Qi Tongwei: Sign-in relationship started during student days

Chapter 999 Family Banquet

Let's exchange pleasantries.

Yu Huabei invited everyone to take their seats.

Tian Fengyi remembered there was one more dish that would be ready soon, so he turned around and went back into the kitchen.

Mrs. Yu said, "Please have a seat. I'll go upstairs and call your daughter."

"Xiaoxiao is back?" Yu Huabei was slightly surprised, glanced at Qi Tongwei, and wondered what he was thinking.

Qi Tongwei knew what Yu Huabei suspected, so he kept his eyes down and a serious expression on his face.

He also wondered if Yu Xiaoxiao had rushed back specifically because she knew he was back.

If that's the case, then the other person has a place for her in their heart, but is just too proud of her to say it.

"Yes, I came back in the afternoon and am resting upstairs."

Mrs. Yu replied and went upstairs. A short while later, Yu Xiaoxiao came downstairs in casual clothes under everyone's gaze.

"Dad, Tongwei." Yu Xiaoxiao greeted the two of them casually.

"Xiaoxiao." Qi Tongwei nodded with a smile.

Yu Huabei's eyes swept over the two of them, but he didn't see anything amiss. He nodded, then gestured for everyone to take their seats again, casually asking, "How many days are you planning to stay this time?"

"Go back tomorrow."

Yu Huabei frowned. "So soon? Why not stay a couple more days?"

"I'm currently focused on several key tasks and can't leave, so I just happened to come back today."

Yu Huabei nodded and didn't say anything more.

Fatherly love is subtle, so subtle that no father would express it.

"The food is here." At this moment, Tian Fengyi brought out a plate of chicken soup. "This is a new dish I learned, Three Yellow Chicken Soup. Please enjoy it."

"Hmm, it smells delicious." Yu Huabei gave an initial assessment. "Sit down, everyone, sit down."

After everyone took their seats, Yu Huabei naturally began by saying, "The food today is very plentiful. Feng Yi, thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard work at all. Everyone, have a taste and see how it tastes."

"Yes, everyone, start eating."

Everyone began to taste it.

A family dinner is different from a formal banquet; it has fewer formalities and more casualness.

To be honest, Tian Fengyi may not be good at his job, but he is an excellent cook. His dishes are all delicious and visually appealing.

Even Qi Tongwei, who had been bombarded with delicious food from later generations, praised it highly.

"Comrade Fengyi, your skills are comparable to those of the hotel's head chef."

Yu Huabei also said, "Feng Yi is very talented in cooking. If he hadn't entered politics, he would definitely have been a chef."

Tian Fengyi chuckled and said, "Old leader, Tongwei, to be honest, I really am considering becoming a chef."

In a few years, after I retire, I'll open a restaurant next to our provincial party committee to pursue my hobbies.

In addition, it provides company with my former boss.

Yu Huabei nodded, "Very good, your plan is excellent. We'll definitely support you when the time comes. However, don't set the price too high, otherwise we won't be able to afford it."

Tian Fengyi's political life is over, and Yu Huabei hopes that he can retire quietly and stop making a fool of himself.

If it can get the other party to focus their energy on this, that would be great.

"Of course not. They're all old leaders and friends. If I really overcharge them, the Discipline Inspection Commission will send people to stake out my place every day to find out which comrades have come to eat there."

Everyone laughed upon hearing this, and the atmosphere instantly became harmonious.

Mrs. Yu placed a piece of fish on her daughter's plate and asked with concern, "Xiaoxiao, how's work lately? Is it tough?"

"It's alright." Yu Xiaoxiao nodded.

Taking the opportunity, Yu Huabei struck up a conversation with his daughter, asking, "How is Wenshan doing now? Are the comrades in good spirits?"

Yu Xiaoxiao picked up some food and said, "It's great, it's lively."

"Lively? What do you mean?" Yu Huabei asked, puzzled.

