Names: Uncle Zhao Mengsheng, Father-in-law Pei Yihong

I drove back to my apartment complex, pushed open the door to the living room, and found the house completely silent.

Liang Lu sat on the sofa, holding her phone in her hand.

She was twelve years older than Chen Shan. After so many years of marriage, all their affection had been worn away. The two were in a cold war all year round, living under the same roof but acting like strangers.

Hearing the door open, Liang Lu didn't even lift her eyelids. "Chen Shan, where have you been socializing again?"

Chen Shan paused in his shoe-changing motion, feeling irritated and too annoyed to waste any more words on her.

"Teacher Liang, I've gone to my parents' house. There's a lot going on in the living room, I'm very busy."

Liang Lu then looked up, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

"Busy? Chen Shan, Director Chen, what else are you busy with besides hiding away every day? You don't want to stay in this house at all."

A single sentence pierced through the most transparent barrier between the two. This exquisitely decorated house, which looked very high-end, was in reality a cage that had trapped them for half their lives.

Chen Shan was too lazy to argue. The couple had been in a cold war for years and had been sleeping in separate rooms and beds for eight years. They had long since run out of things to say to each other.

"By the way, Teacher Liang, they're working overtime in the lobby."

He left with four words and walked away quickly.

Not wanting to linger for even a second longer.

The couple drifted apart, their relationship turning cold and distant.

Li Shiya, the chairwoman of Shanshui Group, is still the best.

Upon arriving at the Shanshui Group, Li Shiya gave her a passionate kiss.

Chen Shan picked up the woman in his arms.

As for Liang Lu, she'll just have to stay home alone.

The nursing home where Chen Yanshi lives.

After Chen Shan left, Wang Fuzhen poured Chen Yanshi a foot bath. "Old Chen, the temperature is just right. Take a soak and relax. Why didn't you mention Xiao Jinzi's relationship when Chen Shan was here?"

At least it will put his mind at ease.

Chen Yanshi put his feet in the basin. "Xiao Jinzi is out conducting research, so he's keeping a low profile and being cautious."

If he doesn't say it, we can't bring it up. Favors become increasingly fragile with excessive use; they must be used wisely.

Listen to me, don't rush.

The next day.

morning.

Sha Ruijin, Tian Guofu, Wu Chunlin, Tang Lijuan, Secretary Bai and their entourage traveled to Yantai City in a Coaster bus.

In addition to officials who went to implement the compound fertilizer project, a group of officials from the Lincheng Municipal Party Committee and Government rushed to Qijia Village.

When Xiao Qingming, the executive vice mayor of Lincheng City, Ma Zhengwu, the secretary of the Lincheng City Discipline Inspection Commission, Cao Jianhua, the secretary-general of the Lincheng City Party Committee, and Ren Baocheng, the director of the Lincheng City Public Security Bureau, arrived at Qijia Village, they learned that Governor Liu, Gao Yuliang, Qi Tongwei and their entourage had left.

In officialdom, the movements of the bigwigs are the wind; keeping up with them is a political achievement, while falling behind is considered falling behind.

The provincial first-ranked official has left, while the second, third, and fourth-ranked officials are all in Lincheng. We must get closer to the leaders.

Alas, not a single provincial leader can be seen.

Cao Jianhua frowned. "Strange, why did those leaders leave Qijia Village? Where did they go?"

Guided by the villagers, they headed toward the home of village head Qi Haijiang.

"Director Qi, the city leaders have arrived."

Village head Qi Haijiang glanced at a group of people entering the courtyard, slowly sipping his tea with an indifferent expression, showing no intention of getting up to greet them.

This wasn't because Qi Haijiang was gloating; he felt that some of the cadres in Lincheng were being unreasonable.

Governor Liu Changsheng was in Qijia Village and didn't even know he was coming.

A lack of awareness is not enough.

Previously, whenever the town mayor said he was going to inspect a village, almost all the village committee members from Chengguan Town would accompany him to observe and learn.

I, Qi Haijiang, am someone who has shaken hands and taken photos with the governor.

Yesterday, you were too slow and didn't come to see my nephew, so today I'll give you a hard time.

Ren Baocheng stepped forward. "Director Qi, excuse me. We are from the Lincheng Municipal Party Committee, here to report to some provincial leaders. May I ask where Governor Liu, Secretary Gao, and Governor Qi are?"

