Chapter 21 Chapter 21

After dinner, Zhu Huaijing leaned on the deck chair on the balcony to refresh himself.For a while, the light on the balcony was indescribably soft, and for some reason, he thought of comfort, and his heart felt soft, like a group of wet white clouds lingering inside.The sky soon darkened, and the night became ambiguous.Outside the window is a soothing hill, with some peach and orange trees planted, a little closer to the house, and it will feel suffocating to look out of the window during the day.It’s fine when it gets dark, and what you see is the real night outside, instead of always looking at the lights of other people’s houses.He seldom had time to sit quietly and think about extravagant things.His mind couldn't calm down either, there were too many things on his mind.I just thought about Shu Chang, and immediately thought of Lu Tianyi again. A call came from Jingdu, saying that Comrade Duan Meng, the director of the Municipal Education Commission, would come in a few days and wanted to give Lu Tianyi a new car as a gift. The latest Buick.Lu Tianyi's feat of selling a car as a teaching assistant actually moved the leaders of the Municipal Education Committee greatly.They said, how can the commissioner of the dignified administrative office be left without a car?The Board of Education is throwing pots and pieces of iron, and they have to help with all their pockets.In fact, why should the Board of Education sell everything?That Qingshui yamen is very rich.

Suddenly a phone call came, and Xiangmei called him, saying it was Yu Jianyang.Zhu Huaijing was a little impatient, picked up the phone, and gave a soft feed through his nose.Yu Jianyang said: "Hi Secretary Zhu, I want to come and see you, is it convenient?" Zhu Huaijing said: "We meet every day, haven't seen enough? What's the matter? Let's forget it." Yu Jianyang never cared about Zhu Huaijing's seriousness. If it was serious, he only thought that the relationship between the two of them was casual, as if they were already close friends and their words were rough. "Secretary Zhu, I have something to report to you."

"Can I talk over the phone?" Zhu Huaijing said coldly. Yu Jianyang smiled and said: "Let's report in person, it will only delay you for ten minutes." Zhu Huaijing said okay, and hung up the phone without waiting for a response.Yin Yufu just came out of Qiqi's room, and when Zhu Huaijing finished answering the phone, he sighed, "Secretary Zhu is so quiet that he can't do it for a while. Being a leader is really hard." Zhu Huaijing didn't say anything, but smiled wryly.Seeing that Zhu Huaijing had no time to talk to him, Yin Yufu went in again.Not long after, Yu Jianyang came and brought someone with him.It was a young man with a gift bag. "Secretary Zhu, this is my friend, Xiao Li." Before he could sit down, Yu Jianyang introduced the guests first.After all, Zhu Huaijing was afraid that Yin Yufu and his wife would look bad, so he led them into the study, and Xiao Li handed over his business card.Zhu Huaijing glanced at it, and seeing "Li Ming, General Manager of Pyramid Construction Company" printed on it, Zhu Huaijing understood several layers in his heart.Sure enough, after chatting for a while, Yu Jianyang said: "Xiao Li's projects focus on quality and reputation. He wants to compete for the tobacco factory project." It's too thorough, just understand it by heart.

Zhu Huaijing smiled and said, "Want to participate in the bidding? Well, welcome. The more units that participate, the wider the choice we have." Li Ming said: "To tell the truth from Secretary Zhu, what I am worried about is that there are too many competitors. I am not afraid of corporate qualifications, technical capabilities, and credibility. It is just that we are a new company and are not well-known. I am self-aware. I know that I am taking the liberty, and I want to ask Secretary Zhu to care about our company." Zhu Huaijing said: "Xiao Li, I am responsible for this matter, which is good. But I only care about the general principles, not the specific operations. Don't worry, as long as you bid well, you are sure to succeed. Please miss our fairness. "

Li Ming said: "This is natural, this is natural." No matter what Li Ming said, Zhu Huaijing just dismissed him with a few official words.Yu Jianyang said: "Don't disturb Secretary Zhu, you can rest." Li Ming also hurriedly said: "Excuse me, excuse me." Zhu Huaijing pointed to the gift and said: "Xiao Li, take this away, don't worry about it." polite." Li Ming just smiled and looked at Yu Jianyang as if embarrassed.Yu Jianyang said: "It's just a few cigarettes, Secretary Zhu, don't take it too seriously, just treat it as a gift from me."

