Chapter 12

Adequate updates, calling for all kinds of support!

-----------------------------------------

Facing the sunset, Su Mu looked over, his eyebrows couldn't help but twitch slightly, and then he smiled and walked towards the big willow tree.

"Really, you actually came?" Su Mu said with a smile.

"What are you talking about? How can you say I really came? Am I the kind of person who doesn't keep my word?" Ye Xi said with a pout.

Indeed, the woman standing under the willow tree opposite the town government was Ye Xi. Su Mu originally thought that when she said she would come to Heishan Town to see him, it was just a harmless joke. But he never expected that Ye Xi would actually come, and even in a powerful off-road vehicle.

Heishan Town had public vehicles, one each for Liang Changgui and Yang Song, but they were the oldest Jeeps. There wasn't even a Santana of a slightly higher class, let alone a Hummer off-road vehicle.

A Hummer and a beautiful woman, such a combination instantly became the most beautiful scenery in Heishan Town. Everyone who passed by couldn't help but look over curiously.

Even Yang Song, who walked out of the town government, squinted his eyes when he saw Ye Xi, feeling amazed by her beauty while becoming even more jealous and disdainful of Su Mu.

"Just wait, you still have the mood to flirt with girls, soon you won't even be able to cry!"

Though Yang Song also doubted how Su Mu could be related to a woman who could afford a Hummer, he didn't take it seriously at all.

In Heishan Town, he, Yang Song, was confident in his authority and could deal with Su Mu as easily as stepping on an ant. However, Ye Xi's beauty made Yang Song's lower body twitch with excitement, and he couldn't help but speed up his pace, imagining the smooth body of his lover.

The looks from the people passing by told Su Mu that if he didn't leave, he would eventually become the object of all the men's hatred in Heishan Town.

"Alright, I admit I was wrong, but shouldn't we consider going somewhere else? If we keep talking here, I'm afraid I'll be drowned by the saliva of all the male comrades," Su Mu said, shrugging helplessly.

"Hehe!"

Ye Xi laughed, and since leaving Shengjing City, her mood had been unusually good ever since she saw Su Mu. Despite the difficulty of finding the place and the trouble of driving here, seeing Su Mu made her feel it was all worth it.

"You're smart, let's go. I'm not familiar with this place, you choose where to go," Ye Xi said with a smile.

Although Heishan Town was very poor, it was still a town and had a few small restaurants. One that Su Mu often liked to go to was called "Wang Laosan Restaurant." The owner was named Wang Lao, and he was the third in his family, so everyone called him Wang Laosan.

Wang Laosan Restaurant was quite famous in Heishan Town because the food and drinks there were not only plentiful but also fresh. Besides the usual pork and beef, the main dishes were wild vegetables from the mountains. After Wang Laosan's unique preparation, they had a unique flavor.

"Town Mayor Su, you're here!" Wang Laosan had already seen the Hummer and came out from the kitchen with a smile.

Although Su Mu didn't have real power in Heishan Town, he was a good official. Everyone saw what he did for the primary school students in Heishan Town. No one looked down on him because of his young age; instead, they enjoyed chatting with him.

"Brother Lao, I have a distinguished guest today. Bring out a few of your best dishes," Su Mu said, smiling and offering a cigarette.

"Don't worry, I guarantee you'll eat and drink well today. There's an empty table by the window, go sit there," Wang Laosan said, taking the cigarette and tucking it behind his ear before heading back to the kitchen.

Ye Xi didn't have the airs of a city girl. She didn't show any displeasure and sat down at the table with Su Mu.

"Didn't expect it, our Town Mayor Su is living quite comfortably in Heishan Town. Look at your popularity, you're doing great," Ye Xi said with a smile.

"What popularity? Real popularity is about flattering the leaders. I'm just a minor official in the eyes of these simple country people," Su Mu said casually, pouring a cup of tea for Ye Xi and smiling, "Come, try this. It's a unique bamboo shoot tea from Heishan Town, I guarantee you've never had it before."

