13: Chapter 13 The Billing Scandal

Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu walked along, introducing things enthusiastically, his face beaming with a smile.

"Old Ma, the way you describe it, I'm almost drooling!"

Ruan Lu joked with a laugh, drawing a burst of laughter from everyone.

Upon entering the hotel, the waiter led them to a spacious private room.

Exquisite tableware was already set on the round table, and several bottles of high-end baijiu and red wine had already been prepared.

Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu waved his hand grandly and said, "Today, we won't leave until we're drunk! Let's welcome Section Chief Xiao!"

Everyone took their seats one after another. Xiao Bei was arranged in the main seat, with Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu and Jiang Wenxin sitting on his left and right sides respectively.

The food and drinks were served quickly, and the table was filled with all sorts of delicious dishes, the aroma mouth-watering.

"Come, let's toast Section Chief Xiao first to welcome him to our First Comprehensive Division!" Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu raised his glass and proposed the toast first.

"Yes, yes, cheers to Section Chief Xiao!" Everyone raised their glasses, their faces beaming with enthusiastic smiles.

Xiao Bei quickly stood up, raised his glass, and said modestly, "Thank you all for your kindness. Please take care of me in the future!"

"Section Chief Xiao, you're being too polite. We're all one family. Cheers!" Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu downed his drink with gusto, and the others followed suit, finishing their glasses.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Everyone started chatting about interesting work anecdotes, with laughter echoing continuously.

Jiang Wenxin sat next to Xiao Bei, stealing glances at him from time to time, a slight blush appearing on her face. She raised her glass and said softly to Xiao Bei, "Section Chief Xiao, I'd like to offer you another toast. I hope you'll continue to guide me in my work in the future."

Xiao Bei smiled and clinked glasses with her, saying gently, "Little Jiang, you're too polite. Let's learn from each other."

Jiang Wenxin took a sip of wine, hesitated for a moment, and finally gathered her courage to ask in a low voice, "Section Chief Xiao, may I ask you a personal question?"

Xiao Bei was stunned and said, "Go ahead."

"Um, do you… have a girlfriend?" Although her voice wasn't loud, the few people sitting there still heard it.

Zhang Jiaming immediately teased, "Oh, Wenxin, you're prying into Section Chief Xiao's private life!"

"Exactly, exactly. Wenxin, do you have a crush on Section Chief Xiao?" Ruan Lu chimed in, a mischievous smile on her face.

Jiang Wenxin's face flushed red instantly, and she quickly waved her hands to explain, "Don't talk nonsense! I was just asking casually!"

Xiao Bei was also a bit embarrassed by this sudden question, but he quickly composed himself and answered with a smile, "Not at the moment. Work is too busy, and I haven't had time to think about such things."

"Good heavens! Our Section Chief Xiao is still a bachelor!" Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu slapped the table and said exaggeratedly, "Then the ladies in our division have a chance!"

"Brother Ma, please don't tease me." Xiao Bei smiled helplessly and took a sip from his glass, trying to cover up his embarrassment.

"Section Chief Xiao, you're so outstanding, there must be many girls who like you, right?" Ruan Lu blinked and asked deliberately.

"Not at all. I'm just an ordinary civil servant. Why would any girls like me?" Xiao Bei said modestly.

"Section Chief Xiao, you are being too modest!" Zhang Jiaming interjected, "You're the Mayor's chief secretary, with a limitless future. Surely there will be many girls chasing after you in the future!"

"Indeed, indeed. Section Chief Xiao, you better hurry, or all the good girls will be snatched up!" Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu laughed heartily.

Jiang Wenxin lowered her head, the flush on her face not yet faded, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, as if she felt a secret joy at Xiao Bei's answer. She stole a glance at Xiao Bei, thinking something to herself.

The atmosphere at the dining table became increasingly lively. Everyone chatted back and forth, moving from work to life, and from life to relationships.

Although Xiao Bei was a bit embarrassed by everyone's teasing, he also felt the warmth and goodwill of his colleagues, and his heart gradually relaxed.

"Come, let's toast Section Chief Xiao again, wishing him a bright future and that he finds his ideal partner soon!" Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu raised his glass again and proposed loudly.

"Cheers!" Everyone echoed in unison, the sound of clinking glasses crisp and pleasant.

After everyone had their fill, the atmosphere in the private room remained lively.

Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu's face was flushed red, and he was clearly a bit tipsy. He stood up unsteadily, patted his chest, and said grandly, "Today's meal, I, Old Ma, will definitely pay for it! You guys keep drinking, I'm going to settle the bill!"

"Section Chief Ma, slow down, don't fall!" Seeing his unsteady footsteps, Jiang Wenxin couldn't help but remind him.

"It's nothing! This little bit of alcohol is nothing!" Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu waved his hand and strode out of the private room.

Seeing this, Xiao Bei was a bit worried, so he said to Zhang Jiaming, "Jiaming, go check on Section Chief Ma. Don't let anything go wrong."

Zhang Jiaming nodded and quickly followed.

Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu stumbled all the way to the front desk, took out his wallet, and said grandly to the waiter, "Bill, please! How much is it?"

The waiter smiled and said, "Sir, your total consumption is 3,800 yuan."

"3,800? That expensive?" Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu frowned, but quickly waved his hand, "Forget it, I'm happy today. Charge it to the card!"

Just as he was about to take out his card, a tall, thin man suddenly squeezed over from the side, holding a mobile phone, and said impatiently to the waiter, "Hurry up, give me an invoice. I'm in a rush!"

Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu was shoved by this person and almost lost his footing. He immediately flew into a rage, "Hey, what's wrong with you? Don't you see me settling the bill here? Why are you pushing?"

The tall, thin man glanced at Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu and said with a contemptuous tone, "You settle your bill, I'll get my invoice. How does that concern you?"

Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu, already having had too much to drink, lost his temper and grabbed the man's arm, "You think you're in the right? Don't you understand first-come, first-served? Go get in line!"

The tall, thin man shook off Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu's hand and sneered, "Get in line? Do you know who I am? How dare you make me wait in line?"

"I don't care who you are!" Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu glared, "You have to follow the rules here!"

"Heh, rules?" The tall, thin man scoffed, "I'm the secretary to Director Xie of the Municipal Audit Bureau. What are you supposed to be, daring to talk to me about rules?"

Just then, a voice came from behind them, "Little Liu, why are you dawdling over settling the bill?"

Hearing the voice behind him, the tall, thin man's expression changed. He quickly turned around and said respectfully, "Director Xie, why have you come down?"

The person who arrived was none other than Xie Weiguo, the Director of the Municipal Audit Bureau. He was frowning, his tone carrying obvious dissatisfaction.

Secretary Liu Zhiyuan quickly explained, "Director Xie, it's not my fault. It's this person who insisted on cutting in line and was rude to me."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu immediately flew into a rage, pointing at Secretary Liu Zhiyuan and shouting angrily, "You're spouting nonsense! It was clearly you who squeezed in to cut the line, and now you're accusing me first!"

Xie Weiguo swept a cold glance at Deputy Division Chief Ma Hongqiu, his tone filled with disdain, "Who are you?"