Chapter Thirteen: Recalling Xiao Tang's Past Glory in the Gathering of Ten Thousand People

  Chengqi Hotel is the most famous hotel in Yanshan County, with a large hall that has green marble floor tiles that are so smooth they can reflect people's shadows. The ceiling is adorned with elegant chandeliers, and the dozens of wooden round tables in the hall are covered with white and green striped tablecloths, looking clean and elegant. In those days, it was absolutely magnificent.

  Tang Yi was dragged by Qi Jie, after reporting the follow-up work of the canned food factory contract in the county committee, Tang Yi went to Qi Jie's small restaurant to find food, as a result, Qi Jie insisted on inviting him to eat a delicious meal, saying that it was reasonable, and Tang Yi couldn't refuse.

  Sitting by the window, Tang Yi smiled and said: "Made a small fortune and raised your tail? This won't do! Do you still want to have the style of hard work and struggle?"

  Qijie wore a dark green woolen windbreaker today, with the belt tied tightly around her waist. Her slender and delicate waist was particularly captivating. Her pale and exquisite face, set off by the beautiful blue star-shaped earrings, looked even more lovely and unmatched. Even her carefully styled long hair, adorned with intricately designed hairpins that resembled flowers, added to her elegant and refined demeanor, giving her an air of nobility.

  The ancients said that beauty can be savored, and Tang Yi felt that this sentence was particularly apt when applied to Qi Jie. As he admired her beautiful face, Tang Yi's mood always became especially pleasant.

  "Go, go, go, let's just get out of here with my sister." Qi Jie gave Tang Yi a white-eyed glance, but she scanned the surroundings and whispered: "Let's still go to the second floor private room, being seen by people here won't be good..."

  Tang Yiqi said: "What? Afraid of people gossiping about you? Am I the kind of person who attracts bees and butterflies? What's wrong with friends having a meal together?"

  "Look where you're going, I'm afraid of having a bad influence on you. You officials aren't all afraid of this, are you?"

  Tang Yi shook his head and said indifferently, "What's there to be afraid of? A man who hasn't married and a woman who hasn't been married off having a meal together, what's the big deal? Where did all these worries come from?" Suddenly he stared at Qiao Jie and smiled, "But I seem to hear that you have some thoughts about me in your words?"

  Qijie pinched Tang Yi's arm and said, "I think your big head is getting more and more dishonest!" Tang Yi was pinched to the point of making a face.

  As they spoke, the waitress in blue uniform brought up the menu. Looking at Tang Yi and Qi Jie who were "flirting", she smiled and secretly sighed in admiration - what a perfect couple, except that the boy seemed a bit too young.

  Tang Yi casually ordered a few dishes, and Qijie smiled and said: "Order a few more, I won't go bankrupt." Just as she was smiling happily, her gaze inadvertently fell on the people who had just entered the hall and were walking towards them, and her smile gradually faded.

  Tang Yimian keenly noticed her abnormality, waved his hand to signal the waiter to prepare the meal, turned around and saw three people walking over from afar. The one in front was an old man with white hair, wearing a Zhongshan suit, walking with his head held high and chest out, very dignified, looking like he used to be an official. A man and woman in their thirties followed behind him, both dressed in office attire, the man slightly chubby, the woman's face pretty and charming, with a hint of elegance, seemingly a family coming to dine together.

  As they walked up, Qijie stood up nervously and greeted them: "Dad, brother, sister-in-law, you're here for dinner too?"

  The dignified old man also saw Qijie, his face immediately turned extremely ugly, and when he saw Tang Yi sitting at the same table as Qijie, he even snorted: "Who is your father, don't randomly claim relatives."

  It was the middle-aged woman behind the old man who smiled and said, "Younger sister, you're here too? I heard your small restaurant is doing well, making a good profit from selling boxed lunches?" Her words were warm, but her condescending attitude was quite obvious.

  The old man's face turned iron-green: "A good business is not bad, but you go and get involved in some crooked ways, and you're not even afraid of being laughed at!"

  Tang Yi only then realized that this family was Qi Jie's former in-laws. Seeing Qi Jie being scolded by the old man and her unnatural expression, Tang Yi slightly furrowed his brow, but this was someone else's family matter, and he didn't want to interfere.

  The old man was Zhao Yibo, the former deputy director of the Construction Bureau who retired a few years ago. He looked down on Qijie and even resented her, thinking that his son's death was all because of this unlucky star. If it weren't for her, his son wouldn't have died either.

  "Dad, brother and sister-in-law, there are no more seats. Come sit together." At this time, it was just mealtime, the main hall was almost fully seated, Qi Jie warmly invited them to sit together, secretly giving Tang Yi an apologetic glance, but Tang Yi didn't feel any dissatisfaction, his gaze at Qi Jie had a hint of admiration.

  Zhao Yibo didn't want to sit down at first, but his eldest daughter-in-law pulled him down hard. It seems she's quite spoiled, and her words are full of a coquettish tone.

  The young woman looked at Tang Yi a few times and asked Qi Jie: "How come you don't introduce us?"

