Chapter 46: Sitting on Two Boats

  Classmates at the table congratulated Ye Pingyu one after another, this meal was arranged by Xiao Jianzhong, even Xiao Jianzhong expressed congratulations to Ye Pingyu, they had to give Xiao Jianzhong face even if they looked down on Ye Pingyu who worked in the countryside. Of course, while congratulating Ye Pingyu on his promotion, many classmates still regarded Xiao Jianzhong as the protagonist of this gathering.

  Xiao Jianzhong works in the county committee office and is familiar with the leaders of various units in the county. They work in various units directly under the county government, so they naturally want to get along with Xiao Jianzhong and make things easier for them. However, Ye Pingyu, although promoted to director of the Caolingzi Township Party and Government Office, has little relationship with them and cannot help them with their affairs. It's easy to transfer from the county to the township, but not from the township to the county. Even if Ye Pingyu is promoted to deputy department level, he still can't be transferred to the county, so it's enough to just congratulate him.

  Ye Pingyu wouldn't mind these details, after all the main purpose is still a gathering of classmates. Although nowadays' gatherings are not as pure as they were during school days, everyone is still classmates, even if there are some personal thoughts mixed in, it's not necessary to pay too much attention to them, right?

  Wen Kai poured wine with a smile, constantly toasting Xiao Jianzhong and Zhao Bingxue. Xiao Jianzhong sat there with a smug expression on his face. Now his classmates respected him not only because he worked at the county committee office but also partly because of Zhao Bingxue sitting next to him. Everyone at this table except Ye Pingyu knew what was going on.

  Ye Pingyu sat there, thinking for half a day, and still went to toast Wu Manli. Wu Manli smiled slightly, picked up the small wine cup, but there was no wine in it. She looked at Ye Pingyu, took a sip, and indicated that she had finished drinking, not giving Ye Pingyu a chance to clink glasses with her.

  Seeing her like this, Ye Pingyu chuckled and thought she was thinking too much. He had no other intention when he toasted her with wine. Was she afraid that Huai Bo would get jealous on the spot?

  When Wen Kai Bo glanced at them with the corner of his eye while drinking with Jing Xiao Jian Zhong and Zhao Bing Xue, he didn't say anything. After Wu Man Li took a sip of water, she sat there motionless, as if to show her innocence between her and Ye Ping Yu.

  Ye Pingyu had seen the two of them, and smiled to himself. After Wen Kaibo finished his toast, he also took a cup of wine to toast Xiao Jianzhong and Zhao Bingxue. Xiao Jianzhong was naturally very happy, but Zhao Bingxue was cold and expressionless, not giving Ye Pingyu any face. Not giving Ye Pingyu face was also not giving Xiao Jianzhong face. Xiao Jianzhong looked at this and couldn't do anything about it, so he just smiled awkwardly on the surface and focused on drinking with Ye Pingyu.

  Seeing Zhao Bingxue's extremely cold and arrogant appearance, Ye Pingyu felt uncomfortable in his heart, but he didn't think much about it. He only thought that if she married Xiao Jianzhong, would Xiao Jianzhong be able to serve her well?

  After finishing the wine with Xiao Jianzhong, Ye Pingyu had another drink with Bao Gelei. Bao Gelei was someone who could talk to him, and his heart was also full of ambitions. However, being stuck in the county party school, he couldn't even get a chance to show off, so among this group of classmates, only he envied Ye Pingyu's current promotion. So when the two started drinking, they had more to say, chatting about some things.

  Others went to toast Xiao Jianzhong one after another, and the atmosphere at the wine table became lively. After a while, Ye Pingyu followed Xiao Jianzhong to the toilet, and when they entered the toilet, the two stood facing the wall and talked.

  Ye Pingyu said: "Jianzhong, thank you today, it's lively with classmates together."

  Xiao Jianzhong laughed and said: "What are you thanking me for? You little brat, if you become successful in the future, don't forget about us classmates!"

  Ye Pingyu said: "Look at what you're saying, it's as if I've really made it big. Am I that kind of person? My fellow students, including myself, still have the highest expectations for you. Don't look at me now being a deputy department head, in the future, once you get promoted, even going down to be a county magistrate or party secretary will be many times stronger than my current position as director of the party and government office. In the officialdom, it's not just a matter of time, is that right?"

  Xiao Jianzhong smiled and said: "Now it's still hard to see the dawn, but I think it will be soon. Once we get married, things will be much easier!"

  As soon as he said that, Ye Pingyu asked: "Jianzhong, why does Zhao Bingxue always look so cold and icy, it's really a case of 'a name matching one's nature'. If you two get together, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle her in the future. Isn't our village's Chang Fang very good? Why did you go find her instead?"

  Xiao Jianzhong smiled and shook his head, saying: "Do you know who her father is?"

  "Who is it?" Ye Pingyu asked.

  "Zhao Jianye! The head of the county finance bureau, and a favorite of County Party Secretary Gui. If I were to marry her, would I still disappoint your expectations?" Xiao Jianzhong said with some complacency on his face.

  Ye Pingyu's eyes widened and he said, "So she is Zhao Jianye's daughter, no wonder you're being so careful, you've climbed high on the social ladder! But what's going on between Chang Fang and you, I think she still has feelings for you!"

