281: Zhang Yuhao's shock

Hearing Li Yuhang mention Zhang Zimo reminded him of how Zhang Zimo had brought his wife and children to visit the Eagle Gorge Mouth Scenic Area at his invitation.

Among Lin Zifeng's Party School classmates, Zhang Zimo, his roommate for three months, was undoubtedly the closest to him; even the Li Yuhang in front of him couldn't compare.

So, upon hearing the other party mention Zhang Zimo, he smiled and said, "Old Zhang's drinking capacity is indeed good, but after drinking with him a few times, he's still no match for me.

Next time he teases you about this, just invite him to Yushu County. The three of us can have a showdown, and I bet he won't tease you anymore."

"Alright! It's a deal. Last time I went to Yushu County for inspection, that Eagle Gorge Mouth Scenic Area left a deep impression on me!

I've been looking for an opportunity to revisit this scenic area! Once I arrange a time and invite Old Zhang, the three of us will reunite in Yushu County."

Li Yuhang said very readily.

Just then, a knock sounded outside the door, and then a waiter pushed open the door, making a welcoming gesture.

A man in his thirties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and appearing somewhat thin, walked in from outside.

As soon as the man entered, he extended his hand to Li Yuhang with a beaming smile. Lin Zifeng and Li Yuhang stood up simultaneously.

The man shook Li Yuhang's hand and said, "Director Li, I've kept you waiting. There was some traffic on the way after work."

"Director Zhang is too polite; we just arrived not long ago. Besides, it's not even time yet, and haven't the others not arrived yet?

Let me introduce you, this is my Party School classmate, Lin Zifeng, also the youngest County Party Secretary in our entire province, the County Party Secretary of Yushu County, Chunhua City.

Zifeng, this is Director Zhang Huawei from the Department of Transportation."

Hearing Li Yuhang's introduction, Lin Zifeng quickly shook hands with Zhang Huawei, "Hello, Director Zhang, I am Lin Zifeng, please take good care of me."

"Secretary Lin is too polite, let's take care of each other.

I've long heard there's a twenty-eight-year-old, the youngest County Party Secretary in the province. I've been wondering what kind of Comrade could be so outstanding! I didn't expect to meet him here today. It's truly well-deserved; a young talent just like Director Li!"

Zhang Huawei said with a beaming smile.

"Director Zhang, you're too kind. Please, have a seat."

Lin Zifeng invited him to sit down while pouring him tea.

The three chatted for a few minutes, then another knock sounded outside the door. Within the next five minutes, Director Yang from the Department of Education and Director Zhao from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission arrived.

Just after the five had exchanged greetings, another knock sounded, and Zhang Yuhao walked in from outside.

As soon as he entered, he quickly said with a beaming smile, "Director Li, dear friends, I am truly sorry. I left early, but who would have thought I'd encounter a car accident on the way and be stuck for quite a while, so I'm late.

My apologies, truly sorry!"

After saying this, he noticed Lin Zifeng sitting among the group, and his face immediately showed surprise, freezing in place.

Lin Zifeng was also quite surprised. Li Yuhang hadn't explained in detail who he had invited, and he hadn't expected the other party to be here.

Li Yuhang stood up, smiling and extending his hand. Zhang Yuhao then reacted, quickly shaking hands with Li Yuhang.

"Director Zhang, Director Zhao, they've also just arrived. Traffic after work is very normal.

You should be familiar with the others. Come, let me introduce you to my good friend, also my Party School classmate, he is also the County Party Secretary of Yushu County, Chunhua City, Secretary Lin Zifeng."

Hearing Li Yuhang's introduction, Zhang Yuhao's mind seemed to slow down by half a beat. He even doubted if what he heard was real.

But he knew that in such an occasion, Li Yuhang wouldn't joke with him about such a matter, which left him incomparably shocked.

He never expected that his former little secretary, after becoming the mayor of a poor town, would, in just four or five years, become the County Party Secretary of Yushu County, with an administrative rank already equal to his own.

Moreover, the position of County Party Secretary, which is at the regular department-level, held slightly more weight than his own position as Office Director of the Provincial Department of Finance.

His dream when he was a county magistrate was to one day become the County Party Secretary, to stand on his own, and to govern a county.

He hadn't achieved it himself, but his former secretary had, so his feelings were extremely complicated. However, in front of the others, he couldn't show anything.

Fortunately, having been tempered in a regular department-level position in the provincial capital for so many years, controlling his expression was not an issue, so outsiders only saw a slight surprise before he returned to normal.

The others even thought that Zhang Yuhao, like them when they first met Lin Zifeng, was surprised by Lin Zifeng's youth and handsomeness! No one noticed anything amiss.

Just as Li Yuhang was about to introduce Zhang Yuhao to Lin Zifeng, Lin Zifeng quickly spoke up, "Yuhang, I know Director Zhang, you don't need to introduce him to me again."

After saying this, Lin Zifeng proactively extended his hand and said with a smile, "Hello, Director Zhang, I'm very happy to meet you here."

Zhang Yuhao quickly shook his hand, also smiling, "I'm also very happy to meet Secretary Lin here."

"Oh, you two know each other? That's even better! Come, sit down and talk! But I'm really curious how you met, Zifeng, why have you never mentioned it to me?"

Li Yuhang asked curiously.

Hearing Li Yuhang's question, before Lin Zifeng could answer, Zhang Yuhao quickly interjected, "It's like this, Director Li, before I was transferred to work in the provincial capital, I worked in Yushu County for a period.

Secretary Lin was a cadre in Yushu County at that time, so we are naturally not strangers."

This time, Zhang Yuhao didn't show off in front of the others that Lin Zifeng used to be his secretary, unlike before.

Because if he were to say that, it would make him seem too incompetent.

His former secretary had already grown to become a County Party Secretary, while he himself was still in a regular department-level position. This spoke volumes. If he still spoke as before, it would only highlight his incompetence.

Furthermore, there was another matter that would be difficult to explain: if he revealed their previous relationship, why would Lin Zifeng, as a secretary, need financial support and not go to him, the Office Director of the Department of Finance, first?

And they only ended up at the same dinner table through Li Yuhang. If their relationship was so distant, others would suspect it was due to Zhang Yuhao.

Because given their previous relationship, only the superior would distance themselves from such a connection; the subordinate would be eager to get close to the leader and receive their promotion and protection!

Others wouldn't know that their relationship was very complex.

Zhang Yuhao was not foolish. As soon as he entered, he realized that Li Yuhang, whom he wanted to curry favor with, had a close relationship with Lin Zifeng. If he continued to disregard Lin Zifeng, he might indirectly offend Li Yuhang.

That's why he quickly said those words.

Lin Zifeng guessed Zhang Yuhao's intention in saying this, so he cooperatively said, "Director Zhang was once my direct superior!"

Lin Zifeng spoke vaguely about his relationship with Zhang Yuhao, not revealing their true past connection.