Chapter 28: Ministry of Transportation Qin Kezhang

  Collect! Recommend! Sponsor!

  In the Wangfu Hotel's Xingyue Pavilion private room, Pang Zheng sat in the main seat and looked at Yang Jie beside him, smiling and asking: "Did you just run into an acquaintance? Could it be a colleague from your provincial office?"

  Yang Jie smiled and nodded, saying: "Yes, the one who just spoke to me was Zhu Jiangxin, Deputy Director of the Provincial Office of Huahe County. He invited a leader from the Transportation Department for dinner."

  Pang Zheng heard this and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes, smiling as he said: "The leader of the Transportation Department? The deputy director of the provincial office, couldn't even think to book a seat in advance, waited until they arrived, only to find that there wasn't even a table available, wouldn't that be a disaster? What's your relationship with him like?"

  Liu Fei heard this and curled her lip in disdain, saying: "Those two outside don't get along with Yang Jie, relying on their seniority in the provincial office to monopolize the director's assigned car for our group. People like them need to be taught a lesson, or they'll think they're above everyone else!"

  Qin Mei slammed her hand on the table and said with a raised eyebrow, "Those two guys are bullying Yang Jie like that? No way! We have to teach them a lesson so they know that Yang Jie is under my protection!"

  "What are you covering, do you think you're a triad? How did Military Academy educate someone like you, a female bandit? Look at FeiFei, so elegant, you should learn from her. Otherwise, I won't take you out to play anymore, lest Uncle Qin blames me for corrupting you." Pang Zheng couldn't help but scold in a low voice after hearing Qin Mei's words.

  Qin Mei, who usually didn't show respect to Pang Zheng, saw him being serious and couldn't help but stick out her tongue, her big eyes quickly looking at Yang Jie and Liu Fei for help. Even the mischievous Qin Mei was afraid of Pang Zheng getting angry. Liu Fei smiled and said: "Pang Ge, Mei is just making a mistake, don't be angry!"

  "Yes! Sister Feifei is right, it's a slip of the tongue! A slip of the tongue!" Qin Mei accompanied with a smile, watching Pang Zheng hurriedly explain.

  Fortunately, Pang Zheng was not really angry. Seeing Qin Mei knowing that she should not have said so, he turned to Yang Jie and asked, "What do you think?"

  Pang Zheng asked this question, naturally wanting to hear Yang Jie's intention. If Yang Jie let him help, then he would naturally be responsible for it.

  Yang Jie understood the meaning behind Pang Zheng's words, feeling grateful in his heart. However, he didn't want to rely on Pang Zheng for everything, so he smiled and said: "Pang Ge, they're just two insignificant clowns. If I can't even handle them, how will I survive in the system in the future? Don't worry, when I need your help in the future, I'll definitely speak up."

  "Go! Just tell me directly if you need anything!" Pang Zheng smiled brightly after Yang Jie said that, his gaze at Yang Jie filled with a hint of appreciation.

  If Yang Jie can't even handle this matter and still needs to ask for help from him, then Pang Zheng will really look down on Yang Jie.

  Infighting and political struggles within the system will not decrease, wanting to mix in the system naturally requires such psychological preparation and awareness, as well as confidence in responding to all challenges. If Yang Jie doesn't have this ability, can't even handle this matter, then Pang Zheng would really question Yang Jie's choice of entering politics.

  "What did you guys buy for Yang Jie? Look at all the big and small bags you've brought, my trunk is almost full. Are you satisfied today?" Pang Zheng stopped talking to Yang Jie about work-related things, changed the subject, and asked about Qin Mei and Liu Fei instead.

  "The old master's shirt and trousers, Mengtiao's bright silk series T-shirt and casual pants, Jinli's tie, Dengxilu's belt and bag, and Eel's leather shoes are all the latest seasonal products from specialty stores." Qin Mei said this with a gushing mouth, quickly listing out everything she had bought to help Yang Jie.

  Liu Fei had a smile on her face, obviously mentioning today's shopping made her very happy.

  It was her first time to indulge in a carefree shopping spree, without worrying about the prices. Within one day, she spent an amount equivalent to two years of her salary. This kind of luxurious consumption was also her first experience.

  In 1995, customized clothing was not yet popular in Chengdu, so buying brand-name products was the main consumption concept of the aristocratic class in Chengdu.

  Pang Zheng often goes to Yanjing, so he naturally knows that currently in Yanjing, officials and nobles with status do not bother buying these so-called brand-name products, but instead find professional designers for custom-made tailored clothes.

  Qin Mei is a student of a military academy, usually wearing fewer brand-name clothes, and mostly wears uniforms at school. So when she took Liu Fei to Oriental Plaza, most of the things they bought were international brands that Qin Mei had heard of.

  Listening to Qin Mei and Liu Fei's excited account of today's shopping trip, Pang Zheng and Yang Jie maintained a calm smile, listening intently to the two women. As they spoke, their excitement grew, gesticulating wildly as they shared various anecdotes about buying things. For a time, the private room was filled with non-stop laughter.

  The work efficiency of the Wangfu Hotel is very high. Four people sat in a private room and didn't wait for long before various seafood dishes were served one after another, just like flowing clouds and running water. After drinking quite some wine at noon, Pang Zheng didn't order more wine but instead asked the waiter to bring over several bottles of drinks.

  They opened the drinks, a few people picked them up, clinked one together, and started eating with gusto.

