"Alright, whether it's about your cousin or your promotion to deputy section chief, I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee the outcome," Ye Ziyi didn't give a definitive answer.
Lu Hao's concern for Liu Yuanda's situation was unexpected to her, and his loyalty made her feel that she hadn't misjudged him.
"Thank you in advance. By the way, I don't even know your surname," Lu Hao quickly raised his glass in a toast, smiling as he asked.
"Call me Ziyi, and as for my surname, you'll find out later," Ye Ziyi still didn't say, with a faint smile on her face that was intriguing.
At around nine in the evening, the two bid each other farewell.
On the way back, Lu Hao couldn't help but feel that everything tonight was like a dream.
He didn't expect that the person he had casually saved three years ago would appear when he was in the most difficulty and extend a helping hand.
Regardless of whether she could help or not, just for Ziyi's silent listening to his complaints tonight, Lu Hao was already quite content.
The next morning, when he arrived at the poverty alleviation office, only Tang Chunyan was there.
This had become the norm; the rest of the colleagues, including Niu Dashan, would always arrive late.
"Lu Hao, I've heard about your situation, those leaders have no conscience at all," Tang Chunyan said indignantly when she saw Lu Hao.
Although she was not in charge of the poverty alleviation office's financial accounts, she was aware of the many tricks involved, and it was unacceptable for Lu Hao to be framed for Song Bo and Niu Dashan's wrongdoings as soon as he arrived.
"I won't let them slander me," Lu Hao felt warmed and said firmly.
He had already decided to go to the party committee secretary, Zhao Gang, for an explanation. Zhao Gang was the top leader in Fangshui Township, and as long as he could speak up, there might still be room for maneuver regarding the punishment against him.
As he spoke, Lu Hao had already walked out of the office.
He intended to go to the second floor and knock on Zhao Gang's office door, but before he reached the staircase, he suddenly heard someone coming down the stairs and talking.
"Director Deng, I have to go to the county today to attend the leading cadres' meeting. Hurry up and report Lu Hao's punishment to the county, to solidify this matter and give an account to the county poverty alleviation audit team."
"Yes, Secretary Zhao, rest assured, I will definitely take care of it today."
The two were conversing, and upon hearing this, Lu Hao understood who the two people were: one was Zhao Gang, and the other was Deng Song, who also served as the propaganda committee member.
Lu Hao quickly hid in the adjacent water room to avoid being discovered by the two as they descended the stairs.
"Secretary, I heard from the grapevine that Liu Yuanda's position as county committee secretary will soon be revoked. I heard that the person who was supposed to take over his position was originally County Chief Li, but something went wrong, and the province changed its mind at the last minute, saying they would send a new county committee secretary to take up the post," Deng Song asked tentatively.
"You're quite well-informed, your keenness is commendable," Zhao Gang glanced at Deng Song in surprise and continued, "I heard the appointment will arrive in the next few days, and it seems the new county committee secretary has already arrived in our county. I need to seize this opportunity to make a good impression on the new secretary, maybe I can climb higher. It's a pity for our County Chief Li, after waiting for so many years, he's still the eternal second-in-command."
Zhao Gang feigned a sigh, but he was clearly in a good mood.
Li Haotian was on good terms with Li Zhen, but he had an average relationship with Li Zhen, and of course, he didn't want Li Zhen to take the top position; otherwise, he might soon be transferred to make way for Li Haotian.
"By the way, I heard from Song Bo yesterday that Lu Hao has a big temper, threatening to make trouble and saying he would report the punishment against him to higher-ups. You should give him a good lesson later," Zhao Gang added.
"Rest assured, Secretary, I will definitely make this guy obedient, but I saw Secretary Lin always speaking up for this guy at the party committee meeting. If we go too far, won't it make Secretary Lin unhappy?" Deng Song probed.
"I disciplined this guy, and Secretary Lin also opposed it. If she really had the ability, she could simply use her connections to protect Lu Hao," Zhao Gang dismissed the concern.
He knew that Lin Xiyue had backing, but for the sake of a mere Lu Hao, he didn't believe Lin Xiyue would do anything drastic.
The conversation between the two faded into the distance, and Lu Hao, hiding in the water room, felt a chill down his spine.
People's hearts are隔着肚皮, now not only the township head, but also the secretary, had begun to target him.
Fortunately, knowing that Li Zhen would not become the county committee secretary was a small consolation.
Otherwise, if Li Zhen became the top leader, he would be even more unscrupulous in targeting him.
As for Secretary Lin, this was the second time Lu Hao had heard that she had spoken up for him, which inevitably made him curious about her.
Not long after Lu Hao returned to the office, Niu Dashan also walked in. Seeing Lu Hao, he spoke sarcastically, "Our poverty alleviation office actually has a person who has been severely reprimanded, what bad luck. You should immediately go to the storage room to work, a person who has been punished is not qualified to stay here."
Niu Dashan looked sinister as he spoke. The storage room he referred to was the room next to the toilet, where miscellaneous items were usually stored.
He used to be a big troublemaker in the township and had managed to climb to his current position through connections. He was always overbearing when dealing with people.
But Lu Hao sat at his desk without any reaction.
Seeing Lu Hao ignoring him, Niu Dashan immediately pointed to Lu Hao's nose and cursed, "Are you deaf? Can't you understand human language? Get out of this office immediately."
"Director Niu, Lu Hao has already been disciplined, and you're driving him away, isn't that too much?" Tang Chunyan couldn't bear to watch and spoke up indignantly.
"Oh, Tang Chunyan, this guy has only been here for a few days, and you're already speaking up for him. Have you been charmed by this pretty boy? Believe it or not, I'll make you roll with him," Niu Dashan became even more arrogant.
As he spoke, he grabbed Lu Hao's bag and threw it to the door, ordering imperiously, "Get out for me, do you hear?"
Lu Hao, who had been silent, suddenly stood up, staring at Niu Dashan with a cold gaze, and said in a cold voice, "Pick it up for me!"
"Oho, you dare to speak to me like that, I threw your stuff, what can you do about it!" Seeing Lu Hao still holding on, Niu Dashan slapped over Lu Hao's water cup.
Faced with Niu Dashan's increasingly aggressive behavior, Lu Hao didn't waste any more words.
Lu Hao took a quick step forward and directly grabbed Niu Dashan's collar, lifting the man into the air.
His physical fitness was definitely not to be trifled with, and his chilling gaze frightened Niu Dashan.
Since he had already been disciplined, he didn't mind teaching Niu Dashan a lesson; otherwise, everyone would think he was a pushover.
"What... do you want to do? If you dare to lay a hand on me, I will definitely make you regret it," Niu Dashan's heart was empty, but he was still fierce in words.
Just at this moment, several people walked into the office, all dressed in uniform suits, with a national emblem pinned on them.
Each had an expressionless face and an air of authority.
The leader was a woman, and when Lu Hao saw her, he was stunned, it was Qin Yi!
"Lu Hao, I didn't expect we would meet so soon again. Are you used to Fangshui Township?" Qin Yi asked with a smile.