152: Chapter 152 Some are happy, some are sad

When Township Head Jiang Tiansheng returned home, Yu Lili was stir-frying in the kitchen.

The roar of the range hood drowned out the sound of the door closing. Township Head Jiang Tiansheng changed into his slippers, tossed his coat onto the sofa, and plopped down, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Yu Lili came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of food. Seeing his state, she placed the dish on the table, untied her apron, and cast a glance at him.

"What's wrong? Who upset you this time?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng didn't answer. He stood up, walked over to the dining table, and sat down. He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the food, chewed twice, but couldn't swallow it and spat it back out.

He put down his chopsticks, stood up, and walked to the liquor cabinet in the living room. He opened the glass door and took out a bottle of white liquor.

This Wuliangye had been a gift from someone, and Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had never been willing to drink it.

He unscrewed the cap, poured a glass, picked it up, and downed it in one gulp.

The liquor was so spicy it made him frown, and he poured another glass.

Yu Lili walked over, looked at him, furrowed her brows, and said: "Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, what are you doing? Why are you drinking your sorrows away in the middle of the night? Don't you have work tomorrow?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng ignored her and downed the second glass in one gulp.

As the alcohol hit him, his face flushed, and his eyes reddened—it was hard to tell if it was from the burning liquor or the pent-up frustration inside.

Yu Lili sat down beside him and watched him, her tone softening.

"What on earth is the matter? Say something, will you?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng held the glass, staring at the clear liquid inside for a long while.

His voice was as raspy as sandpaper rubbing against a wooden board, carrying a sense of long-suppressed grievance.

"How many years have I spent in Hukuang Township? What kind of storms haven't I weathered? Which of the previous secretaries wasn't polite and respectful to me?"

"And now? Xu Weidong comes along, and in less than a year, he's made me look like a pathetic underling."

"Secretary Wei Kuan came for an investigation and reprimanded me in front of the entire leadership team, saying that the Party leads everything and that the Township Head must carry out work under the leadership of the Secretary."

"What is this? This is a slap in my face!"

"When has anyone ever slapped me, Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, in the face like this?"

He poured another glass, downed it in one gulp, and slammed the glass onto the coffee table, making a dull thud.

Yu Lili didn't speak, sitting beside him and watching his face. Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's eyes were red—whether from the alcohol or the injustice, he blinked hard to push back the stinging sensation.

"And today, it happened again. Rural Revitalization Demonstration Township, Beautiful Village Pilot, High-Standard Farmland Pilot, Living Environment Improvement Demonstration Township—one policy benefit after another just dropped down, and it's all Xu Weidong's credit."

"The provincial department and the City Public Security Bureau named him for praise, and special funds are pouring down, but it has nothing to do with me, Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, not even a dime."

"I've been in Hukuang Township for so many years and never landed a single one. He's been here for a year, hasn't even stepped out the door, and people are handing political achievements to him on a platter."

"What is this? This is fate!"

"I don't have that kind of fate."

He picked up the glass, realized it was empty, and poured another.

Yu Lili reached out and pressed her hand on his: "Stop drinking. It's bad for your health."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng shook off her hand and downed another mouthful. The liquor ran down the corner of his mouth and dripped onto his collar, but he didn't even notice.

"That bastard Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, he used to work under me and wouldn't even dare to breathe too loudly. Now? He's wagging his tail behind Xu Weidong, more diligent than a dog."

"I originally wanted to help share the workload, but Xu Weidong dismissed me with one sentence, saying the government's work was already heavy enough and I should just focus on my own duties."

"What is this? This is him not letting me get involved!"

"He's the Secretary, he can stop me from getting involved, but why does he let Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming get involved?"

"Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming is a Deputy Secretary; I also came up from being a Deputy Secretary. I understand that a Deputy Secretary is just there to run errands for the Secretary."

"But I'm the Township Head now, the head of the government side—can't I even run an errand?"

His voice grew louder and more agitated, and by the end, he was almost shouting.

Yu Lili watched him without speaking, simply pushing the tissue box toward him.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng pulled out one to wipe the liquor stains from the corner of his mouth, then pulled out another to wipe his eyes.

