Not long after Cai Zhangming and the others entered the room, Zhang Wenqing called Zhang Yaling and said that he had arrived at the hotel lobby. He asked which room they were in, and Zhang Yaling quickly told him the room number.
Cai Zhangming stood up and said, "Xiao Zhang, your cousin is from the Provincial Party Committee. He's our superior. Let's go to the elevator and welcome him!"
Zhang Yaling stood up and agreed, but Xia Bingbing and Lu Tao sat on the sofa without moving. Cai Zhangming knew that Xia Bingbing didn't like the formalities of welcoming and sending off people, so he didn't force her. He brought Zhang Yaling to the elevator.
A few minutes later, Cai Zhangming and Zhang Yaling led a refined young man into the private room with smiles on their faces. Cai Zhangming pointed at Xia Bingbing and introduced her, "Director Zhang, this is Xia Bingbing, the head of the budget unit in our bureau. She's like your cousin. She's the backbone of Taolin County's Finance Bureau. She's also my best advisor."
Actually, Zhang Wenqing was only a section chief in the Second Department of the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee. However, Cai Zhangming was well-versed in the art of flattery in the bureaucracy. Towards the higher-ups in the important departments, even if they were just clerks, he would always address them as' section chief 'or' director '. Moreover, he knew from Zhang Yaling that Zhang Wenqing would be promoted to Deputy Director in the near future, so he simply called him "Director Zhang" …
Although Xia Bingbing didn't like this kind of fake politeness, she still stood up from the sofa out of basic courtesy. She smiled and shook hands with Zhang Wenqing.
At first, Lu Tao didn't know who Zhang Yaling's cousin was, but when Zhang Wenqing walked in, he immediately recognized him. This was the president of the student council when he was in university. He was a famous person in university. Before he graduated, almost all the students in the School of Public Economics and Management knew him. However, Lu Tao wasn't a prominent person in university. He didn't work in the student council, so Zhang Wenqing didn't know him …
After recognizing Zhang Wenqing, Lu Tao didn't wait for Cai Zhangming to introduce him. He stood up from the sofa and walked to Zhang Wenqing out of respect. He smiled and said, "Hello, senior. My name is Lu Tao. I graduated from the School of Public Economics and Management of Central South University of Finance and Economics. I'm currently working in the Taolin County Local Taxation Bureau. "
Zhang Wenqing was a little surprised as he looked at Lu Tao. Squeezing out a smile, he extended his hand to shake Lu Tao's hand and said coldly, "Hello, nice to meet you!"
Lu Tao knew that a person like Zhang Wenqing was an influential figure during his university days. After graduation, he entered an important department like the Provincial Party Committee's General Office. Every day, he would have to deal with high-ranking officials and dignitaries. Naturally, he wouldn't put a junior from a small county in his eyes. Thus, he didn't mind Zhang Wenqing's cold attitude and naturally shook hands with him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he returned to the sofa and sat down.
Cai Zhangming warmly invited Zhang Wenqing to sit in the middle of the table. After the waiter left with the tea, Cai Zhangming asked with anticipation, "Director Zhang, have you made an appointment with Section Chief Chen? Can she come out for a cup of tea tonight? "
Zhang Wenqing nodded and said, "Before I came, I gave her a call and asked her to come over for some tea. She agreed. I'll call her now and tell her the room number. Her house is in the Provincial Party Committee's courtyard. It's only a few kilometers away from here. She should be able to come over quickly. "
Cai Zhangming hurriedly asked, "Do you want me to arrange a car to pick her up?"
Zhang Wenqing shook his head and said, "No need. I know her the best. Although she is Deputy Secretary Chen's daughter, she is very low-key and simple. When she goes out, she doesn't need her father's car to pick her up. She always takes a taxi or rides a shared bicycle. If you arrange a car to pick her up, it will only make her unhappy. "
Zhang Yaling smiled and said, "Fourth brother, you and Section Chief Chen should be confirming your relationship soon, right? She is so simple and modest. She must be a very smart and outstanding girl. This kind of girl likes people like you who are knowledgeable, capable, and have a bright future. I reckon that there will be a wedding banquet for you two soon! Haha! "
Zhang Wenqing smiled reservedly and said ambiguously, "Third sister, feelings are hard to explain. You can't simply say that a certain kind of girl likes a certain kind of boy. I'm currently trying to date Pep. Whether or not we can succeed will depend on fate. As for the wedding banquet, it's still too early! "
Cai Zhangming knew that although Zhang Wenqing said that, deep down, he was extremely eager to become Deputy Secretary Chen's son-in-law. So he took the opportunity to flatter him, "Director Zhang, as your third sister said, a girl like Section Chief Chen who has good taste and inner qualities will definitely like a young talent like you. What's more, not only are you good inside, but you also have a refined and elegant appearance. Which girl wouldn't be tempted? Even Deputy Secretary Chen would be very pleased to see a talent like you. Hahaha! "
Zhang Wenqing's face showed a bit of pride and said with a smile, "I won't hide it from Chief Cai. I have a good relationship with Deputy Secretary Chen's secretary, Director Yang, so I have a lot of dealings with Deputy Secretary Chen. He cares about me and knows that Pep and I are schoolmates. He even personally invited me to his house to play. If I really date Pep, Deputy Secretary Chen shouldn't object. "
Zhang Yaling looked at her watch and asked in an inquiring tone, "Fourth brother, shouldn't you call Section Chief Chen's number?"
Zhang Wenqing then remembered that he was just about to call Chen Pei. He hurriedly took out his phone and dialed a number. After the call connected, he asked in a very intimate tone, "Pep, I'm now at the teahouse on the third floor of Maple Forest Hotel. I'm in private room 9. Can you come over now?"
Chen Pei was silent for a moment on the phone and asked, "Senior, you just said that you would like to invite me to have tea with a few friends. I forgot to ask, what do your friends do? Are they in the finance system? "
Zhang Wenqing stared blankly for a moment. He didn't dare to hide anything and answered truthfully, "They are indeed from the Finance Bureau of my hometown, Taolin County. One of them is my cousin, who is now the Director of the Finance Bureau of Taolin County. The other two are Director Cai of the Finance Bureau of the County and Director Xia of the Budget Unit."
When Chen Pei heard that his friends were indeed from the finance system, her tone immediately turned cold and she said with a bit of displeasure, "Senior, when you said that you were going to have tea with a few friends, I thought that they would be schoolmates like the previous times. If that was the case, then I would definitely come. But if it's someone from the Finance Bureau who is treating, then I'm sorry, but I won't attend. I'm sure you know this better than me."
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