The award was announced.

The whole room was suddenly as excited as if it had been injected with adrenaline.

"I really don't know what these people are so excited about," said someone. "They talk about awards, but will such good fortune ever come our way?"

A woman's voice sounded from behind.

Chen Fang turned around.

Behind him stood a young woman with both good looks and poise.

She appeared to be just over thirty.

Her hair was cut in a neat, shoulder-length bob.

She also sported a pair of glasses on the bridge of her nose.

She wore a black over-shirt with a distinct design, with a white underlayer in the middle, but what she wore below could not be seen.

The woman noticed Chen Fang turning around.

She smiled faintly.

Bright eyes and white teeth, indeed quite charming.

"Yang Xi, deputy director of the Licheng City Cultural and Tourism Bureau."

The woman extended her hand to Chen Fang proactively.

Since she had initiated the greeting, Chen Fang had to respond and also shook her hand, saying, "Chen Fang, deputy county head of Jinde County."

"How old are you to be the deputy head of a county?"

Yang Xi asked in a lowered voice.

Chen Fang smiled and said, "I'm 28 this year."

"28? When I was 28, I was still at the deputy section level," said Yang Xi, pursing her lips.

Hearing this, Chen Fang replied, "Then you must have been promoted to deputy director level within a year, that's quite fast."

"A year?"

Yang Xi was startled.

Then she covered her mouth and laughed.

She said, "Don't joke, I'm already 34."

"34? Impossible, I thought you were at most 29," Chen Fang said.

Upon hearing this,

Yang Xi giggled merrily.

She said, "You sure have a way with words, must be very popular with the young ladies."

Chen Fang smiled slightly and asked, "What did Director Yang mean just now when you said such a good opportunity wouldn't come our way?"

Yang Xi leaned in close and whispered in Chen Fang's ear, "These party school training classes, it's all just for show. Titles like 'excellent student' or 'best student,' those are already predetermined. It's all an excuse and a reason to promote those with connections."

"Oh? Is that how it is?" Chen Fang asked, taken aback.

Yang Xi pointed to a man in the front row and said, "Look, the one in the green POLO shirt, his name is Chu Jindai. He's from Licheng City too, 31 years old and already the head of one of our districts. His mom is retired from the provincial government, and his dad is still working in the ministries. His career is really smooth sailing."

Then,

she pointed toward another woman in a different row.

With her hair pinned up, the woman didn't look very old from behind.

"See that woman in the red dress? Her name is Zhu Zhu, 30 years old, from Rongjiang City. She got to where she is by relying on men," Yang Xi continued.

She was about to go on introducing,

but Chen Fang quickly interrupted her, asking, "But what does that have to do with predetermined quotas?"

Yang Xi gave him a look.

She said, "You haven't been in the system long, you don't understand. We come to the provincial party school to be gilded, just to make up the numbers. Those people I just pointed out to you are the real contenders. Do you believe that they will be named outstanding students?"

"Are you so sure?"

"Don't doubt it. I'll bet you, if I lose, I'll treat you to a meal; if you lose, you treat me. How about that?"

This woman really wasn't shy at all.

They had barely exchanged words when she was already betting and making dinner plans.

Chen Fang chuckled and said, "It would be an honor to take a beautiful woman out to dinner; there's no need for a bet."

"You flatterer," said Yang Xi, flushed and trembling like a flower swaying in the wind.

At this time,

the opening ceremony also came to an end.

The school leaders surrounded Jiang Chuo and left the auditorium.

Classes would officially start tomorrow, and today would be for the students to rest and adjust their mindset.

The cars slowly filed out of the provincial party school gates.

The smile that lingered on Jiang Chuo's face also vanished instantly.

Secretary Zhang Bangqi suddenly turned around and asked, "Leader, is that Chen Fang we met at the entrance today the same Chen Fang you had me investigate?"

"Yes!"

Jiang Chuo nodded her head.

Zhang Bangqi was taken aback.

He asked, "Then I'm a bit confused. Since he is indeed Chen Fang, why did you still speak up for him and prevent Principal Li from punishing him for being late?"

Jiang Chuo smiled and inquired, "Bangqi, you've been with me for eight years, how come you've made no progress at all?"

Zhang Bangqi scratched his head and said, "The thoughts of a leader are always so imaginative, sometimes, I really don't understand."

Jiang Chuo smiled and explained, "The punishment for tardiness is just a trifle, nothing serious. When I spoke up for Chen Fang, it wasn't really to defend him—it was all for Li Li to see. Next, Li Li will clean up after him for me."

"But if you've backed Chen Fang up, won't he think that Chen Fang is one of your connections? How could he dare to deal with Chen Fang then?"

The more Zhang Bangqi listened, the more confused he became.

Jiang Chuo looked out the window and said, "That's exactly why I decided to add the 'Best Student Award' for this session of students..."

...

At the school.

After Jiang Chuo's car had left.

The smile on Li Li's face also disappeared immediately.

He turned to his secretary and said, "Go call Chu Jindai to my office."

A few minutes later.

On the second floor of the school administration building.

The door to the executive vice-principal's office was knocked.

Chu Jindai, wearing a green POLO shirt, pushed the door open and entered.

"Uncle Li, you wanted to see me?"

As soon as Chu Jindai entered, he carelessly took a seat on the couch and asked.

Li Li's expression turned stern.

He said, "I told you before school started, in the school you have to call me Principal Li."

Chu Jindai, with an indifferent attitude, said, "Alright, Principal Li, did you want to see me for something?"

"There's a very important matter regarding the 'Best Student' mentioned by Secretary Jiang at the opening ceremony today."

"Isn't that a good thing? With that, I could step into the vice-departmental level in one fell swoop."

Chu Jindai spoke with some pride.

Li Li nodded.

He continued, "The announcement of this decision was rather abrupt, I wasn't informed before the opening of the class, and obviously, this so-called 'Best Student' award is something Jiang Chuo prepared for her own people."

This statement instantly sent a shiver down Chu Jindai's spine.

He sat up straight.

He asked, "Are you saying there's a protégé of Secretary Jiang among the students of this session?"

With a frown, Li Li nodded and recounted the events that had happened before the start of the ceremony that day.

Chu Jindai's expression also grew tense.

He said, "Chen Fang, I've never heard of that name before. At 28, he became a deputy county head; he clearly has someone backing him. If Secretary Jiang has already designated this slot for him, then no matter how hard we try, it would be in vain..."

Li Li gestured dismissively and said, "No, we still have a chance. Although the party school's principal is Jiang Chuo, she won't be here most of the time. If something happens to Chen Fang during the six months of study, or if some negative issue about him gets out, by then, even if Jiang Chuo wants to help him, she won't be able to. Do you get my meaning?"

At these words,

a sinister smile spread across Chu Jindai's face.

He nodded and said, "Uncle Li, I understand. I also know what to do now..."

"Alright, things that should be said and shouldn't have been said, I've said them all. I'm not worried about other things, but you need to change your lecherous ways during this half year of study. Don't cause any trouble, understand?"

Li Li advised.

Chu Jindai stood up.

He gave Li Li a proper salute and playfully said, "Don't worry, Uncle Li, I promise I won't cause any trouble."

Having said that,

he left as if fleeing.

However, he did not return to the dormitory.

Instead, he headed straight for the teaching building.

Since no teaching had started for the day, the entire teaching building was deserted.

He rushed up to the third floor.

Glancing around and seeing no one,

he then pushed open the door of the classroom.

He saw a woman in a red blouse sitting at the lecturer's desk.

Chu Jindai licked his lips, rubbed his hands together, closed the door gently, and lewdly called out, "Baby, I'm here..."

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