  It has to be said that the Wangfu Hotel's booming business is indeed closely related to its ingredients and the culinary skills of its head chef.

  A table full of Cantonese dishes, with seafood taking up more than half. The steamed abalone was done to perfection, and Qin Mei and Liu Fei's eyes widened as they ate it. Seeing the two women enjoying their food, Pang Zheng asked the kitchen staff to bring out another serving.

  Four people ate and chatted, talking about some interesting things in work and life, study. The atmosphere in the private room was extremely happy. A big meal from 7 pm to almost 9 pm ended, during which the manager of Wangfu Hotel also came over to say hello, sent a plate of abalone and fruit after dinner, giving great face to Pang Zheng.

  Because Pang Zheng had a good relationship with the boss here, he didn't need to pay cash for meals, just sign the bill and his company's finance department would settle it later. Taking the consumption voucher handed over by the waiter, Pang Zheng casually glanced at it, saw that there was no problem, and directly signed his name.

  Although it was almost nine o'clock, walking out of the private room area and into the outer hall, I still saw many people dining, which shows the booming business of Wangfu Hotel.

  Yang Jie and Pang Zheng were walking ahead, just about to leave the hall, when they suddenly saw Zhu Jiangxin and Wang Qunsheng, accompanied by a family of three, walking over from the side. They probably had just finished their meal and were preparing to leave as well.

  "Director Pang, nice to meet you! I didn't expect to run into you here!"

  Qin Le looked at Pang Zheng walking towards him, his eyes suddenly became hot, and he didn't even notice Zhu Jiangxin walking beside him, who was talking to him. He quickly stepped forward, walked in front of Pang Zheng, and asked with a smile on his face.

  "Who are you?"

  Pang Zheng had no impression of the person in front of him and was too lazy to pay attention, but after seeing Zhu Jiangxin and others behind him, he knew that those two were Yang Jie's colleagues and leaders who didn't get along with Yang Jie. His heart involuntarily moved, and he quietly responded with a sentence.

  "Pang Zong, I am Qin Le, the second section chief of the Comprehensive Planning Department of the Transportation Hall. Last year, I had the pleasure of having dinner with you in Zhutang City, along with He Quzhang from Zhu Shan District." Qin Le was just a department head at the provincial hall, and although he held some real power, Pang Zheng didn't care about him, so he didn't leave any impression.

  All year round, Pang Zheng was busy entertaining in various places. The number of people he had dinner with was countless. How could he remember a small figure he met at a dinner party last year? Although he couldn't recall who Qin Le was, he still showed the necessary courtesy. Besides, Zhu Jiangxin and others from the county government's provincial office specially invited him to dinner, so they must have had some request. Thinking of Yang Jie by his side, he smiled and stretched out his hand, "Director Qin, hello! I didn't think of it just now, but you mentioned it, and I seem to have some impression. Are you bringing your family here for dinner?"

  Qin Le didn't expect Pang Zheng to shake hands with him again, and he hastily stepped forward, grasping Pang Zheng's hand, slightly excitedly saying: "Yes, yes, come have dinner with my family over the weekend. This is my lover, who works at the Chengdu Procuratorate, and this is my son."

  Pang Zheng politely nodded to Qin Le's wife, then turned to Yang Jie beside him and said: "Younger brother, this is Director Qin of the Transportation Department. If you have any business to attend to at the Transportation Department in the future, you can ask Director Qin for help."

  "Who is this Mr. Pang?" Qin Le, as a department head in the provincial hall who holds real power, is naturally not foolish and can infer the meaning behind Pang Zheng's words from his tone. His eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at Yang Jie and enthusiastically extended his hand.

  "This is one of my good brothers, Yang Jie. He is the closed disciple of Gong Shanxing, Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Jiangnan Aerospace University." Pang Zheng saw that Qin Le understood and was satisfied with introducing Yang Jie to him.

  Yang Jie is a staff member of the provincial government office in Xingyang County, which Pang Zheng knows. However, instead of introducing Yang Jie's official position to Qin Le, he publicly reveals another identity of Yang Jie, immediately drawing Qin Le's attention.

  Not to mention that Yang Jie can be called a brother by Pang Zheng, but even if Yang Jie is Gong Shanxing's closed disciple, ordinary people in Chengdu would not dare to ignore him.

  Gong Shanxing is a top-notch figure in the academic and scientific research circles of Chengdu, not only as the dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, but also as an academician of the Academy of Sciences. He has spent his life teaching and educating people, with numerous students all over the world, and is a renowned figure in Chengdu with considerable influence.

  Gong Shanxing's students, who are engaged in politics and business, are not uncommon, and they are all over the country. Many of them hold high positions, which is also one of the reasons why Gong Lao has a great influence in Chengdu. Qin Le works in the provincial hall and is naturally familiar with some celebrities in Chengdu. He knows that Yang Jie is Gong Lao's closest disciple and must be deeply loved by Gong Lao, so he dare not offend him.

  "Hello Mr. Yang! I didn't expect you to be Master Gong's closed-door disciple. Master Gong is a giant in our Chengdu academic circle, and a banner of Chengdu. You must be a dragon or phoenix among men to become his closed-door disciple, and your future prospects will surely be boundless. It's an honor to meet you."

  Qin Le was very eloquent, first flattering Gong Lao's status and then borrowing Gong Lao to praise Yang Jie, making people feel extremely comfortable after listening. It is no wonder that he grew up as a cadre in the provincial government agency, with a good set of words and deeds.