Chapter 9: The Fang Family's Stance

After finishing his words, Niu Dashan goaded further, “Besides, now that County Magistrate Li Zhen is in charge of the county committee, the next personnel adjustment will definitely see Zhao Gang’s position become yours. There’s no need for us to keep treating Zhao Gang as a threat.”

Niu Dashan knew well that Zhao Gang and Li Haotian put on a friendly front but were at odds in their hearts. Moreover, it was not he who truly wanted to force Lu Hao to resign, but Li Haotian. He was merely acting on Li Haotian’s behalf. So, saying it this way naturally struck a chord with Li Haotian.

“You’re right. But Secretary Zhao is still the top leader for now; we have to give him some face,” Li Haotian smiled.

Although Li Haotian was loyal to Li Zhen, the higher-ups had yet to officially appoint Li Zhen as county party secretary, so he couldn’t be too conspicuous.

“Then you want me to watch that brat stand on equal footing with me?” Niu Dashan grumbled unhappily.

If Lu Hao wasn’t taken down, where would his dignity be in the future? Wouldn’t everyone in the township government just ignore him?

“What’s the rush? That deputy director is just a figurehead. How could he compete with you? Just find some excuse to make his life miserable. Don’t worry; if anything happens, I’ll back you up,” Li Haotian said with a sinister gleam in his eyes.

“Township chief, they say Liu Yuanda was caught by the Discipline Inspection Commission, and that kid has lost his backing. Why are Lin Xiyue and Zhao Gang still opposing you for his sake? Does he have another patron?”

“Not a chance. Keep going after him. I want him to suffer worse than death here.”

“Township chief, why are you so determined to destroy this kid?” Niu Dashan asked, puzzled.

“Is that your business to ask? Niu Dashan, as long as you drive him out of the system, the next director position of the Poverty Alleviation Office, now held by Song Bo, will be yours,” Li Haotian promised.

Niu Dashan immediately beamed with joy and left Li Haotian’s office walking proudly.

...

That afternoon, Lu Hao was busy organizing poverty alleviation documents.

When it was time to leave work, he was the first to leave the office because it was Fang Jing’s father’s birthday.

He had already reserved a large fruit cake at noon and now had to drive to pick it up before heading to Fang Jing’s home.

“He really is quite handsome,” Lin Xiyue muttered to herself on the upper floor of the township government building, watching Lu Hao drive away. Then, recalling how Lu Hao had stared at her outside the township middle school yesterday, a faint smile appeared on her face.

In the county town, after retrieving the cake from the bakery, Lu Hao immediately went to Fang Jing’s home.

Fang Jing’s residence was in a community built years ago for the Agricultural Bureau staff, sold at a low price back then.

Although it was somewhat aged, the neighborhood environment was decent, and the apartment was fairly large with three bedrooms and two living rooms.

...

Fang Jing opened the door. Seeing Lu Hao carrying the cake, she called inside, “Dad, Mom, Lu Hao is here.”

But there was no reply from inside.

Soon, Lu Hao heard laughter and chatter coming from the living room.

There was a vestibule at the entrance; he didn’t know who was inside, but he realized there were other guests at Fang Jing’s home today.

“Come on in,” Fang Jing said awkwardly, noticing no one came to greet Lu Hao.

When Lu Hao stepped into the living room, his expression froze.

Besides Fang Jing’s father, Fang Aiguo, and mother, Jiang Lan, there was someone else—Wang Shaojie!

Why was Wang Shaojie at his fiancée’s home?

Not only that, there were several wine glasses on the table and a half-eaten cake.

On the sofa, two bottles of VIP Maotai liquor and three unopened packs of Panda cigarettes were laid out—apparently gifts from Wang Shaojie. These alone were worth more than Lu Hao’s monthly salary.

Lu Hao was no fool; he easily guessed Wang Shaojie had come to celebrate Fang Aiguo’s birthday.

