Chapter 77

Chapter 33: A Turning Point Appears

"Uncle Li, hello!" After listening to Lei Xin's introduction, Fang Mingyuan politely greeted him, then glanced at Zhao Guirong behind him and added, "Auntie Zhao, hello!"

Li Dongxing turned to look at Zhao Guirong, the only woman present, and asked with a smile, "Deputy Town Mayor Zhao, do you know him too?"

Zhao Guirong was somewhat uneasy at this moment, as this deviated from the original plan she and Fang Mingyuan had discussed. However, seeing that Li Dongxing did not seem angry, she smiled and said, "County Chief, he is a classmate of my son and has been helping him with his studies since elementary school. So we are quite familiar with each other."

At this moment, Cheng Gong's face had already changed. Fang Mingyuan's sudden appearance was unexpected, and Li Dongxing's attitude towards him and his relationship with Zhao Guirong gave Cheng Gong a sense of foreboding. However, with Li Dongxing present, it was not his place to speak up.

"Uh..." Li Dongxing nodded noncommittally and then asked with a smile, "Fang Mingyuan, I heard from Director Lei that you know how to operate a computer. Is that true?"

Fang Mingyuan glanced at the nervous Lei Xin and smiled, "Uncle Li, Director Lei is being too kind. Computer operation is a very advanced and new technology. It's not easy to master it thoroughly. I can only say that I have learned some basic knowledge. I am more familiar with computers than the two older brothers who just started learning. As long as they use it frequently, I believe they will soon surpass me." Zhang Lu and Li Hai looked at Fang Mingyuan gratefully, as this was also a way of speaking well of them in front of Deputy Factory Manager Lu.

"My goodness!" Lei Xin let out a long breath. This young man's modesty was not a big deal, but he had broken out in a cold sweat.

"Then where did you learn computer operation?" Li Dongxing asked, voicing the question on everyone's mind except Lei Xin's.

"During the winter break, Grandpa Su saw my interest in computers and had someone teach me. I also collected some materials on computers and have been studying them since the winter break." Fang Mingyuan now lied without hesitation, as this person would not have the opportunity or courage to ask Su Huandong in person.

Everyone present was puzzled. Grandpa Su? Who is he?

A glint of joy flashed in Li Dongxing's eyes. Two days ago, he received a call from his old superior in the railway system, who said that Deputy Minister of Railways Su Huandong's youngest son, Su Aijun, had asked him to convey a message to Li Dongxing, asking him to take good care of a young man named Fang Mingyuan when he visited Hai Zhuang Town. As someone who had worked in the railway system, how could he not know Su Huandong's name? Su Huandong was the proposer of the major railway speed-up project in China, a political star who was certain to become the Minister of Railways and was highly regarded by the highest levels of the state. Although the railway had only completed one speed-up task in four years, the economic and social benefits it brought had already proven his foresight. His political future was limitless. Li Dongxing's position was far from Su Huandong's, but he never imagined he could connect with Minister Su in this way. Moreover, from the tone of this young man, it seemed he was quite familiar with Su Huandong.

"Very good, very good, very good. A young talent is a glory to your factory's children's school and to the Pingchuan County education system!" Li Dongxing said with a pleased expression. However, he also had a hint of doubt. What did Su Aijun mean by asking him to take good care of Fang Mingyuan? Nevertheless, since Su Aijun had already conveyed the message through his old superior, he would follow it, whether he understood it or not.

With Li Dongxing's words, the people present immediately sang praises. Zhao Guirong and Lei Xin finally felt relieved, but Deputy Town Mayor Cheng Gong's heart sank.

As the group left the computer room, various strategies ran through Cheng Gong's mind. Although he could not yet see the connection between the new County Chief Li and Fang Mingyuan, it was clear that Li Dongxing appreciated Fang Mingyuan. If he continued to target the Fang family unreasonably, and it reached the County Chief's ears, it would be very detrimental to his promotion to Town Mayor. However, how to convey his intention to reconcile with the Fang family was a headache for Deputy Town Mayor Cheng Gong. Fang Mingyuan did not follow the group. As the Deputy Town Mayor, he could not leave without the Town Mayor's presence. He glanced at the accompanying personnel, and one of them understood and followed. Cheng Gong whispered a few words to him, and the person ran off like a streak of smoke.

Zhao Guirong noticed this but only sneered silently.

By half past eleven, Deputy Factory Manager Lu looked at his watch and smiled, "County Chief Li, it's almost noon. Please do us the honor of having a simple lunch here. I also want you to try the fish head with pancake from the Fang family. It's a specialty of Hai Zhuang Town and the most authentic in all of Pingchuan County. On weekends, people even come from the county to have this dish."

"Sure, I've heard about the fish head with pancake many times since I came to the county. I'll try it today to see if it's as delicious as they say." Li Dongxing smiled. Being able to learn more about Fang Mingyuan and his family would undoubtedly help him better understand Su Aijun's intentions.

The Fang family restaurant had already received the news and hung a "Private Event" sign outside in the morning.

Fang Bin was directing the chefs in the kitchen to prepare the meal. This time, a large group was coming, with over a dozen people from the county, plus the town committee and government personnel and the factory staff, totaling around forty to fifty people. He had also been repeatedly instructed by Fang Mingyuan to make the meal delicious, clean, and of high quality, leaving no room for any mistakes.

"Mr. Fang, Director Sun is here!" A clear voice from outside the door called out. Fang Bin was slightly taken aback. This fat Sun, he really has some nerve to come and cause trouble at this time. If he delays the County Chief's lunch, he will be in big trouble.

"Stop, stop, everyone stop! Make room for them!" Fang Bin called out irritably. The kitchen staff, who had become accustomed to this, immediately stopped their work and came out of the kitchen.

"Mr. Fang, Mr. Fang, what are you doing? Get them to prepare quickly, the County Chief will be here soon!" Sun Fat, looking flustered, grabbed Fang Bin and said urgently, "We can't delay the County Chief and the town committee and government leaders' lunch."

"Hmm? Director Sun, every time you come to inspect, you make everyone come out. I'm just cooperating with your work. Go ahead and inspect, and we'll continue preparing after you're done." Fang Bin waved his hand.

"Oh, Mr. Fang, you misunderstood. I'm not here to inspect the hygiene. Can't you see I came alone? I didn't bring anyone." Sun Fat, sweating profusely, pleaded with Fang Bin, "Get them back to work quickly, the County Chief will be here any moment!"

"Uh, not here to inspect?" Fang Bin looked at Sun Fat and indeed saw that he was alone, without his subordinates.

"Go in, go in, everyone! Get back to work! Chef Cheng, the fish head with pancake is the most important, make sure it's done well!" Fang Bin waved for everyone to return and then turned to remind them.

"Don't worry, my skills are top-notch. What do you have to worry about?" Chef Cheng's cheerful voice came from the kitchen.

Sun Fat pulled Fang Bin aside, made him sit down, and took out a cigarette, offering one to Fang Bin. Fang Bin couldn't accept it and kept refusing, "Director Sun, you're too kind. How can I accept your cigarette..."

It was still chilly in April in Hai Zhuang Town, but Sun Fat was sweating profusely. "Mr. Fang, Brother Fang, let's not be so formal."

Fang Bin had already understood about eighty percent of the situation. It seemed that things were indeed turning around as Mingyuan had said...

Page break for AD

Page break for AD end