The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"This child, from a young age, has been lively, just like a boy, hahaha..."

Seeing the two of them walking ahead without any scruples.

Secretary Cen laughed heartily.

However, Secretary Cui's expression was particularly unpleasant.

If it weren't for Secretary Cen being present, he might have already lashed out.

Inside the private room.

A round table.

Secretary Cen and his wife sat at the head seat.

Secretary Cui and his wife accompanied them.

Momo and Cui Qisheng sat together.

Chen Fang, knowing his place, intentionally left a seat gap from Momo, which made it look more proper.

Even so, Cui Qisheng's expression was still unpleasant, as this was a family gathering, and Chen Fang's presence was quite annoying for him.

On the way in.

Momo had already given Chen Fang a detailed introduction of these people.

Her father was Cen Qingmin, whom Chen Fang had thought of, the Deputy Secretary of the Jiuhe Province Discipline Inspection Committee, a director-level official.

Her mother, Guo Weifen, was the District Committee Secretary of the Guo District in Longxing City, a department-level official.

Cui Qisheng's father was named Cui Liansheng, and hearing this name, Chen Fang shuddered a bit.

Because the name Cui Liansheng was even more familiar to him.

He was the Deputy Secretary of the Shangqing Municipal Committee in Jiuhe Province, the third in command in Shangqing City, and also a colleague of Chen Fang.

Meeting Cui Liansheng under these circumstances was something Chen Fang had not initially anticipated.

Honestly speaking, upon hearing the name Cui Liansheng, Chen Fang wanted to find an excuse to leave, but he had no choice but to stay since the arrow was already on the string, so he secretly planned in his heart to pretend to take a call and leave after sitting down, otherwise he truly didn't know how to deal with Cui Liansheng in the future.

As for Cui Qisheng's wife, Jiang Huan, the woman adorned with jewels, she was simply a housewife.

Momo also told Chen Fang.

She and Cui Qisheng grew up together, practically childhood sweethearts.

The two families were neighbors back then.

So both sides' parents jokingly arranged an engagement for the children, to marry when they grew up and become in-laws.

When Momo was fourteen, fate began to change its course.

At that time, Cui Liansheng was already the County Mayor of Dayu County, Shangqing City.

And Cen Qingmin was just an ordinary deputy section chief in the Zhenghuang District Disciplinary Committee of Shangqing City.

The positions of the two were vastly different.

Back then, the two families seldom interacted. Once when Cen Qingmin went to Dayu County for business, he wanted to catch up with Cui Liansheng, but was turned down for lack of time.

In other words, at that time, Cui Liansheng already looked down on Cen Qingmin.

Unexpectedly, also in that year, a major case occurred at the provincial level, due to a lack of manpower, Cen Qingmin was transferred over.

This temporary transfer gave Cen Qingmin an opportunity.

During his work with the special investigation team, he performed excellently, greatly contributing to the case resolution, and was retained by the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee.

During his time at the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee.

Cen Qingmin progressed rapidly, climbing to the position of Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee in just over a decade, while during the same period, Cui Liansheng's progress was relatively slow.

From being of director-level status externally to now being of sub-provincial level, it was indeed a step-by-step journey for him.

A few months ago.

Cui Liansheng suddenly approached Cen Qingmin, saying he wanted to fulfill the childhood engagement from long ago.

Cen Qingmin, concerned about face, felt awkward refusing.

Apparently agreeing to allow the children to interact.

Momo was sensible.

Knowing her father's dilemma.

She agreed too.

After spending two months with Cui Qisheng, no sparks of love emerged, it was just a perfunctory act due to obligation.

A week ago.

Cui Qisheng's parents suggested taking Momo to Yong'an Province for a trip and, if there were no objections, they would finalize the engagement.

Momo agreed.

Meeting with Chen Fang on the train marked the end of the trip for the two of them from Yong'an Province.

Regarding engagement.

It was merely a one-sided desire of the Cui family. Her parents, including herself, actually wanted to use today's dinner to clarify the situation.

Upon hearing this.

Chen Fang suddenly gained a thorough understanding.

Why did Cen Qingmin and Guo Weifen insist on having Chen Fang join the dinner?

Because with an outsider present.

The Cui family bringing up the engagement could be subtly brushed aside.

It might also be to agitate the Cui family through Momo's interest in Chen Fang, thereby disrupting the marriage arrangement.

In any case, for whatever purpose.

Cen Qingmin wanted to use Chen Fang as a cover for himself.

Similarly, this was also why Cui Qisheng felt such a crisis about Chen Fang.

After all, he should be very clear about Momo's attitude towards him.

It's just that none of them knew that Chen Fang was not only Cui Liansheng's colleague but also a subordinate in Cen Qingmin's inspection system.

This joke really turned out big.

Everyone took their seats.

Started off with some small talk.

Cui Liansheng began recounting stories of their time as neighbors.

Which made everyone burst into laughter.

Wine and dishes were brought to the table.

And toasts began exchanging.

Several times, Chen Fang wanted to propose leaving.

Seeing Cen Qingmin enjoy himself, he hesitated but eventually refrained from interrupting them.

The worst part was, Momo kept passing him dishes, actively chatting with him, which left Cui Qisheng neglected, and this made Jiang Huan, who hadn't spoken much since sitting down, quite displeased.

She repeatedly nudged Cui Qisheng.

Encouraging him to speak with Momo.

But Momo maintained a cold and indifferent demeanor.

Jiang Huan gave Cui Qisheng a look.

A smile suddenly appeared on her face, taking the opportunity to comment on a topic by Guo Weifen about how managing young people these days is challenging, she immediately said, "Fen, I think it's not that the young people today are hard to manage. Today's young people have their own ways, completely different from our generation. Just take our Qisheng for example, his father wanted him to become a civil servant back then, but he didn't like it, so he started his own business, and now, hasn't his wine business done quite well?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Weifen asked.

"The other day, I heard old Cui mention bits about Qisheng's matters, but didn't ask the details, what's the scale of the business now?"

Jiang Huan was delighted.

Knowing it was her chance to shine.

She quickly nudged Cui Qisheng.

Cui Qisheng smugly glanced at Chen Fang, as if the following words were meant for him to hear.

"Aunt Fen, I now have two wineries in Shangqing City, each spanning over three hundred square meters, and additionally, most of the hotels and nightclubs in Shangqing City use wine supplied by my company, business is going quite well now."

"Oh, that's impressive, that's impressive."

Guo Weifen was surprised and gave Cui Qisheng a thumbs-up.

This made the smug look on Cui Qisheng's face even more pronounced.

As if asking Chen Fang, how could you compete with me?

"Little Chen, it looks like you're a few years older than our Qisheng, what field are you in now?"

Between people, comparison shows the gaps.

Cui Qisheng's success needed someone lesser to become a foil.

Jiang Huan's intention was clear.

She wanted Chen Fang to retreat in recognition of the difficulties.

In such a situation.

Chen Fang found it hard to disclose his identity.

He responded with a smile, "Mrs. Jiang, I'm just an ordinary civil servant."