The porridge, fragrant with rice oil, was fed to Zhang Cheng in small sips by Shi Yangyang in the early morning.
"You eat too," Zhang Cheng mumbled.
"Um!"
As the two were cuddling, the old village chief, with his hands tucked in his pocket, mysteriously approached and pulled out a piece of yellow paper folded into a triangle from his robes.
"Er Gouzi, take this and keep it close to your body."
Zhang Cheng laughed, took the yellow paper and put it in his pocket, teasingly saying, "Uncle, didn't you say last night that you wanted to believe in science and break free from feudal superstitions?"
Upon hearing this, the old village chief blushed, then coughed and said confidently, "Carrying a talisman on your person and believing in science are not contradictory!"
That's brilliant!
Zhang Cheng chuckled.
Soon, the store was packed with villagers who had heard the news. Amidst their warm greetings, they stuffed thirty or forty yellow paper talismans with different effects into Zhang Cheng's pocket.
Around nine o'clock, the township sent a doctor to change the dressing and, incidentally, to deal with the troublesome matter of dividing up the land.
Because Shi Yangyang's household registration has not been transferred, according to regulations, Zhang Cheng's family can only be counted as one person.
The village chief immediately slammed his fist on the table and argued with the township officials until they were red in the face.
Zhang Cheng didn't care about those few plots of land. He leaned back in his recliner, looking out the window at the villagers arguing over him, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
He had already memorized the clear size 42 shoe print from last night.
There are ghosts in this village.
...
5 PM, Lanjiang Hotel.
Director Qian, with his pregnant belly, walked into the hall in a brand-new brown suit, looking very confident.
"Where is the private room that Mr. Li booked?"
"Excuse me, are you Ms. Li Yuanyuan, the owner of this shop?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Boss, this way please." The waiter led the way. "Mr. Li arrived half an hour ago and is in a private room with his guests."
Accompanying guests?
Director Qian's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, a hint of displeasure flashing through his mind.
He thought he was the star of the night.
The waiter pushed open the door to the private room.
Inside the door, laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air.
Li Yuanyuan was smiling as she served food to a dignified woman in her thirties. Beside the woman sat a man with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a composed demeanor.
It was Zhao Daming.
"Director Zhao?" Director Qian was taken aback.
"Director Qian, you've finally arrived!" Zhao Daming immediately stood up, a warm smile on his face, and offered him a cigarette. "You're late, so you'll have to punish yourself with three drinks later!"
Director Qian forced a smile and asked calmly, "Director Zhao, do you know Boss Li too?"
“It’s more than just knowing her,” Zhao Daming laughed, putting his arm around his wife’s shoulder and speaking affectionately, “My wife has already recognized Yuanyuan as her god-sister!”
God-sister?
Director Qian's heart skipped a beat, and his smile instantly became much more sincere: "Then congratulations to Director Zhao!"
He had just sat down when the door to the private room was pushed open again.
A fawning smile appeared on Shen Jiju's face as he walked in. Upon seeing Director Qian and Zhao Daming, his legs went weak, and he hurriedly ran forward, saying, "Director Qian, Director Zhao, I didn't expect to see you two here..."
Before he could finish speaking...
Director Qian and Zhao Daming's gazes, however, bypassed him and turned to the doorway.
The two stood up almost at the same time and quickly went to meet him.
A middle-aged man with a calm expression stood at the doorway.
Vice Mayor Ma!
"Mayor Ma!"
"Mayor, you've finally arrived!"
Li Yuanyuan, also wearing high heels, gracefully greeted them, her posture perfectly appropriate.
Vice Mayor Ma's gaze swept across the private room, pausing briefly on the slightly uneasy face of the heavy man. He raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, then smiled and said, "Sit down, everyone. Let's chat. Why be so polite?"
The atmosphere in the private room suddenly became subtle.
Shen Ji was extremely uncomfortable. He couldn't understand how he had gotten involved in such a mysterious situation.
Director Qian was filled with apprehension, wondering what the relationship was between Vice Mayor Ma and this Li Yuanyuan.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Ma was pondering what Li Yuanyuan was really up to with this meal.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
Shen Jida has been completely reduced to a tool for toasting, and his tongue is so thick from drinking so much.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Yuanyuan picked up her wine glass and stood up.
She smiled broadly and said in a clear voice, "Mayor Ma, I heard that a fantastic project is coming to Funing County—a smelting plant! This is a great thing that will boost the county's economy and create jobs for tens of thousands of people! On behalf of the people of Funing County, I toast you!"
The words fell.
The previously lively atmosphere inside the private room instantly froze.
Director Qian's hand, holding the wine glass, froze in mid-air. He cursed Li Yuanyuan inwardly, thinking she was a brainless madwoman. How could she say such a thing in public? There was an outsider, Shen Ju, standing right there!
Zhao Daming's smile froze for a moment, but he immediately recovered.
The smile on Vice Mayor Ma's face had vanished without a trace.
He didn't look at Li Yuanyuan, nor did he even pick up his wine glass. He simply tapped the table lightly with his knuckles, his eyes as cold as frost as he stared at the wine glass in front of him, as if it held a mortal enemy.
The entire private room was deathly silent, save for the resounding "tap, tap, tap" of his knocking, which struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.
Li Yuanyuan's hand, holding the wine glass, hovered in mid-air, her smile somewhat stiff, but she did not back down.
She lightly bit her red lips with her pearly teeth, tilted her snow-white neck back, and drank the white wine in the glass in one gulp.
"good!"
Zhao Daming suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, breaking the suffocating silence.
He stood up, seemingly oblivious to Vice Mayor Ma's expression, and said loudly, "Yuanyuan has a good capacity for alcohol! However, how can a single drink be enough to show our sincerity when toasting our Mayor Ma?"
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