182: Year-end

Lin Zifeng and Li Yuan exchanged phone numbers before he said, "Xiao Yuan, when school starts, do you need me to go to Xiangyang Town to pick you up?"

"No need, Brother. It's very convenient for me to take the bus myself. You're busy with work, so don't worry about these small things."

Li Yuan said sensibly.

Lin Zifeng nodded and spoke again, "Mom, Dad, I have a social engagement tonight that was scheduled yesterday. It's about time, so I'll head out first."

After saying this, Lin Zifeng went back to the bedroom, changed into clean clothes, bid the three of them farewell, and left.

By the time he took a taxi to the entrance of the Junyue Hotel, Xu Minghao, Li Yang, Cao Shuang, Zhang Linhua, Zhao Yanbin, and Ouyang Huahua were already waiting there.

They were chatting and laughing at the entrance. Seeing Lin Zifeng approach, they stopped their idle talk, stepped forward to meet him, and greeted him one after another.

After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, Lin Zifeng said with a smile, "Sorry, I'm late. I've kept you all waiting."

"Magistrate, you aren't late. The timing is perfect; we only arrived a short while ago ourselves,"

Xu Minghao said with a smile.

"County Magistrate Xu is right. We haven't even been here for five minutes. Let's head inside and talk while we eat,"

Li Yang chimed in immediately.

Lin Zifeng nodded and, surrounded by the group, walked into the hotel.

The seven of them sat in a Private Room, and soon, several waiters brought in a sumptuous spread of food and wine.

Everyone toasted each other, chatting as they ate and drank.

"Magistrate, although our special task force for cracking down on village thugs and local tyrants has only been active for two days, we've already achieved a lot!"

"According to the information I've gathered, over twenty people have already been criminally detained across the county, including two village Cadres."

"Once the half-month special rectification period ends, the county's public security environment will be thoroughly improved,"

Cao Shuang said happily.

Hearing Cao Shuang's words, Lin Zifeng said, "Those scumbags who have wormed their way into the village Cadre ranks cause the greatest harm and influence to the common people, and the damage they do is even more significant."

"County Mayor Cao, you must supervise the task force to ensure that every black sheep among the grassroots Cadres is rooted out."

"While setting up a reporting hotline, also have our staff listen more to the voices of the common people."

"No matter how well some of these scumbags hide, the eyes of the masses are sharp."

"We must rely on the masses so that this special rectification work can achieve its intended effects."

"Please rest assured, Magistrate. I will definitely implement and supervise your instructions and handle this work well,"

Cao Shuang immediately declared his stance.

Just like that, this drinking session turned into an unconventional County Mayors Office Meeting.

It wasn't until halfway through the dinner that everyone tacitly stopped discussing work, drinking and chatting about various interesting anecdotes instead.

Returning to the Junyue Hotel for a meal again, Lin Zifeng felt a lot of emotions welling up in his heart.

On his way to the restroom, looking at the familiar cashier counter, he couldn't help but think that the scene from three years ago felt as if it had happened just yesterday.

At that time, he was just a secretary with an uncertain future. Following Zhang Yuhao's misfortune, he hadn't known where to go.

It was only after that night that his life took a turn for the better.

The two sisters, Chen Yuxi and her sister, were truly his lucky stars!

Coming here again, he had already grown into a County Magistrate. Fate truly works in mysterious ways; it was quite a moving thought.

He told himself he must seize his opportunities and strive to do more good deeds for the people in the future.

While he was lost in thought, Li Yang walked out of the restroom and said with a smile, "Magistrate, let's head back in!"

Lin Zifeng nodded with a smile and walked back into the Private Room with Li Yang.

After several rounds of drinks and food, Li Yang settled the bill. The group walked out of the Private Room together and reached the hotel exterior. After saying their goodbyes, Lin Zifeng declined the offers of a ride.

Claiming he wanted to take a walk to sober up, he walked toward home alone.

Once away from the others, he took out his phone and called Chen Yuxi.

He spent the walk being affectionate with Chen Yuxi, both of them expressing how much they missed each other.

Only after Lin Zifeng promised to use the Spring Festival holiday to visit her in the Provincial Capital did Chen Yuxi reluctantly hang up.

By then, Lin Zifeng had already entered his Residential Community.

When he got home, he saw that the lights in his parents' bedroom and Li Yuan's bedroom were already out. He moved quietly so as not to disturb them.

He took a shower in the bathroom and went to sleep in his bedroom.

The night passed without incident. The next morning, after the family finished breakfast, they packed their things and went downstairs together.

They hailed a taxi by the roadside. Lin Zifeng helped put the luggage into the trunk. After the three of them got in, they waved goodbye to him. He only turned back after seeing the taxi drive off into the distance.

For the next half month, Lin Zifeng was so busy his feet barely touched the ground, attending numerous meetings.

He participated in the veteran Cadre tea party organized by the County People's Congress and visited Red Army veterans and families of fallen soldiers.

It wasn't until he finished work on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month that all his tasks were temporarily concluded. Even with his excellent physique, Lin Zifeng felt a bit overwhelmed.

Tomorrow was New Year's Eve, and Jiang Yufei had bought a bus ticket to return to the City Level tomorrow.

After Lin Zifeng finished work, he gave Li Qiang time off, letting him go back to Heping Town for the New Year.

He took the car keys, planning to drive himself during the Spring Festival holiday as it would be more convenient.

After all, Li Qiang needed to go home for the New Year too; after a year of hard work, he couldn't have Li Qiang accompanying him everywhere.

He was on duty tomorrow, and on the morning of New Year's Day, he would return to Miaoshan Town.

Lin Zifeng had already made plans with Jiang Yufei for her to come over for dinner that night, so he bought groceries on his way home after work.

Heping Town was over an hour's drive from the county seat, so the knock on the door came about ten minutes after he finished preparing dinner.

Lin Zifeng opened the door, and as expected, Jiang Yufei appeared at the entrance.

The two smiled at each other. Jiang Yufei walked in, and Lin Zifeng closed the door, saying with a smile, "Yufei, wash your hands and we can eat."

"Zifeng, did you make all this food yourself? I'll have to properly sample your cooking skills."

Jiang Yufei said as she walked toward the bathroom.

"I've rarely cooked in the last couple of years, so I might disappoint you,"

Lin Zifeng said, feeling a bit unsure.

"No matter how it tastes, as long as you made it, I'll love it. Not many people get the chance to eat a meal cooked by a grand County Magistrate!"

Jiang Yufei said as she walked out of the bathroom.

The two sat across from each other at the dining table and began their dinner.

Lin Zifeng hadn't cooked much in the past two years, but he still had the skills; making home-cooked dishes was no problem for him.

Thus, as Jiang Yufei ate, she was full of praise for Lin Zifeng's cooking.

The two had a very warm dinner, their eyes filled with deep affection for each other, and their hearts were full of anticipation for the night ahead.