44: Chapter 44 Investigating the Election Events

Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner was the talkative type, rattling off the ins and outs of Chaoweihe to Zhang Huaijing, the history of the old street, and her experiences traveling to various famous historical cities.

Clearly, she loved history and gourmet food.

"Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner, since you like archaeology so much, why didn't you join the Cultural Bureau back then?"

"I wanted to, but my dad wouldn't let me. He said that the Party Committee offers faster promotions than the government side, especially in the Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League," Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner said straightforwardly.

"Parents truly have a hard time."

Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner stood up and, while swishing meat in the hotpot, said, "Honestly, the cultural relic work in our city is really lackluster. The museum doesn't have many decent items, and don't even get me started on archaeology—there's no staff, no funding, and no status. After much effort, experts finally pointed out that there are cultural relics underground here at the Ancient County Government Office and that it should be preserved, restored, and excavated. But what was the result? The Ancient County Government Office was demolished to build a commercial center, and that block of tenement buildings on the old street was turned into a residential complex. After we finish eating, I'll take you for a walk to see it one last time. Come on, eat up."

She gave almost all of the swished beef to him.

After eating for a while, Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner suddenly remembered and asked, "Oh, I forgot, I have red wine in my car. Should we have some?"

"No, thanks."

"The car is parked too far away, but the restaurant has beer."

Zhang Huaijing looked at his stomach and shook his head, saying, "Let's have some next time."

"It's a bit lacking in atmosphere without a drink. I'll have the owner send someone to get it from my car." Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner had a strong personality and made the arrangements regardless of Zhang Huaijing's opinion.

Ten minutes later, the red wine arrived. Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner raised her glass and said, "Thank you, Secretary Zhang, for doing me the honor of experiencing the simple pleasures of life with me. I'm really happy today. Cheers!"

After finishing a glass, her face was already flushed, making her look charming and lovely.

She poured another glass, took a small sip, and asked with a giggle, "Secretary Huaijing, you're a 'diamond bachelor' now—single, no children, such great conditions. Why not find someone?"

"Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner, isn't your Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League department responsible for youth marriage and dating? Why are you concerned about the marital affairs of middle-aged and elderly people?"

She widened her eyes and retorted, "Wait, you are a youth. I have never listed you in the middle-aged and elderly category."

"Thank you for looking lightly upon me."

"Huh? I didn't…"

"I meant 'young' as in 'light'."

Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner raised her chopsticks and playfully tapped him in the air, chiding, "You're annoying."

After chiding him, she smiled and said, "If you want to find someone, tell me your requirements, and I'll help you look."

"Let fate decide," Zhang Huaijing sighed.

"What? Can't forget your ex-wife?"

Zhang Huaijing said, "Once you've seen the vast ocean, the other waters are not worth mentioning."

Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner thought for a moment, took out her phone, found a text message, and showed it to him: "Look at this passage. I really like it. Oh, never mind, I'll read it to you: 'When a woman misses the man she most wants to marry, she becomes increasingly picky; when a man misses the woman he most wants to marry, he becomes increasingly casual.'"

She stopped reading and looked at him faintly.

Zhang Huaijing felt a bit embarrassed, avoided her fiery gaze, and asked earnestly, "Why is that?"

"Being picky is because no one compares to you; being casual is because, well, it's not you anyway."

"That's interesting," Zhang Huaijing said. "Did you miss the person you most wanted to marry?"

Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner smiled and said, "I suppose so. In college, it was a pure, white love. Later, he went abroad, and that was that."

"I see."

"I was a sophomore, he was a senior, three years older than me. I like men who are older than me; they are mature. I don't like little brats." When she said this, her eyes were shining like beans as she stared at him.

Zhang Huaijing kept his head down and ate. When he looked up, she tilted her head slightly and asked, without blinking, "Are you also becoming picky because of someone?"

Because he had lost Lin Qianwei, his body had once been so casual; and now, as the soul of Cui Liming, he had become picky because of Lu Waner.

"No, that's not it. I'm older now, so I don't pay much attention to such things," Zhang Huaijing changed the subject. "Is your father doing well?"

"He's been fine for a long time."

"What is he busy with?"

"Don't you know? The province has established an investigation team to come down and investigate the Municipal Party Committee and municipal government leadership transition at the end of last year," she said without hesitation.

Zhang Huaijing felt a chill in his heart. He really didn't know about this. It should only have been notified to the Chairman of the Municipal People's Congress, Director Qiao Xinmin, and the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, Secretary Man Chaojian.

He asked, "What are they investigating?"

Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner was also a smart person. Seeing Zhang Huaijing's reaction, she knew she hadn't guarded her tongue and had spilled the private conversation between her father and mother. But on second thought, this matter couldn't be hidden, so she said, "Someone has been constantly complaining and reporting that the Mayor won by bribery. The province sent an investigation team down to check."

It seems that Niu Panlong's rise might really have problems. If it hadn't been reported to the Provincial Party Secretary or the Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, the province wouldn't have sent people down to investigate specifically. He asked, "Is it just the Provincial People's Congress? Are the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Organization Department involved?"

Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner thought for a moment and said, "From what I heard from my dad, there are people from the Provincial Organization Department. The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection probably didn't arrange anyone."

"It's good if the Discipline Inspection Commission isn't coming. It's just a routine inspection, it's fine," Zhang Huaijing smiled calmly.

"Who knows? I feel like my dad is quite nervous. These past few days, he's been coming home very late." Seemingly clever Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner was actually severely lacking in political experience and inadvertently revealed a major political signal. "Think about it, if something really went wrong during the election, he, as the main person in charge, would be hard-pressed to absolve himself of blame. My dad, he always cherishes his reputation so much."

The speaker had no intention, but the listener did.

In Zhang Huaijing's view, the small group consisting of Director Qiao Xinmin, the Mayor, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and the investor Shen Meizhu was slowly beginning to surface.

He comforted her gently, "It's okay. Vote-skipping situations often occur in elections in various places. The province will always attach great importance to it and send people to investigate."

"In February this year, the Provincial People's Congress came down to investigate once. This is the second time."

"This time there are leaders from the Provincial Organization Department, right? That's why it's called a Provincial Party Committee investigation team," Zhang Huaijing asked casually.

"Seems like it."

A Provincial People's Congress investigation team and a Provincial Party Committee investigation team—a difference of one word, a world of difference.

"Let's not talk about this. Come, let's drink." Zhang Huaijing raised his glass. The two clinked glasses happily. While drinking, Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner peeked at him and giggled secretly.

"Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner, tell me more about the archaeology in Haizhou. I like history and archaeology."

"Huh? You should have said so earlier! You've finally met a kindred spirit. Let me tell you, I've been to the National Museum and the Palace Museum many times, as well as the Qin and Han Provincial Museum." She was overjoyed.

After the meal, Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner was slightly drunk, her face flushed, looking both cute and charming.

But when Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner called the waiter to pay the bill, the store manager came in and said, "The expenses have already been settled."

"Who settled it?"

"Your uncle. He is in the room next door."

Deputy Secretary Qiao Yaner's face changed, and she immediately showed an expression of disgust. She took out three hundred-yuan bills, slapped them on the table, and said irrefutably, "Return the money to him. I'm paying the bill myself!"