Chapter 6: Can't Hold On Anymore!

  Huang Lao returned from Qinglong and then went to the Wu Xiang area for a walk. In the spring rain, accompanied by the Secretary of the Wu Xiang Prefectural Committee and the Commissioner of the Administrative Office, he conducted field research in the countryside. Lu Zheng also followed and appeared on the provincial TV news, but no one would notice the young man holding an umbrella at the edge of the screen.

  After following Huang Lao, Lu Zhong's studies at the party school became nominal. Huang Lao had made arrangements with the party school and Lu Zhong was also happy to go along with it.

  However, on Sunday's electromechanical class, Lu Zhong was definitely going to go, but Huang Lao also seemed to be idle on Sunday, and the two finally had their first conflict.

  Last Saturday, Huang Lao told Lu Zhong to get ready and go with him to the provincial city on Sunday to attend a meeting of the "Care for the Next Generation Association". Lu Zhong tactfully said that he had classes on Sunday, but before he could finish speaking, Huang Lao waved his hand: "Follow my arrangement."

  Lu Zhong wanted to speak again, but Huang Lao had already waved his hand and told him to leave, ending the conversation between them.

  After work, Lu Zhong told Old Huang that he had to go to the school of mechanical and electrical engineering for classes the next day, as it was a concentrated course for correspondence students and he couldn't not attend.

  Huang Lao didn't say much, but this week, when going out, he didn't call Lu Zhong up as often.

  It wasn't until then that Lu Zhong knew why his colleagues at the Gu Weiban office couldn't "keep up" with Old Huang. It wasn't that he was old, but rather that he was full of energy and spared no effort in making contributions to the revolution every minute of every day. But who else could keep up with him, running around from dawn till dusk seven days a week?

  Lu Zhong couldn't help but get a headache thinking about it.

  In fact, the roles of leaders' drivers and secretaries do not have personal time. Even if it's a big deal, there are no major events without the leader's instructions. As for retired comrades who have retreated to the second line, they may be more sensitive about this. If you don't follow their path, they might think that since they've stepped down, you're being lazy with them.

  Huang Lao is a pre-revolutionary veteran, but he is also an ordinary person. In this regard, he cannot avoid being common.

  It's Sunday again. Lu Zhong was still thinking about Old Huang's affairs during the electromechanical class, otherwise, starting from Monday, he would continue to attend classes at the party school?

  He had heard about Huang Lao from Uncle Qi, and when he learned that he was arranged to assist Huang Lao in his work, he was also stunned for a long time. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, Lu Zhong could tell that Huang Lao might have had some conflicts with Uncle Qi back in the province, so it's best not to mention him in front of Huang Lao.

  When class was over, the western sky was filled with a fiery sunset, and the outline of the high-rise buildings in the distance seemed to be shrouded in a layer of golden light.

  Lu Zhong drove home, thinking of Old Huang again, and another headache came on. Although this old man seemed to be unpretentious and not putting on airs, his temper was too weird, and the thoughts in his mind were sometimes really hard to fathom.

  From the electromechanical school to Guo Dali, it's less than half an hour's drive. Along the way, there are several restaurants, and Lu Zhong thought of stopping the car several times but gave up. He decided to go home and cook something simple instead. However, without Xiaohu around, eating alone at home felt too lonely.

  Guo Dali Community is a newly completed community last year, built by the First Construction Company of the city to meet the needs of young people getting married, the first commodity house in Wushan. The environment of the community is still good, with flower beds dotted among them. In the central area of the community, there is also a fountain. In the summer, you can feel cool even from a distance.

  The residential area has no walls or gates, and is easily accessible. The fountain area has become a leisure center for the entire Guodali area. At night, young couples from nearby residential areas come here to take a stroll and talk about their love.

  Lu Zhong's sedan turned around the large fountain and drove into the building where he lived, but suddenly paused for a moment. He saw that by the entrance of No. 3, there were two people standing on either side, both of whom were familiar faces.

  A middle-aged man with a somewhat lewd face stood on the left side of the gate, wearing a suit and tourist shoes, looking very rustic. At first glance, he was obviously a country bumpkin trying to be fashionable. This person was Liu Hanshan, a speculator from Guangning.

  To the right of the entrance, there was a stunningly beautiful woman. She wore a pink lady's suit with elegance and poise, which was one of the most popular professional women's styles after this year's Beijing Fashion Show. When worn on her body, it added a touch of charm to the fashionable girl. The open-necked Western-style uniform top with a small bow tie could not hide her proud twin peaks. In the wide and flowing pink pants, as she took light steps, her slender and beautiful legs were fully revealed, exuding an inexplicable allure.

