Chapter 170: Where to Go from Here (Part 2)
It was a pleasure for Xiaojia, as the hostess, to show off her new home, a source of great pride. With Yang Qian on her left arm and Duan Ying on her right, the three women chatted and laughed as they entered the Crescent Moon Building.
At the main entrance, a security guard stood at attention. Seeing visitors approach, he snapped to attention and offered a crisp salute.
Yang Qian stood in the central courtyard, looking around with wide eyes. "I never expected to find a residential complex of this caliber in Shazhou. Even in Shenzhen, this would be considered mid-range. And that security guard at the door is quite handsome."
Xiaojia responded with modesty. "Shazhou can’t compare to Shenzhen. Shenzhen is on the frontline of reform, with a higher economic level and better urban development. I visited there once in March." Although she spoke these words, she still felt a swell of pride for the Crescent Moon Building in Shazhou.
Jiang Dali observed everything with keen attention. He roughly counted the number of lit windows and commented, "Judging by the occupancy rate, the developer of the Crescent Moon Building must have made a fortune. This complex is high-quality, even by Shenzhen standards. Zhang Xiaojia, since you work at the Construction Commission, do you know the boss?"
Bu Gao had not given up his pursuit, so Xiaojia was reluctant to mention him in front of Hou Weidong. She simply said, "I know him. The developer’s father is a deputy mayor of Shazhou City."
Jiang Dali nodded. "So it’s another case of official-business ties. But his project is genuinely good."
Inside, the living room was spacious and exquisite, equipped with high-end appliances and modern facilities. Pale blue curtains looked particularly elegant under the soft lighting.
Yang Qian sat on the large leather sofa and gave Hou Weidong an exaggerated look. "Hou Weidong, I heard you were a grassroots civil servant working on the field ridges. How did you accumulate so much money? Is running a quarry really that profitable?"
Xiaojia explained, "Shazhou has been heavily investing in transportation infrastructure these past few years. The town where Weidong works is the largest gravel base. We were just lucky."
Jiang Dali was slightly overweight with a large head, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp. "It’s not just about luck; it’s about vision and boldness. Liu Kun served as deputy secretary in that same town, yet I’ve never heard he got rich. As the saying goes, opportunity favors the prepared mind. That is a truth that stands the test of time."
Although Duan Ying had broken up with Liu Kun, hearing Jiang Dali’s low opinion of him made her feel a loss of face. She sat beside Yang Qian, forcing a smile.
Xiaojia washed some apples, served them on a porcelain plate, and warmly invited everyone to eat. Then she playfully scolded Hou Weidong, "You lazy guy. Why haven’t you poured tea for Jiang Dali?"
Hou Weidong stood up, opened the tea cabinet, and brewed two cups of fresh tea.
Xiaojia teased, "Why discriminate against women? Aren’t you going to pour tea for us three beauties?"
Hou Weidong smiled broadly and proceeded to brew tea for the ladies.
Yang Qian, however, wanted coffee. Hou Weidong laughed, "We only drink green tea at home, no coffee. You’ll have to make do."
Yang Qian laughed back, "How old-fashioned."
Duan Ying rarely saw the domestic, masculine side of Hou Weidong. Watching him busy himself around the house, she felt a mix of warmth and a sour pang in her heart.
On the night she left Yiyang, Hou Weidong’s vigorous stamina had given Duan Ying the most profound experience of her life. It was something her previous two boyfriends had never provided—like a sharp blade piercing directly to the deepest part of her body.
She had left Yiyang City with a carefree attitude, believing that walking away would bury those three years of memories there. Yet, the feeling of that intense, clinging intimacy often slipped out from the depths of her lower abdomen unexpectedly, making her involuntarily think of Hou Weidong.
Now, seeing Zhang Xiaojia and Hou Weidong’s casual intimacy, she felt like a hateful third party, yet a flicker of defiance sparkled in her mind.
The five of them chatted until late into the night. Although there were three large beds available, the three women insisted on squeezing together. As Yang Qian closed the door, she told Jiang Dali and Hou Weidong, "We three are going to chat all night. You two men can go buy groceries tomorrow."
Once the three women were inside, the room fell quiet. Jiang Dali’s belly was already protruding, but the layer of fat did not hinder his thinking. "Donggua, what do you ultimately want to be? A politician or a businessman? Being neither here nor there like this isn’t a long-term solution."
On the television, the lights were dazzling. Jacky Cheung stood on a massive stage, surrounded by a crowd. Dressed in eccentric clothing, he stood before a stage illuminated by laser beams, singing with deep emotion. His voice wasn’t particularly strong, and his range was limited; his songs all followed a similar tune, yet they were pleasant to listen to.
Hou Weidong had considered the question of whether to pursue politics or business, but not deeply. Now, with Jiang Dali holding his large belly and propping up his short, chubby legs, raising the issue seriously, Hou Weidong began to ponder.
"When I was in school, I thought I understood society. Later, I realized I was far from it." Hou Weidong began to recount his experiences in Qinglin Town, details that were hard to explain over the phone.
