196: Chapter 196 The Old Fool Who Doesn't Know His Own Fate

Xu Weidong did not stand on ceremony and recommended Director Li Zhongmin directly.

Director Li Zhongmin's appointment went even more smoothly than expected. At the County Party Committee Standing Committee meeting, as soon as Secretary Wei Kuan finished reading the nomination, the Standing Committee members nodded one after another, with County Mayor Bai Weijun taking the lead to express his approval, and it passed unanimously.

The City Public Security Bureau was even more straightforward. The director called personally, saying that the position of chief of the Changyuan County Public Security Bureau should naturally be held by a comrade who is familiar with the situation and capable of fighting hard battles.

"Comrade Li Zhongmin has served as the executive deputy director for so long; he has solid professional skills and a tough work style. The City Public Security Bureau fully supports this."

After hanging up the phone, the director of the City Public Security Bureau leaned back in his chair and smiled at his deputy, saying, "How could we not support someone recommended by the young master of the Xu Family?"

The deputy smiled but did not respond.

When Director Li Zhongmin came out of Xu Weidong's office, his eyes were red.

He had been by Xu Weidong's side for several years, from the Hukuang Township Police Station to the Changyuan County Public Security Bureau, taking it one step at a time, and every step had the shadow of Xu Weidong.

He thought he would just slog away in the position of executive deputy director until retirement, never expecting that there would come a day when he would be promoted to the top spot.

He stood in the corridor, blinking hard to suppress the stinging sensation in his eyes.

He, Director Li Zhongmin, knew better than anyone what he relied on to reach where he was today.

The day Mu Ruxue went to assume her post at the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, it was a sunny day.

The Federation of Literary and Art Circles was located in an old building on the west side of the county seat, on the third floor, with no elevator. One of the lights in the corridor was broken, and several patches of white paint on the walls had peeled off, revealing the grey cement underneath.

The office, however, had been tidied up; the windows were bright and the tables clean. There was a pothos plant on the desk with leaves so green they shone, clearly arranged by the office staff before she arrived.

Several people from the Federation of Literary and Art Circles stood at the door to welcome her—old and young, men and women, all with different postures.

Some smiled sincerely, some smiled perfunctorily, and some couldn't even be bothered to smile, just nodding slightly to acknowledge her.

Mu Ruxue didn't mind. A place like the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, to put it bluntly, was just acting as a nanny for intellectuals; one couldn't accomplish earth-shattering deeds, nor could one cause any major trouble.

She had prepared herself mentally before coming: to not contend or snatch, to be neither humble nor arrogant. She just hadn't expected Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde to come.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde was the deputy county magistrate in charge of culture, education, and health, and the Federation of Literary and Art Circles fell within his jurisdiction. It stood to reason that when a new chairperson took office, him coming to show his face, say a few words, and express support was both a sign of attaching importance to the work of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles and a sign of respect for the newcomer.

Mu Ruxue politely welcomed him into the conference room, had the office staff pour tea, invited him to sit in the main seat, and sat to the side herself, keeping a low profile.

"Deputy County Magistrate Liu, we are very touched that you took time out of your busy schedule to attend the meeting of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles. The work of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles cannot do without the support of the County Government. In the future, I ask for your guidance and care, Deputy County Magistrate Liu."

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde waved his hand with a chuckle. His gaze paused on Mu Ruxue's face, then slid to her neck, then slid from her neck to her shoulders, and finally landed on the curve faintly outlined beneath her shirt on her chest.

His gaze lingered there for a while longer before reluctantly pulling back.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip. His voice carried a kind of concern typical of an elder toward a junior, yet it also held an indescribable ambiguity.

"Chairperson Mu, you are too polite. The Federation of Literary and Art Circles is the cultural high ground of our county. If your work is done well, the cultural cause of our county will have a backbone."

"As the deputy county magistrate in charge, I may not be able to help with other things, but when it comes to securing funding, coordinating venues, and resolving practical difficulties for you, I can still put in a good word."

"In the future, if you have any needs, just come to me. Don't stand on ceremony."

