Chapter 356: Waiting (Part 2)

Hou Weidong smiled. "Last year, the newspaper ran two features on the development zone, which were quite successful. This year, the economic landscape has shifted significantly, and the state has introduced numerous new policies. If we produce a follow-up report, it should yield excellent results."

Wang Hui was a veteran journalist who had seen it all and possessed a sharp instinct for identifying the core of any issue. He took a drag from his cigarette, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Director Hou, are you perhaps trying to manufacture some influence for yourself? You haven’t been at the Science and Technology Commission long, and it’s difficult for the commission to produce achievements that can be showcased publicly. So, you’re looking to leverage your previous influence at the New Management Committee."

Seeing that Wang Hui had begun to dissect the situation, Hou Weidong replied with confidence. "The Yiyang New Management Committee has been in existence for less than three years, and there have been three directors in that time. I served for nearly two of those years. Therefore, the development of the committee is closely tied to me. To this day, whenever the Yiyang New Management Committee is mentioned, my name inevitably comes up."

He continued, "Director Wang hit the nail on the head just now, so I won’t beat around the bush. This report is indeed very important to me. I intend to use it to gain the appreciation of the leadership. Director Wang, I am willing to sponsor this report. The funds can be given directly to the reporting team or directly to the newspaper."

Wang Hui took a harsh drag from his cigarette and fell silent, pondering. Hou Weidong took out his new Nokia phone. "I noticed your mobile phone is still one of those bulky models. This Nokia has superior performance and excellent call quality."

Wang Hui accepted the new Nokia, handling it for a moment. "I will arrange for the article to be written. You only need to deal with me; you don’t need to worry about the newspaper side. Additionally, if conditions permit, I would like to purchase a laptop." He explained, "For someone working in writing, it doesn’t look professional without a high-spec laptop. My current one is an old model from the newspaper office—it’s heavy and difficult to use."

Hou Weidong reached out and grasped Wang Hui’s hand, saying happily, "Then let’s have a pleasant cooperation."

The two men drank a bottle of Moutai, their spirits high. When Wang Hui left the hotel, he was somewhat intoxicated. He gripped Hou Weidong’s hand and said, "Rest assured. I have been tracking and understanding the development zone for over two years. The focus of the report is clear. Within two days at most, an article on the development history of the Yiyang New Management Committee will be published."

Having consumed half a jin of baijiu, Hou Weidong could no longer drive. He returned to his room at the Jinxing Hotel. He lay diagonally on the bed watching television when the phone on the bedside table rang.

"Sir, would you like a massage?" A deliberately soft, seductive voice came through the receiver.

"No need," Hou Weidong refused concisely. The voice persisted, "Sir, when you’re away from home, you should let loose. My technique is good; you’ll be absolutely comfortable." Hou Weidong replied, "Thank you, but my wife will be giving me a massage shortly." As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the sound of the receiver being covered.

The girls who made calls from hotel rooms were always a topic of conversation among men on business trips. Hou Weidong stayed in hotels frequently and was accustomed to such calls, remaining unfazed. Having drunk more than half a bottle of Moutai, he was slightly tipsy and had merely exchanged a few teasing words with the caller.

The Jinxing Hotel was, after all, a five-star establishment, and it considered its guests’ needs quite thoroughly. The room was equipped with a small packet of tea leaves. The packaging bore the characters "Silver Needle," indicating a quality far superior to the loose-leaf tea bags found in ordinary hotels. However, Hou Weidong was very particular about his tea. After sniffing the aroma, he put on his coat and went downstairs to buy tea leaves and a cup.

A small supermarket was located next to the lobby. From the outside, the environment looked pleasant, but upon entering, he found that all the goods were branded names, with prices at least one-third higher than those outside. Two tall women were buying snacks.

One woman said, "Don’t always eat sunflower seeds; be careful you don’t get sunflower seed teeth." The other woman’s voice was somewhat soft and languid. "Life is just like this. If you want to eat, you eat. If you want to sleep, you sleep."

This voice was unmistakably the same one from the phone call earlier. While looking for tea, Hou Weidong took a careful look at the speaking woman. She was very young, wearing no makeup, with a clean face that gave no impression of being a prostitute. Hou Weidong began to doubt his hearing. The woman spoke a few more sentences, still in that soft, lingering accent. It was indeed the same woman who had called.

After buying the tea and returning, he still thought about that woman. "She looks quite pure. How could she be working as a prostitute? Is she perhaps a student from Lingxi University?"

Back in the room, watching television and drinking tea, the memory of that woman’s soft voice stirred his primal desires. His thoughts shifted from the tall woman to Duan Ying and Li Jing, his two close female confidantes. Their bodies were like images stored on a hard drive, ready to be retrieved from his mind at any moment without distortion.

Duan Ying’s full breasts, Li Jing’s flushed complexion after excitement—these memories were like a fire in spring, heating Hou Weidong’s young, healthy body until it burned like a roaring furnace. It had been some time since his last sexual encounter, and his body had accumulated much energy, like the surging waters of the Yellow River, needing release.

