Chapter 429: The Chengjin Trip (Part 2)

When Hou Weidong answered the phone, he addressed the caller as "Secretary Zhou." Jiang Xiangyu was standing right beside him and heard every word clearly. Shortly after, Wu Ying took the phone and spoke on Hou Weidong’s behalf, smoothing over the situation.

"What kind of woman is she? Why does she require the accompaniment of the Municipal Party Secretary’s personal secretary? And Secretary Zhou Changquan clearly takes this matter very seriously."

Jiang Xiangyu had initially assumed the woman was merely one of Hou Weidong’s friends. However, once the call from Zhou Changquan came through, he realized this middle-aged woman was the key figure, and her background was certainly no ordinary one.

"As the County Magistrate, I am deeply apologetic for today’s incident. I have prepared a modest meal at the Government Guesthouse to help Director Hou and his party recover from the shock, on behalf of Chengjin County."

Jiang Xiangyu had long wished to cultivate a relationship with Hou Weidong, the favored aide of the Municipal Party Secretary, but he had never found a suitable opening. If he handled this crisis well, he could turn a bad situation into a good one: he could draw closer to Hou Weidong while simultaneously planting a seed of doubt in the mind of Executive Vice County Magistrate Li Taizhong.

This trip to Shazhou was Wu Ying’s first return to Feishi Town in years. It was a journey of reminiscence, deeply personal in nature. She did not wish to engage extensively with political figures. "This Halal restaurant is a century-old establishment with a strong reputation and excellent food. Let us eat here. There is no need to trouble the county government."

Hou Weidong understood Wu Ying’s implication. He said, "County Magistrate Jiang, please ask the police downstairs to leave."

Jiang Xiangyu turned and spoke sternly to the head of the Public Security Bureau standing nearby. "This matter must be handled strictly according to Director Hou’s requirements. Regardless of who is involved, the law must be enforced seriously. Report the results to me by tomorrow, and submit a copy to the Municipal Party Committee Office."

He continued with a grave tone, "Comrades, today’s incident is a lesson. For Chengjin to develop, social stability must be our top priority. Go back and hold a leadership meeting to discuss how to better safeguard our economic and social development."

The heads of the Public Security Bureau nodded frequently. Jiang Xiangyu waved his hand. "You may disperse."

Jiang Xiangyu then turned to the owner of the Halal restaurant, who was standing to the side. "Old Ma, we have distinguished guests today. You must bring out your ancestral skills. Do not bring shame to Chengjin County. Your beef soup is a specialty; you must serve it. I will taste it personally. If the quality is poor, you will be damaging the reputation of Chengjin County in front of our VIPs."

Having been pushed to this extent, Hou Weidong looked at Wu Ying with a sense of helplessness. Seeing her give a slight nod, he issued an invitation. "County Magistrate Jiang, Teacher Zhu and I will be driving this afternoon, so we cannot join you for drinks. Perhaps another day, when we have time, I will treat you."

Jiang Xiangyu’s name contained the characters for Hunan and Chongqing, yet he was a typical local cadre. Hired as a civil servant in the 1980s, he had climbed the ladder step by step, starting as a township cadre stationed in villages. He had walked every rung of the county-level career ladder, albeit at a rapid pace. He became Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee before turning forty, and County Magistrate of Chengjin at forty-five. Nowadays, county-level principal officials were usually appointed from outside the region, but Jiang was the only one to hold a principal position in his home county.

As the group just took their seats, Jiang Xiangyu received a call from Executive Vice County Magistrate Li Taizhong. "County Magistrate Jiang, today is my father-in-law’s eightieth birthday. Why have you detained Dongfang? Is it such a serious matter?"

Jiang Xiangyu stepped out of the private room and spoke in a low voice. "Dongfang caused trouble today. He had a dispute with Hou Weidong from the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee Office at the hotel entrance, and then led a group to beat people up at the Halal restaurant. What else could I do? I had to have the police take him in. This is also to protect Taizhong."

Li Taizhong said, "I will come over now. I will meet with Hou Weidong and explain today’s situation."

Jiang Xiangyu advised against it. "Hou Weidong is the Deputy Director of the Shazhou Municipal Party Committee Office, a high-ranking secretary. He came to Chengjin with guests, only to be chased and beaten by Dongfang’s group. He has lost face and is currently angry. If you come now, neither side will be able to save face. I will handle the mediation slowly."

Li Taizhong had already learned the details and knew that Hou Weidong had struck first at the Chengjin Hotel. He said angrily, "How could Hou Weidong do that? Striking first? This is clearly the villain accusing the victim." Although his words were hard, he was still mindful of Hou Weidong’s status. After venting, he said, "Forget it. I will not come for now. After Hou Weidong leaves, release Dongfang. His grandfather is waiting for him."

After hanging up, Li Taizhong turned to his father-in-law. "Father, do not be angry. It was a misunderstanding. Nothing serious happened. Dongfang will be out soon."

While comforting his father-in-law, Li Taizhong thought to himself, "Jiang Xiangyu is not a good person. He clearly received Hou Weidong’s call during the meal but hid it from me. What does that mean?"

Having dissuaded Li Taizhong, Jiang Xiangyu returned to the private room with a smile. Sitting down, he said to Hou Weidong, "People came to plead for the detainee as soon as he was taken to the police station. Chengjin is a small place; everyone sees each other every day, which makes things complicated. Director Hou, having served as Director of the Party Committee Office in Yiyang, you understand the grassroots situation best."

If the matter had involved only himself, Hou Weidong would likely have asked Jiang Xiangyu to release the detainee. However, with Wu Ying present and silent, he chose not to take a stance.