Mu Ruxue nodded with a smile, diverted the topic, and began to report on the recent work arrangements of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde listened, nodding from time to time, but his gaze never left her.

When she stood up from her seat to get some documents, he felt his heart beat faster and his breathing became somewhat rapid.

"Little delicate wife"—these three words spun around in his head several times.

That young man, Xu Weidong, was truly blessed to have married such a femme fatale; she had a beautiful face, a beautiful figure, a beautiful temperament, and even her voice was pleasant to hear.

After the meeting concluded, Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde stood up and took the initiative to extend his hand.

Mu Ruxue shook his hand, and just as she wanted to let go, his fingers tightened, wrapping her hand in his palm, and his thumb gently rubbed the back of her hand.

Mu Ruxue's smile stiffened for a moment. She pulled back, but couldn't move it.

She pulled again, this time using some strength, and finally pulled her hand out.

Mu Ruxue lowered her head, pretending to organize the documents on the table, suppressing that feeling of nausea.

"Deputy County Magistrate Liu, I will see you out."

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde waved his hand with a chuckle, saying there was no rush, no rush. He stood there for a while longer, his gaze sweeping over her body several times.

From top to bottom, from bottom to top, as if he were admiring a famous painting, unwilling to take his eyes off it.

Mu Ruxue stood in place; the smile on her face was almost impossible to maintain, but she still kept up the last shred of decorum.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde finally left. When he reached the stairwell, he even looked back; Mu Ruxue was standing at the door of the conference room.

Sunlight shone in from the window, landing on her, making the off-white shirt somewhat transparent, with the outline of the bra inside faintly visible.

His eyes lit up, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he turned and went downstairs, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.

That evening, Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde invited Deputy County Magistrate Chen Guoliang to drink at a private kitchen restaurant in the county seat.

The private room was not large, the lighting was dim, and a landscape painting hung on the wall, depicting the Guest-Greeting Pine of Mount Huang; the brushwork was rough, and one could tell at a glance it was cheap goods from a street stall.

The two old men sat facing each other, with four dishes, one soup, and a bottle of white liquor on the table in front of them.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde poured a glass for Deputy County Magistrate Chen Guoliang, then poured one for himself, raised them to clink, and downed his in one gulp.

"Old Chen, I went to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles today. A new chairperson is taking office, so I went to show my support."

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde's voice carried a hint of complacency, as if he were boasting about some remarkable achievement.

Deputy County Magistrate Chen Guoliang's hand, which was picking up food, paused for a moment, then continued to put a piece of braised pork into his mouth. He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, looked at him, and smiled: "The Federation of Literary and Art Circles? Mu Ruxue?"

"Isn't that right."

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde poked at the food in the plate with his chopsticks but didn't pick anything up.

"You didn't see it—that figure, that face, that temperament, tsk tsk tsk."

"She wore an off-white shirt with black trousers underneath, simple and plain, but that outfit on her was completely different from when it was worn by someone else."

"That waist, as slender as a water snake, swaying as she walked."

"That butt, perky and round, with the trousers stretched tight—it made my eyes pop."

Deputy County Magistrate Chen Guoliang laughed, and that smile carried something indescribable, as if he didn't believe it, yet also as if he were waiting to watch a good show.

"Old Liu, you're almost at retirement age, and you're still eyeing a young woman?"

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde glared at him and downed another glass of wine. The liquor slid down his throat, burning hot, and his face flushed a little—it was unclear if it was from the alcohol or excitement.

"Old Chen, what are you saying? What am I eyeing? I'm just looking—is it against the law to look a few more times?"

"Besides, I'm over fifty this year. I can't get promoted any further, and serving in this position of deputy county magistrate until retirement is enough to be considered a blessing."

"What else do I have to fear? I'm just running my mouth a bit—can they sentence me to death for that?"

Deputy County Magistrate Chen Guoliang looked at him, raised his wine glass to clink with him, and the two drank, then set down their glasses.

Deputy County Magistrate Chen Guoliang's voice dropped a little, carrying the banter and warning of someone who had seen it all.

"Old Liu, don't forget whose wife she is. You know what kind of person Xu Weidong is."

"Director Qi Heng's fate is there for all to see; aren't you afraid?"

