Chapter 371: Qingdao (Part 2)

Chapter 371: Qingdao (Part 2)

The seed taking root in Li Jing’s womb was the most precious treasure of her life. With this little one, everything else seemed to fade into insignificance.

After much deliberation, Li Jing finally made up her mind. “I will find someone to enter a sham marriage. Once the child is born, I will pay that person to leave, effectively dismissing Hou Weidong’s substitute. This way, I can give my unborn child a legal identity. Otherwise, the baby would come into this world as an illegitimate child, which is something I absolutely cannot tolerate.”

To prevent any future disputes over marital property, she specifically consulted a renowned civil law attorney in Lingxi. She drafted a series of pre-nuptial property registration plans to protect her interests, ensuring everything was foolproof before finally obtaining a marriage certificate with Hou Weidong’s substitute.

On New Year’s Day, Li Jing managed to get through to Hou Weidong on the phone. “Weidong, I am married.”

Over the past two years, Hou Weidong and Li Jing had shared countless beautiful nights. Now, hearing that the woman he cherished had become someone else’s wife, his heart plummeted as if he were bungee jumping from a great height. He was stunned for a long moment before managing to speak. “You’re really married?”

Li Jing was pleased by his reaction. Covering her mouth with a smile, she feigned indifference. “I met someone, and I felt it was right. So, I decided to get married first. If things don’t work out well in the future, I’ll just get a divorce.”

Hou Weidong could not make any promises to Li Jing, so he had nothing to say. Holding the receiver, he remained silent for a while before saying, “I wish you happiness.”

Li Jing replied, “We are still friends.”

Hou Weidong sighed deeply in his heart, steadied his nerves, and said, “Yes, we are still friends.”

After hanging up, Hou Weidong sat back down in his office. His expression was grim.

Secretary-General Hong Ang walked into the office. Usually, Hong Ang would go directly to Secretary Zhou Changquan’s office. Today, however, he came to the secretarial room. Hou Weidong quickly adjusted his emotions, stood up, and said, “Secretary-General, Secretary Zhou is in the small conference room.”

“I just came out of the small conference room. Secretary Changquan is going to the United States tomorrow. We just discussed the matter, and the Municipal Party Committee Office has decided to send you on this batch of reserve cadre study tours. The route will be along the Qingdao-Dalian line.”

Since December, Shazhou City had been organizing reserve division-level cadres to go out for inspection and study in batches to strengthen their training. One batch had left in early December, and another was scheduled for late December.

Hou Weidong currently held the position of Section Chief of the Comprehensive Section, a regular section-level rank. However, since he had been transferred to the Municipal Party Committee Office, the reserve cadres for the office had already been determined. Therefore, he was not officially a reserve cadre for Shazhou City. The fact that he was allowed to participate in the division-level reserve cadre training program this time was a clear signal of intent.

“Secretary-General, thank you for your care…”

Hong Ang smiled and patted Hou Weidong on the shoulder. “You adapt to work very quickly. Secretary Changquan will be in the United States for a month, and he suggested that you join the reserve cadre inspection team. You’re a good young man. Keep up the good work.”

Hou Weidong had been working in the Municipal Party Committee Office for some time, but Zhou Changquan had never formally evaluated his work. This time, Zhou Changquan’s suggestion for him to join the inspection team was essentially a formal recognition and high praise of Hou Weidong’s performance.

One joy and one sorrow left Hou Weidong’s mind in turmoil.

That evening, Huang Zidi, Hong Ang, and others held a farewell dinner for Secretary Zhou Changquan. They did not arrange it at the Small Reception Center or the Shazhou Hotel. Instead, Huang Zidi hired a business van, drove along the east side of the West District, turned right, and finally stopped at a villa area. If Hou Weidong hadn’t often driven around aimlessly, he would have likely gotten lost.

As soon as the car arrived, the villa doors opened automatically. Kong Zhengyi from the Finance Bureau, Vice Mayor Bu Haiyun, and Du Jiangong, the general manager of Shazhou Construction Engineering, were waiting inside.

Du Jiangong was a prominent figure in Shazhou. Shazhou Construction Engineering was the largest local enterprise in the city and also the one developing most rapidly. He had started by manufacturing mechanical parts, then ventured into real estate, acquiring several prime plots of land in the city center, and quickly expanded his business. Hou Weidong had interacted with him twice before, and they had been polite to each other. Seeing Zhou Changquan arrive at his villa, Hou Weidong realized that this man’s relationship with Zhou Changquan was certainly not ordinary.

Du Jiangong escorted Zhou Changquan and the others to the dining room and said humbly, “Secretary Zhou is going to the United States and won’t be able to eat hometown cuisine for a month. Today, I specially invited a national master chef from Lingxi Hotel. Please, leaders, taste the master’s dishes.”

Surrounded by everyone, Zhou Changquan entered the dining room. The room was about fifty square meters, with a huge crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. When the chandelier was turned on, it was dazzlingly bright, comparable to the heating lamp in a bathroom.

This was Hou Weidong’s first time accompanying Zhou Changquan to such a private place. He understood: “From today on, I have officially stepped into Zhou Changquan’s inner circle.”

A young woman came down from upstairs. She had an extremely slender waist, a beautiful face, and an elegant demeanor. Hou Weidong felt she looked very familiar at first glance, and then he realized who she was. This young woman was Li Ying, the most famous anchor at Shazhou Television Station.

