Chapter 117: Dining In Is Fine, But No Takeout!

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The Kaiyang County Party Committee and Government Building was very close to the Scholar’s Pavilion Chinese Restaurant, separated by only one street.

After leaving the County Party Committee and Government Building, it took just a five-minute walk to get there.

When Song Sifeng called Yang Dong, he was still inside the building, not yet departed.

He had just reported to his superior about Yang Dong’s invitation to dinner.

Tan Long had not finished work yet and was seated in the County Party Secretary’s office, handling documents.

“Leader, that Yang Dong from the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission wants to treat me to dinner at the Scholar’s Pavilion across the street,” Song Sifeng reported while pouring out the cold tea and old tea leaves from the leader’s teacup, rinsing it with fresh water, and covering it again.

The tea in the leader’s cup could not be left overnight; he always took care of it before the leader left work.

“Oh? Which Yang Dong?”

Tan Long did not look up from the documents, casually asking.

In just a few days, Tan Long had already lost his impression of Yang Dong.

It was not surprising he forgot—Yang Dong’s rank was too low.

Besides, as County Party Secretary, Tan Long had too many matters to attend to every day; there was no time to remember a minor clerk.

“Leader, then I won’t go.”

Seeing that Tan Long didn’t even remember Yang Dong, Song Sifeng felt there was no need to attend the dinner.

He barely knew Yang Dong anyway.

It was only because the leader had previously thought well of Yang Dong that he considered going.

But since the leader had forgotten, he saw no reason to go.

“Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission? Yang Dong? Oh, I remember now, that county’s top scorer in the college entrance exam.”

Tan Long put down his pen and finally recalled Yang Dong.

It was mainly because the Gu Santong case had left a very bad impression.

Now that he recalled that case, he thought of Yang Dong.

“He’s inviting you to dinner, just go. No problem.”

“You should eat and drink; young people spending time together does no harm.”

“But no matter how good the food is, don’t take leftovers home; it doesn’t make a good impression!”

Tan Long pointed at Song Sifeng as he spoke.

“I understand, leader.”

Song Sifeng nodded immediately to show he understood.

“Go ahead!”

Tan Long waved his hand toward Song Sifeng.

“All right, I’m going, leader.”

Song Sifeng nodded and turned to leave the County Party Secretary’s office.

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In the corridor, many cadres greeted him; regardless of rank, everyone had to call him Director Song.

After exiting the County Party Committee and Government Building, Song Sifeng walked toward the Scholar’s Pavilion Chinese Restaurant across the street.

It took four minutes to reach the restaurant’s entrance.

In front of such a luxuriously decorated facade, several BMWs, Audis, and Crowns were parked.

Standing before these luxury cars were four people led by Yang Dong.

From afar, Song Sifeng spotted Yang Dong and naturally smiled on his otherwise calm face.

“Team Leader Yang, busy man, finally has time to visit his hometown.”

Song Sifeng’s tone was warm as he reached out his hand to Yang Dong.

Yang Dong shook his hand and said, “Director Song, this time I’m back home, and we won’t part until we’re drunk.”

“Ah, dinner is fine, but let’s skip the drinking—I’ve had digestion issues lately, so I can’t drink,” Song Sifeng smiled and politely declined, waving his hand.

Yang Dong continued with a smile, “Director Song, this wine helps digestion and promotes blood circulation.”

“Team Leader Yang, to be honest, my blood pressure is a bit high now; the more I promote circulation, the more dangerous it gets! Haha.”

“Director Song, let’s go inside first,” Yang Dong said, seeing Song’s attitude; he didn’t press the matter, inviting him inside first.

The group moved from outside to the private room entrance.

Song Sifeng walked ahead; Yang Dong and Lv Yanqing followed alongside, each trailing half a step behind him.

Jiang Hu and Yu Baijiang came last.

“Team Leader Yang, who is this?”

Seeing Lv Yanqing walking beside him, Song Sifeng guessed his importance and cheerfully asked Yang Dong.

Yang Dong opened the private room door and invited Song Sifeng in first.

Then he introduced, “Let me introduce Comrade Lv Yanqing to Director Song; he is the Deputy Director of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission’s Case Review Office.”

Listening to the introduction, Song Sifeng’s expression remained unchanged, but he understood.

Lv Yanqing was the leader of the first special case team of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission investigation group.

As Tan Long’s secretary, Song Sifeng naturally knew these internal secrets.

With a smiling face, Song Sifeng extended his hand to Lv Yanqing and said, “So you’re Director Lv, pleased to meet you.”

While shaking hands, his mind worked quickly.

Two leaders of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission’s special investigation teams had come to invite him to dinner; this meal would certainly be good.

He would eat well today.

“Hello, Director Song.”

Lv Yanqing shook Song Sifeng’s hand without much ceremony.

Since they did not know each other, it was best to avoid unnecessary chatter and not disrupt Yang Dong’s plan.

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“Come, come, Director Song, you must take the seat of honor!”

Yang Dong pulled Song Sifeng to the main seat at the round table.

Song Sifeng waved his hand with a smile, “Yang Team Leader is treating us; how could I take the main seat? You should sit there!”

“That’s not how it works. Director Song, you are Secretary Tan’s chief aide, and Secretary Tan is the county’s head official. As the chief aide to the county’s head official, how could you not sit in the main seat?”

“Don’t refuse; come, Director Song, please sit!”

Yang Dong did not want to argue with Song Sifeng and smiled as he settled him in the main seat.

Though he disliked such formalities, one had to lower their stance when asking favors.

Song Sifeng was only making polite gestures; as the county party secretary’s chief aide, he absolutely should occupy the main seat.

These formalities were necessary.

If he took the politeness seriously and truly did not sit in the main seat, it would cause trouble.

Yang Dong was not that socially awkward; he still pushed Song Sifeng to the main seat.

“Captain Yu, you sit too.”

Yang Dong then invited Yu Baijiang to sit down.

He took the seat on Song Sifeng’s left.

Lv Yanqing sat on Song Sifeng’s right.

Jiang Hu sat next to Yang Dong, while Yu Baijiang was beside Lv Yanqing.

That was the seating arrangement.

At this large table, only the five of them were present.

Among them, except for Jiang Hu, four were deputy section chiefs or equivalent, including Yang Dong, who was a quasi-deputy section chief.

Yang Dong had not yet completed the personnel announcement period.

But it was already decided. Everyone in the system understood the unspoken rule—not to cause trouble during the personnel announcement period, or it would be like slapping the leader’s face.

Once the leader’s decision was made, it was best for everyone to tacitly abide by it.

So his deputy section chief position was already confirmed.

“Captain Yu is here too?”

Song Sifeng looked at Yu Baijiang and smiled, asking.

He certainly recognized the deputy captain of the county public security bureau’s criminal investigation team. They had worked together before but had no personal relationship.

This was their first time dining together.

“Director Song, Yang Team Leader and I are friends; that’s why he invited me today,”

Yu Baijiang, a hero in narcotics enforcement, was still a bit nervous facing Song Sifeng.

Yang Dong picked up Yu Baijiang’s words and said to Song Sifeng, “Director Song, Captain Yu helped me a great deal before. Now that I’m back in Kaiyang County, it’s only right to invite Captain Yu along.”