Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 568 Unavoidable Socializing and Interactions

Aunt Wang snatched the feather duster from Xiao Hong's hand, slapped Xiao Hong's bottom with her backhand, and scolded, "You crazy girl."

Xiao Hong covered her bottom and pretended to cry, then nuzzled against Xiao Wei.

Aunt Wang straightened the duster and put it aside, then asked Xiao Wei, "Your uncle hasn't come back yet?"

Xiao Wei raised his hand to check the time: "No, it's a bit late today. Xing, you must have something to do."

Aunt Wang snorted and walked into the inner room, saying, "Let's not wait for him. Is it ready yet? If it is, let's eat first."

Xiao Hong glanced at Xiao Wei, who forced a smile and turned to serve the dishes and rice. The mother-in-law is the boss.

The food was served, and Aunt Wang changed her clothes and washed her face. She sat down at the table, picked up her chopsticks, but her eyes honestly checked the time again.

Xiao Wei said, "Auntie, things are different now. My uncle is now the top official in the provincial capital, which is incomparable to his previous position in the county. There are many more meetings and social engagements than before. In fact, my uncle has never been late coming home since he started working here. It's really not easy for him."

Before we came into contact with this area, we didn't understand or even think about it. We just thought it was like going to work, going there and coming back on time, that was all.

I've been working at the police station for a while now, and the feeling of experiencing it firsthand is completely different from just watching. There's always work to do, endless meetings, and countless documents to study. Besides, my uncle is in a high position now, so how can he avoid the social obligations and banquets he has to attend?

Xiao Hong nodded in agreement: "That's right, my dad's a high-ranking official now, so he can't be lazy. Oh, Mom, come on, dear Mom, have some fish. As family members, we can't hold our leader back. Oh, Dad's pretty tired these days."

Aunt Wang took the fish meat that Xiao Hong put on her plate, but she still looked a little unhappy. She asked Xiao Wei, "Really?"

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Our police station is just a small one. The chief and the instructor are so busy they're practically running themselves ragged. They rarely get to go home every day, let alone every day. Fengtian is the provincial capital. Think about it, the number of people Uncle is in charge of is almost equal to the population of our county. That's the whole province's business, plus the higher-level units. Just reading documents takes him several hours a day, doesn't it?"

Aunt Wang blinked, thought for a moment, sighed, set her chopsticks down, and said, "Let's eat, let's not think about him anymore."

Xiao Hong looked at Xiao Wei and said to her mother, "Mom, Xiao Wei and I are going on a sightseeing trip. Are you free? Why don't we go together?"

Aunt Wang glanced at her daughter and said, "This topic was steered too far. Even if I go out, I'll wait for your mother-in-law. What would I be doing going out with you? You need to settle down. You're still a student. Xiaowei's business is getting bigger and bigger. Do you think you're out of the picture? You need to study hard so you can work your way up in the government. That way, even if someone wants to get involved with you, they'll have something to hold them back."

Comrade Wang Xiaohong raised her chopsticks and saluted her mother: "Yes, I guarantee I'll complete the mission. Mom, just you wait and see, your daughter is the future mayor, no doubt about it."

Aunt Wang laughed and tapped Xiao Hong on the forehead with her chopsticks.

As soon as the door opened, Uncle Wang walked in, clutching his electricity bill bag. A whiff of alcohol wafted in, and Aunt Wang frowned. Xiao Wei quickly stood up, took the bag from Uncle Wang, and helped him change his shoes, asking, "Did you have a business dinner today, Uncle?"

Uncle Wang took a deep breath and said, "I went to inspect the city's urban construction work and ate there. I didn't drink much, just a token amount."

Aunt Wang stood up and went to the kitchen to get a bowl of rice. She said, "Come and eat some more. Xiao Wei stewed some fish. Drink some fish soup to help you sober up." Xiao Hong leaned back and winked at Xiao Wei. Xiao Wei smiled, helped Uncle Wang change his shoes, and helped him to the table to sit down.

Uncle Wang picked up his chopsticks, looked at the table, and said, "I really didn't eat enough. Today was my first time going downstairs, so I had to give them some face. I won't drink anymore. After all, I'm their leader, how dare they force me? Don't worry. Xiao Wei's cooking is getting better and better, huh? My son-in-law is capable, he does everything well."

Xiao Hong grinned foolishly with delight.

Aunt Wang said, "Xiao Hong is on vacation, and Xiao Wei said he'll take her out for a walk."

Uncle Wang took a sip of fish head soup, let out a long, comfortable sigh, and said, "It's good to go out and see the world. Business is much bigger now than before, so I need to go out and see more of the world. I have many comrades-in-arms outside; if it's convenient, please visit them for me."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, give me the address and stuff tomorrow."

Uncle Wang asked, "When are you leaving? Just the two of you?"

Xiao Wei said, "I'll go back to the county tomorrow, and then I'll leave again."

Uncle Wang nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "How about I arrange for a few people to follow you? I'm a little worried about just the two of you going out alone."

Xiao Wei said, "No need, I have my work ID with me. Two people from the station will come with me. I'm also planning to find a few people from our area to take with me when I go back to the county, for driving and stuff."

Uncle Wang said, "It's good that there are arrangements. Society may seem calm on the surface, but things are still unsettled, especially since we're outsiders now. It's better to be on guard than to be caught off guard if something actually happens. What are we going back to the county for?"

Xiao Wei said, "The company is planning to recruit a lot of people. I plan to find factory workers and other jobs that don't require a diploma from our company. It's a way of helping out. Xinghai and his team have been working there for quite a while now. I'll go and take a look. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease."

Uncle Wang said, "Your Uncle Li's transfer order has come down. Old Qin is a rather interesting guy; he brought it to me. You can take it with you. Afterward, go to Old Li's house in the county for a while. Don't go empty-handed. You're considered to have some status now, so you need to learn how to socialize. As for recruiting, write down the conditions, your requirements for the other party, and the salary you offer. Then, submit it to the county to handle. It's easier than doing it yourself, and you can also curry favor with them."

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

Aunt Wang said, "Didn't you ask your fourth brother and the others to help you collect mountain products? Why don't you buy a house in the county and set up a company? Let your fourth uncle manage it for you. When he's working, this can be considered an investment in the county. You can let your fourth uncle live in our house for now. Xiu'er is in high school in the county, so it'll be more convenient."

Xiao Wei said, "They'll collect it in the county? Where would we find a place to put it?"

Uncle Wang said, "There's plenty of land available. We just need to hire a few people to work. To be honest, if this mountain produce business really takes off, it'll be quite a large business for the county."

Xiao Hong said, "I think my dad is right. We should get a piece of land in the county and start deep processing there."

Xiao Wei said, "Doesn't it require skills? All I know is boiling and drying, how do I process it?"

Xiao Hong rolled her eyes and said, "Boiling and drying aren't processing? Making a small batch for your own family is cooking, but if you open a factory and process a ton at a time, that's called deep processing, don't you understand? Besides, I'm here, aren't I? Do you think I, a modern college student, am just for show?"

The whole family laughed, and Xiaowei said, "Okay, college student, tell me what kind of processing you do?"

(End of this chapter)