Wang Jinwu came to the hospital again in the afternoon specifically to find Chunliang Xu. He planned to invite Chunliang Xu to eat something at the entrance, but Chunliang Xu said there was no need for such trouble, and arranged for a few dishes from the cafeteria to be delivered to the office.

Wang Jinwu bought a pound of dog meat and six dog paws from the town, and took two bottles of handmade Mengjiu from the car.

The two sat by the coffee table and started drinking. Wang Jinwu was heavy-hearted, and after two cups of liquor, he sighed deeply and said, "It's not fair. Good people don't get good rewards. How could such a good person as President Tong get such an illness."

Chunliang Xu comforted him, saying that it was only suspected now and not yet definitive. They needed to wait for the results of a comprehensive examination to be certain, and believed that fortune favors the good-hearted.

Wang Jinwu had specifically asked the old director Miao Xiujun and knew that this matter was almost certainly true. He shook his head and said, "With President Tong's temper, if he knew, who knows how big his reaction would be."

Chunliang Xu said, "He's a war hero; he's not afraid to die, so would he be afraid of leukemia?"

Wang Jinwu said, "President Tong has been looking forward to his son for so long, and finally, he has his son back, and now this has happened. I don't even know how to tell his son."

"Just tell the truth. The father has the illness, and the son has the right to know."

Wang Jinwu remembered something, took out his phone, and found a photo of Shu Yuanhang to show Chunliang Xu. Chunliang Xu took his phone and looked at it. The man in the photo was fair and clean, with black-rimmed glasses, looking gentle and scholarly, completely different from Tong Guangsheng's rugged image.

Wang Jinwu said, "He is thirty years old, left President Tong in '97, and was taken to Malaysia by his mother. President Tong has had no information about them all these years, and only contacted them twelve years ago. President Tong's ex-wife had a terminal illness, and worried that after her death, there would be no one to take care of the child. President Tong flew to Malaysia as soon as he got the call, but even so, he could not see his ex-wife one last time."

Chunliang Xu curiously asked, "After recognizing each other for seven years, hasn't this Shu Yuanhang acknowledged his roots?"

Wang Jinwu shook his head and said, "I guess there was a rift between father and son. I heard from President Tong that Shu Yuanhang refused his financial support all these years, continued to stay overseas, and even lost contact for a period of time. For some unknown reason, they got in touch again last year, and the relationship has somewhat softened. I heard Shu Yuanhang is now also quite successful."

Chunliang Xu gazed at Shu Yuanhang in the photo and asked, "Is he coming back this time to acknowledge his ancestry?"

Wang Jinwu sighed and said, "I hope so."

Chunliang Xu said, "Brother Wang, how did you and President Tong meet?"

Wang Jinwu said, "He's my benefactor."

Actually, he is the nephew of the Western Yunnan comrade who sacrificed his life to cover Tong Guangsheng back then. After his uncle sacrificed, Tong Guangsheng took on the responsibility of taking care of their family, right up until now.

Wang Jinwu's father later became an anti-drug police officer and died when he was five. His mother remarried soon after, and Tong Guangsheng simply took him with him, supported his education, and raised him to adulthood. After he graduated from university, he came directly to work by Tong Guangsheng's side. You could say that Wang Jinwu has always regarded Tong Guangsheng as a father.

The one most affected internally by Tong Guangsheng's leukemia diagnosis was Wang Jinwu. He still couldn't forget the day he learned of his father's sacrifice. He was deeply grieved but couldn't cry. He ran alone to the tea garden, hugged an ancient tea tree in the heavy rain, just like embracing his father's sturdy body, using all his strength, yet he couldn't feel his father's warmth.

As night fell, he was cold and hungry, even hearing the howl of wolves. He didn't want to go back; he just kept holding onto that tea tree because he felt that once he let go, there would be no hope for his father's return.

And he fell asleep in the rain like that. When he awoke, he found himself lying on a broad, firm back.

Wang Jinwu couldn't speak, just hugged the man's neck tightly, his small face against his skin, feeling a familiar warmth. That was also the first and last time he called someone other than his father "dad."

Today, he felt the same as that day. As Wang Jinwu talked about the past, his eyes reddened. A boy's experiences often influence his whole life, and Wang Jinwu's heart was lost and helpless, completely in disorder.

Chunliang Xu comforted him, saying, "Brother Wang, you don't need to worry too much. Even if President Tong really has leukemia, with today's medical advancements, it can be cured. We at Huichun Hall have methods to nourish the pulse and enrich the blood."

Wang Jinwu shook his head and said, "President Tong doesn't believe in traditional Chinese medicine. His left leg was delayed because of it, so it's best not to mention traditional Chinese medicine in front of him."

Chunliang Xu went to Hu Shan Town Government again the next morning, and Mei Ru Xue had just returned from the county not long ago and was tidying up in the office.

Chunliang Xu noticed that the piece of calligraphy he gave her had been framed and hung behind her, and he teased, "I've heard of people carving their names on their foreheads, and today I've finally seen it."

