Chapter 62: The Governor Returns

Zhang Jun gave a cold sneer and pointed toward the door. "Get out!"

Liu Yuda shrank back, stood up, and stammered, "Brother-in-law, I'm sorry. I spoke without thinking. I was just joking; I didn't mean to curse you."

Zhang Jun merely waved his hand, not wishing to look at him any longer.

Liu Yujie walked out and nudged her younger brother. "Go back home first. Your brother-in-law is in a bad mood. You can come back another day!"

"All right!" Liu Yuda said to Zhang Jun, "Brother-in-law, I'm heading home then."

With that, the young fellow scurried away like a wisp of smoke.

Zhang Jun sat down, crossing his arms and brooding in frustration.

Liu Yujie complained, "I told you yesterday to seize the opportunity and quickly secure an official post, but you refused to listen. Now look, you've been beaten right back to square one! Being a mere section chief in the General Office of the Provincial Government—with no connections and no real power—how long are you going to have to wait before you can make something of yourself?"

Zhang Jun let out a long sigh and said, "Will you stop nagging? Do you think I didn't want to? I went to see Governor Ma early this morning, but he had already left. I called his phone, but he neither answered nor returned the call."

Liu Yujie stared blankly. "Then it's over. He's ditched you and gone off to Beijing to enjoy the good life alone. Over the past six months, you haven't offended few people while following him. Now that he's patted his backside and left, abandoning you here in the provincial government, won't you be plotted against to death?"

Being in a foul mood and reluctant to stay at home, Zhang Jun got up after finishing his meal and went downstairs.

He had no idea where to go. In the past, he would have endless dinner invitations and banquets to attend, but today, everything had turned eerily quiet.

The people who used to surround him—men and women alike—had vanished in an instant.

Zhang Jun wandered aimlessly onto the street and pulled out his phone to check it. The phone that he usually found too busy to answer was exceptionally quiet today; forget phone calls, not even a single text message came through.

Watching the bustling crowd on the grand avenue, he felt an unprecedented sense of loneliness and solitude.

After experiencing grandeur and bustle, perhaps one inevitably feels an extra layer of desolation?

Outside a noodle shop nearby, two folding tables were set up.

Another similarly desolate figure sat alone there, eating a bowl of noodles.

Recognizing him, Zhang Jun stepped forward and sat down opposite him.

The man wore thick-rimmed black glasses, the lenses of which were fogged up by the rising steam from the noodles.

He looked up at Zhang Jun, let out a surprised sound, and grinned widely. "Zhang Jun!"

"Zhuang Wenqiang!" Zhang Jun extended his right hand.

"Hey! Old classmate, long time no see! Since high school graduation, I think we've only met twice, right?" Zhuang Wenqiang shook his hand.

"You said it! Are you still working as an editor at the newspaper office?" Zhang Jun asked.

"Yeah, if not an editor, what else could I possibly do?"

"Weren't you supposed to want to be a painter?"

"A painter? That ideal was from how many years ago? Why bother doing something that doesn't make money? My newspaper office might be small and niche, but at least it provides me with a salary. What about you? Are you still at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute?"

"It's a long story. What brings you here?"

"Broken heart, bad mood, and couldn't find anyone to keep me company. I wandered the streets for half a day, got hungry, so I'm having some noodles. Have you eaten? My treat!"

"No need, I've already eaten. Are you still unmarried?"

"I was in a five-year relationship that just broke up. I'm a complete mess and can't pull myself out of it."

"Start a new romance! That's the quickest way."

"It's not that easy. By now, your kids are probably old enough to run errands, right?"

"No, haven't had any yet."

"Come to think of it, we'll both be hitting thirty next year. Time flies so fast! Standing firm at thirty, standing firm... I haven't stood firm at anything. No wife, no kids, no money—I'm an all-around 'three-nothings' man."

Zhang Jun bought a few bottles of beer, popped the caps, handed one to Zhuang Wenqiang, and said, "Come on, bottoms up!"

