Chapter 42

Chapter 29: Words Sharp as Daggers

Wen Liang looked at Li Shengli's fawning appearance, his eyes almost moistened. He slowly walked forward and said loudly, "Deputy Factory Manager Wei is wrong. If a man can only succeed with a woman's help, why not give the thing between his legs to the woman and use it on himself?"

With the influence of the internet, when it came to sharp-tongued remarks, Wen Liang could proudly look down on his contemporaries and the world.

Finding his words crude yet amusing, the employees of the agricultural machinery factory, who were already dissatisfied with Wei Gang's aggressive attitude, burst into laughter. Wei Gang, with his official's two-faced nature and thick skin, cast a cold glance at everyone, and the laughter quickly subsided. Seeing that it was Wen Liang who spoke, Wei Gang didn't take Wen Huiming seriously and coldly rebuked, "What do you know, you half-grown brat? Go home and let Wen Huiming teach you. Do you have the right to interrupt when adults are talking? I'm uneducated, and my son is also untaught!"

Wen Liang, with a smile, was about to retort. Even if this guy's uncle was Wei Chenfeng, there was nothing to fear. Even Fang Mingtang and Zhou Yuanting were within Wen Liang's plans, and a mere propaganda minister was like a light drizzle.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind, light as a feather, but the overwhelming pressure was something even Wen Liang could sense.

"Oh, you say Wen Huiming is uneducated?"

Wen Huiming received Li Shengli's call on the evening of the 30th, learning that he had opened a restaurant. Although he was puzzled about where Li Shengli got the capital, he didn't ask and agreed to come and support the opening on the 11th. Ding Mei, due to the agricultural machinery factory's third-quarter financial settlement, was still working at the factory on the 11th, so she could only send Wen Huiming to congratulate the opening. Unexpectedly, he received a call from the municipal party committee's secretary office early in the morning. Wen Huiming immediately rushed over and only found out what happened when he arrived at the city.

It turned out that Xu Fuyan was going to visit the old cadres of Qingzhou and the families of provincial and municipal cadres from Qingzhou during the 11th. Seeing that Wen Huiming was not on the list, Deputy Secretary Meng Shanshui was scolded severely and instructed the secretary office to call Wen Huiming to participate. Wen Huiming was grateful, as this had nothing to do with him, but it was a sign of Xu Fuyan's favor. Interacting more with these people would benefit his career.

After a series of activities, the morning tasks were basically completed. On the way back to the municipal party committee, Wen Huiming was called into the No. 1 car to discuss the issues of the Qinghua Factory. Xu Fuyan asked if Wen Huiming was going home or to the municipal party committee for a work meal. As the convoy passed through Ba Yi Road, Wen Huiming indicated that he had a relative opening a business today and would get off here, then return to the city in the afternoon, not delaying the departure time.

The convoy stopped in front of the Qinghe Soybean Milk Shop. Just as Wen Huiming was about to get out of the car, he suddenly heard Xu Fuyan exclaim. Without a word, he pushed the door open. The people in the three cars behind were immediately flustered, not knowing what had happened, and rushed over. Secretary-General Yang Guangsheng held back Wen Huiming, asking in a low voice, "What's going on?"

Wen Huiming pointed to Xu Yao, who was standing at the door in a small cheongsam, smiling and welcoming guests, and shook his head with a bitter smile. "I'll settle accounts with that rascal later!" Yang Guangsheng was also surprised. Who could persuade this little princess to be a doorman? Looking at Xu Fuyan's back, his doubts grew. Could the owner of this place have a close relationship with Secretary Xu? But the place was too small...

A group of people came from the other side, and Wen Liang and the others didn't see them. As they passed behind them, they heard Wei Gang's final insult. Xu Fuyan stopped, frowning.

Wen Liang didn't know who was speaking behind him, but Wei Gang's face instantly turned extremely awkward, like the skin of a donkey that had been scalded to death in a cage, red from forehead to neck. Wen Liang, standing very close to him, could even see the fine waves rippling on his neatly pressed pants.

He was trembling!

Only a few people in Qingzhou could scare the young and arrogant Deputy Factory Manager Wei Gang so much. Wen Liang turned around and said calmly, "Hello, Secretary Xu!"

This was the first time Wen Liang met the famous Secretary Xu Fuyan at such close range. In his forties, Xu Fuyan had the unique enthusiasm and vigor of officials of that era, with a full forehead, a straight nose, and piercing eyes. His figure was slightly stout but not obese, exuding the air of a regional leader and stability. After the rapid advancement of the early 1980s, the setbacks of the late 1980s, and the nationwide discussion in the early 1990s, people's thoughts were highly unified: reform internally, open up externally, invigorate the economy, and improve people's lives. At this time, a large number of officials who dared to think and act, with responsibility and courage, emerged, leading the regional and national economy to unprecedented heights.

The merits and demerits, successes and failures, should not be ignored due to the various problems that arose later, but the contributions and courage of this generation should be recognized.

Xu Fuyan was clearly surprised and asked kindly, "Do you recognize me, little friend?"

Since Wen Liang had decided to help Zuo Yuxi, he couldn't leave the impression of being immature. Wen Huiming stepped forward to speak, but Wen Liang cut him off, saying, "At the last city's top ten outstanding Young Pioneers award ceremony, I was fortunate to be on the stage and heard Secretary Xu's speech, which left a deep impression, so I recognize you."

