Before Gao Ziqing returned, Meng Zhengguo had already reported to him about the reception arrangements. This was the astuteness of Meng Zhengguo: as a secretary, one is not supposed to act on one's own initiative in front of the leader, but to make decisions with moderation. One must neither make the leader feel annoyed nor fail to act appropriately, and must avoid making the leader think that one has only petty cleverness and no great wisdom.
Since he took the position of the Director of the County Party Committee Office in Daoxuan County, many people had privately called him the "second-in-command" of Daoxuan County. Such an evaluation was both good and bad for him as the chief steward. On one hand, it showed that his status was extraordinary, but on the other hand, it provided his political rivals with an opportunity to use this nickname against him. After hearing this nickname, Meng Zhengguo was greatly shocked and became even more diligent in his work, while at the same time becoming more low-key in his dealings with people. For a while, Meng Zhengguo felt as if he were an eunuch from ancient times.
"Director Cheng, I didn't know you were coming today. I was out on business in the city, so I failed to welcome you properly. I'm truly sorry." Gao Ziqing lined up three wine glasses, filled them all, and then tipped them back one by one.
The small reservoir project in the county was ostensibly handled by Tang Zhengshan, but Gao Ziqing could sense that Cheng Jemin had played a crucial role. Moreover, as the secretary of a vice-hall-level official with great potential for advancement, it was definitely worth investing a lot in him.
Cheng Jemin smiled and clinked glasses with Gao Ziqing, making the atmosphere at the table even more lively.
Chen Tietuan sat at the table somewhat nervously. He had been working in Daoxuan County for some time and had seen the county TV programs, so he knew that the person sitting across from him was the County Party Secretary, Gao Ziqing. This Gao Secretary, who was usually surrounded by a crowd wherever he went, was now sitting and drinking with him, his attitude as warm as a spring breeze. It seemed that his old classmate was doing well.
Just as he was feeling this, the pager on his waist suddenly vibrated. He took it out and saw a message: "Manager Chen, this is Niu Deli. I have been blind to your greatness these past few days. Please forgive me, Manager Chen. I have the money ready, and I will bring it to you as soon as you come out."
Seeing this, Chen Tietuan felt a mix of amusement and frustration. He had run his shoes thin, always coming back empty-handed, and now the money was waiting for him!
"Brother Chen, thank you for your contribution to the rural road construction in Daoxuan County. Here, I represent the fifty thousand fellow countrymen of Daoxuan County and toast you!" Gao Ziqing, after hearing Meng Zhengguo's introduction of Chen Tietuan, raised a glass to him with a warm smile.
Seeing Gao Ziqing's smile, Chen Tietuan quickly stood up and clinked glasses with him. After Gao Ziqing drank a glass of drink with Xiao Hu, he sat down next to Cheng Jemin and started chatting.
Finally, when Cheng Jemin went to the restroom, Chen Tietuan quickly followed him out and told him about the message on the pager. Cheng Jemin smiled and winked at Chen Tietuan: "Brother Chen, I'm here today to stand up for you. Don't worry, your money will be returned soon!"
Cheng Jemin was not just talking big. The money had to be returned today; otherwise, once Director Chen was transferred, Gao Ziqing might not be so polite to him.
"Brother, if it were up to me, I would give these guys a good lesson to vent my anger. But thinking about it, I still need to do business here. These two are local snakes, and if I offend them too much, they might cause trouble for me in secret. So, it's better to let bygones be bygones!"
If it were according to Cheng Jemin's usual temperament, after witnessing Chen Tietuan's humiliation, he would not have let it go. But in the past two days, he had been pondering the contents of the diary. Rationality told him that the consequences of acting on impulse, though seemingly satisfying, would actually create more problems for himself.
A strong dragon does not suppress a local snake. Chen Tietuan's business was not yet finished. If he harshly dealt with the two Nius now, even if they did not say anything openly, their relatives and friends, and those who sympathize with them, would surely cause him trouble.
Even if Cheng Jemin were a real tiger, he would have a headache over this matter. Moreover, he was not a real tiger but a paper tiger about to collapse.
After they returned to the private room, the banquet continued. After drinking a few more glasses with Gao Ziqing, he left, citing the need to toast other guests. Before leaving, he repeatedly instructed Meng Zhengguo to take good care of Director Cheng.
After Gao Ziqing left, Meng Zhengguo raised his glass and said, "Director Cheng, Brother Chen, thank you, Brother. Rest assured, I will handle this matter well."
Cheng Jemin understood what Meng Zhengguo meant. He was thanking him for not bad-mouthing him to Gao Ziqing, or else, as the person in charge of the reception, where would his face be?