If he couldn't push it away, Zhu Huaijing didn't say much.After they left, Xiangmei came to clear the teacups and took the cigarettes.After a while, Xiangmei called out: "Zhu Huaijing, come quickly." Zhu Huaijing went in, and seeing Xiangmei unpacking the gift bag that Li Ming had just brought, he immediately knew what was going on.Fearing that Yin Yufu and his wife would hear, Xiangmei said softly, "The four cigarettes are full of money." Zhu Huaijing was not too surprised and said: "I didn't expect it today. How can there be a reason for sending money with a witness? You should count first."

Xiangmei buried her head in counting the money while Zhu Huaijing paced in the study.Thinking to himself that Yu Jianyang was in his thirties in vain, maybe he really thought he had a lot of face with Secretary Zhu, right?Zhu Huaijing is usually the most disrespectful towards Jianyang, but he always has a playful smile on his face.What Zhu Huaijing was most worried about was that someone would give gifts to Yuan Zhi.If someone settles Yuan Zhifeng, and Zhu Huaijing wants to deal with business, it will be troublesome.It's not that he doesn't trust anyone, who can tell when it comes to money?Should I call Yuan Zhifeng and tell him about someone sending money?Yuan Zhifeng knew that his attitude was tough, so he had no choice but to be stern and selfless.After thinking about it again and again, I think it's not right, so I don't care what he should do, I'll be tough before I speak. "Two hundred thousand." Xiangmei said.

Zhu Huaijing smiled and said, "Not many." Xiangmei said, "Not much? It's my ten-year salary." Zhu Huaijing said: "You don't know, there are regulations on this. According to the project cost, he had to give me 500,000 yuan. He probably meant to give me an advance payment." Xiangmei shook her head and said, "I really admire them too. Bills worth hundreds of thousands of yuan dare to put them in front of others so casually. What if the money is wasted?" Zhu Huai said: "You don't understand again. Everyone knows that this is hot money. If you take it, you have to do things for him. If you don't want to do things for him, and you don't have the guts to keep the money, you have to return it." I just explained the truth to him clearly, and he just thought I was an official. Besides, I just don’t want to send money. Since I brought it, it’s not easy to take it back. I had to put it here, anyway. Don't be afraid to lose it."

"Then what should we do?" Xiangmei asked. Zhu Huaijing said, "There's nothing to think about, so call Yu Jianyang." Xiangmei hesitated to speak, hesitated for a while, and said, "Huaijing, can you help me?" Zhu Huaijing understood what Xiangmei meant, and didn't blame her, just said: "We must go back." The cigarette case was torn off, Xiangmei put the money in a plastic bag, pushed it on the table, shook her head and smiled, as if she was very sorry, she couldn't help sighing again, closed the door and went out .Zhu Huaijing didn't think there was anything wrong with Xiangmei, it's human nature.He didn't have Yu Jianyang's phone number at hand, so he went to Zhao Yipu, "Yipu? You contact Yu Jianyang and ask him to call me."

A few minutes later, Zhao Yipu called back: "Secretary Zhu, I got in touch with him. He just asked what you can do with him, and I said I don't know." Zhu Huaijing waited for a long time, but when Yu Jianyang didn't call back, he got a little angry, and hung up Zhao Yipu's call again, "What's going on, he hasn't called back at this time." Zhao Yipu was frightened to death, and hurriedly said: "Why, he is too shameless, I will contact him again." Yu Jianyang called back and said, "Secretary Zhu? I'm sorry, I was outside, and my phone just ran out of battery. Do you have any instructions?"

