Chapter 73

After returning from Qinglong, Old Huang went for a walk in Wuxiang area. In the drizzling spring rain, he conducted a field survey accompanied by the Wuxiang County Party Secretary and the administrative commissioner. Lu Zheng, of course, got to tag along and even appeared on the provincial TV news, though no one paid much attention to the young man holding an umbrella at the edge of the frame.

Since following Old Huang, Lu Zheng's studies at the Party School had become a mere formality. Old Huang had informed the Party School, and Lu Zheng was happy with the arrangement.

However, Lu Zheng definitely had to attend the mechanical and electrical class on Sundays. But Old Huang seemed to be just as busy on Sundays, which led to their first conflict.

Last Saturday, Old Huang asked Lu Zheng to prepare for a meeting of the "Next Generation Concern Association" in the provincial capital on Sunday. Lu Zheng politely said he had a class on Sunday, but before he could finish, Old Huang waved his hand and said, "Follow my schedule."

Lu Zheng tried to say more, but Old Huang had already waved him away, ending their conversation.

At the end of the workday, Lu Zheng told Old Huang again that he had to go to the mechanical and electrical school for a concentrated class, which he couldn't skip.

Old Huang didn't say much, but for the rest of the week, he didn't take Lu Zheng out much.

At this point, Lu Zheng understood why no one in the Gu Committee office could "stand up" to Old Huang. Indeed, the old man was full of energy, working tirelessly for the revolution, but who could follow him around seven days a week?

Thinking about it, Lu Zheng couldn't help but feel a headache.

In reality, as a driver and secretary, there was no such thing as personal time. No matter how big the matter, it was never bigger than what the leader ordered. For retired officials, this sensitivity was even more pronounced. If you didn't follow their way, they might think you were being disrespectful because they had retired.

Although Old Huang was a revolutionary veteran, he was also a regular person and couldn't be immune to such feelings.

It was Sunday again, and while Lu Zheng was in the mechanical and electrical class, he was still thinking about Old Huang. Should he continue going to the Party School from Monday?

He had asked Uncle Qi about Old Huang, and Uncle Qi was surprised for a long time when he heard that Lu Zheng was assigned to assist Old Huang. Although he didn't say it outright, Lu Zheng could tell that there might have been some conflicts between Old Huang and Uncle Qi in the past. Therefore, it was best not to mention Uncle Qi in front of Old Huang.

As the class ended, the western sky was filled with a fiery red sunset, and the outlines of distant high-rise buildings seemed to be bathed in a golden glow.

Lu Zheng drove home, thinking about Old Huang, and felt another headache. Despite his seemingly easygoing and unpretentious nature, Old Huang had a peculiar temper, and his thoughts were sometimes hard to fathom.

The drive from the mechanical and electrical school to Guo Dali took less than half an hour. Along the way, Lu Zheng passed several restaurants, but he decided not to stop. He would just cook something at home, but without Xiao Hu, eating alone felt lonely.

Guo Dali was a new residential area built last year by the city's first construction company to meet the needs of young people getting married. The environment was pleasant, with flower beds scattered throughout. In the center of the neighborhood was a fountain, which provided a cool sensation even from a distance during the summer.

However, the neighborhood had no walls or gates, making it accessible from all directions. The area around the fountain had become a leisure center for the entire Guo Dali area. In the evenings, young couples from nearby residential areas liked to come here for romantic walks.

Lu Zheng's car circled around the fountain and parked under his building. He was slightly taken aback when he saw two people standing on either side of the entrance to Unit 3, both of whom he knew.

On the left was a middle-aged man with a somewhat lecherous look, wearing a suit and sneakers, looking quite out of place. He was clearly from the countryside and trying to be fashionable. This man was Liu Hanshan, a speculator from Guangning.

On the right was a very beautiful woman, wearing a pink women's suit that was both elegant and fashionable, the latest trend after the Beijing Fashion Show. The open-collar shirt with a small bow accentuated her impressive bust, and the wide, flowing pink pants revealed her long, shapely legs as she walked, exuding an irresistible charm.

Lu Zheng stared at this fashionable and attractive woman for a while, surprised that Wei Xiangxiu had become even more stylish since coming to the city. She would have been a natural model.

But why were these two together? They shouldn't know each other, right?

Lu Zheng got out of the car, and both Liu Hanshan and Wei Xiangxiu came over. They looked at each other with confusion.

Lu Zheng smiled, "Both of you are here to see me, right?" It seemed they had just happened to meet, and didn't actually know each other.

"Director Lu..." Liu Hanshan hesitated, thinking the title was inappropriate.

On the other side, Wei Xiangxiu smiled and said, "A few days ago, Hou Jianjun came to the city for a meeting, and I found out where you live. Director Lu, how have you been recently?"

Hearing Wei Xiangxiu's words, Liu Hanshan quickly changed his title, "Director Lu, I came to thank you. I really should bow to you..." As he spoke, he started to cry.

In the Qinglong detention center, he had been mistreated by the police, who threatened him with a long sentence. Under their guidance, he had confessed to past crimes, which implicated Lu Zheng.

For the past month, no police had interrogated him, but the other inmates in the detention center had bullied him, making his life miserable. He had even considered suicide.

But a few days ago, his case was suddenly decided, and he was sentenced to one and a half years in prison, suspended for three years.

Someone had told him that the county party secretary, Liu, had intervened in his case, and Liu had been asked to do so by someone with a connection to Lu Zheng, the former Lu Zheng from Guangning.

Liu Hanshan never imagined that it was Director Lu who had saved him.

