Chapter 66

The boss lady smiled and said, "I'm afraid Director Gao might look down on us country folk." She then walked up lightly, bringing a fragrant breeze with her.

Today was the first time she wore high heels, which made her figure more slender, but her steps were a bit unsteady. However, in the eyes of Old Zhao and Little Wang, it was almost infuriating. They rarely encountered such a delicate and fashionable young lady, and with a bit of alcohol in their systems, the sight of the boss lady swaying her hips and buttocks was irresistible, leaving them dry-mouthed and fantasizing.

There were not many dishes on the table, but they were all hearty dishes like chicken stewed with mushrooms, emitting a rich aroma. The wine was Fenjiu, brought by Gao Zhikai.

The boss lady poured a glass of wine and gently leaned over to clink glasses with Gao Zhikai, saying in a sweet voice, "Director Gao, I wish you a smooth career!"

Little Wang, however, started to stir things up, saying, "How can that do? Boss lady, it's the first time drinking with our Director Gao. You should at least drink a toast with him to show your sincerity."

Seeing the boss lady's face turn red, Old Zhao also grinned and chimed in, his heart burning with excitement, as if only by teasing this young lady could he vent his frustration.

With a red face, the boss lady drained the glass and smiled, "Director Gao, Director Zhao, Director Wang, please enjoy your drinks." Just as she was about to turn and leave, Little Wang stopped her, saying with a grin, "Boss lady, you haven't had a toast with Director Gao yet. That doesn't count. Let's do two toasts."

The boss lady, helpless, had to agree and drank a glass with Little Wang and Old Zhao. Then she turned to offer a toast to Gao Zhikai. Just as she was about to leave, Little Wang stretched out his arm to stop her again, "Boss lady, you didn't have a toast with Director Gao. That doesn't count. Let's do two toasts."

The boss lady smiled and said, "Congratulations on your promotions, Director Wang. I just drank four glasses in a row. I can't take it anymore. Please don't tease me."

Little Wang's face turned serious, "Who's teasing you? Who's joking with you? I heard you had a toast with Lu Zheng! What, does Director Gao not have as much face as Lu Zheng?"

Although the boss lady often interacted with customers, it was just a matter of offering a toast. When Little Wang mentioned the toast, she thought he was joking. Now, it seemed he was not. She had indeed had a toast with Lu Zheng, but her husband, Mr. Wang, was present, and it was just a joke to liven up the atmosphere. Today, these police officers clearly came to pick a fight.

The boss lady had also heard that Lu Zheng was about to leave Guangning. This Deputy Director Gao was likely an old rival of Director Lu, as she had never seen him at any of Director Lu's gatherings.

Regardless, she and her husband ran a business in Guangning, and the first people they couldn't afford to offend were the police.

Helpless, the boss lady poured another glass of wine and prepared to have a toast with Gao Zhikai.

When Little Wang started to pressure the boss lady, Gao Zhikai was about to intervene, but then he heard that this young lady had had a toast with Lu Zheng. He swallowed his words and, instead, felt a sense of satisfaction at the thought of Lu Zheng being humiliated. Moreover, as this well-dressed, attractive young lady approached, her slender figure was clearly visible through her thin clothes. Gao Zhikai's heart raced, and he slowly raised his arm, waiting for her to place her fragrant arm in his, eager to feel her soft body, imagining the unique pleasure it would bring.

However, the boss lady was wearing high heels for the first time, and Gao Zhikai was sitting steadily. She had to bend down to have the toast. Feeling humiliated, she lost her balance and stumbled, spilling the glass of wine directly onto Gao Zhikai's face.

Everyone in the private room was momentarily stunned.

Gao Zhikai suddenly stood up and slapped the boss lady, almost knocking her to the ground. Then he stormed out, leaving behind the words, "You'll be out of business soon!"

Whether the boss lady did it intentionally or not, Gao Zhikai couldn't swallow his anger. Moreover, after Lu Zheng left, he would have come to cause trouble for Dongmi Garden anyway. Today, it just happened to coincide.

Old Zhao and Little Wang were stunned for a moment before rushing out to follow him.

The boss lady, covering her face, tears streaming down, thought, "These people are too abusive, too abusive!"

...

That night, when Gao Zhikai returned home, he called his brother and they drank quite a bit, until he was thoroughly drunk. The next morning, he woke up at nearly eight o'clock.

