Chapter 18

Chapter 10, Singing Love Songs

Party Organization Minister Li Li introduced Lin Ruoshui's work experience as a matter of course: "Comrade Lin Ruoshui is a French returnee who once held a leadership position at the Luo Fu Province Auto Manufacturing Plant. He has rich experience in state-owned enterprise management and advanced management techniques..."

After Li Li finished reading Lin Ruoshui's appointment letter, everyone enthusiastically invited him to join the banquet set up at the Wangjiang Hotel by the county government. Li Li did not refuse, and the group from the county government set off for the Wangjiang Hotel in a grand procession.

The Wangjiang Hotel was the earliest high-end hotel in Hongshui County. The owner was a local from Hongshui County and had considerable connections in Daming City, with business doing quite well.

Yang Zixuan was also stepping into this hotel for the first time. Although he had been in Hongshui County for nearly a year and was nominally the second-in-command of the Hongshui County government, his low prestige, even lower than that of a deputy director of the finance bureau, meant he had never had the opportunity to step into this hotel.

Yang Zixuan got out of the car, entered the hotel, and looked around at the surroundings. In his view, the decoration of this hotel could not compare to the opulent decor of the future, but the environment was still pleasant, with the surging Hongshui River visible through the window...

After a few rounds of drinks, Li Li, who had to return to Daming City, ate a few bites and left by car. The remaining Hongshui County officials and the beautiful Lin Ruoshui stayed behind.

"Here, County Chief Yang, I'll toast you. I'll drink up, and you do as you please." Chen Sheng stood up, raised his glass to Yang Zixuan, and drank it all in one go.

Yang Zixuan did not act too arrogantly. Although his drinking capacity was average, he also drank it all in one go. In fact, he was quite pleased with Chen Sheng's initiative to approach him. After all, before the new secretary's appointment, building his own team would make him less passive and help him carry out various tasks more smoothly.

With Chen Sheng leading the way, the other officials also came over one by one to toast Yang Zixuan. For the general county-level officials, Yang Zixuan only took a small sip.

Yang Zixuan raised his glass, stood up, and scanned all the officials in the private room. He spoke straightforwardly: "We all know that this year, Hongshui County has seen a major corruption case, which has had a negative impact in Daming City. I recently reviewed the economic data of Hongshui County provided by the statistics bureau. In the past few years, we could still rank in the top four among the two districts and six counties of Daming City, but in recent years, we have almost been at the bottom. So, my requirement for all of you is that we must re-enter the top four this year! Over a decade ago, our country's focus shifted to economic development, and our future work will also focus on economic construction. In the evaluation and promotion of officials, this will be an important standard. Anyone who engages in petty tricks and affects economic development will not be spared by the county party committee and government! In short, if you don't change your mindset, you will be replaced! This glass of wine is to wish Hongshui County a step forward this year!"

After speaking, Yang Zixuan drank it all in one go, and the private room erupted in enthusiastic applause.

Lin Ruoshui watched Yang Zixuan's passionate speech and snorted inwardly, saying nothing.

A bumpkin, what can he do for the economy? His words are big, but without ability, what good are loud slogans?

Lin Ruoshui sighed softly. In fact, when her family asked her to prepare for her training in Daming City, she had already studied the main party and government officials of the two districts and six counties under Daming City. This was her usual habit—never fight an unprepared battle!

Among them, Yang Zixuan was also part of her research. In her eyes, Yang Zixuan was almost equivalent to an idiot. Although he had overturned Xu and Li this time and turned his fortunes around, she believed it was just a stroke of luck, possibly with guidance from a high-level figure like An Zai Shan.

Deep down, Lin Ruoshui looked down on Yang Zixuan.

At this moment, someone suggested singing karaoke. In this era, karaoke was a new and fashionable thing, and the Wangjiang Hotel, being well-known in the Daming region, already had it.

The owner of the Wangjiang Hotel, knowing that the people in the private room were all influential figures in Hongshui County, did not dare to be negligent and quickly called a few pretty waitresses to bring the karaoke equipment.

Yang Zixuan, being young at heart, also wanted to build a good relationship with Lin Ruoshui, who was around his age. He handed the microphone to Lin Ruoshui and smiled, saying, "Secretary Lin, as a highly educated returnee from France, you must have more experience than us. Would you like to sing a song..."

Lin Ruoshui had studied in France, where karaoke was no longer a novelty. However, singing in front of so many people made her a bit embarrassed. She bit her lip, did not speak, and waved her hand.

"Or, County Chief Yang, why don't you go first? We can't always let the ladies go first, can we?" Liu Xiao, sitting beside her, defused the situation for Lin Ruoshui, looking at Yang Zixuan with a teasing smile. She and Yang Zixuan maintained a subtle relationship that was both mentor and friend, and a little joke was harmless. Given Yang Zixuan's current status in Hongshui County, only she and Su Chen dared to joke with him like this, even An Zai Shan did not dare to tease the county chief.

"That's right, County Chief Yang, who has risen from deputy county chief to the youngest full county chief in Daming City, should celebrate. Why don't you go first?" Lin Ruoshui crossed her arms, her long, delicate eyes full of teasing.

Yang Zixuan was expected to refuse with a show of depth, but unexpectedly, he readily agreed, smiling, "Since Secretary Lin and Secretary Liu have spoken, it would be pretentious of me to refuse. I'll sing a song a cappella..."

The surrounding officials all applauded enthusiastically.

Yang Zixuan skillfully adjusted the microphone, gazed out at the surging Hongshui River, and thought about the moments of his past life, whether it was his beloved girlfriend, or Su Chen, or the vague love he had in Pennsylvania, all floated to his mind...

When the train enters this unfamiliar city

It's a neon-lit world I've never seen

I open the letter you gave me when we parted

Suddenly, I feel an overwhelming longing

A winter without snow, a city that never sleeps

I hear cheers and cries

I'm used to navigating the tempting night

But I can't forget your face

Has anyone ever told you how much I love you

Have you ever cried in your diary

Has anyone ever told you how much I care

Caring about the distance between us

Yang Zixuan's low, hoarse voice echoed in the private room. His rebirth began on a green train, so he chose this song.

Whether it was those who looked down on Yang Zixuan from the bottom of their hearts, those who were preparing to support this county chief, or those who were watching from the sidelines, everyone fell silent.

For a moment, the private room was completely silent!