Chen Hong returned to the office and took Xiao Zheng to Minister Liu's office.
Minister Liu stood up from his chair, took a step outside, and extended his hand: "Here comes the Chief of County Xiao, please sit down." Xiao Zheng also hurriedly stretched out his hand and shook hands with Minister Liu: "Minister Liu, I'm sorry.
Yes, I came without an appointment and delayed Minister Liu’s work."
Minister Liu smiled and said, "What do you want to make an appointment for? We are also old friends. If anything happens in the future, you can come over."
Chen Hong didn't expect Minister Liu to speak so politely to Xiao Zheng and call Xiao Zheng "old friend". It gave people the impression that Minister Liu met Xiao Zheng today not because of Chen Hong, but because Minister Liu himself was very fond of Xiao Zheng.
Xiao Zheng has a good impression.
He only heard Xiao Zheng say: "Thank you." Chen Hong thought that Xiao Zheng was her boyfriend anyway, so she didn't make tea for him and said: "Minister Liu, please take your time and chat."
Chen Hong was about to close the door and go out, but she suddenly found that Minister Liu stood up from his seat again and said, "Chief Xiao, let me pour you a cup of tea."
Chen Hong panicked. She didn't expect that Minister Liu would personally make tea for Xiao Zheng. Chen Hong immediately returned to Minister Liu's office and said, "Sorry, Minister Liu, I was negligent. I even forgot to make tea.
Let me do it!"
Minister Liu smiled at Chen Hong and said: "Comrade Chen Hong, I really want to criticize you this time. You can't just stop making tea because Mayor Xiao is your boyfriend. Chief Xiao
, I am not your boyfriend now, but my guest." Chen Hong's face turned red, and she quickly said: "I'm sorry, Minister Liu, I didn't do it well."
Chen Hong brought the brewed tea and put it down on the coffee table in front of Xiao Zheng, and asked Minister Liu: "Minister Liu, is there anything else you need me to do?" Minister Liu said: "There is nothing else. I will talk to Xiao County first.
Let’s have a long chat.” Chen Hong breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew.
Xiao Zheng saw all the changes in Chen Hong's expression. Chen Hong cared much more about Minister Liu's attitude than Xiao Zheng did.
Minister Liu sat on the sofa, crossed his legs, and said: "Chief Xiao, first of all, I want to congratulate you. This time you have successfully been promoted to the deputy county chief of our An County."
Xiao Zheng said: "This is all thanks to the Municipal Party Committee and Organization Department for organizing this public election, and thank you to Minister Liu for his concern."
Xiao Zheng's two thanks were spoken naturally and fluently, without any awkwardness.
Xiao Zheng also thought so in his heart. If this public election had not been organized, he, Xiao Zheng, would not have had this opportunity. If Minister Liu had not cared about it, he would not have gone so smoothly.
Although Minister Liu did not stand up at the meeting like Xiao Jingyu and Gao Chenghan, it does not mean that he does not care about himself. If he opposes his promotion, he can set up various obstacles for Xiao Zheng. Therefore, this thank you is also necessary.
Less.
After hearing this, Minister Liu was not polite and said: "I'm very happy when you say that." Xiao Zheng took advantage of the situation and said: "Minister Liu, I came here specially today because I wanted to make an appointment with Minister Liu to invite him to a gathering.
Let’s get together.” Minister Liu raised his head and glanced at the ceiling, as if wondering when he would have time to eat, and then said: “Wait until you take office in the county, then go to An County to eat local food.”
Xiao Zheng smiled and said: "Thank you, Minister Liu, for being so generous. I'll keep it in mind." Minister Liu added, "Guan Wenwei, who works with you in the township, is actually quite good. We are also paying close attention to him.
He did a good job." Xiao Zheng was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, Minister Liu, for caring about grassroots cadres. When Minister Liu comes to An County for dinner, I will ask him to join us." Minister Liu said, "Okay."
Xiao Zheng said again: "Minister Liu, there is one more thing I want to report to you. I have always wanted to invite the cadre office to have a meal, but the cadre office kept saying that it was very busy and had no time to have a meal. I finally caught them today.
On an empty night, I told them that I must treat them to this meal, so Director Zhu agreed to the meal."
Minister Liu smiled and said: "Chief Xiao, are you going to improve the food for the cadres in our department? They are really busy during this time, and everyone is tired, so Chief Lao Xiao will treat them to something to eat and drink.
"Yes." Xiao Zheng said: "We ate at a deserted restaurant. It may not be good, but it will definitely be enough. I wonder if Minister Liu is free to attend tonight. It's okay to just come."
Minister Liu shook his head and said: "I won't go today. I have another entertainment in the evening. I made an appointment a few days ago. You go to have dinner. To be honest, they were also very restrained when I went. Since I want them to relax,
I don’t want to put any more pressure on them." Xiao Zheng said, "Okay, I will take good care of the brothers and sisters in our department."
Minister Liu nodded and said, "Just don't get them drunk." Xiao Zheng said, "I remember, drink well, but don't pour them down."
Xiao Zheng chatted with Minister Liu for a few more words and stood up to leave. Minister Liu walked to the door.
Xiao Zheng returned to Chen Hong's office and said, "Then I'll go to the hotel to prepare and wait for you." Chen Hong asked, "Did you tell Minister Liu that you would invite the cadre department to dinner tonight?" Xiao Zheng said, "I did.
." Chen Hong asked again: "Did Minister Liu say anything?" Xiao Zheng said: "He was very happy and said he thanked me for improving the food for the comrades in the Organization Department."
