From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Fan Lidada said, "Brother, you’re really something. How about this, I’ll write a report later and apply to the city on your behalf. I believe it shouldn’t be a problem."

Xu Chunliang raised his glass and said, "Brother Fan, on behalf of Changxing, and all my colleagues at our branch, I welcome you."

Fan Lidada, feeling high-spirited from the alcohol, chuckled and corrected, "Join us! You have to join the revolutionary family!"

They drank until four in the afternoon. Xiaowang couldn’t hold his liquor and was already drunk. Xu Chunliang asked Zhang Haitao to help him go rest, and accompanied the exuberant Fan Lidada to the construction site for a look, finally returning to the planning department, asking Wang Fangtian to bring up the live-effect renderings for him to see.

Xu Chunliang waved his hand grandly and arranged five rooms for Fan Lidada as a temporary office location for the Dongzhou City national-level vacation area command center, instructing Wang Fangtian to organize the construction team to decorate them according to a unified standard, with specific requirements open for submission.

Fan Lidada was completely overwhelmed by Xu Chunliang’s smooth talk, and coupled with the excitement from drinking, he patted his chest and declared it settled. He would report the matter to the city as soon as he returned.

Listening nearby, Wang Fangtian felt a mix of amusement and admiration, as young Xu Chunliang already showed himself to be a master at building castles in the air; the buildings weren’t even up yet and he was already assigning office spaces. The official who came out of nowhere was even excitedly declaring that all dealings would be fair and rent would definitely be paid.

Xu Chunliang didn’t care about the rent at all, as that money wouldn’t end up in his own pocket anyway.

He asked Zhang Haitao to take Fan Lidada and Xiaowang to Xianhong Farm to rest and stay overnight; he would go over later.

Soon after sending them away, Mei Ru Xue called, asking if he had any plans for the evening.

Xu Chunliang explained the situation and casually invited Mei Ru Xue to dinner. When Mei Ru Xue heard that Fan Lidada had already arrived, she was a bit surprised. After considering, she decided it wasn’t suitable to meet with Fan Lidada now, and asked Xu Chunliang to wait for her at the construction site entrance, as she had something to tell him.

When Xu Chunliang arrived at the place Mei Ru Xue mentioned, he saw the Hu Shan Town Government’s Great Wall Havre parked there, and Mei Ru Xue had already arrived.

Xu Chunliang looked around before opening the car door and getting in.

Mei Ru Xue smiled and said, "Sneaky, like a thief."

Xu Chunliang said, "I’m worried it might affect Town Mayor Mei’s reputation."

Mei Ru Xue said, "What’s there to be afraid of? It’s not like we’re doing anything shameful." As she was about to leave Hu Shan Town, Mei Ru Xue wasn’t as cautious as before.

Xu Chunliang laughed, "In that case, let me give you a kiss first." He leaned in shamelessly but was stopped by Mei Ru Xue’s hand blocking his mouth.

"Behave yourself, sit steady!"

Mei Ru Xue stepped on the gas pedal, and Xu Chunliang sat back obediently as the car drove toward Xianhong Farm.

Smelling the alcohol on him, Mei Ru Xue picked up her tea cup and handed it to him, "Drink some hot tea."

Xu Chunliang unscrewed the lid, took a sip, and looked at her with a smile, "You’re really nice to me."

Mei Ru Xue said, "Just giving you my leftover tea and you’re that satisfied? You’re too easily pleased."

Xu Chunliang said, "Contentment brings happiness." Noticing Mei Ru Xue was steering from the previous junction toward the snowy fields below, and ahead was the dark green Weishan Lake, he quickly recognized it as the spot where they had picnicked last time.

The winter reeds created a golden dividing line between the snowy fields and the lake, swaying like waves in the cold wind.

Mei Ru Xue opened the car door and got out, with Xu Chunliang quickly following. Shoulder to shoulder, they walked on the inch-thick snow towards the lakeside.

Mei Ru Xue said, "I never realized how beautiful Weishan Lake was before. Now that I’m about to leave, I realize I haven’t taken the time to appreciate its scenery."

Xu Chunliang said, "That’s because your brilliance overshadows anything else. Even the most beautiful landscape pales in comparison to you."

Mei Ru Xue retorted, "Cheesy!" But she willingly linked her arm with Xu Chunliang’s, resting her head on his shoulder. The evening wind was strong, drawing them closer together.

Xu Chunliang wrapped her in his arms, shielding her from the cold wind with his body.

Mei Ru Xue said, "Will anyone disturb us?"

Xu Chunliang laughed, "I’d like to see who dares, I’d break their legs."

Mei Ru Xue nestled into his embrace like a kitten, softly saying, "I just enjoy being quietly with you."

Xu Chunliang said, "Sure, we won’t go anywhere, I’ll just stay here with you."

Mei Ru Xue nodded, closing her eyes as if she couldn’t feel the cold. After a while, she opened her eyes, leaving Xu Chunliang’s embrace, and took his hand to walk forward: "Chunliang, how did you know Fan Lidada was coming to Hu Shan Town?"

Xu Chunliang briefly explained the situation.

Mei Ru Xue laughed, "That Fan Lidada doesn’t keep secrets; things like this shouldn’t be leaked so early."

Xu Chunliang said, "He probably thought it was a tough job. They say the city’s office conditions are quite harsh, so today I played the good guy..."

