Family connections: From special recruitment by the county committee to the pinnacle of power

Xu Hansheng said confidently, "Dad, don't worry, we can just wait for news."

After saying that, he took his parents and returned to the private room.

Xu Weidong turned to Xu Hansheng and said, "Didn't you tell me before that I should give a performance that showed genuine emotion?"

Xu Hansheng chuckled wryly a few times and said, "That was originally the plan, but my mom and Aunt Jiang came back too late today, so there wasn't enough time. But it doesn't matter, as long as he listened to what we just said, it'll definitely work out."

Li Xiuru frowned and said, "Then why did you specifically tell her not to tell anyone?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Hansheng couldn't help but laugh and said, "Mom, people are often so strange. The more you forbid them from doing something, the more they want to try it. I told her that to reinforce the impression so she wouldn't forget."

puff.

Li Xiuru couldn't help but laugh, glancing at her son and saying, "You really are a clever little devil!"

As Xu Hansheng said, the more he forbade her to do something, the more Li Xiuru couldn't help but do it.

If Xu Hansheng hadn't said that last sentence, Jiang Yuling might not have been in such a hurry to tell Tan Zhifei about it. But after his reminder, she might have to tell him everything tonight.

……

Meanwhile, when Jiang Yuling returned home, Tan Zhifei was watching TV in the living room with a grim expression.

Seeing that Jiang Yuling was returning so late, Tan Zhifei said in an unfriendly tone, "Didn't I tell you? The county committee office has been incredibly busy lately! You've been out all day, and you can't even cook a meal? Why don't you move to Hongyunlai tomorrow?"

He had been busy all day at the county party committee office, and was scolded by the secretary just before leaving get off work. When he got home, the stove was cold and he didn't even get a hot meal. It would be strange if he was in a bad mood.

Jiang Yuling smiled sheepishly. Before she could even take off her newly bought coat, she hurriedly changed into slippers and quickly went to the dining room, where she placed the packed food on the table.

"Old Tan, I'm so sorry I got back so late today. Xiuru helped me pack some freshly made food. Come and have a bite."

As she spoke, Jiang Yuling took off her newly bought coat.

Tan Zhifei looked Jiang Yuling up and down, frowning. "How much did this dress cost? Did Li Xiuru buy it for you? Let me tell you, you're not allowed to accept anything from anyone, understand?"

Jiang Yuling sighed softly and said, "Sigh, this coat was a gift from Xiuru to thank me for accompanying her shopping. Besides, she didn't ask me to do anything for you, so why are you acting like this? I haven't bought any clothes in five years! I don't care if you care about your reputation, but you can't let me and the child suffer because of you, can you?"

"In a few days, the child will come back from boarding school, and we'll need to buy new clothes. Do you have the money? If I had money in my pocket, would I accept other people's clothes? Don't I know how shameful that is? But... but..."

As she spoke, Jiang Yuling's tears fell with a soft thud.

Seeing Jiang Yuling shed tears, Tan Zhifei also felt terrible.

To say he lacks ability is an exaggeration. He is the deputy director of the county party committee office, a proper deputy section-level cadre. Although he enjoys the treatment of a section-level cadre, his salary is really barely enough to make ends meet.

Especially since his son is in high school in the city, the monthly cost of food and lodging alone is not a small amount. With all sorts of miscellaneous expenses added up, he and Jiang Yuling's combined salaries are barely enough to make ends meet, and they even have to be careful with their meat purchases.

This is a dilemma faced by many grassroots cadres.

Tan Zhifei sighed softly, stepped forward, put his arm around Jiang Yuling's shoulder and said, "Alright, stop crying. It was my fault, okay? You haven't eaten either, have you? Come and eat with us."

Hearing Tan Zhifei's slightly choked voice, Jiang Yuling felt a pang of sadness.

Maybe life will get better day by day after my son goes to college?

This was also their biggest hope.

The couple embraced and sat down at the table. Tan Zhifei took the initiative to open the lunchbox, took out a bowl and chopsticks, handed them to Jiang Yuling first, and then sat down with a box of rice in his arms. He said to Jiang Yuling, "I don't mean to blame you. I'm just worried. So many people in the county are watching me. If something big or small happens, we'll be in deep trouble."

"If I were like other people, accepting money or gifts would be one thing, but I... I've never accepted any. If I get reported because of a piece of clothing, I... I'd be so wronged. However, I admit my attitude was bad just now, and I need to apologize to you."

puff!

Jiang Yuling couldn't help but laugh through her tears, saying, "This is at home, not at work. What are you reflecting on? Eat up!"

As she spoke, Jiang Yuling picked up a piece of chicken and put it into Tan Zhifei's lunchbox.

Tan Zhifei took a bite of chicken, his eyes welling up with tears. Although they weren't wealthy, the couple treated each other with respect.

"Oh, right!"

Jiang Yuling suddenly looked up at Tan Zhifei and said, "I almost forgot, we're going to Hongyunlai for dinner today. Guess what I found out?"

Tan Zhifei frowned and asked, "What?"

"Oh my, did you know? Xu Weidong's younger brother owns a huge factory in Qingshan City, employing over two thousand workers!"

Tan Zhifei shook his head and said, "I've never heard of that before, but what does it have to do with us?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuling said with a serious expression, "I heard that his brother's factory has been targeted by a certain leader in the city and has been shut down for more than two months. He has lost more than a million yuan in wages alone. Judging from the situation, he will probably have to close down soon."

Tan Zhifei gave a few bitter laughs and said, "He can't keep going, what can we do to help? Qingshan City is a big place, we don't have any connections or influence..."

At this point, Tan Zhifei suddenly turned to Jiang Yuling and said, "You didn't agree to help them, did you? Let me tell you, I have absolutely no connections in Qingshan City! If they gave you the clothes for this reason, return them immediately. We can't help with something this big!"

Jiang Yuling sighed helplessly. Tan Zhifei was good in every way, except that he was too straightforward. Before anything had even happened, he had already asked her to return the clothes.

"They don't need you at all!"

Jiang Yuling rolled her eyes at Tan Zhifei and said, "I heard that Xu Hansheng has a classmate in Lishui County, and his classmate's brother works in the county government, specifically in charge of liaising with enterprises."

Tan Zhifei chuckled and said, "There's no such department. It's just the secretariat of the county government office, which only handles liaison work. Even the section chief wouldn't deal with this kind of thing. How could a lowly clerk help their family with something this big? I don't believe it."