Nominal: Who isn't a son-in-law?

The following day, in the office, Chu Shijun had been handing over his work for the past few days and had already made some arrangements.

A moment later, his secretary pushed open the door and came in, reminding him, "Director, the car has arrived."

"So urgent?"

Chu Shijun smiled, narrowed his eyes, and stood up. "Let's go."

The car downstairs is an Audi A6 with a two-digit license plate.

Chu Shijun glanced at it, then got into the car and sat in the back seat.

The driver didn't say anything. After Chu Shijun's secretary got into the passenger seat, he started the car and drove onto the highway.

Not long after, the car arrived at the gate of a small courtyard. The guard at the gate looked at the car and let it pass.

As soon as the car stopped, a middle-aged man in his forties came up and opened the car door. "Hello, Director Chu. Old Zhao is waiting for you over at the pavilion. I'll take you there."

"Yes, you too."

Chu Shijun nodded and followed the middle-aged man to the left.

After passing the building, we arrived at the backyard, which was filled with flowers and plants. There was a quaint little pavilion in the yard, which looked rather out of place compared to the two-story Western-style building next to it.

Inside the pavilion, an old man was reading a book.

"Old Zhao, Director Chu is here."

The middle-aged man went over and offered a reminder.

Upon hearing this, the old man put down his book, sat down, looked at Chu Shijun, and extended his hand, saying, "Comrade Shijun, it wasn't easy to get you to come all this way. I, an old man, even had to send a car to pick you up."

Chu Shijun stepped forward, shook hands with him, and then said with a smile, "Old Zhao, the Development and Reform Commission is indeed very busy. You see, as soon as the handover is completed, I came over as soon as you called."

"Hehe, you slippery fellow, sit down."

This person is Zhao Lichun, the former secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee, who is currently serving as the deputy in Zhengxie County.

Although it's a nominal position, he is still a leader.

Chu Shijun readily agreed, and the middle-aged man quickly served tea, placing it on the stone table in the middle of the pavilion.

Then, the middle-aged man also stepped back, and Chu Shijun also had his secretary stand at a distance.

Do you smoke?

Zhao Lichun took out a cigarette case and waved it.

Even if I don't smoke, I still have to accept your cigarette.

Chu Shijun laughed.

"Oh, so if I were the provincial party secretary, you wouldn't smoke the cigarette I offered?"

Zhao Lichun took out a cigarette and offered one to Chu Shijun; they each lit one.

"That depends on the situation."

"Tell me about it?"

Zhao Lichun became interested.

"If everyone here smokes, I'll smoke; if none of them smoke, I won't smoke either," Chu Shijun said, taking a drag of his cigarette.

"Interesting, so you're following the crowd. That's good. If one person smokes, everyone else will inhale secondhand smoke, affecting their health. That's really not good. Comrade Shijun is so young, yet he's so considerate of the bigger picture," Zhao Lichun said with a smile.

"Hehe, compared to you, I'm still lacking. I need to hone my skills some more."

Hearing this, Zhao Lichun narrowed his eyes, did not continue the topic, and said in a flash: "Shijun, you graduated from Handan University back then, and we had contact. At that time, I felt that your future would not be ordinary. Now you are going back to Handong to take charge. I was right about you."

"Old Zhao is joking. I, Chu Shijun, am where I am today because the people trust me. I am returning to Handong in the name of the people to seek development and improve people's livelihoods."

Zhao Lichun nodded and praised, "That's right, in the name of the people, well said. I have been working in Handong for decades and have watched Handong develop step by step. I hope you successors can do even better."

"We will never forget your dedication and contributions to Handong, nor will the people of Handong forget them," Chu Shijun said, taking a sip of his tea.

Only talk about achievements, not mistakes?

Zhao Lichun smiled, beckoned his secretary over, and said, "Let's play a game of chess, you and me."

"it is good."

Chu Shijun readily accepted good advice.

……

Under the pavilion, the two men played chess, each with a cigarette between their fingers. Their secretary came over several times to remind them to smoke less.