Zhu Huaijing got angry and shouted, "What do you think? Don't ask so many questions, come to my house immediately." Yu Jianyang said yes again and again, and within ten minutes, Yu Jianyang came, sweating profusely.Seeing him so pitiful, Zhu Huaijing didn't want to go too far, so he smiled and said, "Younger, let's go to the study." Turning around, he told Xiangmei that no one would answer the phone tonight. Zhu Huaijing pointed to the money on the table, still smiling, and said, "How can this be done?" "What... what's going on?" Yu Jianyang hesitated. Zhu Huaijing smiled again: "Jianyang, do you really not know, or are you pretending to be confused?" The first time Yu Jianyang heard Zhu Huaijing call him Jianyang, it was like hearing a nickname between lovers, and he was a little moved: "Really, Secretary Zhu, I really don't know. I really thought he was just giving you some cigarettes." Zhu Huaijing knew that Yu Jianyang was prevaricating, otherwise he wouldn't have delayed calling.But I didn't want to hold on to it, and pretended to be confused.Then he said: "Jianyang, I know you are an old-fashioned and warm-hearted person, and you are willing to help your friends, but there are some things that you cannot do, and you just can't do them. There is no reason to say. I have told him the truth, and he may think that I said It’s a high-sounding, but in fact it’s insincere, so he still puts these here. Of course, your friend may have his own reasons, and he’s afraid that if you don’t play by the rules of the game, you won’t be able to get things done. This time I want to tell you that the affairs of the world, There are also times when you don’t play according to the vulgar rules of the game, these things, you count them and return them for me.” Yu Jianyang kept nodding or shaking his head, and then said: "Secretary Zhu, I am really educated today. You have always been strict with me. I didn't pay attention, and I almost caused you trouble." "It's already troublesome." Zhu Huaijing's tone seemed to be joking. Yu Jianyang felt embarrassed, and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes. Secretary Zhu, if the leading comrades are like you, things will be easy to handle." Zhu Huaijing smiled and said, "Jianyang, how do you know that not all leaders are like this?" Yu Jianyang knew that what he said was inappropriate, so he nodded and said: That's true, that's true. " "Don't think that if you catch a few corrupt officials, everyone is a corrupt official," Zhu Huaijing said. Yu Jianyang sighed: "Secretary Zhu, I will never forget this lesson tonight. It's not that I said it well in person. I will tell my children and grandchildren about what happened tonight in my lifetime." Zhu Huaijing shook his head and said, "Jianyang, I'm about to explain to you. This matter, I said it here, here it is. Don't go out to publicize it. It's not good for yourself. I love you. Originally, I already Greeted with the relevant parties, once found out that anyone who engages in crooked ways will be disqualified from bidding, and for your sake, you will not be held accountable. Tell your friends, don’t carry burdens, and compete on your own strength.” "Okay, I believe I understand Secretary Zhu." Yu Jianyang said and asked again, "How much is this?" Zhu Huaijing said: "I just took it out, I don't have time to count it, so you can count it." Yu Jianyang counted the money again, but when he counted, he couldn't help but raise his head and say a few words to Zhu Huaijing, otherwise he seemed to be impolite, so he counted two hundred and seven thousand.Zhu Huaijing said: "It's impossible to have such a small change. Just click again, don't talk." Yu Jianyang counted again, finally counted, and typed a note, and received a sum of 200,000 yuan. Yu Jianyang left, and Xiangmei came in and said, "Yu Jianyang is a person who walks on the stage of Meiji, and mostly deals with the leaders. It's probably not the first time he's going between the leaders and the boss. To save face, I'm afraid it's the first time he meets." Zhu Huaijing knew that Xiangmei was blaming him, but she couldn't say it out loud.He joked: "I said my wife, I don't know if you are praising me or criticizing me? I also know that this is not the first time Yu Jianyang has been a broker, but I don't care what others do, I can't do it. Like When bidding for a project like a cigarette factory, hundreds of pairs of eyes stare at me, I just want to be greedy, and I don’t have the guts.” Xiangmei said coldly: "Don't get me wrong, I don't want you to be greedy." There really is no impenetrable wall, and within a few days, rumors about Zhu Huaijing's refusal to bribe will be quietly spread in Meici.He heard it from Zhao Yipu, Zhao Yipu said it was Miao Ming's secretary Song Yong, Zhu Huaijing didn't learn well, and he didn't want people to make a fuss about it.It was even more strange that Miao Ming never mentioned this matter when he saw him.He thought that since Song Yong knew about it, Miao Ming would naturally hear about it. Zhu Huaijing knew that Yu Jianyang was a talkative person, so he couldn't help but talk about it outside, so he came to Yu Jianyang and told him a lesson.Yu Jianyang categorically denied it, and insisted that he did not miss a word, so he did not know whether it was Yu Jianyang or Li Ming who said it.Zhu Huaijing knew that there was no point in pursuing this matter, so when he approached Yu Jianyang, he just wanted to get angry. In the afternoon, Cui Li suddenly came to Zhu Huaijing's office and said, "Secretary Zhu, I don't have an appointment with you. I'm sorry." "Oh, are you still in Meici?" Zhu Huaijing's words had some meaning, but Cui Li didn't seem to catch it. Cui Li said: "Secretary Zhu, I was really moved when I heard people talk about your refusal to bribe in private. Can you tell me about the situation? I want to report this matter." Zhu Huaijing shook his head and said, "That's not the case, it's all other people's nonsense." "How is it possible? What others say has a nose and an eye." Zhu Huaijing smiled and said, "Cui Li, you are so serious. Why don't you trust the person involved, but trust others? Who doesn't want to be an advanced model? I really wish I could become a model of building a clean government." Cui Li said: "So, can you please talk about your views on integrity and self-discipline? Or how you are honest and self-disciplined?" Zhu Huaijing said: "About this question, I asked you a question last time. What I mean is to highlight our team as a whole and not to promote any individual. Regarding the situation of the whole team, you have to interview Comrade Miao Ming and Lu Comrade Tianyi." No matter how Cui Li persuaded him, Zhu Huaijing refused to accept the interview.In the end, Cui Li could only laugh and said: "Secretary Zhu is really a leader with personality." In fact, this is because Zhu Huaijing didn't give face.Zhu Huaijing also pretended to be mean, and made a loud haha.The two shook hands enthusiastically, patted shoulders again, and said goodbye.Sending Cui Li away, Zhu Huaijing thought about it calmly, and felt that it was better to keep silent.Letting such rumors seem plausible is not necessarily a bad thing.Shu Chang called and said without a word of greeting, "Are you free tonight? I want to see you." "Okay, to your house, or to the black swan?" Zhu Huaijing asked. "Come to Black Swan, I will go there at eight o'clock in the evening, is it convenient for you?" "Okay, I'll wait for you on time." Zhu Huaijing went home and had dinner, and asked Yang Chong to send him to the Black Swan with the excuse of a meeting.He didn't say hello to Liu Hao either, he opened the door and entered room 1818.Just after eight o'clock, the doorbell rang.When I opened the door, I found it was comfortable. "Sit down, have you eaten yet?" Zhu Huaijing asked. Shu Chang chuckled and said, "Don't you know what else to say? You haven't eaten at this time. Are you treating me?" Zhu Huaijing also laughed and said, "Have you eaten yet? This is Chinese Hello." He didn't know if Shu Chang was looking for him for something, or if he just wanted to see him, but it was difficult to ask, and it would be embarrassing to ask.Then he said, "What should I eat? Apples, or grapes? Bananas?" The bar in the room is always stocked with drinks and fruits, and there are always various drinks in the refrigerator. Shu Chang smiled and said, "Why don't you buy me a glass of wine?" "I really didn't expect this. Well, let's have a