237: Chapter 237 Losing Control After Drinking

Xu Weidong looked at him without saying a word.

The two men stared at each other for a moment, both seeing the same answer in the other's eyes, yet neither spoke it aloud.

Some things do not require evidence; they only need an explanation that everyone can accept.

Today's events were not a coincidence; they were inevitable.

County Mayor Bai Weijun asked the waiter for a bottle of baijiu. Xu Weidong did not like to drink, but today he did not refuse.

County Mayor Bai Weijun poured two full glasses, raised his, clinked it against Xu Weidong's, and downed it in one go.

The liquor slid down his throat, burning like fire.

Xu Weidong frowned as he swallowed, then picked up his teacup and took a gulp to wash away the taste of the alcohol.

County Mayor Bai Weijun poured another glass. He didn't rush to drink it, but held it in his hand, staring at the transparent liquid in the glass. His voice was low, carrying something indescribable.

"I've been County Magistrate for so long, and I've never felt so stifled. In the past, which of those deputy county magistrates wasn't respectful?"

"Whatever I said, they listened. Whatever proposal I put forward, they supported."

"But today? One after another, they all jumped out, as if I owed them a fortune."

"Vice County Magistrate Mi Baizuo, who used to bow and scrape whenever he saw me, actually talked back to me at the meeting today without even blinking."

"Deputy County Magistrate Chen Guoliang was even worse; he directly used the big hats of education, healthcare, and social security to pin me down!"

Xu Weidong picked up his glass, clinked it against County Mayor Bai Weijun's, and took a sip.

"Brother Bai, take my advice. Don't take today's events to heart."

"If you really get into an argument with them at the meeting, you'll be playing right into that person's hands. He just wants to make you uncomfortable, make you lose your composure, and make you lose face in front of the cadres."

"You can't fall for his trap."

County Mayor Bai Weijun looked at him and suddenly smiled. "Comrade Weidong, when did you become so mature?"

"It's not that I'm mature; it's that I'm slowly beginning to see the situation clearly."

The two men clinked glasses and drank them in one go.

The alcohol was consumed quickly, and the conversation was very candid.

They talked about everything from the situation in the county to the trends in the Provincial Party Committee, from the changes in Secretary Wei Kuan to the attitude of the Municipal Party Committee, and from today's meeting to tomorrow's countermeasures.

County Mayor Bai Weijun's face turned red, and he became more talkative.

He slapped the table and said that he didn't believe in evil; he would push those projects through no matter what, and no one could stop him.

Xu Weidong leaned back in his chair and listened without responding.

He knew that what County Mayor Bai Weijun was saying was drunk talk, but it was also what was truly on his mind.

By the time Xu Weidong arrived home, it was almost dark.

As for the afternoon shift?

Who had the mood to go to work?

If they had the ability, they should go to the Municipal Party Committee or the Provincial Party Committee to report him!

He stood at the door for a moment, took a deep breath to suppress the smell of alcohol on him, and pushed the door open.

The living room lights were on, and Mu Ruxue was cleaning.

She was wearing a purple, off-the-shoulder, low-cut dress, her hair tied casually at the back of her head, and she was bent over wiping the coffee table.

The neckline of the dress dipped, revealing a stretch of fair collarbone that was dazzlingly white under the lights.

Hearing the door open, she straightened up and turned her head. Seeing Xu Weidong's face, which was as red as a cooked shrimp, she frowned slightly.

"You've been drinking?"

Xu Weidong changed his shoes, walked into the living room, sat down on the sofa, leaned back, and closed his eyes.

His stomach was churning, and he felt as dizzy as if he were on a boat.

Mu Ruxue went to the kitchen, made a cup of honey water, and brought it over to him.

Mu Ruxue's voice was soft, filled with concern.

"Drink this, it will help with the hangover."

Xu Weidong took it and drank slowly.

The honey water was warm and sweet, washing away the taste of alcohol in his mouth.

After finishing, he placed the cup on the coffee table and let out a long sigh.

Mu Ruxue sat down beside him and reached out to touch his forehead.

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy today?"

Xu Weidong opened his eyes and looked at her. Her eyes were bright, like two pools of clear water.

He reached out, wrapped his arms around her, pulled her into his embrace, and rested his chin on the top of her head.

Her hair was very soft and carried the scent of shampoo.

He took a deep breath, and the stifled feeling in his chest dissipated a little.

"I was talked back to at the meeting today. Several deputy county magistrates were singing a different tune than County Magistrate Bai and me, right in front of everyone."

"They weren't like this before. They used to be respectful to us, and whatever we said went."

"Today it changed; someone is pulling strings behind the scenes."

Mu Ruxue leaned in his arms, her fingers gently drawing circles on his chest.

"Brother Weidong, you are the Executive Deputy County Magistrate, assisting County Magistrate Bai in managing the day-to-day government work. If they talk back to you, it's because they don't know any better. Don't lower yourself to their level."

Xu Weidong smiled, a bitter smile.

"You don't understand. This isn't a matter of knowing better; it's that someone is backing them up. They dare to talk back to me because someone told them they don't need to be afraid of me."

