Chapter 28: Fellow Travelers

  The Grand Continental Hotel's sea-view room. Li Longgu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass window, gazing out at the distant blue sky and sea that blended into one color, nodding his head in satisfaction: "The environment is okay, it'll do."

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "After a long journey, we won't arrange any activities for tonight. Assistant Li, you can have a good rest, and tomorrow I'll accompany Assistant Li to go around."

  Just had dinner with Li Longgu at the hotel's Western restaurant, and it's not even seven o'clock yet. Lu Zhong naturally still has more important things to attend to.

  Li Longgu said: "Does County Magistrate Lu have something to discuss? I was originally going to ask County Magistrate Lu to tell me about the customs and people of Qinglong."

  Lu Zhong smiled, this Jianghu swindler, no matter how you say it, his eyes are quite venomous.

  "Mr. Li, I'm really sorry, but I actually have another appointment. In that case, let Director Cheng accompany you; he's been at Qinglong longer than me and should be able to answer your questions."

  Cheng Hong reluctantly smiled and nodded, but he really didn't have a good impression of Assistant Li, who was putting on airs with his pretentious attitude.

  Li Longgu smiled brightly: "County Magistrate Lu, it's all yours. Let's discuss the details again tomorrow."

  Lu Zhong nodded slightly and turned around to leave.

  The second floor of the hotel's Chinese restaurant, Mingyue Xuan 2nd private room, Lu Zhong smiled and shook hands with Feng Lianying and his family who had just walked in.

  Feng Lianying's wife Wang Xiaomin, a gentle and polite young woman in her thirties, their only daughter Feng Yingying, six years old this year, is born very pretty and lovely.

  At the time when Feng Lianying was most disheartened, Lu Zhong often went to his home for a visit, and their relationship was far more intimate than ordinary people imagined.

  The two people who communicate in words and meet privately are completely different.

  After all, nowadays' words, especially unit words, can be eavesdropped.

  Wang Xiaomin had an even better impression of Lu Zhong, thinking that a true friend is one who stands by you through thick and thin. Although Feng Lianying's family hadn't fallen on hard times, they had indeed experienced a huge change from being wealthy to being poor, and Wang Xiaomin cherished her friendship with Lu Zhong deeply.

  Especially remember when it was New Year's, Lu Zhēn made a snowman for Yíngyíng.

  As soon as they entered the house, Wang Xiaomin smiled and said: "Yingying, hurry up, don't you want to see your Uncle Zhēnzi? What should you do?" Only then did he notice that behind Lu Zhēn stood a stunning beauty in a bright red tight-fitting leather jacket and pants.

  Wang Xia's eyes widened slightly, and Lu Zhong smiled and introduced: "Xiangxiu, this is my sister-in-law, and this is my pretty niece, Yingying. Sister-in-law, my girlfriend, Wei Xiangxiu, just call her Little Wei."

  "Feng big brother, sister-in-law." Wei Xiangxiu greeted sweetly, and in her heart, she was even sweeter, being able to be brought out by Lu Zhen to meet people, it was already satisfying for her.

  It's even more unimaginable that Feng Lianying has heard of him, a big shot in the municipal party committee. Lu Zhong bringing her to meet him is completely beyond her expectation, especially since this is obviously a private family gathering, which makes her feel extremely happy.

  "Oh, Xiao Wei is really beautiful." Wang Xiaomin sincerely praised.

  Feng Yingying was eager to walk up to Wei Xiangxiu, but she looked timid and didn't dare to, children are like that, they measure the world by beauty or ugliness, seeing a pretty sister, they naturally feel close.

  "Partner Lianying, you order." Lu Zhong gestured to the red-vested waiter who walked over with a thick menu and handed it to Feng Lianying.

  Feng Lianying didn't decline either, knowing the tastes of several people. He casually ordered a few dishes and asked Wei Xiangxiu: "Sister-in-law, what taste do you like? As a southerner from Yuhang, how about some Longjing shrimp?"

  Wei Xiang smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, I've been in the north for many years now, I'm used to eating buns."

  Feng Lianying then said to the waiter, "Add a Longjing shrimp and an eight-treasure tofu." Others were casually ordering dishes, but when they arrived at Wei Xiangxiu's place, they specially ordered two Yu Hang dishes for her. This was because Lu Zhong had brought his girlfriend here for the first time, as a sign of respect.

  At Feng Lianying's age, he knew that getting along with friends was a skill. It wasn't just about two people getting along, but also about the harmony between their families. Even if two people had a good relationship initially, if one of them had a partner who harbored resentment towards the other, and constantly whispered complaints in their ear over time, it would inevitably lead to estrangement between friends. After all, no matter how close friends were, they couldn't compare to the closeness with one's own partner.

  Of course, given Feng Lianying and Lu Zhong's status, they naturally transcend in this aspect. However, Lu Zhong is young and has such a beautiful girlfriend, the two must be inseparable, discussing everything under the sun. Feng Lianying wouldn't want to leave a bad impression on this little Wei girl, lest she speak ill of him in front of Lu Zhong, affecting his relationship with her.

  Teasing Jingjing, Wei Xiangxiu is also having a lot of wild thoughts at this moment, following Lu Gang's lead, it's simply like being in a dream, and even the life she never thought of in her dreams has all come true.

  Went to Hong Kong, started a company, had a luxury off-road vehicle, all of these were things I didn't even dare to think about before.

  Now, the municipal party committee secretary-general is personally ordering dishes for Lu Zhong and himself on the side. Wei Xiangxiu glanced at Lu Zhong who was wandering around the room with a confused expression, not knowing what he was looking for. In her heart, she couldn't help but smile, thinking that he looked like an idiot every day, but in reality, he understood more than anyone else and was more ruthless than anyone else.