Qi Tongwei, Tian Fengyi, and Madam Yu all looked at Yu Xiaoxiao.

Yu Xiaoxiao said calmly, "When a mayor's position becomes vacant, everyone wants to take it and make a name for themselves. In any case, everyone from top to bottom is working hard."

Yu Huabei said with satisfaction, "Very good. It's a good thing that they want to compete and dare to compete. It proves that they still have the ambition to make progress."

The provincial party committee and I are not afraid of them competing; what we fear is their lack of competition—a stagnant pool like this is truly terrifying.

Yu Xiaoxiao chuckled, "You're right, but I'm worried that the city's finances won't be able to support it."

Yu Huabei's smile vanished abruptly. "What does this have to do with finances?"

"How can it not be a problem? This one needs to build roads, that one needs to build factories, and another needs to develop tourism. If everyone does their own thing, the government won't be able to support it."

Yu Huabei's expression darkened. Even if he didn't understand economics, he knew that Wenshan's conditions weren't yet conducive to widespread development.

"How can this be allowed? What about Liu Zhuangfu? How can he be the Party Secretary of the city, the driving force behind everything?"

Yu Xiaoxiao chewed the food in her mouth and said casually, "Secretary Liu is in the hospital."

Yu Huabei was taken aback, then said angrily, "What? He's in the hospital again? What? Does he plan to stay in the hospital until he retires?"

Tian Fengyi took a small sip of wine and said quietly, "Old leader, you know all too well about Comrade Zhuangfu's health condition."

If you're able to be on duty for half the year, it's because you're working your butt off.

I had already reported this to you before, and earnestly requested that you and the Provincial Party Committee consider adjusting his position so that he could recuperate in peace.

But you always say that Comrade Zhuangfu's health is still good, and he can still handle the work in Wenshan.

But how could you know that every time he fell ill, it was me and several comrades from the municipal party committee who gritted our teeth and stepped up to help?

Now that I'm gone, with no one in charge of Wenshan's work, the problems have been exposed.

Hearing Tian Fengyi's words, Yu Huabei became even more displeased. He gave Tian Fengyi a cold look and said, "So, you should blame me for making things like this in Wenshan?"

If Tian Fengyi hadn't suddenly caused such a big incident, would he and Wenshan have been in such a passive position?

Tian Fengyi forced a smile and explained, "Old leader, that's not what I meant."

"what does that mean?"

Before Tian Fengyi could speak, things would have been fine, but once he opened his mouth, Yu Huabei habitually turned his anger on him, pointing at Tian Fengyi with his chopsticks and saying with a half-smile:

"By the way, let's not talk about Wenshan for now. Feng Yi, let me ask you, the provincial party committee's transfer order has been issued for a week now, why haven't you gone to the Writers Association to take up your post yet?"

What? Do you have a problem with the provincial party committee's order? Or do you have a problem with the arrangements made for you by your former leader? Huh?

Tian Fengyi smiled wryly and said, "Old leader, how could I dare to have any objections?"

I wasn't in a hurry to take office because I thought the work at the Writers' Association was easy, and whether I went or not, they wouldn't cause any trouble.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to rest for a few more days, to make up for all the busy years I've had.

Yu Huabei scoffed, "You're quite good at thinking of yourself, aren't you?"

These days, Mrs. Yu had grown tired of hearing her husband criticize Tian Fengyi. Considering that her younger brother still needed the other party's help, she spoke up and advised, "Old Yu, I say, today is the day our daughter comes home and Tongwei returns to China. Can we not talk about work?"

If you really can't resist, then go to the study later and have them give you a proper report. This is the dining table, not your desk. I hope we can maintain a pleasant atmosphere, otherwise it will affect your appetite.

Yu Huabei looked at his daughter, then at Qi Tongwei, and sighed, "This is something I didn't consider. Okay, let's eat first, and we can talk about work after we finish eating."