Mu Ruxue looked up at him, her gaze carrying something indescribable.

"Are you talking about Secretary Wei?"

Xu Weidong didn't speak, but his silence was the answer.

Mu Ruxue didn't ask any further. She buried her face in his chest, wrapped her arms around his waist, and said in a soft voice, as if talking to herself.

"Brother Weidong, no matter what happens outside, home will always be your safe haven. If you're unhappy, just come back."

"If you want to vent, I can help you."

Xu Weidong looked down at her delicate face. The stifled feeling in his heart seemed to have been punctured, leaking out bit by bit.

He lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Her lips were soft, carrying the sweetness of honey.

She closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, like two startled butterflies.

His hand moved up from her waist, touching the soft fabric of her dress and the warm skin beneath it.

Her breathing quickened, and her fingers threaded through his hair, responding to his kiss.

He scooped her up, walked into the bedroom, and placed her gently on the bed.

The purple hem of her dress spread out like a blooming flower.

He leaned down, kissing her forehead, her eyes, the tip of her nose, and her lips.

Her fingers unbuttoned his shirt, one by one.

The bedroom door closed, and the lights were not turned on. Only the moonlight from outside shone through the gap in the curtains, a thin line falling onto the bed.

(Details of the intimate encounter omitted here)

The next morning, when Xu Weidong woke up, Mu Ruxue was no longer by his side.

He heard the clattering of pots and pans in the kitchen, along with the sizzling sound of a frying pan.

He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought for a while.

He took a deep breath, sat up, got dressed, and walked out of the bedroom.

Mu Ruxue was frying eggs in the kitchen, wearing a casual cotton nightgown, her hair tied back loosely.

Hearing footsteps, she turned around and smiled at him.

"You're awake? Go wash up; breakfast will be ready soon."

Xu Weidong walked over, hugged her from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder.

She smelled of cooking fumes mixed with the fresh scent of body wash.

He took a deep breath and felt at peace.

Mu Ruxue patted his hand and said, "Stop fooling around, the eggs are going to burn."

Xu Weidong let go and went to the bathroom to wash up. When he returned, breakfast was already set on the table.

Millet porridge, fried eggs, a small dish of pickles, and two steamed buns.

He sat down, picked up the bowl of porridge, and drank slowly. His stomach felt warm, and the effects of last night's alcohol had completely dissipated.

Mu Ruxue sat opposite him, watching him drink the porridge, her gaze filled with contentment.

"Brother Weidong, do you still have to go to a meeting today?"

"Yes, there's a meeting this afternoon regarding project advancement."

"Then eat more; don't go hungry."

He nodded, finished the porridge in the bowl, and ate a steamed bun.

As Mu Ruxue was clearing the dishes, he changed into his clothes and stood at the door, watching her busy figure in the kitchen.

"I'm leaving."

"Take care on the road."

The scene at County Mayor Bai Weijun's home was completely different; he lived on the other side of the county town.

When he pushed the door open, the living room lights were on, the TV was playing, and the volume was turned very low.

His wife was sitting on the sofa, wearing a black spaghetti-strap nightgown.

The hem of the dress was short enough to barely cover the top of her thighs. Her legs, wrapped in black silk stockings, were crossed and resting on the coffee table. She was holding a magazine and flipping through it.

Seeing him enter, she put down the magazine, glanced at him, and her gaze lingered for a moment on his flushed face.

"You've been drinking?"

County Mayor Bai Weijun did not answer. He changed his shoes, walked to the sofa, leaned down, cupped her face, and kissed her.

Her lips hurt a little from his pressure, and she gave him a push, but couldn't budge him.

His hand slid from her shoulder to her waist, pulling at the shoulder strap of her nightgown. The nightgown slipped down, revealing her fair skin.

His breathing was heavy, carrying the smell of alcohol, and it sprayed onto her face.

She didn't struggle, nor did she respond; she just sat there, letting him kiss her and letting his hands roam over her body.

She knew he was unhappy today, knew he had been wronged outside, and knew he needed to vent.

County Mayor Bai Weijun pulled her up from the sofa and had her lie on the coffee table.

The TV in the living room was still playing; it was the evening news, and the host's voice was crisp and clear, talking about a major event that had nothing to do with him.

He closed his eyes, his mind filled with the scenes from the meeting today.

In his heart, he cursed over and over again, cursing these ungrateful things, these opportunists who went whichever way the wind blew, these two-faced people who bowed and scraped in front of him but stabbed him in the back!

But his hands did not stop, and his body did not stop.

County Mayor Bai Weijun's wife lay on the coffee table. The glass surface of the coffee table was ice-cold, pressing against her skin, feeling chilly.

She bit her lip to keep herself from making a sound.

After a while, County Mayor Bai Weijun stopped.

He leaned back against the sofa, panting heavily, sweat beads on his forehead streaming down his cheeks.

His wife stood up, straightened her nightgown, and walked into the bathroom.

County Mayor Bai Weijun sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, took a puff, and slowly exhaled.