Qi Tongwei at the start: Not relying on Liang Lu, but winning by a single move against Heaven.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder; Qi Tongwei and Zhong Xiaoai, having been apart for over a month, naturally had a passionate encounter.

The moonlight swayed, and human voices sounded like weeping.

After a passionate encounter, Zhong Xiaoai's face was flushed, savoring the lingering afterglow of their encounter.

Seeing Qi Tongwei's somber expression, she asked softly.

"Are you troubled? Are you worried about Fuyuan's situation..."

Qi Tongwei saw no need to hide anything. He took a drag of his cigarette, smiled wryly, and said softly.

"The situation in Fuyuan has basically stabilized, and there shouldn't be any major trouble..."

As long as the higher-ups don't take any major action, once the thermal power plant and water diversion project are completed, it'll be considered finished...

Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoai smoothed a stray hair behind her ear and continued to ask.

"Since nothing will go wrong... then what are you worried about... you can't even have peace and quiet on your vacation..."

Qi Tongwei's lips curled up as he exhaled a puff of smoke and slowly began to speak.

"I was thinking that the political environment in Handong is completely different from that in the west..."

I'm a little worried that if I go back to Handong, I might not be able to adapt all at once...

Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoai glanced at him and muttered something under her breath.

"What's the difference... it's all backstabbing, seniority-based promotion, and factionalism..."

From south to north, no matter where you go, you're all the same...

Qi Tongwei rubbed her in his arms and said with a smile.

"You're completely wrong about that. The environments on both sides are indeed completely different..."

The western region is economically underdeveloped and has a relatively singular source of revenue, making it difficult for reform initiatives from higher levels to reach there...

Handong is much more exciting, with numerous enterprises and institutions, and a thriving private economy.

Once the east wind blows, all forces will move in response...

Zhong Xiaoai blushed as he teased her, and pointed at Xiao Qi Tongwei, speaking softly.

"You're never serious... and you're always thinking the wrong things..."

After saying that, she glared at Qi Tongwei and then bent down.

Seeing this, Qi Tongwei grinned, frowned, and said softly.

"Weren't we supposed to go to Jiming Temple to draw lots tomorrow...? Why are you here again..."

......

Compared to the tenderness and affection on Qi Tongwei's side, the atmosphere at Liang Qunfeng's home was much more somber.

In the study, Liang Qunfeng and Hou Liangping sat facing each other, while Liang Lu served tea to them.

Liang Qunfeng tapped the cigarette in his hand on the table and slowly asked.

"So, according to you... Gao Yuliang was making arrangements in advance, intentionally trying to win over Qi Tongwei..."

Seeing this, Hou Liangping helped his future father-in-law light the fire while replying softly.

"Not only that... I originally thought it was just a small alumni gathering..."

Let's catch up, reconnect, and build up some goodwill for the future...

But Gao Yuliang actually took the initiative to ask Qi Tongwei about the problem of triangular debt...

At this point, he glanced at Liang Qunfeng.

Seeing that Liang Qunfeng did not interrupt him, he continued to speak.

"From what I can tell, Gao Yuliang is probably up to something..."

He wanted to follow Qi Tongwei's method and start by targeting Dafeng Factory...

Upon hearing this, Liang Qunfeng took two deep drags on his cigarette, glanced at Hou Liangping, and continued to ask.

"Do you have a problem with Qi Tongwei's idea, or with Gao Yuliang's actions?"

Hou Liangping was taken aback by his question. After a slight hesitation, he replied softly.

"It's not that I have a problem with anyone..."

As you know, Dafeng Factory is a burden enterprise for the city...

The restructuring was inevitable sooner or later, so all this fuss now is a bit...

He meant to say, "It's pointless to take off your pants and fart."

But the words stuck in his throat, and he stopped talking.

Upon hearing this, Liang Qunfeng's lips curled up, he gave a soft snort, and said in a deep voice.

"You...you're still too young, too focused on those petty gains..."

