Chapter 95

The atmosphere at the drinking table changed immediately. Cheng Jie Min's popularity soared, and the villagers warmly poured him drinks. The young man standing before them, with his words, abilities, and character, was undoubtedly impressive and respectable.

"Jie Min, come, let's have a drink," Er Kui raised his glass and approached Cheng Jie Min, smiling. "If you ever need help, don't forget your Second Brother!"

Cheng Jie Min, who had a good impression of the sturdy man before him, smiled and replied, "Second Brother, rest assured, as soon as I need help, I'll invite you over!"

After drinking the wine, Cheng Jie Min felt a bit dizzy. Although he had a good tolerance for alcohol, he still couldn't handle the continuous drinking in the village.

As he swayed back to his seat, he didn't notice that Tian Jia Jun, sitting on the side, was observing him with a sidelong glance.

Tian Jia Jun looked similar to his brother Tian Jia Xing. He was not tall but quite fat, with black hair, though a few white strands were visible at his temples. However, he looked at least ten years younger than his brother.

As the first person from Cheng Tian Village to work outside, Tian Jia Jun always felt a sense of superiority when he returned home. It wasn't that he had forgotten his roots, but the villagers were too enthusiastic! As soon as his car entered the village, whether adults or children, they would put down their bowls and rush to his second brother's house.

The village seemed more lively than a wedding. Old men with walking sticks, women holding babies, all rushed over, bustling and shouting, curiously running to see this big official. Tian Jia Jun enjoyed the feeling of returning home in glory. He tried to maintain a modest attitude, but his excitement still made him radiant, and his movements more fidgety.

He was surrounded by the villagers in his second brother's hall, greeting his childhood friends one by one. These people were all over fifty, receiving his high-quality cigarettes with both hands, feeling both close and restrained. His second uncle even held a pipe, laughing and wiping his eyes with a thin hand, "Jia Jun, you've become such a big official, yet you still remember our village. That's not easy!"

It wasn't until Tian Jia Jun finally sat down at the table that he noticed this young man from Cheng Xi Gui's family. Despite his young age, he exuded a presence that made Tian Jia Jun feel he couldn't catch up, no matter how fast he ran.

This unexpected discovery made Tian Jia Jun feel inferior, and a pang of jealousy surged in his heart.

However, he quickly decided that he must build a good relationship with this rising star in the village.

"Jie Min, I heard from your father that you're also involved in the agricultural support program!" Tian Jia Jun asked Cheng Jie Min with a smile.

Cheng Jie Min nodded and replied calmly, "Uncle, I've been assigned to Cangliu County."

"Grassroots work is tough. The countryside is currently in a period of social transformation, and grassroots officials are at the forefront of various social conflicts. However, it's a rare platform for training, and you should seize this opportunity!" Tian Jia Jun spoke sincerely, though he didn't know much about Cheng Jie Min's current situation, he knew that the county leaders were quite respectful to these agricultural support officials.

The noisy drinking session quieted down because of their conversation. Almost everyone present listened quietly to the two prominent figures in the village.

Cheng Jie Min didn't realize that his status in the eyes of the villagers had risen to the same level as Tian Jia Jun.

After a few more words about Cheng Jie Min's work in the county, Tian Jia Jun suddenly asked, "Jie Min, you work at the provincial water conservancy bureau. Do you know Director Dong Huacheng from the office?"

Dong Huacheng? Cheng Jie Min thought he did know him, but their relationship was just average. However, this wasn't the right time to say so. In the political arena, every detail mattered. Any small thing could have a special symbolic meaning. For example, if you had a bad relationship with someone, it wasn't appropriate to publicize it.

According to the principle that it takes two to tango, it at least indicated that your relationship with your colleagues wasn't good. Moreover, if the two of them were close, saying this would be like speaking ill of someone behind their back. One should always speak well of others behind their back, not fearing that they won't hear it; speaking ill, on the other hand, could spread like wildfire.

Cheng Jie Min understood this, so he looked at Tian Jia Jun and said sincerely, "I used to work in the office with Director Dong."

"Great, a few days ago, I went to the provincial capital with Secretary Yang from the county committee, and we had dinner with Director Dong. That's when I learned that Director Dong and Secretary Yang were classmates." Tian Jia Jun smiled and said softly.

Cheng Jie Min understood the implications of Tian Jia Jun's words but just smiled without responding.

Tian Jia Jun kept observing Cheng Jie Min. He had more to say but, seeing the others at the table, he just laughed it off.

