I'm in the county town, and you say I'm a big shot?

Chapter 193 Zhao Wenjun's Invitation

"Hello, Assistant Fang, this is Zhao Wenjun." Zhao Wenjun's standard local accent came through the microphone.

Fang Qingye smiled and said, "President Zhao, I am no longer the assistant president. I have resigned."

"Hehe, I just found out too," Zhao Wenjun said on the phone.

"I'm on vacation in Nanxin for the next few days. I'd like to invite you to dinner tonight so we can chat. Don't worry, I don't mean to make fun of you. I just think you're a nice person and worth getting to know. Would you do me the honor?"

What exactly does Zhao Wenjun mean?
Fang Qingye was a little confused, but quickly agreed: "President Zhao is treating, how can I not go!"

"How about we go to that little restaurant near the branch office? I haven't eaten there in ages."

That little restaurant near the bank?
A slight smile appeared on Fang Qingye's lips.

"Okay."

Six o'clock in the evening.

"Six o'clock won't work. I'm still fishing in Wujiazhuang. I'll probably get back around 6:30."

"Hehe, Assistant Fang, you have such a refined taste. Then let's go at 6:30."

After making the call, Fang Qingye drove straight to the county town, delivered the fish she had caught to the nursery, then drove home, told her mother, switched to a small scooter and headed towards the branch, glancing at the branch gate as she sped past.

When Fang Qingye arrived at the small restaurant, she went inside and found Zhao Wenjun chatting and laughing with the proprietress.

At this moment, Zhao Wenjun was wearing an expensive suit, her leather shoes were polished to a shine, and she had her hair slicked back. She had completely shed her somewhat rustic image from when she worked at the Nanxin branch.

Upon seeing Fang Qingye enter, Zhao Wenjun smiled and came over to shake hands with him before inviting him into the private room.

"President Zhao, you look great." Fang Qingye joked, "Your attire is more suited to high-end hotels in Shanghai than this small restaurant."

Zhao Wenjun laughed heartily upon hearing this: "I originally wanted to invite you to dinner at the Chundu Hotel, but then I thought, you go there often, and you're probably already tired of it. I think the food at this little restaurant is much better than those places."

Fang Qingye nodded: "The food at this restaurant is indeed quite good. I sometimes come here to eat."

"Yes, it's been a long time since I've eaten here. Nothing has changed," Zhao Wenjun remarked, looking at the room's layout.

Nothing has changed.

It was in this very room that Zhao Wenjun confronted him!
Coincidentally, not long ago, Yao Gang, who had just taken office, also confronted him in this very place.

What will Zhao Wenjun say today?
The food was served quickly, and Zhao Wenjun then asked the owner to bring over a bottle of wine.

"Let's drink our local Hualu liquor. Although it's not very famous, I think it tastes much better than those foreign liquors in Shanghai."

"President Zhao, I can't hold my liquor," Fang Qingye quickly said.

"We're all friends, feel free to drink as you please, no pressure." After saying that, he poured Fang Qingye a glass of wine and said with a smile, "Little Fang, I actually expected that you would resign sooner or later."

"why?"

Zhao Wenjun looked up at the branch building and smiled. During the Cultural Revolution, there was a popular couplet: "A small temple has a strong demonic wind; a shallow pond has many turtles." It's quite fitting to describe the Nanxin branch now. "Could you stay in a place like this for long?"

Fang Qingye smiled, but instead of answering, she changed the subject: "President Zhao, what exactly are you doing in Shanghai?"

"He will serve as the branch manager of the Lujiazui branch of Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank," Zhao Wenjun said.

"Congratulations!" Fang Qingye said with a smile. "This is exactly what you excel at."

“Sure,” Zhao Wenjun picked up her wine and clinked glasses with Fang Qingye, saying, “Compared to state-owned banks like Oriental Bank, joint-stock banks have heavier tasks and greater pressure. But the good thing is that they are more flexible in their work style and don’t have as many rules and regulations.”

It's just that your unconventional approach suits you perfectly.

Fang Qingye added in her mind, but didn't say it aloud.

“Xiao Fang,” Zhao Wenjun suddenly changed the subject, “Do you remember when I treated you to dinner here and we chatted?”

"Hehe, I remember."

"I was really angry at the time. You saw through my carefully laid plan and forced me to leave Nanxin for Shanghai. But thinking about it later, it's really nothing. A man's gotta be the man. There's a line in a Hong Kong movie that goes something like this:"
"When you're out in the game, you have to admit your mistakes and stand up straight when you get beaten," that's the principle.

Fang Qingye laughed as well: "President Zhao, you're doing just as well in Shanghai now as you were in the Nanxin branch."

Zhao Wenjun did not deny it: "I do think so too. The style of Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank suits me better."

"Congratulations on your newfound success in your career." Fang Qingye raised her glass.

"Thank you."

The two clinked glasses again, and Zhao Wenjun said, "Xiao Fang, I've come to see you today for two reasons: first, to catch up, and second, to invite you to come to Shanghai with me."

"To Shanghai?"

“Yes, be my deputy, the deputy branch manager of Lujiazui branch, with an annual salary of 10 yuan, and bonuses based on performance, which could amount to 20 yuan. That’s much higher than being the branch manager in Nanxin. What do you think?” Zhao Wenjun asked.

"Why did you come to me?" Fang Qingye was somewhat surprised; he really hadn't expected Zhao Wenjun to have this purpose in contacting him.

“You are young but meticulous, while I am bold. We will definitely work well together. I have heard that you have helped Xia He come up with a lot of good ideas. If you go to Shanghai, you will be even more at home.”

"Aren't you worried that I'll treat you the same way I did in Nanxin?" Fang Qingye asked deliberately.

"Haha, I'm not worried at all!" Zhao Wenjun laughed.

“I recommended you to go to Shanghai. Our interests are aligned, so why did you betray me? If I get promoted to head office in the future, you will be the president! You should be supporting me.”

This is true.
Fang Qingye nodded.

"You agree?" Zhao Wenjun asked quickly.

"I'm sorry, President Zhao, I appreciate your kind offer, but I don't want to go to Shanghai, and I certainly don't want to work in a bank again. I'm a naturally easygoing person and don't have much ambition," Fang Qingye politely declined.

“I acknowledge your easygoing nature, but I absolutely disagree with your claim of lacking ambition,” Zhao Wenjun said. “Since you don’t want to go, I won’t force you. But we’re friends, right?”

"Yes."

"Alright, let's drink this one."

After finishing their meal, everyone went home.

When I got home that evening, I talked to Xia He about it on QQ.

Xia He already knew he had resigned, but she was still surprised to hear that Zhao Wenjun had actually tried to recruit him to go to Shanghai to be his deputy.

"I never expected this. Are you men really this magnanimous?"

"There's no blood feud between us, neither the murder of my father nor the loss of my wife. What can't we resolve?" Fang Qingye joked on QQ. "I ruined his plans, but every cloud has a silver lining. Isn't he doing better now?"

"People like this are the ones who thrive in this society!"

"You're right, you're absolutely right. You two really appreciate each other, don't you think?" Xia He said playfully, "Hey, you quit your job, what are you doing at home all day?"

"Fishing, and helping Grandpa tend the nursery!"

(End of this chapter)