Chapter 3

Cheng Taoxian was a military wife, also a local from Taohua Village, twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Her husband was an officer serving in a certain unit in the province and rarely came back once a year. She had a beautiful face and a slender figure, and could be considered a flower of the township government.

Speaking of which, although Meng Hu Ling was a poor mountain valley, it had one advantage: it produced beauties.

Su Xinghui smiled faintly, "Maybe I was just lucky. Alright, I'm going up to brush my teeth and wash my face."

Huang Sao called out, "Come down for breakfast after you're done washing!"

Su Xinghui agreed and went upstairs. Huang Sao said to Cheng Taoxian, "Taoxian, do you think Little Su is a bit different from when he first arrived?"

Cheng Taoxian nodded thoughtfully.

After Su Xinghui went upstairs to brush his teeth and wash his face, he didn't rush to go downstairs. He was sorting out his thoughts. The shock of discovering his rebirth this morning had been diluted a lot by the incident of Lu Dawang drinking pesticide.

Had he really been reborn? It seemed true now. However, rebirth should be a good thing for him.

In his previous life, Su Xinghui's parents were both college graduates. His father worked at the county people's hospital, and his mother was a financial section chief in an enterprise; they were both considered intellectuals. He had an older sister, Su Xingyun, who was already married with children. He himself graduated from the Chinese Department of Jiangcheng University in 1992 and was assigned to work in the county, but because he was young and arrogant, he offended someone and was exiled to work in this most remote township in the whole county.

In his previous life, he stayed in Meng Hu Ling for four years. Later, he finally managed to get transferred to a township closer to the county seat, where he worked for many more years. It wasn't until he was nearly thirty that he was transferred back to the county seat. A few years later, he attained a deputy section-level rank. Until the time of his rebirth, he was still a deputy section chief.

His marriage was also unhappy. He married when he was nearly thirty. His wife was also in the system, a careerist. Seeing that he was a graduate of a prestigious university and talented, she thought he had a future, which was why she married him. After marrying him, she forced him to scheme. If it weren't for that, he probably wouldn't have been promoted to deputy section chief. However, he was aloof, and reaching this point was his limit. Therefore, his wife was very dissatisfied with him, their marriage existed in name only, and they didn't even have a child after being married for over forty years.

Su Xinghui thought, since heaven had allowed him to be reborn, he couldn't waste this opportunity.

Su Xinghui examined his current state and found that his mental state seemed better than ever. He was now quick-witted, and it seemed he could recall things from a long time ago. Moreover, according to Cheng Taoxian, he had come back drunk last night, but when he got up this morning, he didn't feel any discomfort in his head at all. In the past, whenever he drank too much, he would definitely have a hangover the next day.

His physical state had also returned to its best. When Lu Erwang wanted to hit him this morning, he reacted quickly, grabbed Lu Erwang's wrist, and with a twist, made Lu Erwang powerless to resist. Of course, he mainly relied on the martial arts he learned from his uncle to subdue Lu Erwang. With that move, he pinched Lu Erwang's pulse point, making his whole body numb and weak. However, to neutralize the force of Lu Erwang's punch, Su Xinghui's own strength was also quite remarkable.

Su Xinghui was very satisfied with this physical state.

In the afternoon, the people from the township government all returned. Cheng Taoxian had been calling Hu Jiaao constantly. It was finally connected near lunchtime. Township Party Secretary Chen Hongfu heard Cheng Taoxian's report and brought the main force back after finishing lunch at Hu Chengli's house. Only Hu Chengli didn't return, as his son was a newlywed.

After Chen Hongfu returned, he called Cheng Taoxian and Su Xinghui to his office and asked in detail about what happened today. Su Xinghui didn't say anything, but Cheng Taoxian was articulate and explained the whole process clearly in a short time. She also praised Su Xinghui well, saying that if it weren't for Su Xinghui, today's matter would have blown up.

After listening, Chen Hongfu slapped his desk hard and began to curse, "Damn Lu Dawang, does he think he can scare me like this? Is he still a man? Let him drink poison, I'll send someone to sterilize his wife tomorrow..."

Chen Hongfu was really annoyed. Originally, his luck at mahjong had been good these past two days, and he was planning to continue the battle in the afternoon and evening, but it was ruined by Lu Dawang. Besides, in this godforsaken place, he, the township party secretary, was like a local emperor, whose word was law. Lu Dawang running to the township government entrance to drink poison was a challenge to his authority.

Chen Hongfu cursed for several minutes. Cheng Taoxian and Su Xinghui were both used to it. The work style of township leaders was like this, simple and crude. However, sometimes, grassroots work could only be effective this way.

Chen Hongfu picked up his enamel mug and drank a whole mug of cold tea in one breath. He waved his hand and said, "Little Cheng, you go get busy first. Little Su, you stay."

Cheng Taoxian agreed and went out. Su Xinghui stood up, picked up the white porcelain teapot in Chen Hongfu's office, filled Chen Hongfu's teacup, and then poured himself a cup of cold boiled water before sitting down.

