Liu Zhizhong was seething with fury as he said coldly, "So, your uncle-in-law is the Mayor, such a high-ranking official, and you're just entertaining him at home? Shouldn't you at least take him to a grand restaurant?"
"You know shit! Your uncle-in-law is a man of refinement, low-key, not wasteful or ostentatious. Do you think he's the kind of Mayor you imagine?"
"Haha, so it turns out..."
"Get the hell out of here, you little bastard. If you dare come back before the banquet ends tonight, watch how your old mom deals with you!"
Liu Zhizhong took a deep breath of frustration, feeling utterly dejected.
Luckily, his aunt had promised to take care of him, which filled his heart with some anticipation.
So if he had to stay away, maybe it was for the best!
However, after thinking it over, he still asked, "What about Zhao Yan? Is she not coming back tonight?"
"Whether the second daughter comes back or not, what's it to you? Do you think she still regards you as her husband in her heart? Just scram, I need to head out and can't be bothered to waste my breath on you!"
Liu Zhizhong didn't tangle with her any further. Swallowing his anger, he got in his car and left home.
He parked in a corner of Binjiang Park and still made the call to his wife, Zhao Yan.
"What do you want?"
Zhao Yan's voice sounded as indifferent as usual.
"Oh, tonight is the first time your uncle-in-law is meeting friends and relatives at our place for dinner. Are you coming back?"
"No, I'm busy with work in the county."
"But your uncle-in-law is Secretary Ma of the City Committee. You're not coming back? What will your uncle-in-law think?"
"I've known about it for a while. Busy is busy, what do I care what he thinks? As for you, you can't get promoted anyway, might as well wait on them well, who knows, it might land you a promotion or something."
Zhao Yan's voice remained indifferent, showing no signs of conjugal affection.
Liu Zhizhong managed a bitter smile, "Wife, if I could get promoted to section chief, could you apply to transfer back here? Let's live a good life together. We should also consider having kids, we're not getting any younger."
"You, promoted?" Zhao Yan's voice dripped with disdain, "What grudge do you have with Zhang Hong that you'd think about getting promoted? Didn't his cousin block your position to screw with you?"
"I mean what if there's still a chance? Could we possibly..."
"Stop dreaming all day, like daydreaming. As long as the Zhang family is in Yangzhou, you won't get promoted. Once I'm done with this busy period, let's get divorced, part on good terms, and not hold each other back!"
"Divorce?"
Liu Zhizhong was shocked, feeling an extreme sense of unwillingness.
His wife was very beautiful and incredibly sexy, a goddess-like figure.
But it was as if they never formed the tacit understanding and emotional connection of a married couple. Their marital life was far from happy, and she was often cold and mocking towards him!
"Yeah, divorce. Is there something inappropriate about that? Let's discuss it later! I don't want to spend my life with a husband who has no prospects, not to mention raise children. I don't want my kids to bear too much for their father. I've got another meeting to attend, so excuse me."
Zhao Yan's tone was icy cold, extremely formal; she hung up right after speaking.
Liu Zhizhong was furiously upset, the goddess wife was actually preparing to dump him?
How could that be acceptable?
He had never turned his fortunes around in the Zhao family, so how could he bear to divorce just like that?
After pondering for a moment, Liu Zhizhong realized he still needed to seek help from his aunt.
So, he wrote up the situation and sent it to Lu Yuqing.
It wasn't long before Lu Yuqing replied, "Big Baby Liu, you're so pitiful it breaks my heart. Don't worry, leave the arrangements to me, and I promise to make you shine tonight. I guarantee to get the second daughter transferred back from Linjiang County, so you two can live well together. Find a quiet place to chill for now, eat and drink something, and just wait and see!"
Liu Zhizhong was extremely excited, full of anticipation.
With his aunt, this solid backer, it seemed he had someone to rely on, steady!
Thus, Liu Zhizhong settled down with peace of mind, found a luxurious café, and took a booth.
Sitting down, he ordered a Blue Mountain coffee, leaned against the window, watched the river view, listened to the light music, smoked, and quietly waited.
It wasn't long before he was about to head to the restroom when he pulled back the booth's fabric curtain, and the curtain of the booth across from him also opened.
Right there, a familiar figure came into Liu Zhizhong's view.
The young woman emerging from the opposite booth was dressed appropriately, her black silk tight skirt accentuating her graceful curves.
With a delicate pale face and large eyes behind golden glasses, she exuded a cold and proud air, and at that moment, her face was frosty with derision as she said:
"Well, if it isn't Vice Town Mayor Liu? You've dashed back to town on Friday afternoon? Why aren't you rooted in the grassroots, advocating for the people? Ignoring work discipline, huh? Frustrated with officialdom and here you are in a café?"
Liu Zhizhong was truly vexed, damn it if it wasn't just his luck to run into enemies on a narrow road!
This woman was none other than Zhang Xueyao, the cousin of Zhang Hongyang who had blocked his position.
However, Liu Zhizhong managed to keep his composure and said with a light smile, "Oh, if it isn't Director Zhang! I lost the directorship of the street office to you, and I accept that defeat. But there's no need for your veiled sarcasm; it makes you seem petty. Though, you've always been like this towards me, which I consider quite fortunate."
"Fortunate? Is that a way to put it?" Zhang Xueyao crossed her arms over her chest, lifting an impressive profile, exuding the aura of a female leader.
"Absolutely. Lucky that I didn't fall for you back in college. Imagine marrying a small-minded woman like you, what a disgrace that would be for me, right? Thinking about it, I really am lucky!"