Chapter 84

At the dilapidated bus station in the county town, Cheng Jemin was in a dilemma. The New Year's goods that Feng Changhai had asked Xiao Hu to bring were truly abundant, including apples, pears, jujubes, and other dried fruits, filling up six or seven boxes.

These boxes of items would be more than enough for the New Year at his hometown, but the primary issue Cheng Jemin faced was how to attend the gathering tonight. He was unfamiliar with the county town. Should he find a single room to stay in? No, that wouldn't be a good idea.

Liu Tairan's home seemed to be in the county town, so Cheng Jemin decided to pay him an early New Year's visit! He made up his mind and called Liu Tairan at a small convenience store near the bus station.

Cheng Jemin originally wanted to ask Liu Tairan where his home was, but coincidentally, Liu Tairan was resting at home. Upon hearing that Cheng Jemin had returned, he offered to pick him up. Cheng Jemin declined his kindness, smiling and saying, "No need for you to come and pick me up. I'll take a tricycle, and you can wait for me at home with a pot of tea!"

About ten minutes later, when Liu Tairan saw Cheng Jemin arrive at his doorstep on a tricycle loaded with items, he was first puzzled, then burst into laughter, "This is what you call a tricycle!"

"Of course, it's energy-saving and environmentally friendly! Help me unload the stuff quickly!"

Liu Tairan was somewhat moved. Cheng Jemin had come from the provincial capital on a dilapidated tricycle to bring him things. How could this person be so sincere?

Liu Tairan's home was a small courtyard he had built himself, with a pebble path neatly laid out in the yard.

The two were panting heavily after just moving the items into the yard when Liu Tairan's wife came out to greet them. Cheng Jemin knew that this woman was a teacher at a county primary school, and although her appearance was ordinary, she had the demeanor of a virtuous wife and mother.

"Jemin, this is my sister-in-law, Zhao Hexiong," Liu Tairan put down a box of apples and then introduced his wife, "Hexiong, this is my close friend Cheng Jemin, the deputy township head who came from the provincial capital to support the countryside."

Zhao Hexiong had long heard of Cheng Jemin and was grateful. After all, her husband's promotion to deputy director was largely due to Cheng Jemin's help. She immediately smiled warmly and said, "Oh, brother, come inside and have some water. It's cold in the yard, not a place for conversation."

"Sister-in-law, where is our storage room? Let's put these New Year's goods away first," Cheng Jemin pointed to the boxes, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and smiled.

This gesture almost brought tears to Zhao Hexiong's eyes. They say a drop of water should be repaid with a spring of water. Not only had Cheng Jemin helped her husband, but he had also brought so many things to visit them! How could this person be so righteous!

Liu Tairan was also flustered, "Brother, how can you leave all these things here? Are you helping me with poverty alleviation? I tell you, take them back to your hometown. It's almost the New Year, you know!"

Cheng Jemin picked up the items and walked toward the storage room, speaking with certainty, "Don't make things difficult for me. I have to go back to the township tomorrow. I brought these things from the provincial capital to seek your help. Where do you want me to put them? If you can't finish them, take them with you. This is your task, not mine!"

At that moment, Liu Tairan was truly moved. Cheng Jemin, who came from the provincial capital, was indeed different. Gift-giving was a science, and Cheng Jemin was undoubtedly an expert. When he gave you something, he made you feel like you were helping him solve a problem, and you wouldn't feel any psychological burden.

Zhao Hexiong also felt that Cheng Jemin was warm and generous, and he made you feel at ease in the face of your benefactor, without any need for gratitude. This made her feel more comfortable and even more fond of him.

After chatting for two hours at Liu Tairan's home, they walked toward the county party committee guesthouse. Liu Tairan knew that Cheng Jemin had plans for the evening and didn't insist, only asking him to stay at his home that night.

After Cheng Jemin left, Zhao Hexiong, while tidying up, chatted with Liu Tairan, "Tairan, Cheng Jemin is really a good person, young, sensible, and experienced. Plus, he has a background. Who knows how far he will go in the future!"

"Definitely!" Liu Tairan smiled proudly, "Birds of a feather flock together. You should know who his friend is!"

Zhao Hexiong rolled her eyes at Liu Tairan and reminded him, "You start panting as soon as I say you're fat! By the way, didn't Jemin say he would take you to visit a leader's home in the city? You should hurry up with that!"

"Sure, I'll prepare the gifts and take Jemin there in a couple of days."

Zhao Hexiong nodded and emptied the ashtray on the table, "We can't be impolite. We'll prepare two sets of gifts. Jemin is from Qingyu County, so we'll visit his home during the New Year."

When Cheng Jemin arrived at the county party committee guesthouse, the entire street was already brightly lit. As the best reception venue in the county, the guesthouse was already filled with many vehicles.

