After learning about Chen Yan's story, Gu Qiu sometimes wondered just how strong a person had to be to endure all that. There was her disabled husband, her mother-in-law who hurled abuse at her, and those men around with ulterior motives.
But every time he saw Chen Yan, there was always a bright, sunny, and confident smile on her face. From her expression, others could never detect even a trace of sadness.
So every time he saw Chen Yan, Gu Qiu was filled with a thousand emotions. Perhaps it was precisely Chen Yan's character that inspired Gu Qiu to become more and more tenacious in his official career.
On Monday morning, the phone in the office rang.
Chen Yan picked up the phone, and her expression clearly changed. "Gu Qiu, Director Xie wants you to go to his office."
Gu Qiu replied with an "Oh" and stood up to head outside.
Chen Yan stopped him, "Be careful!"
Gu Qiu nodded knowingly. What was meant to come would come eventually, and there was no way to avoid it. He really didn't believe that Xie Bisheng would dare to do anything to him just because of this trifling matter.
Walking into Xie Bisheng's office, Xie Bisheng was lying in his chair smoking, his hair slicked back neatly, and there was a double-layered glass cup on the table in front of him.
Gu Qiu greeted him, "Director Xie."
Xie Bisheng nodded, and there was actually a rare smile on his face.
"Xiao Gu, take a seat!"
This was the first time that Gu Qiu had been summoned so formally by Xie Bisheng.
Gu Qiu was secretly puzzled in his heart. Xie Bisheng's attitude didn't seem to be one of wanting to make things difficult for him, which was completely different from what was rumored. But he couldn't figure out the reason for the other person's surprisingly good attitude towards him.
Since he couldn't figure it out, it was better to just take things as they came. Gu Qiu sat down, looking very calm.
Although there were eight deputy directors and over a dozen departments in the Investment Promotion Office, Xie Bisheng, relying on his relationship with Secretary Tang, held absolute power in the office.
Since Gu Qiu had entered, Xie Bisheng had been sizing him up. This young man in front of him was on a completely different level from ordinary people. After entering the door, he neither tried to flatter him like others nor took the initiative to show any obsequiousness.
When told to sit, he just sat and didn't say much.
Xie Bisheng laughed, "Xiao Gu, I heard from Comrade Chen Yan that you were the one who drafted the planning proposal for the third anniversary of our Investment Promotion Office?"
Gu Qiu replied, "It was completed under the guidance of Director Chen."
"Oh! Good, good!"
Xie Bisheng gave a few words of praise and opened the lid of the teacup in front of him. There was only half a cup of tea left in the cup. After opening the lid, he didn't rush to drink the tea, as if he was hinting at something.
Gu Qiu sat there and asked, "Director Xie, are there any parts that need to be revised?"
Normally, as long as Xie Bisheng made this gesture, someone would have already stood up to refill his tea. Gu Qiu's attitude made Xie Bisheng a bit helpless. Seeing that Gu Qiu didn't move, he had to stand up and refill the water himself.
Returning to his seat, Xie Bisheng seemed to remember something. He picked up a pack of cigarettes and asked, "Do you smoke?"
Gu Qiu saw that the cigarettes in his hand were the top-quality Furongwang. However, when he opened the pack, it was empty. Xie Bisheng smiled wryly and said, "Sorry, I'm out of cigarettes." With that, he casually threw the pack into the trash can.
In Anping during this era, ordinary cadres usually smoked the common Furongwang with a yellow box. Clearly, Xie Bisheng's consumption level was a notch higher than others.
Gu Qiu waved his hand, "Thank you, I don't smoke."
Having failed to achieve satisfactory results with both hints, Xie Bisheng couldn't help but feel a bit displeased. However, there was still a kind smile on his face.
After the hints didn't work, Xie Bisheng sat down again.
"Xiao Gu, I carefully read your proposal yesterday. It's very good!"
Gu Qiu came from an official family, so he naturally knew these tricks. Generally speaking, when a leader praised you, there was always more to come. Sure enough, as he expected, Xie Bisheng changed the topic, "It's just that some parts are too general and lack specific data. A planning proposal is like an academic paper. Without data, it doesn't have convincing power. You're an outstanding student from Jingnan University and a talented person in our Investment Promotion Office. I think you should understand this principle better than I do."
Gu Qiu said, "Well, I've also thought about this problem. But this data requires on-site investigations. It can't be fabricated out of thin air."
"Right!"
Xie Bisheng slapped the table, "Sure enough, you deserve to be an outstanding student from Jingnan University. That's exactly what I mean. Since you proposed using Daqiu Township as a pilot, find some time in the next few days to go to the countryside and try to gather these data. We need to submit a complete planning proposal to the county."
Gu Qiu said, "Then I'll set off this afternoon."
"I'll send a driver to take you to the countryside."
Xie Bisheng, contrary to his previous style, was actually being practical this time. Of course, Gu Qiu would comply. Moreover, he himself also hoped that his planning proposal could be put to good use.
If it could be implemented according to his plan, there would surely be progress in the investment promotion work.
Gu Qiu stood up, "Director Xie, I'll go and get ready."
When Gu Qiu was leaving the office, Xie Bisheng actually stood up to see him off. He patted Gu Qiu's shoulder and said, "I just like the enthusiasm of you young people. Xiao Gu, keep up the good work."
Was this a kind of tacit approval?
Gu Qiu didn't know. But when he returned to the office, Chen Yan asked about the result and immediately shook her head.
"This Xie Bisheng is so cunning! He's trying to send you away."
Xie Bisheng was sitting in his office, humming a Peking opera tune.
"I'm watching the mountain scenery from the city tower, hearing the chaos outside the city. The banners and flags are fluttering in the wind, and it turns out to be the troops sent by Sima—"
A deputy director walked in and asked with a smile, "Director Xie, you're in such a good mood. What's making you so happy?"
Xie Bisheng sat down and said, "Nothing much. I'm just in a good mood and humming a few lines."
The deputy director placed a box of tea on his desk and said, "I got this yesterday when I was drinking with some guys. It's top-notch Longjing tea. There are only two tins. I'll give you one."
Xie Bisheng didn't stand on ceremony. He took a new pack of cigarettes from the drawer, tore it open, and asked, "What's the plan for this afternoon?"
The deputy director said, "There should be nothing this afternoon. How about singing together tonight?"
"Tonight..." Xie Bisheng thought for a moment, "Forget it. I'm not free tonight."
The deputy director sat in his office for a while before leaving.
Xie Bisheng picked up the phone on his desk and said, "Chen Yan, there's a very important guest tonight. Get ready and come with me to accompany him for dinner."
Gu Qiu had gone to the countryside. Before leaving, he gave Chen Yan a phone number.
After receiving Xie Bisheng's call, Chen Yan was skeptical and stared at the number in a daze.