A man in Handong: living off Zhong Xiaoai

Li Dakang saw Wang Dalu's behavior and immediately understood that Wang Dalu had feelings for his junior schoolmate.

He thought to himself, "Why does he always bring this junior sister along? Turns out she's taken a liking to him."

Chen Hai didn't even look up when he saw this. He was only there to keep things going, and he had absolutely no interest in Wang Dalu's junior schoolmate.

Yi Xuexi knew Ouyang Jing because he had a good relationship with Wang Dalu, and Wang Dalu liked to take Ouyang Jing with him wherever he went.

While everyone was having their own thoughts, Wang Dalu opened the door.

Ouyang Jing, you're late today! Look, so many important guests are waiting for us, how could you be late? Haha, but it's okay, it's good that you're here! Come in and sit down, my food will be ready soon, we're going to have a good time today!

Ouyang Jing was a little embarrassed after entering the room.

I'm so sorry, leaders. I left home early today, hoping to arrive early to help with the preparations. But then I remembered Brother Dalu said he would cook himself, and I thought, since all the guests here today are important leaders from Jinshan County, how could I not show some sincerity? So, I went to the market and specifically chose a lively goose, thinking that freshness would be better. As you all know, it took some time to kill and prepare the goose. I'm truly sorry to have kept you all waiting.

The moment Li Dakang saw Ouyang Jing, he was completely stunned. She was so beautiful; was she a fairy?

Is this Wang Dalu's junior sister from the same academic lineage when he was in school?

In an instant, Li Dakang couldn't control himself and stood up, blurting out a sentence.

It's not too late, not too late, Ouyang Jing. We weren't in a hurry. For someone like you, going to the market to select live poultry as a token of your care, how can we say it's too late if we wait a little while?

Upon hearing Li Dakang's words, Yi Xuexi and Wang Dalu were stunned for a moment and both looked at Li Dakang at the same time.

Upon closer inspection, Yi Xuexi realized that Li Dakang wasn't just there to gain experience; he also seemed to have a particular fondness for such things, his eyes practically popping out when he saw Wang Dalu's junior schoolmate.

They even stood up themselves and tried to take the lead. What kind of talk is that? Aren't they ashamed?

Wang Dalu hadn't even reacted yet when he glanced at Ouyang Jing, whose face was slightly red, and immediately said...

Oh, Ouyang Jing, look at my old eyes, they're getting dim, I haven't even had a chance to introduce you yet! Yi Xuexi, Secretary Yi, you're already familiar with each other. Come, come, let me introduce this one, this is our new county head of Jinshan County, Comrade Li Dakang! Comrade Li Dakang, he used to be the secretary of Secretary Zhao Lichun of the Provincial Party Committee of Handong Province, he's a very important person! It's truly a rare treat to have us all together today!

Seeing this, Ouyang Jing quickly smiled, her face flushed.

Oh dear, County Chief Li, look how late I am! I'm so sorry to have troubled everyone. How about this: let me cook this goose stew for you and all the leaders today. It's a small token of my appreciation and a way to make up for my lateness. What do you think? I hope my cooking will be to everyone's liking.

As she spoke, Ouyang Jing, blushing, carried the goose and some vegetables in her hands and walked towards the kitchen.

Just then, as I reached the kitchen doorway, I saw a tall figure from behind.

Chen Hai, who was cleaning fish, sensed someone behind him and turned around.

It was in that turn of their heads that the two of them immediately locked eyes.

Chen Hai was stunned for a moment. This was Wang Dalu's junior from elementary school? She was so beautiful!

Ouyang Jing was also stunned. Who was this handsome guy in front of her?!

Wang Dalu hadn't even had a chance to introduce Chen Hai when Ouyang Jing ran into the kitchen with the groceries, but Wang Dalu had already run in by then.

Haha, this is the second distinguished guest I want to introduce to you tonight! Ouyang Jing, look at this gentleman, this is our new Deputy County Head of Jinshan County, in charge of police affairs, and also our County Police Chief, Comrade Chen Hai! Comrade Chen Hai, he's a capable person personally selected and transferred here by Governor Qi Tongwei of Handong Province! It's so lively to have everyone gathered here tonight, it's incredibly lively! Come, come, let's continue chatting, my dishes are almost ready, let's have a good drink later!

