Yuxiangyuan is located on Shouyi Street, the most prosperous street in Nangong District. Although it is not as famous as Guijie Street in Beijing, it is a famous food street in Qingzhou. Compared with Huashan District, which is mainly for entertainment, the food scene here is not inferior. Especially at night, when the lights are on and the light is flowing, all kinds of cars that are rarely seen on weekdays will appear here, and people from all walks of life will come and go, and the crowds are really bustling.
Since Liu Tianlai dared to come to Wen Liang at dinner time, he must have arranged everything privately. Otherwise, when Wen Liang asked him to treat them to a meal, and then he remembered to arrange it at Yuxiangyuan, he wouldn't be able to find a seat or even a parking space.
The difficulty of doing things and being a person lies in being attentive, but success also lies in being attentive! Liu Tianlai looks rough on the outside, but his mind is delicate and extraordinary. Just like many successful people, others only see the scenery and ease outside, thinking that a certain position can be sat by anyone, but they don’t know that if you really sit on it, even your butt will be burnt!
Wen Liang was far from being a superior, but he had already learned to ignore these small details. He didn't care whether Liu Tianlai had made arrangements in advance, nor did he ask if it was a little late to come to this seemingly very popular restaurant. He just opened the car door and walked in with Ning Xiaoning and Xu Yao.
From a micro perspective, this is one of the pleasures that countless people get from pursuing power; from a macro perspective, this is actually the basic structure of class distinction in social relations. But no matter what, whether such a social relationship can be formed between people depends on whether each other can get what they need!
"It might be late to go back. Do you want to call Secretary Xu?"
Although Wen Liang was talking so loudly in the car, he still had some concerns in his heart. Xu Yao burst out laughing and teased, "I really thought you were fearless."
Of course Wen Liang refused to admit it: "I am showing respect, understand?" After saying that, he gave her a meaningful look. Xu Yao somehow remembered the words he often said when he was talking nonsense: The municipal party secretary is my future father-in-law... Bah!
Ning Xiaoning put her hands in the pockets of her red woolen windbreaker, standing in the crowd, making her tall figure even more outstanding. She didn't even look at Wen Liang, and said disdainfully: "Virtue!"
Liu Zhihe was hiding at the back and laughing, but was caught by Wen Liang, who came over and hugged his shoulders, whispering, "Brother Liu, are we brothers?"
Liu Zhihe is a man as smart as a ghost, how could he be fooled by him? He said expressionlessly: "No!"
Wen Liang sneered, "Isn't that right? Then I'll have a good chat with Director Liu later. Someone opened a gambling house in the school to recruit followers, bullied boys and girls and did all kinds of evil things..."
Before he finished speaking, Liu Zhihe was about to cry. He reluctantly walked to the two women and said tremblingly: "I'm going to tell you a joke... a joke..."
Xu Yao and Ning Xiaoning looked at each other and saw the smile in each other's eyes. It was enough to tease Wen Liang to this extent. Boys are more concerned about their reputation. The two girls are both smart and clever, and they will control the playfulness within the range that everyone can bear.
No matter what happens, once you cross the line, it’s no longer fun!
In fact, they still underestimated gentleness and forgivingness. There is nothing to be too clear about in two lives. When I was young, I always thought that men’s dignity was the most important. After I matured, I realized that no dignity can be higher than making the people you love and who love you happy and happy.
Xu Yao and Ning Xiaoning walked ahead holding hands, while Wen Liang took a step behind Liu Zhihe and gave him a thumbs up, praising him: "Brother Liu, Nicolas Cage would have to lag behind you in terms of acting skills. Just the look in your eyes, your tone, and the desire to survive revealed in your trembling voice are simply unparalleled. Great, great!"
Liu Zhihe wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and said with a wry smile, "Where did you find these two young ladies? It's really hard for you to bear it! Also, what is this nun drawing silk?"
In 1995, except for the video halls scattered all over the streets, it was not very convenient to watch movies. The large-scale explosion of the home VCD industry would not occur until June of the next year. In the video halls, Hong Kong and Taiwan films dominated the market, and pirated discs in other languages were not seen at all. Therefore, for Nicolas Cage, 1995 was a crucial year in his acting career, because in this year, he starred in "Leaving Las Vegas", a small-scale film with a cost of only 3.5 million US dollars, but it won him an Oscar. But for most young people in China, especially children of Liu Zhihe's age, it is normal not to know Nicolas.
