A man in Handong: living off Zhong Xiaoai

"You know what, I do look a bit like this new provincial governor!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xia thought to herself, "Didn't Wang Shanwen just say that the new governor looks like his son?"

Now Zhou Jianxin says the new governor looks like him, which means he looks like Wang Shanwen's son, doesn't it?

Thinking of this, Li Xia, a veteran staff member of the judicial office, couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

Chen Hai had no idea why these people were chatting and laughing about "June 17th" here, since Qi Tongwei was clearly his brother-in-law.

Looking around, Chen Hai knew that this was all because Qi Tongwei had never forgiven him and still harbored resentment towards his father, Chen Yanshi.

However, Chen Hai could understand it, after all, his father had indeed gone too far back then.

Chen Hai listened to Zhou Jianxin and the other two discussing the provincial governor in the newspaper, chatting and laughing. They seemed to think Qi Tongwei was an unapproachable figure, like ordinary people seeing Ronaldo on TV. Chen Hai felt a pang of regret at his own current predicament.

With such a high starting point—the old man being the executive deputy chief prosecutor of the provincial procuratorate and himself a top student from the political science and law department of Handong University, a prestigious university in Xia Guo—it's truly lamentable that he's dealt such a terrible hand.

She had already asked her older sister, Chen Yang, for help many times, and her sister had promised to talk to her brother-in-law, Qi Tongwei.

Now that so much time has passed, it's likely that Qi Tongwei has refused. This was originally my only hope of leaving this township law enforcement office, but now that there's no news from my sister, my hope of leaving is becoming increasingly slim.

Just then, Chen Hai's phone rang.

Li Xia, who had already joined the conversation, suddenly heard Chen Hai's phone ringing and seemed somewhat surprised.

"Oh my! Someone's calling him!"

Wang Shanwen's face fell at this moment, and he looked at Zhou Jianxin with a serious expression.

"Chief! I don't know what's wrong with people these days? When we were young, all we knew was how to work. But today's young people are lazy and capricious, leaving us old folks to do all the work, and they're on the phone all day while they're at work!"

Li Xia also pursed her lips at this moment, looking helpless.

"Young people are supposed to do big things. His brother-in-law is already the provincial governor, how can that be allowed? We old comrades will take care of the small things, like wiping tables and pouring water!"

Zhou Jianxin was surprised when he heard this.

"What?! Chen Hai only knows how to chat on the phone in the office all day long, and never cleans or does any chores?"

Upon hearing Wang Shanwen and the others' words, Chen Hai was instantly consumed by rage. He had done all the work in the office himself, yet now it was their job.

I know I put in the most effort at work, and I only answered the phone today because my sister called. I rarely make phone calls normally.

However, Chen Hai didn't want to argue with these people right now. He heard Chen Yang's voice coming from his phone.

"Hello, is this Chen Hai?"

For a moment, Chen Hai was not happy; he still seemed disappointed because even though his sister was the governor's wife, it hadn't solved his current living situation.

This phone call might very well make me the subject of gossip and criticism in the office again soon.

Chen Hai was under immense pressure, but he didn't know how to explain to his sister that he could no longer stay in the township judicial office.

I can endure a little hardship at work, or if I have to do more work and get tired.

Even if some colleagues don't understand me and criticize me, it doesn't matter. Who in this world can be praised by everyone?

However, at work, everyone speaks ill of me. I serve each and every one of them, yet they still say I haven't done anything. Is there such a frustrating thing in the world?

Thinking of this, Chen Hai's voice became very low...

"Hey, sis, is there something you need?"

Upon hearing Chen Hai's voice, Chen Yang's gaze once again fell upon the photo of herself and Qi Tongwei on the table.

In an instant, memories flooded her mind, and she realized that it was indeed her family who had wronged Qi Tongwei.

Although Qi Tongwei was very poor at that time, he was selfless. He only gave himself one steamed bun a day, but that was all he had!

