It was just that Jiang Hongfei was an outsider in the department and had no idea how to handle things. So I couldn't be bothered to notify him. I never expected to run into him right at the hotel entrance.
Talk about fate.
It was just as well someone had come to call him.
"Section Chief Guo, there's nothing going on at home. I'll head back later. I've been to this hotel several times, and I even have some Maotai stored here. I just told the server to bring it over..."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Yes, yes, yes. My cousin wasn't here to call me home, either. He must've heard from my dad and the others that I'm working under you now, Section Chief Guo. You're a man of standing and influence, and it's your birthday today, so he probably wanted to come bask in your glory. You wouldn't know this, Section Chief Guo, but he's taking the college entrance exam this year. Maybe basking in your glory will help him get a good score."
As if he'd suddenly seen the light, Jiang Hongfei grew more and more fluent, raising Section Chief Guo higher with every word.
"Tsk, Little Jiang, if only you'd been this sensible earlier. But it's not too late now. Bring your cousin in for a drink."
"Okay, okay, okay!"
Thrilled to have finally passed the test, Jiang Hongfei hurried outside, grabbed Jiang Shu by the arm, and pulled him in. In a low voice, he said, "Don't say much! Once you've congratulated him, we're leaving!"
"So you're Little Jiang's cousin. You're taking the college entrance exam this year. How prepared are you?"
The two cousins stood before Section Chief Guo, who put on airs, reeking of alcohol. Just as he finished speaking, the phone he'd left on the table suddenly rang.
A saved contact name lit up.
Section Chief Guo glanced at the screen and sprang to his feet as if he'd just spotted gold. He answered the call with extreme care, bending forward as he spoke. "Yes, Leader, this is Little Guo. Yes, yes, Director Zheng will be at the hotel shortly. All right, I'll head to the entrance right away to welcome him. I'll make sure he's well looked after. Mm, understood, understood. I'll be sure to get the job done!"
Section Chief Guo spoke so loudly that everyone at the table tensed up, barely daring to breathe, afraid even a single breath might disrupt something important.
"Little Jiang, when will your Maotai arrive?"
After hanging up, Section Chief Guo shook his head and cleared his throat, trying to sober up. He picked up a drink someone had brought for the table, opened it, and downed it in one go.
Then, as if he'd remembered something, he turned to Jiang Hongfei and asked.
"It should... be here soon. It usually takes about ten minutes."
Jiang Hongfei stammered a little. Even Section Chief Guo had answered that call so carefully. Who could the person he called Leader be?
He hardly dared to imagine.
Having spent time in the system, he understood better than anyone how clearly ranked everyone was.
"Good! You handled this well. Wait here for my message. Once Director Zheng arrives in the private room, bring in the Maotai."
Section Chief Guo patted Jiang Hongfei on the shoulder as he spoke, then lifted his glass. This time, it held a soft drink instead of alcohol. "The Leader's given us an assignment. That's it for the birthday party today. We'll do this again next time!"
"Section Chief Guo... is Director Zheng the new one?"
Someone at the table who was bold and well-informed couldn't help asking.
"You bet." Section Chief Guo straightened his back, his belly thrusting out. He glanced around the table, then at Jiang Hongfei's confused face, and unusually offered him a word of advice. "When you bring the drinks in later, speak as little as possible. If someone asks you something, keep your answer short! Make yourself familiar to him. It'll do you good in the future."
"Then... Section Chief Guo, how should I address him?"
Jiang Hongfei stammered even harder. He'd never imagined he'd be so lucky today as to welcome such an important leader.
If he could catch the man's eye...
Wouldn't that mean...
Unable to contain his excitement, he couldn't help asking.
"His surname is Zheng. Just call him Director Zheng."
Section Chief Guo took two deep breaths before answering. Then, as if that still weren't enough, he pointed at the ceiling and said:
"You understand what to do, right?"
The ceiling!
Someone from above!
Was it a city leader, a provincial leader, or...
As Section Chief Guo and the others tidied themselves up and hurried downstairs to welcome the guest in the lobby, Jiang Hongfei stood with a glass in his hand, breathing rapidly. He felt as if a gold nugget had fallen on him. He'd never expected to get lucky twice in one day.
He'd thought he was just attending a family gathering, but then he'd run into Section Chief Guo celebrating his birthday.