  Looking at this more elegant and fashionable beautiful woman, Lu Zhong was stunned for a while, but he didn't think that after coming to the city, Wei Xiangxiu would dress up even more, not going to be a model is really underestimating her talent.

  But how did these two people get together? They shouldn't know each other, right?

  Lu Zhong got off the car, and Liu Hanshan and Wei Xiangxiu both came up to greet him. Immediately, they looked at each other, with doubt in their eyes.

  Lu Zhong just smiled: "Are you all looking for me?" It seems that the two of them just happened to arrive at the same time, but they didn't actually know each other.

  "Director Lu..." Liu Hanshan immediately stopped himself, feeling that this title was inappropriate.

  On the other side, Wei Xiangxiu smiled and said: "A few days ago, Hou Jianjun came to the city for a meeting, I just found out where you live, Lu Chu, how have you been lately?"

  Liu Hanshan heard Wei Xiangxiu say this, and hurriedly followed to change his address, "Lu Chu, I'm here to thank you, I...I should kowtow to you a few times..." As he spoke, he suddenly started wiping away tears.

  He was taken away by the police from Qinglong Detention Center, and the case-handling policeman intimidated him, saying that this case was big and he would be sentenced to at least 10-8 years. Then, under the guidance of the case-handling policeman, his confession began to **replace past events, and also implicated Lu Zheng.

  Recently, for a month, no police officer has come to interrogate or arrest him, but the inmates in the detention center, who are known as "管号" (a term used to refer to prisoners who have been given special treatment), look down on him and think of ways to bully him every day. He suffers all kinds of humiliation inside, and his days feel like years. Even, he has thought about committing suicide.

  Who would have thought that his case was suddenly sentenced a few days ago, with a fixed-term imprisonment of one year and six months, suspended for three years.

  Someone mentioned that County Committee Secretary Liu had inquired about the case, and Secretary Liu was entrusted by someone who had some connection with you, namely Lu Zheng from Guangning.

  Liu Hanshan never dreamed that in the end, it was Lu Bureau who saved him.

  Liu Hanshan had just been released and returned home to wash away his bad luck, then hurriedly rushed to Wushan to see Lu Zhong. Now he was crying and wiping away tears, but in reality, although there was a component of pretence, more of it was due to excessive guilt and shame, feeling that he really owed an apology to Director Lu, having forgotten favours and turned against righteousness, his conscience had been eaten by dogs!

  "Alright, alright, let's go have some food, it's been a long time since we've seen each other, old friends!" Lu Zhong smiled and patted Liu Hanshan on the shoulder.

  Wei Xiangxiu glanced at Liu Hanshan with a slanted gaze, and she really couldn't take it anymore. He was such a big man, yet he acted like a child, almost to the point of wailing loudly. Standing next to him was also too embarrassing.

  He got into Lu Zhong's car, and Liu Hanshan suddenly slapped himself again, "I'm going to die! I'm not a thing! Director Lu, you should know that I smeared you in the detention center, but you still bailed me out, I really am not a thing!" With a loud slapping sound, he truly used all his strength, and his face was red and swollen.

  "Alright, if you continue like this, get off the bus, I can't watch this! A real man should understand some things in his heart. Stop nagging me!" Lu Zhong furrowed his brow.

  Liu Hanshan stopped with a sigh and said, "Yes, yes, Director Lu's great kindness, I will remember it in my heart from now on." He sighed again and said, "It is said that Director Lu is righteous, I understand it today, and in the future...".

  In the passenger seat, Wei Xiang's beautiful eyes glanced at Lu Zhen, seemingly deep in thought.

  ……

  The Chinese restaurant on the second floor of the Continental Hotel has a floor-to-ceiling window with a view of Rocky Beach, where you can see the golden waves glistening in the setting sun.

  Liu Hanshan ate a few mouthfuls and then excused himself to leave. Although he didn't know what relationship Lu Ju had with this beautiful woman, he also couldn't afford to be a nuisance on the side, could he?

  "You can just call me Zhēnzi from now on, or Lù Zhēn is fine too." After chatting with Wei Xiangxiu for a few sentences, hearing her address him as "Lù Chù" one after another, Lù Zhēn felt it sounded somewhat awkward.

  Wei Xiangxiu smiled and pouted her lips, exuding a charming air, "Then I dare not."

  Lu Zhong could feel that Wei Xiangxiu had become more natural in front of him after he was summoned to the city and was feeling down on his luck.

