Chapter Eleven: The Phoenix's Old Acquaintance

  Han Qin took a look under the lamp and recognized her too. The girl's name was Wang Li, and her boyfriend's name was Zhang Bin. When they were taking the civil service exam, they were at the same test site. Zhang Bin fainted due to low blood sugar, but Han Qin helped him recover, so he didn't miss the opportunity to take the exam! After that, they hadn't seen each other again, but during Chinese New Year, they had exchanged New Year's greetings via text messages!

  Zhang Bin immediately recognized Han Qin and exclaimed with surprise: "Brother, you arrived in Xiping but didn't even give your brother a call. Are you afraid I won't be able to afford meals?" Han Qin smiled and said: "What are you talking about? I remember you two aren't working in the countryside anymore?"

  Look at Wang Li, Zhang Bin smiled awkwardly: "Both of us are in Fenghuang Township, I'm in the Party and Government Office, Wang Li is in the Education Office. We came to take wedding photos, it's getting late, so we'll stay overnight and head back to work in the township early tomorrow!"

  Wang Li lowered her head in embarrassment, after all, she was unmarried! Feng Huang Village? Han Qin remembered that when they were introduced, it was said to be this place. He had simply forgotten!

  Han Qin invited them to sit down and asked the waiter to add two more kilograms of roasted lamb chops and two sets of tableware. Although Zhang Bin and others had already eaten, they couldn't refuse when they arrived at their hometown, and this meal should be paid by themselves!

  Wang Li filled up the wine, and Han Qin and Zhang Bin took a step forward. Zhang Bin smiled and said: "Brother, is your trip to Xiping for business or private matters?"

  Han Qin smiled and said, "What a coincidence! Isn't your Fenghuang Township publicly nominating and electing the party secretary? I've also signed up, and tomorrow I'll be going to your place for an on-site inspection. I was afraid of being rushed for time, so I came a day early!"

  When Zhang Bin heard Han Qin say this, he was stunned! The public election of the party secretary of the township is something he knew about, it's a big deal in the town right now and everyone's been talking about it! What made him stunned was that Han Qin and he took the civil service exam together, how did he just get promoted to a department-level cadre?!

  As soon as Zhang Bin's puzzled eyes met his, Han Qin understood that he was also questioning his own deputy department-level cadre identity! Han Qin smiled and said: "Last year, I accidentally got the title of heroic deeds, and was borrowed by the old cadres' university to serve as the director of the office. When it came to ranking, I just happened to have enough level to participate in this public election!"

  The two nodded, remembering that Han Qin's story had been published in the Oriental Daily and Oriental Evening Post last year. Zhang Bin hastily raised his wine glass to congratulate him: "Brother, you'll soon become the Party Secretary, which means you'll be my superior, so please take care of me from now on!"

  Han Qin drank it all in one gulp, and laughed: "Saying eight characters without a single stroke is a bit exaggerated, at most it's just barely one stroke! If things go wrong, I'll just be making up the numbers to accompany the prince in reading books. It's said that your current Zhang Village Chief has great abilities, basically a sure win!"

  After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Bin said: "Zhang Tiancheng still has some foundation in Fenghuang Township. His father-in-law used to be the township head and party secretary of Fenghuang Township, and retired as the chairman of the township people's congress. He operated in Fenghuang Township for many years, and not a few village cadres were promoted by him. Among these people, there are not a few party representatives! Moreover, County Secretary Wang and Zhang Tiancheng also have a mentor-apprentice relationship..."

  Zhang Bin wanted to continue, but Wang Li coughed lightly twice. Zhang Bin immediately came to his senses and hastily stopped the topic. Since Han Qin was here to participate in the election, if he said that Zhang Tiancheng was so powerful, wasn't it obvious that Han Qin had no chance? With a big battle ahead, they should be encouraging each other, not discouraging each other!

  Han Qin naturally understood Wang Li's meaning and smiled: "Wang Li, don't worry about me, I just want to hear the real situation! Isn't it said that knowing oneself and knowing others will win a hundred battles? Since I've come, no matter what, I'll try my best. Even if I know I'll lose, I'll still draw my sword to meet you, this is the spirit of drawing one's sword!"

