Chapter 80

Mei Xiaofang sat somewhat awkwardly to one side. She had not wanted to come, but Zhu Daying had dragged her along, and then coaxed her with a speech about the importance of maintaining good relations with superiors. After much persuasion, Mei Xiaofang had no choice but to submit.

The three men were drinking, and Zhu Daying was no different from the others, loudly recounting some anecdotes about women using tricks to avoid sterilization. Some of the words were truly indecent, making Mei Xiaofang blush and wish she could find a crack to hide in.

Lu Zheng suddenly asked, "Teacher Mei, I heard you are still a substitute teacher?"

Mei Xiaofang was taken aback and gently nodded.

Zhu Daying, who had been telling a rather inappropriate story, stopped and looked embarrassed. Zhang Mingsheng and Principal He, who had been laughing, quickly sat up straight.

Zhang Mingsheng felt a chill. Although Lu Zheng had worked at the grassroots level, he clearly did not have the style of a grassroots official and did not like using dirty jokes to liven up the atmosphere at the dinner table.

Principal He, however, chuckled and said, "Xiao Mei, quickly toast Mr. Lu. Mr. Lu, you are familiar with the city bureau leaders; your little matter is just a word."

The "city bureau" Principal He referred to was naturally the City Education Bureau. What he said was true; in recent days, Lu Zheng had been frequenting the City Education Bureau, and he had become familiar with the bureau leaders.

Principal He had called Zhu Daying to bring Mei Xiaofang because he thought it would please Lu Zheng. In the car, Lu Zheng had asked a few questions about Mei Xiaofang, and Principal He assumed that Lu Zheng had taken an interest in her. He thought it would be beneficial to have her accompany them for drinks.

Hearing Principal He ask her to toast Lu Zheng, Mei Xiaofang was taken aback and said, "I, I can't drink."

Principal He frowned slightly, "Why are you so unreasonable, girl? No one is born knowing how to drink."

Zhu Daying then poured a full glass of white wine and handed it to Mei Xiaofang, saying with a smile, "That's right, Principal He is correct. No one is born knowing how to drink. Just close your eyes and it goes down. My first time drinking was like this too."

"I, I really can't!" Mei Xiaofang was so anxious that tears were welling up in her eyes. The clear liquid in the glass, with its strong smell of alcohol, made her feel nauseous. She could even imagine that if she just touched her lips, she would vomit.

Seeing Mei Xiaofang on the verge of tears, Principal He was moved. This little flower was truly innocent.

Principal He, who had drunk quite a bit, was feeling a bit tipsy and said with a smile, "Xiao Mei, I'll help you." He reached out and picked up Mei Xiaofang's glass, gulping down most of it, leaving just a little at the bottom, and put it back, saying with a smile, "There, that's done. This is called a lucky root. Now, toast Mr. Lu!"

Zhang Mingsheng laughed, thinking to himself that this old man was making her drink his saliva, and there was nothing he could say about it.

Mei Xiaofang's face was red, and she just shook her head.

Seeing her cute appearance, Principal He's heart fluttered, and he said with a smile, "Quickly, be obedient, don't keep Mr. Lu waiting." His words, tinged with alcohol, had an indescribable ambiguity.

Even Mei Xiaofang, who was so innocent, felt uncomfortable and suddenly stood up, saying, "I, I'm leaving."

Principal He was taken aback and frowned, "Why are you so stubborn, girl? Your teaching isn't good, and you're not a good person. I think you should quit and go home!"

Zhang Mingsheng, seeing the situation getting worse, had to intervene, coughing and saying, "Xiao Mei, sit down. If you can't drink, eat some food. Later, I'll get a drink, and you can toast Mr. Lu." He then smiled at Lu Zheng and said, "Mr. Lu, don't take it personally, people from the countryside have little experience."

Principal He, however, was quite drunk, especially after just discussing matters with Mr. Lu from the city. His head was very excited. He was the principal of the Qingtuozi area, not under Zhang Mingsheng's jurisdiction, and with the alcohol, he huffed and said, "What drink? Mei Xiaofang, either you drink with Mr. Lu now, or you leave tomorrow!"

Zhang Mingsheng's face darkened slightly, but since Principal He had mentioned Lu Zheng, he couldn't say anything more.

Mei Xiaofang's eyes were brimming with tears, torn between her dignity and her family, who were dependent on her salary. She was at a loss.

At this moment, Lu Zheng smiled and patted Principal He's shoulder, saying, "Old He, are you evaluating the quality of the teaching staff by drinking?"

Principal He, feeling that he had been quite close to Lu Zheng, said with a hiccup and a smile, "Well, that's one aspect."

Lu Zheng nodded slightly and said, "I understand. Old He, I'll give you two choices. First, you submit your resignation tomorrow. Second, I'll go back to the city and have you fired!"

Principal He still smiled, "Mr. Lu is trying to promote me..." but the last part was said with surprise, and he looked at Lu Zheng with shock.

Zhu Daying and Mei Xiaofang were also shocked.

Even Zhang Mingsheng, who had heard about Lu Zheng's reputation, did not expect him to be so ruthless. Just a moment ago, he had been calling Old He a brother, but now he was tearing off the mask without any mercy.

Lu Zheng snorted, "I want to promote you, but I really don't understand if you are a principal or a pervert. Can you be a role model? What are you?!" He pointed to the door, "Get out now!"

