Xu Chunliang said, "I’ve recently learned a set of exercises from my grandpa to prolong life. I’ll show you sometime if I get a chance."

Secretary Zhou said, "You can show it to my mother first. The old lady is bored all day long."

Zhang Song immediately said, "Chunliang, do you have any plans later? If you have time, let’s go see the old lady together."

Xu Chunliang couldn’t say he had no time and immediately agreed. Mrs. Zhou treated him well, but he had been busy with work lately, always coming and going in a hurry. Besides, he didn’t want to deliberately go over there and have others say he was trying to curry favor with the leaders this way.

Secretary Zhou asked about the Weishan Island hot spring situation. Xu Chunliang gave a brief overview of the situation there and took the opportunity to throw some shade at the Ecological Environment Construction Investment Group, thinking they deserved it for offending him first.

Secretary Zhou said, "This Ecological Environmental Investment Group has big problems, and we have to investigate thoroughly. If anyone dares to damage the image of Dongzhou, affect people’s livelihoods, we’ll ruin their livelihoods."

Zhang Song said, "Currently, the two Han Yuan Hot Spring Resorts in Dongzhou are still suspended for rectification. It was a direct order from the Provincial Tourism Bureau."

Secretary Zhou said, "Maintaining a city’s image is not easy, but it can be ruined in an instant. As party members and cadres, we can never relax our vigilance. The issues with Han Yuan Hot Springs have existed for more than just a day. Why didn’t Dongzhou’s relevant departments notice them? Why did it have to escalate to the provincial level?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Secretary Zhou, there’s a lot of pressure on grassroots workers like us. If I hadn’t withstood the pressure initially, the hot spring at Weishan Island Winery would have been seized by the Ecological Environmental Investment Group. They feel backed and take whatever they want with impunity."

Secretary Zhou angrily said, "You have backing too. Your backing is the party and the people. No one has stronger backing than you."

Xu Chunliang said, "With your words, Secretary Zhou, I feel relieved. Actually, I was worried about their retaliation."

"They wouldn’t dare! Anyone who dares to retaliate against you is going against me!"

Zhang Song listened from the side, secretly impressed. Xu Chunliang might be young, but he sure is good at stirring things up. Of course, Secretary Zhou isn’t someone who can be easily swayed, so it seems the issues with the Ecological Environmental Investment Group have really angered him. Secretary Zhou wants to use this incident to give some officials in Dongzhou a warning, using the opportunity to clean up Dongzhou’s tourism market.

When they reached Mrs. Zhou’s house, Xu Chunliang suggested getting out of the car, and Zhang Song got out with him.

As they watched Secretary Zhou’s car drive away, Zhang Song patted Xu Chunliang on the shoulder and said, "Brother, you’ve done it. It’ll be hard for the Ecological Environment Investment Group to recover now."

Xu Chunliang said, "My biggest flaw is my strong sense of justice."

Zhang Song laughed heartily, and the two walked into the neighborhood together. On the way, Zhang Song told Xu Chunliang that the old lady had been talking about returning to her hometown because she’d had a spat with her daughter-in-law during the New Year.

Secretary Zhou thought Zhang Song could talk to the old lady, so he entrusted Zhang Song with the task of persuading her. Zhang Song knew the old lady liked Xu Chunliang, so he cleverly brought him along.

When they arrived, Zhou Deming was there too. He was about to start school soon. Seeing Xu Chunliang come, he smiled and said, "You came just in time. My grandma was just talking about you, saying she has a headache and wants to see you."

Xu Chunliang said, "Grandma Zhou, where do you feel uncomfortable?"

Mrs. Zhou said, "Don’t listen to Deming’s nonsense. I’m not uncomfortable, just angry."

Zhang Song deliberately said, "Auntie, is it because of me?"

Mrs. Zhou said, "Don’t blindly guess. It has nothing to do with you all. I’m just angry with myself. As I get older, I’m becoming useless and a burden to others."

Xu Chunliang said, "Grandma Zhou, I think you’ve stayed in one place too long and should get out for a bit."

"Isn’t that right, which is why I want to go back to my hometown."

Zhou Deming said, "Grandma, there’s no one at the old home. Why do you want to go back there? If you really want to go, I’ll accompany you when I have time, how about that?"

"No!"

Mrs. Zhou pouted like a child, "I like the city less and less. The city is filled with smog, and the air smells like car exhaust. It’s not as good as our old home."

Xu Chunliang said, "Grandma Zhou, how about this? Why don’t you visit Weishan Island? The air is good, the scenery is nice, and there are hot springs."

Mrs. Zhou said, "Weishan Island?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Zhang Song chimed in, "It’s where Xiaoxu works. He is now the deputy mayor of Hu Shan Town on Weishan Island."

Mrs. Zhou said, "The Weishan Island with the Flying Tiger Team?"

Xu Chunliang nodded.

Mrs. Zhou said, "Is it far?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Not far. You can make a round trip in a day. If you want to stay, you can go there for some recuperation. I’ll make the arrangements."

Mrs. Zhou said, "Is tomorrow fine?"

Zhang Song was surprised that the old lady, who never liked leaving home, actually wanted to visit Weishan Island. Xu Chunliang had no problem with it: "Sure, I’ll go with you tomorrow. Deming, you should come along too."

Zhou Deming said, "I’ll have to ask my mom about it."

Mrs. Zhou immediately got angry: "How old are you, and you still need to ask her about this?"

Zhou Deming quickly said: "Alright, alright, I’ll accompany you tomorrow."

