Volume 2: Chapter 10 of Zhongheng County Office - A Slap That Doesn't Resound (Part 2)

  "Ah...... Qi, Miss Qi, I...I don't know where you graduated from?" Hu Kai stuttered with excitement.

  Li Hongna frowned and interrupted Hu Kai's conversation, saying to Qi Jie: "Sister, you go first, I'll go find Junzi." She actually knew that Hu Kai was not a good person, but he spent money generously and was interesting, Li Hongna wasn't an honest kid either, and being with him to play and get his meal tickets was basically just using him as a sugar daddy. But Li Hongna didn't want Qi Jie to mix with him and suffer losses, so she hurriedly urged Qi Jie to leave.

  "Hurry up, since you've come to Night Misty, you're my friends," Hu Kai laughed. "Today I'm treating, what do you two want to eat and drink? Order whatever you like." His words were so generous, as if he was the boss of Night Misty.

  Qijie hastily said no need, and smiled slightly at Li Xiaocui's provocative gaze. She had never seen anyone like him before. Hu Kai's intentions were clear to her, but if it were in the past, she might have teased him a bit. However, after getting to know Tang Yi, she had gradually put away her previous feminine tricks. Besides, with her current status, she wouldn't bother to play pranks on someone like him.

  Li Xiaocui smiled and said, "In that case, I won't be polite." She beckoned to a waitress not far away and shouted, "Bring two bottles of Changcheng Caibiao dry red wine over here!" At the time, domestic red wine was just starting out and hadn't yet begun using grape vintage years or star ratings. Caibiao dry red was Huaxia Changcheng's most expensive variety, having won the 1989 Paris Grand Prix, with a price of 88 yuan per bottle at night markets. Although the price was high, it received good reviews from customers, who thought it was auspicious and interesting. This pricing method also pioneered the use of auspicious numbers in pricing at Yanshan.

  Hu Kai was taken aback, looking at Li Xiaocui's eyes which had already become somewhat unnatural. He wasn't stupid and clearly felt that this little girl wanted to take advantage of him. He endured it silently without saying a word.

  The beautiful waitress brought up the dry red wine, and after getting Li Xiaoliu's agreement, she elegantly poured a small amount into the glasses of the four people, made a please gesture, and retreated elegantly. Qi Jie nodded slightly, what her husband said was really right, the standard of service determines the grade of the bar, with such a service girl, customers will feel comfortable.

  "Xiao Cui, let's have two plates of dried scallops. Drinking this fruit-flavored dry red wine with seafood is the only way to bring out its flavor." Qi Jie recalled Tang Yi's words and was now pretending to be a connoisseur of red wine.

  Before Li Xiaocui could even speak, Hu Kai loudly called the waiter to bring abalone. This time, he was overjoyed and the beautiful woman finally spoke up. Hu Kai's excited heart was racing, and if Qijie were to ask for lobster now, he would probably agree immediately. Men can be really scary, they never consider the consequences of a beauty's smile.

  "Miss Qi, you really have taste, I've never heard that drinking red wine has so many details?" Hu Kai flattered Qi Jie again, Qi Jie frowned and pointed to the glass of red wine in front of Hu Kai, saying: "Mr. Hu, consider this glass of wine as my treat for you, now I have something to discuss with Xiao Na."

  Hu Kai was overjoyed and didn't understand the meaning behind Qijie's words. When he heard that Qijie said she would treat him, he was so delighted that he almost floated to heaven, laughing repeatedly and declining: "No way, how embarrassing would that be?"

  Li Xiaocui let out a snort of laughter and said, "Alright then, consider the wine money yours. Now please take the cup in your hand and go sit somewhere else, we're going to talk about women's stuff, what are you doing following along as a big old man?"

  Hu Kai's smile froze, extremely embarrassed, suddenly realizing he had become a fool. Li Xiaocui's mouth revealed a hint of mockery, Qi Jie looked polite but was actually disdainful and indifferent. Hu Kai, who had always been chased by young women, couldn't take this and stood up abruptly, shouting: "Damn it, are you guys messing with me?"

