The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"Dad, I'm getting a little hungry. Could you make us some late-night snacks? Meanwhile, I'll play chess with Chen Fang first."

Li Yi had just gotten comfortable when she started cooing to Li Duming.

Li Duming was still very indulgent with his daughter.

He nodded his head, then asked, "Ah Fang, what food do you have at home?"

Chen Fang pointed toward the kitchen and said, "Just some ordinary vegetables and ham sausages, I rarely eat at home."

"Then I want to eat candied sweet potatoes!"

No sooner had she spoken,

than Li Yi said excitedly.

This dish was indeed quite labor-intensive.

Li Duming thought for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll go cook. You guys play chess."

Having said that,

he turned and headed into the kitchen.

Chen Fang knew what Li Yi meant by sending Li Duming away.

He pointed toward the bedroom somewhat helplessly and said, "Then let's go in and play chess."

"No, we'll play right here,"

Li Yi said with a mischievous grin.

Here?

Chen Fang was startled.

He knew that this large flat featured an open-style kitchen, and from the kitchen's vantage point, the living room was completely in view.

He was just about to say something when,

Li Yi lay down on the sofa and with a zzzip, pulled open her zipper.

It was only then that Chen Fang realized, beneath her oversized sports jacket, she was completely bare; as the zipper came down, two bunnies began to bounce.

Then, with the speed of lightning that leaves no time for cover,

Li Yi took off her pants as well.

The situation was the same underneath.

She had already removed all "coverings."

She spread her legs apart, stroked her petals gently with her hand, and asked in a taunting manner, "What's the matter? Don't you dare?"

Li Duming was just a stone's throw away.

The only thing hiding the two of them was the backrest of the sofa.

Although Chen Fang knew that from Li Duming's line of sight, he could not see Li Yi's position, wasn't this act in the living room a bit too bold?

"Not dare? What wouldn't I dare to do?"

Upon saying this,

Chen Fang also shed his pants.

With a thrust, he dove deep.

At the moment he entered fiercely, Li Yi couldn't help but moan softly.

It really was a bizarre scene.

From the perspective of the living room,

Chen Fang and Li Yi were engaged in an indescribable act.

But from Li Duming's perspective, Chen Fang was simply sitting on the sofa, and as for Li Yi, he couldn't see her from his position at all.

What was even more critical,

Li Duming, busy as he was, also chatted idly from time to time.

Chen Fang and Li Yi had to respond to him.

Moreover, while responding, they had to sound utterly normal, otherwise, if Li Duming sensed anything unusual and turned around, they wouldn't even have time to pull up their pants.

As the action intensified,

the depths became increasingly turbulent.

Every pistoning motion brought forth splish-splash sounds.

This made Chen Fang slow down his movements.

Far from being scared, Li Yi was actually finding it thrilling; whenever Chen Fang slowed down, she would make a face, looking distinctly unhappy.

The two of them "played chess" in full swing.

That's when they heard Li Duming turning off the stove.

"Alright, the candied sweet potatoes are ready."

That sound.

Chen Fang quickly straightened up and put on his pants.

Li Yi did the same, slipping into his pants in a flash, and with a zip, pulled up his zipper, looking no different from when he had arrived.

Although their spellcasting was interrupted midway, having a little drink was still quite enjoyable.

Especially in such a thrilling environment.

Who would have thought, in just the past twenty-odd minutes,

the two had already "battled" it out.

They acted as if nothing had happened and took their seats at the table.

Li Duming glanced over and asked, "Why is your face so red?"

Li Yi waved his hand and said, "It's all Chen Fang's fault, he's left me almost breathless."

Once again, a play on words.

Li Duming laughed and said, "Oh? Is Chen Fang's skill in chess that remarkable? I should give it a try sometime, too?"

Chen Fang was really embarrassed, his toes almost curling into a three-bedroom apartment.

While enjoying the delicacies, Chen Fang suddenly thought of something and asked, "Leader, when you came, you said you were looking for me for a reason. What was it?"

"Oh, I almost forgot."

Li Duming paused, then continued, "After experiencing two county head fiascos, the situation in Changming County has finally stabilized. A few days ago, my superiors talked to me about potentially moving my position. If I'm willing, I could work in the city. But after thinking it over, I've been in Changming County for so many years without any significant achievements. So, I've decided to serve another term and do some real work."

"That's good news, I definitely have no objections,"

Chen Fang said.

Li Duming nodded and replied, "I know you have no objections. When I first brought you to my side, it was to help me. Now, with your assistance, I no longer have much trouble managing the situation. So, after much thought, I still feel that I shouldn't delay your career."

"You want me to leave?"

Chen Fang grew nervous and put down his chopsticks to ask.

At the same time, Li Yi's eyes widened, staring at Li Duming in disbelief.

Li Duming let out a long sigh and said, "It's not that I want to drive you away. If I could advance further, having you as my secretary would naturally mean rising with the tide. But now, I need to stay put for several more years, and if you follow me, it's just wasting your time. Seniority is very important in the bureaucratic career, and so is age. At my age, I won't achieve much more even if I climb higher. But you're different, you're still young, and you have more opportunities."

Li Duming's words were sincere.

Chen Fang pondered for a moment, then said, "But all the positions at the county level are filled now, there's no vacancy."

Li Duming smiled and said, "Not in our county. I think you should try your luck in another county."

"What?"

Chen Fang was taken aback.

Li Duming spoke earnestly, "Staying put in one place will not lead to great achievements. Take Tan Yandong, for example, or even me. After a lifetime in the system, the highest one might reach is at the deputy department or department level. But you have more political savvy than I do, so you should go and see a broader horizon. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Dad, I don't want Chen Fang to leave, if he goes, I'll have no one to play chess with,"

Li Yi said plaintively.

Li Duming glanced at him sharply and scolded, "What's more important, playing chess or Ah Fang's future? You're an adult now, stop acting like a child."

Chen Fang contemplated for a while.

He asked, "Leader, if I agree, where would I go?"

Li Duming said, "With your current qualifications, taking a step up to the deputy department level might be a stretch. Right now, I'm thinking of a department-level head position. The role of Director of the Jinde County Education Bureau is currently vacant. If you're willing, I can help out."

"Jinde County? Why Jinde County?"

Chen Fang asked in astonishment.

Wen'an City governs three districts, one county-level city, and six counties.

They are Jinde County, Changming County, Dongli County, Yingyang County, Shunli County, and Shaohe County.

And this lineup is also the economic ranking.

Li Duming paused before continuing, "First of all, Jinde County is a coastal area with a strong economy and large population, which can serve as a stepping stone for you to advance further; second, Jinde County may very likely be upgraded from a county to a city soon, and if that happens, your opportunities will multiply; and the third, and most important point, is that Jinde County is preparing to establish a vocational technical school. As the head of the Education Bureau, if you can accomplish this significant task during your tenure, it would be a great achievement. Many people are eyeing this position right now."

With that said,

the Director of the Education Bureau position in Jinde County

would indeed be a great opportunity for Chen Fang.

An opportunity that, both emotionally and logically, he should not miss.

After a long reflection,

Chen Fang said, "Leader, you truly have my best interests at heart. If I refuse, it would seem ungrateful, but..."

As soon as he said 'but,'

Li Duming knew he was going to decline.

He immediately stretched out his hand, cutting off what Chen Fang was about to say next.

He took a deep breath,

and said, "Didn't you say there was something suspicious about Tan Yandong's death? The owner of the Lihezi mine, Tian Shaoguang, vanished after the mine accident, leading to a forced shutdown of the mine. And this Tian Shaoguang is from Jinde County."