drink." Zhu Huaijing said. Shu Chang hurriedly said: "Where is it? I'm joking. Forget it, I'll make a cup of tea myself." She didn't wait for Zhu Huaijing to be polite, and went to make tea by herself.Zhu Huaijing really wanted to drink, and said: "Really, Shu Chang, have a drink. There is brandy, Remy Martin, Hennessy, Maotai, and Wuliangye." Shu Chang didn't answer, just laughed.Zhu Huaijing tentatively asked: "Drink foreign wine?" Shu Chang still didn't say anything, just looked at him and smiled, and he poured two glasses of Remy Martin.Shu Chang took the wine glass, touched him lightly, and said, "Suddenly I thought I haven't seen you for a long time, so I just want to meet you. Are you taking the liberty?" Zhu Huaijing said: "Shu Chang, what are you talking about? I can't wait to see you, a sweet lady, every day." This was referring to the Jingdu Daily.Shu Chang said, "Why don't you say that I am your beloved wife?" Zhu Huaijing couldn't help blushing, and said, "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I offended you." Shu Chang said: "How could it be? I can't wait to have a beautiful girl." Unexpectedly, Shu Chang spoke like this, and Zhu Huaijing's heart beat a little. "Shu Chang, you are really a sweet and beautiful woman. Let me tell you, I'm not afraid of your jokes. When I saw you for the first time, I didn't dare to look at you. I thought you were so beautiful that it hurt my eyes." Hong lowered his head.Suddenly he raised his head and smiled and said, "It's not as severe as you said, is it? Hey, I said, I heard that someone gave you another 500,000 yuan, but you rejected it. I heard that CCTV knew about it and wanted to interview you. ?” After hearing this, Zhu Huaijing laughed and said, "One day I will say that I refused to bribe one million miles." Then he explained the reason. Shu Chang said: "Let me tell you, that's the way it is. I don't understand why you people in the officialdom don't dare to be a good person? I'm afraid others will say how good he is." Zhu Huaijing said: "It's not absolutely true, the situation is very complicated. Let me tell you, the story of my refusal to bribe is widely circulated among the common people, but the leaders of the prefectural committee and administrative office that we meet every day pretend to be deaf and dumb. You Don't you understand the reason in the middle?" "I really don't understand." Zhu Huaijing hesitated to speak, and said: "You are not a middle-aged person, and you won't fully understand it if you say it. It doesn't make sense for you to understand, so let's not talk about it." Shu Chang said: "Maybe I really don't understand. In fact, I don't care about these things. I only care about whether these things will affect you well or not. Because I heard you said that I don't want others to talk about these things. thing." "Things will never happen according to my imagination. Now that this is the case, it doesn't matter. I don't know how to say a word, let the outside world tell the truth. Come and drink. There is no food, Just drink it up like this, which is a bit like a Westerner." Zhu Huaijing said. Shu Chang took a sip of wine, still feeling a little gloomy, and said, "It's really not easy for you..." Zhu Huaijing suddenly laughed, and Shu Chang raised his eyes to look at him, his eyes flustered.Zhu Huaijing said: "I just found out that you used to call me Secretary Zhu, but now you don't call me any other name. You just call me 'you'. You also pronounce the word 'you' very accurately, like a strange Beijinger." Shu Chang also smiled: "Then I will still call you Secretary Zhu?" "Please, if you don't dare to call me by my name, you can just call me Brother Zhu." Zhu Huaijing was actually joking on purpose.He naturally knew that if men and women kept talking about you, me and me, they must have reached some kind of good situation.The so-called Qingqing me, isn't it just you, me and me? Shu Chang shook his head and smiled, and said, "I want to call you brother too, but I just can't say it." This layer of meaning is broken, but it is natural.While talking, for some reason, Shu Chang called him brother.It is common sense that he still told her to be comfortable.The two slowly drank the wine, and they each drank three glasses.Shu Chang's face was bright red, and his eyes were a little blurred.Zhu Huaijing was afraid to imagine her thoughts.He remembered that night, when Shu Chang took a shower in the bathroom, she didn't dare to come out for a long time, so she dawdled to wash her clothes.She said to leave several times, but did not leave.Later he asked her to eat an apple, she said to eat an apple, but before he could peel the apple, she suddenly bowed her head and left.Later, as long as he thought about it, his heart would be disturbed.Tonight, her dreamy gaze also made his heart sway. "Shu Chang, let's stop drinking, okay." Zhu Huaijing said. Shu Chang said: "I just want to drink tonight, let's have another drink." Zhu Huaijing asked: "Are you okay?" He added another glass of wine.The two didn't talk much, and the glass of wine was drunk quickly.It seemed that Shu Chang was a little drunk, Zhu Huaijing really refused to let her drink.But she insisted on drinking, so she went to the bar to pour the wine.His steps wobbled a little, and the alcohol hit his skirt.Zhu Huaijing said, "Go wash it, it's sticky and uncomfortable." Shu Chang didn't answer, took the bag and went into the bathroom.Zhu Huaijing drank Shu Chang's glass of wine, saying that he couldn't let her drink it.Hearing the rushing water inside, he couldn't help feeling panicked, so he turned on the TV and kept changing channels.After a long time, Shu Chang opened the door and came out. "Did you finish washing?" Zhu Huaijing turned around and asked as if nothing had happened.But seeing Shu Chang wearing pajamas, with fluffy hair pulled back, he didn't dare to look at him.Rubbing his hands on his face, he walked over.Zhu Huaijing didn't dare to look at her too much, so he just said, "Sit down first, I'll take a shower. I've finished the wine, so don't drink any more." His voice was a little dry. Entering the bathroom, I saw that Shu Chang had washed off the skirt and underwear and hung them to dry.He understood that the thing that he was faintly longing for and somewhat fearful of had finally come.The sound of the water in the bathtub seemed to be much louder than usual, which made his brain go numb, and the light seemed to be particularly harsh, making his eyes hurt.He closed his eyes, lay down in the bathtub, and tried to make his breathing even.He always took a shower very quickly, but today he procrastinated on purpose.The water kept flowing, and the bathtub, which was full of body foam, finally became crystal clear.After finally taking a shower, putting on pajamas, drying my hair, I opened the door and went out.But Shu Chang is not in the living room.Zhu Huaijing's chest jumped wildly, and he opened the door and entered the bedroom.There was no one in the bedroom either.She must have gone to the balcony, right?He briskly called: "Shu Chang, where are you?" After speaking, he went to the balcony.The balcony was also empty, so Zhu Huaijing panicked, and went to the living room and bedroom, but there was no one there, and after a closer look, Shu Chang's bag was gone. Zhu Huaijing was a little scared, afraid that something might happen to Shu Chang.I don't know how much she can drink. Did she have an alcoholic attack and act alone?He tried to call her home phone, but no one answered; he wanted to go downstairs to have a look, but he was afraid it would be too conspicuous.There was no other way but to keep calling her home.Finally, someone answered, but there was no sound for a long time. "Hello, is that you? Please speak." "I'm sorry," was really comforting. "I'm so sorry, I..." Zhu Huaijing said: "It's fine, I'm scared to death, I'm afraid you have something wrong." Shu Chang said: "I... I... I'm fine. I just... just suddenly felt that I was too ridiculous, so I left." Zhu Huaijing didn't have any scruples anymore, and said: "Shu Chang, I like you very much, you may have seen it too. But... But, I'm always afraid that I will hurt you accidentally." "Today...today is my birthday." Shu Chang said softly. "Really? Why didn't you say it? Is this okay? I'll come pick you up right away, and let's celebrate your birthday." Zhu Huaijing was a little anxious. "Forget it. I had a great birthday today, really." Shu Chang seemed very happy on purpose.