Sitting across from Charlotte Ramey.

Dirk Carter was rather slightly reserved.

Charlotte's beautiful eyes kept observing Dirk Carter.

Making Dirk even more uneasy.

"Do you know traditional Chinese medicine?"

Suddenly, Charlotte inquired.

Dirk was taken aback.

He asked in confusion, "How does Deputy Mayor Ramey know?"

Charlotte smiled, and admittedly, this smile made Dirk's heart stir slightly.

"Don't worry about how I know, just tell me if you really know traditional Chinese medicine?"

Dirk paused, then said, "I know a little."

Charlotte directly extended her hand, rolled up her sleeve a bit to reveal her wrist, and said, "Then help me check my pulse and see if there's anything wrong with my body?"

Dirk had no choice.

He gently placed two fingers on Charlotte's fair wrist.

Even though she was already forty years old.

Her skin was still more delicate than that of most young girls.

After contemplating for a long while.

Dirk slightly opened his eyes.

He glanced back at the leaders sitting in front, showing a difficult-to-speak expression.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Charlotte asked.

Dirk thought for a moment and took out paper and pen from his bag, writing three words: "Menopause."

Upon seeing these three words.

Charlotte's eyes showed surprise.

She then slightly nodded.

Dirk swiftly crumpled that piece of paper and stuffed it into his bag.

On this journey.

The two didn't speak again.

Soon.

The cars from both the city and county stopped at the entrance of Seven School.

At the main entrance, colleagues from the county education bureau had already arrived.

Just like at the entrance of the county government building, the leaders got out of the cars and received a warm welcome.

"Hello, Director Carter, my name is Rand Quance."

In front of him, Dirk didn't recognize anyone, and in his confusion, a middle-aged man came over, nodding and bowing as he extended his hand.

The newcomer seemed to be in his thirties, with relatively compact facial features, and when he smiled, it even appeared somewhat lewd.

Rand Quance?

Deputy Director of the county's education bureau?

Dirk firmly shook the person's hand and said, "Greetings, Comrade Rand Quance."

"Director Carter, after hoping and wishing, we've finally awaited your arrival. With you here, our education bureau finally has a backbone."

When it comes to flattering.

Evidently, this Rand Quance is more skilled at it.

Dirk smiled and said, "Director Quance, you're too humble. I'll be counting on you to support me in the future."

"Director Carter, there's no need for such words, we're all family. Let's go inside first."

Rand Quance said.

A group of people.

Surrounding Charlotte Ramey and Yorke Payne at the front.

Simon Lewis, because of other matters, didn't join the inspection tour.

At the entrance of the teaching building.

The major leaders of Seven School were already respectfully waiting.

Another round of handshakes and pleasantries followed.

As the head of county education, both the principal and vice-principal were quite deferential to Dirk.

During a handshake.

A familiar face suddenly approached.

It was Ivan Pitts.

He was all smiles and said to Dirk, "Director Carter, about yesterday's matter, I sincerely apologize to you."

Dirk smiled.

And said, "Director Pitts, don't forget, you once told me you would never reconcile."

"This..."

Ivan Pitts' face turned dark.

But Dirk had already moved on to the next person.

The welcome ceremony concluded.

In the company of the school leaders, everyone toured the classrooms in session, and also visited the newly-built library and cafeteria.

During the tour.

Charlotte called Dirk to her side.

She lowered her voice and asked, "What do you mean by menopause?"

Dirk calmly replied, "Deputy Mayor Ramey should know her own body well. If I didn't misdiagnose, you've stopped menstruating for more than a month now, correct?"

Being able to even deduce the time.

This greatly surprised Charlotte.

She nodded slightly and asked, "I'm only forty, why has menopause come so early?"

"There are many reasons, such as excessive mental stress, chronic anxiety, lack of exercise, and so on."

"Which one am I?"

"Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking. Just by pulse-taking, it's hard to accurately determine. If Deputy Mayor Ramey truly trusts me, we can have a detailed diagnosis after the investigation is over."

Dirk answered.

Charlotte nodded and eagerly asked, "Is it treatable?"

Dirk thought for a moment and said, "You only just stopped menstruating, meaning menopause just started, and your bodily functions haven't changed yet, so it should be reversible. However, the specifics need a detailed examination to determine."

"Okay."

Charlotte responded.

Her worried expression suddenly dissipated.

She squeezed out a smile and accompanied everyone on the tour.

The tour concluded.

The group grandly proceeded to the school's auditorium.

Inside the auditorium, decorations were already put up.

Above the podium, a banner hung, reading: "Warmly Welcome the Leadership for Guidance."

On the podium.

There were four nameplates.

For Deputy Mayor Charlotte Ramey, Deputy Director of the City Education Bureau Timothy Sutton, Deputy County Mayor Yorke Payne, and Deputy County Education Bureau Director Rand Quance.

Dirk Carter, as the director.

Unexpectedly had no seat on the podium.

Also among the audience.

The first row was occupied by the leadership cadres brought by Charlotte Ramey this time.

The second row was for leaders of the county education bureau.

The third row was for the leadership cadres of Seven School.

Dirk Carter was missing in any row.

And no one seemed to notice this detail.

Under the school's arrangement, the leaders all took their seats, while Dirk stood to the side, seemingly unnoticed by anyone.

"Director Carter, are you free?"

Suddenly, someone tapped his shoulder.

He turned around to see.

It was Rand Quance.

"Director Quance, what's up?"

Dirk asked in surprise.

"May I talk to you for a moment?"

Rand Quance gestured towards the outside of the meeting room.

Dirk, not knowing the situation, followed him out.

With about ten minutes left until the meeting started, Rand Quance pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offered one to Dirk, and self-effacingly said, "I have a big smoking habit, please forgive me, Director Carter."

Dirk smiled, saying, "It's no problem, though I don't smoke much, I'm not one to refuse."

Rand Quance proactively lit the cigarette for Dirk.

Taking a puff, he said, "Director Carter, I heard about yesterday's incident with Director Pitts at the Seven School's Education Office. How do you plan to handle it?"

Dirk was taken aback.

He sharply looked at Rand Quance.

The previously submissive Rand Quance now had a sinister smile on his face.

"What's your opinion, Director Quance?"

Dirk asked.

Rand Quance smiled slightly and said, "Director Carter just arrived, and hasn't even started working yet, and already had a conflict with the subordinates. If this gets out, it might affect Director Carter. So my opinion is to make a big deal small and a small deal go away. I'll arrange for Director Pitts to invite Director Carter for a meal as an apology, and Director Carter gives me some face, and then let's call it settled."

"Give you face? So, it means Director Quance has a good relationship with Director Pitts?"

Dirk asked.

Rand Quance chuckled coldly and said, "A good relationship is too much, but I've worked in the Kenton County education system for more than a decade, and I'm quite familiar with everyone. Matters of mutual consent between men and women don't need to be made a bigger deal than they are, right?"

"What if I don't accept?"

Dirk asked with a smile.

Rand Quance was taken aback.

He didn't expect Dirk to respond this way.

Flicking the ash off his cigarette, he said, "Director Carter, shouldn't you consider the upcoming work? Kenton County isn't Stillwater County, and as far as I know, Director Carter doesn't seem to have any leaders in Kenton County who can shield you, right?"

If the earlier words were a discussion.

The later words had become a threat.

In Rand Quance's view.

That Dirk, at his age, could become a director was entirely because he was previously the secretary to the County Committee Secretary.

He could act fearlessly in Stillwater County.

But not in Kenton County!

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