[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-romantic-path-to-success":3,"chapter-the-romantic-path-to-success-the-romantic-path-to-success-chapter-505":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Romantic Road to the Top",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2146696,3567,"Chapter 505","the-romantic-path-to-success-chapter-505",505,"\u003Cp>Hou Dali called back again. He told Su Xinghui that Hou Guangbi and his party would return to the country on December 10, and the flight would arrive in Jiangcheng on the morning of the 10th. After having lunch in Jiangcheng, they would rush to Shangjun County in the afternoon of the 10th.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui said happily, \"Uncle Hou, then on the 10th, our county will send a car to the airport to pick you up, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Hou Dali said, \"You must not send a car to the airport to pick us up. My third uncle specifically said, don't make it too grand. They are returning to their hometown. If it is made too grand, it will make them uncomfortable. By then, we will rent a few cars in Jiangcheng to go to Shangjun County.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>After hanging up, Su Xinghui called Zhang Kaishan and told him the news. Zhang Kaishan also said he would send a car to Jiangcheng airport to pick up the plane, but Su Xinghui said that Old Mr. Hou specifically told him not to send a car to the airport to pick them up, which would make them uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Zhang Kaishan said, \"Isn't that too rude?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui said, \"Uncle Zhang, I think it's okay not to go to Jiangcheng to pick them up. If the county drives to Jiangcheng to pick up the plane with great fanfare, the impact of this matter will be too big.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Zhang Kaishan said, \"What you said makes sense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui said, \"Besides, our county doesn't have a few good cars. If we drive to Jiangcheng to pick them up, it will also look a bit ugly. In that case, it is better to have a more grand welcoming ceremony in the county.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Zhang Kaishan said, \"Okay, then I will discuss it with Secretary Ji to see what is better to do. However, on the 10th, you must return to the county to participate in the welcoming ceremony! For the next few days, you will only have to accompany the Hou family. These days, you should hand over your work and arrange it well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui said, \"I know. I will arrange this matter well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>For more than a month, Su Xinghui was also busy because of the vegetables. Now that the vegetables were maturing one after another, his work was indeed quite busy. However, the Hou family returning from overseas was indeed something he had to participate in the reception work. Therefore, during the reception work, he could only hand over the work of Pengwan Town to others.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>He first told the town party secretary Qi Jian about this matter, and then decomposed his work to several deputy town mayors at the town mayor's office meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Then, he called Lu Xiaoya and said that he would receive several overseas Chinese merchants from France on the 10th, and they could not meet this week, asking Lu Xiaoya to understand him.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoya was very depressed. For more than a month, Su Xinghui was too busy and could not go to Jiangcheng to see her. Because he returned to Shangjun County for several Sundays, Lu Xiaoya could not find him in Pengwan. Originally, she planned to go to Pengwan to see him this Sunday, but he had things to do now.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui, of course, also knew Lu Xiaoya's depression. He said to Lu Xiaoya, \"Xiaoya, I'm really sorry, but after this busy period, I will go to Jiangcheng to see you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lu Xiaoya said, \"Then it's settled. Next Sunday, no matter what you have, you must go to Jiangcheng to see me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui said, \"Okay, it's a deal!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>On the afternoon of the 9th, Su Xinghui returned to Shangjun County. As soon as he returned to the county, he went to Zhang Kaishan's office. Zhang Kaishan was waiting for him in his office.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Seeing Su Xinghui return, he stood up and said, \"Let's go, let's go to Secretary Ji's office and discuss tomorrow's welcoming of the Hou family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui followed Zhang Kaishan to Ji Tao's office. Ji Tao didn't see anyone else and was waiting for Su Xinghui in his office. Today, discussing the welcoming of the Hou family was the most important work in the county.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Zhang Kaishan and Su Xinghui entered Ji Tao’s office. Ji Tao said with a smile, “Little Su, you’re back. That was quick. Have a seat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui sat down, and Ji Tao asked, “The Hou family confirmed they’ll be back tomorrow after lunch, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui nodded. “Yes. They even called me last night, saying they should arrive at Shangjun County around two in the afternoon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ji Tao nodded. “We mustn’t be impolite. Let’s do this: we’ll wait at the eastern outskirts of the county at 1:30.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Zhang Kaishan said, “I think that’s fine. Since they didn’t ask us to go to Jiangcheng to pick them up, waiting for them early shows our sincerity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ji Tao asked, “Little Su, what do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui smiled. “Secretary Ji’s instructions are, of course, wise!”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ji Tao laughed and scolded, “If you have any thoughts, just say them. Don’t give me that talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui said, “I really don’t have any other thoughts. It’s reasonable to make the welcoming ceremony for the Hou family a bit grand, as we are in an era where economic development is the priority. However, there shouldn’t be too many people. If we organize a welcoming party of hundreds, it might make them feel uncomfortable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ji Tao pondered for a moment and nodded. “Fine, that’s a good suggestion. Let’s not have too many people tomorrow. Just us standing committee members and a few from the United Front Force will do. Don’t make the security work too obvious; just place some plainclothes officers along the route. Try not to disrupt the normal order of the county.