Volume 1: The Most Natural and Beautiful Town Secretary Chapter 14: Recalling Xiao Tang's Glory Days in the Past, Conquering the Gathering of Ten Thousand People

  Tang Yiyu thought for a moment, nodded slightly, and Du Dawei couldn't hide the joy on his face, as if he had won some kind of big prize. He warmly pulled Tang Yiyu's arm to invite him to the second floor, and then said to Zhao Yibo: "Old Director, let's go up to the second floor together, I also want to chat with you!" Zhao Yibo was just a former deputy director who had retired several years ago and no longer had any influence in the bureau. If it weren't for Tang Yiyu knowing him, Du Dawei might not have invited him. However, when speaking, he was very warm and didn't reveal his true thoughts.

  Zhao Yibo's face was somewhat gloomy, but Li Xiaocui pulled him along, she didn't want to miss the opportunity to get close to the leader. She looked at Tang Yi in a daze, what kind of secretary was this guy again?

  In the luxurious private room on the second floor, three or four people were seated around a large round table. They were several leaders from the Construction Bureau. As soon as they saw Tang Yi enter, they immediately stood up and warmly shook hands with him. Deputy Director Li An smiled and said: "It's really Secretary Tang! I just went to the restroom and thought you looked familiar. I turned back and told Director Du about it, but I didn't expect it was actually you. I said earlier that I heard a magpie chirping this morning!"

  After some small talk, Tang Yi introduced his "good friend" Qi Jie to them. Everyone sat around the round table and they all knew Zhao Yibo, exchanging a few pleasantries with each other.

  Du Dawei was busy arranging the wine and dishes, and before long, a sumptuous feast had been laid out on the table. Qi Jie, although it was her first time sitting at the same table with so many leaders, was after all a street-smart person who knew how to build relationships and create a lively atmosphere. She thought to herself that she couldn't let her brother, Secretary Du, lose face, and she must help him build good relations. Raising a full cup of Wuliangye, she stood up and smiled coquettishly at Du Dawei and the others: "Leaders, I'd like to toast you all!"

  Tang Yi had already grabbed Qijie's arm and said in a low voice, "Sit down, I don't need women to help me set the mood! Don't do this again!" His voice was very low, but it was firm and didn't allow for any resistance. This was the first time Tang Yi spoke seriously to Qijie, Qijie was taken aback, but she felt a warmth in her heart, and obediently sat down. By her ear, she heard Tang Yi say with a smile, "Director Du, Director Li, she can't drink, don't mind!"

  "What's the big deal? Let's just have a drink then!" Du Dawei said, getting up and going outside to ask the server for drinks. He came back with a full cup of juice and handed it to Tang Yi, who then placed it in front of Qi Jie.

  Tang Yi and Du Dawei, a few old acquaintances from south of the mountain and north of the river, started chatting, looking at Li Xiaocui who was busy smiling and toasting. Qi Jie's heart was filled with mixed emotions as she thought about the chubby Du Bureau Chief. She remembered that he had been present at her wedding, and how he had stared at her legs under her wedding dress with a sly gaze. She also recalled how her husband had forced her to toast him, and how she had been scolded by her husband on their wedding night for not being friendly enough. Of course, Du Bureau Chief probably didn't remember her now. But now, he was sitting upright and speaking to her in a polite manner, neither saying too much nor ignoring her. The other leaders would skillfully bring up topics of conversation and chat with Qi Jie for a few sentences, making her feel like she wasn't being neglected without being overly friendly.

  Looking at the other side, the sister-in-law who was usually arrogant and self-important in front of herself now seemed like a cheap wine seller, accompanying flattering smiles and toasting one by one. She just sat here drinking light drinks, without having to consider anyone's gaze. On the contrary, those big shots spoke to her with caution, as if they were afraid of saying something wrong and offending her. Qi Jie knew that in fact they were afraid of causing Tang Yi's misunderstanding, but this feeling of equality was truly wonderful.

  Suddenly, she felt like crying in her heart. What Tang Yi gave her was not only help, but also kindness and respect, giving her a sense of dignity and being respected by others that she had never experienced before.

  Watching Tang Yi chatting with Du Dawei, he was no longer the silly and foolish child in front of him every day. His clear face showed a few points of determination, his bright eyes seemed to be able to see through the world's ups and downs. Qijie suddenly had tears in her eyes, she quickly lowered her head and secretly wiped them away.

  As he spoke, Du Dawei burst out laughing: "Secretary Tang, you're really something! At the mass meeting, you fired the first shot and blasted Secretary Xiao. Do you know that in front of him, I didn't even dare to breathe loudly?"

  Tang Yi smiled and said: "That's Secretary Xiao having a sense of humor. If it were some other leader with a narrower mind, I wouldn't dare fire off like that."

  Li An joked: "Haha, Secretary Tang you're too modest! Let me say, this firecracker has to be set off with some level of skill. Have you heard the first rhyme? I'll sing it once and please correct me!" He picked up his chopsticks and started tapping them on the bowls and plates in rhythm, singing in Tianjin dialect: "The bamboo board is beaten like this, we don't brag about anything else, but let's praise Secretary Tang Yitang of Chenjiawo. Secretary Tang, when he sets off firecrackers, the secretary and county head all smile, working together to create a new situation, united as one to strive for prosperity!"