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde waved his hand, his voice rising, carrying the bravado of a coward emboldened by alcohol and a lack of awareness that death was approaching.

"So what about Xu Weidong? Xu Weidong can't be unreasonable, can he? I just looked a few times and said a few words—I didn't really do anything."

"Can he dismiss me, a deputy county magistrate, just because of this? If that really happened, wouldn't the cadres of Changyuan County be disheartened?"

"Old Chen, you're just too timid. Think about it—what man wouldn't want to look at such a femme fatale?"

"Those who don't want to look aren't men; they're eunuchs."

"Xu Weidong married such a beautiful wife himself, so he should have expected that people would look."

"If he won't even let people look, then he might as well lock his wife at home and never let her go out."

Deputy County Magistrate Chen Guoliang shook his head and did not respond.

He knew Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde's temper; when he drank too much, he dared to say anything and do anything. He couldn't be persuaded, so he simply gave up trying.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde poured another glass, took a sip, narrowed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair, as if savoring something, his fingers tracing circles on the tabletop.

"Old Chen, what do you think Mu Ruxue is like in bed? With a figure like that, she must be a femme fatale in bed. That kid, Xu Weidong, is damn lucky."

"If I were twenty years younger, I would definitely—forget it, forget it, let's not talk about this, drink, drink."

Deputy County Magistrate Chen Guoliang raised his wine glass to clink with him, and both drank. The private room fell silent, with only the humming sound of the air conditioner's outdoor unit and the loneliness of the fake painting on the wall.

Deputy County Magistrate Liu Changde leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowed, with a satisfied smile on his face, not knowing if he was savoring the Mu Ruxue he had seen during the day or daydreaming about some impossible dream.

When Mu Ruxue returned home, Xu Weidong was already waiting for her in the living room.

He was leaning on the sofa, holding a document in his hand and reading it.

Hearing the door open, he looked up, closed the document, stood up, took the bag from her hand, and placed it on the cabinet in the entryway.

"You're back? How was it over at the Federation of Literary and Art Circles? Did it go smoothly?"

Mu Ruxue changed her shoes, walked into the living room, sat down on the sofa, picked up the water glass on the coffee table, and took a sip.

She looked at Xu Weidong, wanting to speak but hesitating. Her lips moved a few times, and finally, she spoke, her voice not loud, carrying a sense of grievance.

"Brother, Comrade Weidong, Deputy County Magistrate Liu came today."

Xu Weidong sat down beside her, looking at her, waiting for her to continue.

"He came to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles to show support, saying that as the leader in charge, he was coming to guide the work. During the meeting, he kept staring at me, and his gaze was particularly disgusting."

"When I stood up to get the documents during the meeting, his eyeballs were like they were glued to me, looking from top to bottom, from bottom to top, scanning back and forth several times."

"When the meeting ended, he shook my hand, and once he held it, he wouldn't let go. I pulled back twice before I could get it out. With so many people present, I couldn't very well make a scene."

As she spoke, Mu Ruxue's eyes grew a bit red.

She was not a girl who liked to cry. After working in the Youth League Committee for so many years, what kind of situations hadn't she seen, and what kind of grievances hadn't she endured?

But today was different. Today, she had been offended by someone in a way she couldn't quite put into words; to put it lightly, it was just looking a few extra times, but to put it heavily, it was humiliating her.

She couldn't curse him, couldn't hit him, and couldn't turn against him on the spot because that person was a deputy county magistrate, the leader in charge. What could she, a newly appointed chairperson of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles, do?

Xu Weidong did not speak. He reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, letting her lean into his embrace.

His other hand gently patted her back, one tap after another, unhurriedly.

Mu Ruxue leaned against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and that feeling of grievance gradually dissipated, replaced by a sense of peace of mind.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Brother, Comrade Weidong, do you think he is an elder who fails to act with dignity?"

Xu Weidong's fingers gently rubbed her shoulder a few times. He lowered his head, his lips touching the top of her hair, his voice very low.

"It's okay, I have everything under control."

Mu Ruxue looked up at him. Xu Weidong's expression was very calm, and no change in emotion could be seen.