He tried his best to restrain himself. Xiaojia was returning from Xinjiang the next day. If he were to stay in another woman’s room at such a time, he would feel guilty in his heart.

Regarding matters of the heart, Hou Weidong was often in a state of contradiction. His feelings for Xiaojia were sincere, and he had once wanted to cut the tangled mess with a swift stroke. Yet, deep down, he had reserved a place for his two female confidantes.

Men and women are two different kinds of creatures. Biologically, men can—or rather, desire—to love different women at the same time. This is the basis for the system of one wife and multiple concubines. In real life, some men successfully realize this wish, while others only dream of it.

Women are different. Most women can only love one person at a time. Therefore, when a woman has an affair, it often means the breakdown of the family, because their hearts can only be attached to one person.

Hou Weidong idly pondered the emotional entanglements surrounding him while pressing buttons on the remote, randomly changing channels. Suddenly, in a fleeting television image, he caught sight of a familiar figure.

It was a gala broadcast by Lingxi Television Station. An obscure singer was passionately performing a song that had swept across the country. A group of pretty girls danced behind him, and the lead dancer was Zhu Yingying, whom he had met once before. She wore a tight-fitting outfit, her figure exceptionally well-proportioned. Watching Zhu Yingying leap lightly on stage, he couldn’t help but think of the charming elasticity of her waist.

A wave of heat rose in his body again. Hou Weidong put down the remote, staring at Zhu Yingying’s youthful, vibrant body on the screen. His right hand gripped his mobile phone, and he casually dialed Li Jing’s number.

"Damn it, I’m completely clouded by lust," Hou Weidong thought, but ultimately did not press the send button.

Just as he was struggling with his physical desires, Xiaojia called. She said excitedly, "I’ve just gotten off the plane. I’m preparing to take a taxi back to Yiyang."

Hou Weidong was startled. "Where are you? Lingxi Airport? I’m in Lingxi right now, staying in Room 501 at the Jinxing Hotel. I just had dinner with Director Wang from the Lingxi Daily. I’ll drive to pick you up." Xiaojia replied, "I’ll be faster if I take a taxi. You just wait for me at the hotel. You absolutely cannot drive after drinking. That’s a strict order."

After hanging up, Hou Weidong broke out in a cold sweat, feeling a sense of relief at his narrow escape.

About half an hour later, there was a knock at the door. Xiaojia, with her short wavy hair and carrying her bag, appeared at the doorway. Her face was a bit darker than usual from her trip to Xinjiang. As soon as she entered, she casually closed the door and pounced into Hou Weidong’s arms like a foal, squeezing him so hard he could barely breathe.

When Xiaojia finally released her grip, Hou Weidong caught his breath and said, "You’ve been to Xinjiang and come back burning with passion."

Xiaojia’s gaze remained fixed on Hou Weidong. Since they began dating, she had never tired of looking at his handsome face. After gazing at him affectionately for a while, she suddenly pursed her lips and said, "You must have drunk quite a bit tonight. There’s still a smell of alcohol in your mouth. Go brush your teeth, or you’re not allowed to kiss me."

By the time the two emerged from the bathroom, they were both consumed by desire. Hou Weidong embraced Xiaojia, who was naked and wet, and threw himself onto the bed. The bed in the five-star hotel was sturdy enough; after a period of shaking, it finally held firm.

"Why didn’t you give me a heads-up beforehand? I had to spend every day playing mahjong with Sister Zhou," Xiaojia said, lying naked on top of Hou Weidong, covered only by a thin sheet. The intense activity had consumed a great deal of energy and generated enough heat to fill the bed, so neither felt cold, needing only the single sheet.

"I was worried that if you spent every day with Zhou Ping, you might slip up and reveal something. The situation with Maoyun is more complex than we imagined. As long as Secretary Zhu is not in charge, I don’t want to wade into this muddy water. I’ll be turning thirty in two years. I don’t want to keep spinning in the position of a section-level cadre. I’m striving to advance to the next level as soon as possible. Becoming Secretary Changquan’s secretary is a shortcut."

Xiaojia said, "I hope my husband can achieve his wishes."

On November 1st, Secretary Changquan arrived at his office as usual. He first picked up the People’s Daily, skimmed through it, put it down, and then picked up the Lingxi Daily. He was drawn in by a series of reports titled "The Rising Development Zone."

The article analyzed the sixteen development zones that had been retained for the first time in the entire region, with a particular focus on the Lingxi Development Zone and the Yiyang New Management Committee. Hou Weidong’s name appeared several times in the article. Wang Hui’s writing was skillful, offering praise that was subtle and unobtrusive.

During this period, Secretary Changquan had been in the provincial capital. There were several candidates for the secretary position, all of whom were quite good. He had not yet made up his mind and had not given the final approval.