"How's that? This surprise is quite a shock, isn't it? A major demerit, and within the system, this stain will follow you for life. You dare to challenge me, you're still too green, hahaha..." In the poverty alleviation office, Niu Dashan mocked Lu Hao with great joy, humming a tune as he walked out.
Lu Hao sat there, smoking silently, well aware that he had taken the blame for Niu Dashan and Song Bo this time. He realized that his days of being full of vigor and vitality in the county committee were really gone, and now he was like a clown, even in the small Fang Shui Township, people could easily manipulate him.
This was the first time he deeply realized how important status and power were in the officialdom.
Suddenly, the sound of his phone interrupted his thoughts. Seeing "Baby Fang Jing" displayed on the screen, Lu Hao quickly answered the call.
"Lu Hao, what on earth are you doing? You've only been in Fang Shui Township for a few days, and you've already got a major demerit. With this, how can you expect to be promoted to deputy section chief?" Fang Jing's voice was full of anxiety and a hint of complaint.
"How do you know?" Lu Hao was taken aback, and then he asked, but he already had an answer in his heart.
He had just found out, how could Fang Jing have gotten the news so quickly?
"Your township leadership team held a meeting to discuss your punishment, and Wang Shaojie spoke up for you, saying all sorts of good things on your behalf. But the other leaders insisted on giving you a major demerit, which shows how poorly you've been doing in Fang Shui Township," Fang Jing said disappointedly.
As expected, it was Wang Shaojie again.
"Fang Jing, don't listen to Wang Shaojie's nonsense. He's not that kind-hearted. He just wants to break us up and take advantage of the situation for himself," Lu Hao was worried that Fang Jing would be misled and also reminded her.
"Lu Hao, I don't want to hear you talking ill of others," Fang Jing clearly expressed her dissatisfaction at this moment.
Hearing Fang Jing's tone, Lu Hao felt a bit uncomfortable, but thinking of their relationship, he said seriously, "I'm not talking ill of him. I've been at odds with Wang Shaojie since I was in the county committee. Back then, my cousin was there, and he couldn't do anything to me. Now that I've lost my backing, he's started to take an interest in you, trying to drive a wedge between us. It's possible he's also behind the scenes, trying to target me."
Fang Jing was already impatient at this point and said angrily, "Lu Hao, don't view Wang Shaojie with hostility. He's your leader now, and he even told me that it's County Chief Li who's targeting you. County Chief Li has already spoken to your township head, Li Haotian, and he's out to get you. This time is just the beginning; next time, he'll kick you out of the civil service."
Lu Hao was shocked in his heart, but he knew Fang Jing was telling the truth.
Ever since he arrived in Fang Shui Township, he had been targeted everywhere, and it turned out that Li Zhen was behind it.
He never expected that even after being demoted to Fang Shui Township, Li Zhen, a county chief, would still not let him go.
Seeing Lu Hao not speaking, Fang Jing continued, "Lu Hao, go and apologize to County Chief Li. He's now acting as the county party secretary. Let's give him some money, or even kowtow to him. As long as he lets you off, it's fine. Wang Shaojie said he lives in the same community as County Chief Li and can help you arrange a dinner with him. All you have to do is bow your head."
Hearing this name, Lu Hao was already furious, but he still suppressed his anger and said, "Alright, Fang Jing, don't worry about my affairs. I won't accept this punishment, and I won't ask Wang Shaojie for help."
Hearing Lu Hao's response, Fang Jing was also angry and said, "Whatever," as she hung up the phone, feeling very disappointed.
In the office, Lu Hao looked at the now dark phone screen with a slight stupor.
He believed that Fang Jing had feelings for him, but she was too easily influenced by others. But in her heart, she must care about him, or she wouldn't have called to give him advice.
Lu Hao also wanted to change his situation and climb up, but now, how could it be easy.
At this moment, anger, unwillingness, and hatred all surged into his heart.
Then, his phone rang again. He thought it was still Fang Jing, but it turned out to be a strange number, and the location was the provincial capital.
Lu Hao frowned and answered. A woman's voice came from the other end, low and magnetic: "Is this Lu Hao?"
"I am," Lu Hao didn't recognize who was on the other end and instinctively asked, "Who are you?"
"Three years ago, there was a car accident on Xiangjiang Bridge in the provincial capital. You jumped into the water and saved me. Do you remember?" The woman reminded softly.
Lu Hao was stunned for a moment. Three years ago, it was his second year of reserving his school enrollment and joining the army. At that time, Lu Hao was on a military mission when he encountered a rear-end collision on Xiangjiang Bridge. A small car was overturned and thrown into the river, and the driver was on the brink of death.
He saw it and jumped off the bridge without hesitation, pulling the person from the water and performing drowning first aid on the shore.
He remembered that the person he saved was a woman. Later, he was in a hurry to execute the mission. Seeing that the person had regained consciousness, he left in a hurry. This incident was also filmed and posted online, and he was awarded a third-class merit for it.
"I remember, by the way, how did you get my number?" Lu Hao asked in confusion.
He didn't take the matter of saving someone to heart, and he had long forgotten what the woman he saved looked like. He never expected that the other party would suddenly contact him three years later.
"Getting your number is not difficult for me. Tonight at six, I'd like to invite you to dinner at the Yunding Hotel in Anxing County. I should have invited you to dinner three years ago, but I've put it off until today. Can you do me the honor?" The woman jokingly invited.
"You're in Anxing County? Then I should invite you. But I don't even know your name yet?" Lu Hao was very surprised to hear that the other party was in Anxing County, but he didn't think much of it and immediately agreed.
"Call me Ziyi. See you tonight." Ye Ziyi didn't mention her surname.