chapter 2307

If it were elsewhere, Zhang Cheng might have said a few words to Su Xinghui; he has always been very lively. But at Lu Zhenghong's home, with He Yulong and Feng Shulun also present, he certainly did not dare to speak casually.

In this world, how many people are like Su Xinghui? He dares to speak in any setting.

He Yulong smiled and said, "Secretary Zhang, I brought a few bottles of good liquor today. You must have a few drinks today; I don't get many chances to drink with you."

Zhang Kaishan looked at the bottles of Qin liquor on the table and said, "Fine, let's have a few drinks today, but don't try to out-drink me. If it comes to a drinking contest, I can't beat you."

He Yulong's capacity for liquor is famous in the political circles of Qinxi Province; few people are his match. Zhang Kaishan's capacity is only average, and he is several years older than him, so he certainly wouldn't try to out-drink him.

He Yulong said, "Fine, today we drink to enjoy, not to get drunk."

Although He Yulong has a good capacity for liquor, his self-control is still very strong. He wouldn't casually try to out-drink people, let alone today, when they were drinking at Lu Zhenghong's home; he naturally wouldn't do that even more.

Come to think of it, being able to reach his current position in the officialdom, it would be unimaginable to have no self-control.

Today's dinner included Lu Zhenghong and his wife, Su Xinghui's family, as well as Zhang Kaishan and his son, He Yulong, and Feng Shulun. Adding them all up, it was a full table, and everyone had a lively meal.

As soon as they sat at the table, He Yulong busied himself opening two bottles of liquor—one 55 percent and one 65 percent. He first used the 55 percent bottle to pour liquor for Lu Zhenghong and Zhang Kaishan. When pouring, Feng Shulun, Su Xinghui, and Zhang Cheng all wanted to take the bottle from He Yulong's hand, but He Yulong wouldn't hear of it; he insisted on pouring the liquor himself.

After pouring for Lu Zhenghong and Zhang Kaishan, He Yulong asked Feng Shulun and Zhang Cheng what they wanted to drink. Both also wanted the 55 percent one. He Yulong poured for them one by one, and then took the 65 percent liquor to pour a glass each for Su Xinghui and himself.

Lu Zhenghong watched him do all this with a smile, then raised his glass and said, "Come, let's have a drink together. I wish everyone a Happy New Year!"

Everyone responded boisterously, raised their glasses together, and drank. Even Niuniu used his childish hands to raise the drink in front of him, shouting "Cheers," and took a sip, making everyone burst into laughter.

After a drink, He Yulong filled everyone's glasses again. Lu Zhenghong said, "Eat some dishes. Today's dishes are not simple; they are hometown dishes from Hudong brought by Xinghui. You can't eat these in Qinxi usually."

This time, Su Xinghui specially brought some Hudong-style hometown dishes from home, such as fried meatballs, cured fish, and cured meat. Even the lotus roots were fresh ones brought from Shangjun County.

Although Qinxi Province also has lotus roots, the lotus roots from Shangjun County are very famous and have a unique flavor. If you want to boil the most delicious pork rib and lotus root soup, only Shangjun lotus roots will do. Therefore, today they specially brought more than ten jin of lotus roots from Shangjun County, and Lu Xiaoya cooked personally, boiling a large pot of pork rib and lotus root soup.

That alluring, rich fragrance brought the Jiangnan flavor of Hudong Province.

Zhang Kaishan picked up a piece of lotus root and took a bite. The lotus root was boiled very soft, almost melting in the mouth. The taste was excellent, and for Zhang Kaishan, this taste was even more the taste of home.

Zhang Kaishan nodded with satisfaction and said, "It is indeed delicious. This must be the lotus root brought from Shangjun County, right?"

Su Xinghui said, "Yes, this is the lotus root I brought from Shangjun County, specially for you to taste the flavor of home."

Zhang Kaishan said, "Zhang Cheng also brought some lotus roots before the New Year, but they were eaten long ago. The lotus roots from home are indeed delicious; the whole family can't get enough of them."