Ouyang Jing appeared shy after hearing Wang Dalu's words.

Oh, you must be County Magistrate Chen Hai! It's such a pleasure to meet you! Dalu always talks about you to me, saying you're young, promising, and highly capable. I've never had the chance to meet you before, but I never expected to see you here today. And you are even more elegant than I imagined; it's truly admirable! I feel very honored to have dinner with you here tonight.

Chen Hai, who had originally come to Wang Dalu's house just to handle business, became nervous after seeing Ouyang Jing. He subconsciously wiped his hands on his clothes.

Comrade Ouyang Jing, is that you? It's such an honor to meet you here! I'm busy right now, preparing to cook a fish for everyone. What kind of fish do you like? Braised or steamed? Tell me, and I'll make it for you right away. You absolutely must try my cooking!

Wang Dalu was shocked. Chen Hai had only said he would help kill the fish, not that he would cook it (Wang Qian's fish)! How could it be braised and steamed at the same time?

Yi Xuexi was already a little unhappy. Being single, and seeing Li Dakang and Chen Hai being so enthusiastic after meeting Ouyang Jing, he suddenly felt uneasy.

Hmph, what's with all this steaming and braising? Our cadres should be simple and down-to-earth, no fancy stuff! Just cook it and eat it, no need to make it so complicated. Wang Dalu, I have to criticize you! Why did you emphasize the backgrounds of Comrade Li Dakang and Comrade Chen Hai? It makes it sound to others that Li Dakang and Chen Hai got into Jinshan County because of their connections, that they didn't get there based on their abilities. Isn't that making Comrade Ouyang Jing suspicious? We need to be realistic; we value ability and attitude towards work, not background or anything like that!

Chapter 528 Sending off Chen Yanshi with the highest honors

Upon hearing Yi Xuexi's words, Ouyang Jing knew that Yi Xuexi was upset. Although she didn't know what was wrong, as the only woman among them, she decided to see what she could say to ease the tension.

Oh dear, Secretary Yi, look at you, this misunderstanding is huge. I think the mainland definitely didn't mean it that way. We can't speculate, right? Besides, these days, who says that comrades with connections aren't capable? Look at County Chief Li and County Chief Chen, they're both genuinely capable, and their work is incredibly efficient. We have to be fair and objective; we can't generalize. This, this has always been crystal clear in my mind.

Wang Dalu was slightly surprised when he saw this.

While Yi Xuexi may have had a bad temper in the past, it's not like he would say such hurtful things.

Why did Wang Dalu's words just now seem more aggressive, and even carried a hint of jealousy?

Wang Dalu sensed that the atmosphere in the room had become strange ever since Ouyang Jing entered.

What's going on? Does everyone dislike their junior schoolmate, Ouyang Jing?

"Oh, Secretary Yi, look at me, I'm busy with the 697 project right now, please forgive me if I haven't been a good host. Speaking of which, you know my junior from junior school, Ouyang Jing, she's incredibly meticulous and has a lot of respect for us older comrades. If we get into a good time today and accidentally have a few too many drinks, we'll need someone to take good care of us, right? She's the perfect person, she can help us fend off some of the drinks and make sure everyone is comfortable. What do you think of my arrangement?"

Yi Xuexi's expression was still not good. He didn't want to attend this gathering in the first place, but after arriving, he saw that Li Dakang and Chen Hai seemed to have some kind of idea about Ouyang Jing, which made Yi Xuexi very uncomfortable.

Just as Yi Xuexi was about to say something, Chen Hai's phone suddenly rang.

Upon hearing this, Chen Hai wondered what was going on.

So he quickly wiped his apron with his hand, took out his phone, and saw that the caller ID showed it was his sister, Chen Yang.

Chen Hai's heart skipped a beat. His sister rarely contacted him. What had happened to her?

"Hey? Sis, why are you calling me at this hour? Is something urgent?"