Cheng Jemin had eaten here before and was familiar with the environment. As he walked through the main door and headed upstairs, he heard someone call out, "Cheng Jemin!"

Cheng Jemin looked up and saw a man in a suit. In such weather, Cheng Jemin really doubted if he could stand it. Fortunately, his memory was excellent, and he immediately recognized the person.

"Huo Yuanguo, when did you get here?"

Huo Yuanguo was a fellow agricultural support cadre assigned to the county with Cheng Jemin. Cheng Jemin remembered that he was from the Personnel Department. However, at the time, there were many leaders at the dinner, and they were quickly assigned to different places, leaving only their pager numbers. They hadn't had the chance to get to know each other deeply.

"I just got here," Huo Yuanguo shook Cheng Jemin's hand and said, "Brother, this job is really tough. Damn, I'm soaking in alcohol every day, and I can't avoid it! The leaders said, if you can drink half a catty, drink eight ounces, such a cadre should be cultivated; if you can drink eight ounces, drink a catty, such a cadre can be trusted; if you can drink liquor, drink beer, such a cadre should be transferred; if you can drink beer, drink a soft drink, such a cadre is useless! We still have three years to spend here, and we can't get along without blending in with them!"

Listening to Huo Yuanguo's complaints, a sense of jealousy rose in Cheng Jemin's heart. He believed that Huo Yuanguo wasn't intentionally showing off, but it at least indicated that he was doing well in the township. What he complained about was precisely what Cheng Jemin had been hoping for. In Kuanyang Township, apart from drinking a few times with Liu Tairan, no one had invited him to the drinking scene.

Although he felt depressed inside, he still smiled and said, "Brother, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. We are new here, so we should give them face!"

Huo Yuanguo patted Cheng Jemin's shoulder and said, "Brother, you're right. I've noticed that my alcohol tolerance has improved a lot in the past few days!"

Just as they were talking, someone came up from behind and said, "Director Huo, when did your brother come to the county?"

Huo Yuanguo turned his head and extended his hand, "Director Gu, hello. I just got here. Today, we agricultural support cadres are gathering before the New Year."

"Ha, this gathering is very meaningful. Which room are you in? I'll come over later to pour a drink for all the leaders. To be honest, it's not easy for you to come from the provincial capital to our county. Secretary Ma of the county party committee said that you are our county's most precious wealth!" As Director Gu spoke, he smiled at Cheng Jemin and introduced himself, "I'm Gu Jiezong, working at the county personnel bureau."

"Cheng Jemin," Cheng Jemin politely shook hands with Gu Jiezong and introduced himself.

As Gu Jiezong walked into the room, Huo Yuanguo smiled and said, "Jemin, do you know which 'jie' in Director Gu's name?"

"Which one?" Cheng Jemin's sense of loss inevitably increased. After all, he was in his twenties, and such a small sense of competition was hard to avoid. They all came to the county together, and Huo Yuanguo had quickly adapted, but what about himself, who was still struggling in the township?

However, Cheng Jemin was a master at hiding his emotions. His face remained calm, and his voice was calm.

"The 'jie' in '节约' (economy)! Ha, he should be the head of the Family Planning Commission; it would be a perfect match!" Huo Yuanguo whispered and laughed.

Cheng Jemin couldn't help but laugh too. After some thought, he realized that the reason for Director Gu's name was likely that his ancestors were farmers and hoped to save seeds when planting.

As they talked and laughed, they pushed open the door to the private room. The room was large, and when Cheng Jemin entered, there were already three or four people talking inside. Seeing them, a short man smiled and said, "Cheng Jemin, Huo Yuanguo, why are you two so late?"

"I drank again at noon today, and I'm still walking like I'm in a cloud!" Huo Yuanguo rubbed his head and said, "Where is Li Jinhu? He's the organizer, why hasn't he come yet?"

"He went to pick someone up!" The short man took out two cigarettes and threw them to Cheng Jemin and Huo Yuanguo, "Our female comrade doesn't want to come, and Li Jinhu, being infatuated, went to pick her up personally."

Female comrade? Cheng Jemin was taken aback. He knew that among their batch of agricultural support cadres, there was only one woman, Dou Qing. When he met Dou Qing, she said she wouldn't come and had already returned to the provincial capital. When did she come back to the county?

Thinking of Dou Qing's cold and beautiful face, Cheng Jemin felt a sense of anticipation at her arrival.

"Jiang Hantao, don't gossip behind people's backs. You just said the female comrade wouldn't come, which would be a disappointment, and now you're making fun of her!"

Jiang Hantao, the short man, didn't get angry. He chuckled and said, "Brother, a beautiful lady is a gentleman's desire. I'm not married, so I have plenty of opportunities. It's just a pity for some people who got married too early!"

The room erupted in laughter, and at that moment, the door knocked.

PS: Next week is the ranking push. I sincerely hope all my brothers can help me! I will do my utmost to update diligently and repay your deep affection!