"Thank you, Director Peng and Director Feng. Thank you, Teacher Chen and Teacher Zhang. Thank you, Brother Yuanlong and Sister Qingxia..."
Secretary Zhou shook hands with everyone in turn, choosing his forms of address carefully. He was courteous to the directors, especially respectful toward the veteran artists, and warm and easygoing with the stars, even using some of their online nicknames.
"Elder Dong, I heard you haven't been feeling well lately. You really should be resting at home. Even if you hadn't come, I would still have appreciated the thought!" Zhou Yi said with genuine concern as he shook hands with the veteran artist Dong Qing.
It had been almost exactly a year since they parted in Jiangnan. She was still remarkably hale and hearty, though she had recently caught a cold and still sounded congested.
Even so, when she heard that Zhou Yi was filming a promotional video, she had traveled all the way from Jiangnan with her granddaughter.
And she had not come alone. Several other artists from Jiangnan's arts community had accompanied her.
"It's nothing," Dong Qing replied with a smile. "Don't forget, Secretary Zhou, I practice the Eight-Section Brocade passed down in my family." As she spoke, she demonstrated a movement with her hands.
Zhou Yi supported her by the arm and helped her sit down to rest. Then he looked up at everyone and cupped his hands in thanks. "On behalf of the Anping Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, I would like to offer you all my sincere thanks. Thank you for all your hard work!"
Everyone smiled and applauded.
What mattered to them was not the gratitude of Anping's Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, but Secretary Zhou's personal attitude toward them.
Why had they set aside filming commitments and scheduled appearances, disregarded