If an adult said this, it would be useless, but from a teenager, it didn't sound like flattery and made Xu Fuyan laugh heartily. He turned to his secretary Zhang Fang and said, "It seems your speech last time was well-written, even the children liked it."

This joke was perfectly timed. Yang Guangsheng patted Zhang Fang's shoulder and said, "I always said you're the best writer in Qingzhou, but you're always so humble. Now you have no choice, right?"

Zhang Fang, in his thirties, wearing thick glasses and looking very scholarly, quickly humbly replied, "Secretary, you're joking. Who dares to say they're the best writer in front of Director Wen? Don't make fun of me..."

Wen Huiming naturally had to be modest, and the group, to amuse Xu Fuyan, completely ignored Wei Gang, with no one stepping in to smooth things over or help him save face. It was only when Meng Shanshui saw Wei Gang almost crawling into the ground that he remembered his close relationship with Wei Chenfeng and scolded, "What's wrong with you, Factory Manager Wei? Why are you arguing with a child? How old are you?"

Wen Huiming, feeling extremely uncomfortable, still had to smile and say, "That's right, Old Wei. My Wen Liang is impolite, and you, as an uncle, should discipline him. Why are you insulting me? Be careful, I'll drink all your Maotai tonight!"

Yang Guangsheng introduced Wei Gang to Xu Fuyan in a low voice, "This is Deputy Factory Manager Wei of the agricultural machinery factory, who is now in charge of the factory's work, a young cadre the city looks highly upon."

Xu Fuyan neither confirmed nor denied, ignoring Wei Gang and smiling at Wen Liang, "So you're the Wen family's boy. Those who can go on stage to receive awards are all little heroes. What good deeds have you done?"

Wen Liang was thoroughly tired of his condescending tone. After a moment's thought, he replied, "Actually, nothing much. Just helped a friend stop a jewelry store robbery, not worth mentioning."

"Really?" Xu Fuyan seemed to recall something and asked, "What's your friend's name?"

"Xu Yao!"

Xu Fuyan was stunned, and Yang Guangsheng, Meng Shanshui, Zhang Fang, and the municipal party committee staff behind him were all shocked. Wei Gang's body swayed, and he barely managed to stand. They remembered that indeed, two months ago, there was such an incident, but at the time, Wen Liang's role was deliberately minimized, and he didn't give any media interviews. There were no pictures or names, so ordinary viewers didn't know him. Of course, the municipal party committee was a small place, and the elders knew that the Wen family's boy and Xu Yao had caught the robber together, but they didn't think Wen Huiming could have a connection with Xu Fuyan. The most likely scenario was that Wen Liang just happened to help, as reported. Moreover, since Xu Fuyan never mentioned it, everyone's attention waned, and the matter was forgotten.

In fact, Xu Fuyan was wronged. When the police chief Zhao Xinchuan reported to him, the focus was on Xu Yao, and Wen Liang was only mentioned briefly, without even his name. Later, Xu Yao detailed the incident, and Xu Fuyan, after being relieved, had asked Xu Yao to bring Wen Liang home for a meal to show gratitude, but Xu Yao didn't want Wen Liang to know her identity and made an excuse. At the time, Xu Fuyan was dealing with internal and external troubles, and after a few days, he forgot about it.

So, those who knew Wen Liang, like Meng Shanshui, didn't know the inside story, and those who knew the truth, like Xu Fuyan, didn't recognize Wen Liang. As for Yang Guangsheng and Zhang Fang, they knew neither the inside story nor Wen Liang, leading to today's shocking situation.

Xu Fuyan glanced at Wen Huiming and then at Xu Yao, who was smiling and welcoming guests at the door. A surge of anger rose in his heart, but his face remained calm as he asked, "Did this Xu Yao tell you what her father does?"

Wen Huiming's heart almost stopped at Xu Fuyan's glance. Without a doubt, Xu Fuyan now suspected his role in Wen Liang and Xu Yao's relationship, especially since he never mentioned the jewelry store incident. If he thought positively, it showed that Wen Huiming didn't seek favors and was fair. But if he thought negatively, was it a deliberate act of ignorance, waiting for the right moment? Or had he even encouraged his son to court Xu Yao? Such intentions would be despicable.

Given Xu Fuyan's experience in the political arena, having seen countless people use any means to climb the ladder, which way would he think?

The answer was clear!

But Wen Huiming felt wronged. He knew Xu Yao's identity early on but never mentioned it to Wen Liang. Their relationship was purely natural. According to Wen Huiming's plan, now that their relationship with Xu Fuyan was in a honeymoon phase, if he found an appropriate opportunity to mention this matter, it wouldn't cause resentment and might even add a touch of oil to the relationship.

But now that Xu Fuyan had discovered this matter first, the nature had completely changed. Especially since Xu Yao was working as a doorman today, it was clear what her relationship with Wen Liang was.

A father feeling deceived is not scary, but a city secretary feeling deceived, if Wen Liang's answer was not good, the carefully cultivated situation would collapse instantly.

Accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger. The political path has great glory, great wealth, great power, and great terror!

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