  The bar music was explosive, but no one noticed this table. Li Hongna was startled and came to the night with a lot of street-level figures who could be called names, all of whom were brothers with Hu Kai. Not to mention others, several county police officers were particularly good at mixing with Hu Kai, which really provoked Hu Kai. They didn't need to show up, as long as they gave Junzi small shoes in the bureau, Junzi's day as a small joint defense officer would definitely not be easy.

  Li Hongna pulled Hu Kai's sleeve and laughed: "Brother Hu, what are you doing? Everyone is looking at you."

  Hu Kai hummed, picked up a bottle of dry red wine, "clink clink clink" poured it into a beer mug, then put it on the table and said to Qijie: "Today you give me face and drink this cup, I won't bother with you."

  Li Xiaocui burst out laughing, holding her stomach and gasping for breath. "Oh my goodness, you're killing me! Have you been watching too many movies? Are you acting?" She had never seen anything more ridiculous than this - a young actor flirting with the county secretary's wife was even more thrilling than a movie. As someone who loved to stir up trouble, she became even bolder after befriending Qi Jie, and looked down on all the big shots in the organization, of course, only in her heart.

  Qī Jié furrowed her brow, stood up and picked up the exquisite handbag on the table, saying to Lǐ Xiǎo Cuì: "Let's go." Lǐ Xiǎo Cuì was somewhat reluctant, but knowing Qī Jié's low-key nature, she smiled and stood up. However, she didn't forget to tease Hú Kǎi: "Hey, superstar, you're buying the drinks here."

  Hu Kai was so angry that he was fuming, and cursed: "I'd rather feed dogs than invite you two! If you don't pay the bill today, don't think about leaving." He turned his head and loudly called for security. Just as he shouted, "slap" - Li Xiaocui had already slapped him hard on the face. Hu Kai's iron-green face immediately sported a bright red handprint, and Li Xiaocui cursed again: "Shut your dirty mouth!"

  He was taken aback for a moment, and Hu Kai didn't know how to react. Should he go up and hit the woman? He really had never fought before, let alone cursed loudly? Now many people were looking over here, and he didn't want to ruin his image. Just as he was at a loss, a bright red figure walked over - it was Yao Xiaohong, who had just come down from the second floor and saw Qi Jie, as well as the commotion between the two sides.

  Hu Kai finally saw his relatives, covering his face and pointing at Qi Jie to report to Yao Xiaohong: "Manager Yao, they, they drank wine without paying, and even hit people!"

  Another loud "slap" sound, Hu Kai's left cheek was slapped again, looking at Yao Xiaohong's face with a frosty expression, Hu Kai was stunned.

  "Get out and don't come to work again. Come tomorrow to collect your severance pay." Yao Xiaohong waved her hand, as if shooing away a fly.

  Hu Kai covered his face with both hands, stunned for a long time, until the security guard next to him pulled him out of the bar before he came back to his senses. He couldn't understand why Yao Xiaohong, who had always treated him exceptionally well, suddenly turned against him and acted so ruthlessly. The two security guards, who usually called him "Brother Hu" with such familiarity, roughly pushed him down the stairs, patted their hands and went into the corridor, leaving Hu Kai dazed and confused.

  A cold wind blew, and Hu Kai gradually came to his senses. He suddenly felt a jolt of fear - was he going to lose his job? Instinctively, he wanted to go in and beg for mercy from Yao Xiaohong, but remembering her vicious attitude just now, he stopped himself. He knew Yao Xiaohong's temperament, and she wouldn't show any leniency towards him.

