Chapter 259: Deciding to Enter the Tiger School

On the way back, Qing Ruo asked, "Does the mayor really write well?"

"It's really good. He must have practiced calligraphy when he was a child."

"I didn't understand the few words you exchanged with him. I only knew that you were praising him."

"He was copying the calligraphy of Cao Quan. Cao Quan was a person, not a calligrapher. To commemorate him, Wang Chang of the Eastern Han Dynasty carved a stele recording Cao Quan's deeds.

The characters on this stele are elegant and graceful, with a silkworm-like beginning and a goose-like end. Many people have copied them. As for who wrote them, it is still unknown.

Qing Ruo sighed, "You really are an encyclopedia."

"In my line of work, I come into contact with all sorts of people, and I know a little bit about everything. For example, when Mayor Tian asks me to look at his handwriting, I say it's good. It's the same as not saying anything. But if I tell him what style he's copying, he'll respect me a little more in his heart."

"You said we were going to meet Er Mengzi tomorrow, but I'm a little scared. I'm most afraid of dogs, especially Tibetan mastiffs."

"Don't be afraid. Just stand behind me."

"Why should we go to him? He didn't stop the work."

"Qing Ruo, you're really a little naive when it comes to dealing with people. Do you trust Xiao Wu completely? He's actually exaggerating to irritate the mayor."

"Why would he irritate the mayor?"

"Everything has to be connected to cause and effect. Xiao Wu is from a village near Bai Niao Lake. He said that most people in Bai Niao Lake are surnamed Wei. I asked the mayor, and Xiao Wu's surname is Wu. Wu is a small surname, so he must have suffered losses from the Wei family. Provoking the mayor is just using this incident to deal with Er Mengzi.

Think about it, Xiao Wu's words are inconsistent. Sometimes he says Er Mengzi is cunning and clever, and sometimes he says Er Mengzi doesn't care about anyone in the town.

This is untrue. A cunning person has a characteristic: he's always a chameleon, always protecting himself. He might not care about the deputy mayor, but he definitely respects the secretary and mayor.

Not to mention that you are a rich man, even if you are a high-ranking official outside, when you return to your hometown, you have to respect your parents. This is called a strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake.

So, you can rest assured when you go there tomorrow. Unless Er Mengzi is really called Er Mengzi, he will warmly welcome the mayor."

Qing Ruo was half-believing and half-doubting: "Is that so? Then what are we going to do tomorrow?"

"Let's drink, chat, and then go to Mr. Chen to report. I want Mr. Chen to give me some authority to express my views. First, I'll give him a hard time, then throw him a few bones and give him some sweet treats."

Qing Ruo glanced at me as if she didn't recognize me, then focused on driving again. After a while, she asked, "Is Xiao Lin afraid of you since he lives with you?"

I burst out laughing: "Why are you afraid of me?"

"You are so scheming."

"I like people like Xiaolin who are simple and don't ask about anything."

"I want to take Xiaolin as my master."

"You, let me help you read your fortune. From now on, you have the final say on your family matters."

"Why?"

I was about to say she was a woman with "high cheekbones, a high forehead, and a high nose," but I swallowed the words. I was afraid she'd search Baidu. Because this face is bad for a husband, I smiled and said, "Because you're decisive. You can also be a bit impatient."

"The latter sentence is correct."

They chatted all the way to Xuri. After parking the car, she called Mr. Chen and briefly told him about what happened today.

Mr. Chen said, "Come up, I'm waiting for you."

Mr. Chen is indeed very busy. After arriving at Xuri, I discovered that Mr. Chen and my sister used to run the same fried noodle shop. He has to get up early in the morning and work until eleven or twelve at night.

He was sitting there reviewing documents. When he saw us come in, he pointed to the sofa and motioned for us to sit down.

Qing Ruo first filled Mr. Chen's glass with water, and then made two cups of tea.

The three of them sat down. Qing Ruo said that it was originally her job, but she was afraid that she would not be able to complete it, so she privately invited General Wan to go with her. Fortunately, he went and there was some progress.

So she reported the whole process in detail.

Mr. Chen was very happy that I took the initiative to take responsibility. He pointed at Qing Ruo and said, "This wasn't his business in the first place. He was just a consultant and also in charge of Taiyi Temple. The fact that you were able to invite him shows that you are good at leveraging external forces. It's not bad. I won't hold you accountable."

Qing Ruo smiled charmingly.

Mr. Chen asked, "Teacher Wan, what do you think?"

I took a sip of tea and said:

"I don't have a mature idea at the moment. But there is a principle: try to win them over whenever possible. After all, we'll be on someone else's territory. As a great man said, politics is about increasing your own people and minimizing your enemies."

Mr. Chen smiled and said, "That's a correct view."

"To achieve this goal, you have to give me a certain scope of authorization. You must give the other party some sweet treats."

"What kind of sweet treat can I give him?"

"He can't be in charge of the infrastructure. But going forward, the business of transporting tourists from shore to the island will be given to him. He'll choose the passengers, buy the boats, and get a percentage of the ticket sales."

Mr. Chen said, "Within 10 percent, you can express your opinion."

"That's all I have in mind."

Mr. Chen said, "Excellent! You can even express your opinion on the supply of sand and pebbles."

I shook my head: "It's just an expression of an attitude. If he's too permissive, he'll lose his edge."

Mr. Chen said, "Okay. That's settled."

I winked at Mr. Chen, and he said to Qing Ruo, "Then go back and have a rest. You must have worked hard."

After Qing Ruo left, I said, "I don't think the man would express his opinion immediately after the first visit. He'll have a process of bargaining. Let me suggest a strategy."

"you say."

I explained my plan in detail. After listening, Mr. Chen crossed his arms and said with a smile, "1.2 million a year is too little for you. If you make it clear that no one wants you, don't leave. I'll raise your salary to 1.8 million."

"Mr. Chen, I must leave in four years, so that you won't be surprised."

"Ah, why?"

"In the beginning, I was trying to make a living. Now, I am trying to live an upper-middle-class life. Finally, I am trying to seek, study, and understand the truth."

“Is Tao so attractive?”

"It's similar to those who write online novels. They write well to make more money. But his dream is to write pure literature and win the Mao or Nobel Prize. That is the most meaningful pursuit in his life."

Mr. Chen said with some regret, "Let's take it one step at a time. You're not going to disappear from this earth anyway. You still have to take care of my affairs, Chen Yousheng, right?"

I said, "Yes. Don't worry."

Mr. Chen was silent for a long time, probably feeling uncomfortable.

I said, "Leave Chun to me. He's agile and a former soldier, so he's in good physical shape. He can help me drive, and I can take care of him. He'll be a great helper to you in the future."

Mr. Chen smiled and said, "I'll help you drive tomorrow."

After coming out of Mr. Chen's office and returning to the room, I first called Mayor Tian and told him my analysis of Xiao Wu and what might happen during tomorrow's meeting.

Mayor Tian suddenly understood and said, "That Xiao Wu, I remember him right away. His family does have a conflict with Er Mengzi's family. I'll assign him another job tomorrow and he won't go."

"I suggest you just take Lao Jin with you. We're not going there to fight. Lao Jin is calm and has grassroots experience."

"OK."

After the call, I went to take a shower.

After taking a shower, I realized that the phone kept ringing. I looked over and it was Chun Yazi.

"Master, are you going to accept me as your disciple? I can't sleep tonight after hearing this news."

"Go to bed early and follow me out on the road at nine tomorrow."

"Okay, okay, if I'm even a minute late, I'm not a soldier."