Chapter Five: An Old Acquaintance Again

  You Qian got permission and immediately called her parents to pick up Xiao Mi in the afternoon. Then she used the fastest speed - about half an hour - to change clothes, make up, and tidy up before she could go out.

  After driving for a while, the few people chatted idly. Fei Chai suddenly realized they weren't heading towards the Monitoring Bureau and carelessly said another foolish thing: "Director Shen, aren't we going to pick up Director Wei?"

  Fortunately, Shen Xing had been the director of the office for many years and was not surprised by the situation. He wouldn't say anything that would offend anyone, but just said: "Director Wei recently bought a new car and likes to drive himself wherever he goes."

  You Qian spoke to her husband in a blunt tone: "You're the director of the bureau, and you're still worried about not having a car to ride in? You really are from the countryside."

  If it were someone else, they would definitely think that their wife was losing face in front of outsiders, but Fei Chai didn't care about this and just laughed it off.

  Arrived at the venue address - Nanchuan Hotel, as soon as they entered the hall, Wei Ju came up to greet them warmly, shaking hands with Fei Chai for a long time. Shen Xing introduced Yu Qian on the side, and Wei Ju smiled even more brightly, saying that they were "a talented couple, a match made in heaven." After finishing speaking, he let them wait for a while, then said to Shen Xing: "Director Shen, let's go take care of things." And with that, he walked off with Shen Xing.

  Fei Chai and You Qian sat on the sofa in the living room, waiting. You Qian asked: "Husband, didn't you say that everything about the room was ready? Why are we still waiting?"

  Fei Chai said: "This kind of meeting, apart from a few top people, generally lives in standard rooms. I was new here and definitely arranged for a standard room, it's also possible to live on the conference floor, now that you're here, they'll go change rooms."

  "You see, this Director Shen is also incompetent, just making a phone call on the road would be fine."

  Fei Chai said: "It can't be said that way about others, if it was Director Wei who came to pick us up, then he could call Director Shen and it would be fine, but the other way around wouldn't work."

  "You can just call a general clerk, it's not convenient to call the director, and there's more than one person in charge here..." said Yu Qian.

  Fei Chai was intelligent, but when it came to these things, he couldn't argue with his wife and could only smile and bear her complaints. However, You Qian's complaints were limited to in front of Fei Chai, as soon as Wei Ju and Shen Xing returned, she immediately changed her face, saying "I've caused you trouble, sorry about that" and other polite phrases, which flowed incessantly from her mouth.

  Wei Ju and Shen Xing took them to their room with the room card, saying that if they needed anything, just let them know, don't be polite. Fei Chai, after all, was a technical cadre, only asked: "What content do we mainly need for this lecture?"

  Shen Xing didn't speak, looking at Wei Ju, Wei Ju smiled and said: "This content is mainly about the geological overview of our Nanquan City and a summary of its mineral resources. This is also for the economic takeoff of our city. Without resources, it's impossible to do well economically."

  Fei Chai slightly furrowed his brow and said: "In all these years, I haven't conducted any surveys in our Nanquan area. What we know is based on the exploration data from many years ago."

  "Wei Ju smiled and said: 'That's good enough, this time we're all administrative cadres who have come to learn, just knowing the general idea is fine.'"

  Fei Chai listened and thought that this study was just a response to economic development, so he took it lightly. He then asked: "What about the course arrangement..."

  Wei Ju and Shen Xing exchanged a glance, then smiled and said: "This afternoon's class has already been arranged, and Fei Gong also needs some time to prepare lessons..."

  Wei Ju's words were not yet finished, when Fei Chai's bookworm temper flared up again, and he actually said: "If it's just lecturing like this, then there's no need to prepare lessons, can lecture at any time."

  You Qian hastily touched Fei Chai's foot, but it was too late. The words had already left his mouth and could not be taken back.

  Fortunately, Wei Ju saw the bookworm's arrogance on Fei Chai's body, but smiled and said: "That is, that is, Fei Gong is a great talent, Zhu Ju often mentions it, haha."

  At this time, Shen Xing said: "Director Wei, Professor Qin from the province happens to have something to attend to and needs to return to the province. Tomorrow's afternoon class was originally going to be taught by Director Zhu... What do you think..."

  "Wei slapped his thigh and said, 'Great, it just so happens that there's a meeting in the city tomorrow afternoon where all department heads are required to attend. Fei Gong, your timing couldn't be better.'"

  So the lecture was settled, and after a few more casual conversations, Wei Ju and Shen Xing stood up to bid farewell, saying that they would let Fei Chai rest well in the afternoon and notify him by phone at dinner time.

  After sending off Wei Ju and Shen Xing, Yu Qian closed the door and said to Fei Chai: "Husband, I'm not saying you're wrong, but that bookworm temper of yours needs to be changed. Look at your endless nagging just now, don't think people are admiring your learning, it's all for the sake of giving face to that old classmate of yours. In the future, think before speaking, okay?"

  Fei Chai also thought his wife was right, and after thinking about it, he realized that sometimes his words were indeed a bit inappropriate for the occasion or person, so he nodded and said: "Yes, now that I'm back at the agency, I need to adapt well."

