Chapter 91: Core Circle

  Han Qin carefully observed Zheng Tongxin's expression. Although he seemed careless, Han Qin's words had actually struck a chord in his heart!

  At last year's National People's Congress, a female reporter from the Beijing News interviewed Zheng Tongxin. The reporter looked quite pretty and didn't seem to have done her homework on Zheng's background before the interview. She asked: Secretary Zheng is approaching retirement age, what are your thoughts on the 59-year-old phenomenon?

  Although Zheng Tongxin was extremely annoyed, he patiently answered the vase's question with great tolerance! The vase reporter may have spoken carelessly, but Secretary Zheng was deeply hurt! He had just turned fifty and should be in his golden period as a deputy minister, yet he was mistaken for being close to retirement age, showing how old he looked!

  Among the 11 standing committee members of the provincial party committee, Zheng Tongxin is 53 years old, which is in the middle age group. However, when standing with the 58-year-old provincial party secretary, Zheng Tongxin does not look young at all! On the contrary, it gives people a kind of illusion that Secretary Zheng's age may be fake!

  Zheng Tongxin himself gradually came to realize that if he wanted to go further in his official career, his appearance had become a major obstacle! Although his actual age was there, in the fiercely competitive officialdom, high-ranking officials obviously did not want an old-looking official to dominate a region.

  Zheng Tongxin took a look at Han Qin, smiled and said: "Little Han, I just passed fifty years old, looking like I'm about to become an old man. Do you have any good maintenance methods? Recommend one, let me also look young!"

  Hearing Secretary Zheng say this, Han Qin was shocked! Not speaking ill of others in front of them is the most basic courtesy. In front of the provincial party committee secretary and municipal party committee secretary, Han Qin would not dare to speak recklessly, directly pointing out his shortcomings, and could only take a roundabout approach, making indirect attacks! He didn't expect Secretary Zheng to be so open and direct in his words!

  The officials who can walk to this step, the circle of life and social interaction is also getting narrower and narrower. The friends who can talk heart-to-heart are even fewer, otherwise, leaders would not treat secretaries as their first confidants! Being able to enter this circle is something that many people dream of!

  Han Qin also knew that Zheng Tongxin asked this, absolutely not wanting to hear a few flattering words. If he couldn't come up with something that would truly move him, he might lose a good opportunity!

  "Secretary Zheng, traditional beauty methods are all about slowing down the aging process through gradual and steady progress. However, the effects of these methods are not very obvious, and they cannot immediately change one's current state. Take Cixi for example, she started systematic beauty treatments in her twenties and was able to maintain her youth until her sixties or seventies. If she had started at sixty, she would have only been able to maintain that level! In short, traditional beauty methods can only slow down the aging process, but cannot quickly change one's current state!"

  Hearing Han Qin say this, Zheng Tong's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, and he said calmly: "It seems that our ancestors didn't have any good methods in this regard either. Flowers bloom and wither, it's a natural law that can't be reversed!"

  Han Qin raised his voice slightly and smiled: "Secretary Zheng, science is progressive after all. Modern cosmetic plastic surgery technology has become very mature. If it can be combined with our traditional Chinese medicine preservation methods, it should have a remarkable effect!"

  "Plastic surgery!" Zheng Tongxin couldn't help but exclaim! As a high-ranking official, he may not be into fashion, but he's no stranger to this term. Nowadays, TV and newspapers are filled with ads like breast augmentation, buttock lift, double eyelid surgery... Koreans have even opened beauty salons right at the doors of Chinese people's homes, making "Korean-style plastic surgery" a synonym for high-end quality!

  Zheng Tongxin shook his head and smiled: "Young people are still good, they dare to think of anything! We middle-aged and older people wouldn't dare to hope for such a thing!"

  Han Qin took the wine bottle and poured a full glass for Zheng Tongxin, smiling: "Secretary Zheng, cosmetic surgery isn't as scary as you think. Now there's micro-plastic surgery that's especially suitable for middle-aged and elderly people. It can remove eye bags, frown lines, and forehead lines, making someone look several years younger and more energetic!"

  Zheng Tongxin burst out laughing and said, "This change is too sudden, isn't it? For ordinary people, it's still acceptable, but for us who are in leadership positions, to change our image overnight, wouldn't that become explosive news?"

  "Nowadays, top beauty masters have thought of this point and developed a micro-plastic surgery specifically for officials! I have a relative in South Korea who works as an anesthesiologist at a plastic surgery hospital in Seoul. According to him, this technology is now very mature. Many high-ranking government officials from Japan, Taiwan, and Europe have quietly changed their images by undergoing the procedure!"

  Han Qin had to fabricate another doctor relative! For something as specialized as plastic surgery, continuing to explain it in depth would soon expose the truth - how could a history major know so much?

  Zheng Tongxin apparently came with interest, smiling and saying: "Is there such a thing? Little Han, come tell me!"

  Han Qin smiled and said, "My relative introduced that the entire beauty plan takes a long time, divided into several courses to complete, it will take about a year. In this year, step by step, dripping water pierces the stone, in everyone's unawareness, the image change has been quietly completed, giving everyone a feeling of joy and spiritual refreshment!"

  After listening to Han Qin's explanation, Zheng Tong nodded as if he had gained some insight. In the provincial government, there is a female secretary-general who is 46 or 47 years old. Originally, she had obvious crow's feet and her eyelids were triangular in shape. Last year, when the province needed to appoint a deputy provincial-level female cadre, this secretary-general was unexpectedly promoted and became a deputy governor!

  No one expected that after this lady became the provincial governor, she would become radiant and refreshed in just over a year, her triangular eyes turning into phoenix eyes, as if she had become several years younger! Everyone says that this female provincial governor is successful in her career, has a good spirit, and is getting younger and younger with age! It's said that this year she may be promoted to the Politburo! Zheng Tongxin wonders if this female provincial governor also had some minor plastic surgery done!

  Zheng Tongxin raised his head and looked at Han Qin, asking: "Little Han, how come you have relatives in South Korea?"

  This is a ridiculous story! There's always a risk of being exposed at any time!

  After a moment of contemplation, Han Qin smiled and said: "This is a long story... My ancestors were imperial physicians in the Qing dynasty. Later, due to a medical accident, our whole family was exiled to Ningguta outside the Great Wall. One of my ancestors married a Korean woman and had children there. Gradually, they migrated to South Korea. It wasn't until a few years ago when they came to pay respects to their ancestors that we were able to continue our family tree!"

  Zheng Tongxin nodded and said: "Korea was still our vassal state during the Qing Dynasty, and intermarriage between border residents like this is also very normal!"

  Next, Zheng Tongxin seemed to have lost interest and stopped discussing the matter with Han Qin. Han Qin was well aware that it was too underestimating Zheng Tongxin's intelligence to think that he could be swayed by just a few words into getting plastic surgery! Although he had been troubled by this aspect for some time, he would never act rashly without being absolutely sure! However, when this issue became an obstacle to his advancement, Han Qin believed that Zheng Tongxin would carefully weigh the pros and cons.

  When Han Qin said goodbye, Zheng Tongxin wrote a number for him and smiled: "Little Han, this is my mobile phone number. If there's anything, just give me a call. Give me your mobile phone number too, I might contact you at any time!"

  Taking over the small piece of paper, Han Qin's heart moved. The mobile phone number of the municipal party secretary is not something that ordinary people can get! Zheng Tongxin has two phones, one of which is held by Secretary Wu Xiaofan, and this is a work phone. There are no more than fifty people who can call this phone to report on their work!

  Another phone number is Zheng Tongxin's private phone number, which only people in his core social circle know!

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