Wen Liang looked at the graceful figures of the two women in front of him, chuckled and said nothing.
You don't understand, watching some people grow up slowly, from their prime years to youth, is just like cultivating a pot of flowers with your own hands. When the flower blooms, you look back at the life you have experienced together, without any regrets or sadness, but only the picturesque white clothes in the dream and the faint smile in the memory.
There were already many people queuing at the entrance of Yuxiangyuan. After Liu Tianlai finished the arrangements, two waitresses in cheongsam led everyone to the second floor. Xu Yao kept looking at the windows along the street on the second floor, and seemed not to want to go into the private room, but she was obedient and didn't say anything. With her family background, she would have no chance to blend in with the crowd whenever there were adults present.
"Uncle Liu, can you find a way to change seats with that place? When eating, it's more lively and popular." Wen Liang pointed to a table by the window, where the night view of Shouyi Street could be seen. There were five people sitting there, three men and two women, who seemed to have just arrived. There was only a cup of tea in front of each person.
Just looking at the two floors above and below, you can tell that being able to book a private room at this time is already a great honor. It would be unkind to suddenly say no, but Liu Tianlai nodded without hesitation and said, "Okay, wait a moment, it will be quick." After that, he whispered a few words to the girl who led the way, and the girl immediately trotted downstairs.
In less than two minutes, a well-dressed, thin, middle-aged man came over to greet them. The smile on his face was extremely friendly, and it made people feel that he was very humble, respectful but also enthusiastic. Just a smile alone, without years of practice in the market, can't be so comprehensive.
"Director Liu, it is a great honor for me to have you here. It has been a long time since you came to visit me. I think you are getting estranged from me, right?"
Liu Tianlai laughed loudly: "Stop talking nonsense. Even if I bring everyone in the bureau here, I can't stop you. Stop talking nonsense and change the stage for me."
The middle-aged man laughed so hard after hearing this that Xu Yao was worried that he might fall down. The boss stepped in and waived the meal fee for these people, and the matter was quickly settled. Several people sat down by the window. Xu Yao naturally knew that Wen Liang did all this for her. There was no communication through words or eye contact, but she just knew it!
Xu Yao thanked Liu Tianlai modestly: "Thank you, Uncle Liu. I'm sorry for the trouble."
Liu Tianlai was very happy. He waved his hand and said, "It's nothing! You must be hungry. Let's serve a few special dishes first. For the rest, just order what you like. Don't save money for uncle."
While waiting for the food, Xu Yao happily drew a pig's head on the misty glass. Wen Liang said with great self-awareness, "There's no need to write the name, right?"
Everyone laughed, and even Ning Xiaoning's shoulders trembled. This time tonight, Liu Tianlai saw another side of Wen Liang, which was completely different from the fierce and aggressive side.
If Ren Yi, this stuffy guy, were alive, he would definitely sigh inwardly like this: When awake, hold the power of the world; when drunk, lie on the lap of a beauty; this is what being a man should be like!
Various dishes came up in a stream, including fat lobsters, boiling fish, chicken, mushrooms with abalone sauce, black pepper steak, sea cucumber with scallions, and Chinese cabbage in a clay pot. They were all ordinary Jiang cuisine, with authentic flavors at a moderate price. No wonder the business was so hot. Everyone's appetite was whetted. Although Liu Tianlai and Liu Zhihe were father and son, their eating styles were very different. Liu Tianlai still ate in a bold manner, but Liu Zhihe changed his NB style and ate lobster like an aristocrat. He sniffed, licked, peeled, ate, twisted, pinched, peeled, pulled, and tore. Wen Liang was so annoyed that he couldn't help laughing and said, "Uncle Liu, Zhihe is your biological son, right?"
Liu Tianlai slapped Liu Zhihe on the back of his head, causing the lobster in his hand to drop onto the plate. "This kid looks like me, but his personality is very different. He is very timid when eating. I have beaten him since he was a child, but he just can't change."
Liu Zhihe was really used to being beaten. He continued to pick up the lobster and eat it without any reaction, which made Wen Liang amazed.
On the contrary, it was a delight to watch the two beauties eating, but Ning Xiaoning was still as cold as ever when she ate. Although her posture was elegant, her face was expressionless, as if she had a deep hatred for food, which was unbearable to watch.
Ning Xiaoning was enjoying her meal when she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Wen Liang, we are going to visit the memorial hall in Yishan County tomorrow, but who is this Kong Puzhou? I asked many people, but no one knows."