Chen Yang held his phone, and after a long while, a sound came from the other end.

"Chen Hai... I... I have to tell you some bad news... Dad, Dad just... passed away..."

Li Dakang heard Chen Yang call her "sister" and knew that Chen Yang's sister was the wife of Qi Tongwei, the governor of Handong Province, so he just smiled and remained silent, waiting for Chen Hai to make the call.

Wang Dalu originally intended to invite Chen Hai, but since Chen Hai's sister called, he started cooking instead of saying anything.

Seeing that Wang Dalu's kitchen was big enough, Ouyang Jing started tidying up the groceries she had bought.

Ouyang Jing noticed that the atmosphere at today's gathering was a bit strange, but she didn't know what to say. To avoid embarrassment, she decided to do more work herself.

Yi Xuexi was initially unhappy, but upon hearing Chen Hai talking to his sister on the phone, he lowered his head and said nothing more.

Chen Hai's expression was one of utter shock; he was completely stunned for a moment.

"What?! Sister! What did you say?! Dad, what happened to Dad?! What's wrong?"

Everyone was busy with their own tasks, but after hearing Chen Hai's shout, they all looked at him.

Upon hearing this, Li Dakang realized that while others might not know, he did. Wasn't Chen Hai's father Chen Yanshi?

This person is quite something. He has a grudge against Qi Tongwei, the governor of Handong Province. And what happened to his father? How could he commit another crime while in prison?

"(cgbh) Hai'er, I just received a call from your brother-in-law... He told me that our father... our father has... has passed away in the designated hospital of Jingzhou Prison."

Chen Hai was completely distraught after hearing what his sister Chen Yang said.

He recalled the last time he saw his father, Chen Yanshi, and the words he had spoken to him.

He would be at ease if he just hoped that the mistakes he had made wouldn't affect his and his sister's future.

While Chen Hai was still in a daze, Chen Yang's voice continued to come from the other end of the phone.

“Hai’er, your brother-in-law has arranged for the prison administration to send our father off with the highest honors. Moreover, your brother-in-law has also sent wreaths to our father in his own name and in the name of the provincial government of Handong Province. He... he originally wanted to go in person, but considering the mistakes our father made in the past, he ultimately decided not to go. He is also saddened by this.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Hai instantly burst into tears.

Li Dakang looked at this and wondered what it meant. Why was Chen Hai crying? Was Chen Yanshi gone?

This is troublesome. Should I offer some thanks? If I do, it would be problematic because Chen Yanshi has made mistakes and has a grudge against Qi Tongwei.

This doesn't mean that Chen Hai is Qi Tongwei's brother-in-law, although he is one of them, he is still not someone you can easily offend.

Wang Dalu looked on and wondered, "What's going on? Could it be that Chen Hai's father has passed away? What are we going to do? I've worked so hard to prepare a meal, but in the end, we didn't even get to eat it, and now this bad news has come out."

Despite his usual rigid and formal demeanor, and his less-than-friendly attitude towards newly appointed officials, Yi Xuexi showed considerable sympathy for Chen Hai after hearing that his father might be in trouble.

Yi Xuexi's expression was no longer as unhappy as before, but rather a look of concern as he looked at Chen Hai.

As for Ouyang Jing, she was tidying up the vegetables in the kitchen when she suddenly saw Chen Hai crying. Her heart skipped a beat. What happened?

“Sister, I understand… Thank you, brother-in-law, for allowing the Handong Provincial Prison Administration to send Dad off with the highest honors. We appreciate your thoughtfulness. We also thank you for sending a wreath to Dad in your own name and in the name of the provincial government. This is a comfort to him and to our family. Sister, don’t be too sad. I’ll pack up now and rush back to Jingzhou tonight so we can handle Dad’s funeral together.”

Upon hearing this, Li Dakang's eyes widened immediately. What had Chen Hai just said?

Qi Tongwei arranged for the Handong Provincial Prison Administration to send Chen Yanshi off with the highest honors?! He even personally sent a wreath to Chen Yanshi in his own name and on behalf of the Handong Provincial Government?!