  Tang Yi also stood up with Qi Jie at this time, and hurriedly smiled: "Hello everyone, I'm Qi Jie's good friend, my name is Tang Yi." He stretched out his hand to shake hands with the old man, but the old man ignored him, carrying a airs hummed: "Evil cult!"

  The young woman smiled and said, "Little brother, you look quite young, are you a student? Hey, I'm telling you, little sister, your vision is getting higher and higher!" With a hint of sarcasm on her lips.

  Qijie introduced to Tang Yi, the older brother is called Zhao Shan, and his wife is called Li Xiaocui, both work in the Construction Bureau. When Zhao Shan asked Tang Yi with a slanted eye where he graduated from, Tang Yi just smiled: "Me? I'm just messing around every day, don't know what's going on."

  Li Xiaocui smiled and said, "You're a friend of Junzi's, right? I've heard that Junzi is quite popular on Sanjie Street. In the future, don't forget to take care of your sister if you have any business." Obviously thinking that Tang Yi was a social thug.

  Since they sat down, the table has become lively. Zhao Shan and Li Xiaocui talked about how great the director was and how good the deputy director was, as if they were superior to others. Qi Jie couldn't join in their conversation, but they would always mention a few words about her small restaurant, "concerned" about her business life, speaking with an air of superiority to show that she wasn't on the same level as them.

  Zhao Shan picked up a 35 and tossed one to Tang Yi, saying with a grin: "Try it, you can't buy this stuff." At that time, foreign cigarettes were indeed hard to come by.

  Tang Yi smiled and thanked him, putting the cigarette aside. Qi Jie secretly tugged at Tang Yi's hem from below, and Tang Yi turned back to smile at her, indicating it was okay, only then did she feel slightly reassured.

  Zhao Shan puffed out a ring of smoke, and suddenly leaned in close to the old man with a mysterious tone: "Dad, Director Du's car seems to be outside, he's also come here for dinner, right? Do you want to go say hello?"

  Zhao Yibo waved his hand with a look of old-fashioned elegance: "Forget it, forget it. What's the point of us retired old guys getting involved in this?"

  Li Xiaocui wiped the bowls and chopsticks for the old man while continuing to talk: "Dad, it's not what you said, as his former leader, your words carry some weight in his heart. In a few days, they will be discussing personnel adjustments at the bureau, and you should give Dasan a heads up about this matter. If you don't speak up, Dasan won't have a chance to get into the personnel department!"

  Just as he was speaking, Zhao Shan's gaze suddenly froze, the cigarette in his mouth "clattered" onto the table, but he didn't notice, and after a moment of stunned silence, he hastily whispered: "Dad, who said you retired and wouldn't take care of things? Look, Director Du is coming down from the second floor, heading our way. When he greets you later, don't forget to mention my situation!" Then, with an extremely serious tone, he told Tang Yi and Qi Jie: "Younger siblings, be careful what you say later, don't mess up! Director Du is a big shot in the county... Forget it, forget it... You two should just leave quickly, don't get me into trouble!"

  Zhao Shan quickly stood up and walked towards a stout middle-aged man who was walking in this direction. Tang Yi, who had been sitting uninterestingly, made eye contact with Qi Jie, and the two of them stood up to bid farewell to Zhao Yibo. The old man responded with a hum of impatience.

  Zhao Shan walked towards Director Du with a smile, extending his hand to shake hands with Director Du, but found that Director Du's gaze was not on himself at all. He just walked past him like this, stunned for a moment, thinking that he had only seen his own father, and as for himself, the subordinate, he didn't care at all.

  He turned around just as he was about to approach his father, but heard Director Du burst out laughing: "Secretary Tang, it's really you! Why do you always run away when you see me? Don't you give old Du any face? Are you too busy with important things and forgot about old Du?"

  Du Shan turned around, only to see Director Du warmly holding the hand of a young man named Tang Yi, chatting with him, his face beaming with joy, as if he had found some treasure. This radiant smile was something Du Shan had never seen on his face before.

  Tang Yi smiled and said: "How could that be? I thought Director Du didn't recognize me, came to greet the old leader, and thought it wouldn't bother you."

  "Old leader? Who is that?" Du Dawei's oily face turned around, and only then did he see Zhao Yibo standing next to him, looking at him and Tang Yi in surprise.

  "Ah! Old leader is also here, look at my eyes, sorry sorry." Du Dawei hurriedly stretched out his hand and shook hands with Zhao Yibo, and asked Tang Yi in surprise: "Does Secretary Tang also know my old leader?"

  Tang Yi smiled and said, "I guess we can consider ourselves acquainted. He's a relative of my friend." He pointed to Qi Jie. Qi Jie hastily asked Director Du how he was doing. Du Dawei chuckled and said, "No need for formalities, Tang Secretary's friends are my friends too, so there's no need for further introduction." Turning to Tang Yi, he said, "Tang Secretary, it's better to meet by chance than by invitation. Last time I invited you to dinner, you didn't give me any face. Today, you won't refuse Old Du again, will you?"