Fang Jing noticed Lu Hao’s sour expression and quickly whispered, “He wasn’t invited by me. Yesterday, I rode with him back to the county and mentioned that today was my dad’s birthday, and Wang Shaojie suddenly showed up.”

“Lu Hao is here? Come, sit down,” Jiang Lan lightly greeted.

Fang Aiguo, however, seemed not to see Lu Hao and continued chatting with Wang Shaojie.

Lu Hao felt as if he had entered the wrong house.

Every time he had visited before, Fang Jing’s parents greeted him warmly, offering fine wine and dishes.

But today, Fang Aiguo, the deputy director of the county Agricultural Bureau, pretended not to see him.

Ultimately, it was because his cousin Liu Yuanda had been taken by the Discipline Inspection Commission and he himself had been demoted, losing the background that once earned Fang Aiguo’s respect, so now they didn’t regard him at all.

Realizing this, Lu Hao felt disgusted.

He knew Fang Jing’s parents cared deeply about power and influence and were somewhat sycophantic, which might be tolerable with others, but he was Fang Jing’s fiancé—they leaving him out like this was too much.

Moreover, Fang Aiguo had only been promoted to deputy director because Liu Yuanda had put in a good word for him on Lu Hao’s behalf. For that alone, Fang Aiguo should have been grateful to him.

But after Liu Yuanda’s downfall, Fang Aiguo probably considered Lu Hao a liability and deliberately ignored him, taking the opportunity to intimidate him.

Yet Fang Aiguo seemed aware of not going too far. Soon, he turned around and smiled, saying, “Lu Hao, you’re here. I was just talking with Shaojie. Come, sit down. Tonight, your aunt and I want to have a proper talk with you.”

“Here, Lu Hao, have a smoke. This is Panda brand. You might not usually get the chance to smoke it,” Wang Shaojie said with a smile, offering a cigarette.

“No thanks,” Lu Hao immediately declined, knowing Wang Shaojie was showing off.

“Uncle Fang, if you have something to say, just say it,” Lu Hao ignored Wang Shaojie and spoke.

Previously, Fang Jing’s parents had urged him to call them “Dad” and “Mom.” Now, they avoided the subject entirely, clearly keeping their distance.

Fang Jing noticed the awkward atmosphere and tried to lighten the mood, but before she could speak, her father stood up from the sofa and looked at Lu Hao sternly.

“Lu Hao, you were about to be promoted to deputy section chief, but now you’ve been suddenly transferred to Fangshui Township. Your aunt and I think the marriage between you and Fang Jing should be postponed. There’s no rush to hold it.”

“Why? Is it just because I didn’t get promoted to deputy section chief?” Lu Hao frowned immediately.

He and Fang Jing had been in a relationship for six years, fully prepared to marry, with the wedding date set for National Day on October 1st. He could not accept a delay.

“That’s right. Deputy section chief is the first big step for a civil servant. Shaojie just got promoted to deputy section chief and is the new deputy township chief of Fangshui Township, about to take office. If you don’t get promoted, Fang Jing marrying you would be unfair to her,” Fang Aiguo said sharply, belittling Lu Hao and elevating Wang Shaojie.

Lu Hao said nothing but looked extremely upset.

He knew Wang Shaojie had been promoted, but he hadn’t expected him to become his direct superior. Fang Aiguo’s comparison clearly implied that Fang Jing would be better off marrying Wang Shaojie instead of him.

“Lu Hao, I mean the same. If you remain a low-level clerk, marrying Fang Jing means a life of mundane struggles. Only if you rise step by step in your career can Fang Jing be happy. If you can’t even achieve a promotion in the officialdom, we won’t consider giving our daughter to you,” Jiang Lan added firmly.

At that moment, Lu Hao’s heart turned cold.

Since Liu Yuanda’s incident, Fang Jing’s parents’ attitude toward him had changed dramatically.

“Fang Jing, do you feel the same way?” Lu Hao turned to her and asked in a low voice.