The drinking session continued until around three in the afternoon, ending with everyone still feeling unsatisfied. Cheng Jie Min felt he had drunk a whole liter of alcohol, and his stomach felt like it was churning.

"Why did you drink so much with them?" A bowl of water was handed to Cheng Jie Min. He looked up and saw a girl in a white down jacket standing in front of him.

This girl looked a bit like Tian Hua, but she had more of a spirited air. He had a vague impression of her but couldn't remember her name.

When Cheng Jie Min and the old man swayed home, his mother Ren Gai Ni came to greet them.

"Old man, look at you, drinking so much. I think you're just using alcohol to drown your sorrows!"

Cheng Jie Guo also came out, looking at his father and brother, and helped his father, "Mom, let Dad rest first!"

"I'm not sleeping!" Cheng Xi Gui suddenly perked up when he saw home. He shook his arm and said to Cheng Jie Min, "Second Son, check if the money in your pocket is still there!"

Cheng Jie Min found it quite amusing. His father was afraid of poverty, so he quickly patted his small bag and said, "Don't worry, Dad, the money is still here."

"That's good!" Cheng Xi Gui sighed in relief, slapping the table, and his old face turned serious, "Second Son, tell me the truth, are you on the wrong path?"

This slap startled Cheng Jie Min. He looked at his father, who was serious, and smiled, "Dad, I'm fine, why would I be on the wrong path?"

"If you're not on the wrong path, where did you get the money?" Cheng Xi Gui stood up from the bed and said, "We may be poor, but we have principles. We can't do anything illegal or harmful to others!"

Seeing his father's anxiety, Cheng Jie Min quickly explained, "Dad, this money is really what I earned." He then told them how he and Sun Xiaozhu and others had sold apples for twenty yuan each.

Cheng Jie Min was a good speaker, and in no time, he had the old man and others nodding in agreement, looking at him with surprise, "That... that's amazing. With education, your mind is so sharp. You sold an apple for twenty yuan! You're really something!"

Cheng Jie Min was also satisfied with his first big earnings. In the comfort of his home, he spoke with a hint of pride.

Cheng Xi Gui rubbed his head and sighed, "Over ten thousand yuan, you made over ten thousand yuan in one night. I've worked my whole life and haven't saved up even ten thousand yuan!"

Hearing this, Ren Gai Ni, who knew the family's financial situation clearly, pursed her lips. They didn't even have ten thousand yuan, not even close.

Cheng Jie Guo also looked at his brother in disbelief. This brother, who had grown up with him, was truly amazing!

"Then... then what you said to Uncle Tian is true?" Cheng Xi Gui still found it hard to believe.

"Of course it's true. The trade center has already been leased by me and a few friends. After the New Year, I plan to have my brother manage it," Cheng Jie Min said firmly, looking at his father.

"Good, good!" Cheng Xi Gui waved his hand at Ren Gai Ni, "Wife, go cook a few dishes. We'll have a good drink!"

In the past, Ren Gai Ni would never let them drink again, but now she was too happy. She had been worried about her eldest son's marriage, but now her youngest son had proven himself, making what seemed like a big problem in the family easily solved.

Tian Hua is good to the eldest son, and they will surely be happy together. Moreover, the eldest son can work in the province, which means a bright future.

"Alright, I'll go cook."

As she spoke, Ren Gai Ni quickly walked out.

"Mom... Mom..." Little Ling Dang threw herself into her mother's arms, "Mom, I heard from Tian Hua that my brother can marry Tian Hua!"

"You little brat, don't you know to rest? I already know," Ren Gai Ni, who doted on her youngest daughter, pinched her nose.

Looking at her second brother and father on the bed, Little Ling Dang said dejectedly, "I ran so hard to bring the news home, and I still arrived late!"

"Ha ha ha, not late, not late!" Cheng Jie Min patted his sister's braid and said, "Little Ling Dang's intentions are good, and I'll reward you."

"Second Brother is so nice!" Little Ling Dang playfully winked at her second brother and teasingly said to her eldest brother, who was grinning foolishly, "Brother, Tian Hua isn't your sister-in-law yet, and you're already grinning like that! Shame on you!"

"Go away... you little brat!"

PS: Due to the reasons you all know, I urgently need support for the Three Rivers vote! I kindly ask everyone to click on the Three Rivers channel on the homepage every day at 2 PM, and cast your free Three Rivers vote for Quan Xiong. I'm not afraid of losing, but I feel I owe it to all my loyal readers. Call for the power of justice to support me!