He hadn't even been in the private room congratulating him for fifteen minutes before an important leader showed up.
It seemed today was his lucky day.
After enduring for so long, it was finally his turn to take off!
Jiang Hongfei paced back and forth. Giving Section Chief Guo a bottle of Maotai might leave a good impression on him.
But would one bottle of Maotai be enough for a leader even higher-ranking than Section Chief Guo?
Not enough!
Nowhere near enough!
He clenched his teeth, as if he'd made up his mind, and looked at Jiang Shu, who still hadn't left. "Little Shu, stay in the private room. When the Maotai arrives, hold on to it and wait for my message."
With that, Jiang Hongfei headed for the hotel manager's office. He'd met the manager a few times, and if he could use those connections to arrange some fine red wine and tea leaves ahead of time, he'd make himself look very good in front of the Leader!
As for the Jiang family gathering?
It made no difference whether he went or not!
What could be more important than his career?
About half an hour later.
The hotel lobby.
A government sedan slowly pulled up to the entrance.
Section Chief Guo and the others, who had been waiting outside, hurried forward and opened the car door. Section Chief Guo bent so low his back was nearly horizontal. "Hello, Director Zheng! I'm Little Guo from the Culture and Tourism Bureau..."
"The director just gave me instructions to make sure you're well looked after."
"There's no need to make such a fuss. Keep it simple."
The middle-aged man getting out of the car frowned at the crowd gathered at the entrance and said, "Our guest later is very important. Section Chief Guo, find two or three people to sit with us."
"Y-yes, yes, of course."
Section Chief Guo's face flushed with tension. He quickly waved for the rest of the department to disperse, keeping only two trusted aides. Then he hurried after Director Zheng toward the private room.
Before long, they arrived at the room, and Director Zheng pushed the door open. Section Chief Guo glanced at the number on the room outside, snapped a photo, and sent it to Jiang Hongfei: "Come quickly."
"Sit down. Don't be polite."
Director Zheng took the seat of honor, casually chose a few signature dishes from the menu the server handed him, and set it aside. Then he spoke to Section Chief Guo, who was perched on the edge of his chair.
"The Culture and Tourism Bureau will have a heavier burden to bear this year. Section Chief Guo, you'll have to shoulder it well." Director Zheng spoke in a steady voice, but Section Chief Guo felt as if he were floating.
Last month, the director had already hinted at this to him. Now Director Zheng had said the same thing. It seemed the Culture and Tourism Bureau was about to take off. And the heavier its burden, the higher Section Chief Guo's standing would rise, wouldn't it?
His fortieth birthday, and good news besides.
It really was just as Jiang Hongfei had said: "May your youth last forever, and may you rise higher with every step."
The boy had been clueless before.
But now, he might yet turn out to be a lucky charm.
Section Chief Guo secretly congratulated himself.
More than ten minutes later, a capable-looking woman with short hair and a formal work uniform pushed open the private-room door. Behind her was a girl wearing sunglasses.
Her long hair fell to her waist, and a dark green cloak concealed her entire figure, hiding her shape.
She walked straight up to Director Zheng, took off her sunglasses, and revealed a stunning, familiar face. "Hello, Director Zheng."
"Hello, Miss Ye."
Director Zheng stood up and shook the girl's hand. "Thank you, Miss Ye, for supporting Ji City. I'm sure the successful filming of this martial arts promotional video will set off a new trend."
"It's just keeping up with the times."
Ye Zhenzhen smiled.
As a celebrity, she might not belong to high society, but she had access to plenty of information. So when she received invitations from several cities, she chose the one where her maternal grandfather lived and came to film the promotional video.
The two sat down and chatted. Section Chief Guo also chimed in from time to time, and the atmosphere around the table was harmonious.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The door opened, and Jiang Hongfei poked his head inside. He held a tray carrying a complete tea set.
"Hello, Director Zheng. Hello, Section Chief Guo."
When he saw Ye Zhenzhen in her seat, Jiang Hongfei was startled. But he quickly recovered. So what if she was a celebrity? No matter how big a star was, she still had to lower herself in the face of power!
Without looking to either side, he poured tea from the teapot into each cup. Its fragrance filled the room.
"This is Little Jiang from our department," Section Chief Guo explained. When Jiang Hongfei walked over beside him, he gave him a subtle kick.
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