In name only: I will break the chess game in Handong!

Wang Dalu smiled at Mao Ya.

"Forget it, you two have been living quite well these past few years, and your career is currently on a smooth path."

He's already reached the level of a department director; in a few more years, he might even become a vice-provincial level official, a senior national cadre.

"Then you'll be the wife of a high-ranking official, respected wherever you go."

These words left Mao Ya slightly dazed.

Did she ever imagine living like this?

To be honest, I dream about it!

Once upon a time, she and Li Dakang's ex-wife Ouyang Qing were on the same level, neither of them inferior to the other. However, as Li Dakang rose through the ranks, Ouyang Qing's status also rose accordingly. The two were originally best friends, but in recent years, Mao Ya has really been embarrassed to contact Ouyang Qing.

Firstly, he felt their statuses were mismatched. Ouyang Qing was recognized wherever she went, but who recognized him?

Another reason is that Mao Ya felt that Li Dakang was too cold-blooded, and that even after she was promoted, he didn't know how to help her husband.

For various reasons, the two best friends became increasingly estranged.

"Sigh, the mainland, my husband Lao Yi has been working in a department-level position for more than ten or twenty years. Now he has finally been given an important position by the organization, but it is hard to say whether he can be promoted again."

Even if I were promoted, I'm afraid I'd never be like Ouyang back then.

Upon mentioning Ouyang Qing, Yi Xuexi frowned instantly.

"Why bring her up? She's a bribe-taker; if it weren't for Li Dakang's connections, she would have been in jail long ago."

"Yes, she has a good husband... she can get away with taking bribes without any consequences..."

Mao Ya was also jealous, but these words made Yi Xuexi feel particularly uncomfortable.

Wang Dalu, who was standing nearby, immediately stepped in to play the good guy.

"You two stop arguing. Come on, try this coffee. It's made with the best freshly ground beans and has a rich, smooth flavor."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dalu and Mao Ya stopped paying attention to each other and took a small sip from their cups.

Mao Ya found the taste lingering and pleasant, but Yi Xuexi, this rough and uncultured man, found it extremely bitter.

"This stuff is really bitter. Only you mainlanders are used to drinking it. It's not even as good as a glass of plain water."

Upon hearing this, Mao Ya's face darkened. She was incredibly embarrassed, as if her husband had no other merits besides being a department-level cadre.

"Mainland, if you don't like the taste, that's fine. Don't you have work to do? We can have dinner together tonight."

With his wife's approval, Wang Dalu couldn't wait to get up.

"Okay, I'll come over tonight."

And so Yi Xuexi left.

Only Mao Ya and Wang Dalu remained in the coffee shop.

"Mainland, Lao Yi didn't mean it just now, please don't take it to heart."

"Sigh, that's just his personality, why should I blame him?"

Wang Dalu smiled and pretended not to care, but in his heart he had already mocked Yi Xuexi several times.

"By the way, have you really never stayed in that villa I gave you over the past few years?"

Mao Ya sighed upon hearing this.

"Old Yi wouldn't allow it. He said one shouldn't accept rewards without merit, and what's the difference between that and corruption?"

"I have to say, your family's education is really something. It's just a villa. Our relationship doesn't require him to do anything. Besides, what could he possibly do back then?"

It's tough on you. You've endured all these years, but you still can't enjoy yourself. It's because of Lao Yi's personality. Once he becomes a vice-provincial level official, he won't allow you to act in his name.

You'll probably never have the chance to experience the treatment of a deputy provincial-level official's wife.

These words resonated deeply with Mao Ya.

"Ouyang is so lucky!"

She was the powerful wife of a Standing Committee member for several years, and even managed to escape unscathed after accepting bribes of hundreds of thousands of yuan…

Hearing Mao Ya's bittersweet tone, Wang Dalu immediately became interested.

"You live in Jingzhou now, and that villa is still empty. Why don't you go and experience it when you have time? How many decades can a person live in a lifetime?"

"When you get old in a few years, you won't feel the same way living here anymore."

"This...isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Was Mao Ya tempted? Of course!

However, she was a smart woman and knew that everything beautiful had a price, and she was afraid she couldn't afford it.

"There's nothing wrong with it. Houses are for people to live in. Besides, your name isn't on the property certificate. You're just going to stay for a couple of days, so who can say anything?"

"I'm afraid of Lao Yi..."

"Sigh, whatever you want."

The two chatted about other things in their lives, mostly Mao Ya complaining about her husband Yi Xuexi, while Wang Dalu was a great listener!

And so, the two chatted until three in the afternoon.

They then went shopping together, and anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were a married couple.

At 6 PM, Yi Xuexi finished get off work.

The three met again at a private restaurant.

A table full of dishes was nothing to Wang Dalu, but Yi Xuexi started complaining as soon as he came in that the dishes were too wasteful and exceeded the allowed amount.

This made Maoya even more depressed.

It's already past get off work hours, why are you still being so rigid?

"Hey, Mainland China, there are way too many dishes. Let's just order a few. It's a waste if we can't finish them."

Wang Dalu smiled, though a closer look revealed that he was barely able to hold back his smile.

"Studying? It's after get off work hours, a gathering of friends. Forget your identity. I'm not Secretary Yi, and don't complain about the amount of food."

Even if we order more and can't finish it, it's still money for the restaurant. Don't worry, it won't go to waste; the restaurant will recycle it.

Yi Xuexi wanted to say something more, but Mao Ya couldn't stand it anymore.

Just grab Yi Xuexi directly.

"Old Yi, what are you doing? These are all home-style dishes, not expensive ingredients. You need to separate life from work. When friends get together, the most important thing is to be happy."

These words left Yi Xuexi with no choice but to remain silent.

Soon, Wang Dalu took out several bottles of 53-proof Feitian liquor, which really shocked Yi Xuexi.

"No, the food already exceeds the limit, we can't drink such expensive wine!"

Now neither Mao Ya nor Wang Dalu could persuade Yi Xuexi.

Yi Xuexi even got up and went outside the private room to buy two bottles of Jinsha Huisha wine from the owner. Each bottle cost 99 yuan, a price that Yi Xuexi thought was too expensive.

Back in the private room, Wang Dalu's lips twitched as he looked at the two bottles of Jinsha Huisha wine in Yi Xuexi's hand.

Mao Ya was incredibly embarrassed!

"Mainland China, this wine is pretty good, but it costs ninety-nine yuan a bottle, which is unaffordable for ordinary people."

Wang Dalu kept complaining to himself, he had never drunk such cheap wine before!

Fuming, Wang Dalu decided to give Yi Xuexi a good talking-to.

"Okay, no problem, this is fine with me!"

Soon, Wang Dalu unleashed his full power, chugging Yi Xuexi glass after glass. After finishing two bottles, he had the boss bring in three more.

An hour later, Yi Xuexi was already drowsy and was even stuttering when he spoke.