After Zhang Song and Xu Chunliang left, Zhang Song said: "You’re smart, with just one sentence, you got Mrs. Zhou to agree to the outing, but now I have to arrange for the vehicle."

Xu Chunliang replied: "Brother Zhang, don’t worry about it; I’ll take care of the arrangements. Let’s not use public resources, or Secretary Zhou might not be pleased."

Zhang Song thought about it and realized it made sense.

Xu Chunliang took charge of everything, allowing Zhang Song to relax without even needing to accompany them. Everything would surely be arranged perfectly, letting Mrs. Zhou enjoy the outing and come back happy.

After parting ways, Xu Chunliang first gave Qin Zhengyang a heads-up. It wouldn’t be right to hide this from him. Qin Zhengyang got excited the moment he heard and immediately offered to arrange everything. Xu Chunliang advised him to keep it low-key, as it wouldn’t be good if Mrs. Zhou realized it was officially organized. Xu Chunliang planned to have Xianhong Farm host them.

Qin Zhengyang appreciated Xu Chunliang’s thorough consideration but said he’d facilitate the visit by arranging for some road improvements to keep Weishan Island in good order during these few days.

When Secretary Zhou learned of his mother’s plan to relax on Weishan Island, he didn’t express much concern and just asked his son to accompany her. He reminded him to avoid revealing his identity as much as possible, to not trouble the local government, and to cover personal expenses out of pocket.

Secretary Zhou didn’t even notify Xu Chunliang. In his eyes, Xu Chunliang was much more mature than his son and could handle such minor matters perfectly well.

Early the next morning, Xu Chunliang arrived with Ding Si’s Toyota Prado to pick them up. As expected, only Zhou Deming accompanied Grandma, without even the secretary, Zhang Song, showing up.

This was ideal, as it was as simple as a family outing.

While helping Mrs. Zhou into the car, Xu Chunliang received a call from Zhen Chun, asking where he was. She was arriving in Dongzhou at noon and hoped he’d pick her up at the train station. Xu Chunliang told his cousin that he was heading to work in Hu Shan Town and suggested reaching out to Old Zheng, saying that Zheng Peian was always ready to become her stepdad.

Zhou Deming, newly licensed and enthusiastic about cars, found himself getting along well with Xu Chunliang.

Considering the Zhou family wished to avoid special treatment, Xu Chunliang didn’t arrange for Xianhong Farm’s yacht this time and chose the ferry instead, which had few passengers at this hour.

Mrs. Zhou hadn’t been out for a long time and was as happy as a child.

Zhou Deming brought his camera and took photos of his grandma, who pulled them all in for group photos in turn.

When they arrived at the Weishan Island dock, Zhang Haitao was already waiting with an Audi Q7.

Xu Chunliang and Zhou Deming helped Mrs. Zhou into the car. It was still early, so Xu Chunliang planned to take her to Bright Moon Bay first. Originally, Bright Moon Bay was a cluster of fishermen’s inns, but after some cleanup, an agreement was reached for the boats to leave. Hu Shan Town Government offered them a unified place on the Water Street at the dock to set up shop, with rent and tax incentives.

Bright Moon Bay is arguably the most scenic spot on Weishan Island. The grass was beginning to turn green, and the morning sunlight was warm and gentle. The lake water, under the sun’s rays, presented five colors from afar to near: deep blue, azure, indigo, dark green, and light green. When the wind blew, golden ripples appeared on the calm lake like strips of golden ribbon dancing on the multicolored surface, a delightful sight.

Mrs. Zhou took a deep breath of fresh air and remarked: "The air here is truly refreshing. There’s no place like this in Dongzhou City District."

Xu Chunliang laughed: "Weishan Island is being developed into a national-level tourist resort. The air quality here is the best in the entire Jianghai Region. We are in a place called Bright Moon Bay, and at night, when the moon rises, the scenery is even more beautiful."

Mrs. Zhou kept nodding.

Zhou Deming asked: "How tall is the mountain back there?"

Xu Chunliang looked in the direction he pointed: "Shiliang Mountain, over two hundred meters high, not very tall."

Just then, a flock of egrets flew into view and began feeding in the shallows. Zhou Deming switched to a telephoto lens to capture the leisurely birds one by one.

Xu Chunliang’s phone rang; when he took it out, it was Zhen Chun again.

Xu Chunliang stepped aside to take the call: "What is it now? I’m working."

Zhen Chun replied: "Cousin, who will play with me if you’re not home? I’m coming to find you."

Xu Chunliang said: "No, I have important work to do. I don’t have time to entertain you."

Zhen Chun said: "I’ll do my thing, and you do yours."

Xu Chunliang really had no way to deal with this little cousin.

At noon, he took the guests to Xianhong Farm, where Qin Zhengyang had been waiting. He and Xu Chunliang had agreed not to mention identities, just friends.

Before the meal, Zhang Haitao also brought over Zhen Chun.

As soon as Zhen Chun entered, she exclaimed: "Cousin, Weishan Island is so beautiful!"

Xu Chunliang said: "Look at you, getting so excited over this." He introduced Zhen Chun to everyone.

When Mrs. Zhou heard Zhen Chun was from Xiangjiang, she immediately started speaking Cantonese with her, as it turned out Mrs. Zhou’s ancestral home was Nansha.

With Zhen Chun joining, the sightseeing group grew larger, and Xu Chunliang delegated the task of accompanying the tour to Zhang Haitao.