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Zhang Kaishan nodded. When this matter was discussed at the standing committee meeting, some had suggested sending more people and even organizing primary school students to participate in the ceremony to present flowers to the Hou family. Zhang Kaishan had disagreed then; it was enough for the county leaders to welcome them. Why go through all that trouble? The students should be in school. On such a cold day, wouldn’t their parents feel bad having them wait by the roadside?\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Zhang Kaishan had never been fond of such formalism. The county leaders welcoming the Hou family could be called work, but what would it be if primary school students did it?\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>There had been no conclusion at the standing committee meeting, and Ji Tao had been hesitant. Now, having heard Su Xinghui’s words, he finally made a decision. This was a good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ji Tao asked, “Little Su, what about the reception dinner in the evening? What dishes should we prepare? Do we need to prepare some Western food?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui said, “I think we should mainly prepare dishes with our local Shangjun flavor. The elders of the Hou family who left the country decades ago haven’t had authentic Shangjun food in a long time; they must really want to eat it. However, we should also prepare some other flavors, including Western food, since there are a few younger generations of the Hou family born overseas who are coming back. But, do we have a chef in the county who can make Western food?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Zhang Kaishan smiled. “Xinghui, you didn’t know this? The county specially invited a Western chef and a pastry chef from a Western restaurant in Yulin City. Although it might not be perfectly authentic, we are prepared. At least it shows the county’s sincerity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui nodded. “Right, that’s enough to express our sincerity. Besides, they might not necessarily like Western food; they might prefer our Chinese food even more. Chinese food is the best in the world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ji Tao said, “These past few days, we’ve been indecisive about this welcoming ceremony. Now that you’re back and have said this, I don’t know why, but I feel more confident.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Zhang Kaishan smiled. “This kid is a lucky charm. After all, he has built a deep relationship with the Hou family and can be said to have done them a favor. So, even if we do something slightly imperfect, I suspect Old Mr. Hou won’t hold it against us for this kid’s sake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ji Tao slapped his thigh. “That’s exactly the point. Ever since I met this kid, I’ve felt my luck has been good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui laughed. “Secretary Ji, County Head Zhang, if you say that, you’re being a bit idealistic!”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Ji Tao and Zhang Kaishan looked at each other and burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>That evening, Su Xinghui received a call from Lei Ming. Su Xinghui asked, “Brother Lei, how did you know I was back?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lei Ming said, “I’ve also been assigned to the security task for tomorrow. How could I not know you were coming back today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui thought about it and realized that made sense. He asked Lei Ming, “Brother Lei, is there something up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lei Ming said, “Can you come out now? I’d like to treat you to a drink.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui had nothing else to do, so he accepted Lei Ming’s invitation. He told his parents and went out.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>After going downstairs, he met Lei Ming at the gate of the county committee compound. Lei Ming took him to that same night market, and the two began drinking at the stir-fried river snail stall.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>After two drinks, Su Xinghui asked with a smile, “Brother Lei, did you ask me out for a drink today because there’s something going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lei Ming said, “If you want to call it ‘something,’ I do have something to tell you. It wasn’t convenient to say over the phone, so I specifically waited for you to come back to invite you out and tell you in person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui asked, “What could you possibly have that’s inconvenient to say over the phone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lei Ming said seriously, “Do you remember the last time you went to see Shu Rong’s clothing store?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>When Lei Ming mentioned this, Su Xinghui remembered. He had run into Lei Ming when he went to see the store. He asked, “I remember. What about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lei Ming said, “Do you know who she’s been hooking up with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui actually already knew the answer, but he asked with a smile, “Who has she hooked up with now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lei Ming lowered his voice. “Deputy County Head Jia!”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui nodded with a smile. “Actually, I know about this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lei Ming said in surprise, “You know? Then, the last time you went to Shu Rong’s store, was it because…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Su Xinghui nodded. “Right, I heard from someone that Shu Rong had opened a clothing store there, so I wanted to go see it. I didn’t expect to run into you. By the way, how did you find out about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Lei Ming said, “A few days ago, when I was passing by there at night, I saw Deputy County Head Jia go in with my own eyes. He was even covering his face. After he went in, Shu Rong closed the door and locked up.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1871,"2026-06-16T17:50:43.208Z","2026-06-17T08:56:06.694Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","fb758ceb064a25f3f64e07a652276814b27022bc534acfc18211bea345a5065a","the-romantic-path-to-success-chapter-506","the-romantic-path-to-success-chapter-504",572,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-romantic-path-to-success-cover.jpg"]