Seeing everyone staring at him with disgust, Zhang Zhigang didn’t know how to defend himself. After all, he had been the one to look down on that man first.

He never in his wildest dreams imagined he would provoke such a calamity. He tried to plead his case, "County Magistrate Li..."

"Get out of my sight and write a transfer request. Otherwise, pack your things and go home to plant sweet potatoes right now."

Hearing this, Zhang Zhigang was struck with terror and hastily fled from sight.

’What rotten luck,’ he thought. ’To think I’d run into a guy like that. If only I’d known he had such powerful connections.’

’I wouldn’t have ended up in this sorry state. It’s all that man’s fault for going on about ’rural development’ or whatever.’

’It tricked me into thinking he just wanted to mess around with some farming project in a village. If he’d said he was investing in a factory from the start, would I have given him the cold shoulder?’

’The Zhang Family is well-established in Yunhe County. I’ll go home and tell Dad what happened before I decide anything.’

After watching Zhang Zhigang leave the office, the county magistrate slowly sank into his chair. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, leaning back against the headrest, utterly exhausted.

"Don’t sigh, sir. Zhang Zhigang brought this on himself. What was he thinking, offending someone he can’t afford to offend?" his secretary said, pouring a cup of tea and handing it to County Magistrate Li.

"That’s right, Old Li. We should be celebrating," Vice County Chief Xi chimed in.

County Magistrate Li shook his head with a wry smile. "If that bastard Zhang Zhigang hadn’t been such a snob and given Comrade Su the cold shoulder, do you think he would’ve refused to have a meal with us? His behavior was completely out of line."

"Zhang Zhigang really is a son of a bitch," the Director of the Construction Bureau cursed, fuming.

He continued, "He nearly ruined everything for us! If Comrade Su hadn’t called County Magistrate Li, would this investment have gone down the drain?"

"I doubt it would’ve come to that. I think Comrade Su is just genuinely busy," another bureau director said, trying to console his colleague.

"It’s quite possible, you know. You all shouldn’t underestimate Comrade Su. The man is loaded. I heard he was the one who spearheaded the creation of a medical equipment factory in Qing City."

Vice County Chief Xi continued, and since he was from the Xi Family of Qing City, everyone took his words as gospel.

The Director of the Construction Bureau immediately perked up. "I know that factory! It’s huge and well-organized, on par with a state-owned enterprise. If Yunhe County could establish a factory like that, would we still have to worry about our people going hungry?"

"Then you all had better get moving and determine a suitable location for the factory."

Su Shuochi, however, had no idea everyone was in a foul mood because he hadn’t joined them for the meal. He was genuinely busy.

He had arranged a meeting with Han Jingshen, primarily to find out what those hooligans had confessed.

Han Jinghong tagged along behind them. The three men were all around the same age and exceptionally handsome.

They were an exceptionally eye-catching sight as they walked toward a state-owned restaurant in Yunhe County, and many passersby couldn’t help but sneak glances at them.

The young women, in particular, kept stealing shy glances. Su Shuochi, however, didn’t pay it much mind.

He and his wife were used to people stopping in their tracks to stare whenever they walked down the street, so this was nothing new.

Han Jingshen, however, felt quite awkward. He was usually rushing from one place to another inside a car and rarely walked on the street like this.

Yunhe County was still a relatively poor town at the time. There weren’t many state-owned restaurants, and the few that existed were all quite small.

Yunhe County was a mountainous region, and now, in the dead of winter, the roadsides were covered in thick snow, making it easy to slip and fall.

Although Han Jingshen was from the Imperial City, he had spent his time on the frontier, so a little snow was nothing to him.

Su Shuochi was a Yunhe native through and through, so he strolled leisurely ahead, looking completely at ease.

"Damn, this weather is freezing!" Han Jinghong complained. His hands were red with cold, and he rubbed them together instinctively.

His gesture caught the attention of a passerby, and a kind-hearted person couldn’t resist offering a piece of friendly advice: "Tuck your hands into your sleeves. Then they won’t be cold."

Han Jinghong grinned. "Oh, thanks for the tip! I wasn’t even thinking. How silly of me."

The passing middle-aged woman had only spoken up because he was so handsome. Seeing his pleasant attitude, she was suddenly at a loss for what to say next.

Su Shuochi watched this display and couldn’t help but shake his head. He reached out and clapped him on the shoulder. "A young man, full of vigor like you? What’s there to be cold about?"

Han Jinghong shot him a glare. "Su, a guy as dense as you... how did you ever manage to get married?"

At that, Su Shuochi laughed. "You look at me like that again and see if I don’t punch you. Go on, ask your older cousin whether or not I’m married."

The moment his wife was mentioned, his voice grew louder, and a broad smile spread across his face.

Han Jinghong pouted and muttered under his breath, "Big deal. As if anyone doesn’t know you’re married."

"What was that? Speak up," Han Jingshen suddenly interjected.

He had heard Han Jinghong muttering and was asking deliberately. He, too, thought Su Shuochi was being insufferably smug.

Han Jinghong flinched, pulling his head back. He looked awkward for a moment, then lied, "I didn’t say anything." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Hearing this, Su Shuochi’s face lit up. "It’s just as you were thinking. Marrying Jiaojiao *is* a huge deal.

"She’s not just gorgeous, she’s also incredibly capable, she’s wonderful to me, she has a great temper, she’s an amazing cook..."

Su Shuochi rattled off a long list in one breath, growing more animated with each word, and cast a triumphant look at them.

He was like a young man head-over-heels in love, speaking as if he were the happiest man on earth.

Both Han Jingshen and Han Jinghong were momentarily stunned. The looks on their faces were priceless.

Han Jinghong’s eyes went wide with disbelief as he stared at Su Shuochi. ’So it’s not that Su doesn’t like to talk...’

Han Jingshen’s face, on the other hand, had completely darkened. His teeth were grinding audibly. He was furious, wishing he could just punch the man.

He bit out through clenched teeth, "Do you always go around boasting about your wife on the street like this?"

Su Shuochi had only said all that because he’d gotten carried away, but he wasn’t about to admit it.

He shot Han Jingshen an irritated glare. "Boasting? I’m just stating facts. She really is that amazing. If you don’t believe me, you can ask your grandfather for his opinion of her."

"..."

Han Jingshen desperately wanted to kick Su Shuochi, but the man was his elder.

So, he quickened his pace and strode into the restaurant. Seeing his older cousin get put in his place, Han Jinghong shot Su Shuochi a look of pure admiration.

"You’re incredible, Su," he said, before hurrying into the restaurant himself.

Far away in the Imperial City, Gu Jiaojiao carried her and Li Xiulan’s coats as she walked out of a department store toward her second brother’s car.

She sneezed the moment she stepped outside. ’This time, it must be Su Shuochi thinking about me,’ she mused inwardly.

A wave of warmth washed over her at the thought of Su Shuochi. Without paying close attention to what was inside the car, she pulled the door open.

"Ah! You two... I didn’t see anything!"