Chapter 91

"Actually, I got a deputy director position at the State Planning Commission." Lu Zheng pushed the plate away, patted his stomach, and seemed quite satisfied with his meal.

"What?" Wei Xiangxiu widened her beautiful eyes in surprise. Deputy director of the State Planning Commission? Although Wei Xiangxiu was not a political official, she knew what the State Planning Commission was.

She was still worried whether Lu Zheng could stay long at the Education Commission, but who would have thought that the bandit would be transferred to the State Planning Commission, and even as a deputy director?

This turn of events is too bizarre, right?

"Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and eat. Come with me to my room to watch TV. I can't even smoke here." Lu Zheng tapped the table.

Wei Xiangxiu stood up, "I'm done eating. I just had a can of drink, I'm full."

Wei Xiangxiu's life was much easier now. With the nanny, Xiao Jing, taking care of her in-laws, she could finally catch her breath and do things she liked after work.

Now, she often watched "The Deer and the Cauldron" with Lu Zheng, a Hong Kong drama where Tony Leung played Wei Xiaobao. Two episodes were broadcast every night on Wushan TV.

Lu Zheng went first, and Wei Xiangxiu followed. As she closed the door, she called out, "Xiao Jing, I'm going to watch TV, I'll be back soon."

Lu Zheng suddenly realized that Wei Xiangxiu always followed him around, and Xiao Jing might be wondering what they were up to. No wonder she always avoided them with the two elders when he came over.

Leaving Room 302, Lu Zheng was taken aback. He saw a man and two women standing in front of his door, and the man seemed to be listening to the sounds inside.

How is this like Old He? Lu Zheng suddenly remembered the rural school principal he had dealt with before leaving the Education Commission.

"Director Lu..." The man turned around, a short and stout young man, his face full of excitement. Wasn't he Jiao Lei, his driver in Guangning County?

"Brother Zheng!" The girl next to Jiao Lei was Lu Xiaoping, his nominal sister.

The young girl standing on the other side of Jiao Lei wore glasses and looked very refined. She habitually adjusted her glasses when she saw Lu Zheng and Wei Xiangxiu.

"Jiao Lei! Ha." Lu Zheng smiled and shook hands with Jiao Lei.

Seeing that Director Lu was still as close to him as before, Jiao Lei's hands trembled with excitement as he held Lu Zheng's hand, unable to speak.

"Xiaoping, you came too." Lu Zheng smiled and nodded at Lu Xiaoping.

"Come, don't just stand there, come in." Lu Zheng took out the key and opened the door, leading them in. During this time, Jiao Lei took the opportunity to greet Wei Xiangxiu, "Director Wei."

Wei Xiangxiu smiled and said, "Jiao, you even brought two girlfriends?"

Jiao Lei was startled and quickly said, "Director Wei, don't joke with me. Xiaoping is the sister of our old director, and this is Zhang Xiaqing, my wife. I got married last month."

At this moment, everyone entered the living room. Hearing this, Lu Zheng exclaimed, "Jiao, congratulations, you didn't even tell me. Wait a moment..." He turned and went into the bedroom.

Wei Xiangxiu washed a plate of red apples and placed them on the coffee table. Lu Xiaoping was very observant and followed Wei Xiangxiu, busying herself. She said admiringly, "My brother's home is really nice, Director Wei. When can I call you sister-in-law?" She thought Wei Xiangxiu was Lu Zheng's girlfriend.

Lu Zheng, who had just come out of the bedroom, heard this and laughed, "Soon." He gestured to the couple, who were standing awkwardly, "Sit down, don't be so formal, we're all family." He walked over and slipped a red envelope into Jiao Lei's hand, which contained ten hundred-yuan bills, totaling one thousand yuan.

Jiao Lei was initially confused, but when he saw the red envelope and felt the thick stack, he quickly said, "This, this is too much!" He tried to give it back to Lu Zheng, who frowned and said, "Hurry up, don't be so fussy, sit down!" He sat down opposite the coffee table and added, "If I had known about your wedding, I would have given a bigger gift, but since your wedding is already over, don't blame me." Lu Zheng laughed.

Indeed, Jiao Lei had followed him for a while, and for such a significant event in his life, he shouldn't be treated poorly. However, the gift could be valuable, but giving money should be moderate to avoid putting too much pressure on him.

Jiao Lei, holding the red envelope with hundreds of yuan, felt extremely uneasy. In those days, the usual gift for a wedding was about five yuan, and even for a very close friend, it was ten yuan. Director Lu's gift of hundreds of yuan was indeed impressive, but Jiao Lei was there to ask for help. He had bought two packs of Hongtashan cigarettes and two bottles of Langjiu, but now he had actually made a profit.

Lu Zheng turned to Jiao Lei's wife and asked, "Xiao Zhang, where do you work?" Jiao Lei had introduced her before entering, saying her name was Zhang Xiaqing.

Before coming, Zhang Xiaqing had heard from Jiao Lei that this Deputy Director of the Education Commission was his former old director, who was very young. But when she met him, she didn't expect him to be so young.

Is he really the Deputy Director of the Education Commission? Could it be just a rumor?

Zhang Xiaqing wondered but didn't show it on her face. She politely replied, "Director Lu, I teach at No. 23 Middle School."

Lu Zheng smiled, "A municipal key school, a good place."

