The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

Chen Fang's eyes suddenly widened.

He asked, "Are you saying that Mr. Li personally made the call?"

Ding Yanli nodded and said, "Yes, he made the call himself."

Goodness gracious.

Chen Fang had heard with his own ears that someone named Ning Lao had ordered the man in the black suit to make the call; could it be that such a call was directly connected to the municipal leaders? If that was really the case, then this old man must be some big BOSS.

"Chief Ding, we've found the person."

A police officer ran over and called out.

Ding Yanli patted Chen Fang on the shoulder and said, "Secretary Chen, I have to get busy. Let's chat another time when I'm free."

"Sure, go ahead with your work."

Chen Fang said.

He saw two or three officers in a group carrying out those four drunkards from before.

They were almost all in a state of unconsciousness, bruised all over, and seemed to be barely clinging to life.

"Chief Ding, I'm going to ask the shop owner for surveillance footage to see the process of the incident," another officer said.

Ding Yanli hit his cap brusquely and said angrily, "What surveillance footage? What surveillance footage? Go and delete the surveillance right now. No one is allowed to watch it, did you hear?"

"Heard it."

The officer replied with a hint of grievance.

Having beaten up someone and not even allowing others to see the surveillance footage made Chen Fang even more curious about Ning Lao's identity.

The next morning.

As soon as Chen Fang entered the office, he heard explosive news.

The chief of the Cultural Section in the County Party Office, Lin Mang, was dismissed from his position.

Without any reason provided.

He was just dismissed.

And it was not even known who had issued the order.

This was an unprecedented situation for Chen Fang.

As for Ning Yi, things were still the same as before; she greeted everyone with a warm smile, and she always had endless tasks at hand. No one knew whether Lin Mang's dismissal had anything to do with her.

During this period.

The County Party courtyard appeared calm on the surface.

However, insiders knew that after Tan Yandong's death, the situation in the courtyard had fundamentally changed.

Li Duming briefly controlled the situation before Sun Shenru knocked him back to square one.

By now, he had been virtually sidelined.

Under these circumstances, Chen Fang had no way to turn the tide. Although he had a notebook full of useful content, he also knew he might have already been watched; using it again could indeed risk exposure.

This morning.

He personally witnessed Sun Shenru's secretary, Jin Zhan, calling Li Duming to ask him to visit the mayor's office.

It is well-known that though the County Party Secretary and the mayor are equals in rank, the County Party Secretary is unquestionably the top leader.

Normally, if there is an issue to be discussed, the mayor should take the initiative to visit the County Party Secretary's office.

Who has ever heard of the mayor calling and ordering the County Party Secretary to come over?

Li Duming didn't go.

As a result, a Secretary Office meeting took place without the County Party Secretary's participation.

This kind of situation, in any government agency, would be incredibly shocking.

Sun Shenru clearly no longer regarded Li Duming as significant and even seemed to be mocking him.

"Leader, it's my fault for not being able to help you," Chen Fang said as he looked at the frustrated Li Duming sitting on the sofa, feeling somewhat guilty.

Li Duming waved his hand and said, "You've done enough; if it weren't for you, I might not be able to keep this position as County Party Secretary. I might have even been placed under shuanggui by now."

"Leader, don't lose heart, there must be some solution. I will go back and think it over carefully."

Chen Fang said to comfort him.

Li Duming let out a long sigh.

He said, "It's useless. Sun Shenru has already completed his arrangement with the County Party standing committee members. Now, from top to bottom, almost everyone has been replaced by his people. For us to break out of this situation is now harder than reaching the heavens."

"Then I'll go see Zhang Cheng, the general manager. He still has some connections in the city. I believe he should be able to help us," Chen Fang suggested.

Li Duming shook his head and said, "First, he is just a businessman; let's not involve him in our political affairs. Second, given his special status, if I really made use of his help, Sun Shenru would certainly seize the chance to label me, making it difficult for me to make a comeback. Let's leave it be for now. As long as he doesn't press us step by step, we will maintain the current pace and look for opportunities."

That's all they could do.