Li Ying naturally took the empty seat next to Zhou Changquan and smiled. “Secretary Zhou, I won’t be watching the game today. Last time, during the ‘Three-in-One’ event, Secretary Huang said I brought you good luck. Tonight, I’ll stand behind Secretary Huang and see which of the leaders has the best luck.”

As the saying goes, men and women working together makes the work less tiring. With one or two outstanding beauties at the dinner table, the atmosphere became much more lively. Li Ying was beautiful and witty, and soon the table was filled with laughter and conversation, completely relaxing everyone.

Looking at Li Ying’s smiling face, Hou Weidong suddenly thought of Li Jing. “Li Jing was a single-minded person. How could she suddenly decide to get married?” Then he thought again, “I cannot give Li Jing a complete family. Her choice is understandable.” Although he was comforting himself, Li Jing’s shadow kept flickering in his mind, clearer than usual.

After dinner, Du Jiangong smiled and said, “Secretary Zhou, let’s relax and play a few hands of mahjong.”

Zhou Changquan said, “We can set up two tables today. Haiyun, Zidi, Jiangong, we’ll be at one table.” Li Ying laughed, “I’ll still watch Secretary Zhou play.”

Hou Weidong, Hong Ang, and Kong Zhengyi opened another battlefield.

Hong Ang asked, “Xiao Hou, do you like playing mahjong?”

“Secretary-General, my skills are average.”

Hong Ang chuckled. “Xiao Hou served as a director in the Development Zone. The Development Zone is a window for external liaison. The head must have social skills. Playing mahjong is one of the basic skills of socializing.”

They played mahjong until midnight. Hong Ang went to another room, and after a while, he returned and said, “The leaders are still in high spirits. Let’s go back first.”

As a full-time secretary, Hou Weidong usually followed Zhou Changquan closely. He hesitated slightly, but his hesitation was fleeting. Hong Ang, however, keenly noticed it and said, “Let’s go.”

Kong Zhengyi drove his own car, so Hou Weidong and Hong Ang took another small car. As they got in, Hong Ang casually remarked, “With Secretary Huang here, we can go home with peace of mind.”

Hou Weidong pondered these words all the way, finding them increasingly profound.

On the third day after Zhou Changquan flew to the United States, the Shazhou City reserve cadre inspection team headed to Shandong. They first inspected Shouguang and Zhucheng, then arrived in Qingdao.

Hou Weidong rarely had such leisure time. He kept a low profile in the inspection team and did not interact much with the many young reserve cadres, even though he was like a star among them.

When they arrived in Qingdao, it was already dark. Su Mingjun, the leader from the Organization Department, stood at the front of the bus, took the microphone from the tour guide, and said, “Everyone has worked hard for two days. Tomorrow is a holiday for free activity. Comrades, rest well tonight and have fun tomorrow.”

After everyone got off the bus, Su Mingjun called Hou Weidong over. “Weidong, what are your plans for tonight? Let’s hang out together.” Hou Weidong replied, “You arrange the activities, Su Minister, and I’ll cover the expenses.”

Guo Lan stood quietly to the side, holding her bag. Her expression was somewhat cold, forming a sharp contrast with the cheerful crowd.

Su Mingjun said, “Tonight, it will be just the five of us: me, Guo Lan, Weidong, Xiao Wei, and Huang Ying. Let’s go eat something special.” Xiao Wei, the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau, was the youngest deputy director in Shazhou’s political and legal system and was highly capable. Huang Ying was Huang Zidi’s younger sister, so Su Mingjun specifically invited these two.

He then said to Guo Lan, “Xiao Guo, I remember you studied in Qingdao for university. Tonight, you’ll be our guide.” Guo Lan forced a smile. “By the sea, we naturally eat seafood.”

Hearing Su Mingjun’s arrangement, Xiao Wei volunteered enthusiastically. “How can we let Secretary Hou treat us in Qingdao? I have a comrade-in-arms working at the Public Security Bureau here. He’ll arrange everything today.”

Xiao Wei’s comrade-in-arms was a tall, 1.85-meter man, very enthusiastic. He and his wife drove two cars to the hotel to welcome their comrades from Lingxi. The group first went to a seafood restaurant. After drinking and getting excited, they went to a karaoke bar and booked a large private room.

Xiao Wei and his comrade-in-arms sang several military songs, and the atmosphere in the room became lively. They sang and danced.

Because Li Jing had suddenly gotten married, Hou Weidong was quite depressed. His mood had been poor all along the journey, and he had no interest in eating, drinking, or playing. He sat in the corner, lost in thought. Su Mingjun danced a few songs and said, “Weidong, why are you sitting here? Invite some ladies to dance.”

When the music started again, Hou Weidong stood up and said to Guo Lan, “May I have this dance?” Huang Ying was about the same age as Hou Weidong, belonging to the same generation. She chose a song called “Flower in the Water” and sang with deep emotion: “In the cold wind and rain, how much prosperity is like a dream. Once, thousands of flowers fell with the wind. Looking back suddenly, love is like smoke and clouds… I see the flower in the water, trying hard to keep a touch of red.”

The familiar melody and the reminiscent scene instantly transported Guo Lan back to that night years ago. That night, amidst the song “Flower in the Water,” with her long hair flowing, she had leaned sadly on Hou Weidong’s shoulder and cried her heart out.