Jiao Lei smiled bitterly, "She just graduated from Wushan Normal College and was assigned to No. 23 Middle School. We just got married, and now we have to live apart."

Lu Zheng nodded and guessed Jiao Lei's purpose for visiting him. He said, "So, Jiao, you want to move to the city?"

Jiao Lei was startled and waved his hands, "I wouldn't dare to think that. But, Director Lu, could you help me transfer Xiaqing to Guangning County? Preferably to No. 2 Middle School, or at least No. 3 Middle School." Moving from the county to the city was extremely difficult, but moving from the city to the county was also not easy.

No. 1 Middle School in Guangning was a provincial key school, better than No. 23 Middle School in the city, so Jiao Lei aimed for No. 2 Middle School.

Lu Zheng nodded. Because of the allocation system, couples living apart were not uncommon, and transferring jobs was a significant challenge for them. It often took years, even decades, to resolve.

Seeing that Lu Zheng was deep in thought and not giving a clear answer, Zhang Xiaqing became anxious and said, "Old Director, I heard you are now the Director of the Education Commission. Could you help us? I am confident in my teaching abilities and won't violate any principles."

At this moment, Lu Zheng realized why Jiao Lei and Zhang Xiaqing had come to see him. They hadn't heard that he had left the Education Commission.

Lu Zheng coughed, "The problem is that I am no longer at the Education Commission."

Zhang Xiaqing's heart sank. She glared at Jiao Lei, thinking he was unreliable and liked to boast. He was not doing well in his current job at the county bureau but always boasted about his old leader. What a joke! This so-called old leader was even younger than Jiao Lei. How could he be the Deputy Director of the Education Commission?

Zhang Xiaqing hadn't seen Jiao Lei's most glorious days when he drove for Lu Zheng. Although she liked him after they met and fell in love at a county cinema, she was annoyed by his constant boasting and didn't believe his stories.

Lu Zheng, however, asked Jiao Lei, "Does Zhang have to go to the county? Could you come to the city instead? If Zhang must go to the county, I can call Wang Futing, and he should help me. But I think it would be better for you to come to the city. The salary in Wushan is higher than in Guangning, and the opportunities for your children's education and development are better."

Zhang Xiaqing didn't fully understand what Lu Zheng was saying, but when she heard him mention "calling Wang Futing" and speaking so confidently, it seemed that Wang Futing and he were very close. It seemed that getting a job was just a matter of a word from him. She thought he was just like Jiao Lei, always boasting. If it was so simple, why didn't he help her directly? What did he mean by "coming to the city"? To work in the city? If Jiao Lei could give up his job to work in the city, why did they need to go through all this trouble to find him?

Jiao Lei had seen Lu Zheng's most glorious moments on stage, so when he heard Lu Zheng say "come to the city," he was excited. Could he really be transferred to the city? The gap between the city and the county was like a chasm.

Lu Zheng continued, "I am now at the State Planning Commission. If you want to come to the city, you have two options. The first is to join the driver team at the State Planning Commission..." He paused, "But there is a small difficulty." Transferring a driver to the State Planning Commission wasn't a problem, but he had just offended the deputy director, Yang Wenxue. If he caused trouble, it would be a bit difficult.

After some thought, Lu Zheng said, "But I think it can be solved. The second option is to join Changming Company. Working as a driver there is not bad, and the income is much higher than in the government."

Changming was preparing to recruit workers, and a driver like Jiao Lei, who was reliable and familiar with the local area, was highly valued by the Germans. If he introduced Jiao Lei, it wouldn't be a problem.

Lu Zheng then asked, "Do you know Changming Company?"

Jiao Lei was stunned and stammered, "Director Lu, do you mean that if I come to the city, I can join Changming?" How could he and Zhang Xiaqing not know Changming? The news of the German high-tech company investing in Wushan was all over the TV and newspapers.

A foreign company? A joint venture? This was a hundred times better than a government job. Jiao Lei never dreamed that his old leader could help him join Changming.

Lu Zheng nodded slightly, "You have two choices: the State Planning Commission or Changming. Think about it and call me when you decide. I'll help you arrange it."

Jiao Lei said urgently, "I, I want to join Changming."

Lu Zheng smiled, "No rush, think it through, don't regret it later."

Zhang Xiaqing looked at Lu Zheng in amazement, her mind struggling to comprehend. Was this old leader of Jiao Lei's really so powerful? This was beyond her imagination.

Lu Xiaoping stayed, as Jiao Lei had invited her to come along, hoping she could help him. But it turned out she wasn't needed at all.

When Jiao Lei and Zhang Xiaqing left, they were still in a daze. It wasn't until they reached the building's entrance that Jiao Lei gradually came to his senses. He nudged Zhang Xiaqing and said proudly, "What do you think? My old leader, isn't he impressive? I told you he could do anything. And he's different from other leaders, very righteous and takes care of his old subordinates." Today, he finally felt proud in front of his wife, who always thought he was boasting.

Zhang Xiaqing was impressed and somewhat awed. This was the demeanor of a powerful leader in the city. She had finally seen it. He spoke calmly, but each word seemed to carry the weight of authority.

Most importantly, he was willing to help, without hesitation, and even gave Jiao Lei a large red envelope, as if they had come to ask for a favor.

But she didn't show it and said, "We'll see when it's really arranged."

Jiao Lei chuckled, "You, always so stubborn." This made Zhang Xiaqing give him a playful punch.