NOVEL NEXT Chapter 56: One Step Behind
Chapter 56: One Step Behind
The old mayor, Su Qing, frequently engaged in conversation with Lin Chengyu, the son of the Lin family from the county town, asking him questions here and there.
This annoyed the head of the Fang family. Lin Chengyu was a distinguished guest whom he had worked hard to invite, and from the looks of it, Su Qing seemed to be trying to make connections.
While the old mayor, Su Qing, and the head of the Fang family were both trying to flatter Lin Chengyu, the patriarch of the Pei family, Pei Jifeng, was secretly pleased. His thoughts were different from theirs.
His attention was almost entirely focused on Xu Lian. It wasn’t that he wasn’t interested in the Lin family from the county town, but compared to the distant Lin family, he was more interested in the connection with the quarry patrol inspector from Green Bamboo Town.
As the saying goes, “Distant water can’t quench nearby thirst,” and “A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor.” The same principle applies to networks. Rather than trying to fawn over Lin Chengyu, it was better to secure Xu Lian’s connection.
Furthermore, Pei Jifeng had heard a rumor about the Quarry Patrol Inspector of Green Bamboo Town. This person was not ordinary; they had long been qualified for promotion, but had somehow remained in Green Bamboo Town as a mere quarry patrol inspector.
From this, it seemed that the influence of the Quarry Patrol Inspector in Green Bamboo Town might not be any less than that of the Lin family in the county.
At present, neither Su Qing nor the head of the Fang family knew about Xu Lian’s relationship with the Quarry Patrol Inspector, which made it an ideal time for Pei Jifeng to win Xu Lian over.
“Manager Xu, I have several daughters, although I wouldn’t say they are stunning, they are quite presentable. Would you be interested in taking back two or three of them?”
Pei Jifeng asked with a smile, his tone that of a concerned elder speaking to a younger generation.
“Presentable…” Xu Lian felt numb to the term.
In the past, he would have found it unimaginable for a father to describe his daughters as “presentable,” as though they were merchandise.
Now he had become numb to it, or perhaps he had become accustomed to it. That was the way the world worked – daughters of poor families were exchanged for grain, and daughters of wealthy families were used to form alliances. There was no significant difference.
Besides, these were just illegitimate daughters, so there was no real talk of affection. They were treated like commodities.
Upon hearing their father’s words, the illegitimate daughters of the Pei family who were following behind tensed up. They knew that this was the moment that would determine their future.
They were both nervous and a little hopeful. Xu Lian was in charge of the quarry, so their material needs would be covered. Plus, Xu Lian was young and handsome, and he was only a few years older than them. If they became his women, from their perspective, they would be happy to do so.
“Brother Pei, aren’t you being a little too generous?”
The head of the Fang family didn’t understand. “Even though these girls are illegitimate, they are still your daughters. He’s just a quarry manager. Giving him one would be his fortune, but why offer him two or three?”
The old mayor, Su Qing, was even more dissatisfied. “If it were someone from the county, like Lin Chengyu with his prestigious background, giving him two or three might be acceptable. But for Pei Jifeng to offer two or three to a mere quarry manager, it might tarnish the reputation of our three great families.”
Pei Jifeng didn’t want to explain too much, only offered a faint smile. “Manager Xu is like a nephew to me. I really like him. I have dozens of illegitimate daughters; it’s no problem to give him two or three.”
How about offering me Zhao Xi? Xu Lian subtly cupped his hands and declined, “I appreciate your kindness, Uncle Pei, but my health isn’t the best. I already have enough women at home. I couldn’t possibly take on more.”
Pei Jifeng’s look was suspicious. “Manager Xu looks healthy enough, with a glowing complexion. You don’t look like someone in poor health.”
Feeling the weight of all the eyes on him, Xu Lian cleared his throat. “Such things… can’t always be judged by appearances.”
Pei Heng, remembering Xu Lian’s request for a whole tiger’s skeleton to be used in medicinal wine, whispered to Pei Jifeng, “Father, Brother Xu’s health isn’t good. I’m certain of it. He asked me to hunt an entire tiger’s skeleton to soak in wine for his health.”
Pei Jifeng looked regretful. “I see. Well, if Manager Xu’s health improves, you can come to my Pei family anytime. I have many concubines, and there will always be daughters with good looks.”
The illegitimate daughters of the Pei family who followed were somewhat disappointed. How could someone so young be in such bad health?
Pei Zhaoxi, who was watching from the corner of her eye, glanced at Xu Lian. He really knows how to put on an act. She was sure that her father and brother had been fooled by Xu Lian. Didn’t she know how Xu Lian’s health was?
“Uncle Pei, I have good news for you!”
When Fang Shaoze, the future son-in-law, saw that the attention of the Pei family was focused on the young manager Xu Lian, he felt a little uncomfortable. He immediately spoke up to draw attention back to himself.
Pei Jifeng, the head of the Pei family, was confused. Had Fang Shaoze already heard the news that he had been selected as the next town mayor? “What good news?” he asked.
Fang Shaoze smiled. “Originally, my father wanted to compete for the position, but when I learned that Uncle Pei was also interested, I advised him to give up. We didn’t want to cause a conflict between the Fang and Pei families.”
He paused for a moment, then gestured to Lin Chengyu. “To help Uncle Pei secure the position, I invited Lin Chengyu from the county town to lend his support. I asked him to use his family’s connections to help us.”
The head of the Fang family sighed with a bit of resentment, “Brother Pei, my son truly has a filial heart. He cares about your matter even more than me, his own father!”
Lin Chengyu spoke up and addressed Pei Jifeng. “I want to make it clear in advance that I can use my family connections to speak to the higher-ups and try to secure the position of Green Bamboo Town’s next town leader for you. However, I cannot guarantee the final decision. Ultimately, the higher-ups will make the choice, and I don’t have the power to dictate it”.
Fang Shaoze laughed. “Uncle Pei, don’t worry. My father won’t compete with you. No one in Green Bamboo Town can challenge you for the position. With Lin Chengyu helping with his family’s connections, securing the role for you is almost a certainty, unless the higher-ups suddenly decide to bring in someone else from outside, which is unlikely.”
Xu Lian’s expression changed. Fang Shaoze and Lin Chengyu had no idea that the higher-ups had already decided that Pei Jifeng would be the next town mayor.
Pei Heng, slightly uncomfortable on behalf of his future brother-in-law, opened his mouth to say something but stopped short. He couldn’t share the news since it hadn’t been made public yet.
Pei Zhaoxi glanced at Fang Shaoze who was working hard to flatter her father, then turned her gaze to Xu Lian who was silent. Her feelings for Fang Shaoze had completely faded away.
Before meeting Xu Lian, she had thought that Fang Shaoze, being a young man, might fit her criteria for a partner. But now, comparing him to Xu Lian, she realized how much more mature and steady the latter was. Fang Shaoze had been too slow in winning her father’s support for the position of town mayor.
“One step behind, always behind.” She thought. The young man was finally defeated by the older, more capable Xu Lian.
Not knowing what else to say, Pei Jifeng smiled faintly. “Thank you for your kindness, my dear nephew, but I have my own plans regarding the town mayor position. There’s no need for you to go out of your way to help.”