Chapter 23: The Temptation of Power

  Aifang has been in a bad mood these days, and she had a big fight with Lu Xue. It's also because of the annoying things at work.

  She was selected for her beauty during recruitment, but offended the county leader while serving on the top floor and was sent down. Fortunately, the county leader was transferred soon, otherwise she might have been fired. Even so, the leaders in the department knew about her temper and stopped arranging her to work on the top floor.

  For her who has no social connections, the hope of being converted to a formal employee is very small.

  Tang Gen saw this and gathered his courage to pester her the next day.

  And if she completely falls out with Tang Gen Shui again, her chances of being made permanent will definitely be ruined.

  Aifang was ready to drive Lu Zhong away, and have a good talk with Tang Gen Shui. If he wanted to give gifts, then so be it, but if they were going to discuss other things, then forget it. At worst, she wouldn't work for him anymore, she could always find another job. But what was unbearable was that he would humiliate her in front of his own half-brother.

  When Ai Fang called Lu Zhong to leave, Tang Gen Shui's face gradually eased up and said: "That's right, what can't we discuss between us two? Even if there are some small misunderstandings, they can still be resolved!" A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

  Lu Zhong was slightly stunned, didn't move, and instead slowly pulled out a cigarette.

  "Ah, little brother, don't go just yet." Looking at Tang Gen's disgusting smile, Ai Fang suddenly realized that if she let him leave like this, she would never be able to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

  While speaking, Ai Fang looked at Tang Gen Shui and said: "Tang Suo Er, the company is restructuring, according to seniority and ability, I should be converted to a contract worker. If there are still requirements that I have not met to convert to a regular employee, I will go to your home with my husband Lu tomorrow and you can tell me then."

  Tang Gen's water originally saw Ai Fang wanting to drive away Lu Zhong, his heart was itchy, who knew that these noisy girls suddenly called out the little white face again, so confusing and disorderly, just like pushing cards nine, originally in the heart determined a pair of supreme treasure, who knew that opening it up was actually a bad ten, how can one not be annoyed?

  Between the lines, these guys are all about keeping people at arm's length.

  Tang Gen's face turned cold, and he snorted: "You're still far from meeting the requirements for turning over a new leaf. Your lifestyle is not good enough, and you're still flirting with your uncle's son. What kind of behavior is that?" He saw that Lu Zhong was dressed in a rustic manner, so he didn't take him seriously and spoke without much courtesy.

  Lu Zheng gradually understood and heard that Director Tang was mentioning himself again, slightly frowning: "Director Tang, please be more polite in your speech!"

  Just as Tang Shui was about to take the opportunity to speak, he turned his face and looked at Lu Zhong coldly: "What's wrong? I criticized our unit staff, what are you intervening for?! What's your name? Which unit is it?"

  "Never mind, let's go." Aifang pulled Lü Zhēn's sleeve, she had a vague impression that she had heard Lü Xuě say before that this little brother who had been raised in his family since childhood loved to fight. Forget about the awkwardness at the end and start fighting, that would be troublesome, Táng Gēnshuǐ has complicated social relationships, can't afford to provoke him.

  Lu Zhong looked deeply at Tang Gen Shui for a moment, then followed the direction of Ai Fang's hand and turned to walk with Ai Fang towards the direction of the hall.

  "Hurry back home, I think it's almost time for our dance rehearsal. After the rehearsal, I'll head back." Ai Fang whispered to Lu Zhong as they entered the hall. She couldn't remember her little brother's name and didn't dare ask, so she'd just have to ask Old Lu when she got home.

  Lu Zhong nodded and parted with Ai Fang, watching as she walked onto the brightly lit stage.

  Jumping over a row of chairs, Xu Aini, who was sitting in the second row of the audience seats, scared Lu Zhong half to death.

  "County Magistrate Lu, do you know Ai Fang?" Xu Aini asked with a hint of curiosity after seeing Lu Zhen and Ai Fang walking back together.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "It's my own sister-in-law. Yeah, I grew up in her husband's family since I was a kid."