  Xiao Jianzhong's face fell as soon as he heard this, and he said: "Ping Yu, I need you to do me a favor. Originally, I hadn't settled things with Bing Xue yet, so I didn't say anything to Chang Fang. Now that it's almost settled, I also can't delay someone else's youth any longer. Trouble you to tell Chang Fang for me and let her go find someone better than me - the two of us aren't suitable!"

  Unexpectedly, Xiao Jianzhong has been playing with two boats all along. Now that he has won Zhao Bingxue's heart, he has dumped Chang Fang. This is too much for a person to do. How can he help with this matter?

  Ye Pingyu waved his hand repeatedly and smiled: "Jianzhong, I really can't help with this matter. Emotional matters are between two people, you'd better discuss it yourselves. If I intervene, it won't be good. Later on, both of you will blame me!"

  Seeing Ye Pingyu's unwillingness to help, Xiao Jianzhong glanced at him and said: "Pingyu, do you have a girlfriend now?"

  Ye Pingyu said: "No way, who has your good fortune, having two beauties throwing themselves at you, and even climbing to the high branch of being the daughter of a bureau chief!"

  Xiao Jianzhong chuckled and said, "This isn't a high branch either. If you don't have an object, I think Chang Fang is still pretty good. Although I've been in contact with her for a while, I haven't even held her hand. You little kid, if you're interested, grab the opportunity to..."

  "Stop it, Jianzhong. This isn't a second-hand goods collection station. If you feel guilty towards someone, then explain yourself properly to them. Don't think about getting me involved as a third party, emotional matters should be cut off cleanly, can't leave any loose ends, or else you'll get yourself killed in the future!" Ye Pingyu wouldn't have responded like this even if he had feelings for Chang Fang, what did he take him for?

  Seeing Ye Pingyu's disagreement, Xiao Jianzhong sighed and said: "Pingyu, you're right. When a decision is not made decisively, it will lead to future troubles. I'm indeed too hesitant in this regard!"

  When Ye Pingyu heard this, he thought to himself, "You're not just being cautious, you're thinking of having your cake and eating it too. If Chang Fang finds out about this, with her temper, she'll never let him off the hook."

  Two people finished the toilet. After Xiao Jianzhong came out, he smiled and said to Ye Pingyu: "Pingyu, actually Wu Manli is not bad, it's a bargain for Heng Bozi!"

  I don't know what he meant by saying that, but Ye Pingyu said: "You little scoundrel, aren't you thinking of having it all three ways?"

  Xiao Jianzhong burst out laughing and said: "Ping Yu, I was just admiring her, didn't you have a crush on Wu Manli when we were in school?"

  At the mention of his school days, Ye Pingyu waved his hand repeatedly, smiled and didn't answer, quickly walking back to his room.

  Back in the room, everyone had drunk enough and suggested having dinner. After dinner, they could go to a nearby KTV hall to dance and sing. Some people got excited as soon as they heard about singing and dancing.

  Ye Pingyu didn't have this hobby, thinking of finishing dinner and staying at a nearby inn, and taking the bus back to Caolingzi Township early tomorrow morning.

  Xiao Jianzhong agreed to everyone's request, and then started eating. After finishing the meal, everyone walked out of the room and headed towards the door of the restaurant. At this moment, Xiao Jianzhong's sharp eyes suddenly saw two figures, and he quickly walked over and called out in a low voice: "Secretary Zhang, Commissioner Zhao, hello!"

  Everyone turned around and some people recognized each other, while others didn't. Ye Pingyu, however, recognized one person - Zhang Mingshun, with whom he had once dined together.

  Zhang Mingshun didn't notice them at first, but when Xiao Jianzhong shouted, he noticed and smiled slightly as he prepared to leave. However, he suddenly saw Ye Pingyu and his eyes lit up, laughing: "Little Ye, what are you doing here?"

  Seeing him calling out to himself, Ye Pingyu originally didn't want to talk to him, but now he couldn't not walk up and say: "Secretary Zhang, are our classmates gathering here?"

  Zhang Ming Shun glanced at Xiao Jian Zhong and said: "Xiao Xiao, are you classmates?"

  Xiao Jianzhong never thought that Zhang Mingshun would know Ye Pingyu, and seemed so familiar, so he immediately became nervous and stuttered: "Yes, yes, we're all classmates!"

  "Great, class reunion is great!" After finishing speaking, he suddenly turned his head to the person next to him and said: "Old Zhao, this is the Xiao Ye we studied at our last meeting, the director of Caolingzi Township Party and Government Office!"

  That person was holding a cigarette in his hand, constantly smoking, and didn't pay attention to these people. But after hearing Zhang Ming's words, he turned around and looked at Ye Pingyu, opening his eyes wide and saying: "This young man is indeed Little Ye, looking good, a talented and handsome guy, not bad, really not bad!"

  Zhang Mingshun smiled and looked at Ye Pingyu, saying: "Little Ye, this is Zhao Zhengwei, he's a good person. In the future when you go to their village, you must treat him well and can't neglect him!"

  He said that although he had never seen this person before, but after Zhang Ming's introduction, it was Zhao Zhengwei, who was almost the leader of the People's Armed Department. If he went to the countryside, not to mention him, even Cao Dafu would have to entertain him well. Zhang Ming said so, but just joking.