Zhao Lichun looked at the chessboard, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. At the center position, Chu Shijun had just placed a white piece.

He held the black stone in his hand for a good ten seconds before finally placing it on the star point in the lower left corner. Then he smiled faintly and said, "I'm getting old. I play for stability, unlike you young people who are ambitious and enterprising."

Chu Shijun picked up a white piece and placed it on the edge of the box.

"So I still have to learn from my seniors. But sometimes, you have to be quick when playing chess. You see, even if you've made sure your position is solid, there are always gaps. One wrong move and you can lose the whole game."

Zhao Lichun glanced at the chessboard, pondered for a few seconds, and placed a black piece to block the cut.

"It's okay to have a gap, as long as you patch it up, you'll still have a chance. You've lost your advantage by going first, haven't you?" Zhao Lichun said, pointing to the lone white piece in the center position, and said with a faint smile, "You see, you played too hastily, and now that it's surrounded by empty spaces, it's become an isolated piece."

"That's not necessarily true!"

Chu Shijun picked up a white piece and placed it to the side. "You see, isn't this a pincer movement? It seems like an isolated piece, but it can become a brilliant move at a crucial moment."

"Getting old, getting old."

Zhao Lichun glanced at the chessboard, remained silent for a few moments, then shrugged and smiled wryly.

Not far away, the middle-aged secretary who had been watching the scene immediately walked over, bowed, and said, "Old Zhao, it's time to rest." Then he gave Chu Shijun an apologetic smile.

"Mr. Zhao, please take care of yourself and get some rest. I won't bother you any longer."

Chu Shijun stood up and said.

Zhao Lichun nodded and said slowly, "Go to Handong, do a good job!"

"I will."

……

In the front yard, the car started and slowly drove out of the yard.

Behind a window on the second floor, two pairs of eyes watched the car drive away, and then the people who were looking at each other went downstairs together.

This is a middle-aged couple around fifty years old. The woman's eyebrows and eyes resemble Zhao Lichun's, her chin is very sharp, and her eyes reveal a fierce look. This is Zhao Lichun's second daughter, Zhao Xiaohui.

The man had a refined appearance, except for his deep-set eyes behind his black-rimmed glasses.

The two arrived at the pavilion and found Zhao Lichun, who was still looking at the chessboard in front of him.

"Dad, how did the talks go?"

Zhao Xiaohui glanced at the chessboard and asked.

Zhao Lichun shook his head and said calmly, "The first move is made at the center, and the battle begins in the corners. This is a life-or-death struggle. Prepare for the storm."

"You've made significant contributions to Handong over the years, and those contributions are undeniable and indelible!" Zhao Xiaohui said angrily.

"They never intended to erase my contributions, nor could they," Zhao Lichun said calmly. "But merits are merits, and faults are faults; we must distinguish between them."

"Handong has been reforming and opening up for decades. Even without me, Zhao Lichun, there would still be Wang Lichun and Li Lichun. This is an inevitable process of the times."

As he spoke, Zhao Lichun looked at the middle-aged man beside him, "Wang Bei, I'm not afraid of anything. What I'm worried about is whether this game of chess will only last this one game!"

The middle-aged man's pupils contracted. "You mean, Dad, you mean... the cunning rabbit dies..."

"That's what I'm most worried about. I'm not afraid of anything; Xiaoyun and Xiaohui are both married and have children. I'm worried about you, and Ruilong too."

Mentioning his son, Zhao Lichun closed his eyes and murmured, "A son who is not like his father, what can I do?"

"Real Dragon is really something..."

Hearing about her younger brother, Zhao Xiaohui was furious.

At this moment, the middle-aged man looked at the chessboard, stared at the white piece in the middle for a few moments, and suddenly bent down and swept all the pieces off the board.

Hearing the clatter of the chess pieces hitting the ground, Zhao Lichun opened his eyes.

The middle-aged man looked at him and said calmly, "Dad, when a game of chess reaches a dead end, there's no need to continue. We can start a new game. My Gu family is never afraid of any storms."

"Even if it really comes to that, it must be done within the rules."

Zhao Lichun remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking.