Zhang Zhengchang didn't understand the workings of powerful families, but today's episode made his years of sharp bureaucratic instincts kick in, and he realized that Liu Zhizhong really... was going to take off, which was terrifying!
At that moment, Zhang Zhengchang felt a flurry of emotions: envy, jealousy, and resentment surged through him, leaving him sitting there at a loss, having never experienced such a cacophony of feelings.
Liu Zhizhong had dumbfounded him to the point where he seemed on the verge of senile dementia.
Li Tanglu shuddered, his mouth twitching, unsure of what to say.
He looked at Liu Zhizhong as if he were seeing a monster, nearly forgetting to sit down.
The once-coveted "Hu Yang Prince" was also greatly shocked.
He would have never imagined that a younger generation he admired would have such a status!
It seemed that it wasn't just I, Li Tanglu, who appreciated him after all!
Luo Tianlin, too, after a face filled with shock, was now brimming with delight. Good lad, Liu Zhizhong, my eyesight hasn't failed me, Luo Tianlin—you've really carved out a splendid life for yourself!
Now, however you looked at Liu Zhizhong, he seemed to shine even brighter.
To be a spokesperson for a powerful family—what did that imply? Both Luo Tianlin and Li Tanglu understood.
Immediately, Luo Tianlin stood up with a smile and said, "Xiao Liu, come on, have a seat and talk, haha... I'll ask them to brew some tea!"
"Minister Luo, don't be so polite!"
"Of course, of course..."
Luo Tianlin's face was full of mirth, his heart swelling with pride, as he got up genuinely intending to ask someone to make tea.
But unexpectedly, he shot Zhang Zhengchang a covert glance.
Zhang Zhengchang suddenly felt nothing like his senile old self and sprang to his feet, "Minister Luo, I'll make the tea, I'll brew it myself, haha..."
"Ah, Secretary Zhang, you..."
Liu Zhizhong tried to stop Zhang Zhengchang, but Zhang gave him an extremely awkward smile, "No problem, no problem, I'll go, I should, haha..."
Then, Zhang hurried away.
Hey, those old arms and legs sure were spry!
Liu Zhizhong shook his head, "Ah, this Secretary Zhang... haha, what can I say?"
Li Tanglu also forced a smile and said, "If he's gone to do it, let him be... It's the attitude of Zhang Zhengchang after all! No matter what, we can't neglect the spokesperson now, can we? Haha... come, come, Zhizhong, have a smoke. These cigarettes aren't bad—they were given by the Provincial Party Committee a few days ago when they came to visit, haha..."
Saying that, Li Tanglu took out the cigarettes, personally handed them to Liu Zhizhong, and even lit one for him.
Being treated by Li Tanglu, you couldn't say that Liu Zhizhong didn't want it, his heart was quite thrilled, absolutely ecstatic!
Old Secretary Li, wouldn't you say he's been the pinnacle of local officials for the past several decades? Back in Hu Yang, he also commanded great power!
Even now, having retired for quite a few years, wouldn't any local official in the province still handle him with great reverence?
But what about now? He was the one holding and lifting me up... Bliss~~~
Of course, Liu Zhizhong's vision and scope had increased a lot by now. In this country, putting aside the real powerful families when talking about commanding power and influence was all nonsense, nothing but self-deception!
In front of ordinary folks you might be important, but in front of absolute power, you are still an ordinary folk! ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝕟𝕖𝕥
It wasn't about anyone in particular, in front of absolute power, the four of them today were insignificant!
Of course, outwardly, Liu Zhizhong was still very composed and polite, smoking the cigarette Li Tanglu insisted on offering, and said, "Old Secretary, you don't have to be so polite. I'm still Xiao Liu. It's just that with today's event, I happen to have a close personal relationship with the Second Miss of the Xiang family, a very solid friendship, so I came on their behalf."
What a profound relationship, a deep friendship!
Li Tanglu and Luo Tianlin were once again shocked, and they quickly began showering him with compliments.
"Remarkable, Xiao Liu, I, Luo Tianlin, congratulate you! Talented and well-connected, truly the old gives way to the new!"
"Yes, yes, Tian Lin, look, Zhizhong is a prime example of talent, not only a superb writer but also a doer of good deeds, a person of reliable temperament and appropriate behavior in all respects. No wonder he stands out among the youth as a proverbial dragon and phoenix. It seems my decision to have you nurture him was not mistaken, Old Li's vision is clear—a pearl like Zhizhong shines wherever he goes and is held in high regard, well done, well done..."
"Yes, Old Secretary is right, Xiao Liu is really good. In the years I've worked with him in the Organization Department, I've seldom seen such promising young people..."
Damn, these two big shots and their flattery seem unstoppable...