If the triangular debt of Dafeng Factory is resolved properly, it will be equivalent to developing a Jingzhou model...

He paused slightly, glanced at Hou Liangping, and continued.

"Do you really think Gao Yuliang cares about the triangular debt, and about Qi Tongwei...?"

"Then you're seriously underestimating your teacher..."

Hou Liangping frowned upon hearing this.

He was about to speak when Liang Qunfeng waved his hand and continued.

"Don't worry about your petty gains... don't let them affect the overall situation."

It's getting late, and I'm tired. You should go home now...

Upon hearing this, Hou Liangping knew he couldn't say anything more and could only get up and take his leave.

After Hou Liangping left, the study returned to its usual quiet.

No one knows a daughter better than her father, and vice versa.

Seeing her father smoking and remaining silent, Liang Lu tentatively asked him a question.

"Dad...did Liangping do something wrong...?"

Tell me, and I'll have a good talk with him later..."

Upon hearing this, Liang Qunfeng glanced at his simple-minded daughter and said softly.

"Silly girl...you don't understand, Dad is doing this all for your own good..."

A wild horse that breaks free of its reins will injure its rider...

Seeing that Liang Lu didn't understand, Liang Qunfeng sighed, waved his hand gently, and continued.

"It's getting late, you should get some rest too... leave me alone for a while..."

Seeing his daughter leave the study, Liang Qunfeng rubbed his aching brow and muttered something under his breath.

"They're all just lowly stable boys, each one of them wants to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace..."

Don't they even consider whether they can get over my five-finger mountain...?

......

The tenth day of the first lunar month is traditionally known in Jingzhou as the Earth's Birthday, a day for worshipping the land.

Although Jiming Temple wasn't exactly overcrowded that day, there were still quite a few more people than usual.

Heaven was very kind to her; Zhong Xiaoai drew an extremely auspicious lot on her first draw, a sign of good fortune and prosperity.

"The phoenix and the dragon sing in harmony, bringing joy and happiness; a beautiful woman lends her assistance, bringing glory to the family."

May your marriage be successful, your career prosperous, and your life blessed with happiness and longevity.

After reading the fortune slip, Zhong Xiaoai didn't ask the fortune teller to interpret it, but instead gave the fortune teller fifty yuan.

She waved the bamboo skewer in her hand, raised her chin at Qi Tongwei, and spoke with an air of arrogance.

"See that...a beautiful woman helps illuminate the family's walls..."

Don't think you're so great, it's all thanks to me... I'm the one who brings good fortune to my husband...

Seeing Zhong Xiaoai's arrogant expression, Qi Tongwei didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Are the fortune slips at Jiming Temple really that accurate? I've never heard anyone say that in my past life..."

After a moment's hesitation, Qi Tongwei glanced at Zhong Xiaoai and asked with a mischievous grin.

"Oh, female benefactor, this humble monk didn't hear you clearly... what did you just say you were prosperous about?"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoai blushed and turned to leave.

"You shameless bastard... I can't be bothered with you..."

Upon hearing this, Qi Tongwei's lips curled into a smile, and he quickly followed after him.

They walked briskly, but the fortune teller behind them got anxious and immediately shouted.

"Hey, you two, don't go...give me back my skewer..."

I don't know if it was because I received the best fortune slip, or because it was like rain after a long drought.

Zhong Xiaoai was especially happy today, and the two of them explored the entire Jiming Temple.

As they approached the newly completed Medicine Buddha Pagoda, Qi Tongwei suddenly uttered a sentence without any apparent reason.

"If you ever dare to pinch me again, I'll pin you down in here..."

Zhong Xiaoai was confused and kept asking him what he meant.

Qi Tongwei refused to tell her the reason no matter what.

For a while, the two chased each other and made a ruckus.

Just as the two were laughing and joking, a clear and melodious female voice suddenly rang out.

"Qi Tongwei, Zhong Xiaoai...it really is you two...what a coincidence..."