  Xu Aini smiled, "What a coincidence, she's our lead dancer's partner, I thought she wasn't coming, it turns out she was practicing outside all along?" Lu Zhong nodded. Xu Aini glanced at her watch and said somewhat anxiously, "This little Chen is also not punctual." Seeing Lu Zhong's puzzled expression, she said somewhat embarrassedly, "It's your sister-in-law's partner from the cultural troupe, with a good image and temperament, I heard that they're quarreling and might quit to go perform in the city, this rehearsal was quite perfunctory."

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "Actually, I've seen my sister-in-law's dance steps, the tango, it's indeed more passionate and gorgeous. However, I have an opinion - since this is a youth party, the theme should still be healthy and uplifting. Dance steps that are too mature or unrestrained aren't quite suitable. How about we stick to the traditional quick three-step? The rhythm is faster, or we could do the cha cha slide. We can choose some fun and witty moves, tone down the passion a bit, so even kids would like it."

  Xu Aini nodded repeatedly and said: "Yes, you have considered it more comprehensively."

  Xu Aini glanced at her watch and said, "Then we won't wait for Little Chen. Why don't you go talk to Ai Fang about changing the dance steps first? See if she can do it. As for the male partner, I think we can ask Xiao Wang to fill in later." Lu Zhong nodded slightly. Just then, footsteps sounded from the side, and Tang Gen Shui walked in. He had just made a phone call to his friends at the City Police Station from the duty room outside, planning to investigate that little white face's background and deal with him. When he returned to the hall, he saw that Little White Face hadn't left yet, still talking to Xu Aini, the team leader of the Youth League Committee.

  Indeed, for more than three years, Lu Zhong has been away from the battlefield, and his elegant demeanor has become more pronounced, making him a pretty boy in the eyes of Tang Gen.

  Tang suddenly came over, smiling and saying: "Secretary Xu, just chatting." Although Xu Aini was a deputy department-level cadre, the Youth League cadres had no money or power. In terms of ability, she wasn't even as good as Tang, who was actually in charge of the reception office as a deputy section chief. Not to mention, his social connections were very solid, which made him far superior to Xu Aini, a young girl.

  So Tang Gen Shui didn't think much of Xu Ai Ni, and had even called her "Little Xu" for a while before.

  "Hey, what's up, so you know Secretary Xu? No wonder he's so arrogant." Tang Gen Shui chuckled and nodded at Lu Zhong, just waiting for a moment to speak out, calling Xu Ai Ni to force him to apologize.

  Xu Aini was stunned, furrowed her brow and said: "Tang Gen Shui, how can you talk like that? Don't you recognize County Magistrate Lu?"

  Tang suddenly didn't react, and laughed: "What's this about County Head Lu?"

  "Lu Zhong, County Mayor! What's with the County Mayor?!" Xu Aini glared at him and didn't bother to respond, instead saying to Lu Zhong: "Then I'll go call down Ai Fang, you can talk to her?" Seeing Lu Zhong nod, she turned around and went up onto the stage.

  Tang Ruoshui's smile froze on his face, Lu Zhong... Is that really Lu Zhong?

  Tang Gen felt a chill run down his neck, his legs went soft, and he couldn't help but feel like collapsing to the ground.

  Lu Zhong, that was the person who arm-wrestled with Secretary Ma, and it was he who had desperately tried to ingratiate himself with Director Tu Dianshi. In other people's eyes, he was no different from an ant, and with just a slight movement of their little finger, he almost got crushed to death. This small deputy director of the reception office was even more insignificant than thin air.

  "County Magistrate Lu, I...I just didn't know it was you..." Tang Gen Shui almost wanted to slap himself in the mouth. The more he thought about County Magistrate Lu's legend, the more afraid he became. He had heard Director Tu say that in Guangning, one of County Magistrate Lu's subordinates had directly tried to shoot and kill Gao Zhi Kai with a shotgun, but afterwards, both County Magistrate Lu and the assailant had gotten off scot-free. County Magistrate Lu had only lain low for less than a month before making a comeback, and soon after that, he was promoted...

