96: Chapter 96 is absolutely unrelated.

The place where Xu Weidong arranged to meet Minister Sun Ping was an inconspicuous teahouse in Lvjiang City.

The private room was small, but quiet and soundproof.

Minister Sun Ping arrived ten minutes earlier than the agreed time; having spent so many years in officialdom, he had long since mastered the art of social interaction.

He knew exactly what attitude to adopt toward whom; he was crystal clear on that.

He had always been extremely attentive to Xu Weidong.

Not for any other reason, but simply because of who stood behind this young man.

"Comrade Weidong."

As soon as Xu Weidong entered, Minister Sun Ping stood up, his face crinkling into a smile.

"Come, come, sit down quickly."

"Was there traffic on the way?"

"I've already had the waiter start steeping the tea. Try it—it's authentic West Lake Longjing, just sent to me by an old classmate from Qiantang."

Xu Weidong smiled and sat down, saying, "Uncle Sun, you are too polite."

"Oh, what's there to be polite about?"

Minister Sun Ping poured tea for him personally, saying, "Since you call me Uncle Sun, that makes you my own nephew."

"Meeting with my own nephew is only right and proper."

Xu Weidong picked up the teacup, took a sip, nodded, and said, "Good tea."

"That's good, that's good."

Minister Sun Ping smiled until his eyes narrowed, then he sat down.

"Comrade Weidong, what made you think of coming to the city to find me today? Is something the matter?"

Xu Weidong put down the teacup, his expression calm as he said, "Uncle Sun, I'd like to ask you about someone."

"Who?"

"Secretary Du Qing."

Minister Sun Ping was taken aback, his smile faltering for a moment.

"Secretary Du Qing? The one from your County Youth League Committee? How did he offend you?"

Xu Weidong shook his head and said, "He didn't offend me."

"I've just heard some things recently and wanted to verify them with you."

Minister Sun Ping immediately perked up and said, "Go ahead, tell me."

"I don't usually have much contact with that kid, but having spent so many years in The Government Compound, I know a little something about all the cadres in the city."

"He has been pursuing Director Ye Mingzhu recently."

Xu Weidong said in a flat tone, "And he's been pursuing her quite intensely."

Minister Sun Ping blinked, unable to immediately grasp what connection these two things had.

But he quickly laughed, "Young people, it's normal to pursue a girl."

"That girl, Director Ye Mingzhu, is beautiful, and she's a young, capable cadre in the Education Bureau. Who wouldn't be moved upon seeing her?"

"I was the same when I was young; I couldn't help myself when I saw a beautiful girl..."

"Uncle Sun."

Xu Weidong interrupted him, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"I haven't finished yet."

Minister Sun Ping immediately stopped talking and sat upright, saying, "Go ahead, go ahead."

"He's been pursuing Director Ye Mingzhu quite intensely, but she has been keeping him on a string."

Xu Weidong picked up his teacup, his tone casual.

"A while ago, when some retired veterans from the Education Bureau were causing a scene over staff quotas, Director Ye Mingzhu sent him to take the heat. He went and got into an argument with the veterans."

"Later, when construction foremen blocked the entrance of the Education Bureau, one phone call from Director Ye Mingzhu and he went again, standing there reasoning with them for half an hour."

As Minister Sun Ping listened, his expression became subtle.

"There's more."

Xu Weidong continued, "Regarding the recent promotion of Secretary Liu Qingfeng, the city just finished the meeting, and the news hasn't been officially released yet, but he ran off to ask Director Ye Mingzhu who would be taking over as Director of the Public Security Bureau."

Minister Sun Ping's eyes widened.

"Comrade Weidong, what are you implying..."

"I'm not implying anything."

Xu Weidong put down the teacup and looked at him, saying, "I'm just chatting with Uncle Sun and hearing your thoughts."

Minister Sun Ping was silent for a few seconds, tapping his fingers gently on the table.

"That kid, Secretary Du Qing..."

He weighed his words and then said, "He usually seems quite honest."

"He works in the Youth League Committee in a standard, by-the-book manner; he doesn't cause trouble and doesn't try to stand out."

"Although his father is the Vice Governor of Heishui Province, he never uses that to his advantage and keeps a very low profile at work."

He paused and looked at Xu Weidong, "It stands to reason that he shouldn't be acting like this."

"Going off to offend retired veterans for the sake of a girl, and getting involved in personnel transfers?"

"This doesn't seem like his style."

Xu Weidong smiled and said, "Maybe the young man wants to impress his goddess."

Minister Sun Ping was stunned, then burst into laughter, "Comrade Weidong, the way you put it."

"Aren't you a young man yourself?"

Xu Weidong smiled without replying. Minister Sun Ping pondered for a while, then suddenly leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Comrade Weidong, tell Uncle Sun the truth: is there something interesting going on here?"

"Is there some story behind Director Ye Mingzhu?"

Xu Weidong glanced at him and said slowly, "Director Ye Mingzhu is keeping him on a string."

"Keeping him on a string?"

"She gets him to do things and gives him a little favor, but never makes her stance clear."