Both men were feeling dejected, and since it was rare for them to run into each other, they shared the sentiment that a thousand cups of wine with a confidant are still too few.

Zhuang Wenqiang was a rather taciturn and introverted person who enjoyed painting and writing, yet he had never achieved any real fame or success.

Although they lived in the same city, they rarely met up.

Oddly enough, whenever they met, they still felt like old friends at first sight.

With someone who knew nothing about his current predicament, Zhang Jun found it much easier to speak his mind freely.

After each of them finished three bottles of beer, they parted ways.

Returning home, Zhang Jun took a cold shower and collapsed onto the bed to sleep.

Tonight, Liu Yujie surprisingly didn't pester him about conceiving a child, and he was quite happy to enjoy the peace and quiet.

The following day, Zhang Jun instinctively woke up early as usual.

Just as he was about to head to the Welcome Guesthouse, he suddenly slapped his forehead: The boss is already gone, who is there to pick up?

With a self-deprecating laugh, Zhang Jun went straight to the Provincial Government Office.

With no new arrangements from the organization, he had to stand fast at his post regardless of whether Ma Hongqi was there or not.

The indifferent attitude of people from all quarters toward him became increasingly blatant.

Another few days passed in this manner, and Zhang Jun's standing in the General Office plummeted drastically.

News that Ma Hongqi had been transferred to the Organization Department of the Central Committee had already spread, and rumor had it that he was appointed as the executive deputy head.

To be honest, being the executive deputy head of the Central Organization Department was quite a good gig, and Zhang Jun cheered for his boss.

Over the past few days, Shen Xue had sent him a few messages inviting him out to dinner, but he hadn't replied to any of them.

Shen Xue sent another message: "Brother Zhang, are you mad at me? I really was tied up with something that noon."

After reading it, Zhang Jun silently deleted it.

Shen Xue's message came through again: "Brother Zhang, I heard you've been in a bad mood lately? Won't you let me keep you company? Come to my place tonight? Or you can pick a spot, and I'll come to you."

Unable to hold back, Zhang Jun replied: "Knowing that I'm going through a rough patch, you still want to get close to me? Aren't you afraid your efforts will ultimately end up like fetching water with a bamboo basket—all for nothing?"

After a long while, Shen Xue replied: "Brother Zhang, what kind of person do you take me for? If that's how you think of me, I might as well just drop dead. You don't ever have to bother with me again."

Zhang Jun did not reply further.

Deputy Secretary-General Jiang Feng walked in, gave a light cough, and said, "I say, Comrade Zhang Jun, you can't just sit here doing nothing all day long! There's nothing to do here, but the General Office is so busy people are run off their feet! Go over there and give them a hand!"

Zhang Jun looked at Jiang Feng in astonishment.

How humble, courteous, and respectful to capable people had Secretary-General Jiang been in the past?

The moment Ma Hongqi left, his attitude toward Zhang Jun executed a 180-degree turn.

Zhang Jun said calmly, "Has Governor Ma's appointment and removal document been issued yet?"

Jiang Feng wiped his face and said, "Not yet!"

Zhang Jun said coldly, "Then has my appointment and removal document been issued? Or are you planning to arbitrarily reassign my position?"

Jiang Feng frowned and said, "What do you mean by that? Don't I have the authority to manage you? Governor Ma isn't coming back, so why are you still sitting here?"

Zhang Jun said in a deep voice, "I was brought in by the boss. Until the boss says a word, I remain his secretary for as long as he's in office. I know you're a deputy secretary-general and have the authority to manage me. Hand me an official document, and I'll walk out right now."

Jiang Feng's expression froze as he said, "No wonder everyone says you're difficult to get along with! You have no respect for your superiors! Hmph! Just wait, I'll process your transfer right this instant!"

Zhang Jun said, "Then I'll just wait right here!"

At that moment, a deep, powerful voice suddenly echoed from outside the door: "Who is trying to transfer my secretary away?"