Tang Hongen first judged people by their eyes.

People with honest eyes couldn’t be too bad. This Hu Yongcai was the same – perhaps slightly slick from years of procurement work, but he was plump with a kind face.

Tang Hongen nodded:

“Comrade Hu Yongcai, right? Thank you for taking care of my wife and Xiaolan before. Let me offer you a toast with tea.”

Tang Hongen stood up, while Hu Yongcai didn’t know where to put his hands.

Working at the Municipal Party Committee Guest House, he served many officials daily. Most were quite friendly, but for someone of Tang Hongen’s rank to offer him a toast… even if just with tea, it was beyond Hu Yongcai’s imagination!

Zhou Cheng also remembered Hu Yongcai. With his future father-in-law standing, how could he remain seated?

Besides, his standing up made Hu Yongcai less awkward:

“Brother Hu must remember me? Let me offer you a toast too, thank you for taking care of Xiaolan and Aunt Liu!”

“Squadron Leader Zhou—”

“No need for formalities, just call me Zhou Cheng.”

Zhou Cheng corrected Hu Yongcai’s form of address, not to announce his deputy squadron leader position – what would be the point of that? It would only make Hu Yongcai more uncomfortable.

Having dealt with Zhou Cheng before, Hu Yongcai drank their tea toasts and left the private room with his forehead covered in sweat.

The server who had entered with Hu Yongcai barely dared to breathe, but became much livelier after leaving:

“Director Hu, you even know such high-ranking officials!”

The server’s face was full of amazement.

A mayor was dining inside, though not Shangdu’s mayor… anyway, Director Hu had connections!

Hu Yongcai had no real connections.

Xia Xiaolan’s respectful introduction had forcibly given him a layer of status.

The guest house staff might recognize Xia Xiaolan, given her striking appearance was hard to forget.

But before, they saw Xia Xiaolan delivering eels.

Now they saw her as a leader’s daughter. With such a huge change, who would dare mention the past?

What if she was sensitive about her former hardships?

But judging from earlier, young Xia was still as generous and straightforward as ever.

The server flattered Hu Yongcai, who verbally declined but was somewhat proud, walking with a bounce in his step. He considered sending more dishes to Xia Xiaolan’s table but worried about overdoing it. While he was hesitating, a server came running:

“Director Hu, someone’s looking for you outside.”

“Is it my family?”

“No, we don’t know them.”

Though confused, Hu Yongcai decided to check it out.

This aligned with his personality – more friends meant more opportunities, and that’s how he met Xia Xiaolan.

At the guest house entrance, Hu Yongcai saw a man and woman standing nearby. The woman was Little Fan who had brought gifts to his house before, the man he didn’t recognize, looking considerably older than Little Fan – so this was why his wife said Little Fan was pitiful? Because she married a much older man.

Hu Yongcai immediately understood – they had sent gifts and were now here for results!

Initially planning to refuse cleanly, today’s reunion with Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen had given him some inspiration.

Everyone has their difficulties. He didn’t expect to meet someone as capable as young Xia again, but making friends broadly wasn’t wrong.

“Director Hu…”

For Xia Dajun to ask for favors was extremely difficult.

He was naturally poor with words, and only managed to force himself to ask for help thanks to his previous experience working with Du Zhaohui.

But Hu Yongcai interrupted him, “Comrade, you’re Little Fan’s husband, right? Little Fan left gifts at my home and left, I haven’t touched those things, I’ve been looking for a chance to return them to you.”

Fan Yu’s expression changed, her voice taking on a pitiful tone: “Director Hu—”

Hu Yongcai felt a headache coming on, “I won’t accept the gifts, and hiring at the Municipal Party Committee Guest House isn’t my decision alone. If you really want a job, I can only try my best… I haven’t heard about server positions, but the kitchen is short-staffed, would you be willing to work there? The salary is about the same.”

Some female colleagues liked to show their faces to officials, preferring to be servers pouring tea and water.

Others avoided such things entirely, and the kitchen was a good place – just focus on work, the same salary, and even some unspoken “benefits” in the kitchen.

Put Fan Yu to work in the Municipal Party Committee Guest House kitchen.

This didn’t align with the Xia Dajun couple’s goals – who could you meet in the kitchen? Even becoming a master chef wouldn’t give opportunities to constantly appear before officials.

Fan Yu gritted her teeth.

She didn’t care about that bit of salary!

The kitchen’s oil smoke was so heavy, that even a celestial beauty would turn sallow there.

“Director Hu, I don’t know kitchen work either, please see if you can think of another way, I know I’m causing you trouble…”

Fan Yu spoke while pulling out an envelope from her clothes, trying to slip it to Hu Yongcai.

Was Hu Yongcai excited?

Damn it, he was terrified!

This was the entrance of the Municipal Party Committee Guest House! Although he had tried to stay close to the wall, there were still so many eyes watching, and this Little Fan tried to slip him something, with the envelope likely containing money… Hu Yongcai broke into a cold sweat, really wanting to slap himself!

Could this Little Fan be someone deliberately sent to harm him?

Hu Yongcai was furious, “Little Fan, what are you doing? This behavior would make me violate discipline! All positions are equal, all have their value. If you don’t know kitchen work, others weren’t born knowing how to use a knife either. Forget it, forget I mentioned anything.”

Her manner and expression were that of a pitiful figure.

Hu Yongcai could see through it now – this Little Fan was quite ambitious.

His foolish wife must have been thoroughly sweet-talked, wanting to help find work for someone she barely knew, without knowing their background – why meddle in such affairs?

The old saying still held true – can’t bring someone too beautiful before leaders, and can’t bring those with ulterior motives either.

Hu Yongcai turned to leave. Fan Yu pushed Xia Dajun, really a wooden post – didn’t even know to offer a cigarette or say some pleasantries.

Xia Dajun’s face reddened as he grabbed Hu Yongcai’s sleeve, feeling quite defiant inside.

They say the King of Hell is easier to see than pestering ghosts – Hu Yongcai was just such a ghost, not even that high-ranking at the guest house, yet so arrogant with his tiny bit of power. Xia Dajun didn’t want to beg Hu Yongcai at all – if this path didn’t work, they could try others. He was only doing this at Fan Yu’s insistence.

His strength was considerable, grabbing Hu Yongcai’s sleeve so the poor director couldn’t break free for a moment.

Damn it, once stuck they wouldn’t let go!

Hu Yongcai turned to scold them, but Xia Dajun and Fan Yu were staring at the main entrance with shocked expressions.

The hand gripping Hu Yongcai unconsciously released.

Hu Yongcai turned to look – it was Xia Xiaolan’s group walking out chatting and laughing.

Hu Yongcai lowered his voice, “You’ve seen it too, leaders come and go here anytime. Don’t go too far – those unseemly actions, don’t you dare try them with me.”

If these two affected his work, Hu Yongcai wouldn’t need to set dogs on them – he’d bite them himself!

Contrary to Hu Yongcai’s thoughts, it wasn’t that Xia Dajun didn’t recognize leaders – he happened to recognize Tang Hongen – Pengcheng’s Mayor Tang whom Young Master Du had always wanted to get closer to!

Why was Mayor Tang in Shangdu?

Why was Mayor Tang walking together with Liu Fen and her daughter…