Chapter 51

Immediately starting her internship, with her professional courses basically finished, Li Xiaolei didn’t really care whether she attended classes or not. Last night, she returned to the dormitory, drunk, to grab a few sets of clothes to change into, and then followed Han Bo back to the Juxian Hotel to continue their life as a couple.

Leonardo da Vinci has a famous masterpiece, "The Last Supper." The next few days might very well be their "last few days."

She didn’t want to be like those senior students, crying and sobbing. She decided to spend the next few days happily like a young couple, staying by his side every day like a wife. Even if they couldn’t be together forever, at least they could leave behind a beautiful memory.

“Lawyer Han, will I embarrass you in this outfit?”

“You look great, very professional. I’ve never seen you wear this before.”

They were about to go collect a debt, and she volunteered to play the role of a secretary. Dressed in a suit, trousers, and small leather shoes, she transformed into a professional woman with an extraordinary aura. Han Bo put down his documents and couldn’t help but hug her small waist.

“My sister bought it for me. It looks too old-fashioned at school, so it’s been in the box all this time.” Li Xiaolei smiled, instantly exuding charm.

“You can wear it for your internship. There’s no problem with me having you as a secretary, but don’t work for those fat, old leaders.”

You’ve passed the bar exam, you could actually go to BJ to be a lawyer.

Li Xiaolei thought to herself but didn’t say it out loud. He had mentioned more than once that his parents hoped he would become a government official and didn’t want him to give up his iron rice bowl. She didn’t want to disappoint her family, so how could she let him...

“Let’s go, it’s about time.” Han Bo, not knowing why, adjusted his tie in the mirror and picked up his briefcase.

“I’ll carry the bag; I’m the secretary now.”

“Okay, let’s play the part.”

One was dressed in a suit and tie, the other in a professional outfit. Unfortunately, they were driving a police car. If it were a sedan, it would look more authentic.

At 7:45, they arrived at Datong Real Estate Development Company as scheduled.

The other party wasn’t at work, the main gate was locked. Old Yan had arrived even earlier. Seeing a beautiful young woman sitting in the passenger seat, he was momentarily stunned. Han Bo honked the horn several times before he reacted.

“Special Envoy Han, who is this?”

“This is my girlfriend, Li Xiaolei. From now on, she’s my secretary. Xiaolei, this is the accountant from Liangzhuang Construction Company, Mr. Yan. We came together yesterday.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Yan.”

“Miss Xiaolei, you’re so beautiful. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Special Envoy Han, you’re truly blessed.”

Old Yan, speaking in his Si Gang accent, hurriedly greeted her. The girl was too beautiful, and he didn’t dare to stare. His gaze shifted to the storage compartment, where he inadvertently discovered several business cards. The top one was the Deputy Secretary of the District Committee!

The Deputy Secretary of the District Committee in the provincial capital, what a high-ranking official, definitely higher than the county party secretary of Si Gang.

Special Envoy Han, you’re not showing your true colors, and you have such connections.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He couldn’t help but ask, “Special Envoy Han, have you found someone to help?”

“A friend introduced me to a few leaders. I don’t know if they’re willing to help, and even if they are, I don’t know if they can. The business cards are here, but I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to call them. I was busy yesterday afternoon and got up too early today.” Han Bo looked down and spoke casually.

“Special Envoy Han, can I take a look?”

“Sure, they’re just business cards, not a secret.”

Deputy Secretary of the District Committee, Secretary of the District Youth League, Deputy Director of the District Government Office, Deputy Secretary of the Street Office... Zhuang Xindong, who had been the head of the external liaison department for years, had organized and participated in many activities, knew many people, but probably didn’t have deep connections. After all, he was just a student, and they wouldn’t take him seriously. Giving him a business card was just a courtesy.

But to Old Yan, it was a big deal. All of them were government officials, all leaders. If they all helped, one call from each to the other party would likely resolve the matter.

“Han Bo, they call you Special Envoy Han in the countryside?” He was secretly amazed, while Li Xiaolei found the title amusing.

“Government officials usually call me Special Envoy Han. Ordinary people who know me call me that, but those who don’t know me call me Police Officer Han or Comrade Police.”

“Special Envoy Han, that’s hilarious.”

“It’s all about status. They think it’s better to include the title in the address to show respect. I’m not the funny one. The organization committee member is surnamed Jiang, and everyone calls him Comrade Jiang. Old Jiang’s organization has long fled to Taiwan, but we still have one in Liangzhuang. The United Front Work Committee member is called Comrade United Front, which sounds better than Comrade Yang.”

Li Xiaolei, who grew up in the old Beijing alleys, had never been to the countryside and found it particularly interesting, laughing uncontrollably.

Old Yan suddenly remembered something, put down the business cards, and took out a large mobile phone, a Motorola flip phone, and carefully handed it to Han Bo, explaining, “Special Envoy Han, Manager Wang said it’s inconvenient not to have a mobile phone in Jiangcheng. You can use this one first. He’s always at the construction site and has a pager, so it doesn’t matter if he has a mobile phone or not.”

The construction station was just a convenient name. Unlike the “seven stations and eight offices,” it was a township enterprise, an independent legal entity, officially named “Sigung County Liangzhuang Construction and Installation Engineering Co., Ltd.” Manager Wang was the project manager, but only the locals called him that. Outside, he was known as Manager Wang, and he was indeed the project manager.

It was a thoughtful gesture, and having a mobile phone would make communication easier.

Han Bo took the mobile phone, and Old Yan continued, “Manager Wang and Foreman Lao Xu asked if you have time tonight. They plan to treat you to a meal. Since you’re in Jiangcheng, they want to show their hospitality.”

“The matter isn’t resolved yet, so I don’t feel right accepting the meal. We’ll have plenty of opportunities when we go back for the New Year.” People from Liangzhuang were different from those in other townships; they were very united outside. Han Bo felt a bit uncomfortable with their warm welcome.

“Special Envoy Han, give Manager Wang some face.”

“It’s not necessary, really. The gate is open; they’re at work. Let’s go in and take a look.”

Datong Real Estate Development Company was a subsidiary of a street enterprise, privately contracted, with the manager surnamed You.

The residential properties weren’t selling well, and a large part of the neighborhood, completed a few years ago, was still vacant. There wasn’t much to do at the company, so they came in the morning and left just before the stock market opened to trade stocks at a securities company on the next street.

It wasn’t personal trading; it was the company’s investment.

In those days, if a company didn’t have an investment department and didn’t trade stocks, it was embarrassing to say they ran a company.

Old Yan hadn’t experienced big scenes, was timid, and lacked presence. He was told to wait in the hall, while Han Bo, holding the mobile phone, and his secretary, looking like a nouveau riche, went directly to the second floor and knocked on the general manager’s office door.

Two unexpected visitors burst in, and it seemed they had some clout. Manager You put down his newspaper and smiled, “Comrade, are you here to look at the houses? The sales department is on the first floor. It doesn’t matter if no one is there. You can sit down, and I’ll find out where they are.”

“Are you Manager You?”

“Yes, please sit, sit down.”

“My name is Han, Han Bo. I’m the lawyer hired by Sigang County Liangzhuang Construction and Installation Engineering Co., Ltd. This is my colleague, Li Xiaolei.”