Chapter Nineteenth: Hitchhiking is Better

  【Call for collection and recommendation】 A new week has begun, brothers, let's throw some recommendation votes!

  Originally, Chen Ke was also an old hand, if Zhang Qingyun directly ordered him to lower the ticket price and so on, he would have been fully confident in responding, because during the Spring Festival travel rush, the beneficiaries were not just the train station. The town government, public security bureau, even the county party committee compound all had to take a share of the spoils, he could have used his connections to crush him.

  But Zhang Qingyun was very experienced, without a word of instruction, he first put on a hat and then uttered a sentence of "comprehensive consideration" nonsense, making people speechless. If you want to lower the price! He can't make decisions himself, and the stationmaster can't make decisions either. This reduction will only harm the interests of the upper level, and it has nothing to do with Zhang Qingyun.

  Don't say it won't be reduced in price! What if this Qingyun makes a big deal out of this, or the political struggle upstairs needs to, and this is exposed, the train station will be the first scapegoat. The big shots upstairs can clear their boundaries with the train station at any time.

  "This is a masterstroke!" Chen Ke thought to himself, "No wonder Zhang Qingyun was able to rise to power at such a young age, he indeed knows the way of being an official."

  "Alright, fellow farmers, this is a bit of a misunderstanding. I reckon it's due to some oversight from the people below. Why don't you go back to the ticket counter and buy new tickets?" Chen Ke hesitated for a long time before finally putting on a smile and addressing the crowd with an air of restored authority as deputy stationmaster. He had already thought things through in his mind - no matter how this was handled later, these tickets absolutely had to be exchanged; otherwise, he would have lost face in front of everyone, and his own days would be difficult afterwards.

  Those peasant workers all let out a sigh of relief when they heard this, and everyone's eyes turned to Zhang Qingyun, thinking that this young man was indeed a high-ranking official, seemingly even a county leader. What he said really made a difference, one sentence solved the problem for everyone.

  "Alright, fellow farmers, go exchange your tickets! Wishing everyone a happy new year on their way back. Just now, Station Master Chen said that this was an oversight by the station and caused inconvenience to everyone, I apologize again." Zhang Qingyun smiled and said to the crowd.

  "Haha ~" The crowd burst into laughter, ordinary people are easily satisfied, the ticket problem was solved, and all previous complaints were thrown away. Everyone looked at Zhang Qingyun with a grateful face.

  Zhang Qingyun secretly felt ashamed, he clearly knew that he could only do so much, the problem of Spring Festival ticket prices was impossible to solve with his own ability. Thinking of this, he became disheartened and didn't even think about taking a ride, dejectedly preparing to head home.

  "Director Zhang, this... You see, you come to the station without anything happening and didn't even give me a heads up? We could have arranged a reception..." Chen Kejian said with a smile as he walked forward.

  Zhang Qingyun smiled and said, "I just came to the station to find someone, it's not an inspection. It's getting close to the end of the year, comrades are all busy, I don't want to disturb everyone either. Alright, you all continue with your work! I'll leave first."

  "What's the hurry? Director Zhang, you've come all this way, so it's only right that you stay for a meal before leaving. I've already given instructions, Xia'er Mountain Villa, you absolutely must do me the honor!" Chen Ke hastily said.

  Zhang Qingyun glanced at Wang Qiang, seeing that his expression was also this meaning, and secretly smiled in her heart. The Spring Festival is so busy, if she stays to eat, she really can't get through this pass. With this thought, he straightened his face and said:

  "Director Chen, let's stop talking about eating for now. There will be plenty of opportunities to eat later. During the Spring Festival travel season, our priority should still be doing a good job. What do you think?"

  Chen Ke's face turned red with embarrassment, and he couldn't refute Zhang Qingyun's words. However, if he didn't eat this meal, he would still feel anxious in his heart, and for a moment, he didn't know how to speak up.

  Seeing this scene, Zhang Qingyun didn't say much, just greeted Wang Qiang and bid farewell to leave the station.

  "Honk! Honk!" Zhang Qingyun had just left the station for a short while, and two horn sounds rang out beside him. He turned his head to look, and a white Honda Accord slid past him, coming to a stop in front of him with a "screech".

  The car window rolled down slowly, revealing Geng Shuang. She was dressed in winter attire today, with a hint of red on her cheeks and a smile all over her face, making her look even more charming.

  "Director Zhang, where are you going? You look listless and alone?"

  "Oh, Geng sister is good! I just went to the train station and turned around. I originally wanted to go to Lizi Ping, but the Spring Festival train tickets were tight, and I didn't catch up with the trip."

  "Hmm!" Geng Shuang chuckled a few times, he was obviously not too convinced by Zhang Qingyun's words. Think about it, a deputy director of the county party committee office can't even buy a train ticket? Besides, when county officials go to the countryside, they usually take special cars, who would still take the bus?

  "Really, Director Zhang, if you're going to Lizi Ping, our company happens to have a car going there to pick up vegetables. Why don't you hitch a ride?" Geng Shuang said with a flattering smile.

  Zhang Qingyun didn't think much of it and upon hearing that there was a car going to Lizi Ping, felt that having a ride with the wind was also good, so he said:

  "That's great! I was worried about transportation. When does your company's car leave? I'll just hitch a ride."

  Geng Shuang was taken aback, she had originally intended to tease Zhang Qingyun, but didn't expect Zhang Qingyun to actually go to Lizi Ping. For a moment, she lost her composure. However, being an astute person, she only hesitated for a brief moment before saying:

  "Car! This afternoon, wait for my call this afternoon, okay?"

  Zhang Qingyun nodded, the car matter was settled, and then Geng Shuang proposed to send him home. Zhang Qingyun pushed back saying his home was nearby, politely declining her kindness. Zhang Qingyun still had some resentment about what happened last time, feeling he had been played by this woman.

  In the afternoon, Zhang Qingyun was reading materials in her room when she suddenly heard her father calling her. She realized that there were guests at home.

  Zhang Qingyun walked into the living room, his face changed, wondering if he had seen things wrongly. Geng Shuang and his own mother were chatting enthusiastically, he frowned slightly, how could Geng Shuang come to his home? And looking at his mother's expression, it seemed somewhat ambiguous, this was clearly the look of a mother-in-law looking at her daughter-in-law!

  "Huh? Geng sister, how did you end up at my place?"

  "What's wrong? Not welcome? Didn't you say you were going to Lìzǐ Píng? I just so happen to be heading there this afternoon to inspect the vegetable base, so I came looking for you." Gěng Shuāng said with a smile, her expression completely natural.

  "Isn't that the vegetable truck?" Zhang Qingyun thought to himself, but in this situation he didn't dare ask. He took another glance at his mother's murderous gaze and could only secretly smile bitterly.

  "Hurry up and pack your things, everyone has been waiting for you for half a day, what are you still standing there for?" Yun Su-e scolded, obviously dissatisfied with Zhang Qingyun's attitude earlier. Immediately afterwards, she put on a smiling face and said to Geng Shuang:

  "Don't mind him, my son Qingyun is a straightforward person, he speaks his mind without considering the weight of his words, just like his father. Back when I was dating his dad..."