Many people? Just Xu Yao! Wen Liang really wanted to say that with your temper, you would ask other people questions, I would cut off Liu Zhihe's head and kick it like a ball. But for safety reasons, he didn't say it. He took a sip of tea and said, "A party member and cadre who died in the line of duty has many touching deeds. The central government should vigorously publicize and shape the image of the government. Plus, he happened to be from Qingzhou, so let's go there to visit and learn."
In fact, he was a little puzzled. Logically speaking, the memorial hall had only been built a few days ago, so how could it not be the turn of the school to organize students to visit it? Liu Tianlai suddenly said, "I know a little about this matter. I heard Director Zuo mention it a few times. The city just issued a document a few days ago, which called for the launch of the "Three Lectures" activity. I still have a copy on my desk. Generally speaking, the Propaganda Department of the Municipal Party Committee has to set the tone for this matter first. I don't know what Li Dingguo of the Education Bureau was thinking. He took the lead among all the bureaus and committees in Qingzhou to come up with a plan, one of which is to organize all the primary and secondary school students in the city to go to Yishan to receive patriotic education..."
After hearing what he said, Wen Liang understood instantly. The political situation in Beijing was turbulent, and No. 1 had made public speeches more than once to stabilize people's hearts. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 14th Central Committee became a political stage for compromise and confrontation among all parties. The two vice chairmen of the Military Commission, two members of the Military Commission, and two members of the Central Committee added during the session were all very important. After the closing of the plenary session, on November 8, when inspecting all walks of life in Beijing, No. 1 once again proposed that party members and cadres should focus on learning, politics, and integrity, and officially launched a massive three-talk campaign across the country. What Wen Liang did not expect was that the Qingzhou Education Bureau, which has always been inefficient and slow to respond, was actually at the forefront of the city and was the first to make a move, and the move was not small. The cost of renting cars to visit hundreds of primary and secondary schools in the city in batches is a considerable expense, not to mention other things.
Li Dingguo spent a lot of money this time. Even if the city finances can subsidize it, and get some sponsorship from the provincial education committee, the education bureau's small treasury will have to pay a lot this year. As an official at this level, he naturally wouldn't do anything without a purpose. Wen Liang smiled slightly and said, "This Director Li is a smart man..."
Li Dingguo was not an important figure, and he had no grudges against the Xu and Zhou factions, but the problem was that Zuo Yuxi was under his rule, and Li Dingguo had to think about it. If Zuo Yuxi intended to make further progress, he would definitely lose his position as director, and even if he had the guts, he would not dare to be arrogant and say that he could compete with this popular female deputy director.
But at this time, I couldn't get through to Xu Fuyan, and giving gifts didn't work. It would be better to write a nice article and take this opportunity to report a few more times, maybe there would be a different situation.
Wen Liang was not concerned about this person, but a glimpse of the various lives in Qingzhou. Xu Fuyan had already begun to exude the temptation of power, and everyone had to focus on his every move, thinking, listening, watching, and doing!
Compared to Wen Liang and Liu Tianlai who borrowed a place here to have a meal, that was tremendous power and dominance!
Xu Yao was not interested in these activities. She bit her chopsticks with her red lips, and her big eyes reflected the lights outside the window, like the reflection of twinkling stars, a bit gorgeous and a bit brilliant. Ning Xiaoning lowered her head to eat, but the corner of her eyes passed by Wen Liang's face, as if thinking about something. Only Liu Zhihe frowned slightly, listening attentively but not quite understanding. He was not stupid, but he knew too little.
Wen Liang got up and went to the toilet. He walked through the long corridor on the left and passed a private room with the door half-open. Suddenly, he heard the sound of plates falling to the ground, followed by a man's angry shout, and then chairs and tables collided, and people fell to the ground and screamed. Wen Liang stopped and looked inside. A girl fell to the ground with her back to him, covering her face with one hand and pressing her calf with the other. There was a faint trace of blood dripping from her trouser legs to the ground.
"How do you serve me? I think you look good, so I'll touch you to give you face, and you dare to hide? The food and dishes are all over you, and you can't even afford to compensate for your clothes! Why don't you apologize quickly? Are you asking for a beating?"
Wen Liang didn't want to meddle in other people's business. It was common for some people to flirt with pretty waitresses during meals. It didn't matter what they did, they just liked the tone. As soon as he took a step away, the girl's clear, stubborn, and trembling voice came over: