"secretary?"
"Absolutely!" the chef said smugly. "I have a relative who's a leader, so I know all about these things!"
"Don't be fooled by how powerful Guo Zhen is now. He didn't have much power at the beginning. After all, the Guo family wasn't considered very powerful in Beijing. After graduating from high school, he went directly to work for Shan Shengshuo. At that time, Shan Shengshuo had already achieved great success, and the Shan family had both military and political influence, which was quite remarkable."
"Back then, Shan Shengshuo was in charge of Liulichang. You all know what Liulichang is for. Countless antiques and cultural relics circulated in it and all had to go through Shan Shengshuo's hands."
"Guo Zhen made many contributions as Shan Shengshuo's secretary, which led to his recommendation and gradual rise to this position. It's no exaggeration to say that Shan Shengshuo was Guo Zhen's second father in getting her to where she is today!"
Chef Mo glanced at the chef and said, "Shan Shengshuo's daughter died because of Guo Zhen. How could Guo Zhen possibly have a good relationship with Shan Shengshuo?"
"ah?"
Some people didn't understand and quickly looked at Chef Mo.
Chef Mo snorted but said nothing more.
He was able to become a chef for state banquets because he was truly skilled, and also because he never talked much.
Today, only Shan Shengshuo and Guo Zhen can't control him, so Chef Mo only said this one sentence, and didn't say anything more.
The cook who was telling the story of Shan Shengshuo and Guo Zhen muttered, "No wonder Guo Zhen hasn't married all these years; it turns out she's keeping a widow's life for Shan Shengshuo's daughter."
The others couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Zhou Mingli didn't laugh. He lowered his eyes and pondered deeply, feeling that there were many things worth thinking about.
Based on what he observed, Guo Zhen showed great respect for Shan Shengshuo, and Shan Shengshuo did not show any coldness towards Guo Zhen.
This doesn't seem like the attitude of a father whose daughter was murdered towards his enemy.
Zhou Mingli knew too much inside information, so he couldn't make an accurate judgment.
After the banquet ended, Zhou Mingli took off his clothes, revealing a rather ordinary winter coat, and walked out silently.
He quietly observed from within the crowd.
I saw Guo Zhen and Shan Shengshuo.
Just as the chef said, Shan Shengshuo was indeed quite influential, with many people following him around like servants, and sitting next to him was Guo Zhen.
The two chatted happily, appearing completely at ease with each other.
Zhou Mingli didn't say anything, left the crowd, and rode away on his bicycle.
The next day, after Zhou Mingli finished making breakfast at work, he went to find Cheng Wenyun.
"You're asking about the relationship between Shan Shengshuo and Guo Zhen? And Shan Shengshuo's daughter?"
Cheng Wenyun looked at Zhou Mingli with surprise and a hint of doubt in his eyes.
“I happened to see them together yesterday and heard some gossip. It seems that Shan Shengshuo’s daughter died because of Guo Zhen. Logically speaking, the relationship between Shan and Guo should not be very good, but what I saw yesterday was different from what I thought.”
Zhou Mingli explained in a calm tone.
Cheng Wenyun paused for a moment, then said, "So you think there's something fishy going on between them?"
Zhou Mingli raised his eyes. "Some people say that Guo Zhen is deeply in love with Shan Shengshuo's daughter, which is why Guo Zhen has not married for so many years. But now Guo Zhen and Liu Yinyin are entangled. Does Shan Shengshuo know about this? If he does know, is the scene of them chatting happily yesterday real or fake?"
“I certainly can’t trip up Guo Zhen right now, but I can at least help him by making things difficult for him and preventing him from blocking Jiang Ci’s path,” Zhou Mingli said in a low voice.
His and Jiang Ci's identities after transmigrating into the book were different.
In the book, Zhou Mingli is portrayed as a good-for-nothing, an uneducated peasant.
He could say he was a good cook and could cook, but he couldn't say that he was a gifted person who could read and speak foreign languages despite never having been to school, and that he would suddenly rise to prominence.
His only opportunity in Beijing was an interview for a kitchen helper position at the municipal government, and he had to seize it.
Jiang Ci was a sent-down youth who had only graduated from high school.
When people are abroad, they give themselves an identity. So Jiang Ci, who is far away from her hometown, can pretend that she has a friend from country Y who teaches her English and common knowledge about country Y, and then she can get into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Under these circumstances, Jiang Ci and Zhou Mingli's choice becomes clear.
That is to allow Jiangci, which has great potential for advancement, to continue to rise, and to use all available means to divert the attention of Guo Zhen, the obstacle that cannot be overcome, elsewhere.
This is all Zhou Mingli can do for now.
Cheng Wenyun sighed and said, "I understand."
"Shan Shengshuo's daughter was indeed close to marrying Guo Zhen before her death. Shan Shengshuo said that she died from a sudden illness. It was also because of Shan Shengshuo's daughter's death that Guo Zhen was transferred from Shan Shengshuo's position as secretary to another cadre position. Because they had no contact for many years afterward, these things were not mentioned for a long time. These are not secrets that cannot be told."
"I don't know whether Shan Shengshuo knows about the connection between Guo Zhen and Liu Yinyin, but we can definitely let Shan Shengshuo know about it and see what his attitude is."
Zhou Mingli nodded and said, "Thank you."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Wenyun smiled and said, "There's nothing to thank me for. It's also beneficial for us if Jiang Ci can achieve greater success."
The Zhou and Cheng families are now firmly bound together; helping the Zhou family is helping them. Cheng Wenyun has accepted this, and his only wish is for Jiang Ci to grow stronger quickly so that it can also become an asset and clear away obstacles as soon as possible.
Jiang Ci himself is unaware of Zhou Mingli's intentions.
She personally took Shan Lian to see Henry and discussed the packaging issue with him.
After listening to Henry's advice, Shan Lian revised the packaging several times on the spot, finally getting the people from Country Y to agree and resolving the packaging issue.
Shan Lian had come to understand why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would entrust such an important task to a newcomer like Jiang Ci.
She raised her head. "You're not bad."
Jiang Ci smiled upon hearing this and said, "You're very capable too. You've solved the packaging problem so well, and the rest of the work can continue."
"I'm really grateful for your help this time," Jiang Ci said sincerely.
Seeing her serious expression, Shan Lian felt a little awkward and raised her head, "You yourself said this is work, how could I not do it?"
Jiang Ci smiled upon hearing this and started walking out.
Dan Lian followed in her footsteps, scratched her cheek, and said, "So, I have to design the packaging for export to other countries too?"
Jiang Ci turned to look at Shan Lian, "Of course, great painter, you've already accepted the job, haven't you?"
Dan Lian was overwhelmed with emotion, then reluctantly nodded, "Okay."
Seeing her awkward expression, Jiang Ci found it amusing and asked, "How old are you? You don't look like an adult."
Shan Lian's eyes widened. "How did you know?!"
Jiang Ci, "Hmm?"
Dan Lian's lips moved slightly, and she murmured, "Ten...sixteen."
Jiang Ci: "Huh???"
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