Mei Ru Xue, upon hearing his words, immediately realized his motive and gently said, "You’re so cunning, this is like coercing the emperor to command the feudal lords."

Xu Chunliang replied, "Don’t say that, my intention is to help a friend, it’s not as scheming as you think."

Mei Ru Xue looked at him meaningfully, "Do you know the purpose of the city setting up this command center?"

Xu Chunliang shook his head, though he had already guessed most of it.

Mei Ru Xue said, "The full name of this project is the Weishan Lake National Tourism and Vacation Zone, and the upgrade and renovation of Weishan Island is just one part of it. You should know that Weishan Lake isn’t just in Dongzhou; a large part of it belongs to Jizhou as well."

Xu Chunliang knew all of this.

Mei Ru Xue continued, "From the beginning of the project’s approval, the higher-ups considered that this project involves two provinces and two cities. With the aim of sharing resources and developing together, the higher-ups requested that both cities must gather quality resources and jointly build this project to strive for a top-tier tourism and vacation zone in the country."

Xu Chunliang said, "I’ve heard about that, but it seems like Jizhou hasn’t made much progress."

Mei Ru Xue said, "It’s not that there’s no progress, it’s just that the start was slower. Dongzhou and Jizhou have different focuses in their construction, and Dongzhou’s economic strength far exceeds that of Jizhou. There’s also a lack of communication between the departments of both sides, which caused this asynchrony. The higher departments obviously noticed this, and recently held talks with the leaders of the two cities, requiring them to maintain sufficient communication and cooperation on this project, which is why there’s this national-level vacation zone command center."

Xu Chunliang said, "So does that mean Fan Lidada has considerable power?"

Mei Ru Xue said, "Apart from planning and management supervision, there’s an important task of coordinating and communicating with the related departments of Jizhou."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "How come you know so much?"

Mei Ru Xue said, "I originally intended to work at the command center, but after thinking it through, if I really do, it might be difficult to carry out the work later. It’s better to stay away from Weishan Island, which is a place of trouble."

Xu Chunliang said, "You’re afraid of gossip."

Mei Ru Xue smiled without denying it, but there was another reason: the vacation zone command center and the local government have many overlapping functions, and there will definitely be many troubles in the future work.

Xu Chunliang said, "So does that mean Hu Shan Town has to relinquish a large part of its power?"

Mei Ru Xue nodded, "Naturally, the city has already clarified that the project command center, which is deputy division-level, is responsible for the overall planning and approval of the Weishan Lake Tourism and Vacation Zone within the Dongzhou region. It not only includes Hu Shan Town but also the tourism planning and approval of five lakeside townships such as Ancient Spring Town and Linwan Town."

Xu Chunliang felt a bit sympathetic towards Qin Zhengyang. It was hard enough for him to climb to the top of the party and government leadership of Hu Shan Town, and it hasn’t even been officially announced yet when suddenly an upper-level department was added, meaning that all planning, approval, and supervision authority within the vacation zone now went to the command center. Who wouldn’t feel a sense of loss?

Xu Chunliang said, "Does this mean that matters concerning our Healthy Elderly Care Hospital are no longer under the jurisdiction of the Hu Shan Town Government?"

Mei Ru Xue said, "The city hasn’t released a specific plan yet, but it will definitely evaluate and classify major projects."

"Explain in more detail."

"To put it simply, it’s about categorizing the nature of the projects. Take the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital as an example; if it belongs to the vacation zone’s supporting infrastructure, then it’s managed by the command center; otherwise, it belongs to Hu Shan Town. This is just my opinion; how it will actually be executed depends on the city’s final document."

Unknowingly, the two had walked to the lakeside, and because of the cold weather, the edges near the shore had frozen over.

Xu Chunliang stepped on it, and the ice layer immediately cracked.

"Be careful!" Mei Ru Xue warned, as the winters here are more humid and mild compared to the Capital City, and the ice had only formed a thin layer.

Xu Chunliang said, "The small Weishan Lake is not enough to bear my weight."

Mei Ru Xue said, "That sounds quite ambitious."

Xu Chunliang’s ambitions went beyond that.

Before they realized, it had already gotten dark. Wang Jinwu called, asking what time dinner would be served.

Xu Chunliang then realized it was already six in the evening. Mei Ru Xue reminded him not to keep the guests waiting, driving him to Xianhong Farm. When they parted ways, she asked Xu Chunliang to accompany her to He Tiantian Restaurant for lunch tomorrow, and to visit Xiaosinan by the way.

Wang Jinwu’s eyes followed the Haval car, "I seemed to have seen Town Mayor Mei?" Upon receiving Xu Chunliang’s confirmation, Wang Jinwu chided, "Why didn’t you ask her to stay and join us for dinner?"

Xu Chunliang said, "She had something to do. By the way, where are my two friends?"

Wang Jinwu said, "Still sleeping. What time is dinner tonight?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Seven-thirty. They drank quite a bit during lunch, let them sleep a bit longer."

The two went to sit in the waterfront restaurant. Wang Jinwu had already brewed Pu’er tea with some dried orange peel added. He heard that drinking it this way can help lower fat, aid digestion, protect the stomach, clear phlegm and asthma, and also has beauty benefits.

Xu Chunliang laughed, "You’ve become half a doctor already."