Chapter Forty-Four: Geng Shuang Returns

  Zhang Qingyun laughed and said, "That's the best way to do it. Don't worry, Director Wu, the Finance Bureau is a department that values stability. 'Stability and growth' are the six-character motto of the county committee and government. As for your personal treatment, I believe the county committee and government will definitely consider the bigger picture and coordinate with your superior authorities when the time comes. Everyone will have a unified opinion, haha."

  Wu Xue's eyes lit up, and the implication of Zhang Qingyun's words was already very clear. If they coordinate with their superiors, they will be fine. Which superior department doesn't protect its own people? The county's financial deficit is huge, and the blame is shifted to the finance bureau. How can the county party committee and government coordinate with the municipal bureau if opinions are not unified? Moreover, Zhang Qingyun said that stability needs to be maintained, but if everyone's opinions are not unified, isn't that an unstable factor?

  "Alright, Zhang! I've finally met you today. Let me tell you something, after this lesson, our finance bureau will definitely cooperate fully with the government's work from now on. We won't make such mistakes again. Come on, let's go together?" Wu Xue said with a smile.

  Zhang Qingyun raised his cup and touched it with him, and the two of them drank up the wine in their cups at the same time. Then they looked at each other and burst out laughing. Everyone was a smart person, Wu Xue's words meant that he wanted to reposition himself, and also to show goodwill to Zhang Qingyun personally. In short, everything was implicit.

  Then, Liu Yan and Wang Song also picked up their wine cups and went forward to toast. They were old officials who had been in office for a long time. Wu Xue Shu wanted to reposition himself, and they were on the same rope as Wu Xue Shu. At this time, if they didn't get close to Zhang Qing Yun, when would they?

  Zhang Qingyun is Li Gang's first confidant, and in a sense, also his spokesperson. Therefore, Liu Yan and Wang Song both showed great respect, addressing him as Director Zhang before and after his name. They didn't dare to call him "Old Brother Zhang" like Wu Xueju did, because official titles have their own rules. Wu Xueju calling Zhang Qingyun "Old Brother" was a way of getting closer to him, but if Liu Yan and Wang Song had done the same, it would be considered presumptuous.

  "Junzi, you should also show respect to Director Zhang with a cup of wine! You're currently working at the grassroots level, and in this regard, Director Zhang is the most experienced. I hope you'll often seek his advice." Wu Xue Shu patted He Jun's shoulder as he spoke.

  He Jun stood up somewhat awkwardly, this meal was like a dream to him. As someone who had also mixed in the official circles for several years, how could he not see the underlying connections? Zhang Qingyun's words were old and cunning, every step was carefully planned, and with just a few laughs, he had already pulled his uncle into his camp. His uncle's attitude towards him now was flattering to say the least, and in the future, he might also have to follow in his footsteps, perhaps even changing how he addressed Zhang Qingyun.

  "Director Zhang... is coming..." He Jun was clearly very nervous, his tongue struggling to turn the corner.

  "Junzi, relax, what's with the director this and that, why are you being so particular?" Zhang Qingyun said with a frown, but in her heart she was shaking her head. He Jun is indeed still a rookie. If he were an old hand in official circles, he would be calling out "Qingyun" left and right by now!

  This makes the relationship between the two seem close, but not too sudden, and from another angle, it can also highlight that Zhang Qingyun has changed his identity, but still hasn't forgotten his old brothers. This is also a kind of clever flattery!

  "Come on, Junzi, let's have a drink together, we're old brothers now, don't be formal with me!" Zhang Qingyun said, raising his wine cup. "Junzi, although Wugai Mountain is a mountainous area, it's also a place where one can temper themselves. Being at the grassroots level and being tempered repeatedly has its benefits."

  He Jun raised his cup and walked with Zhang Qingyun, repeatedly saying yes. Although their expressions relaxed a lot, they never returned to the natural state of before, always feeling like there was an extra layer between them.

  Zhang Qingyun couldn't help but smile wryly, thinking that it was no wonder he and He Jun had been classmates for many years in the same department, yet they still couldn't become friends. This kind of innate estrangement was hard to change. If it were Chen Mai, even if he himself entered the Central Politburo, their relationship would probably remain the same.

  As soon as she thought of Chen Mai, Zhang Qingyun felt a twinge of unease in her heart. With Chen Yunshan acting like this, it was inevitable that she and he would collide with each other later on. Would things still be the same between her and Chen Mai by then?

  Wu Xue saw Zhang Qingyun's silence and thought that He Jun had responded inappropriately, so he quickly came to mediate. Zhang Qingyun immediately shook off his distracting thoughts and refocused on the wine table.

  This wine, several people drank for more than three hours before dispersing, and the host and guests were all satisfied. After dinner, Wu Xue Shu personally sent Zhang Qing Yun back home, and this meal was also considered to have brought out feelings. From then on, everyone walked on the same road, and personal relationships needed to be further improved.

  With a slight intoxication, Zhang Qingyun pushed open the door and found Yin Su'e and Zhang Deyearn watching TV at home. The two elderly people were dressed in brand new clothes from head to toe, looking very spirited.

  "Mom, Dad, what's the good news today? Why are you both wearing new clothes?" Zhang Qingyun asked with a smile.

  Yoon Soo-ah stood up with a smile on her face, not saying anything, just nodding towards the bathroom. Zhang Qingyun walked towards the bathroom and heard the sound of running water inside, and said in confusion:

  "Who is it? Who's taking a bath in the bathroom?"

  Yin Su'e shot him a glance and scolded, "Who else could it be? Ah Shuang, didn't you see the car downstairs?"

  Zhang Qingyun smiled wryly, earlier Wu Xue's car had taken him directly to the entrance of the stairs, how could he see what car. This girl didn't even give me a call when she came back. But why was she taking a bath in her own home?

  "Ah!" The bathroom door opened, and Geng Shuang slowly walked out from inside, under the thick steam, she looked like a fairy descending to earth. Her hair was wrapped in a towel, and her snow-white nightgown couldn't cover her slender curves. A pair of jade-like legs were exposed below, and when she saw Zhang Qingyun, she smiled sweetly, making him feel dazzled.

  "Qingyun, are the clothes I bought for Uncle and Aunt still fitting?"

  "Fits, fits, and you have a good eye for it, better than me. Every time I buy clothes for them, they don't fit." Zhang Qingyun smiled, at this moment his mood had reached its peak, Geng Shuang's behavior was equivalent to acknowledging their relationship with him.

  "Ah-feng, come sit down and I'll help you blow dry your hair. Don't listen to Qingyun, he's never bought us old folks any clothes." Yín Sù'é hummed as she said this.

  Zhang Qingyun's face turned red with embarrassment, and she thought to herself, "Mom, do you have to be so direct?" Geng Shuang smiled brightly, looking very pleased with herself, and playfully stuck out her tongue at Zhang Qingyun before walking over to sit down beside Yin Su'e.

  "When are you going back to Yongping? Why didn't you call me?"

  "I've just arrived, and the road was congested. The weather was also bad, so I got dirty. That's why my aunt asked me to take a bath."

  Yin Su'e cast a sideways glance at Zhang Qingyun, somewhat reproachfully saying: "Ah Frost returned to Yongping and came straight over here. You're something else, I don't know how you managed to eat one meal for three or four hours, making others wait."

  Zhang Qingyun glanced at Geng Shuang, and her heart was also deeply moved. She wanted to say a few words of encouragement, but it wasn't suitable in front of their parents, so she remained silent.