Chapter 46: Feigning Sympathy

Wang Shaojie’s words naturally struck a chord with Li Zhen. Li Zhen chuckled and shook his head, “Shaojie, you certainly have a way with words. No wonder you became a deputy section chief at such a young age. Keep up the good work under Mayor Li, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities ahead.”

“Thank you for your cultivation, County Magistrate.”

Wang Shaojie was overjoyed, figuring that as long as he stayed in Li Zhen’s good graces, it was only a matter of time before he was promoted to a full section chief.

Taking advantage of Li Zhen’s good mood, Li Haotian quickly brought over a gift he had prepared early that morning—a large box of tea leaves. “County Magistrate, I heard last time that you enjoy drinking tea. This is some new tea I specially had someone bring back from Yunnan. Please give it a try.”

Li Zhen took it and gave it a symbolic, perfunctory glance.

It looked like a regular gift box on the outside, but inside was a tin container for tea leaves. The lid of the tin seemed to have been left slightly ajar by Li Haotian on purpose, revealing half of a hundred-yuan banknote tucked inside.

Li Zhen smiled faintly and immediately snapped the lid shut. “Not bad. Township Head Li certainly has a great grasp of worldly sophistication. You’ve got what it takes to be the top leader.”

Hearing this, Li Haotian beamed with delight, feeling as though he were one step closer to securing the position of Party Secretary of Fangshui Township.

“By the way, I heard that Lu Hao got injured saving people from the fire and is hospitalized?” Li Zhen asked casually.

“Yes, he was sent to the county hospital.”

“What kind of injuries? Is he dead yet?” Li Zhen sneered.

He held a deep, burning grudge against Lu Hao. Years ago, it was precisely because of Lu Hao that he had failed to secure the post of County Committee Secretary.

Missing that single step had meant missing every step thereafter, leaving him stuck in his current position to this day.

“I heard his leg is fractured. But life is full of accidents; who knows when he might get hit by a car and killed? Or maybe he’ll just have terrible luck and choke to death drinking water,” Li Haotian said, knowing how much Li Zhen detested Lu Hao, deliberately tailoring his words to please him.

“Township Head Li, help me find out which room Lu Hao is in. I’d like to go check on him tomorrow. After all, I’m his superior, so I should show some concern for his leg—and by the way, have a little chat with him about his impending dismissal,” Wang Shaojie chimed in with a gloating smile.

Listening to the two of them, Li Zhen felt extremely pleased.

***

The next day, Lu Hao woke up in the morning and gave a satisfying stretch.

Though he hadn’t slept much the night before, Fang Jing’s actions had deeply warmed his heart.

After a single night, the gloomy clouds of their recent quarrel had completely dissipated, and their affection for each other had grown even stronger.

Fang Jing had even bought tofu pudding and xiao long bao for him, squeezed toothpaste onto his toothbrush, and brought a basin right to his bedside to help him wash up, playing the role of a devoted and caring wife to perfection.

Lu Hao, on the other hand, kept flashing a mischievous grin, which made Fang Jing blush and shoot him several fierce glares.

Today was Sunday, and Fang Jing didn’t have to go to work. While she was peeling an apple for Lu Hao in the morning, Wang Shaojie put on an earnest expression, carrying a box of milk as he knocked on the ward door.

“Lu Hao, I heard you broke your leg, so I specially came to see you. How bad is the injury? When will you be able to be discharged?” Wang Shaojie asked, feigning deep concern.

Seeing that Fang Jing was also there, he was visibly startled for a moment, but quickly recovered and smiled, “Oh, Fang Jing is here too.”

He had assumed that after telling Fang Jing yesterday about Lu Hao’s likely dismissal, the two of them would have a massive fight. He never expected Fang Jing to actually come to the hospital to take care of Lu Hao—this completely caught Wang Shaojie off guard.

“Fang Jing’s been here since yesterday, taking care of me all night. If she took care of me like this every day, I don’t think I’d ever want to leave the hospital,” Lu Hao said with a smile.

Knowing that Wang Shaojie harbored designs on Fang Jing, Lu Hao deliberately made a remark that made Wang Shaojie’s expression stiffen awkwardly.

Fang Jing rolled her eyes at Lu Hao while shoving a piece of peeled apple into his mouth. Then she said, “Eat your apple! You’re injured and yet your tongue is still as slick as ever. Shaojie is a deputy township head; you should quickly ask him to put in a good word for you with Township Head Li. More people speaking up means more strength. The best outcome would be trying to get the county to drop any disciplinary action against you.”

Fang Jing was well aware that Wang Shaojie was interested in her, though she felt nothing for him in return. However, in her view, the county town was a small place where making acquaintances meant making friends. Since Wang Shaojie was already a deputy section chief, maintaining a good relationship with him could never hurt.

Wang Shaojie heaved a calculated, helpless sigh, wearing a worried expression as he said, “I’ve already put in a good word for Lu Hao, but Township Head Li says it ultimately depends on County Magistrate Li’s decision. He told Lu Hao to mentally prepare himself—the disciplinary notice will be coming down very soon, and it’s very likely going to be a dismissal.”

Seeing Fang Jing feed Lu Hao apples had already filled him with intense irritation.

Yet, as soon as he finished speaking and saw Fang Jing’s expression turn grim, Wang Shaojie’s mood instantly improved.

As long as Lu Hao faced disciplinary action, Fang Jing’s temperament being what it was, she certainly wouldn’t accept it. The two of them were bound to fight, giving him the perfect opening to step in.

“Shaojie, is this matter already set in stone?” Fang Jing asked with a frown.

“Yesterday, Township Head Li went to the county government to report on the fire to County Magistrate Li, and it’s pretty much finalized. Lu Hao will be dismissed, and Hong Haifeng will be stripped of his post. The official document will probably be issued by tomorrow at the latest,” Wang Shaojie said, putting on a look of sympathy.

Hearing this, Lu Hao’s expression also darkened considerably.

For Wang Shaojie to dare come right up to his hospital bed specifically to say these things meant that Li Zhen had indeed finalized the decision to penalize him. That was why Wang Shaojie had come to mock him, which inevitably left Lu Hao feeling rather deflated.

Li Zhen already loathed him to the core, and having seized upon the fire incident, he was undoubtedly dead-set on driving Lu Hao to complete ruin.

“Shaojie, since the official document hasn't been issued yet, doesn't that mean there's still room for maneuver? Can you please help and talk to County Magistrate Li? As long as they don't fire Lu Hao, even a demotion would be fine! We're willing to spend whatever it takes,” Fang Jing pleaded with a worried expression.

If Lu Hao only received a demotion, she could still defy her parents and stay with him.

But once Lu Hao was dismissed, he would be completely unemployed—a terrifying prospect in a small county town. Her parents would never agree to their marriage then, and Fang Jing simply could not accept such an outcome.