His own father, Chen Yanshi, always sang about remembering the bitter past and appreciating the sweet present, and about equality for all, but he was full of contempt and rejection for Qi Tongwei, a poor boy who appeared in his life.

She didn't know how many arguments she had had with her father, Chen Yanshi, because of Qi Tongwei, but her father, while talking about democracy and freedom, also commanded her in the manner of an elder, demanding that she sever ties with Qi Tongwei.

Now that Chen Hai has suffered hardship and injustice because of his father Chen Yanshi's actions, the one who is finally willing to lend a helping hand to Chen Hai is still Qi Tongwei, the very Qi Tongwei that his father once looked down on the most.

Chen Yang learned that his mother had long since married Uncle Wang next door in the countryside. He heard that she was extremely happy now, saying that the happiest thing in her life was meeting Uncle Wang. She said that luck in life doesn't discriminate between early and late; as long as you meet someone, that's enough for a lifetime.

Hearing her mother's words, Chen Yang felt as if meeting her father and giving birth to her and Chen Hai was a mistake, as if it was all her misfortune.

Did she ever think about how she and Chen Hai were living together outside?

If I hadn't met Qi Tongwei, or if Qi Tongwei had abandoned me, where would I have the business I have now?

Needless to say, his younger brother Chen Hai was also in a similar situation. If it weren't for Qi Tongwei, he might have become a scavenger long ago and died next to a garbage can.

Back then, those two people who loved to sing high-sounding tunes were his own father and mother. Now, one of them is in prison, and the other had long since severed ties with him because of Chen Hai and because he disliked Qi Tongwei.

The other woman remarried and began a fortunate new life, completely disregarding the fate of herself and her younger brother Chen Hai.

Chapter 422 No one can get out of this place

Thinking about this, Chen Yang had to admit that he was truly grateful to Qi Tongwei.

Although she could no longer wear a white wedding dress and become his bride, none of this had anything to do with Qi Tongwei. It was all caused by her and the Chen family, so how could she blame Qi Tongwei?

"Chen Hai, Tong Wei said that you can go to the provincial government compound to see him anytime you have time."

Upon hearing his sister's words, Chen Hai's eyes widened, and his voice instantly rose by more than eight octaves.

What?! My brother-in-law wants to see me?

Upon hearing this voice, the three elderly comrades who were pointing at Chen Hai, along with Chen Hai's superior, Zhou Jianxin, the director of the town's judicial office, suddenly froze.

Zhou Jianxin was just thinking of giving Chen Hai a good scolding after he hung up the phone, so what did it mean when he suddenly yelled like that?

Could it be that Chen Hai's brother-in-law is really the new governor of Handong Province?

How is that possible? If he had a brother-in-law with such extraordinary abilities, would he still be working in this rural judicial office?

Is this kid crazy? According to the information provided by Wang Shanwen and Li Xia, this kid does nothing at work every day and expects the older colleagues to mop the floor and fetch newspapers for him.

Although I'm 26 and I've never seen Chen Hai like that in person, or rather, I don't share an office with Chen Hai and don't know how he works every day.

However, Wang Shanwen and Li Xia are both veterans. Would veterans lie? Besides, they are so old, why would they attack a young man like him?

Thinking about this made Zhou Jianxin very angry. He was determined to give Chen Hai a good scolding after he hung up the phone.

Wang Shanwen and Li Xia exchanged a pouty glance. Wang Shanwen thought to himself, "This kid wants to see his brother-in-law and even the provincial governor? I'd be asking him to see aliens! He's really crazy!"

Li Xia couldn't help but cover her mouth and burst out laughing.

In all my life, this is the first time I've ever seen someone use a photo from a newspaper to claim kinship. Isn't this a huge exaggeration?

Using a newspaper photo to claim kinship is nothing, you can just brag and that's it. You actually took it seriously, and now you're putting on a full-blown act.

Chen Hai is such a coward, he has no manly spirit at all. He doesn't dare to say a word when he sees me. Whenever I ask him to get the newspaper, he always obediently goes to get it.