Bamboo shoot tea is indeed a specialty of Heishan Town. It's called bamboo shoot because its shape resembles the tip of a bamboo shoot. After being picked, it is processed by local tea farmers and can be brewed. Compared to famous teas, bamboo shoot tea has a fresher taste.

Ye Xi took a small sip, and as the tender green tea water entered her mouth, a fragrant aroma instantly spread. The feeling was very comfortable, like breathing fresh air after being cooped up in a room for too long, very refreshing and soothing.

"How is it?" Su Mu asked with a smile.

"Delicious, really delicious!" Ye Xi immediately drank the whole cup, having not had a sip of water during the long drive.

"You should have called me before coming. How could you just show up without a word? This road isn't safe. If something happens to you, how can I explain to Uncle Ye?" Su Mu said.

"Pfft! What could happen to me? Besides, I wanted to see how our great Town Mayor Su is really living," Ye Xi said playfully.

"What's there to see? It's just the same," Su Mu said indifferently.

"What's wrong? Not happy?" Ye Xi, skilled at reading people from her time with Ye Anbang, could tell something was off from Su Mu's words.

"It seems you just arrived. If you had come a day earlier, you would know. Now, in the whole Heishan Town, or even the entire Xingtang County, I'm like a fierce tiger, no one wants to provoke me," Su Mu said with a bitter smile.

He was just a college graduate of a year, and even with the rich experience of being an official, he couldn't always keep his cool. Though he pretended to be indifferent to Xie Wen's schemes, how could he remain calm? After all, Xie Wen was the county party secretary, the highest leader of the county.

"What happened? Tell me!" Ye Xi asked curiously.

"It's simple, yesterday in the antique street of Xingtang County..."

When Su Mu briefly explained the incident, Ye Xi's eyes widened in surprise, "I didn't expect our former SU Chairman from Jiang University to be so capable, taking on so many hooligans. If I had known, I should have joined the martial arts club and maybe Teacher Song would have taught me everything."

After telling the story, Su Mu felt a sudden sense of relief, even though he had initially stood up to make friends with Li Letian. But as Liang Changgui said, they left without a care, leaving him with countless troubles. Thinking about this, Su Mu felt a bit frustrated.

Now, telling everything to Ye Xi, Su Mu's pent-up feelings were finally relieved.

"Please, you offended the son of Secretary Xie, and you're still laughing at me," Su Mu said helplessly.

"Hmph, how many of those people are scum. If he dares to cause trouble for you, I'll back you up," Ye Xi said, pouting.

"You?" Su Mu laughed dismissively.

"What? Don't look down on me. Just wait!" Ye Xi pulled out a business card from her small handbag, flipped through it, and handed one to Su Mu.

"If that county party secretary dares to cause trouble for you, call him. I'll contact him when I get back, and he'll help you."

Su Mu took the card, glanced at it, and his heart raced, but he controlled himself well. The card had a simple name and phone number, no complicated titles.

The name was Li Xinghua!

If it were someone else, they might not know what this name meant. But Su Mu, who had worked in the Xingtang County government office for half a year and knew Ye Xi's father's identity, immediately recognized that Li Xinghua was the executive vice mayor of Qinglin City, the prefecture-level city above Xingtang County.

It was well-known that Li Xinghua had come to Qinglin City to take over the position of mayor, who was about to retire. He was a powerful figure.

Ye Xi didn't act unless it was significant, and when she did, it was powerful.

Of course, Su Mu couldn't say he knew him at this moment, nor could he pretend to be ignorant. He played with the card and said jokingly, "Ye Xi, who is this person? Is he a leader in Xingtang County? I don't remember him. Is he from the county government?"

"Hmph, you're really looking down on me. County government? Let me tell you, he's the executive vice mayor of Qinglin City, and he has some connection with my father. I'm going to visit him this time. So, with his help, your trouble will be no problem!" Ye Xi said proudly.

"Really powerful! I'll keep this card carefully, maybe I'll need it one day!" Su Mu said, smiling, and put the card away. Wang Laosan then started bringing out the dishes, and soon the table was filled with six dishes, a mix of meat and vegetables, hot and cold, all appetizing in appearance and quantity.

