"Knock, knock."

Xiao Song gently tapped on the door.

But after a while, no one came to open it.

He turned to look at Liang Jiajia, whose cheeks blushed with embarrassment and was nervously clutching her little hands, "Are you sure no one is home?"

"How would I know?"

Liang Jiajia said speechlessly, "Didn't you make a call before coming?"

"Uh... I actually forgot."

Xiao Song was about to reach for his phone, then put it back, "You call."

"You're here to meet my parents and you want me to make the call."

She just complained a little and obediently called her mom.

After the call, she said, "My mom got off work and will take a while."

"Call your dad too, see if he's working late."

Liang Jiajia was thoroughly speechless and called her dad.

"My dad isn't working late; he's already on his way back."

Suddenly, Liang Jiajia said, "They don't know you're coming, so they probably didn't prepare any food."

"Seriously, you should have said something in advance!"

Liang Jiajia pulled him to head outside.

"Where are we going?"

"To buy groceries!"

"Uh..."

The two had to put their things back in the car and went to the nearby market to buy a lot of groceries.

When they returned home, they saw Liang Jiajia's mother just getting out of her car.

"Mom!"

Liang Jiajia jogged over.

Auntie Hu saw her daughter and just started to smile when she noticed Xiao Song, a bit surprised.

"Xiao Song's here too?"

"Hello, Auntie Hu."

Xiao Song handed the groceries to Liang Jiajia, saying, "I'll go get the stuff from the car."

Under Auntie Hu's puzzled gaze, Xiao Song started bringing things out of the car.

Why did they buy so many gifts?

What's this all about?

Auntie Hu grew even more puzzled and was about to ask her daughter, who looked like a shy little bride standing next to her.

This appearance made Auntie Hu pop an idea.

Is this boy here to propose?

She was startled by the thought.

Could he really be here to propose?

Probably not...

A proposal with no elders present?

Xiao Song, being at least Secretary of the Municipal Committee, surely knows such social etiquettes.

"Go open the door."

"I didn't bring the key."

"Why didn't you bring the key when you came back?"

"I..." Liang Jiajia didn't know how to explain.

It's all this jerk's fault, saying he would accompany her to meet her parents.

Auntie Hu looked helpless; such a big girl, always so scatterbrained.

What will she do when she marries into someone else's family?

After entering the house, Auntie Hu said, "Xiao Song, have a seat. Jiajia, make Xiao Song some tea."

"Got it."

Liang Jiajia made a face at Xiao Song as Auntie Hu took the groceries to the kitchen.

While washing vegetables, she suddenly received a call from Liang Jianfeng, "Hey, Liang... Old Wu's coming over? I see, I've bought enough food, talk when you come back."

About twenty minutes later, the doorbell unexpectedly rang.

Liang Jiajia pondered out loud, "Did Dad forget his key?"

Auntie Hu said, "It's your Uncle Wu, hurry up and open the door?"

"Uncle Wu?"

Liang Jiajia was momentarily stunned, "Which Uncle Wu?"

She went to open the door and saw Wu Xinan standing at the entrance.

"Uncle Wu..."

She called out once, then saw Wu Yun walking over from the parking lot.

When the two girls met, their expressions were slightly awkward.

"Hello, Jiajia."

"Hello, Yunyun."

Liang Jiajia always thought addressing each other like this was odd.

Liang Jianfeng had a good relationship with Wu Xinan, but the two girls hadn't really interacted much.

Their social circles were quite separate, rarely overlapping.

"Uncle Wu, Yunyun, come on in."

Liang Jiajia fetched slippers for them.

Walking into the living room, they were surprised to see Xiao Song there, both Wu Xinan and his daughter were slightly stunned.

"Secretary Wu." Xiao Song stood up, greeted politely, then turned to Wu Yun, his expression natural, "Director Wu."

"Secretary Song is here too."

Wu Xinan smiled, "Here to see Old Liang?"

"Yes." Xiao Song asked, "Director Ma was also looking for Secretary Wu today, right?"

Wu Xinan nodded, both of them understanding today's shared purpose for visiting.

Liang Jiajia busied herself making tea and preparing snacks.