  Wang Lijing raised a cup of wine to Han Qin, smiling slyly: "This Zhang Xiangzhang is not invincible, everything has variables. Let's toast to our brothers' victory and success!"

  After dinner, Zhang Bin pulled Han Qin, and Wang Li rushed to pay the bill. Seeing that they were sincere, Han Qin didn't insist, so let them fulfill their host's courtesy! It just so happened that Zhang Bin and the other two were also staying at the Xiping Hotel, so the three of them walked and chatted together, heading back to the hotel to rest.

  On Monday morning, Zhang Bin and the other two got up very early and rushed back to Fenghuang Township to go to work. They didn't come over to disturb Han Qin's rest, but just sent a text message to say goodbye. In Zhang Bin's text message to Han Qin, he said at the end: "Wait until brother enters the final, we'll discuss the plan to defeat the enemy!" Han Qin smiled after reading it for a while.

  Han Qin arrived at the Xiping Committee Organization Department ten minutes in advance. A brief welcome meeting was held in a small conference room, attended by County Party Secretary Li Chenfeng, Deputy Secretary Wang Youmin, and Organization Department Head Yang Yang. The Municipal Party Committee Organization Department and the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission each sent one or two staff members to supervise.

  The county TV station's reporter was carrying a camera, bending down to shoot from various angles. Han Qin glanced at the podium and suddenly felt a bright spot in front of him - wasn't the host holding the microphone and interviewing County Party Secretary Li Chenfeng the beautiful woman he saw on TV yesterday? Yesterday when watching the news, Han Qin had a vague feeling that this beauty was somewhat familiar, but couldn't remember where he had seen her!

  Following the staff's guidance, Han Qin sat down in a seat close to the podium. There were six candidates participating in today's on-site inspection, and except for Zhang Tiancheng, it was also Han Qin's first time seeing them. The ages of several people are around 35 or 36 years old, all are local cadres from Xiping, two township heads, one deputy secretary of the town party committee, and one is a deputy director of the government office!

  Several candidates saw Han Qin come in, and they all looked at him with suspicious eyes! Such a young boy, not mixing well in the municipal party committee, what's the excitement here with us? Want to make a fortune, it's not this way of making a fortune!

  Everyone took their seats, and the beautiful hostess finished her on-site interview with the county party secretary! Li Chenfeng sat in the middle of the rostrum, cleared his throat and said: "Firstly, I represent Xiping Committee, Xiping People's Government, to extend warm congratulations to the municipal party leaders who participated in this public promotion and selection on-site inspection activity, and the six candidates!"

  Everyone applauded, and although there were not many people, the applause was very loud! When the applause died down, Secretary Li said warmly: "The six comrades who participated in this on-site inspection were all excellent talents selected through layers of selection by the organizational department. There are both local cadres from our Xiping and cadres from municipal organs!"

  Secretary Li paused for a moment, raised his voice and said: "In particular, among these six comrades, there is also the youngest deputy department-level cadre in Dongfang, Comrade Han Qin! Last year, Comrade Han Qin was awarded the title of Hero of Justice and Bravery in Dongfang! We warmly welcome such an excellent comrade to come work with us in Xiping!"

  Although Secretary Li took the lead, this round of applause was obviously not as enthusiastic as last time! Wang Youmin, who sat next to Li Chenfeng, furrowed his brow. What's the relationship between Han Qin and Li Chenfeng? They're openly praising each other in a setting like this! It seems that this young man has an impressive background, and Li Chenfeng wants to curry favor with him!

  Secretary Li finished speaking, Deputy Secretary Wang Youmin and Organization Department Minister Yang Yang made brief speeches. The staff of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission read out the work discipline, and the welcoming meeting was declared closed.

  Han Qin had just left his seat with a bag under his arm when the beautiful hostess from the county TV station arrived. The beauty smiled and said: "Hello, Comrade Han Qin, I'm Xiao Yuxin from Xiping TV Station, may I interview you?"

  Listening to the beautiful host's self-introduction, Han Qin's heart skipped a beat! Xiao Yuxin? Xiao Yuhua? No wonder she looked a bit familiar, what was her relationship with the number one flower of the city TV station?