But how could Sun Shenru not press them step by step? He had been laying the groundwork recently, and once that was complete, he would surely turn the guns around.

This morning's Secretary Office meeting was just a probe.

In his view, Li Duming was nothing but a nominal leader now.

Li Duming vigorously rubbed his face.

He looked at his watch, stood up, and said, "Alright, it's time to get off work. Ah Fang, are you free tonight?"

"I'm free, what's up?"

Chen Fang asked.

"The driver, Xiao Liu, asked for leave today, so you'll drive and take me home, we'll have a meal at my place on the way."

"No need for dinner, I'll just take you home."

Chen Fang went to the drivers' area and took the keys.

He drove out with the County Party Secretary's official car.

Mr. Li Duming's home was located in Tongxing New Village, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Changming County.

After Chen Fang dropped Mr. Li Duming off, Mr. Li insisted that Chen Fang follow him upstairs. Unable to refuse, Chen Fang had no choice but to accompany him.

He opened the door.

What appeared before him was a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment, probably around more than 70 square meters, with rather outdated decorations, and a lot of the furniture seemed like it was the kind that had already been retired.

"The house is rather shabby, you'll have to make do."

Mr. Li threw a pair of slippers at Chen Fang.

Just as he changed shoes.

A bedroom door opened.

Li Yi, dressed in cotton pajamas, came out and was startled to see Chen Fang.

"Ah Yi, I've brought Ah Fang home for dinner. You keep him company for a bit while I cook," Mr. Li said as he tied on an apron and took some food out of the refrigerator before heading into the kitchen.

Chen Fang hurriedly said, "Secretary, let me help you."

Mr. Li waved his hand and said, "Our kitchen is rather small, don't make a mess, just go and play, you young people. We'll be eating in a little over an hour."

Indeed.

Mr. Li's kitchen was very small.

There was barely any room once he entered.

"Where's your mom?"

Chen Fang whispered to Li Yi.

Li Yi pointed at the wall with her finger, and it was only then that Chen Fang noticed a portrait hanging there. The portrait was of a woman, young and beautiful.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know about this."

Chen Fang regretted asking.

Li Yi smiled and said, "It's fine, my mom passed away when she gave birth to me. It's been many years, and I've never seen what she looked like. I don't feel much anymore."

Alright then.

Looking at it that way, Li Yi is also a pitiful person.

They sat on a cramped sofa.

Thinking about the wild times in the club from a while back.

Chen Fang felt very awkward.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"I haven't seen you at the County Committee compound recently, what's been going on?"

After thinking for a while, Chen Fang finally found a topic.

Li Yi laughed and said, "Hehe, I have my own things to do. I can't be going to the club with you every day, can I?"

The volume of her voice was neither too loud nor too soft.

Chen Fang was startled.

Thank goodness the kitchen extractor fan was on.

Otherwise, Mr. Li surely would have heard.

Seeing Chen Fang's cautious demeanor, Li Yi covered her mouth and laughed, grabbing Chen Fang's hand, and yelled towards the kitchen, "Dad, I'll take Ah Fang to my room to play chess, okay?"

"Oh, you go ahead, I'll call you when it's time to eat," Mr. Li responded without turning around.

Chen Fang felt helpless.

And so, he was dragged by Li Yi into her room.

With a click.

As soon as they entered.

Li Yi closed the door behind them.

Her room was cozily arranged, quite small, but it felt very comfortable.

The only thing that made Chen Fang feel different was that her not-too-large bed was filled with all sorts of dolls, almost occupying more than half of the bed, at least a hundred of them.

Suddenly.

Li Yi hooked her arm around Chen Fang's neck and said, "Kiss me!"

Now?

Has she gone mad?

Mr. Li is right outside.

Chen Fang was just about to refuse.

Li Yi pouted and said, "If you don't kiss me, I'll tell my dad about you bullying me and see if he doesn't deal with you."

Who threatens people like that?

Chen Fang had no choice.

He could only press his lips against hers.

The moment their lips touched, this time, Li Yi was clearly well-practiced, she sent a little snake darting in, exploring his mouth…