Chapter 536: Getting promoted fast isn't necessarily a good thing

Su Xinghui waved his hand: "Uncle Xu, absolutely not. If you pay me a design fee, the next report letter will definitely be sent to the county leaders again. It’s enough if you just help me build this house well! Of course, these floor plans I drew don't have specific dimensions, so you’ll still need to find someone to finalize the specific measurements."

Xu Haimin said: "Fine, then I will definitely help you build this house well. By the way, for this demolition of the old house and construction of the new one, you still need to go to the urban construction and real estate management departments to handle some procedures. I’ll just help you handle those procedures while I’m at it."

Su Xinghui said: "Then thank you so much, Uncle Xu!"

With Su Xinghui’s current status in Shangjun County, it would be easy for him to handle these procedures, but they were very tedious, and he didn't have the time to run around. However, Xu Haimin was in construction, and his subordinates had people specifically for this. Having him help run these errands would save Su Xinghui a lot of time and energy.

Xu Haimin said: "Don't be so polite. Just these floor plans of yours are enough for me to thank you!"

Su Xinghui said: "Fine, then I’ll be going first. By the way, I’m going on a long trip in two days. After you calculate the cost, you can start construction. After I return, I’ll sign the formal contract with you and settle the remaining fees."

Xu Haimin said: "Go ahead, you can rest assured handing this matter to me. Don't worry about the fees."

Su Xinghui stood up: "I have to worry. In economic matters, one can never be too cautious."

Xu Haimin also knew that Su Xinghui had offended many people in officialdom, and who knew how many were watching him? He laughed and stood up to see Su Xinghui out.

Back home, Su Wenjun and Guo Suhua hadn't returned yet. Su Xinghui rolled up his sleeves and cooked a meal. Just as the food was almost ready, Guo Suhua returned first. She laughed: "Xinghui, you’re cooking today!"

Su Xinghui said: "Mom, I don't come home often. What does it matter if I come back and cook a meal for you?"

Guo Suhua entered the kitchen, wanting to help Su Xinghui, but Su Xinghui said: "Mom, I’m almost done. You go out and wait to eat."

Guo Suhua went out to tidy the dining table, then came back into the kitchen to carry the dishes, preparing to eat. By the time Su Xinghui finished cooking, Su Wenjun had also returned, and the family of three began to eat.

Guo Suhua asked: "Xinghui, did you buy the house?"

Su Xinghui nodded: "Bought it. It’s on the north bank of Zhongming Lake, next to the Fisheries Bureau."

Su Wenjun said: "That’s a good place."

Guo Suhua asked: "How much did you buy it for?"

Su Xinghui said: "Twenty-five thousand."

As he spoke, he took out all the receipts and handed them to Guo Suhua, telling her to keep them safe. Guo Suhua said: "That house is decades old. If you’re going to get married to Xiaoya in there, you’ll have to renovate it, right?"

Su Xinghui said: "I’ve already entrusted Uncle Xu to help me demolish the old house and rebuild a two-story building."

Guo Suhua asked: "How much will that cost?"

Su Xinghui said: "With current construction, installation, and decoration costs, I estimate it won't exceed one hundred thousand."

"One hundred thousand?" Guo Suhua exclaimed: "That much?"

Su Xinghui laughed: "It’s not set yet, but I estimate it won't be less than that. It’s a two-story building with a building area of 280 square meters, plus the courtyard needs to be renovated too. This figure isn't high."

Guo Suhua thought for a moment and nodded: "Fine, anyway, this money is earned by you, so I won't interfere. If you’re going to marry Miss Xiaoya, you shouldn't treat her poorly."

Su Wenjun said while eating: "That’s right, this kind of thinking is correct. The son is grown up and has his own ideas, so we can't manage his affairs. As long as he doesn't go down the wrong path, it’s fine."

Su Xinghui laughed: "Dad, Mom, don't worry. I will never go down the wrong path in my life. Your son has plenty of ways to earn money, so why would I need to go down the wrong path? I still want to do more practical work."

Guo Suhua nodded and asked again: "By the way, are you going to marry Miss Xiaoya after the house is built?"

Su Xinghui said: "Maybe not that fast. I’m a high-level leading cadre now, and the country advocates late marriage and late childbearing. As a town mayor, I must lead by example, so I have to wait until the late marriage age to get married."

Guo Suhua said: "Your promotion is fast, but that’s not necessarily a good thing—you still have to marry late and have children late."

Although Guo Suhua said that, she didn't take it to heart. In a few months, Su Xinghui would be twenty-four, and the late marriage age was twenty-five. In other words, in a little over a year, Su Xinghui would be able to get married, which wasn't considered very late.

Suddenly, Guo Suhua remembered something else and said to Su Xinghui: "When you get married, will Xiaoya still be working in Jiangcheng? Can you transfer her to Shangjun County?"

Su Wenjun said: "Old Guo, Xiaoya is doing well as a reporter. Why do you want to transfer her to Shangjun County? She needs to have her own career too."

Su Xinghui had actually thought about this issue. If he and Lu Xiaoya were to get married in the future, they couldn't always live apart. Whether it was transferring Lu Xiaoya to Shangjun or him transferring to Jiangcheng, it would be easy, but someone would have to make a sacrifice.

Transferring Lu Xiaoya to Shangjun County would naturally be a sacrifice. Not to mention that she couldn't pursue her favorite reporter work, just moving from Jiangcheng City to a county was already a big sacrifice.

If Su Xinghui were transferred to Jiangcheng, it might not seem like a sacrifice on the surface, but in reality, it was not something he liked either. At his current rank, what could he do if he were transferred to Jiangcheng? He would only be able to serve as a small underling, or perhaps even hold an idle position sitting in an office; if he wanted to accomplish any real work, it would be very difficult.

The situation in Jiangcheng City was truly too complex.

By comparison, Su Xinghui actually preferred being this town mayor. This town, with its land of over 100 square kilometers, was like a huge canvas on which he could wield his brush freely to paint the most beautiful picture. In this sense, his role as town mayor had something in common with his identity as a painter.

If he were transferred to Jiangcheng City, it would be like having the most precious piece of paper, but it would be too small, making his painting feel restricted and uncomfortable.

In his view, for him to transfer to Jiangcheng City, it would only be when his rank was high enough to possess a stage large enough for him to wield his brush. Otherwise, he would rather stay in the county below.

This issue was also a headache for Su Xinghui, but fortunately, they had at least a year before they got married, so they could discuss it slowly. If it really didn't work out, they could live apart like Min Tong and Chen Xiaomeng—absence makes the heart grow fonder, and by then, every reunion would have the same passion as a new marriage.

Su Xinghui said to his mother: "Mom, don't worry, I will discuss this issue with Xiaoya."

Guo Suhua said: "Otherwise, you could transfer to Jiangcheng and be with Xiaoya, but then we wouldn't see you as often."

Su Wenjun said: "A good man has ambitions in all four corners of the world. It would be fine if he really transferred to Jiangcheng."

Su Xinghui said: "I don't want to go to Jiangcheng for the time being. Staying in Shangjun County allows me to do more."

Guo Suhua looked at her son with worry. She wanted to say something else, but she sighed and didn't speak, picking up her bowl to eat.