Zhang Xiaoliang shrugged and said, "Old Chen, let me tell you something. In fact, most of the time, I am just the eyes and arms of the leader. I am not the one who makes the real decision. I am just an executor."
Chen Chao chewed over Zhang Xiaoliang's words and was slightly surprised. Could it be that Zhang Xiaoliang was hinting to him that Fang Zhicheng had been planning to let him defect to Deng Shaoqun and let him sit in the position of office director? If that was the case, Fang Zhicheng was a little too cunning.
Zhang Xiaoliang narrowed his eyes and glanced at Chen Chao, then laughed and said, "Look at you, are you scared?"
Chen Chao laughed and said, "A little bit."
Zhang Xiaoliang lowered his voice and said, "No matter what happened in the past, we should forget it all and look forward. Now you and I are both trusted soldiers by Secretary Fang, and we should consider everything from his perspective. As for other people's opinions, what does that matter?"
Chen Chao nodded quickly and said, "This is as it should be..."
Zhang Xiaoliang seemed a little drunk, and spoke in a soft voice, "It's easy to stand on the side, but it's not easy to stand firm. Since you have decided to stand on a certain side, you have to give up everything..."
Zhang Xiaoliang used this sentence to remind Chen Chao to adjust his mentality.
Chen Chao had mixed feelings and sighed in his heart. No wonder Fang Zhicheng trusted and valued Zhang Xiaoliang so much. No matter how many rumors there were outside, Fang Zhicheng gave him unwavering support. As the saying goes, a gentleman will die for his friend. Zhang Xiaoliang was very loyal to Fang Zhicheng.
Zhang Xiaoliang smiled strangely and said, "There is a lot of negative information about me now. I pay a lot of attention to it, but I don't care. Everyone should find their own role in the officialdom. Since you have chosen a direction, what does it matter if you are criticized a little?"
Chen Chao smiled bitterly and said, "District Chief Zhang, I wonder what your direction is?"
Zhang Xiaoliang said slowly: "Who is the most favored person of Emperor Qianlong?"
Chen Chao was slightly surprised and said with a wry smile: "Do you want to be Heshen?"
Zhang Xiaoliang waved his hand and said, "Apart from Heshen's eternal infamy, he was actually a very smart man. It was wrong for him to amass wealth, but he helped Emperor Qianlong deal with many things he could not do himself. However, I don't have the ability to be a minister like Heshen. The most I can do is learn his business strategies and find my own place in the officialdom."
Chen Chao nodded and said with a smile: "When I was with you before, I always felt that you acted casually. I didn't expect that you had such a deep understanding of the officialdom."
Zhang Xiaoliang waved his hand and said, "We are all in the system. After entering this circle, who doesn't think about their future and destiny? I have been in the Statistics Bureau for so many years, and I have always been unknown. At that time, I was very bored, so I read a lot of ancient books about officialdom. After reading them, I understood something."
Chen Chao smiled self-deprecatingly and said, "I should learn from you and find my own position."
Zhang Xiaoliang said: "It took me more than ten years to find it."
As the two talked and chatted, Zhang Xiaoliang felt that it was a bit boring for two grown men to eat together, so he smiled and said, "I'll call my friends to eat together, so it will be more lively."
It was difficult for Chen Chao to refuse, so he readily agreed.
Half an hour later, two beautiful young women came to the food stall. The woman walking in front was dignified and pretty, and looked less than 30 years old. The woman behind her was younger, around 23 or 24 years old. Although she was not as beautiful as women in their 27 or 28s, she looked pure and clean.
Chen Chao raised his eyebrows slightly. He originally thought that Zhang Xiaoliang had called a few colleagues over, but he didn't expect that he would directly call two female comrades. Chen Chao has been in the officialdom for so many years and has always kept himself clean.
Zhang Xiaoliang saw that Chen Chao's expression was a little interesting, and knew that he was a little nervous, so he laughed softly and said, "She's just a woman, not a tigress. She's just eating, she won't eat you up."
Chen Chao waved his hand and said with a smile: "Lao Zhang, I love my wife very much, please don't lead me astray."
Zhang Xiaoliang glanced at Chen Chao unhappily and said jokingly, "I've known for a long time that you are dominated by your wife. Don't worry, I just called them over to have some fun."
The woman in her twenties was Zhang Xiaoliang's lover Mei Lu. Although Zhang Xiaoliang wanted to break up with her before, how many men could stand up to women? Besides, Mei Lu only wanted to be Zhang Xiaoliang's lover, so Zhang Xiaoliang would occasionally meet her. Zhang Xiaoliang introduced: "This is Director Chen from the District Party Committee Office. He can drink a lot. You two should show your ability today and try to get him drunk."
Chen Chao smiled bitterly and said, "District Chief Zhang, if you say that, I don't dare to continue sitting here?"
Mei Lu quickly held down Chen Chao and said with a smile, "Director Chen, we just got here, you are not allowed to leave. Xiao Zhao and I are not good at drinking, and District Chief Zhang is just trying to scare you."
The other woman was named Zhao Yuan. She looked quiet but was actually quite outgoing. She sat next to Chen Chao and became familiar with him after chatting for a few words.
Zhang Xiaoliang joked with Chen Chao and Zhao Yuan from time to time. Chen Chao felt a little uncomfortable at first, but over time, he got used to this feeling.
Zhang Xiaoliang, this guy really knows how to have fun!
Chen Chao sighed secretly in his heart. When a man has power, women will come to him on their own initiative. Today, Chen Chao truly felt this. However, Chen Chao was still open-minded. He loved his wife deeply and would not easily do anything to hurt the family.
Chapter 0618: District Fiscal Reform Strategy
Around ten o'clock, Chen Chao finally got a little tipsy and said with a smile, "Director Zhang, how about we call it a day? My wife is waiting for me at home."
Zhao Yuan rolled her eyes at Chen Chao and said, "Director Chen, we haven't had enough fun yet. You're leaving now. Isn't that a bit of a letdown?"
Chen Chao quickly apologized, "Next time we meet, I will definitely accompany you to the end."
Zhang Xiaoliang smiled and said, "Since you want to leave, I won't force you to stay."
Chen Chao stood up to pay the bill, and found that Zhang Xiaoliang had already told the front desk that today's bill would be his, so he didn't say anything more and walked to the side of the road to hail a taxi. At this time, someone called him from behind. He turned around and saw Zhao Yuan walking over with small steps, saying, "Director Chen, meeting is fate, can you give me a number?"
Chen Chao thought about it and gave his landline number. Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "Director Chen, are you afraid that I will harass you? It's very rude to leave your landline number."
Zhao Yuan continued to stretch out her hand. Chen Chao sighed and could only give her his cell phone number.
Not far away, Zhang Xiaoliang glanced at Mei Lu and said with a smile, "Zhao Yuan is a promising girl."
Mei Lu pursed her lips and said, "This girl is very scheming. She comes from an average family and has always wanted to use this opportunity to climb up the social ladder. Didn't you want me to find a coquettish girl? Here, this is it!"
Zhang Xiaoliang shook his head, sighed, and said, "What a pity, Chen Chao didn't take the bait..."
Mei Lu rolled her eyes at Zhang Xiaoliang and said sarcastically, "What are you talking about? It's like setting a trap!"
Zhang Xiaoliang smiled faintly and said, "You don't know what's going on in the officialdom. Chen Chao is a capable person, but he's too cautious, so we can't find any evidence against him."