"Wow, really delicious! I've never had such good food. Su Mu, you said these are wild vegetables, right? I want you to bring some back for me when I leave!"

Ye Xi said, eating enthusiastically, her appetite completely taking over, and she quickly ate, afraid that Su Mu would take the food with his chopsticks.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely bring some for you when you leave. Whenever you want to eat them, I'll bring them to you!" Su Mu said with a smile.

"Really?" Ye Xi's eyes showed a longing.

"Of course, I wouldn't lie to you!" Su Mu nodded.

Getting the answer she wanted, Ye Xi smiled contentedly and slowed down her eating. The wine on the table wasn't the expensive stuff from the market but homemade. Though low in alcohol content, it had a unique flavor.

By the end of the meal, both of them were quite full. Because of the alcohol, Su Mu had initially planned to send Ye Xi to a hotel in Xingtang County, but now that seemed impossible. However, there were no hotels in Heishan Town, so what could they do?

It was already evening when they finished eating, and now the sun had set, making it late at night in Heishan Town. Compared to the bright lights of the county, electricity was not as widespread here. If every household used electricity, the voltage couldn't handle it, so some families used kerosene lamps.

Standing on the street, looking at the primitive lights, Ye Xi, slightly tipsy, leaned against the Hummer, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her breath like a fragrant breeze.

"Su Mu, where am I staying tonight?"

"Um... how about you stay at my place?" Su Mu said.

"Ah!" Ye Xi's face turned even redder.

"No, Ye Xi, don't misunderstand. I mean you stay at my place, and I'll sleep in the office for the night," Su Mu explained quickly.

The status difference between them constantly reminded Su Mu not to have such thoughts, even a little bit.

"If you don't want to, then I..."

"I want to!"

Before Su Mu could finish, Ye Xi's eyes, which seemed to be dripping with water, said softly, "I want to, I'll stay at your place tonight. But Su Mu, I want you to promise me one thing."

"Sure, what is it?" Su Mu asked.

"Tomorrow, I want to go with you to deliver the books in the car. I want to give them to the children myself!" Ye Xi said with a gentle expression.

"No problem!" Su Mu said with a smile, thinking it was a small matter. However, delivering all the books wouldn't be easy, as the car couldn't reach every village, only to Da Liubranch Village.

"I really want to see the children who make you stay here willingly, who make you go to Shengjing City to buy used books for them. I want to know more about you, to fill the gaps in my heart. Do you understand?" Ye Xi whispered, the breeze blowing away some of the summer heat.

When Su Mu drove the Hummer back to his place, he quickly started preparing the bed for Ye Xi. He changed the sheets to new ones, turned on the fan, and lit a mosquito coil. Su Mu personally brought water for her to wash her feet, sitting at the door and watching her put her sexy, round feet into the clear water.

The room was very quiet at night, with only the occasional chirping of insects. Ye Xi's feet moved gently in the basin, making a clear, crisp sound.

Despite his best efforts to control himself, Su Mu couldn't help but look over. When his eyes met her long, slender legs, his heart raced.

Because it was summer, Ye Xi was wearing seven-eighths length jeans. Her already fair skin glowed under the light, making her legs especially alluring. The long legs hidden in the jeans made Su Mu's throat dry.

To be honest, this was the first time Su Mu had been so close to a girl. Even at Jiang University, despite his excellence and charm, he had never had a romantic relationship due to his self-discipline.

"Are... are you staying here tonight?"

This was the first time Su Mu had been so close to a girl, and it was the same for Ye Xi. She still didn't understand why she had agreed to stay in Su Mu's room. Her heart raced, her face flushed, and her body felt warm.

Ye Xi knew Su Mu was looking at her legs. Honestly, these legs were her most satisfying feature, something she had always been proud of. Even without looking up, she could feel Su Mu's intense gaze, her heart racing like a deer, and when she opened her mouth to say something, she unexpectedly said this.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ye Xi was stunned!

Before she could explain, Su Mu's almost instinctive response made Ye Xi's breathing quicken.