Wu Yun wanted to help but felt embarrassed, so she quietly sat aside, listening to her dad chat with Xiao Song.

However, Wu Xinan suddenly stood up, took out a cigarette, "Secretary Song, care to join me for a smoke on the balcony?"

"Sure."

Xiao Song followed him to the balcony, deliberately closing the sliding door connecting to the living room.

Both lit cigarettes, Wu Xinan asked, "Secretary Song, where do you think Old Liang could go this time?"

"Jiangzhou, probably."

Xiao Song said, "Only Jiangzhou City is worthy of Uncle Liang's progress."

Jiangzhou, the capital city of Nanjiang Province.

"Jiangzhou..." Wu Xinan said, "Not much hope for a position in the province?"

Xiao Song shook his head, "Although Uncle Liang is of the proper level, he's just a deputy director; the starting point is too low, so there's no suitable position for him directly in the province."

"Deputy Governor, too high, Uncle Liang couldn't handle it."

"Deputy Director, the level is enough, but there's no real power, it's a covert demotion."

For someone else, it's not much of an issue, but if the province arranges Uncle Liang this way, it would be inappropriate, and it could easily become a laughingstock if words got out."

"Moreover, Uncle Liang has been commended by the Ministry of Public Security."

"So, I think this time, the province should promote Uncle Liang to Jiangzhou City, as Vice Mayor and Director of the Police Department."

"If Uncle Liang performs outstandingly and manages one or two big cases, within a year and a half, he could certainly move to the province. Also, there's a strong possibility of directly entering the Standing Committee and assuming the position of Director."

Wu Xinan actually hoped to see his old friend enter the province directly.

But indeed, as Xiao Song said, going to the province may not necessarily be a good thing.

First, go to the provincial city, use it as a springboard for one or two years, then move to the province.

But whether this springboard can really launch him remains uncertain.

The provincial city acts as a dividing line.

Normally speaking, once in the provincial city as the head of a municipal department, moving to the province becomes almost a certainty.

But, what kind of identity one holds entering the province is still in question.

After they finished smoking, Liang Jianfeng returned.

He walked into the living room, smiling, "Yunyun has become even prettier."

"Uncle Liang." Wu Yun quickly stood up.

"You sit, feel at home, just like being at your own home."

Liang Jianfeng patted her shoulder, glancing at Xiao Song and Wu Xinan who just entered from the balcony.

"Old Liang, you're back."

"Uncle Liang."

"Hmm." Liang Jianfeng nodded slightly, feeling a bit puzzled about Xiao Song's visit.

Also, no prior notice was given before coming.

He noticed the gifts on the coffee table weren't particularly expensive.

Wu Xinan wouldn't be so courteous, so they must have been sent by Xiao Song.

This boy, what's the point of sending gifts?

Is he looking to marry my daughter?

The three of them sat down, Xiao Song offered a cigarette, "Uncle Liang, have a smoke."

Liang Jianfeng took the cigarette, and Xiao Song handed over the lighter.

Watching him offer Liang Jianfeng cigarettes and a light, Wu Yun inexplicably felt a pang of jealousy.

Soon, dinner was ready.

Liang Jiajia helped serve the dishes and rice, Auntie Hu asked, "Do you drink?"

"With Old Wu here, of course, we must drink."

He didn't ask Xiao Song.

Outside, Xiao Song is a secretary.

But at his own home, he's the junior.

He can directly make the decision for Xiao Song.

Auntie Hu opened a bottle of liquor and poured for the three.

Once everyone was seated, Xiao Song suddenly stood up with a wine glass, "Uncle Liang, congratulations!"

This congratulation left all except Wu Xinan puzzled.

After making the toast, before Liang Jianfeng could ask, Wu Xinan also raised his glass, "Old Liang, when you get to the provincial city, don't forget your old friends. Here's to your future reaching great heights, seeing long-lasting success!"

The couple of Liang Jianfeng, Liang Jiajia, and Wu Yun were all confused.

A few seconds later, as if gradually understanding, they seemed to realize something.

The confusion on their faces slowly faded and was replaced by a look of astonished excitement, with their hearts skipping beats from the delightful surprise.

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