Principal He's face turned red like a pig's kidney, and he was half sober, stammering, "Mr. Lu... how can you speak like that..."

Lu Zheng frowned, "Are you leaving or do you want me to make you?"

Zhang Mingsheng was startled and quickly stood up, pulling Principal He out of the private room. Outside, it seemed they were talking about something.

Zhu Daying and Mei Xiaofang were stunned by the sudden change. Even after a few minutes, they were still in shock when Zhang Mingsheng returned.

"Mr. Lu, Old He is drunk, don't take it to heart," Zhang Mingsheng said with a smile, trying to smooth things over. He had been waiting for Old He to make a fool of himself, but when it actually happened, Zhang Mingsheng was also taken aback. This Mr. Lu was indeed a formidable figure, not to be offended.

Lu Zheng nodded and said, "Mr. Zhang, I wasn't joking. Please pass the message. If he doesn't resign, it will be troublesome."

Zhang Mingsheng felt a chill down his back. He understood that if Old He did not resign, Lu Zheng would not let it go and would stir things up in the city. As a regional principal, if he was targeted by someone in the city bureau, he would be like an ant, and once the investigation began, who knew what might be uncovered, which would indeed be troublesome.

Zhang Mingsheng gave Zhu Daying a look, "Daying, you and Xiao Mei go get some stir-fried dishes to pad your stomach, then take Xiao Mei home. I'll drink a bit more with Mr. Lu."

Zhu Daying, who was now too afraid to say anything, realized that Mr. Lu from the city was indeed from the city, and was very powerful. Old He, who had been scolded like a child, did not dare to respond. Perhaps to someone like Mr. Lu, the officials below him were indeed like children, doing the hardest work, receiving the most criticism, and earning the least money.

Mei Xiaofang, on the other hand, stared at Lu Zheng for a while before being pulled out by Zhu Daying.

After they left, Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Let's continue drinking."

Zhang Mingsheng nodded, feeling a bit relieved, even a bit flattered.

...

An Yiming and others seemed to be staying for a few more days. The next day, after Lu Zheng spoke on the phone with Old Huang, he returned to Wushan. Then, he went to the suburbs with another rural research team for a few days.

That afternoon, around two o'clock, Lu Zheng returned to the City Advisory Committee and was called to Old Huang's office.

Deputy Director Cheng Mingyuan was also sitting in Old Huang's office, chatting.

"Xiao Lu, you're back just in time," Old Huang smiled and waved at Lu Zheng, saying, "There's a matter that needs your attention. It's about standardizing the cultural market. You can discuss the specifics with Comrade Mingyuan."

Lu Zheng, not understanding, could only nod.

Old Huang smiled again, "Xiao Lu, Comrade Mingyuan has high hopes for you. Don't let him down."

Director Cheng, however, smiled and said, "Old Huang, it's a noble act to lend me your trusted aide."

Old Huang waved his hand, "It's all for the committee, no need to say whose."

Director Cheng smiled and agreed.

Old Huang then said to Lu Zheng, "Go ahead, the specifics will be discussed with Mingyuan."

Lu Zheng could only nod in agreement.

After leaving Old Huang's office, Director Cheng explained to Lu Zheng. It turned out that the City Advisory Committee's attention to the cultural market had been taken seriously by the city party committee. The city party committee had issued a directive, ordering relevant departments to standardize the cultural market.

The newly established Cultural Market Management Section of the City Culture Bureau was leading the effort, with the cooperation of law enforcement from the police and industry and commerce departments, to combat pornography and illegal activities and standardize the cultural market.

The city party committee also hoped that the City Advisory Committee could send representatives to supervise and guide this large-scale operation, providing valuable advice, direction, and identifying gaps.

The directors of the City Advisory Committee had a meeting and consulted with Old Huang, deciding that Lu Zheng would lead a team of young people from the committee to participate in this operation.

The one who nominated Lu Zheng was Director Cheng Mingyuan.

Director Cheng gave Lu Zheng some instructions and finally said with a smile, "Xiao Lu, work hard. I have high hopes for you."

...

That evening, unexpectedly, two uninvited guests arrived at the neighborhood.

Huang Zixuan, with a flamboyantly dressed Xiao Li in his arms, was waiting at the entrance when Lu Zheng arrived. A flashy Toyota Crown was parked nearby, attracting many curious glances from the neighborhood residents.

Seeing Lu Zheng get out of the car, Huang Zixuan walked over with a grin, trying to put his arm around Lu Zheng's shoulder, "Zengzi, you're getting more handsome!"

Lu Zheng pushed his hand away and said, "What's up? Let's talk upstairs."

Huang Zixuan gave a thumbs up, "Impressive, a government official. Zengzi, you know, if it weren't for something important, I wouldn't come to you. I'm afraid you might bite me!"

He chattered on, following Lu Zheng upstairs.

Actually, Lu Zheng knew that despite Huang Zixuan's casual attitude in front of him, he was a big businessman, with interests from Wushan to the provincial capital. In Wushan, he was a true little tyrant in the business world, with assets that, while not as much as his sister's, made him one of the top local tycoons in the economically developed special economic zone.

In front of others, he was Mr. Huang, a high-ranking figure with the power to decide people's fates.

He acted this way in front of Lu Zheng because he had seen him suffer in front of Old Huang and then tried to act friendly to manipulate him, but he didn't expect to be outsmarted.

If the situation were reversed, and he had the upper hand, he would be cold and ruthless.

---

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