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Secretary Tang and Wu Huade both looked rather grim...

Secretary Tang shot Wu Huade an angry glance. How could Wu Huade not know about a gang leader even Qin An knew about? If he didn't, he had no business being police station chief. Qingshan Town had finally found a reliable investor, yet Wu Huade still couldn't get his priorities straight and wanted to make excuses for Zhu Hongzhi?

Wu Huade felt uneasy. He knew Secretary Tang would soon be transferred to the county Party committee, most likely as a standing committee member and deputy secretary. His connections and influence were astonishing. How would Wu Huade dare hold him back? It was just that Zhu Hongzhi knew how to behave around Wu Huade, knew how to grovel, and always made sure he got his share of the benefits, so Wu Huade had turned a blind eye. He had figured that Qin Xiangshan was from Taiwan, after all-how much could he know about Qingshan Town? He only needed to brush the matter off, then warn Zhu Hongzhi afterward to behave himself, and that would be that. Who knew a child would expose it? If he didn't take a stand now, Secretary Tang would certainly boot him out of his position as station chief once they got back...

"We'll investigate thoroughly. If local thugs are threatening investors, we won't go easy on them... If this Zhu Hongzhi really has been terrorizing the locals as this young fellow says, he certainly won't escape legal punishment..." Wu Huade's expression was a little stiff, but once he truly made up his mind, he felt relieved instead. As long as he abandoned Zhu Hongzhi, he would still be obedient in Secretary Tang's eyes, and the secretary wouldn't really do anything to him...

At Wu Huade's words, Secretary Tang's expression eased somewhat. He assured Qin Xiangshan that he could invest with confidence and that the Party committee and government would give him their firm backing. Qin Xiangshan also knew where to draw the line and didn't push his luck with excessive demands. Instead, he brought up some specific investment matters in their conversation, reassuring Secretary Tang and his party...

Around noon, Secretary Tang offered to treat Qin Xiangshan to lunch. Unable to decline, Qin Xiangshan brought Qin An and Qin Xiaotian along as well. After all, it wasn't a particularly formal occasion, and having two children there could liven things up. Qin Jude rarely left the old house, so naturally he wouldn't go. An Shui had stayed upstairs the entire time without even coming down to meet the visitors, and she certainly wouldn't join them now...

Qin An hadn't wanted to go either, but Qin Xiangshan insisted, making it difficult to refuse. Even his uncle, Li Linjian, spoke up, so he had no choice but to follow Qin Xiaotian into the car...

Secretary Tang and Qin Xiangshan shared a car. Qin Xiaotian was too fat and took the front passenger seat, while Qin Xiangshan pulled Qin An into the back seat with him. The Santana's back seat wasn't particularly narrow, and even with three people, it didn't feel cramped...

Unexpectedly, Secretary Tang didn't take Qin Xiangshan to the best hotel in town. Instead, they stopped outside a small eatery...

The restaurant was small but very clean, with just two tables, enough to seat their whole group...

Seeing customers arrive, the proprietress came out to greet them. She was actually a pretty young woman, alluring and charming, wearing a tight, one-piece leather dress that counted as fashionable in Qingshan Town. With her supple waist, full breasts, slender, shapely legs, and black high heels, at first glance she looked less like the owner of a little restaurant than a pampered kept woman...

Qin An knew the woman's surname was Qi and that people called her Sister-in-law Qi. She had a younger brother who was a hoodlum. She had been about to marry twice, but both husbands had died before she could even enter their homes as a bride. Her fate could certainly be called tragic...

"I imagine delicacies of every kind no longer hold much appeal for you, Mr. Qin. What haven't you seen? If I took you to the best hotel in town, I'd probably only make a fool of myself. Better to let you try some authentic hometown dishes and see whether they still taste the way you remember." Secretary Tang nodded to the proprietress and spoke to Qin Xiangshan with a smile...

"Exactly. A palace of gold or silver is no match for your own humble home. No matter how beautiful the mountains and rivers elsewhere, home is best... What my mouth really craves is the local chili sauce..." Qin Xiangshan smacked his lips, putting on a hungry look that made the people behind him laugh...

Naturally, those who laughed aloud were the ones with enough standing to speak. Most merely lowered their voices and offered awkward, obliging chuckles. Qin An watched coolly from the sidelines. Why did everything become a matter of etiquette and subtlety the moment government officials were involved?

Though the restaurant was small, the food arrived quite quickly. Just as Secretary Tang had said, the dishes were authentic, with genuine Qingshan Town flavors. Eating them dipped in chili sauce, Qin Xiangshan thoroughly enjoyed himself...

During the meal, Qin An wasn't intimidated either and offered toasts to both Secretary Tang and his uncle. He hadn't expected Qin Xiaotian to be able to drink, though. His face turned red, but his eyes only grew brighter. One look was enough to see his potential to become a real booze barrel...

Qin An's mouth was a little dry, and he wanted a bottled drink, but there was only beer on the counter. The lone server was run off her feet and had no time for him, so Qin An had to look for the proprietress. He had seen her head toward the back of the restaurant...

A beaded curtain hung at the back of the restaurant, and the door wasn't closed. Qin An walked over, only to see the alluring proprietress standing on tiptoe and gently kissing Secretary Tang's cheek...

Having seen that, turning around and running away clearly wouldn't be appropriate, while standing there silently watching would be even worse. Qin An scratched his head. "Auntie Qi, I'd like a bottle of Jianlibao. There aren't any out front..."

At the sound of Qin An's voice, the proprietress went pale with fright. She was clearly well aware that she wasn't a woman who could be seen publicly at Secretary Tang's side. She also knew how much trouble her impulsive gesture of affection could bring him if word got out...

Secretary Tang, however, remained perfectly calm. He patted the proprietress on the shoulder, his eyes naturally reassuring, without rushing to make excuses for himself...

That little gesture greatly improved Qin An's impression of him. "Secretary Tang isn't married yet, right? Auntie Qi isn't married either, so it's nothing... I won't go talking about it..."

Qin An wasn't quite sure whether Secretary Tang was married. After thinking it over, he added, "Even if Secretary Tang is married, it's no big deal. I have two girlfriends myself..."

"You're so young, and you already have two girlfriends? I'm not as fickle as you. I'm still single..." Qin An had Secretary Tang laughing with amusement...

The proprietress burst into a giggle too, and her expression eased a little. It seemed this child really was sensible and wouldn't spread stories outside. She knew only too well how powerful rumors could be and didn't want to ruin Secretary Tang's future like this...

The proprietress fetched a bottle of Jianlibao, then thought for a moment and put a few more bottles into a little mesh bag for him. She stroked his head. "Whenever you want a drink, just come here. Auntie Qi will keep some ready for you..."

"Heh, no need to bribe me... At most, if I bring my little girlfriend here for a meal and my big girlfriend finds out, you can help cover for me, Auntie Qi..." Qin An rattled off some nonsense...

"This kid's all right..." Secretary Tang smiled, then suddenly waved at someone behind Qin An. "Junzi, it's fine. He's just a child. Don't be nervous..."

Qin An turned around. It was the proprietress's younger brother, the hoodlum with something of a name in Qingshan Town, studying him warily. Clearly, he knew about his sister and Secretary Tang as well...

Hearing Secretary Tang say that, Junzi's expression relaxed too, and he stepped aside...