Chapter 881

Zhang Kaishan and Su Xinghui entered Comrade Ji Tao's office. Comrade Ji Tao said with a smile, "Little Su, you're back. That was quick. Sit down."

Su Xinghui sat down, and Comrade Ji Tao asked, "The Hou family agreed to return tomorrow after lunch, right?"

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "Yes, they even called me last night. They said they should arrive in Shangjun County around two in the afternoon."

Comrade Ji Tao nodded. "We mustn't be impolite. How about this: we'll wait at the eastern outskirts of the county seat at one-thirty."

Zhang Kaishan said, "I think that's fine. Since they didn't ask us to go to Jiangcheng to pick them up at the airport, waiting for them a bit early shows our sincerity."

Comrade Ji Tao asked, "Little Su, what do you think?"

Su Xinghui smiled. "Secretary Ji's instructions are naturally wise!"

Comrade Ji Tao laughed and scolded, "If you have any thoughts, just say them. Don't give me that kind of talk."

Su Xinghui said, "I really don't have any other thoughts. Making the welcoming ceremony for the Hou family a bit grand is understandable, after all, this is an era where economic development is paramount. However, there shouldn't be too many people going. If we organize a welcoming party of several hundred people, it might make them feel uncomfortable."

Comrade Ji Tao pondered for a moment and nodded. "Fine, that's a good suggestion. Don't have too many people go tomorrow. Just us few members of the County Party Standing Committee, and a few people from the United Front Work Department will do. Don't make the security work too obvious either; just place some plainclothes officers along the road. Try not to affect the normal order of the county seat."

Zhang Kaishan nodded. When this matter was discussed at the Standing Committee meeting, some had proposed sending more people, and even suggested organizing primary school students to participate in the welcoming ceremony to present flowers to the Hou family. Zhang Kaishan had disagreed with doing so at the time. It was enough for them, the county leaders, to go and welcome them; why go to such lengths? The primary school students still had to attend class. On such a cold day, making them wait by the roadside—wouldn't their parents feel heartbroken?

Zhang Kaishan had never been a fan of such formalism. Them going to welcome the Hou family could still be called work, but what would it count for if primary school students went to welcome them?

At the time, there was no conclusion on this issue at the Standing Committee meeting, and Comrade Ji Tao had been hesitant and hadn't made a decision. Now, having heard Su Xinghui's words, he finally made a decision. This was a good thing.

Comrade Ji Tao said, "Little Su, what about the welcoming banquet in the evening? What dishes should we prepare? Do we need to prepare some Western food?"

Su Xinghui said, "I think we should mainly prepare dishes with our Shangjun flavor. Elder Hou and the others, who left the country for overseas decades ago, haven't eaten authentic Shangjun flavor in decades; they must really want to eat Shangjun food. However, we should also prepare some other types of dishes, including Western food, since there are several young people in the Hou family born overseas who are coming back. But, do we have a chef in the county who can make Western food?"

Zhang Kaishan smiled. "Xinghui, you didn't know about this, did you? The county specifically invited a Western chef and a pastry chef from a Western restaurant in Yulin City. Although they might not make it very authentically, it counts as being prepared. At least it shows the county's sincerity."

Su Xinghui nodded. "Right, that's enough to express our sincerity. Besides, they might not necessarily like eating Western food; they might prefer Chinese food even more. Chinese food is the most delicious thing in the world."

Comrade 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 confident."

Zhang Kaishan smiled. "This kid is a lucky charm. In any case, he has established a deep relationship with the Hou family and can be said to have done them a favor. So, even if we do something slightly inadequate, I estimate that Elder Hou won't hold it against us for this kid's sake."

Comrade Ji Tao slapped his own thigh. "That's the logic. Ever since I met this kid, I've felt that my luck has been quite good."

Su Xinghui laughed. "Secretary Ji, County Magistrate Zhang, if you say it like that, it's a bit idealistic!"

Comrade Ji Tao and Zhang Kaishan looked at each other and burst into laughter.

That evening, Su Xinghui received a call from Lei Ming. Su Xinghui asked, "Brother Lei, how did you know I was back?"

Lei Ming said, "I also accepted the security task for tomorrow. How could I not know you were coming back today?"

Su Xinghui thought about it and realized that made sense. He then asked Lei Ming, "Brother Lei, is there something you need?"

Lei Ming said, "Can you come out now? I'm treating you to a drink."

Su Xinghui didn't have anything going on, so he accepted Lei Ming's invitation. He told his parents and then went out.

After going downstairs, he arrived at the gate of the County Party Committee compound and met up with Lei Ming. Lei Ming took him to that same night market, and at the stir-fried field snail stall, the two began to drink.

After two glasses of alcohol, Su Xinghui asked with a smile, "Brother Lei, you asked me out for a drink today, is there something going on?"

Lei Ming said, "If you want to say there's something, I do have something to tell you. It's not convenient to say it over the phone, so I specifically waited for you to come back before inviting you out for a drink, so I could tell you in person."

Su Xinghui said, "What could you possibly have that isn't convenient to say over the phone?"

Lei Ming said solemnly, "Do you remember the last time you went to see Shu Rong's clothing store?"

When Lei Ming said that, Su Xinghui remembered. The last time he went to see Shu Rong's clothing store, he happened to run into Lei Ming, so he asked, "I remember, what about it?"

Lei Ming said, "Then do you know who she's hooked up with?"

Su Xinghui actually already knew the answer, but he still asked with a smile, "Who has she hooked up with now?"

Lei Ming lowered his voice and said, "Deputy County Magistrate Jia!"

Su Xinghui nodded with a smile. "Actually, I know about this."

Lei Ming said in surprise, "You know? Then that time you went to Shu Rong's clothing store, was it...?"

Su Xinghui nodded. "Right, I heard from others that Shu Rong opened a clothing store there, so I wanted to go take a look. I didn't expect to run into you that time. By the way, how did you know about this?"

Lei Ming said, "A few days ago, when I passed by there at night, I saw Deputy County Magistrate Jia go in with my own eyes. He was even covering his face. After he went in, Shu Rong closed the door and shut up shop." ===== CHAPTER 883 =====