Chapter 46: Homeless and Adrift

  In the afternoon, Lu Zhong came to the municipal government compound and met with Vice Mayor Wang Husen in his office on the second floor of Building No. 1.

  A fifty-year-old little old man with a slender body and a somewhat ethereal and carefree air about him.

  Being non-party means that no matter how outstanding you are, in the party and government team, you can only be a deputy position, and usually, the work assigned is not so important.

  So, while avoiding many personnel struggles, some non-partisan or democratic cadres often also hone a detached and selfless attitude.

  Wang Husheng, the vice mayor, is undoubtedly one of them.

  He was very kind and humble to Lu Zhong, asking about the business delegation's schedule in Hong Kong. When he encountered unclear links, he humbly asked Lu Zhong for advice.

  Although this time the municipal party committee's main leaders did not accompany the delegation, the support from the city for this trip to Hong Kong to attract investment was all-around.

  The municipal party secretary Duan Zhongcheng had previously instructed that relevant departments must work together and fully cooperate with the municipal government delegation to go to Hong Kong for investment promotion.

  Duan Zhongcheng further clarified the division of labor among relevant departments and bureaus. The Municipal Planning and Economic Commission was responsible for the Hong Kong Activity Week and key project promotion conference, including the organization, guidance, overall coordination, and supervision of the municipal government delegation's work and logistical support; responsible for organizing and guiding the participation of relevant municipal departments in the Hong Kong Activity Week investment promotion activities; responsible for drafting the implementation plan for the Wushan representative team in Hong Kong and organizing its implementation; responsible for preparing gifts, invitations, and other conference materials needed for Wushan City's investment promotion activities in Hong Kong, as well as compiling and printing the communication handbook for members of the Wushan City delegation.

  The Municipal Government Office is responsible for drafting speeches for municipal leaders at the Hong Kong Activity Week and the opening ceremony of Wushan Business Day, as well as toasts at municipal government receptions.

  The Municipal Foreign Affairs Office is responsible for inviting the leaders of Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong Branch and Hong Kong dignitaries to attend the Wushan Business Day event and arrange speeches; responsible for connecting municipal leaders to visit the leaders of Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong Branch and Hong Kong dignitaries; responsible for inviting the leaders of Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong Branch and Hong Kong dignitaries to participate in business promotion activities.

  Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong branch is currently the highest representative organ of the Chinese government in Hong Kong.

  The Municipal Construction Committee is responsible for organizing enterprises participating in the business promotion conference of Wuxi City's urban infrastructure projects.

  The Municipal Finance Bureau is responsible for reviewing, allocating and supervising the use of activity expenses budget.

  Wait wait wait wait.

  Wang Husheng took over temporarily, and it seems that he was also worried about messing up such an important business conference. Although he had already flipped through the thick "Wuxi City Commercial Representative Team's Hong Kong Business Attraction Activity Plan" several times, at this moment, he pulled Lu Zhong along with him, humbly seeking advice, without any of the airs of a superior leader, with a somewhat shameful tone of asking for help.

  It wasn't until the end of work hours that Lu Zhen was finally able to extricate himself.

  It's getting darker earlier now, and when driving out of the city government compound, the streets are already brightly lit. Rushing home, Lu Zhong stopped the car downstairs and saw that Wei Xiangxiu's house was dark, knowing she hadn't returned yet. The nanny Xiao Jing and the two elderly people were frugal by habit, usually when Wei Xiangxiu didn't come back, they wouldn't turn on the lights.

  Lu Zhong walked out of the east gate of the residential area, where there were several small restaurants along the street. When Wei Xiangxiu was studying, if Lu Zhong didn't have a dinner appointment at night, he would find a small restaurant on this street to fill his stomach.

  Lu Zheng was about to head to his usual haunt, "Lei Zi Snacks", when he was suddenly drawn in by a lilting melody - the classic saxophone piece "Going Home".

  The melody is lingering and slightly sorrowful. In the distant city's dimly lit night, it involuntarily evokes a sense of homesickness.

  Although Lu Zhong was emotionally numb, in this atmosphere, listening to this song, his heart couldn't help but feel a hint of melancholy. Alone on Wushan Mountain, Lu Zhong, are you doing okay?

  Lu Zhong slowly walked towards the sound, and found that it was a newly opened snack bar. A tape recorder was placed outside the door, playing beautiful music to attract customers.

  Lu Zhong had just entered this slightly dimly lit small house when someone enthusiastically came up to greet him: "Boss, what would you like to eat?"

  Then, Lu Zhong and the newcomer both exclaimed in unison: "How is it you?"

  The person in the house was Wang Qiuba, the boss of Dongmi Garden in Guangning when Lu Zhong was there.

  Soon after the opening of Dongmi Garden, Lu Zhong became a regular customer, and until he left Guangning, Dongmi Garden was the base for Lu Zhong's dining activities.

  Wang Laoban and his wife Mao Yunzhu were both very familiar with Lu Zhong. When Lu Zhong left Guangning in low spirits, the couple still didn't avoid suspicion and set up a table to see him off with wine.

  "Old Wang, what are you doing here?" Lu Zhong asked suspiciously, far from the excitement of meeting an old friend in a foreign land, because intuitively, Boss Wang's sudden appearance at this small eatery wouldn't be anything good.

  "Hey, wife! Look who's here?" Mr. Wang shouted from inside the house and quickly wiped down a stool. "Director Lu, please sit down. I really didn't expect to run into you. This is truly fate between us, it seems our connection won't be broken."