  "Have you been doing well lately?" Lu Zhong lit a cigarette and leaned back slowly in his chair.

  Wei Xiangxiu's face was lightly powdered, "It's okay, I just got promoted to deputy department head, the bureau leaders are quite concerned about me. My younger uncle also arranged for me to work in a factory, and my younger brother and sister have scholarships."

  Lu Zhong nodded, and from Wei Xiangxiu's spiritual appearance, it could also be seen that her current life was not bad.

  "What about you? How's it going?" Wei Xiangxiu asked curiously, and then heard that Hou Jianjun had gone to the letter office.

  Lu Zhong shook his head: "Not very good."

  "Is it? You've offended another old man, haven't you?"

  Lu Zhong coughed once and didn't make another sound.

  Wei Xiangxiu was taken aback, it seemed she had been caught off guard by her own words. After thinking for a moment, she hesitated and said: "Lu Chu, can you tell me what's going on? I'll give you some advice."

  Lu Zhongxin said, "What kind of idea can you come up with? You're best at flattering people! But looking at Wei Xiangxiu's lovely and charming smile, he felt that chatting with her for a few more sentences wasn't a bad thing either."

  "It's like this, Gu Wei Huang Lao, last Sunday he asked me to go with him to the provincial city, I wanted to go to the mechanical and electrical school for class, didn't go, so he got angry at me. Now, he has driven me out of the cold palace."

  Lu Zhong said with a smile, actually, Huang Lao is also a true character, at least, love and hate are clear-cut. Of course, for these small characters of their own, the old cadres' likes and dislikes do not need to be pretended, if they don't want to use you, it means they don't want to use you, and there's no need to put on a show.

  Wei Xiangxiu said in surprise: "Isn't Gu Wei a retired veteran cadre? Whoever can command you must be a deputy department head who has stepped down, how come they don't know how to show consideration for others?"

  "It's probably because it's convenient to use my car, the bigger the disappointment, the bigger the hope." Lu Zhong said jokingly, and then said: "Besides, they are all ordinary people, have you read too many storybooks? Do you think they are all saints with empty pockets?"

  "What's the use of your car?"

  Lu Zhendao said: "Recently, Huang Lao has been going out and likes to use my car. I think he's used to being a public servant. Looking into his eyes, there is no concept of private property."

  Wei Xiangxiu rolled her eyes: "This Mr Huang, doesn't have a dedicated car to pick him up and drop him off for work?"

  Lu Zhong nodded. Originally, a vehicle was arranged for him, but Huang Lao didn't use it. In the city, he always rode an old bicycle to get around everywhere.

  "Alright, that's settled then. From now on, you'll just follow him to and from work every day. Tomorrow, Monday, go wait for him early in the morning. Even if he doesn't need you, you'll still go every day. As an old comrade, he needs to save face. Even if he really doesn't want to trouble others, he's definitely still concerned about his treatment." She said this while watching Lu Zhen's expression, after all, it was the first time she was instructing him to do this and that. This former bandit, although temporarily subdued, might not change his temper, so she had to be careful with her words, lest she provoke him into a rage.

  Lu Zhong smiled, actually he had already planned to start on Monday to pick up Huang Lao from work, in fact, even if Huang Lao didn't care, at the very least, this wasn't a bad thing and wouldn't make Huang Lao's impression of him worse.

  Seeing Lu Zhong not speaking, Wei Xiangxiu sighed lightly in her heart. Director Lu, how can you bear the grievances of flattering people? But many things are not up to oneself.

  After some thought, Wei Xiangxiu advised: "Lu Chu, when you are under someone's roof, you can't help but lower your head. If you want to get back on track as soon as possible, you need to build a good relationship with the old cadres. If there is someone willing to speak for you, things will be easier to handle. The municipal bureau leaders also care about you very much. A few days ago, Director Mo said: 'Lu Zhong was wronged by some people who are eager for quick success and instant benefits. He should stay in the public security line and develop his career. With his ability, he won't go wrong in the future.'"

  Wei Xiangxiu's imitation of their leader's speech was so vivid and lifelike, paired with her soft and sweet voice, that it made Lu Zhong smile.

  Wei Xiangxiu said with a bitter tone: "Lu Chu, so you think about it. Even if the municipal bureau leaders want you to come back and arrange work for you in the municipal bureau, they also need to get the approval of the district committee leaders, right?"

  Lu Zhong coughed and returned to the public security system, but that was not necessary. He smiled and said: "It's still early, Little Wei, let's go watch a movie."

  Wei Xiangxiu was speechless for a moment.