Xu Weidong said in a calm tone, "When those veterans from the Education Bureau were causing trouble, Director Ye Mingzhu sent him to take the heat. He was scolded to his face by the veterans, but then one phone call from Director Ye Mingzhu, offering a few words of concern, and he was running off again to handle the construction foremen for her."

After hearing this, Minister Sun Ping was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly slapped the table and laughed loudly.

"Interesting! That's too interesting!"

He laughed until tears almost came out, saying, "Comrade Weidong, tell me, is this Secretary Du Qing truly stupid or just pretending to be? Someone is using him as a knife, and he's still eager to throw himself into the fray?"

Xu Weidong smiled faintly and said, "Maybe he really likes her."

"Likes her?"

Minister Sun Ping waved his hand, "Comrade Weidong, you're still young, you don't understand."

"In officialdom, eight out of ten expressions of affection are fake. What is Secretary Du Qing after when he pursues Director Ye Mingzhu?"

"Is it Director Ye Mingzhu herself, or The Ye Family behind her? His father is the Vice Governor of Heishui Province; he was almost purged in that storm last year, so he's keeping his head down now."

"Although The Ye Family also suffered losses, they have a deep foundation and extensive connections. If he can connect with The Ye Family, his father's position will be secure."

Xu Weidong nodded without responding.

Minister Sun Ping sighed again, "But then again, young people are like that. When I was young, I did quite a few foolish things to impress the girl I liked."

"When pursuing a girl, you have to show some sincerity."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at Xu Weidong again.

"Comrade Weidong, do you feel that Secretary Du Qing is a threat to you?"

Xu Weidong shook his head, "I wouldn't call it a threat."

"I just think this person is interesting and wanted to learn more about him."

"That's good."

Minister Sun Ping put down the teacup and smiled, "Don't worry, that position in the Public Security Bureau is reserved for you."

"The city and the county have reached an understanding; no one can take it away."

"If Secretary Du Qing really dares to have any crooked ideas, you won't need to lift a finger; the organization will naturally call him in for a talk."

Xu Weidong smiled and said, "Uncle Sun, I understand."

The two chatted for a while longer until Minister Sun Ping received a phone call and had to leave.

Before leaving, he took Xu Weidong's hand and earnestly urged, "Comrade Weidong, call me anytime if anything comes up."

"In this little patch of Lvjiang, Uncle Sun can still get a few things done."

Xu Weidong nodded and said, "Thank you, Uncle Sun."

"Don't mention it!"

Minister Sun Ping patted his shoulder and left with a smile.

Two days later, Xu Weidong was reading documents in his office when his phone suddenly rang.

It was Minister Sun Ping.

"Comrade Weidong!"

Minister Sun Ping's voice held an irrepressible excitement, "Have you seen the news?"

Xu Weidong was taken aback, "What news?"

"Secretary Du Qing's father!"

Minister Sun Ping lowered his voice, but the excitement in his tone could not be hidden.

"The Vice Governor of Heishui Province was taken away by the higher-level Discipline Inspection Commission this morning!"

Xu Weidong's gaze shifted slightly.

"The news just broke; it's already spreading in the circles."

Minister Sun Ping spoke quickly, "I heard it's the aftermath of last year's storm; someone bit him."

"Comrade Weidong, don't you think this is a coincidence? The two of us were just talking about Secretary Du Qing a couple of days ago, and his father gets into trouble today!"

Xu Weidong was silent for two seconds, then said calmly, "It is indeed quite a coincidence."

"What coincidence!"

Minister Sun Ping chuckled, "Comrade Weidong, Uncle Sun is going to speak out of turn. This matter, it couldn't have anything to do with you, could it?"

Xu Weidong smiled, "Uncle Sun, you're overthinking it."

"I'm in Changyuan County, and he's in Heishui Province; we have absolutely no connection."

"That's good, that's good."

Minister Sun Ping agreed, but his tone clearly didn't quite believe it.

"Comrade Weidong, regardless, this is a good thing for you."

"Once Secretary Du Qing's father is in trouble, he won't be able to stir up any trouble in Changyuan County. That position in the Public Security Bureau is even more secure."

After hanging up the phone, he leaned back in his chair and stared out the window in a daze.

This news was indeed sudden, but it was also indeed... quite a coincidence, and a faint, imperceptible smile appeared on the corner of Xu Weidong's mouth.

The phone rang again.

It was a message from Mu Ruxue: "Brother Weidong, have you heard? Secretary Du Qing's father is in trouble!"

Xu Weidong replied: "I heard."

Mu Ruxue sent a smiley face covering its mouth: "Now Secretary Du Qing should behave, right? Let's see if he still has the heart to pursue Director Ye Mingzhu."

Xu Weidong smiled and didn't reply.

At this moment, in the County Youth League Committee office, Secretary Du Qing was sitting blankly in his chair, his face as pale as paper.

His phone vibrated incessantly on the table; he didn't dare to answer it, he didn't know what to say.

Yesterday, he was still thinking about how to further impress Director Ye Mingzhu, but today...

He closed his eyes, his mind a complete blank.

The office door was lightly knocked twice, but he didn't hear it.