Chen Hong said: "That's good. Have you invited Minister Liu to dinner too?" Xiao Zheng: "Invited." Chen Hong asked again: "Did Minister Liu agree?" Xiao Zheng: "I agreed." Chen Hong said to
Xiao Zheng looked at it and felt that Minister Liu was too kind to him. He agreed to everything he asked for!
Chen Hong couldn't help but think of what her parents said to her. Xiao Zheng was different from before, and her attitude towards Xiao Zheng might have also changed. Chen Hong couldn't help but smile on her face, and her voice became softer.
He said: "Okay, then you go over first. I will come over with the cadre office in a minute. I am actually very happy that you came all the way to treat my colleagues to dinner today. I will take you to the elevator."
Xiao Zheng said: "I'll go there by myself." Chen Hong came out with him anyway: "I'll go there with you." There was no one on the walkway to the elevator, so Chen Hong took the initiative to reach out his hand.
Hold Xiao Zheng's hand.
If in the past, Chen Hong had been so intimate with Xiao Zheng, Xiao Zheng's heart would have been filled with sweetness. But now, Xiao Zheng didn't feel that way, and instead felt a little uncomfortable.
Before, it was Chen Hong who wanted to break off the engagement. He called, but Chen Hong didn't answer the phone. But in the past two days, she took the initiative to contact him and asked him to come to a dinner with colleagues. It was already a great honor for him to come.
But now, Chen Hong is showing affection towards him again. This has everything to do with him being admitted as deputy county magistrate, and with Minister Liu being so polite to him today.
No matter how dull Xiao Zheng was, these things could still be seen. Xiao Zheng did not hold Chen Hong's hand tightly. Instead, he withdrew his hand and said, "Let's stop here. I can take the elevator by myself."
Chen Hong was startled again. Xiao Zheng took his hand away from hers for the first time. In the past, no matter how she treated Xiao Zheng, he would always come back to coax her and pamper her. But today, he was obviously not like that.
Already.
Feeling this, Chen Hong was a little flustered. Could it be that Xiao Zheng's feelings for her are changing? Impossible! He has cared about her the most for so many years, and this situation cannot change!
In the evening, at Jiuwei Restaurant, Xiao Zheng and Chen Hong invited the cadre office to have dinner together. In addition to the director Zhu Tao and the deputy director Qian Ning, the cadre office also came with five cadres, who were general cadres and those seconded from the county.
cadres.
Xiao Zheng was also very polite, letting Chen Hong take the main seat, Zhu Tao as the guest of honor, and sitting at the bottom. Chen Hong felt that this was understandable. After all, everyone else was cadres in the county, and Xiao Zheng was from the county.
, it didn't matter if he kept a low profile. But Zhu Tao refused no matter what. He pulled Xiao Zheng up from the lower position, let him sit on the main seat, and let Chen Hong sit under Xiao Zheng.
Zhu Tao said: "Those who are here today have the highest position of the Chief of Xiao County. If the Chief of Xiao County does not take the main seat, how can everyone dare to eat?"
Chen Hong has never seen Zhu Tao treat a leading cadre who is younger than him so politely. Zhu Tao is the director of the cadre department, half the rank of official, and usually has a bit of airs. But today, in front of Xiao Zheng, he had no airs.
I am familiar with Xiao Zheng.
Chen Hong would not understand that Zhu Tao was actually interested in Xiao Zheng's previous relationship with Hong Xu, Gao Chenghan and Xiao Jingyu.
Throughout the dinner, everyone was very active in toasting. Everyone from the cadre department came to toast Xiao Zheng and Chen Hong, and later came to toast Xiao Zheng alone.
Xiao Zheng also toasted, but after drinking, he felt that everyone was almost done, so he stopped and said: "Don't dare to get the leader of our organization department drunk, we are here today, no more drinking. Next
This time, I hope that Director Zhu will organize it and take all the brothers to An County for investigation and stay at a hotel in An County. I will treat you warmly."
Everyone thanked Xiao Zheng.
Zhu Tao still admires Xiao Zheng's restraint. Generally speaking, young leaders who are proud of their success and drink with the organization and organization department basically don't brake, and they have to get drunk and never return. However, Xiao Zheng was able to do it in time.
Braking shows self-control, which is rare.
Dinner ended at about half past eight. Chen Hong drank some wine and was a little drunk. She said to Xiao Zheng: "Why don't you go back today? You haven't reported to the county yet, so don't worry about the work in the town for now.
It’s too much, is it okay if you don’t go back?”
She had been having trouble with Xiao Zheng for the past few days, but today Chen Hong had taken the initiative to untie her knot. She just wanted to spend the night with Xiao Zheng and have some intimacy, so as to warm up the relationship that had gradually become cold.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Zheng said: "Some tasks still have to be handed over as soon as possible, so I still have to go back today. Let's find a place to sit and chat for a few words."
Chen Hong looked at Xiao Zheng and felt that Xiao Zheng had indeed decided to return to An County. She said, "Then let's say a few words in the box."
She asked the waiter to clear the box later, and she and Xiao Zheng sat down again.
Chen Hong said: "Xiao Zheng, my attitude towards you was indeed a little cold a few days ago, but you should also know that I am doing it for your own good. Now, I am no longer angry with you. I also told my parents
After discussion, our engagement on May 1 can be resumed and our wedding can be held as scheduled."
Chen Hong felt that Xiao Zheng would be happy if he said this.
However, she did not expect that Xiao Zheng said: "Chen Hong, I think we should postpone the engagement according to the previous decision of you and your family. I want to calm down. If you think I will delay you, you can also cancel the engagement.