Jiang Xiangyu then addressed Wu Ying. "How shall I address you, Madam? Today, you were forced to witness Chengjin’s embarrassment."

Wu Ying truly did not wish to reveal her identity. "My surname is Wu. Xiao Ning and Zhu Xiaoyong are my daughter and son-in-law." She stopped there, changing the subject. "This Halal restaurant is a century-old establishment. For over twenty years, the menu has hardly changed."

Hearing this, Jiang Xiangyu asked, "Did you work in Chengjin before?"

"I was a sent-down youth here. Sometimes I would come to this Halal restaurant to eat. At that time, it was just two single-story houses, and Boss Ma had just gotten married."

Jiang Xiangyu’s demeanor relaxed noticeably. He called to the waiter who had entered, "Ask your boss to come over. We have an old friend here."

The owner of the Halal restaurant had dark skin and appeared at least ten years older than Wu Ying. He looked at her carefully and said shyly, "Back then, the sent-down youths loved to hold gatherings at my restaurant. There were so many of you; I really can’t remember everyone. It has been over twenty years."

Wu Ying said, "I still remember you. Once, a group of sent-down youths from my team came to eat, and one of us wrestled with you. After that, you always gave us some free braised beef tendon. In a flash, more than twenty years have passed. Time flies."

The owner slapped his thigh. "I remember now! You came with Xiang Yong. You had a long braid back then, very long."

At the mention of Xiang Yong, Wu Ying’s expression darkened.

The owner did not press the matter further. He just rubbed his hands together. "Ah, twenty years. Ah."

In those days, Xiang Yong was a famous figure among the sent-down youths in the county. He was the leader of the youth teams in Feishi Town. Every time he went to the city, he would bring friends to the Halal restaurant. If he had money, he spent it; if not, he tried to eat for free.

Most restaurants in the city were state-owned factories or enterprises, but this Halal restaurant, involving ethnic minorities, was allowed to remain private. It was the only private restaurant in the area.

Once, to eat for free, Xiang Yong challenged the young Boss Ma to a wrestling match. The Halal restaurant had two ancestral skills: running the restaurant and wrestling, both famous in Chengjin. When Xiang Yong issued the challenge, the young Boss Ma was in his prime. They set up a ring in the dirt courtyard. Originally, everyone came to watch Xiang Yong make a fool of himself, but unexpectedly, the restaurant’s heir lost three matches in a row, thrown around until he was dizzy, admitting defeat heartily.

Xiang Yong’s story was a permanent pain in Wu Ying’s heart. Although Meng Haofang had long since granted the policies due to Xiang Yong, the pain remained like a thorn embedded in the flesh. Though it had gradually fused with her body, it remained an independent and real presence.

As Wu Ying recalled the past, Jiang Xiangyu was thinking of another matter. Although Zhou Changquan had not come, creating a slight obstacle for Li Yongzhong in front of Hou Weidong was still a good move. He asked the restaurant owner, "Old Ma, do you know the people who caused trouble today?"

Li Taizhong’s son, Li Dongfang, owned two phosphate mines and had a group of henchmen. In Chengjin County, he could get whatever he wanted, and his reputation was well-known. Jiang Xiangyu asked this question deliberately to steer the conversation toward Li Dongfang. Boss Ma, unaware of Jiang’s ulterior motives, said, "I know him. Li Dongfang often comes to the restaurant to eat."

Jiang Xiangyu said, "The county wants to appoint some voluntary supervisors for the development environment. Old Ma, as a representative of Chengjin’s traditional catering industry, I will send someone to deliver a supervisor card to you."

After the meal, Jiang Xiangyu suggested, "Director Hou, I will assign a comrade from the County Party Committee Office to accompany you. Having someone to run errands will be more convenient."

Hou Weidong was already clear about Wu Ying’s attitude. "No need. After eating, we will just take a casual walk and then return to Shazhou. County Magistrate Jiang, you have many things to attend to. Do not worry about us."

Seeing them off at the car door, Jiang Xiangyu shook Hou Weidong’s hand. "Today’s situation was indeed special. Li Dongfang’s maternal grandfather turned eighty today. He had been drinking, and being young, his temper flared easily. His father, Li Taizhong, is the Executive Vice County Magistrate, in charge of rural work. He spends his days drilling into the mountains and has neglected disciplining his son. As the head of the County Government, I apologize to Director Hou on behalf of Taizhong. Another day, Taizhong and I will come to the city to apologize to you in person."

After leaving the county town and driving for about twenty miles, the cement road turned into a gravel road. After another ten minutes, they began to climb the mountain, winding up the narrow, dirt-and-gravel mountain roads in circles. To the right, the slopes rose higher and higher, making one’s heart race with fear.

After climbing for half an hour, they reached the summit. Suddenly, the view opened up. The top of the mountain was quite broad, somewhat resembling Shangqinglin.

Once on the mountain, the scenery on the slopes had not changed in twenty years. Time seemed to move slowly here. Wu Ying felt a mix of emotions. Zhu Xiaoyong drove ahead, leading the way, stopping and starting along the route, until they finally arrived at an unnamed mountain bend.

Wu Ying took a shovel and some incense from the back of the car. She had bought these items in Lingxi. At the time, Meng Ning did not know why her mother had purchased them, but now she understood.

Entering the mountain bend, they walked along the path for a while, passing through a small forest. Wu Ying walked and looked around. About half an hour later, she finally stopped in front of a small hill.

There were two graves, with weeds growing as high as a person. Wu Ying approached one grave and pulled away the weeds with her hands, revealing a stone tombstone. Carved on it were large characters: "Tomb of Sent-Down Youth Xiang Yong."