"Luan Ping called me today and said Director Bai Jie went to see Xu Weidong. Director Bai Jie, the person Luan Ping brought up with his own hands, has also thrown her lot in with Xu Weidong."

"Luan Ping said he doesn't blame Director Bai Jie; he was the one who told her to go."

"He said he is too deeply tied to me, so even if she went over it wouldn't be useful, so it's better to let Director Bai Jie have a good future."

"Tell me, have I, Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, been a failure as a person?"

"People who have followed me for so many years have to rely on defecting to others to secure their futures in the end."

Yu Lili was silent for a moment, then reached out and held Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's hand, which was resting on his knee.

"Old Jiang, if you feel like things aren't going smoothly, then don't do it. Talk to the county, change positions, find somewhere more leisurely, and work steadily until retirement."

"We aren't looking for great wealth or status, just peace and safety will do."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng shook his head, his voice low as if he were talking to himself.

"To leave now is to admit defeat. I've been in Hukuang Township for over a decade; I can't just leave with my tail between my legs."

"Even if I have to leave, I must do it with dignity."

Yu Lili didn't try to persuade him further. She stood up, moved the dishes from the dining table to the coffee table, went back to the kitchen to scoop a bowl of rice, and placed it in front of Township Head Jiang Tiansheng.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng looked at the bowl of rice for a long while, then picked it up and began to eat slowly.

Meanwhile, in another building in the Township Government residential compound, the lights in Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's home were still on.

It was nearly ten o'clock when Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming arrived home. He placed his briefcase in the entryway, changed into slippers, and walked into the living room.

One light was on in the living room, casting a soft glow. The TV was on, but the volume was turned very low; he didn't even notice what was playing.

A light pink robe with lace trim was tossed on the sofa; it was clearly Director Jiang Xin's.

When Director Jiang Xin came out of the bedroom, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming could barely tear his eyes away.

She was wearing a nightgown with nothing underneath, the thin, wing-like gauze fabric clinging to her body, failing to cover what should be covered, and revealing what shouldn't be.

The wine-red nightgown made her skin look as white as fine porcelain. Her hair was loose, slightly curled, and carried the dampness of a fresh shower.

Her makeup was exquisite, her eyeliner drawn just right, and her lips were coated in a layer of light pink lip glaze that shimmered with a moist gloss under the light.

She wore fuzzy slippers on her feet, and every step carried a languid allure.

"You're back?"

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a nasal tone as if she had just woken up, or perhaps it was intentional coquettishness.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming leaned back on the sofa, watching her walk over, the corners of his mouth curling up.

Director Jiang Xin sat down beside him, leaning in, her shoulder pressing against his arm, her warm breath hitting his neck.

Her hand rested on his thigh, her fingers drawing circles on it, one after another, unhurriedly.

"Hubby, I've been waiting for you for so long."

Her voice dropped, low enough for only the two of them to hear, carrying a provocative suggestion.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming reached out and slapped her on the bottom; the sound was crisp and exceptionally loud in the quiet living room.

Director Jiang Xin let out a coquettish sound, nuzzled into his arms, and her hand groped upward, restless.

"Stop messing around."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming held her hand down, his voice not loud but carrying an unquestionable seriousness.

"The matters I'm handling now concern my future. The Rural Revitalization Demonstration Township, the Beautiful Village Pilot, the High-Standard Farmland Pilot—if I handle these projects well, I'll have secured my footing in front of Xu Weidong."

"Behave yourself and let me organize my thoughts."

Director Jiang Xin pouted, her expression changing from alluring to dissatisfied, carrying the grievance of being neglected.

"Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, you talk about Xu Weidong all day long—is there any room for me in your eyes? How long has it been since you properly spent time with me? I don't care, you must spend time with me today."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming looked at her, his gaze holding an expression of both exasperation and amusement.

He knew Director Jiang Xin's temper; a thirty-year-old woman is at the age where she most needs affection.

He had been leaving early and returning late these days, and he had indeed neglected her.

But he could not afford to be distracted at this moment; the tasks Xu Weidong had assigned were related to his status in Hukuang Township and his political future.

"Xin'er, listen to me."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming sat up straight, took Director Jiang Xin's hand off himself, and held it in his palm, his tone becoming serious.