Right now, if Wang Shanwen and I were to point out his faults to his face, would he dare say anything? Would he dare to utter a single word against it? He wouldn't dare! Hmph, isn't it just because he's afraid of me and Wang Shanwen? What kind of man is he, so spineless?

Chen Hai was indeed very excited at this moment, because Qi Tongwei wanted to see him, which meant that he was likely to leave this judicial office.

Before Chen Yang could speak, he excitedly added another sentence.

"Sis! Has my brother-in-law agreed to arrange a job for me?"

Zhou Jianxin's face grew increasingly grim upon hearing this. He was not working properly and was not thinking about doing anything of substance. Wang Shanwen and Li Xia had just said that he was not going to do anything.

This young man is so disrespectful to his elders, and he's still fantasizing about getting a job through the provincial governor mentioned in the newspaper. Is he crazy?

Want to leave the judicial office? I've worked in township judicial offices for so many years, and I've never seen a single person transferred out of here!

Chen Hai wants to be the first? What a joke! What kind of place is this? Is it some kind of golden palace? Your brother-in-law, the governor's brother-in-law, coming here to work and train? Who are you kidding?

Upon hearing Chen Hai's shout, Wang Shanwen couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.

"Ugh!"

Wang Shanwen couldn't understand why young people couldn't be more practical. Why did they have to daydream?

I've worked my whole life, drinking tea and reading newspapers in this office for 30 years. Before retiring, I was hoping to get promoted to deputy director.

This Chen Hai, so young, has only been working at the judicial office for a few years, yet he's already thinking about transferring and getting promoted?

Laoqiao Town is a remote place; you can't find it on a map of the entire Handong Province without a magnifying glass.

Let alone this township judicial office, I've never seen any leader in the township government get transferred to a higher position!

Chen Hai had always seen him as someone who wasn't serious about his work and lacked confidence, but now it seems he also has a tendency to boast and exaggerate! It's truly speechless!

Li Xia burst out laughing again without realizing it; she really couldn't help it.

Even if Chen Hai could be transferred out of Laoqiao Town, let alone this office, he'd eat the cup on the table himself!

How many years have I worked at the judicial office? I've never seen anyone work their whole life without changing offices. They're assigned to a department and work in that room for their entire lives.

People like Zhou Jianxin, the director of the town's judicial office, who have changed offices three times while holding the position, are extremely rare! In the entire history of the judicial office, they are among the very few!

What on earth is Chen Hai, that spineless coward, talking about?

Once he hangs up the phone, I need to immediately adopt the authority of a senior figure and properly instruct him!

The more excited he is now, the more painful it will be for him to actually do the work!

When Chen Yang heard Chen Hai call him "brother-in-law" on the other end of the phone, he felt very conflicted.

What Chen Hai didn't know was that he and Qi Tongwei were not husband and wife.

Although it's not a problem for Chen Hai to call Qi Tongwei his brother-in-law, after all, he is a member of Qi Tongwei's harem.

However, even though he clearly had the opportunity to become Qi Tongwei's real wife, Chen Yang still felt a pang of sadness when he thought about it.

"Chen Hai, just go to Tong Wei's office and he'll definitely arrange it for you."

After saying that, Chen Yang didn't say anything more and hung up the phone.

Although Chen Yang wasn't jealous of Zhong Xiaoai, she was simply reflecting deeply on what had happened in the past.

Chen Yang felt that it was probably because he hadn't cherished it and missed out that he felt nostalgic for the past to varying degrees.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Hai had a happy smile on his face; he was truly happy.

She had already given up hope, thinking she had no chance of leaving the judicial office, but unexpectedly, her sister actually spoke to her brother-in-law about her situation.

Most importantly, her brother-in-law, Qi Tongwei, the current governor of Handong Province, actually agreed to her sister's request to make further arrangements for her.

Chapter 423 Lying and slander are purposeful

Chen Hai was very happy at this moment because he was about to leave the township judicial office that had tormented him for so long.