So, as soon as he was released, Liu Hanshan went home to wash away his bad luck and hurried to Wushan to see Lu Zheng. His tears were partly fake, but mostly out of deep guilt and shame, feeling that he had been ungrateful and had no conscience.

"Alright, alright, let's go have a meal. We're old friends who haven't seen each other in a long time!" Lu Zheng patted Liu Hanshan's shoulder and smiled.

Wei Xiangxiu glanced at Liu Hanshan, finding his behavior unbearable. He was acting like a child, almost crying, and standing next to him was embarrassing.

In Lu Zheng's car, Liu Hanshan suddenly started slapping himself, "I deserve to die! I'm a scoundrel! Director Lu, you should know that I smeared your name in the detention center, but you still saved me. I'm a scoundrel!" He slapped himself hard, making his face red and swollen.

"Stop it! If you keep this up, I'll make you get out of the car. I can't stand this! Be a man, and let's move on. No more whining." Lu Zheng frowned.

Liu Hanshan sheepishly stopped, "Yes, yes, I'll remember your kindness, Director Lu." He sighed, "They say Director Lu is righteous. I understand now. In the future, in the future..." He stopped, not finishing his sentence.

In the passenger seat, Wei Xiangxiu looked at Lu Zheng thoughtfully.

...

At the Wuzhou Hotel's second-floor Chinese restaurant, the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the rocky beach. The sunset was casting a golden glow on the sea.

Liu Hanshan ate a few bites and then excused himself, not wanting to be a third wheel, even though he didn't know the relationship between Lu Zheng and the beautiful woman.

"You can call me Zhengzi, or Lu Zheng, if you prefer." After chatting with Wei Xiangxiu for a while, Lu Zheng found her constant use of "Director Lu" a bit awkward.

Wei Xiangxiu smiled, her charm evident, "I wouldn't dare."

Lu Zheng could sense that since moving to the city and with his current situation, Wei Xiangxiu was more relaxed around him.

"How have you been recently?" Lu Zheng lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair.

Wei Xiangxiu nodded, "I'm doing well. I was just promoted to deputy section chief. The bureau leadership cares about me, and my uncle has been assigned to a factory. My younger siblings are receiving scholarships."

Lu Zheng nodded, seeing from her demeanor that she was doing well.

"And you? How are you?" Wei Xiangxiu asked curiously, having heard from Hou Jianjun that Lu Zheng had been assigned to the Gu Committee office.

Lu Zheng shook his head, "Not great."

Wei Xiangxiu laughed lightly, "Did you offend some old man again?"

Lu Zheng coughed, not responding.

Wei Xiangxiu was taken aback, realizing she had hit the mark. She hesitated, "Director Lu, can you tell me what happened? Maybe I can give you some advice?"

Lu Zheng thought, "What advice could you give? You're good at flattery!" But seeing her eager and pretty face, he decided it wouldn't hurt to talk more.

"It's like this. Last Sunday, Old Huang from the Gu Committee asked me to go to the provincial capital with him. I had a class at the mechanical and electrical school and didn't go, so he got mad at me. Now, I'm in the cold palace."

Lu Zheng laughed, thinking that Old Huang was genuine, at least in his likes and dislikes. For old cadres, there was no need to pretend; if they didn't want to use you, they wouldn't, and there was no need for pretense.

Wei Xiangxiu was surprised, "Aren't the Gu Committee members all retired? Even a deputy hall-level official should be considerate, right?"

"Maybe because my car is convenient. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment." Lu Zheng joked, then added, "Besides, they are just ordinary people. Have you read too many stories? Do you think they are all virtuous sages?"

Wei Xiangxiu blinked, "What do you mean by using your car?"

Lu Zheng explained, "Recently, Old Huang likes to use my car. He's probably used to it. In his eyes, there's no concept of private property."

Wei Xiangxiu thought for a moment, "Does Old Huang not have a dedicated car for his commute?"

Lu Zheng nodded. A car had been arranged, but Old Huang didn't use it. In the city, he always rode an old bicycle.

Wei Xiangxiu cautiously suggested, "Then it's simple. You can pick him up for his commute. On Monday, wait for him early in the morning. Even if he doesn't use your car, keep going every day. Old cadres value face. Even if he doesn't want to trouble others, he still cares about his treatment."

She watched Lu Zheng's reaction, as this was the first time she was giving him advice. Although he was temporarily down, his temper might not have changed, and she didn't want to upset him.

Lu Zheng smiled. He had already planned to start picking up Old Huang on Monday. Even if Old Huang didn't care, it wouldn't hurt his image.

Seeing Lu Zheng's silence, Wei Xiangxiu sighed. "Director Lu, you can't stand the humiliation of flattering others, but sometimes, you have no choice."

After some thought, Wei Xiangxiu advised, "Director Lu, when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow. If you want to make a comeback, you need to build a good relationship with the old cadres. If someone is willing to speak up for you, things will be easier. The bureau leadership also cares about you. A few days ago, Chief Mo said, 'Lu Zheng was harmed by some ambitious people. He should have stayed in the police force. With his abilities, he has a bright future.'"

Wei Xiangxiu mimicked the leader's words perfectly, her soft voice making Lu Zheng laugh.

Wei Xiangxiu continued earnestly, "Director Lu, think about it. Even if the bureau leadership wants you back and arranges a position for you, they still need the Gu Committee leaders to agree and speak up for you."

Lu Zheng coughed, thinking that returning to the police force was not necessary. He smiled, "It's still early. Xiao Wei, let's go see a movie."

Wei Xiangxiu was speechless for a moment.

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