261: If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked as well.

Just as Zhang Yancheng was dumbstruck, Liu Shengli spoke up, "Comrade, Director Zhang is right! This is Chunhua City, not some remote backwater you're from."

"You'd better be sensible and leave early! Otherwise, it won't do you any good, and you shouldn't throw away a bright future for nothing."

"Oh? Director Zhang, does Mayor Yushu know you're so arrogant and overbearing?"

Lin Zifeng said with a faint smile.

Actually, Zhang Yancheng was only at the section chief level, just enjoying deputy section-level treatment. People called him Director Zhang to show respect.

Zhang Yancheng finally snapped out of it, a shiver running through him as half his drunkenness vanished in fear. He hurriedly said, "A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. Secretary Lin, I really didn't expect to run into you here."

"I've had a few too many today and couldn't handle the liquor. I was talking nonsense because I'm drunk. Please, don't take it seriously!"

"Whether it's a misunderstanding, you know best in your heart. I advise you to restrain yourself in the future! If you cause a negative impact on Mayor Yushu, you know the consequences."

"Stop these ill intentions toward female Comrades from now on. Otherwise...?"

Lin Zifeng stopped there, but his meaning was self-evident.

"Yes, yes, yes, Secretary Lin is right. I will definitely keep it in mind."

Zhang Yancheng nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at grain.

Lin Zifeng didn't want to deal with them anymore. Looking at Chen Xinxin, he said, "Old classmate, you must remember that no matter what unit or occasion you're in, no one can force you to do something you don't want to do."

"Not to you, and not to other female Comrades either. This is the people's world, not the world of the powerful and influential."

"If someone wants to defy the world, isn't the door of the Discipline Inspection Commission always open?"

Hearing Lin Zifeng's pointed words, Chen Xinxin nodded vigorously and said sincerely, "Thank you!"

Lin Zifeng nodded, then walked straight toward his Private Room.

Seeing Lin Zifeng enter the Private Room, Chen Xinxin said, "Director Liu, Director Zhang, I'm feeling a bit unwell, so I'll be heading back first."

"Director Liu, don't ask me to come to these kinds of occasions anymore. I don't like these drinking parties."

Liu Shengli opened his mouth but said nothing in the end. Zhang Yancheng quickly said, "Section Chief Chen, take care. I was very rude today, and I apologize to you."

"I also promise you that Director Liu won't pester you to attend such drinking parties again."

Chen Xinxin nodded slightly and quickly walked outside.

Liu Shengli then pulled Zhang Yancheng into an empty Private Room and asked urgently, "Director Zhang, what was that about?"

"Why were you so polite to Chen Xinxin's classmate? Does that young man have some background or a big backer behind him?"

"I don't know if he has a backer, but I know he himself is someone we can't afford to offend."

Zhang Yancheng said with a bitter smile.

"Who exactly is he? To make you, Section Chief Zhang, so wary?"

Liu Shengli continued to press for answers.

"He is the youngest County Party Secretary in the entire Huanan Province, the political rising star of Chunhua City, Lin Zifeng."

"What? He's Lin Zifeng? I didn't expect Chen Xinxin to be his classmate. It seems I'll have to be more careful when dealing with Chen Xinxin in the future."

Liu Shengli said with a face full of lingering fear.

"I hope he doesn't lower himself to our level! We have to be careful from now on. If we fall into his hands again, there won't be any good fruit for us to eat."

Zhang Yancheng said with a wary expression.

When Lin Zifeng returned to the Private Room, Wan Guoliang asked casually, "Secretary Zifeng, why were you gone for so long? If you hadn't come back, I would have sent Zhongyu to find you in the restroom."

Sitting down, Lin Zifeng said, "I just ran into an old classmate outside, and it was quite an eye-opener. The actions of some Cadres in the City Level have simply changed some of my previous perceptions."

"Oh? What exactly did you encounter, Secretary Zifeng, to make you so emotional?"

Zhang Yuhan said with a curious look.

Lin Zifeng didn't hide anything and recounted what happened just now in detail.

Hearing Lin Zifeng's account, Zhang Yuhan said angrily, "Some people with crooked minds in our ranks just don't show enough respect to female Comrades. These people are the scum among Cadres."

Wan Guoliang summed up the matter with one sentence: "If the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones will be askew."

After another half hour, the group of five ended their drinking session and walked out of the hotel chatting and laughing.

Zhang Yancheng and Liu Shengli had been watching the movement in Lin Zifeng's Private Room, hoping for a chance to explain themselves. But seeing Wan Guoliang, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, walking with the group, they didn't dare step forward to disturb them.

The five arrived outside the hotel. After shaking hands and saying goodbye, Wan Guoliang and Zhang Yuhan left by car first.

Just as Lin Zifeng and Xu Minghao were about to get in the car to return to the Municipal Party Committee Guesthouse, a dark figure emerged from the corner. It was none other than Chen Xinxin.

Chen Xinxin hadn't gone home directly; she had been waiting here for Lin Zifeng. She stepped up to him and quickly said, "Thank you, Secretary Lin."

Lin Zifeng smiled nonchalantly. "You don't need to be so polite; I didn't do much."

"It's late. Go back and rest early. We have to head back as well. Happy New Year in advance."

"Thank you, Zifeng. Happy New Year to you too, and I wish you a steady rise in your career."

Lin Zifeng nodded slightly and didn't linger, getting into the car and leaving.

Watching the sedan fade into the distance, Chen Xinxin withdrew her gaze, tightened her coat, and turned to walk toward her residence.

Today's chance encounter made Chen Xinxin realize that everything had changed. All she saw in Lin Zifeng's eyes was calmness.

Thinking back to the past, Chen Xinxin was filled with deep regret; her lonely silhouette now appeared so desolate.

Lin Zifeng and Xu Minghao stayed at the Municipal Party Committee Guesthouse for the night. After a simple breakfast the next morning, they headed back to Yushu County.

Shortly after starting work that morning, Lin Zifeng received a call from Li Li.

"Director Li, how do you have so much time today? Is the immortal hero TV series about to be released?"

Lin Zifeng said with a chuckle.

"County Magistrate Lin, you guessed right! immortal hero will be broadcast during the Spring Festival season. Lately, I've been taking the main creative team members to various programs to promote and warm up the immortal hero TV series!"

"I'm calling you today specifically to inform you that immortal hero will officially premiere on the first day of the first lunar month."

The other party didn't know he had been promoted to County Party Secretary, so he still called him County Magistrate Lin. Lin Zifeng didn't correct him.

Instead, he smiled and said, "First, I wish immortal hero a huge hit and ever-climbing ratings."

"Director Li, send a copy of your promotional trailer to our Propaganda Department. I'll have the county and City Level television stations play it in advance, hoping to give the immortal hero TV series a boost."

That was exactly Li Li's goal. Before he could even speak, Lin Zifeng had brought it up himself, so he happily agreed and thanked him repeatedly.