Chapter 22: The Wine Table at Lizi Ping

  "Ah, Qingyun, I'm getting older now and the urge to advance is not as strong as it used to be. However, this promotion of yours has had a great impact on me! Such a promotion was unimaginable in our time, which shows that the organization is changing and progressing!"

  For this, I also specially convened a party committee meeting. My purpose is to instill this concept in our cadres and let the older generation of people regain their vitality and do more practical things for the party and the people." Wan Guoshu said with deep feeling.

  Zhang Qingyun nodded secretly, Wan Guoshu's words were already very clear. He thought Zhang Qingyun's promotion this time was inspiring and implied support for Li Gang. However, he also knew about Li Gang's current difficulties and that he himself had no opportunity at present, so his words were relatively ambiguous, but his stance was still very clear-cut.

  "Yes, Qingyun, you are a cadre from our Li Zi Ping, we are all proud of you, and we hope that you can quickly make a name for yourself in the county committee, so that we also have some face." Hu Lie was not one to be left behind, Wan Guo Shu had made his position clear, and he followed closely. He was much younger than Wan Guo Shu, and his desire for progress was naturally stronger, now that Zhang Qingyun had become the county head's blue-eyed boy, he also naturally stood on this side.

  "Alright, let's go! Secretary Wan, Director Hu, everyone, let's have a drink together. Today I'm back in my hometown and it's great to be able to share a drink with old leaders and colleagues, I'm really happy. Let me start by drinking this cup as a toast!" Zhang Qingyun said with a smile, raising his glass.

  Zhang Qingyun said that, everyone knew the work was over, and next everyone should drink on the wine table. So everyone started to push cups and exchange plates, coming and going, drinking very lively.

  "Qingyun, what kind of car did you take today? I've taken two buses and didn't see you on either one!" Hu Lie suddenly blurted out this sentence when the wine had reached its midpoint.

  "What about me? I'm sitting in Geng..." Zhang Qingyun's words were cut off as she suddenly remembered Geng Shuang. It was so late, and she must not have gone to the vegetable base. She had hitched a ride with someone and left them alone at the hostel, which was indeed a bit unreasonable.

  "Oh no! Manager Geng is still at the reception office. I hitched a ride with her today." Zhang Qingyun said.

  "Manager Geng? Which Manager Geng?"

  "Could there be another General Geng? It must be Geng Shuang from Xia'er Mountain Manor."

  Everyone was shocked, Geng Shuang in Yongping, although not an official, but after going to the countryside, every leader treated her with great respect. Firstly, she had money and could invest everywhere. Secondly, she had connections, known as the encyclopedia of Yongping's official circle. When she took charge of something, it was often more effective than a township secretary.

  "Oh no! What's going on? Quick, quick, Little Liu, go to the reception hall and invite General Geng over right away." Wan Guoshu said hastily, then he turned his head to ask Zhang Qingyun: "What did Geng Shuang come to Yongping for today?"

  "I'm not sure either, she said it's a vegetable base on this side, should be the one in Jiayuwan!"

  "Didn't she sell that land to Sanhe Company? She..." Wanguo Shu said, stopping abruptly. Geng Shuang came with Zhang Qingyun, and she wasn't here to see the vegetable base, so it must be related to Zhang Qingyun. Therefore, his gaze at Zhang Qingyun also became more ambiguous.

  Zhang Qingyun was also stunned, thinking that Geng Shuang must have come to Lizi Ping specifically to see him off. This is unlikely! He had only met her once before, and besides, he didn't have any special aura about him, so this possibility could be ruled out.

  "I don't know then, she told me like this, maybe it's something else." Zhang Qingyun coughed and said, his expression still slightly embarrassed.

  Zhang Qingyun said so, and everyone didn't continue to entangle this issue. Liu Huan acted quickly, and soon Geng Shuang found him before he did.

  "Ah, Director Geng! We've made a mistake at work. Today's affair is somewhat impolite. We'd already eaten half our meal, fortunately Qingyun reminded us, otherwise our fault would have been even greater." Wan Guoshu said with a smile as soon as Geng Shuang entered the door.

  Geng Shuang smiled slightly, glanced at Zhang Qingyun intentionally or unintentionally, and said: "Secretary Wan, you're too polite. I've already eaten, I just came to visit the leaders, don't bother about me."

  "How can that be? Every time we go to Xiaoluo Manor, you're the host. Now that you've come to Lizi Ping, although it's a poor and remote place, it's not right for me to play the host. This is absolutely unacceptable!" Hu Lie hastily stepped forward and said.

  Seeing Geng Shuang still hesitating, Zhang Qingyun chuckled and said: "This is all my fault. As soon as I saw the old leader, we brothers were so busy chatting that we forgot about this matter. Sister Geng, please give me some face! You've had dinner, sit down and have a drink, otherwise, I'll really become the sinner of Liuziping!"

  Geng Shuangbai gave Zhang Qingyun a cold glance, obviously she was indeed somewhat annoyed with Zhang Qingyun just now. However, since Zhang Qingyun had the courage to admit her mistake, Geng couldn't keep insisting on it either. After all, everyone present were leaders of Lizi Ping, and this face-saving gesture couldn't be ignored. So she stopped making excuses and found a seat to sit down.

  Someone came in halfway, the atmosphere at the wine table was even more lively. There's not much good wine in the mountains, and the best is Wuling Daqu. Before long, eight or nine bottles had been drunk. Geng Shuang's capacity for liquor was quite good; she toasted everyone present with a cup, and by the time she made the rounds, she had drunk a full catty.

  After drinking, her cheeks were slightly red, and her watery eyes became even more spirited. With her elegant temperament, any man facing her directly couldn't help but be nervous.

  Younger cadres, like Liu Huan and a few others, accidentally got a big red face, Zhang Qingyun also had to admit that Geng Shuang was a beauty of this level, rarely seen even in his previous life, but he, who had seen countless people, did not lose his composure.

  "Director Zhang, we won't leave until we're drunk today. Come on, let me toast you another cup." Liu Huan was getting a bit tipsy, picking up his wine glass to drink with Zhang Qingyun for the third time.

  Zhang Qingyun secretly smiled, Liu Huan's drinking capacity he was aware of, he found it strange that Liu Huan hadn't fallen over yet today, could it be that there were beautiful women by his side, which also helped with his drinking capacity?

  Of course, when it comes to drinking with others, Zhang Qingyun has always been fearless. He picked up his wine glass and had another round with Liu Huan. Seeing Zhang's bravery, the crowd launched a new wave of attacks, and this time they drank for three or four hours straight.

  Finally, except for Zhang Qingyun and Geng Shuang, everyone got drunk. Zhang Qingyun saw that the fire was almost out and hurriedly called Wan Guoshu's wife to propose ending the dinner party. Looking at these men who were all drunk and muddy, Wan Guoshu's wife had no choice but to make phone calls one by one to find someone to send them back home. After finishing everything, she also had to attend to Wan Guoshu going to sleep.

  Upon seeing this situation, Zhang Qingyun also didn't stay any longer. He and Geng Shuang bid farewell and headed to the countryside reception center together.