Su Xinghui smiled and said, "Then you should eat more today."

He Yulong and Feng Shulun also tasted a few of the dishes Su Xinghui brought from Hudong, and they also praised these dishes endlessly.

Compared to Qinxi dishes, Hudong dishes have their own merits. Hudong dishes have a bit more delicacy than Qinxi dishes, which made He Yulong and Feng Shulun, these two Guanxi men, feel very novel.

After eating a few bites, He Yulong began to take the initiative. He raised his glass, first toasted Lu Zhenghong, then toasted Zhang Kaishan, and then said to Su Xinghui, "Come, County Magistrate Su, I toast you a glass, as an apology to you."

Su Xinghui said, "Director He, what do you have to apologize to me for?"

He Yulong said, "It's about that incident last year. You were wronged, and the one who offended you was a black sheep in our public security system. I naturally have to apologize to you. You left too hurriedly last year, and I didn't have time to apologize to you, so I must have a few more drinks with you this year."

Su Xinghui raised his glass and said, "Director He, there's no need for apologies. Come, I'll drink with you!"

After He Yulong drank this glass with Su Xinghui, he said, "County Magistrate Su, after that incident last year, that criminal gang was struck by us. That deputy director, Wu Dazhi, was dismissed and investigated, and now he has gone to jail. Several other people in the department were also implicated and dismissed."

Su Xinghui had already heard what He Yulong said from Lu Zhenghong. However, he also knew that He Yulong saying this to him at this time was also a gesture of showing goodwill. He certainly wouldn't brush off this kindness, so he nodded and smiled, "Then I have to thank Director He."

He Yulong said, "What are you saying, County Magistrate Su? You were wronged in our Xidu, it's good enough that you didn't blame me, why thank me?"

Su Xinghui said, "Then the public security situation in Xidu is much better now, right?"

He Yulong said, "Of course it's much better, but the situation is still not optimistic!"

Su Xinghui felt a bit strange. For He Yulong to say that the public security situation is not optimistic in front of Lu Zhenghong, isn't that putting eye drops on himself?

Su Xinghui asked, "How so?"

He Yulong said, "Public security in Xidu is hard to manage. The people here are too mixed, especially with the large number of migrant populations; it's not easy to manage well."

Su Xinghui nodded in realization. Xidu can be said to be the largest city in the west and also the only way for westerners to enter the Central Plains. The migrant population here is naturally large and mixed. Among the migrant population, a considerable portion are ethnic minorities, and involving ethnic policies makes it even harder to manage.

Therefore, for the public security of Xidu, the public security situation here is indeed not optimistic, and it is too difficult to manage well.

Think about it, if some wandering criminals come here, commit a crime, and leave immediately, is such a case easy to solve?

Xidu is the railway hub of the west. In this era, there is no real-name system for railways. After committing a crime, one can just buy any ticket, get on the train, and run away. It is really difficult to find the criminals.

He Yulong added, "I am ashamed. This public security issue is related to the investment environment of Xidu, yet it is still in such a situation. I am really sorry to the Governor and Secretary Zhang!"

Lu Zhenghong said, "This problem is not just your problem alone, nor is it just the business of your public security department. The situation in Xidu is special. To improve the public security here, it requires the coordinated cooperation of all departments and mass prevention and treatment to possibly solve this big problem."

Zhang Kaishan also nodded and said, "Yes, Director He, in fact, over the past year, the public security situation in Xidu has already improved a lot. So, you don't need to say sorry. Director He, I think you have made contributions on this issue."

He Yulong's self-criticism like this can be considered retreating to advance. Lu Zhenghong does not like fake, big, and empty things. Everyone can see how the public security in Xidu really is; it didn't improve just because he said it did. So, he simply brought up this topic in front of Lu Zhenghong himself first.

He also knew that this problem could not be solved by him alone. Lu Zhenghong is a cadre who seeks truth from facts and certainly wouldn't put all the responsibility on him.