Qi Haijiang didn't even lift his eyelids, took another sip of tea, and said, "I don't know."

The three words "clean and efficient" effectively shut down all questions.

Ren Baocheng paused, looking slightly embarrassed.

He never expected a village-level official to be so tough.

Xiao Qingming stepped forward. "Director, we don't mean anything by it. We just came here specifically to report on the progress of the Lincheng project. Could you please give us some fresh air?"

Qi Haijiang put down his teacup, slowly raised his head, and said, "Provincial leaders go to the countryside for research, and their whereabouts are uncertain. I am just a nobody in the village, so I dare not ask too many questions or say too much."

There's one more thing, even if I know it, I can't say it.

Classified information.

This must be kept confidential.

The group exchanged glances, all feeling somewhat helpless.

They were all powerful figures in Lincheng, but today they had been humiliated by a village chief.

The group arrived empty-handed, but none of them intended to turn around and leave.

When asked to introduce Qijia Village, Qi Haijiang became very enthusiastic.

"Distinguished leaders, please follow me, let's go take a look at the fields..."

Reporters from various media outlets raised their equipment.

Although the bigwig is gone, Qi Tongwei's hometown and his reputation at the grassroots level are themselves news material.

As long as we find some material, this trip won't be a complete failure.

In an instant, cameras and microphones were all swarming around Qi Haijiang, leaving him no choice but to go to the village committee.

Xiao Qingming and his companions simply stopped and watched, waiting to see if the leader would return so they could make contact immediately.

At this moment, a reporter from Lincheng TV handed over the microphone, "Director Qi, could you tell us about Governor Qi? People say that he misses his hometown very much after taking up a high position."

When Qi Tongwei is mentioned, Qi Haijiang's eyes are filled with pride.

"Of course! Qi Tongwei is the first college student from our village, and he is the hope of our Qi family village."

He pointed to the smooth roads and brand-new houses in the village.

"What you see in Qijia Village now is that the roads are paved, the environment is better, and industries have taken off. This is all thanks to the fact that it attracted many companies, such as Dalu Group, to settle in. We don't need to go out to work anymore; there are factories and agricultural bases in the village..."

A reporter from Handong TV asked, "Director Qi, in your eyes, what else is special about Governor Qi?"

Qi Haijiang was no longer nervous and spoke fluently, "About ten years ago, when we were updating the family genealogy, Tongwei suggested adding a few lines to the ancestral precepts: anyone who commits crimes, breaks the law, or violates discipline shall not be allowed to enter the ancestral graves and shall be removed from the family genealogy..."

For the past ten years, the crime rate in our Qijia Village and several surrounding villages has been zero.

clap clap clap!

applause.

Qi Haijiang spoke clearly to the camera.

"Our village is developing better and better. Businesses are investing here, and we have shares. We not only receive wages, but also dividends."

Governor Qi placed great emphasis on education. Back then, he set a rule that students from the village would receive a reward of 10,000 yuan if they were admitted to a junior college, 30,000 yuan if they were admitted to a bachelor's degree program, and 50,000 yuan if they were admitted to a master's program!

"All the elderly people over sixty years old in our village receive rice, flour, cooking oil, and monetary gifts during festivals..."

Qi Tongwei naturally couldn't hear these words.

Early in the morning.

Gao Yuliang, Liu Changsheng, Li Dakang, Zhao Shouyi, Lin Bowen, Wang Dalu, Gao Xiaoqin, Gao Xiaofeng, He Jiahong, Zhou Zhongping, Gu Mingyuan, Xu Zhenbang, Jiang Bowen, Lü Qitai and their group arrived at the foot of Qiyun Mountain by car.

Governor Liu climbed the steps and said, "Secretary Yuliang, climbing the mountain to stretch your muscles really makes me feel several years younger."

He said he felt comfortable, but he couldn't hide the soreness in his legs. With his age, he was finally starting to feel the strain.

However, they refused to give up.

Qi Tongwei and Zhang Qi were at the very back, not because they were physically exhausted, but because they wanted to see who was falling behind and who needed help, so they could lend a hand.

Qi Tongwei was even prepared to carry Governor Liu on his back.