Su Xinghui did all this very naturally, which surprised Chen Hongfu. This Little Su seemed like a different person after just one day.

Su Xinghui had been in Meng Hu Ling for half a month, and Chen Hongfu had never liked him much because he felt that Su Xinghui always held an air, that aloof intellectual air. In fact, Chen Hongfu didn't disrespect intellectuals. During the chaotic years, there were several old intellectuals from their village who were sent down there, but they didn't have any airs and got along well with the farmers in the village. Chen Hongfu respected those old intellectuals very much.

Su Xinghui was so young, and although he was a graduate of a prestigious university, he always held such an air. Sometimes when Chen Hongfu talked to him, he felt like Su Xinghui was the leader, making him feel uncomfortable. Just like yesterday afternoon, eating and drinking at Hu Chengli's house, Su Xinghui had to carefully wipe the chopsticks and bowls with a handkerchief before picking up food. When he got drunk, he insisted on returning to the township government. Chen Hongfu told him to stay and play cards at Hu Chengli's house, but he refused, as if he didn't want to be associated with them. In the end, he could only return to the township government with Huang Sao and Cheng Taoxian, who had to go home to take care of her children.

Yesterday's incident really made Chen Hongfu very unhappy, but today Su Xinghui gave him a surprise. Not only did he cleanly solve the incident of Lu Dawang drinking poison, but he also knew how to add tea for Chen Hongfu. Had the sun risen from the west?

Chen Hongfu smiled and said, "Little Su, why didn't you go to Hu Jiaao at noon? Today is the main banquet."

Su Xinghui said, "Secretary Chen, I was really too drunk yesterday, and I have a bit of a headache today. Besides, I was afraid that there might be some changes in the Lu family's situation, and it wouldn't be good if no man was left at the township government. I went twice this morning, and it's basically fine now."

Chen Hongfu nodded and said, "It's fortunate that you came back yesterday, otherwise today's matter would have been really troublesome."

If Lu Dawang hadn't been saved, Chen Hongfu wouldn't have been afraid. How many people in Meng Hu Ling didn't drink poison every year? But a death was always a troublesome matter with many loose ends. If someone spoke ill and said that the township government's work style was problematic, he wouldn't be able to avoid a reprimand from his superiors. Of course, there wouldn't be any more severe punishment. He was already a secretary in this godforsaken place; where else could they exile him?

Su Xinghui smiled without saying a word and didn't take the opportunity to claim credit, which made Chen Hongfu's impression of him even better. He asked, "By the way, how did you know how to save someone who drank poison?"

Su Xinghui said, "Isn't my father a doctor at the county hospital? Of course, I know a little bit of common sense about first aid."

Chen Hongfu slapped his thigh, "Right, how could I have forgotten that? This can be considered the luck of that damn Lu Dawang."

Su Xinghui didn't respond. Chen Hongfu took another big gulp of cold tea, put down the enamel mug, and said, "Little Su, you did a good job on this matter. Young man, work hard, and you will definitely have a future."

Su Xinghui said, "Secretary Chen, there is one thing I want to admit a mistake to you."

Chen Hongfu was stunned, "What did you do wrong?"

"Today, while Lu Dawang was being rescued at the health center, I told the health center that the medical expenses should be put on the township government's account." Su Xinghui touched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

Chen Hongfu naturally understood what Su Xinghui meant. He had acted on his own initiative in this matter. Although the medical expenses wouldn't be much, for an ordinary staff member like Su Xinghui, it could be considered a mistake if one insisted on it, as he hadn't asked the leaders for instructions.

Besides, Meng Hu Ling was a poor township, arguably the poorest in the county. The poorer the place, the more the cadres guarded that little bit of money. In Meng Hu Ling, basically every expenditure had to be signed by Township Head Dong Jianshu. If it was a larger expenditure, Chen Hongfu also had to review it.

Chen Hongfu pondered for a moment. Su Xinghui said, "Secretary Chen, if it doesn't comply with financial regulations, just deduct it from my salary."

Chen Hongfu laughed, "You didn't do this for your own affairs, how can I deduct your salary? Forget it, I know about this matter. Damn Lu Dawang, it's cheap for him. He drank poison himself, and the township government has to wipe his butt."

Su Xinghui quickly said to Chen Hongfu, "Secretary Chen, then thank you!"

Chen Hongfu smiled, "Alright, go get busy if you have something to do."

Watching Su Xinghui's back as he left, Chen Hongfu nodded. Although Su Xinghui's actions were a bit self-assertive, they were understandable. After all, none of the township government leaders were there at the time. If they had asked the Lu family for the medical expenses for rescuing Lu Dawang, their family was so poor they might not have been able to pay, which might have intensified the conflict. Su Xinghui letting the health center put the medical expenses on the township government's account was a very decisive and responsible act. His actions resolved this emergency quite satisfactorily. In grassroots work, one needs to have such resolve.