  The atmosphere at the dinner table was great, Feng Lianying and Lu Zhong downed a few cups, everyone chatted about family affairs, joyful and harmonious.

  Xī Sī Féng Liányíng smiled and said to Wáng Xiǎomǐn: "Younger sister is a capable person, has already started her own company, and it's a big business."

  Wang Xiaomin smiled warmly and said, "I've seen it a long time ago, didn't you just go to Hong Kong?" A hint of envy flashed in her eyes, apparently, no matter how gentle a woman is, she always has her own dreams.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "It's just that she herself went, I'm worried about it, if Sister has a chance, in the future, you can be a companion to Xiangxiu."

  Wang Xiaomin waved her hand anxiously and said: "I won't be able to make it, I've never been abroad before. If I go, I don't even know what to do."

  "Relax, sister-in-law," Wei Xiangxiu said with a smile. "Hong Kong is almost the same as our mainland, just with taller buildings and more cars. I'm also going there for the first time, so I won't feel out of place."

  Wang Xiaomin somewhat self-deprecatingly said: "Really?"

  "Wei Xiangxiu said, 'Of course, I wouldn't cheat you. Next time we have a chance, let's go together. And next time after that, bring Yingying along too. But, when to go, I'll have to listen to Lu Zhong.'"

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "Let's see when your shift ends, I think you're having fun." Turning to Feng Lianying, he said with a smile, "I just said that, actually Xiangxiu is not as wild as she looks, Brother Lianying, don't worry, I absolutely won't sell your sister-in-law."

  Wei Xiang's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at Lu Zhong, while Feng Lianying also burst out laughing.

  This meal was eaten with great relish.

  When they had eaten enough, Feng Lianying and Lu Zhong went to the small tea table in front of the floor-to-ceiling window to chat, while Wei Xiangxiu and Wang Xiaomin teased and played with Yingying.

  He lit a cigarette and asked with a smile: "How's it going? Have you thought it through?"

  Lu Zhong hesitated for a moment and said: "Wang Baogang, I still have to keep it."

  Feng Lianying slightly furrowed her brow, knowing that Lu Zhong's mind was made up and it would be useless to persuade him. After a moment of thought, she said, "Then I'll try my best."

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "Don't get involved, Lianying. Don't drag yourself into this. I'll say two things, you pass them on to Secretary Zhongyuan, just say they're my views."

  "Uh-huh, you said." Feng Lianying nodded.

  "Firstly, as I mentioned this afternoon, changing the general at the last minute would render all previous efforts useless. Secondly, if there are conflicts between the person in charge of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the number one person in the Party Committee, it's not necessarily a bad thing. In order to maintain the independence of the Discipline Inspection Commission, when conflicts arise between the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the number one person in the Party Committee, should we remove the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission? How can we guarantee the authority of discipline inspection work?"

  Lu Zhong thought for a moment and said, "Just these two points. As for Wang Baogang's past, I've reviewed the old files, and it's nothing more than being persecuted during the Cultural Revolution with black materials, and in recent years, he was almost labeled as one of the three kinds of people, but Liu Pingnan intervened on his behalf. Times have changed, we should look to the future, and for now, it's not necessary to uncover old scars."

  Feng Lianying pondered for a while, took a few heavy puffs of smoke, and extinguished the cigarette butt: "Alright, I'll report to Secretary Zhongyuan tomorrow."

  Lu Zhong knew that although Feng Lianying didn't say it explicitly, he would inevitably help him drum up support. Of course, the extent of his intervention was also related to Secretary Zhongyuan's reaction. If Secretary Zhongyuan firmly decided to replace Wang Baogang and severely criticize himself, then Feng Lianying would definitely retreat and avoid stirring up trouble. But if Secretary Zhongyuan's words had a hint of flexibility, then Feng Lianying would certainly help him fight to keep Wang Baogang.

  Being able to achieve this in such a hypocritical and deceitful official circle is already quite difficult.

  Lu Zhong patted Feng Lianying's arm and didn't say anything else.

  When the party was over, Wang Xiaomin kept pulling Wei Xiangxiu's hand and said that the two families should gather more often, and she wanted to spend more time with Little Wei.

  Lu Zhong and Wei Xiangxiu were sent to Feng Lianying's house, then the two took the elevator next to it, Lu Zhong booked a sea-view room on the 11th floor, adjacent to Li Longgu's house.

  Walking along the thick red carpet in the corridor, when passing by room 1105 where Li Longgu was located, suddenly, the door of the house creaked open and was pulled open from inside.

  Li Longgu poked his head out and smiled, saying: "County Magistrate Lu, you're back! Come on in, sit down in my place?" After glancing at the stunning beauty standing beside Lu Zhen, Li Longgu's eyes behind his glasses flickered again.

  Lu Zhong said: "Has Assistant Li gone to sleep yet?"

  "Not yet." Li Longgu smiled and opened the door of Fang Si's room, saying: "I have something important to discuss with you."

  Lu Zhong then gave Wei Xiangxiu a signal, saying: "Go back to the room and wait for me." He handed the room card to her hand, Wei Xiangxiu nodded, and walked to the door of the next room with a knock, opening the door and entering.

  Hearing the sound of her locking the door, Lu Zhong turned to Li Longgu and asked, "What's going on?" Under Li Longgu's inviting gesture, Lu Zhong slowly walked into the house.

  The room is a bit messy, Cheng Hong is no longer here, probably went back to sleep.