Chapter 39: The Meeting of Two Women

Lu Hao had not expected Fang Jing to react so strongly to this matter.

He did not want to get into an argument with her and was trying to think of a way to gloss over the situation when Lin Xiyue walked over, smiling as she spoke: "Lu Hao, I'm finished here. Let's get ready to head back. Won't you introduce me to this lady?"

As she spoke, Lin Xiyue’s gaze landed on Fang Jing.

Having just collected her medicine, she had noticed Lu Hao talking to Fang Jing. She originally intended to stay out of it, but seeing the pair shift from their initial cheerful demeanor to a more serious tone—especially noting Lu Hao’s troubled expression—she decided to approach.

"Secretary Lin, this is my fiancée, Fang Jing, whom I've mentioned to you. She is a teacher at the county middle school," Lu Hao introduced her quickly.

Lin Xiyue’s sudden appearance served as a welcome distraction; otherwise, he would have had to expend much more effort explaining away the twenty thousand yuan he had lent to Tang Chunyan.

"Fang Jing, this is my superior, Deputy Secretary Lin of Fangshui Township. She came to the hospital for a check-up today, and I happened to be the one driving her," Lu Hao added, introducing Lin Xiyue to his fiancée.

Initially, Lin Xiyue’s sudden arrival had made Fang Jing feel guarded. As a woman herself, she couldn't help but notice that Lin Xiyue was incredibly beautiful, rivaling her in both figure and appearance. Naturally, Fang Jing felt a sense of unease seeing such a beautiful woman by Lu Hao's side.

However, after hearing the introduction, Fang Jing felt relieved.

If she was Lu Hao’s superior, it was highly unlikely that anything inappropriate was going on between them. After all, a woman who could attain such a high-ranking position in Fangshui Township at such a young age was certainly no ordinary person, and her standards for men were surely quite high.

She immediately smiled and greeted her: "Hello, Secretary Lin. Lu Hao has mentioned you to me so many times; I’m glad to finally meet you in person."

"Lu Hao has told me about you as well, saying you two are getting married soon. I must be sure to attend the wedding when the time comes," Lin Xiyue replied with a smile.

Women often bond much faster than men might expect.

As the two women walked out of the hospital, they chatted and even exchanged WeChat contacts. During the conversation, Fang Jing casually brought up the twenty thousand yuan loan Lu Hao had provided for Tang Chunyan’s father’s medical treatment. This time, in front of Lin Xiyue, she completely changed her tune, praising Lu Hao for caring about his subordinates and expressing her full support for his actions.

She did this solely to leave a favorable impression on Lin Xiyue regarding her and Lu Hao. Since the money had already been lent, she wanted his superior to recognize Lu Hao's considerate nature toward his staff.

Lu Hao found it difficult to listen to, but he did not interrupt her.

Lin Xiyue also spoke at length about Lu Hao’s dedication to his work, mentioning that a deputy township head position had recently opened up and that Lu Hao had a good chance of securing it. This thrilled Fang Jing, who beamed with satisfaction at Lu Hao. She then added, "Secretary Lin, I hope he isn't causing you too much trouble. Lu Hao lacks experience in grassroots work, and sometimes he can be a bit stubborn and rigid. I hope you can guide him in the future. If there’s anything needed to facilitate matters, please don't hesitate to let me know."

For some time, Wang Shaojie had been telling her how poorly Lu Hao was faring in Fangshui Township and how he had offended various leaders, which had made Fang Jing anxious and prone to arguing with Lu Hao over the phone.

However, after this conversation with Lin Xiyue, she realized that Lin Xiyue held a positive view of Lu Hao and kept praising him. This gave Fang Jing peace of mind, confirming that Lu Hao was not failing in his role at Fangshui. If Lin Xiyue would put in a good word for him in the future, his chances of promotion would significantly increase.

Fang Jing’s words caused Lu Hao to frown. While gift-giving and networking were common in official circles, he had learned since working with Lin Xiyue that she despised such practices. Yet, since Fang Jing had already spoken, he remained silent.

Sure enough, Lin Xiyue smiled calmly and said, "Fang Jing, it’s not like the old days anymore. You can't climb the ladder just by being glib. Personal ability is far more important than sycophancy or currying favor. Lu Hao has been doing a great job—he is quiet, diligent, and practical."

"Secretary Lin is right; those are Lu Hao’s strengths," Fang Jing echoed.

Deep down, however, she did not fully agree. In the official world, most people rose through connections, and she didn't believe Lu Hao was the type to rise on ability alone. Still, she would not openly contradict his superior.

"It’s getting late, and I should head back. Lu Hao, tomorrow is your day off, why don't you stay in the county to keep Fang Jing company? I can just take a taxi back," Lin Xiyue suggested at the right moment.

Fang Jing quickly interjected, "Secretary Lin, you should let Lu Hao drive you back. My father is the deputy director of the Agriculture Bureau; he’s been overworked lately and his blood pressure is high, so I need to look after him. I’ll visit Lu Hao in Fangshui Township later."

She could not let her husband's boss take a taxi, but her remark also served as a subtle way to highlight her father's status.

Lin Xiyue nodded with a smile and got into Lu Hao’s car. Before they left, Fang Jing made sure to remind Lu Hao to maintain a good relationship with Lin Xiyue.

After seeing Fang Jing off, Lu Hao drove Lin Xiyue back to Fangshui Township.

"It’s clear that your fiancée is more concerned about your career prospects than you are," Lin Xiyue teased during the drive.

From her conversation with Fang Jing, she realized that the latter had her own ideas about the political landscape and was overly fixated on advancement—a trait that often proved counterproductive.

"She’s been acting as if she's possessed by the idea of me getting a promotion. Every time we talk, she brings it up within the first three sentences," Lu Hao said with a bitter laugh.

"It’s understandable, I suppose. Every woman wants her man to be successful," Lin Xiyue said, looking out the window with a smile. She didn't think Fang Jing was entirely wrong.

When they returned to the township middle school, it was already dark.

Lin Xiyue cooked again, making pancakes this time, and Lu Hao was lucky enough to enjoy another meal prepared by her. During dinner, he used a soft drink to toast her, thanking her for speaking up for him earlier that afternoon.

Judging by Fang Jing’s cheerful demeanor when she left, she was clearly satisfied with Lu Hao’s progress in Fangshui. It wouldn't be so easy for Wang Shaojie to smear him in front of her again, and that was entirely thanks to Lin Xiyue.

After a long day, Lin Xiyue went to bed early. Lu Hao had intended to go home to sleep, but his left eyelid had been twitching incessantly since the morning, leaving him with an unsettling feeling that he couldn't quite shake.