The Twenty-Fourth Chapter: Hazy Happiness

  In the evening, after dinner at Ye Lao's house, he chatted with Ye Lao about some village government matters. After listening, Ye Lao didn't say much, only reminding him to be steady and not take big steps. In the words of Zeng Guofan, it was "first seek stability, then seek change". Ye Zhenran gladly accepted Ye Lao's advice and promised to pay attention in his future work. After chatting for a while, he wanted to leave early, Zhang Nianyue asked angrily: "Wooden head, leaving so early, what bad thing do you want to do again?"

  Every day after dinner, the time spent with Zhang Nianyue is a warm and leisurely moment for both of them. Zhang Nianyue has also become accustomed to this quiet and warm emotional exchange. Seeing Ye Zhenran leaving early today without giving her any time, she felt somewhat unhappy.

  Ye Ziran stuck out his tongue and said: "How dare I? I'm going to Secretary Tang's house to report on my work."

  "Then I'll go too." Nian Yue's tone was somewhat arrogant, and after a pause, she seemed to feel a bit embarrassed, adding: "I'll go take a look at Tang Hong."

  Ye Laojiao looked at the two of them with interest, his expression calm and collected. He said to Ye Zhenran, "You're in charge of sending Nianyue back."

  "Alright, Old Ye." Ye Zhenran was naturally as smooth as flowing water.

  Two people walked out of the courtyard gate, Ye Zhenran got on his bicycle and turned to Zhang Nianyue saying: "Be careful, come up." He saw Zhang Nianyue's right hand grasp the bicycle luggage rack, take a small run, sidestep lightly and jump, already landing lightly on the bike. Her movements were as agile as a swallow, smooth and natural. He couldn't help but praise her: "Good skills."

  Zhang Nianyue smiled complacently and said, "That's right, doesn't even see who it is."

  Ye Ziran had been in the officialdom for two years and his flattering skills had improved a lot. He hurriedly said, "My family's Nianyue is not only beautiful but also skilled in martial arts, how can ordinary people compare to her?"

  Nian Yue smiled slightly and praised: "Hmm, there's improvement, you've learned how to coax people."

  "This is a sincere compliment, not a flattering remark."

  "Then praise me again and let me hear it." Nian Yue listened to his circumlocution and smiled slightly.

  "My family's Nian Yue is gentle and considerate, intelligent and surpassing others, pure and elegant, with a beautiful and refined appearance, virtuous and dignified, with the beauty of a fallen fish and a goose, with a face that can close flowers and moon, Chang'e would be willing to serve as her maid, Xi Shi's beauty is nothing compared to hers..."

  "Stop, stop!" Zhang Nianyue heard and laughed, gasping for breath. She patted him on the back a few times and said: "Wooden head, you're so glib, always spouting nonsense. Are you practicing this every day in front of other girls?"

  "Am I that kind of person? Although I'm not as handsome as Pan An, I'm at least a decent-looking guy. Do I need to be treated like this?"

  "You're so beautiful." Nian Yue scolded him and casually pinched his back again.

  Two people walked along the riverbank in the city, chatting and laughing. The summer evening breeze blew towards them, carrying the unique youthful atmosphere of Jiangnan. The water surface in the river was rippling, flowing quietly into the distance, while the summer night's insect sounds rose and fell, lively and extraordinary. The small town did not have the hustle and bustle of a big city, only a quiet and harmonious natural atmosphere.

  After riding for a few meters, Ye Ziran turned back and said: "Hold onto my waist, we're going over the bridge."

  Zhang Nianyue stretched out her right hand, and her arm lightly wrapped around his waist. As her soft arms wrapped around his waist, Ye Zhenran sensitively felt a particularly pleasant feeling, that kind of gentle affection he occasionally felt when he was with Yang Ling. He then pedaled hard, riding the bicycle to the middle of the bridge, but the vague sense of happiness in his heart surged out and burst forth, unable to be restrained, and he let out a loud shout: "Down the bridge, we're going to fly!" He released his hands from the handlebars, stretched out his arms, and maintained a flat posture like wings. As the bicycle coasted downhill, his hair and clothes were blown backward by the wind, and he felt as if his body had taken flight, light and free as if flying in a vacuum.

  As the bicycle sped down, Zhang Nianyue also became excited, his right hand tightly wrapped around her waist, her long hair fluttering in the wind, feeling a strange thrill and joy.

  After crossing the bridge, Ye Zhenran mischievously squeezed the left brake, and suddenly felt Zhang Nianyue's soft body stick close to him, earning a startled cry from her: "Stinky wooden head, be careful riding!"

  Ye Ziran responded with a "got it" and released the brake, maintaining normal speed. He secretly rejoiced: She didn't notice on purpose. However, fearing she might discover his intention, he dared not try again, but couldn't help whistling a happy tune. Zhang Nianyue remained silent, only tightening her arms around her waist, as both of them felt a sweet and tender feeling slowly growing in their hearts.

  They arrived at the county committee's guest house, parked their bicycles and walked into Tang Secretary's home. Tang Guoqiang was watching TV with Yu Jia in the living room when he saw a beautiful girl who looked like she had just stepped out of a painting walking in behind Ye Zhenran with a smile on her face, and they were both stunned for a moment.

  "Secretary Tang, Aunt Yu, this is Zhang Nianyue," Ye Ziran hastily introduced. He then turned his head to Nianyue and said, "This is Secretary Tang and Aunt Yu."