  What to do next? Hu Kai was stunned, and now he really didn't want to go back to the county song and dance troupe to struggle through his days. But if he didn't go to the song and dance troupe, where would he go? After thinking about it, he suddenly remembered the woman who looked like a pearl and jade, who said she could take him to Beijing's entertainment circle to develop when they were drinking together a few days ago. At that time, he thought she was just drunk talk, but now Hu Kai really hoped that what the woman said would come true. He busily felt for her business card in his pocket, and looked at the dimly lit sign with hatred, spitting out a mouthful of saliva: "Damn it, Yao Xiaohong, wait and see how I'll deal with you after I become successful!"

  ……

  In the bar, Yao Xiaohong and Qi Jie, Li Xiaocui sat together, laughing and chatting. Qi Jie smiled and said: "Xiaohong, you are getting more and more impressive."

  Yao Xiaohong smiled and said, "What's so impressive about you?" She had always been puzzled by Tang Yi's identity, until a few days ago when she saw the news of the new county party secretary on TV. Although Tang Yi was wearing glasses, first, Yao Xiaohong had taken note of the name Tang Yi, and second, they were also acquaintances, so after careful observation, she naturally recognized him.

  A few days ago, I went to see Wang Qi's father and mother, and also heard that County Committee Secretary Tang came to visit and established a romantic relationship with Qi Jie. Yao Xiao Hong was even more surprised, it turned out that Secretary Tang didn't treat Qi Jie as a mistress, but instead had a genuine affection for her. This made Yao Xiao Hong feel a bit sour in her heart, thinking about how all the men she had been with before had treated her like a plaything, not one of them had truly cared for her, let alone being genuinely friendly with her.

  At this time, Yao Xiaohong was teasing Qi Jie, and she had already forgotten the depression she felt when she first heard the news. While congratulating Qi Jie, she was also very pleased with herself. Now that she was equivalent to being in cahoots with the county party secretary's wife, running a song and dance hall, she would be able to walk around Yangshan City with her head held high from now on!

  Yao Xiaohong still remembered Li Hongna, who was standing there with a look of surprise on her face. This little girl had come to apply for a waitressing job before, but Yao Xiaohong had turned her down. At the time, she had lingered, unwilling to leave. When Qi Jie introduced her as Junzi's girlfriend, Yao Xiaohong immediately smiled and said, "Little Na, you can start work tomorrow."

  Li Hongna was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, but in her heart she was puzzled, didn't know that Qi Jie had such a powerful friend.

  Qijie shook her head and said: "Xiaohong, although this is a regular bar, I'm afraid Junzi won't be able to turn the corner, let's wait for now about Xiaonan's work."

  Li Hongna was just about to pout, thinking that Qi Jie was being too nosy, when Yao Xiaohong laughed and said: "Look at me, I'm also worrying for nothing. With your boyfriend being the county party secretary, what problem can't be solved?"

  Li Xiaocui was shocked, only to realize that Qi Jie and Tang Secretary had formally established a relationship. After the shock came great joy, thinking that from now on, she could use Qi Jie's influence to her advantage. Who in the bureau would dare to provoke her? She began to think of ways to invite Qi Jie to visit her bureau, and then "accidentally" reveal Qi Jie's identity, so that she could gain power and respect within the bureau.

  Li Hongna asked in surprise: "Qi Jie, you have a boyfriend? How come I haven't heard about it? Is he from the county committee, the county party secretary?" A figure immediately popped up in her mind, and she quickly asked: "It can't be, it can't be Secretary Tang, right?"

  Qijie gave Yao Xiaohong a white eye, although she had established a relationship with Tang Yi, but she didn't want to make it public either. Since he said so, she could only smile and nod in agreement.

  Li Hongna shouted "MYGOD", loudly saying: "Qī Jiě, Secretary Táng is our dream lover! You... you... you're killing me!" She exaggeratedly covered her face and lay down on the chair, causing Qī Jiě and several others to giggle. It's not like those playful girls from Yán Shān didn't often discuss how elegant and handsome Secretary Táng was, each joking that they would catch him one day. If it got out that Secretary Táng already had a partner, who knows how many young hearts would be broken.