To Li Long's surprise, Liu Shanmin had not come alone. A man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight who looked a little like him had come along.
They had been brought over by a county official responsible for attracting investment. Li Long vaguely remembered that his surname was Xia; he had seen him at a county meeting before.
"Hello, Comrade Li Long. This Comrade Liu said he wanted to pay you a visit and ask for your help, so we brought him over. I don't need to explain Mr. Liu's background, do I? I'm not in a position to introduce him properly, but he's definitely one of our own."
Once Officer Xia said that, Li Long understood.
Liu Shanmin had worried that Li Long might not believe his identity, so he had specifically brought someone from the government to vouch for him.
Li Long received them in the reception room. After Officer Xia finished the introductions, Liu Shanmin gave him a signal, and he left. He also said lunch had been arranged at the County Hotel and that he would come back to take them there later. The Executive Deputy County Magistrate would be attending too.
After Officer Xia left, Sun Jiaqiang poured water for everyone. Li Long asked him to leave as well, then said:
"Liu, you've certainly made quite a production of this."
"I had no choice. When you're asking someone for a favor, you have to make your identity clear first. Once I've cleared up your doubts, I can get down to business." Liu Shanmin offered that explanation, then pointed to the man beside him.
"This is my nephew, Liu Gaolou..."
"Your family's names... are certainly distinctive." Li Long wanted to laugh but held it in.
"Couldn't be helped. The older generation weren't educated. They went off with the