  Zhang Nianyue obediently followed Ye Zhiran and called out: "Secretary Tang is good, Aunt Yu is good."

  Upon hearing this crisp and lively greeting, Yu Ni suddenly became excited, hastily went forward to hold Nian Yue's hand, carefully examining her, making Nian Yue's face flush red. However, Yu Ni was completely unaware, immersed in her own observation, with a delighted expression as if she had seen something she loved, clicking her tongue in wonder, praising: "Too beautiful! You're called Nian Yue, I really don't know how you grew up, standing together with Xiao Ye, you truly match perfectly, like a pair of golden boys and jade girls."

  This sentence was music to Yezhen's ears, and she felt a sudden sense of relief wash over her. She felt grateful beyond measure, and thought that her aunt was even more loving than her own mother.

  Tang Hong's ears perked up, and she heard the sound from the living room. She came out to take a look, got excited, clapped her hands and exclaimed: "Sister Zhang is here, that's great!"

  Secretary Tang was stunned for a while after seeing Nian Yue, and finally came back to his senses: "Tang Hong, you don't do your homework, what's the commotion."

  Tang Hong turned around and said, "Today's homework is less, I've finished it. I want to talk to Sister Zhang." Turning her head, she saw Nian Yue wearing jeans and said to Yu Auntie, "Mom, look, Sister Zhang's jeans are so beautiful, I also want to buy a pair." She chattered on and on, saying a lot of things in just a short while.

  At that time, jeans had just been introduced to the country, and the tight-fitting pants fully showed off the lines of the body. Even Aunt Yu was taken aback by the sight. However, what she said to Tang Hong was a different story: "You're just a middle school student, why are you wearing something so flashy?"

  Tang Hong said, "Mom, you won't buy it for me, I'll ask Brother Ye to buy it for me."

  Yu Jia slapped Tang Hong on the head and said: "If you don't study hard, you'll get a bad brain. Go play with Zhang sister."

  After all, it was a child's temperament. Tang Hong soon forgot about the cowboy pants and went to pull Nian Yue's hand, saying: "Sister, come to my room, there is also a TV in there."

  As the two of them walked into the room hand in hand, Ye Zhenran sat down beside Secretary Tang. Yu Jia poured a glass of water and handed it to Ye Zhenran, who hastily said "thank you".

  Yu Jiarao sat down beside him with interest and asked in a low voice: "Xiao Ye, how far have you gone with her?"

  Ye Ziran scratched his head and said, "We haven't known each other for long either."

  Yu Jia said mysteriously, "I think there's a play, I feel that Nian Yue has a crush on you." Ye Zhen Ran felt that Yu Jia was being a bit gossipy. She didn't realize it herself and continued to say in a low voice, "Little Ye, you have to put in more effort, Nian Yue is not only beautiful but also has good conditions, there must be many people chasing her, you need to think of ways."

  Yu Jia considered Ye Zhen Ran a trustworthy elder, so he spoke without reserve: "I get along well with Nian Yue, but I'm worried about her parents."

  "What do her parents do?" Yu Jia asked.

  Her mother was a military doctor and her father was the commander of a field army corps stationed in Jiannan.

  "Ah!" Yu Jia and Tang Secretary exclaimed in unison.

  "How old is her father?"

  "Looks like less than fifty?"

  "This young field army commander has a bright future ahead of him." Secretary Tang commented, and made no further comment on the relationship between him and Nian Yue.

  Yu Jia said in a low voice to Ye Zhen Ran: "Little Ye, don't give up, I have faith in the two of you." After saying that, he threw him off and went into the room.

  After Zhang Nianyue went in, Ye Zhenran felt that the magnetic field had arrived in the room and wanted to go in to join in the fun. However, thinking of the matters in the countryside that needed to be reported to Secretary Tang, he sat still and said: "Secretary Tang, Mashixiang has just held a party committee meeting to discuss the work of the economic zone."

  Tang Secretary nodded and said: "Qin Daming has already called to report the content of the party committee meeting. How many points do you think your performance at the party committee meeting deserves?"

  Ye Ziran hesitated and said: "Six points." He thought to himself that Qin Daming's work report was quite enthusiastic.

  "Six points are a bit overestimated." Secretary Tang looked at Ye Zhenran and shook his head, saying: "Among the party committee members, you're just a new recruit, but your performance is arrogant. Why do you have to refute every time other committee members express different opinions?"

  "Secretary Tang's criticism is correct, I was a bit excessive." Ye Zhenran thought about the meeting situation and had some epiphany.

  "I'm not criticizing you, but since you've just taken office as head of the local government and are still young, it's necessary to give some reminders."

  "Please analyze it for me, Secretary Tang." Ye Zhenran straightened his body and made a listening gesture.

  "As for the tax refund policy, if Qin Daming doesn't support you, do you think it will pass?"

  Ye Ziran thought about the situation at that time, and organizational committee member Pan Qisheng and deputy township head Cheng Guang were people in Secretary Qin's circle, who had always been loyal to Secretary Qin. The abstention of Liang Biduo was also likely influenced by this. So he said: "If Secretary Qin doesn't support it, it will definitely not pass."

  "Qin Daming's support is the key to the plan being passed, not because you refuted every other committee member." Secretary Tang said with a profound gaze at Ye Zhenran.

  Ye Ziran nodded and replied: "Yes."