"I was a publicly recruited student from Yiyang County, and I ranked second in the exam. I felt a great sense of achievement. But then I was assigned to the remote Qinglin Town, the furthest destination among the ten recruits. Once there, I was inexplicably sent to the Shangqinglin Work Group."
"I actually suffered a hidden disadvantage, but this kind of arrangement follows normal procedures and isn’t discussed openly. For instance, the furthest town like Qinglin always needs someone assigned there. It’s not just assignment; the suburbs and the remote outskirts are vastly different."
"I only understood the trick behind this after attending the Party School. Most publicly recruited students had connections who put in a good word for them. Some even had leaders see them off when they reported for duty. Ren Lindu, who now works at the Youth League Committee, was personally escorted to the town by Deputy Director Xiao of the Organization Department."
Although Jiang Dali often dealt with official figures, he was a man of business and unfamiliar with these subtle bureaucratic maneuvers.
"While you were living it up in Guangdong, I was counting stars on the corridor in Shangqinglin. Although the air quality there was top-notch, it depressed me to death at the time. Building roads and running the quarry were acts of desperation. Who knew it would turn out so well? The quarry coincided with Shazhou’s massive transportation projects, making it hard not to get rich. Later, during the elections, the village cadres in Shangqinglin rigged the vote to get me into the Qinglin Town Government. That incident thoroughly offended Liu Kun."
Jiang Dali listened attentively, puffing on his cigarette. "I think you have great potential for officialdom. Your financial situation is also stable now. I suggest you focus on the political path."
"The political path has many constraints. I still want to develop myself in the business world." Hou Weidong said this casually, though he had been hesitating between politics and business for a long time.
At Shazhou College, Jiang Dali and Hou Weidong were the closest of friends. For four years, except for the time spent with Xiaojia, they were almost always together. Although they had gone their separate ways after graduation, distance had not created any estrangement.
Jiang Dali said, "China is still a society with deep-rooted official supremacy. The coastal areas are the most developed in market economy and have the weakest official supremacy, but my experiences over the past three years have made it clear: if you really want to make big money, you have to follow the government."
"You mean I should pursue politics."
"Liu Kun can at most rely on family connections to get a minor official post. You are different. You might become a leader in Shazhou City someday. Trust my judgment. But I have one piece of advice: if you really want to pursue politics, you need to jump out of Qinglin Town quickly. That place is nothing but rocks; it won’t produce high-ranking officials."
"Not necessarily. The Director of the Shazhou People’s Congress came up from Shangqinglin."
"A small pond can’t raise big fish. Find some time to travel with me, north and south, to broaden your horizons. Staying in a small place for too long will limit your thinking."
The two chatted endlessly until one o’clock, then finally went to sleep separately.
Lying in bed, Hou Weidong repeatedly pondered his future. He found himself somewhat unable to sleep. After lying there for over an hour, he felt the urge to urinate. Since his room did not have a bathroom, he got up and headed to the living room.
As soon as he stepped out, he heard someone speaking in hushed tones by the window. Although the voice was low, the house was so quiet that Hou Weidong could hear it clearly.
"Liu Kun, we really aren’t suitable for each other. Please don’t call me anymore. Thank you for your concern in the past. From now on, let’s just be friends."
"What do you mean by that? I won’t come back."
Hou Weidong realized it was Duan Ying talking to Liu Kun on the phone. He quickly retreated, put on a pair of long pants, and waited another ten minutes. Hearing no more voices outside, he finally stepped out.
Duan Ying had hung up the phone. Since leaving Yiyang City, she hadn’t spoken to Liu Kun. Who would have thought he would suddenly call tonight? In the phone call, he cried and made a scene. From his fragmented sentences, she guessed he had been drinking. Although she had hardened her heart to reject him, she still felt a twinge of guilt.
Just as she was feeling troubled and confused, Hou Weidong came out of his room and entered the bathroom. Soon, the loud sound of water splashing echoed through the quiet room, startling Duan Ying.
Hou Weidong usually used the master bedroom bathroom at night and hadn’t expected the sound to be so loud. He emerged from the bathroom, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Seeing Duan Ying still standing by the window, he greeted her. "Duan Ying, haven’t you slept yet?"
Duan Ying waved to him.
"Liu Kun called me just now. He said on the phone that if we don’t resume our relationship, he will commit suicide."
Hou Weidong and Liu Kun had been roommates for four years and colleagues for two. Although their relationship was merely average, he knew Liu Kun’s character well. He said softly, "Liu Kun is an only child, spoiled since childhood. When we played basketball, if he scraped his skin, he never cared, but he would meticulously care for it later. A person like that would absolutely not commit suicide. You can rest assured."
Duan Ying said resentfully, "Threatening suicide is the behavior of a petty man. I despise such men the most."
Duan Ying was wearing Xiaojia’s pajamas, a low-cut style. Given that her figure was naturally fuller than Xiaojia’s, the streetlights from the Crescent Moon Building’s courtyard and the half-moon in the sky cast dim, shadowy lines across her ample cleavage.
Hou Weidong had once lingered by that shadowy line and knew the taste of it well. He dared not stay long. "Go to sleep early. They are waiting for you."
Duan Ying sighed in her heart, "Xiaojia is truly blessed." Outwardly, she said, "Goodnight. Sleep early."