"Do you know what happened in the township today? The province and the city approved four demonstration pilots: Rural Revitalization, Beautiful Village, High-Standard Farmland, and Living Environment Improvement. The special funds alone amount to over twenty million."

"These projects were all secured by Xu Weidong; they have nothing to do with me, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming."

"But I'm lucky. Xu Weidong trusts me and handed the most critical Rural Revitalization Demonstration Township project to me to lead."

He paused, looking into Director Jiang Xin's eyes, his voice filled with a determination to succeed.

"If I handle this project well, I will have truly established myself in front of Xu Weidong. In the future, whenever there is something good in the township, he will think of me first."

"Do you know what this means? It means that in the future, I, Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, will no longer be someone running errands behind others in Hukuang Township; I will be someone who has a say."

"Think about it, will you still need to be cooped up in this dilapidated residential compound then? We'll buy a big house in the county seat. You can decorate it however you want, and buy whatever you want."

"Haven't you always wanted to go to the South for the New Year? We'll go then, stay in the best hotels, and eat the best seafood."

Director Jiang Xin listened, and the dissatisfaction in her eyes was gradually replaced by longing.

Her fingers moved in Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's palm, gripping his fingers.

"You make it sound easy. Who knows if it will actually happen?"

Her tone softened, but it still carried a hint of coquettishness.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming laughed, a smile filled with confident certainty.

"When has your husband ever gone back on his word? You work at the County Hospital, with a monthly salary of over three thousand—it's not even enough for you to buy two outfits."

"If I make it, it won't matter whether you work this job or not; you can just be a full-time housewife at home. You can go shopping, get beauty treatments, travel whenever you want."

"Don't you want a life like that?"

The corners of Director Jiang Xin's mouth curled up, the arc impossible to suppress.

She leaned against Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming, her face pressed against his chest, her voice as sweet as if it had been soaked in honey.

"Then promise me, when this busy period is over, you'll spend some quality time with me."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming wrapped his arm around her shoulder, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice carrying a gentle, perfunctory tone.

"Alright, alright, alright. When this busy period is over, I'll definitely spend quality time with you. You can go wherever you want and do whatever you want."

Director Jiang Xin hummed with satisfaction, her fingers drawing circles on his chest. After a while, they began to slide down restlessly.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming caught her hand, his tone carrying a helpless amusement.

"Alright, stop it."

"You go to sleep first. I'm going to the study to revise the plan. It needs to be taken to the various stations and offices for review tomorrow; there can't be any mistakes."

Director Jiang Xin looked up at him, her eyes holding an indescribable emotion—it looked like grievance, yet also understanding.

She pecked his lips, then stood up, picked up the light pink robe from the sofa, draped it over herself, and tied the sash.

"Then don't stay up too late. I left soup in the pot for you; heat it up if you're hungry."

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming nodded, stood up, picked up his briefcase, and walked into the study.

Director Jiang Xin stood in the living room, watching the light in the study turn on, listening to Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming's footsteps inside. She stood there for a moment, then turned and returned to the bedroom.

The light in the study was bright. Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming sat at the desk, reading the plan from beginning to end once more.

His gaze lingered on every number, pondering every paragraph, fearing any oversight.

He knew this plan was the answer sheet he was submitting to Xu Weidong; if he answered well, his future would be boundless.

If he didn't, all his previous efforts could go down the drain. He put the plan down, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

The night outside the window was deep; there were no lights left in the residential compound.

He checked the time: 11:20.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming finished the soup, washed the bowl, turned off the lights, and walked into the bedroom.

Director Jiang Xin was already asleep, lying on her side, the quilt only covering up to her waist, revealing her smooth shoulders and half of her back.

The sash of her robe had come loose, and the neckline had slid down, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming stood by the bed, watching her for a while, then bent over to pull the quilt up, covering her shoulders.

Then he turned off the light, lay down beside her, and closed his eyes.

In the darkness, Director Jiang Xin turned over, her arm resting on his chest, her face buried in the crook of his neck, her breathing even and warm.

Deputy Party Secretary Hu Ming didn't move; listening to her soft breathing, he slowly drifted off to sleep as well.