  What kind of person is he, Tang Ren Water can afford to offend?

  Lu Zhong took a look at Tang Gen Shui and didn't say a word.

  Such a small figure in the city, Lu Zhong has seen many, the lowest-level cadres, pretending to be strong and afraid of being weak, lecherous and often having a thief's heart but not daring to do it, just like Ai Fang, if he really agreed to his terms, he would have to think carefully about the consequences of offending others, thinking about it, maybe he would retreat, in today's social atmosphere, those who eat public food want to have an extramarital affair, not everyone can play with it.

  "I, I really didn't know it was you, and also not on purpose, I just made a joke with Ai Fang." Tang Gen Shui explained, suddenly slapping himself in the face, regardless of whether there were employees watching from afar.

  "County Magistrate Lu, please spare me this one time." Tang Gen Shui almost knelt down, he had never gotten into such big trouble in his life, and was so frightened that he lost the ability to think, all he could think of was to quickly apologize to County Magistrate Lu and calm him down, hoping that tonight's events would be as if they had never happened.

  "I, I'll kneel down for you..." Tang Gen Shui really was about to make a kneeling gesture.

  Lu Zhong was stunned and frowned, saying: "You should sober up now!" This is the first time I've seen such a cadre, it's simply ugly and doesn't know what to do.

  Ai Fang, who was following behind Xu Ai Ni, happened to see this scene and couldn't help but be stunned.

  "Tang Gen Shui, what are you doing?!" Seeing someone looking over this way, Xu Ai Ni's face felt a bit feverish, after all, Tang Gen Shui was also considered a national cadre.

  Tang's mind was a complete mess, but under Lu Zhong's stern gaze, he gradually sobered up a bit. He looked around and fortunately, not many people were paying attention to this side. With a tear-stained face, he said: "Yes, yes, I...I was too excited."

  Xu Aini ignored him and said to Ai Fang: "If I had known you were the wife of County Magistrate Lu, I wouldn't have been so worried. From now on, you must ask County Magistrate Lu to guide us in preparing for the joint celebration."

  Ai Fang felt the sudden warmth and respect from Secretary Xu, and looking at Tang Gen Shui beside her who was staring at his younger brother with a mixture of fear and trepidation, she felt a sense of confusion in her heart, as if she had understood something, but didn't dare to believe it.

  Lu Zhong coughed and said, "Sister, I think this dance step is like this..." He repeated what he had just told Xu Aini, then said, "Secretary Xu also agrees, quick three, cha cha cha, you can do it, right?"

  Ai Fang listened in a daze, but her heart was churning like the ocean. The young county magistrate from Lujia, it turned out, was the new county head who had just arrived in the county. She had heard the girls at the reception center gossiping about him before, all of them admiring his good looks and guessing that he must be looking for a beautiful wife. But then, hadn't the young magistrate moved out of the reception center after only staying for a few days? And wasn't it during that time that Xiao Di had gone to Old Master Lu's house to ask about renting a place? This was truly unbelievable.

  "Sister-in-law, what do you think?" Lu Zhong spoke for a while, but didn't hear Ai Fang make a sound, and couldn't help but look over with a hint of curiosity.

  Ah, Aifang suddenly came back to her senses and said: "How about we dance a little?"

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "Alright."

  Aifang slowly stretched out her hand, and was grasped by Lu Zhen's warm large hand. At the same time, she felt a slight movement at her waist, as the young county magistrate in front of her, who used to be her little brother, lightly wrapped his arms around her slender waist. Although Lu Zhen intentionally kept a distance, his hands were still gently supporting her, but Aifang could still feel the warmth of this tall man's embrace as he pulled her into his chest.

  As soon as he glanced at Tang Gen, who had always made him feel both fearful and intimidated, he immediately applauded and cheered like a performing dog. Secretary Xiao and the others were also present, all of them clapping and flattering.

  Ai Fang suddenly felt a little dazed. A woman in the arms of such a man would never have any worries, right? I don't know, what kind of happy life that is.