As the year drew to a close, various summary reports were underway – had the plans proposed at the beginning of the year been accomplished?

All departments were working overtime.

The busier things got, the easier it was to make mistakes. Whether the new year would be good depended entirely on how well the year-end work was done.

While subordinates were busy, leaders were equally occupied, listening to work summary reports and attending meetings that stretched from morning to night. With such busyness and pressure, seeing a smile on a leader’s face was nearly impossible.

But these past few days had been rather strange.

Mayor Tang’s mood seemed genuinely good!

Even when criticizing someone, he remained gentle.

People were bound to speculate quietly.

Only those close to Tang Hongen understood why their leader had changed so dramatically – a leader with a wife to care for him was in quite a different state than one living alone.

Tang Hongen was originally someone who paid little attention to food and clothing. Due to his busy work schedule, he had developed chronic stomach problems, which he kept putting off until he suspected stomach cancer, only taking it seriously after being forced to undergo surgery.

Secretary Peng had instructed his successor to pay constant attention to Tang Hongen’s three daily meals.

How could a leader work effectively with poor health?

The new secretary took this matter very seriously.

Tang Hongen usually ate at the unit’s cafeteria, ordering simple stir-fries – not because he was picky, but because certain foods irritated his stomach, so he avoided what he could.

The secretary constantly communicated with Tang Hongen’s home housekeeper, carefully arranging the leader’s daily meals.

However, these past few days, the secretary hadn’t needed to worry.

The cafeteria’s head chef was quite disappointed that the leader no longer ate his stir-fries.

An aluminum lunch box with three layers – one containing porridge, another dumplings, and the third side dishes.

This was Mayor Tang’s lunch.

Mayor Tang was bringing lunch from home!

And this wasn’t the first time.

The head chef glanced at the wall clock: “Quick, heat the dumplings and porridge, it’s already noon!”

At noon, Mayor Tang would finish work and walk slowly to the cafeteria, arriving around 12:10 – this was the pattern the head chef had observed.

By the time the leader reached the cafeteria, the porridge would be at the perfect temperature, neither too hot nor too cold, and the dumplings would be steaming hot. The side dishes didn’t need heating – they were meant to be served cold.

These dishes were too homestyle for the cafeteria’s head chef to appreciate. Not to boast, but if the leader requested dumplings, the chef could prepare any filling. Being near the sea in the south, the chef specialized in three-delicacy dumplings.

Using the freshest seasonal shrimp, peeled and deveined, leaving only plump shrimp meat… one bite would release an explosion of sweet, fresh juice in your mouth.

But even the finest culinary skills couldn’t compete with simple home cooking in Mayor Tang’s eyes.

Since Mayor Tang’s lunch needed reheating, whenever he brought his food, the cafeteria chef knew that the leader’s wife was in Pengcheng. These seemingly ordinary home-cooked meals were all expressions of his wife’s care!

Ah, the mayor’s life wasn’t easy – they said the couple lived apart most of the time.

Careful observers would notice that the few days each month when the mayor brought lunch, his mood would improve. A wife’s care was different from a housekeeper’s – when Madam was present, not only did Mayor Tang bring lunch, but his tie and shirt seemed particularly crisp.

As for what the mayor’s wife looked like, not everyone in the city government had seen her.

Only those living in the same residential building as Mayor Tang had the chance to encounter her.

They said their daughter was especially beautiful, so Madam must be quite attractive too – these were all speculations, as the mayor’s wife kept such a low profile.

Tang Hongen had no idea that his bringing lunch would cause so much speculation among his subordinates.

Even if he knew, it wouldn’t matter – he wasn’t doing anything wrong. He and Ah Fen were legally married; wasn’t it natural for a wife to care for her husband?

As soon as noon struck, Tang Hongen set aside his work and went downstairs to eat dumplings.

Ah Fen had been in Pengcheng for two days, taking charge of all his meals. Though he didn’t want Ah Fen to tire herself, he truly loved her cooking.

It was a gap that the cafeteria chef couldn’t fill – the taste of home that neither the chef nor the housekeeper could replicate. Even if they brought in a state banquet chef… if it wasn’t made by his Ah Fen, it just wouldn’t taste right.

Whenever Ah Fen came to Pengcheng, she would give the housekeeper time off and take over the kitchen.

Tang Hongen cherished this taste of home but didn’t want his wife to exhaust herself, so he tried to complete his work during the day and hurry home after office hours.

If he got home early enough, he could help prepare vegetables.

If he was a bit late and dinner was already ready, he could at least do the dishes.

There wasn’t much else he could do.

The washing machine handled large items, and Tang Hongen washed his undergarments.

Mopping and taking out trash were usually Mayor Tang’s tasks, though if Xia Xiaolan was around… he probably couldn’t claim these chores.

The family of three had their divisions of labor, truly not needing a housekeeper.

With his family’s support, he now understood the importance of taking care of his health – if he didn’t take good care of himself, who would look after his wife and daughter in the future?

As soon as work hours ended, Tang Hongen stopped his work for the day.

There was always endless work at the office; he couldn’t handle everything personally.

“Xiao Wang, drive me to the roast meat shop first. I mentioned I wanted to bring home a roast goose for dinner today.”

“Yes, sir.”

Xiao Wang agreed quickly.

He wasn’t a new secretary; he understood the situation.

If the leader felt good, that was genuinely good – how could outsiders impose their opinions on the leader?

At the shop, Tang Hongen went in to buy the roast goose himself. His face wasn’t so easily recognizable; people didn’t know he was the mayor.

Since no one recognized him, Tang Hongen even bargained with the owner… he was so down-to-earth, a mayor at work but just a middle-aged man eager to get home after hours.

Tang Hongen carried the roast goose back to the car in such a relaxed manner that it stunned a passing couple.

Sitting in their car, Ji Ya thought she must have been seeing things.

“Was that…”

Was that Tang Hongen?

How could it be?

Tang Hongen would want 48 hours in a 24-hour day for work. Today was a workday; at this time, given Tang Hongen’s personality, he shouldn’t have left work yet.

“Ji, are you distracted?”

George’s voice pulled Ji Ya from her thoughts.

“Sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night. Your mother’s sudden decision to come to China was too unexpected!”

She and George were heading to customs to pick someone up.

With her difficult American mother-in-law suddenly coming to China, of course, Ji Ya couldn’t sleep.

Ji Ya still remembered the embarrassment Mrs. Wilson had caused her.

If not for George’s feelings, how could she possibly deal with Mrs. Wilson again?

Right now, the priority wasn’t thinking about Tang Hongen, but why Mrs. Wilson was coming to China.