Chapter 25

Not daring to disobey the leader's instructions, Chu Tianshu had no choice but to stand up and carry the plates and bowls into the kitchen one by one. When he reached the small yellow fish, he couldn't resist, grabbed one with his hand, and threw it into his mouth. Ignoring the fish bones pricking his mouth, he hid in the kitchen and started crunching.

At that moment, there was a soft creak, and the sound of the door opening could be heard.

"Secretary Fang, welcome, welcome." Jian Ruoming took a bouquet of flowers from the visitor and directly welcomed the guest inside.

"Xiao Jian, are you still eating?" The visitor glanced around and laughed heartily, saying, "Sorry to disturb you."

"Secretary Fang, it's fine, we've already finished eating," Jian Ruoming said, placing the flowers on the dining table in the living room and inviting the guest to sit on the sofa.

"Us?" Secretary Fang was greatly surprised and looked around.

"Oh, Secretary Fang, it's like this. Today is a weekend, and I just moved in, so my room is a mess. I invited a young man from the office to help me out," Jian Ruoming said with a smile, calling out to the kitchen, "Xiao Chu, stop cleaning, a guest has arrived, come out and meet them."

Chu Tianshu walked out of the kitchen.

The visitor was a middle-aged man of medium build, slightly overweight, about forty years old, dressed fashionably, with fish-like eyes, a bulbous nose, and a few acne scars on his face. Despite wearing an expensive gold-rimmed glasses, this did not add any scholarly air to him; instead, it highlighted his vulgarity.

"Xiao Chu, this is my old leader, Secretary Fang Wendao, the Party Committee Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the Provincial SASAC," Jian Ruoming introduced warmly.

"Xiao Chu, Chu Tianshu," Chu Tianshu stepped forward and extended his hand to Fang Wendao.

Fang Wendao's face changed dramatically. He didn't even look at Chu Tianshu's extended hand but glanced at his pajamas, looking puzzled at Jian Ruoming.

"Xiao Chu, go to the study and bring the fan over," Jian Ruoming smiled, ignoring Fang Wendao's question, and gave Chu Tianshu a task. Then, he brought a cup of tea to Fang Wendao and said, "Secretary Fang, please have some tea."

Chu Tianshu was unhappy but had nothing to say. The Deputy Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the Provincial SASAC was at least a department-level official, and the gap between him and a regular section-level officer in a local area was like the difference between heaven and earth. Fang Wendao had come all the way from the provincial capital to visit his old subordinate Jian Ruoming, so he naturally didn't need to pay much attention to him.

However, when Chu Tianshu passed the dining table, he saw that the flowers on the table were a large bouquet of roses, which made him feel very uneasy. How could a leader send roses to a subordinate? Fang Wendao was either extremely foolish or had ulterior motives.

It seemed that Jian Ruoming had deliberately kept him around to be a third wheel.

Chu Tianshu brought the fan out, pointed it at Jian Ruoming and Fang Wendao on the sofa, plugged it in, turned it on to a low setting, and sat down by the dining table.

Fang Wendao was talking to Jian Ruoming and glanced at Chu Tianshu, his eyes behind the glasses clearly showing unmasked disgust and contempt.

Jian Ruoming ignored it and said politely, "Secretary Fang, it's really touching that you came to see me in such hot weather."

"Hehe, Xiao Jian, there's no need for such formalities between us," Fang Wendao laughed and said, "I was on leave and felt bored at home, so I suddenly thought of you and drove over to see you."

"Thank you, old leader, I really appreciate it."

"Xiao Jian, how are you adapting to your work and life?"

"Fine, fine," Jian Ruoming refilled Fang Wendao's cup with water.

"That's good." Fang Wendao took a sip of tea and pretended to be indignant, "Xiao Jian, after your transfer order was issued, I did go to the Organization Department. I told Deputy Minister Lin, 'Deputy Minister, you're too heartless. Xiao Jian is a young woman, and you're willing to send her to a local area, showing no consideration for her.' Ha ha."

"Secretary Fang, you're joking," Jian Ruoming laughed, but it was not natural.

"Xiao Jian, I'm not joking. Things are complicated in local areas, and the living conditions are simple. If you're not happy, you can tell me, and I'll talk to Deputy Minister Lin to transfer you back."

"Thank you, Secretary Fang, I'm alone, and I can adapt quickly," Jian Ruoming nodded, looking very grateful.

Chu Tianshu watched and secretly laughed. It turned out that the seemingly high-minded Jian Ruoming would also bow and scrape in front of a big leader.

Fang Wendao stared straight at Jian Ruoming.

Jian Ruoming avoided his gaze and instructed Chu Tianshu, "Xiao Chu, go and cut the watermelon from the fridge to cool Secretary Fang down."

Chu Tianshu got up and went to the kitchen, cut the watermelon, and brought it to the coffee table by the sofa, saying with a smile, "Secretary Fang, please."

Fang Wendao leaned back on the sofa, not even moving an eyelid.

Clearly, Chu Tianshu's presence made Fang Wendao very unhappy, and the atmosphere was slightly awkward.

Jian Ruoming, of course, noticed and said, "Xiao Chu