The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"What does this mean?"

Implication? Teasing?

Though Chen Fang did not understand, he remained composed.

He said, "Vice Secretary Cong, hello."

"Disciplinary Committee member, Liu Fuwen."

Xu Ming pointed to another man and said.

Chen Fang walked past each, getting acquainted with every member of the leadership team.

The town wasn't big, but the leadership team consisted of eleven people.

Among the eleven, there were eight men and three women.

No different from the typical town setup.

After everyone was acquainted, Xu Ming hosted a meeting, replacing the county party organization department to announce Chen Fang's appointment.

Then, after Chen Fang gave a speech, the lively welcome ceremony concluded.

It happened to be mealtime.

Xu Ming took Chen Fang to a small restaurant opposite the town government for a quick meal.

Then, he reminded the Township Government Office Director, Li Yong, to arrange Chen Fang's office and, claiming he had other matters to handle, left early.

The town party committee and the town government shared an office building.

The entire office building had four floors.

Chen Fang's office was located at the very corner of the corridor.

Upon opening the door,

Chen Fang then realized that the mayor's office was much larger than that of the deputy director of the Safety Supervision Bureau.

Not to mention that his previous office was small and the decor was very outdated.

But this one was completely different; even the paint on the walls was freshly applied.

"Mayor Chen, knowing that you were coming, Secretary Xu, along with me and a few other cadres, painted overnight. Are you satisfied?"

Li Yong, seeing Chen Fang staring at the walls, quickly said from beside him.

"Is that so? Secretary Xu personally did the painting, then I really must thank Secretary Xu."

"Hehe, as long as Mayor Chen is pleased, that's great. My office is just diagonally opposite yours; if you need anything, Mayor Chen, just let me know."

"Alright, go ahead with your work."

After Li Yong bowed slightly and left,

Chen Fang arranged his personal belongings.

He took a deep breath and went to the window.

He intended to open the window to let in some air but his gaze inadvertently drifted to the corner of the yard.

That spot, near the fence,

was next to a huge camphor tree, which concealed the faces of a man and a woman.

Although he couldn't see their faces, Chen Fang was still certain that the man was the chair of the People's Congress, Luo Yide.

And the woman was indeed the town party committee's Deputy Secretary, Cong Duo.

The two were talking face to face.

Initially, Chen Fang didn't think much of it and was about to turn around and leave when suddenly, Luo Yide swung his palm and slapped Cong Duo on the face.

Afterward, he gestured at her with his hand, said something, and then quickly left.

What was that about?

Chen Fang had thought that Cong Duo, this young girl, having been hit, would definitely burst into tears, but she did not; rather, she turned around and left as if nothing had happened.

Just as he was puzzled by this,

suddenly a voice came from the doorway: "Chen Fang!"

Chen Fang was startled,

and turned around.

He saw a stylishly dressed woman looking at him with a beaming smile.

Seeing this woman, Chen Fang paused for a few seconds, then also exclaimed with joy, "Yu Chan, is it really you?"

The woman, in high heels, quickly walked in.

She placed her hands on Chen Fang's arms, looking him over carefully.

After a long look, she excitedly said, "You've changed, really changed, becoming more handsome and more robust."

"Yu Chan, you too, getting prettier and more charming." Chen Fang said happily.

Complimented by Chen Fang,

Yu Chan blushed and said, "Where, I've aged."

"Sis, you're only three years older than me. If you're old, then I must be old too."

"Hahaha, let's not talk about that anymore, come on, let's sit down and chat."

Yu Chan took Chen Fang by the hand and sat down on the sofa.

The woman in front of him was Jiang Yuchan.

Chen Fang had known her for ten years.

Ten years ago, an eighteen-year-old Chen Fang was brought into the home for the first time by Tan Yandong.

Tan Yandong had divorced long ago.

His wife had taken their daughter abroad and had never come back.

Busy with work, he had no time to cook, so he entrusted Chen Fang to the neighbors across the door to provide him with three meals a day.

Jiang Yuchan was the daughter of that neighbor.

At that time, she was a nurse at the street health clinic.

Having no younger brothers, she was quite fond of Chen Fang.

She would also take him shopping and to the movies when she had time.

Later, Chen Fang went to college.

Every vacation when he came back, he still ate at the neighbors' across the door.

Until his junior year when he came back during summer vacation and heard that Jiang Yuchan had already gotten married, and to a big boss at that.

Chen Fang had seen through the peephole, Jiang Yuchan's husband was big and burly, short and fat, and he had a large gold chain around his neck, looking like a nouveau riche.

But it was also from that time on.

The two had hardly seen each other anymore.

The most recent time was probably several years ago.

"I heard about Uncle Tan's situation; I wanted to attend the funeral, but I got delayed because I was busy, you won't blame your sister, will you?"

Jiang Yuchan said somewhat sadly.

Chen Fang shook his head and sighed deeply, saying, "It's okay, it's all in the past, let's not bring it up. Yu Chan, how come you're in Fuguang Town? I remember auntie telling me your husband was doing business in the county city."

Upon hearing this.

Jiang Yuchan's expression became sorrowful.

She said, "Three years ago, his business failed and he lost everything. We had to sell the house in the city to pay off debts, and we had nowhere to go, so we had to return to his hometown. Now I run a small shop directly opposite the Township Government Office, just barely scraping by."

She told Chen Fang.

This morning, she had errands to run in town and happened to see Chen Fang just stepping off an SUV in front of the Township Government Office.

She wanted to call out but was afraid of mistaking him for someone else.

After returning, she inquired a little.

When she confirmed that the newly appointed mayor was indeed called Chen Fang, she immediately came over.

Having explained this.

Jiang Yuchan somewhat emotionally caressed Chen Fang's head and said, "Do you remember? When I took you out shopping back then, people thought you were my boyfriend."

"Hahaha, of course I remember. There were quite a few men harassing you at the time, and you used me as a shield."

"I never imagined that you'd grow up so fast. Even though you were eighteen at the time, you were skinny and dark, still looking like a little kid. I remember once you peeped at me taking a bath and I caught you and gave you a beating. It's funny to think about it now."

Speaking of past embarrassing stories.

Chen Fang also felt a bit embarrassed.

Scratching his head, he said, "Yu Chan, let's not talk about my dishonorable past anymore; after all, I'm now the mayor of Fuguang Town."

"Hahaha, I almost forgot. You're the parent official here now; it's really great, our little Chen Fang has grown up."

The phrase "little Chen Fang" warmed Chen Fang's heart.

His parents had died, and his closest, Tan Yandong, had also passed away.

He thought he no longer had any relatives in this world, but seeing Jiang Yuchan today, his heart was again filled with immense emotion.

"Yu Chan, you..."

Chen Fang was just about to speak.

When Jiang Yuchan's phone in her bag rang.

She took out her phone, looked at the number, and her entire face tensed up.

"Ah Fang, I need to take this call."

"Sister, go ahead."

Having said this.

Jiang Yuchan took the phone and walked to the door.

Chen Fang sensed something was off.

He took the opportunity of Jiang Yuchan not paying attention and leaned against the door.

"You wretched woman, instead of properly tending the shop at home, you've run off to meet up with some guy again. Get back here immediately, or I'll chop off your hands and feet,"

a man shouted over the phone.