A comical scene unfolded.
The six who just now were unbearably arrogant were now overwhelmingly busy.
Bottle after bottle of beer was guzzled down.
At first, it was fine, as their drinking tolerance was quite good, but after about a dozen bottles, each of them started to struggle; so with their bellies round and full, others constantly heading to the bathroom.
"Fang bro, Zhao Long is Zhao Shicong's son after all. Offending him still poses so trouble."
Lulu leaned in and said.
Chen Fang's gaze was fierce, with a slight twist of his mouth, he smiled slightly, "No worries, the political scene in Jinde County is a haze. I just want to light a fire and clear up this dense fog."
Having said this.
Chen Fang wrapped his arm around Gao Younan's shoulder.
He said, "Co on, let's go out and gather."
Old friends reunited.
Overwheld with joy.
Arm in arm, the two walked out of the KTV's door.
Just as they stepped down the stairs.
Behind them ca the voice of You Lu, "Ah Fang, wait a mont."
"What is it?"
Chen Fang turned around and asked.
You Lu looked aggrieved, her hand fidgeting with her skirt, exhibiting a hesitant deanor.
Seeing her not speaking.
Chen Fang was about to leave again.
Suddenly, You Lu said, "Ah Fang, I was wrong back then, but over these years, I've always rembered you. I think about you almost every day, do you know that?"
Upon hearing this,
Chen Fang scoffed.
He asked, "You think about every day?"
"Yes, I think about you every day, I was your first love, I guess you haven't forgotten , right?"
You Lu asked.
"What are you trying to say?"
"I want to say... do we... do we still have a chance?"
"What do you think?" Chen Fang asked.
You Lu seed to see hope, walked up to Chen Fang, straightened her bangs, and said, "Ah Fang, if you are willing to forgive , I am still willing to co back to you. I know you actually like . When we t again on the street, I could tell by the look in your eyes that you still feel sothing... so can we start over?"
To Chen Fang, these words were truly laughable.
"Do you really think I still like you?"
Chen Fang asked.
You Lu nodded confidently.
She said, "Definitely, no man can ever forget his first love."
"Alright, I'll agree to start over, but before that, you must do one thing."
Upon hearing Chen Fang agreeing,
You Lu beca instantly joyful and asked, "What is it?"
Chen Fang noticed a discarded mineral water bottle by the roadside.
It was half full.
He unscrewed the cap, turned the bottle upside down, and watched as the water inside glugged down onto the ground.
Then,
he handed the empty bottle to You Lu.
He said, "Simple, take the water on the ground and refill the bottle with it."
You Lu was suddenly dumbfounded and said, "How can water that has been spilled be put back? It's impossible."
"Then there's no possibility between us."
Having said that, Chen Fang shrugged regretfully and once again wrapped his arm around Gao Younan's shoulder, disappearing into the darkness.
The two found a barbecue stall by the roadside.
They ordered a few bottles of beer.
And began to share their experiences over the past few years.
After graduation, Gao Younan had returned to his hotown and worked in a private enterprise, where the pay was quite decent.
But unexpectedly, not many years into his job, both his father and mother fell ill successively.
To afford their dical bills and to take care of them,
Gao Younan gave up his job and ran about everywhere, busying himself for several years, yet he couldn't save his parents' lives; on the contrary, he ended up in heavy debt.
To repay the debts,
he worked several jobs every day.
Delivering packages during the day, serving as a waiter in a KTV at night, his life was hard.
"You're having such a hard ti, why didn't you tell ?"
Chen Fang asked with so heartache.
Gao Younan chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, "I know you beca a civil servant, but how much does a civil servant really make? If I told you, wouldn't that put you in a difficult position? I an, life is all about overcoming one hurdle after another. I think it's okay. A few more years, and the debt will be paid off."
"How much do you still owe?"
Chen Fang asked.
Gao Younan thought for a mont and said, "It's not too bad. Originally, I borrowed so high-interest loans to pay for my father's dical treatnt. Now, it's less than three hundred thousand left."
"Okay, I'll pay off those loans for you."
Chen Fang said.
Gao Younan kept waving his hands and said, "No need, I can pay it off myself, really..."
He wanted to say more.
But Chen Fang stopped him.
He waved at Lulu by the roadside.
Lulu ran over.
Chen Fang whispered a few words into her ear.
Lulu nodded, seemingly in agreent.
Chen Fang continued, "After today, quit all your jobs and co work with , how about that?"
"Work with you doing what? Aren't you an official?"
Gao Younan asked doubtfully.
Chen Fang pointed at Lulu and said, "Sort out your affairs, then report tonight, Lulu will take care of things for you. Let's not talk about this now, let's drink, skewers!"
"Alright, drinks, skewers!"
Gao Younan said happily.
The two, who hadn't seen each other in years, drank a lot that day, sang songs they used to sing together, and recounted embarrassing monts they had shared.
By the ti they lay down in the dormitory, it was after midnight.
The next morning.
In the Deputy County Magistrate's office.
Ding Yuan and the Political and Legal Committee Secretary Guan Cunzhong were discussing sothing.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Ding Yuan smiled slightly and said, "They're here."
Then, he shouted loudly, "Please co in."
The door was pushed open.
A middle-aged man with a square face, indignant, walked in.
"Deputy Ding, I need to report sothing to you."
The man began as soon as he entered.
"Director Zhao, what's so upsetting?"
Ding Yuan asked.
The person was none other than Zhao Shicong, the Director of the North City Street Office,
and Zhao Long's father.
Zhao Shicong said angrily, "Deputy Ding, that Chen Fang from the Education Bureau is really overstepping... "
Then, he repeated what had happened last night at the Dynasty KTV. Of course, he omitted the part about Zhao Long's arrogance and only ntioned how Chen Fang abused his position as bureau chief to bully others.
"Director Zhao, don't be upset. Chen Fang is young and has achieved a lot, so it's understandable if he's a bit defiant. He has the support of Director Zhang from the organization departnt, so naturally, he feels invincible," Guan Cunzhong said, with thinly veiled sarcasm.
Zhao Shicong grew even angrier.
He clenched his teeth and said, "That doesn't an he can bully people like this. So what if he has soone backing him? Does my son deserve to be targeted? I won't let this go, leaders, you must stand up for ."
Ding Yuan frowned.
He said, "Comrade Shicong, you know as well as I that Chen Fang has just been nominated as Deputy County Magistrate. More importantly, he is currently the head of the preparatory group for the Vocational Technical College. This shows that he is highly regarded from above. It might be difficult to handle this. Maybe we should just keep our heads down."
"No, I can't swallow this. If you won't help , I'll go to Secretary Yang. I refuse to believe that there's no justice in Jinde County."
Seeing Zhao Shicong about to leave,
Ding Yuan said, "Director Zhao, isn't it a bit much to bother Secretary Yang over such a small matter? Besides, in just a few hours, leaders from the Yongfu Education Group are coming to our Jinde County. Chen Fang is busy with this, and if sothing goes wrong, Secretary Yang will definitely explode."
These words,
hit Zhao Shicong like a bolt of lightning,
and in an instant, it seed he had a revelation.
He gritted his teeth.
He said, "Fine, if you all won't handle it, I will. Worst case scenario, we all go down. Who's afraid of who?"
After dropping these words,
Zhao Shicong pushed the door open and hurriedly left.
"Old Ding, do you think he caught on to anything?"
After Zhao Shicong had left, Guan Cunzhong asked with a smile.
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