Seeing my expression, Ning Shixuan stepped forward and asked, "You really don't have ten yuan? You were quite generous treating everyone to a meal the day you arrived. And your wallet looks quite expensive; how come there isn't even ten yuan inside?"

I shook my head. Ning Shixuan suddenly reached out and pulled the wallet from my pocket. "I don't believe it; I have to see it for myself."

Secretary Liu was taken aback by Ning Shixuan's intimate physical contact with me. Reaching into my pants pocket to retrieve a wallet inevitably meant their skin touched. In fact, she had been holding onto my waist during the journey to prevent being thrown off by the bumps, but there was no one else present then, so it wasn't awkward. Now, with people coming and going, their actions looked more like playful teasing between a couple.

Ning Shixuan took my wallet. I offered Secretary Liu a wry smile and accepted the ten yuan bill he held out. "See, Xiao Ning is just a child. Thanks, I'll pay you back later."

Secretary Liu shook his head. By then, Ning Shixuan had flipped through my entire wallet. "Look! There's really only a one-yuan coin! You must have left all your money in the dorm. You cheapskate!"

I remembered seeing a bicycle repair shop at the farmers' market. I hoisted my bike and headed there without looking back. "Xiao Ning, order me food, remember to charge it to Director Zhao’s account—the old man promised to treat me for a month."

Fixing the chain wasn't a major hassle; I had them touch up a few other spots as well. Half an hour later, I cycled back to the County Government building. I spent five yuan of the borrowed ten. Alright, I had five yuan back in my pocket. I'd repay Secretary Liu's ten when I got my first month's salary.

Arriving at the third-floor dorm, I knocked on Ning Shixuan's door. "Xiao Ning, Xiao Ning, I fixed your bike. Where's my food?" My own room was always locked; there was no way she could have left it in there.

"Come in, the door isn't locked," Ning Shixuan’s voice called from inside.

I pushed the door open to Ning Shixuan’s room. Indeed, two portions of food were on the desk, but the bowls weren't mine. I casually picked one up and grabbed it. "I'll eat in my own room. I left your bike key on the table."

Ning Shixuan seemed to have just washed her hair and was combing it in front of the mirror. After being exposed to the harsh sun all morning, followed by a dusty ride, it was understandable that a girl would care about her appearance. Seeing me about to leave, she stopped combing her hair, snatched her own portion from the desk, and said, "I'll eat in your room."

"Ah," I stood at the doorway, hesitant to move. I really didn't want Ning Shixuan to see the absolute emptiness of my room.

Ning Shixuan questioned, "What's wrong, not welcome? We've been neighbors for so long, and I even helped you clean out your dorm. Do you have some secret you're afraid I'll see? Don't tell me you're hiding a girl in there, or maybe it's a pigsty?"

"Yeah, it’s smelly and messy, so let’s just eat here. Your place is clean and smells nice; eating here lifts the spirits."

"Eat in my room," Secretary Liu suddenly appeared at the doorway holding several dishes that clearly hadn't come from the cafeteria.

Ning Shixuan also caught the unusual savory aroma. She rushed out with a cascade of damp, loose hair. "Wow, such fragrant food, Xiao Liu, where did you get this?"

Secretary Liu replied, "I just went out and bought it. I know you didn't sleep well last night, and you were out in the countryside this morning, so I specially bought this to boost your nutrition."

I quickly flattered him. "That's right, Xiao Ning. Look how much Xiao Liu cares about you. This is what a real man does. Come on, let's go to his room for a feast."

Secretary Liu was clearly pleased by my words and happily led the way with the dishes. I followed close behind, with Ning Shixuan trailing me. As Secretary Liu entered his room, I was already at the doorway. Suddenly, I heard a loud thwack behind me—someone kicking open my dorm door with a foot.

"I want to see if you’re hiding a girl. Huh..." It turned out Ning Shixuan had snuck into my room!

Since she was already inside, I decided to ignore her and headed straight into Secretary Liu's room. This was my first time in Secretary Liu's dorm. I suspected that on the third floor, only Ning Shixuan’s room rivaled this one in 'luxury.' Not because of high-end furnishings, mind you, but because everything was spotlessly clean and meticulously placed, looking more like a young woman’s private chamber.

In the center of the room was a small square table with a few low stools beside it. I plopped down casually, ready to eat. A moment later, Ning Shixuan emerged from my room. Since there was nothing in my place for her to see, why would she stay there and starve instead of coming out to eat?