  Tang Yi burst out laughing and said with a smile: "This is quite rhythmic! Who wrote this?"

  "It's me! I'm learning and selling at the same time, how is it?" Li An chuckled, Du Dawei gave a thumbs up: "Director Li is indeed a talented person from the Construction Bureau, this tongue twister you've come up with is impressive."

  Tang Yi couldn't help but take another look at Li An, this kid is quite talented! He's got the skills to flatter and fawn all right, very impressive indeed, his official career will surely advance rapidly.

  "Secretary Tang, Director Li wasn't joking. Not only does the county magistrate value you highly, but Secretary Xiao also mentioned you at a meeting in the Construction Bureau just a few days ago. He said: 'If we have a few more cadres like Tang Yi, Yanshan County will definitely be a new landscape!' Du Dawei laughed and raised his overflowing wine glass: 'Let's toast to Secretary Xiao's words!'"

  Zhao Yibo, who had been quiet all along, suddenly interjected: "Secretary Xiao? Which Secretary Xiao? The county committee's Secretary Xiao? Who... who dares to fire a shot at him?"

  Du Dawei laughed and said, "There are several Xiao Secretaries, of course, it's our Yan Mountain's number one Xiao Secretary. The other day at the meeting, our Tang Secretary really fired a shot at Xiao Secretary, blasting Xiao Secretary dizzy and confused, but still calling out 'good'! Haha!"

  Tang Yi smiled and waved his hand, Zhao Yibo looked at Tang Yi with a mixture of surprise and doubt, but his eyes gradually changed, seeming to add a few threads of reverence. Qi Jie sipped her drink, listening to Tang Yi's story, imagining Tang Yi's majestic appearance on the dark and crowded stage, his heroic bearing and loud voice, her heart filled with pride. Is this really the brother of her own sister who always had to be careful what she said? It turned out that he was so impressive in official circles.

  Li Xiaocui walked lightly to Tang Yi's side, poured a full glass of wine for him, and said with some trepidation: "Tang, Secretary Tang, I'd like to toast you. Please don't hold it against me! If I've offended you in any way, please don't take it to heart!"

  Tang Yi smiled and said, "What's the big deal? You're being too serious. You're Qi Jie's relatives, which makes you my friends. It's not good to be too formal!"

  The Zhao family also discovered that the protagonist of this dinner table was actually Tang Yi. In the official wine table, there will always be a central figure, and everyone's words are considered from his angle. It's just that the Zhao family didn't expect that the protagonist of this meal would be the young man they had just ridiculed, and it seemed that this young man was actually a red person in the county.

  Li Xiaocui also noticed that several leaders in the unit were more affectionate towards Lao Yezi than usual, and it seemed they thought Lao Yezi knew Tang Yi. Sensing the situation, Li Xiaocui immediately knew how to score points with the leadership.

  Upon hearing Tang Yi's words, Li Xiaocui smiled and said: "That's good, I thought someone as important as you wouldn't bother to socialize with the likes of me. Secretary Tang, let this cup of wine be my toast to you, wishing you a smooth career!"

  Tang Yi smiled and said, "I love hearing that!" He raised his cup and clinked it with hers, then Li Xiaocui sat down beside Qi Jie and started whispering to her in a low voice. The intimacy was palpable, discussing things like buying the latest cosmetics to send some over to Qi Jie, or asking about any difficulties she's been having lately. In an instant, it seemed like they had become close sisters. Moreover, the tone of their conversation was overly flattering, and Li Xiaocui's usual haughty demeanor had long been discarded.

  Zhao Shan was a man after all, and he didn't turn his face so quickly. He wasn't good at apologizing in a low voice immediately, but when he saw his wife helping him out of the situation, he felt relieved in his heart.

  Du Dawei and Tang Yi exchanged a few words, then suddenly turned to Zhao Shan and asked: "Xiao Zhao, didn't you submit a job transfer application recently, wanting to enter the Personnel Department?"

  Zhao Shan was quite restrained in front of these leaders, scratching his head and smiling foolishly. Li Xiaocui glared at him: "The leader is asking you a question, what's with the 'heh heh', don't you know how to speak?"

  Du Dawei smiled and waved his hand, saying: "I know his temperament, honest and down-to-earth. Talented people are indeed talented, not being able to speak is not a flaw! Alright, I'll settle the personnel matter today!"

  "Ah, thank you Director! Thank you! I, I'll toast you another cup!" Li Xiaocui was overjoyed and couldn't speak properly, raising her wine glass to repeatedly toast the leaders. In her heart, she was clear as a mirror that this matter was done because of Tang Shuji's face. She looked at Tang Yi, then at Qi Jie, feeling envious and admiring of Qi Jie's good fortune in knowing such an important person. On one hand, she was thinking about how to get closer to Qi Jie, on the other hand, it seemed that this time, her Zhao family might be able to climb up the social ladder.