Chapter 529 I'll Go Back to Jingzhou with You

Upon hearing this, Wang Dalu realized that Chen Hai's father had indeed passed away. He was doomed. He had finally managed to get everyone together for dinner tonight, but now what was he going to do?

Yi Xuexi was also a little surprised. What was going on? Did Chen Hai's father work at the Handong Provincial Prison Administration Bureau? Why would the Prison Administration Bureau hold a funeral for his father with the highest level of protocol?

After hearing Chen Hai's words, Ouyang Jing felt sorry for him. How could her father just leave like that?

After saying what he had just said, Chen Hai silently hung up the phone.

At this moment, Wang Da-Lu was the first to speak.

"Chen Hai, what's wrong? Is something going on with our old man? You have to tell me what's wrong, we'll face it together. Don't keep it to yourself, we're comrades in arms, we share the good times and the bad!"

Li Dakang smiled and stood up.

"Chen Hai, you look so worried. Is your father having some kind of trouble? We're friends now. If there's anything you can't get through, just tell us. Dalu and I are here. We'll help you if we can! Remember, we're there for each other. That's our style!"

Although Yi Xuexi and Ouyang Jing didn't say anything, they were also looking at Chen Hai with great concern.

Chen Hai stood there, his expression extremely unpleasant.

“My sister just called me and said that my father… has passed away. My heart is in turmoil, like I’ve been hit hard by something, and I can’t breathe. I’ve been so busy with work that I haven’t been able to spend much time with him, and now… I didn’t even get to see him one last time.”

Upon hearing this, Li Dakang thought to himself, "Qi Tongwei has already sent a wreath to Chen Yanshi in his personal capacity and on behalf of the Handong Provincial Government, so I can do the same. Besides, Chen Hai is a comrade of the Handong Provincial Government, and his father has passed away, so it's only right that I suggest we express our condolences."

"Chen Hai, the passing of the old man is a great blow to all of us. But the dead cannot be brought back to life. You must grieve in moderation and turn your grief into motivation for your work. So, I'll take the liberty of sending a wreath to Mr. Chen Yanshi on behalf of the Jinshan County government. This is not only a tribute to him, but also an encouragement to us younger generations. He made many contributions to Xia Kingdom throughout his life and is a role model for all of us. His spirit will forever inspire us to move forward. If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask. The county will do its best to support you."

Yi Xuexi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

"Chen Hai, you're an important member of our Jinshan County leadership team. Although you haven't been here long, we've all seen and appreciated your work ability and your character. We're all heartbroken by your passing. Here's what we'll do: when I get back, I'll immediately ask the Jinshan County Party Committee to send a wreath to your father. It's a small token of our appreciation and a tribute to his life's dedication. Now, you need to adjust your mindset. Don't worry about work; we're all here for you."

Although Yi Xuexi didn't know who Chen Hai's father was, what he had done in his life, or that Chen Yanshi had committed crimes and been imprisoned, he might not have agreed to send a wreath if he had known. He only said so because he heard Li Dakang say that Chen Hai's father had made many contributions to Xia Kingdom, and because Yi Xuexi felt a bit empathetic at the moment.

Seeing this, Ouyang Jing quickly walked up to Chen Hai and took his hand.

"Chen Hai, although this is our first meeting today, I can sense the heaviness in your heart. With such a big thing happening at home, you must not try to bear it all alone. It's not good for your health and it won't solve the problem. If there's anything I can do for you, or anything I can help coordinate, just let me know. If it's convenient, I can go back to Jingzhou with you. We can look after each other on the way, and I can also help you once we get there. We're comrades, and it's only right that we help each other."

When Li Dakang and Yi Xuexi saw Ouyang Jing holding Chen Hai's hand, their eyes widened. What did this mean?! Why were they holding hands?! Weren't they just meeting for the first time?!

Upon witnessing this scene, Wang Dalu couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "My junior schoolmate is so kind and beautiful. Look how caring she is!"

Chen Hai, with Ouyang Jing holding his hand, didn't show much emotional fluctuation at the moment, because he was feeling very down.