Cheng Jemin raised his glass and clinked it with Meng Zhengguo, then said, "Brother Meng, forgive me for being presumptuous, but we have similar jobs and serving leaders is not easy. Since you can handle this small matter, why bother Director Gao?"
"Hahaha, Brother Chen, you serve the leaders at the provincial level, so it's me who should be grateful." Meng Zhengguo felt very comfortable after hearing Cheng Jemin's words and developed a better impression of him.
Cheng Jemin smiled, raised his glass, and drank another one with Meng Zhengguo, then said, "Brother Meng, those guys are really despicable. If they are not properly disciplined, I don't care what others say about me, as I will be back in the province after today, but where will your face be, Brother Meng?"
Meng Zhengguo had already decided to give the police chief a lesson. Seeing that Cheng Jemin was still upset about the matter, he firmly promised, "Brother, this matter must be handled seriously. At the very least, Brother Chen was wronged; at the most, it affects the overall image of Daoxuan County. Now, all over the country, the environment for development is being optimized. If they treat investors like this, how can we not give them a response?"
Cheng Jemin smiled and said, "Since Brother Meng puts it that way, I won't say anything more."
Not far from the private room where Cheng Jemin and the others were dining, Zhao Qingyi and Niu Deli were anxiously pacing in their room. The table was full of delicious dishes, but they all tasted bland now.
"Did Secretary Gao come out of the room?" A waiter walked in, and Zhao Qingyi grabbed her arm and asked.
"Chief Zhao, Secretary Gao went to toast the guests at the city finance bureau's table, and Director Meng is still with him," the waiter, who was hired by Zhao Qingyi to gather information, was very quick-witted.
"How did Secretary Gao treat those people?" Zhao Qingyi asked impatiently.
The waiter saw Zhao Qingyi's nervous face and the sweat on his forehead, secretly mocking him. You used to be so arrogant, but now you're in this situation! But she did not dare to offend him and carefully said, "Secretary Gao was particularly friendly to the young man, calling him brother and drinking three glasses in a row with him."
"Three glasses in a row?" Although he was just a police chief, Zhao Qingyi knew the preferences of the county leaders very well. He knew that Secretary Gao was a proud person and usually put on a lot of airs. For someone to make him drink three glasses in a row, who could this person be?
This time, he really hit a hard wall! If Secretary Gao got angry, his superior would definitely sacrifice him. What should he do? How could he be so foolish as to flatter Niu Deli?
Niu Deli was also uneasy. Although the main responsibility lay with Zhao Qingyi, the incident originated from him. Moreover, Zhao Qingyi was helping him, so he could not escape responsibility.
"Director Niu, how could you do this? You didn't even find out who they were before telling me to arrest them. You've really put me in a difficult position!"
Niu Deli, seeing Zhao Qingyi's angry face, was unhappy. How could you change your attitude so quickly? You were calling me brother just now, but now that trouble has come, you want to run away. What kind of person are you?
Although he was seething inside, he still tried to comfort Zhao Qingyi, "Chief Zhao, this is all my fault, but now is not the time to assign blame. The most important thing is how to resolve this. After this is over, whatever you say, I will do as you wish, no questions asked!"
"Then how do you propose to resolve it?" Zhao Qingyi's anger subsided a bit, but his face turned even darker.
"I'm at a loss right now..." Niu Deli's mind was in chaos, and he was even more flustered by Zhao Qingyi's relentless pressure.
"Chief Zhao, I just ran into a friend from the County Party Committee Office. He said that Director Meng asked him to notify Secretary Mi from the Discipline Inspection Commission to come to the hotel," a young police officer walked in and whispered in Zhao Qingyi's ear.
Zhao Qingyi's face turned pale. If the matter was handled internally, the worst he could face was losing his job. But if the Discipline Inspection Commission got involved, it would not be so simple. Nowadays, which official could withstand an investigation? There was a saying at the dinner table: "If not investigated, everything is fine; if investigated, everything is a mess. If not investigated, everyone looks good; if investigated, everyone is corrupt." How could Zhao Qingyi be an exception?
Moreover, there was an old saying: "A latrine does not stink until it is stirred." If the Discipline Inspection Commission really wanted to find trouble, who could escape?
Niu Deli, who was also scratching his head for a solution, had an equally terrible expression. He knew that if the Discipline Inspection Commission pursued the matter, he would not be able to escape either.
The two looked at each other, and they saw fear in each other's eyes!
PS: Please throw all your favorites, recommendations, and clicks at me; I'm not afraid of the pain!