Mei Ru Xue glared at him and said, "You're like a dog that can't spit out ivory. I'm just showing respect for your work."

Chunliang Xu wanted to sit in the sofa area, but Mei Ru Xue handed him a rag to help wipe the light tube.

Chunliang Xu said, "Does the town mayor have to personally do such errands?"

Mei Ru Xue said, "There's a big health inspection this afternoon, and I have to set an example and clean the usual neglected dead spots."

Chunliang Xu wiped the light tube once, and Mei Ru Xue told him not to hurry down from the stool. After rinsing the rag clean, she handed it to him again.

As Chunliang Xu was wiping, he suddenly began to tremble violently. Mei Ru Xue was momentarily nervous, then remembered she had already cut the power and said mockingly, "Keep pretending. With your acting skills, you couldn't even score a boxed lunch as an extra at Hengdian."

Chunliang Xu knew he had been seen through and burst into laughter, "Town Mayor Mei, your eyes are like torches. I stand naked before you."

Mei Ru Xue said, "Come down then."

Chunliang Xu jumped off the stool and went to the sink to wash his hands. Mei Ru Xue gave him a towel.

Chunliang wiped his hands while he explained his purpose for being there. In truth, he didn't need to; Mei Ru Xue already knew.

Mei Ru Xue sat down at her desk, picked up the documents Chunliang brought, and began signing and stamping them. Her efficiency was clearly much higher than Kong Xiangsheng's. In no time, all the procedures were completed, and she returned the documents to Chunliang in the folder.

"Thanks!"

Mei Ru Xue said, "Secretary Kong didn't give you a hard time, did he?"

Chunliang laughed, "Not really. He was just a bit nosy, asking what our relationship is."

Mei Ru Xue blushed slightly, "What did you say?"

Chunliang replied, "I said we just met, we're ordinary friends. He said he didn't believe it."

Mei Ru Xue said, "He sure has a lot of time on his hands." She got up to make a cup of tea for Chunliang.

Chunliang noticed that the tea leaves this time were the same brand as Zhang Yiben's and teased, "Gift from Zhang Yiben?"

Mei Ru Xue nodded, immediately realizing Chunliang must have seen them in Zhang Yiben's office. Chunliang's observational skills were indeed impressive. Such a person would excel in the system.

"Stay away from him, that guy doesn't seem like a good person." Chunliang advised her.

Mei Ru Xue said, "No one else is good, are you the only good person in the world?"

Chunliang asked, "You don't think I'm a good person?"

Mei Ru Xue looked at him, "Don't ask me, don't you have that level of self-awareness?"

Chunliang sighed, "You're too sharp. I thought I hid it well enough, but you still caught on. I admit, I do have some ulterior motives towards you."

Mei Ru Xue immediately stood up and moved away from him, "Stay away from me!" yet she felt a bit amused. To be able to say such things openly, Chunliang was indeed unique.

Chunliang said, "Actually, you're so pretty, any normal man would have ulterior motives towards you. I should be the one staying away. Getting too close means becoming the enemy of men everywhere, even getting hit by a sneaky attack and not knowing who did it."

Mei Ru Xue smiled faintly, "Then you should stay away from me."

Chunliang said, "But I'm not one to be afraid of trouble, the more dangerous, the more I push forward!"

Mei Ru Xue realized their conversation was taking a turn. They started talking about work, but somehow it turned into playful banter. Something seemed off about this.

Mei Ru Xue opened the window, the autumn wind was bleak, and the golden leaves swirled in the sunlight, much like her unsettled heart.

"The procedures here at Hu Shan Town are mostly done. Next, you need to go to the county."

Chunliang said, "The procedures are too complicated. They always say to streamline, but looking at the process, it takes at least a week to complete."

Mei Ru Xue turned around, sunlight framed her perfect silhouette with a golden halo, her face enigmatic in the backlight, "Actually, you don't need to handle these yourself. You can delegate it to anyone."

Mei Ru Xue thought Chunliang handling the procedures personally was overqualified.

Chunliang said, "The boss's orders, I dare not disobey. Besides, I enjoy dealing with Town Mayor Mei."

Mei Ru Xue immediately understood his implication. He wasn't keen on the running around, he wanted to see her. She crossed her arms defensively, sensing danger. The matter was resolved; perhaps it was time to ask him to leave?

Mei Ru Xue didn't speak because she knew she actually enjoyed their time together.

Chunliang took a sip of tea, "Honestly, I'm actually being exiled by my superiors."

Mei Ru Xue couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this, "Because of Tang Tianyi?"

Chunliang nodded.

Mei Ru Xue had already guessed. Ever since finding out Tang Tianyi was the son of the Huayuan Group's president, she had been worried Chunliang would be ostracized by Changxing. The cooperation between Huayuan Group and Changxing was no secret. Chunliang had beaten up Changxing's benefactor, which would certainly impact him.

Mei Ru Xue said, "I haven't noticed any change in your mood."

Chunliang smiled, "A blessing in disguise, lose on one hand, gain on the other." As he spoke, he looked at Mei Ru Xue with an intent gaze.

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