Gao Zhikai slowly got up, feeling uncomfortable. It had been a long time since he overslept.

Usually, he woke up at 6:30 every day, rain or shine.

Last night, he was too relaxed, which was not his usual style.

He rubbed his head and went to wash his face and brush his teeth. Although a joint investigation team from the county discipline inspection commission and the bureau's discipline inspection group would start investigating Du Xiaohu's case today, he wasn't worried. The main investigation would be conducted by the city bureau's team in a few days.

The investigation team led by Peng Hongjun from the county discipline inspection commission, did he need to worry? Peng Hongjun might hate Lu Zheng even more than he did.

Gao Zhikai slowly ate the breakfast on the table. Today, he needed to be in his best state to face the investigation team.

After eating, he went downstairs to his green jeep parked in front of the flower bed. Gao Zhikai sighed and gently touched the metal body of the jeep. This car had been with him for a long time, accompanying him through the streets and alleys of Guangning. Only it knew the hard work of these years.

He got into the car, started the engine, and shook his head, not sure why he was so sentimental today. Perhaps it was because the alcohol hadn't fully worn off?

With this inexplicable mood, Gao Zhikai slowly drove the jeep into the county bureau's courtyard.

His office was on the third floor of the office building, but he first went to the second floor to the criminal investigation department. He didn't see Old Zhao, and one of the officers said that Old Zhao had gone to the county committee early in the morning with Deputy Director Wei Qingxian.

Gao Zhikai felt relieved, thinking that Old Zhao must have been summoned by the investigation team. Perhaps he went on his own, eager to report.

Deputy Director Wei Qingxian, the head of the bureau's discipline inspection group, had finally done something right.

Back in his office, Gao Zhikai opened today's newspaper. The front page was all about the construction of the Chinese Antarctic research station, the Great Wall Station.

The international section featured an in-depth analysis of a man named Mikhail Gorbachev, who was likely to be elected as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union next month.

Gao Zhikai nodded, finding the name quite unique.

Flipping to the domestic section, the reform topics were mostly about the south. "The first regional airline, Xiamen Airlines, launched its Guangzhou to Xiamen route yesterday."

"The Guangzhou livestock and poultry sales department of Zhang Gangming's Qingyuan Shuihu Chicken Farm, a specialized household in Qingyuan County, officially opened, becoming the first such department in Guangzhou."

"The opening ceremony of Aili Lvtian Computer Co., Ltd. was held at the China Hotel. This company is the first Sino-foreign joint venture in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone."

"The Shenzhen Security Service Company was established, becoming the first municipal security service company in mainland China."

The news from the south was all fresh and exciting.

Gao Zhikai sipped his tea and read the newspaper until the phone rang. He subconsciously looked at the clock on the wall; it was past ten. He had been idly reading the newspaper for over two hours. This was his state these days, all thanks to Lu Zheng.

However, such days would soon be over.

He picked up the phone, and a low voice came from the other end, "Is this Deputy Director Gao Zhikai?"

"Yes, who is this?" Gao Zhikai said while flipping through the newspaper.

"It's Peng Hongjun," the man on the other end said casually.

Gao Zhikai's hand froze on the newspaper, and he smiled, "Secretary Peng, hello, hello. Is it about my case? Should your team come here, or should I go there? Whichever is more convenient for you?"

Peng Hongjun's voice was cold, "Little Gao, what's going on with your case? Get your facts straight before you report to me. Don't exaggerate and use me as a pawn!"

Gao Zhikai was taken aback, "What?"

"Ask Zhao Mingbang yourself," Peng Hongjun hung up abruptly.

Gao Zhikai stood up, wanting to call back, but thought better of it. Ask Zhao Mingbang? Ask Zhao Mingbang?

Gao Zhikai knew something unexpected had happened, and the situation was developing in an unpredictable direction.

He quickly went downstairs to the criminal investigation department, but found that Hou Jianjun was also there. The detectives were unusually busy, as if they were working on a major case.

"Where's Zhao Mingbang?" Gao Zhikai raised his voice, but no one responded.

He asked a few more times, and finally, someone replied, "He hasn't come back yet."

"Zhao Mingbang, let's talk outside," Hou Jianjun said, pulling Gao Zhikai out and closing the door