  The door curtain was lifted, and the landlady came out. Compared to when she was in Guangning, she had obviously darkened a bit and lost some weight. The radiant and charming aura was gone, replaced by a simple yet neat red dress.

  When she saw Lu Zhong, her face fell and she didn't make a sound.

  "What's going on here?" Lu Zhong looked at the two people in front of him with surprise, and he didn't expect that Mao Yunzhu would have this kind of attitude towards him.

  "Alas, it's hard to put into words," said Wang, the boss. "Director Lu, what would you like to eat? I'll go prepare it. This small restaurant may not look impressive, but my culinary skills haven't been lost!"

  Lu Zhong furrowed his brow, vaguely knowing what had happened. He made a gesture, "Come, sit down and tell me."

  "What's there to say? No matter how much you talk, it's just empty words. What's the use of that? You promised a lot at first, but in the end, what good did it do?"

  "Hey, what's with the way you're talking? I knew I shouldn't have called you out. Go back to the house!" The two of them had been living together for a long time, but it seemed that Wang Laoban was now more strict and stern than before, not even daring to utter harsh words to Mao Yunzhu, let alone scold her like this.

  "Hey, what's going on? Are you talking about me? Sister-in-law, if you're going to sentence me to death, at least let me die with a clear conscience! We've shared a cup of wine together, after all!"

  "I wish I had known earlier that you were drinking with a ghost!" Ma Yunzhu's tone was still reproachful, but her voice had softened considerably, and she couldn't help but feel a little sentimental when thinking of their past relationship.

  "Where is your honey garden?" Lu Zhong asked, although he had already guessed the outcome, still holding onto a glimmer of hope.

  "Look," said Mao Yunzhu, pointing at the tape recorder outside the hut. "Isn't this it? The entire Dongmi Garden, and all that's left of our property is this."

  Lu Zhong nodded slightly and his expression turned serious: "Tell me, what's going on."

  Wang boss sighed and sat opposite Lu Zhong, talking about what had happened over the past few months.

  Lu Zhong had just left when everything was fine, but gradually, the public security bureau seemed to have set their sights on Dongmi Garden, frequently finding fault and causing Wang's business to plummet. A month ago, several customers at Dongmi Garden suffered food poisoning, and immediately afterwards, the county bureau sealed off Dongmi Garden.

  Although he managed to narrowly escape imprisonment with the help of connections, a single fine from the county government left Boss Wang bankrupt.

  Mr. Wang and Mao Yunzhu discussed it over, knowing that Guangning could no longer stay, so he brought the only savings to Wushan, rented this small storefront to make a living, today is the first day of business.

  "At that time we looked for Hou Jianjun, but he didn't care at all." Ma Yunzhu interjected with a hum of hatred when Old Wang mentioned their situation.

  Lu Zheng remained silent, and Hou Jianjun would occasionally come to see him, but never mentioned the matter of Dong Mi Garden.

  Wang Lao Ban sighed and said, "It's not that Hou Ju is to blame, he has no foundation to speak of, and can't compete with Gao Zhi Kai. Look, Gao Zhi Kai is about to become the director of Qing Long now, it's only natural."

  In Guangning, with Gao Zhikai's popularity on the rise, a rumor has been circulating that Lu Zhong was also outsmarted by Gao Zhikai back then, and now Lu Zhong has hit rock bottom.

  Although this statement is slightly more informed and would be ridiculed by those in the know, it has been widely circulated among the people.

  Mr. Wang was deeply convinced of the news, looking at Lu Zhong and sighing deeply in his heart, it's hard for Director Lu too. In those years when Director Lu was in Guangning, Gao Zhi Kai would jump up and down and find it difficult to do anything, just like he didn't exist. But as soon as Director Lu left, there was no one in the county bureau who could suppress him. Now Gao Zhi Kai has become a regular, presiding over the daily work of the county bureau, and rumors have it that he will be transferred to Qinglong to take up the post of director soon.

  It can be seen that Lu Ju, who was suppressed by him at the beginning, is a very capable person. It's just a pity to hear that he stood on the wrong team.

  "Never mind, I'll go cook a couple of dishes. Director Lu, today I'm treating you, just say what you want to eat. Don't look at the small size of our restaurant, but as they say, 'a sparrow may be small, but it has all its internal organs.'" Mr. Wang said with a smile.

  Lu Zhong nodded and said: "All right, Old Wang, don't bother, is there any ready-made dish? Bring two plates, let's have a drink?"

  "Drinking is a must with Director Lu, and the dishes must be stir-fried," said Wang boss with a smile. "You wait, I'll hurry up." He lifted the curtain and entered the kitchen.

  Looking at Mao Yunzhu sitting aside, not making a sound and refusing to go in and help, Lu Zhong knew that she had blamed the loss of Dongmi Garden entirely on him. In fact, thinking about it, he was also responsible for at least 80 or 90 percent of it.

  "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I'll think of a way to find you a business in Wushan." Lu Zhuo said thoughtfully. As it happens, Hua Changming Electronics is preparing to outsource its cafeteria, with three cafeterias in the first phase, which will be outsourced to three catering companies. It just so happens that one of them can be handed over to Wang Qiuba to run, as long as it's managed properly and can compete with the other two, the profits, especially future profits, will certainly be quite substantial.

  Mao Yunzhu grunted and turned into the inner room, apparently not wanting to hear Lu Zhong bragging.

  Lu Zhong lit a cigarette and slowly took a drag...