  "You're right, this organization is totally different from that wilderness outpost team of yours. I've been laid off for so many years and still can't find a suitable job, the whole family is counting on you."

  "Embracing his wife, Fei Chai said: 'Hmm, I'll work hard, old lady. Just wait for a good life.'"

  You Qian saw her husband so obedient and listening, also very happy, and kissed him on the face saying: "This is good, go take a bath, wife will reward you well."

  In the afternoon, at around four o'clock, someone from the conference group called first. Feichai got out of bed with a sore back and waist, washed up, and then pulled Yu Qian out of bed as well. Yu Qian was lazy, washing and dressing up slowly, and everything was ready by 5:30. Feichai took her downstairs to the lobby, where someone from the conference group recognized him and gave him two name tags - one for him and one for Yu Qian. It turned out that this study session would be quite long, so most of the time they would be eating buffet-style meals, using the name tags to enter the dining hall.

  You Qian had a name tag hanging from her neck, and the proud look on her face was as if she had hung a medal. She picked up the name tag and took a glance at it before saying to Fei Chai: "After marrying you for so many years, this is the first time I've basked in your glory."

  Fei Chai didn't say a word, just smiled and put his arm around her waist as they walked into the dining hall together.

  Although it's a buffet, the grade is still very high. The two of them chose some dishes and found a quiet seat to sit down. Yu Qian said again: "Husband, can you help me get some more duck breast?"

  Fei Chai saw that in front of her were two plates piled up like two small mountains, and smiled saying: "Eat these first before talking, it's a waste if you can't finish them."

  Yu Qian said: "No way, I want to eat it, you go get it for me."

  Fei Chai had no choice but to go help his wife get the duck breast, and after taking only two small pieces, he felt someone bump into him. He thought it was himself blocking others, so he took a step aside. Who knew that person squeezed up again and bumped into him twice, even pulling on his sleeve? This time Fei Chai got a bit angry, turned his head around, but saw that it was a young woman of about twenty years old, with a surprised look on her face, staring at him saying: "Really is Teacher Fei! What are you doing here?"

  Fei Chai was momentarily stunned, unable to recall having seen such a beautiful young woman there before. The woman then pulled him and said: "I'm Fan Yiyen, you've brought me here before."

  When he heard the name, Fei Chai suddenly remembered that when he was a technician, he had indeed brought an intern - actually not even an intern, just someone with some connections at home, temporarily arranged to do some work first, without any professional skills. Moreover, this Miss also couldn't take much hardship, crying all day, and within two months she was transferred away by her capable father, so Fei Chai didn't have a deep impression of her. And at that time, she was just an immature little girl, where did she have the charm of today? So although Fei Chai remembered this name, he still couldn't superimpose the woman in front of him with the one in his memory.

  But Fan Yiyen seems to have a clear understanding of Fei Chai's memory, pulling her up with excitement, and the person next to her who was holding a self-service meal also greeted her: "County Magistrate Fan, an acquaintance?"

  "This is Mr. Fei, I often mention him."

  The person next to him said: "County Magistrate Fan is an administrative cadre himself, and now the teacher is also here, so your county's mining work is no problem."

  Fan Yiyen hastily said: "Oh no, oh no, still have to make plans under the unified framework of the whole city." This led to another round of official jargon, but fortunately everyone was there to get food and didn't end up standing around chatting. So after the introduction, Fan Yiyen asked Fei Chai: "Haven't seen you in almost ten years, are you doing well? Where do you sit?"

  "Over... there... My wife asked me to pick up a few pieces of duck breast..."

  Fan Yiyen smiled and said, "I'll help you." She picked up the chopsticks and quickly picked up five or six pieces of food and put them on Wu Fangge's plate. Then she said, "Let's go, introduce me to your sister-in-law."

  Although Fei Chai didn't think his relationship with Fan Yiyen had reached the point of introducing each other's families, seeing how enthusiastic she was, he couldn't very well decline, so he could only agree and walk back to their seats together.

  You Qian saw her husband go out alone, and the two of them came back chatting and laughing. She felt a pang in her heart and gave Fei Chai a light but stern glance. Fei Chai put down the dinner plate and was about to make an introduction when Fan Yiyen sat down with a big smile and said: "This must be sister-in-law, she's really beautiful."

  Yu Qian didn't answer her, instead she asked Fei Chai: "Husband, who is this..."

  Fei Chaibao said: "This is Fan Yiyen, a former intern of mine, now the county magistrate."

  Fan Yiyen hastily added: "And also just took office."

  "You're County Magistrate Fan, so young and promising! Which county is it?"

  Fan Yiyen said: "Yunshan County."

  "You said it's quite far away."

  "En, but I'm young and inexperienced, so it won't hurt to temper myself a bit more."

  "You were always in the wilderness team, wasn't Fan County Magistrate..."

  "It was at that time."

  "You're really something, Magistrate Fan... I admire you."

  Fan Yiyen smiled and said: "At that time, I was only in my early twenties, where did I suffer from such hardships? I didn't shed fewer tears. Fortunately, Teacher Fei took good care of me."

  You Qian said: "Yes, my husband is kind-hearted, he just can't bear to see others cry, especially girls, haha."

  These two women were verbally sparring, making Fei Chai feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.