"Dear nephew, let me tell you something. Don't worry about growing up in a low-tier city. Even I, who have lived in the Provincial Government for decades, can't remember all these utensils."
"Every time I use these utensils, I need the butler to remind me of them."
"Every time I attend an official banquet, I have to review at home a day in advance. Hahaha."
At this point, he waved to the butler and then said, "Remove all but the basic utensils. How many times have I told you, I can't remember all these."
Hearing Council Member Huang's words, Fang Ze was slightly stunned, then glanced at him with a complex expression.
To be honest, Council Member Huang is over fifty. Being in the prominent Huang Family and holding the position of a council member, he's attended countless formal banquets. If he claims not to understand or remember the utensils, it's truly an insult to everyone's intelligence.
His words were clearly a tactful way to help Fang Ze out and ease the embarrassment.
Honestly, Fang Ze was deeply impressed by the few interactions he had with Council Member Huang today.
Before, when he was looking through the Huang Family's information, he was really curious whether a legacy left by a deceased ancestor could indeed create such a large family.
But after witnessing Council Member Huang's emotional intelligence and tactics, Fang Ze found it very reasonable.
Old Mr. Huang certainly provided the Huang Family with a crucial starting platform, but the reason the Huang Family could develop to its current extent was mainly due to Council Member Huang.
To be honest, if Fang Ze hadn't discovered Council Member Huang's true nature, he might have been involuntarily moved by him....
The subsequent dinner went without any surprises. Everything mirrored what had just happened. Council Member Huang and his family displayed their hospitality and enthusiasm to the fullest, making Fang Ze and his party feel right at home.
After dinner, upon learning that Fang Ze had other arrangements, Council Member Huang did not force him to stay. Instead, he had his family prepare some gifts for Fang Ze's party before seeing them off from the manor.
The gifts were not expensive, just some rare items or local specialties not available in the Provincial Government. From this, one could see Council Member Huang's thoughtfulness and attention to detail.
Leaving Council Member Huang's manor, the vehicle continued to the next council member's residence.
This drive was the happiest time for the dozens of accompanying personnel. They chatted excitedly in their respective cars about Council Member Huang's hospitality, the situation of the Huang Family in the provincial government, and Council Member Huang's development in recent years.
Only Fang Ze's car remained very quiet because he was in it. But even so, one could see the butler and the driver smiling through the rearview mirror.
Among the convoy of dozens, perhaps only Bai Zhi and Fang Ze felt differently....
After the car left the Huang Family's premises, Bai Zhi quietly turned her head and glanced at Fang Ze. She then lowered her head, took out her phone, typed a few words, and handed it over.
Seeing this, Fang Ze looked at her, then lowered his head to look at the phone screen. On the screen were simply two words, [Is it him?]
Fang Ze was silent for a while, then nodded almost imperceptibly.
Thinking of Council Member Huang's masterful diplomacy and the Huang Family's deep-rooted development in West Delta State, Bai Zhi's lips couldn't help but purse slightly.
Soon, she handed her phone over again, [What's the probability?]
Fang Ze hesitated for a moment before deleting her words and inputting two characters, [Ninety percent].
Bai Zhi took a slight breath, then she took back her phone and turned off the screen.
Seeing Bai Zhi not asking further, Fang Ze leaned back in his seat, tilting his head to quietly watch the bustling nightscape of the provincial government outside the window, along with the hurried pedestrians....
After a moment, he suddenly felt a warm hand gently grasp his hand.
He turned his head in surprise to see Bai Zhi looking at him, her eyes full of tenderness and determination.
Fang Ze was taken aback for an instant, then smiled, placing his other hand over Bai Zhi's hand on his, gently patting it....
Their mutual understanding needed no words....
The next two council members Fang Ze visited did not surprise him; there wasn't much worth noting. They, like the council members after Councilor Jia, were all so hypocritical and flawless.
They seemed extremely enthusiastic, but it was clear they weren't sincere, just wearing a fake mask.
And of course, none of them were devotees of the Black Calabash....
So, by 9 PM, after visiting the last scheduled council member, Fang Ze returned to the Five-Star Hotel with Bai Zhi and Bai Ling.
Although the hotel is the entrance to the Security Bureau, it also operates externally. So, Fang Ze took Bai Ling to the hotel and checked her into a room. As for the thirty guards from the Hu Family, they weren't afforded such a luxury; Fang Ze handed them over to the butler to arrange according to standard treatment.
After handling these trivial matters, Fang Ze took Bai Zhi and Bai Ling upstairs. Upon arrival, Bai Ling clamored to visit Bai Zhi's room.
Bai Zhi actually wanted to spend more time with Fang Ze tonight, but ultimately couldn't resist Bai Ling, so she could only glance apologetically at Fang Ze.
Fang Ze didn't mind. He had too many things to do tonight and needed time, not company. So the three of them bid each other goodnight at the door and returned to their respective rooms.