What was strange was that Ning Shixuan hadn't offered any comment or critique about my room. After sitting down, she immediately asked Secretary Liu how the matter involving Zhang Fengzhen was being handled.

Secretary Liu replied, "I didn't see Old Zhang this morning either. Shall I call him?" As he spoke, Secretary Liu pulled out his cell phone.

Ning Shixuan intercepted him immediately. "Use Zhao Qian's! His phone is so high-tech; we might as well use it."

Sweat. I handed my phone over to Ning Shixuan. After fiddling with it for a moment, she passed it back to me. "How do you open it? It needs a password and a fingerprint."

I tapped the touchscreen casually. "Done. Use it. Don't worry about saving my phone bill; this card is a yearly plan."

Ning Shixuan said, "Alright, I'll call you from now on." She dialed. "Brother Zhang, it’s Xiao Ning. How did the thing we discussed this morning go? We’re worried."

Zhang Fengzhen’s voice was slightly slurred, sounding like he’d been drinking. "This matter isn't easy to handle, Xiao Ning. I spoke to several friends this morning to communicate with the other party. It turns out they work for Xie Lei. Now they’ve made it clear: they won't rest until they’ve slashed little Zhao and your uncle. It looks like it will be difficult to settle this soon. I’ll find other friends to mediate. Don't worry, Brother Zhang is handling this for you; I guarantee I'll give it my all..."

Ning Shixuan frowned and handed the phone back to me. "You heard him. Be careful. I'll notify my uncle not to set up his stall tonight. Those people are reckless. This time, it seems really troublesome."

I smiled, saying nothing. I planned to deal with those four hooligans that afternoon. If I didn't throw them into the East Sea for the fish to eat, my surname wouldn't be Zhao!

Who knew, before we could even finish eating, all three of our phones rang with nearly identical messages: A high-ranking provincial leader would be visiting Liangshan County on Monday, requiring all personnel to report for duty that afternoon!

Thus, my plan to deal with the four thugs that afternoon was scrapped. Instead, I spent the entire afternoon in meetings with everyone else. The content was nothing more than arranging how various departments would handle this leader coming from the provincial government. Word was, this official was handpicked by the Central Committee, with power and connections harder than diamond. If anything went awry, the poverty alleviation funds from the province all the way down could vanish. This was my first time witnessing the true inner workings of the Liangshan government.

The meeting dragged on until dinner time before reluctantly concluding. Back at the dorm, before I could even head down for food, Ning Shixuan burst in. "Zhao Qian, my uncle won't listen to my advice and insists on setting up his stall tonight. Can you come with me to help? If they cause trouble again, having more people means better backup."

I readily agreed. "No problem, but I expect your uncle will be treating us to dinner."

Ning Shixuan laughed. "That's easy. I’ll treat you to wontons—wontons boiled in a broth made from big marrow bones. Guaranteed you’ll love it."

Thinking of the yellowish steamed buns and mushy vegetables at the cafeteria, I dropped my food container. "Let's go!"

Ning Shixuan said, "I’ve already called Secretary Liu and Brother Zhang. They’re waiting downstairs. You three go ahead; I'll change clothes and follow shortly."

I didn't mind how many people came along; having more people to chat with over wontons sounded like a pleasant time. Just as I was about to lock my door, Ning Shixuan stopped me. "Don't keep them waiting! I'll do it. There’s nothing in the room, why lock it? You are really an interesting person."

I figured since Ning Shixuan had already seen the secrets inside my room, there was no point locking it anymore. I tossed the lock toward the corner and headed downstairs first.

Zhang Fengzhen and Secretary Liu were quite familiar with Ning Shixuan’s aunt and uncle. Perhaps thanks to staying up late the previous night, since it was dinnertime, many young people working in the town's various shops were out eating, so the wonton stall was crowded.

Actually, the stall didn't just sell wontons; they also served grilled fish fillets and deep-fried stinky tofu. After the dinner rush, very few people bought wontons, but many came for a beer and a snack.

Zhang Fengzhen and Secretary Liu immediately rolled up their sleeves and started working. So, I found a rag, and whenever someone finished eating at a small table and left, I went over to clean it up. I’d never done anything like this back home! I never thought that after going to the countryside, I’d end up working as a waiter.

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