Chapter 21: Return to Lizi Ping

  [Update: One more chapter] Please collect and recommend!

  "Director Zhang, Lizi Ping has arrived, wake up!" Amidst the daze, Zhang Qingyun felt someone calling out to him.

  As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Geng Shuang's absolutely beautiful face. She was very close to him, and Zhang Qingyun could even smell the faint fragrance emanating from her body. Zhang Qingyun's whole body trembled with excitement, and he hastily sat up straight.

  Geng Shuang was caught off guard, and the two of them bumped into each other head-on. Zhang Qingyun's head wasn't clear yet, but he was okay. Geng Shuang, on the other hand, had a bright red face, looked a bit embarrassed, and gave Zhang Qingyun a white eye. Seeing his innocent face, she felt even more ashamed and said:

  "We've arrived! You're really something if you can sleep through road conditions like this!"

  "Oh, we've arrived! Thanks, Sister Geng!" Zhang Qingyun yawned and said. He looked out the window and saw that the sky had already darkened, so he continued: "Sister Geng, why don't you stay overnight? You can stay at the government guesthouse?"

  "Really? I'm not a guest of the Li Zi Ping Township Government, is it suitable for me to live there?"

  "Don't worry! I've arranged this for you, and I reckon the guesthouse won't have many people today. You go ahead first! I'll go to the office and take a look, I reckon Secretary Wan and the others are getting anxious."

  Geng Shuang did not speak again and seemed to have acquiesced. Zhang Qingyun immediately pushed open the car door, got out of the car and walked towards the entrance of Lizi Ping Township Government.

  "Qingyun, you've finally arrived! I thought you wouldn't make it today. Come on in, come on in! Dinner's already ready, let's head to my place! You can also try my wife's cooking." Zhang Qingyun had just entered the government gate when Wang Guoshu came over from afar and said.

  Zhang Qingyun was shocked, not only was Wan Guo Shu present, but also Hu Lie and Liu Huan, among other officials from the Li Zi Ping government.

  "Huh? Secretary Wan, what are you all doing? You can't be waiting for just me with so many people?" Zhang Qingyun said.

  "Qingyun, don't say that, you're now the pride of our Lizi Ping! You've entered the county committee's compound and still remember us in Lizi Ping, what relation do we have with you now?" Hu Lieying came forward laughing.

  Zhang Qingyun repeatedly said he didn't dare, and then he shook hands with everyone one by one. He knew all these people, but many of them were not very familiar to him. After all, when he was in Lizi Ping before, he was also unknown and unnoticed by others.

  But now his identity is different, and everyone can only be enthusiastic towards him. Even if there's some jealousy, it can only be hidden in their hearts and absolutely cannot be revealed on the surface. Joking aside, being the county mayor's secretary, the first celebrated person by Mayor Li's side, offending this living Buddha would definitely not bring good results.

  "Let's talk about work tomorrow, it's getting late today, let's just have some drinks and dinner. Come on, come on, Little Liu, go to my house first and tell my wife that we'll be there soon, ask her to get ready." Wan Guoshu said with a smile after Zhang Qingyun and the others had finished their greetings.

  Zhang Qingyun was speechless and lost his smile, thinking to himself, what kind of work is this? He had only come to Lizi Ping to pick up his luggage, but Wang Guoshu had turned it into an inspection. Poor guys, they had waited all day, and by evening, most of them couldn't even get a meal because there were dozens of officials in Lizi Ping, and Wang Guoshu was hosting a reception at home, specifying that not everyone could go.

  As expected, after the village bookkeeper spoke up, some people tactfully excused themselves, leaving only the village head, deputy village head, and the chairman of the People's Congress to have dinner with Zhang Qingyun.

  Seeing this situation, Zhang Qingyun felt a deep sense of emotion in his heart. He thought to himself that just a few months ago, he was no different from those people. No wonder the officials on the scene were fighting each other to the death, and what they were fighting for was nothing more than power. Once you hold a high position, you can be superior to others and stand out from the crowd. This temptation is indeed difficult for anyone to resist.

  The wife of Wan Guo Shu was very diligent and enthusiastic. When Zhang Qingyun and his party arrived at their home, she had already prepared a table of dishes.

  "Green cloud, after you get off at the countryside, just point randomly, I know the situation in Li Zi Ping, there are no good restaurants in the countryside, can only entertain you at home, don't mind it." Wan Guo Shu smiled.

  "Secretary Wan, you're being too polite with me. You're my old superior, why be so courteous? Besides, your wife's culinary skills are renowned in Lizi Ping, and I'm having a real treat today!" Zhang Qingyun said with a smile.

  Wanguo Shu nodded silently, knowing that Zhang Qingyun had recently been in the spotlight. The whole county knew he was Lijiang's right-hand man, and it could be said that he was a different person now. He still had this humility and respect despite his elevated position, which was truly uncommon.

  "Sit down, sit down, everyone sit down. Don't be polite, Old Hu and the rest of you. Everyone's stomach is growling. This isn't a place for politeness." said Wan Guo Shu Dao.

  Then, as everyone began to take their seats, Zhang Qingyun surprisingly found himself placed at the top seat. How could he sit there? After a round of declining, he finally insisted on sitting next to Hu Lie. By doing so, he unconsciously brought everyone closer together, and for a moment, the atmosphere at the dinner table was very harmonious.

  "Sister-in-law, you've been busy all day! Why don't you come and eat with us too? Otherwise, we'd feel too embarrassed." Zhang Qingyun hastily said as he saw Wang Guoshu's wife rushing around.

  "You eat, you eat, don't mind me, as long as you're happy eating, I'm delighted." The wife of Wan Guo Shu said with a smile.

  "Secretary Wan, I think you should settle in the county town later. Otherwise, every time guests come from the countryside, it will trouble your wife, which is not good!" Zhang Qingyun said to Wan Guoshu.

  "I don't have that kind of luck, I've been transferred to Lizi Ping and Yanshan for 15 years, it's not easy to get into the city!" Wan Guo Shu sighed.

  Zhang Qingyun smiled, Wan Guoshu was right, there were over a hundred county-level cadres in Yongping County, and the county's departments were limited, let alone promotions, even if it was a lateral transfer, only one or two out of ten people could enter the city, Wan Guoshu had no background, making it even more difficult to get into the city.

  "It can't be said that way, Lìzi Píng and Yānshān are all tough bones. You have dedicated over a decade here, the organization will not ignore it. Moreover, you haven't exceeded the age limit, now among the top leaders of Yōnghéng Township, your qualifications are the oldest. Now there are few mature and stable cadres in Yōnghéng ah!" Zhang Qingyun said, he had already thought it through on his way here, Lǐ Gāng's team is short-handed, he needs to find a few suitable candidates quickly. Although Lǐ Gāng is temporarily weak, he might not need them now, but once the opportunity arises, having someone in hand is always good, so he intentionally revealed a little hint, testing Wàn Guó Shū's attitude.

  The Book God's expression hesitated, he had been an official for many years, and Zhang Qingyun's meaning was naturally clear to him. He knew he should show his attitude now. Originally, he didn't have any background, if he wanted to go further, he could only come up with a surprising move. This issue, he also thought deeply about it.