I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s-Chapter 313: The Secretary is Being Schemed Against

Chapter 313: Chapter 313: The Secretary is Being Schemed Against

Regardless of whether Ming Liang is a sycophant, his words instantly made Li Chuan break into a smile; he walked right over to Ming Liang and hugged him.

"Good boy, what are you up to?"

"Grandpa Li, I guessed that you would come today, so I specially went to our private plot to pick a fragrant melon for you. It’s very sweet. My mother grew it. Please have a good taste later."

"Alright, haha, you’re so thoughtful."

Of course, Li Chuan didn’t believe it, but the child was sweet-talking, and he genuinely seemed to like him.

Secretary Tang, listening from the side, rolled his eyes. This boy, truly Shen Meng’s son, could charm food out of a starving ghost with just his words.

"Ming Liang, where’s your mother? Mr. Li came specifically to see her today. Hurry and call her back; there’s something important to discuss."

"Ah, alright, Uncle Tang, please hold the sweet melon for me. I’ll go to the private plot to call my mom. She’s weeding there!"

Li Chuan: "...."

Secretary Tang: "...."

Ghost stories, no one believes them!!!

Shen Meng smirked when she heard Li Chuan had personally come. It seemed urgent; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come himself.

"Mom, put on your straw hat. My hands are a bit wet, let me wipe it for you. I just told Grandpa Li you were weeding, and they didn’t believe me, huh!"

"My good son, sure, wipe it for me!"

Shen Meng was willing to indulge the child; she bent down to let Ming Liang wipe her face twice, then grabbed the straw hat beside the bed and put it on before heading straight home.

Ming Liang wanted to follow, but Mingyang immediately held him back.

"Grandpa Li came to see mom, surely they have things to discuss, and who knows how long it’ll be. Let’s not disturb them. Instead, let’s prepare some good stuff to send to Brother Heng in Shangjing later."

"Okay, these apricots are both big and sour, let’s send them all to Brother Heng."

Mingyang: "...."

What a saint you are!!!

Li Chuan couldn’t resist and ended up eating the sweet melon brought by Ming Liang. The sweet fragrance filled the entire hall, and he had never tasted such a sweet melon before. Secretary Tang also sneakily reached out his hand to take one, just as Shen Meng pushed the gate open and returned, her face still sweaty from work.

"Is Xiao Meng here?"

Secretary Tang stood for a moment, immediately put the fragrant melon back in the bowl, and just as he did, Li Chuan quickly grabbed it.

Secretary Tang pouted, feeling it was such a pity. The leader didn’t think about his subordinates at all.

"If Secretary Tang loves melons, I’ll pick some for you later. We grow them ourselves, and there’s plenty. We can’t even finish them."

"Cough, cough, well, thank you then."

Secretary Tang secretly made a ’yes!’ gesture to himself, and Li Chuan, seeing Shen Meng offered melons to Secretary Tang, paused munching on the melon and glanced at her.

"Of course, Uncle Li too, not just fragrant melon, there are also watermelons. We have plenty in our field!"

"This is more like it."

After finishing the melon, Li Chuan went to wash his hands by the water tank before returning to the main room.

Shen Meng was in no hurry; she poured two glasses of water on the table and waited for them to speak first.

Li Chuan and Secretary Tang, having been entrenched in the County Government for many years, could easily guess Shen Meng’s intentions. They were here anyway; who spoke first hardly mattered!

"Xiao Meng, I’ve had a meeting with those old timers at the county, you have no idea how long I pleaded to get them to agree to your terms. You’ll have to work hard, or I’ll lose face back in the provincial city."

"Wow, really, Uncle Li? That’s great! Don’t worry, I’ll definitely work hard. It’s only five years, right? Once it’s up, I plan to step down immediately, travel around with my kids. I’m a mother after all, my kids are my priority. Work is just a part of my life, I can’t be thinking about it all the time, like a beast of burden."

Li Chuan: "...."

Secretary Tang: "...."

Who do you think you are comparing yourself to?

"By the way, Uncle Li, running all these collectives by myself is really more than I can manage. Could you please, out of compassion, let Secretary Tang help me out?"

Secretary Tang’s eyelids twitched. Why was he the secretary of the County Party Secretary?

He was considered a reserved cadre, expected to at least become a head of a department after Mr. Li leaves, and perhaps even sit in the County Party Secretary’s position in a few years.

"You sure are bold; what do you think Secretary Tang is here for, to run errands for you? He’ll be busy in the future, won’t have time for your matters. But you’re right about needing a secretary. That Xiao Zhang from your collective seems sharp. He’s been working at the grassroots for years and often attends meetings in the county with Feng Si. He’s quick-witted, insightful, and capable. I think he’d be perfect!"

Shen Meng looked conflicted for a moment and then frowned.

"What’s wrong? You think Xiao Zhang isn’t up to it?"

"It’s not that I look down on Xiao Zhang, Uncle Li. It’s just that he works at the same place as my brother-in-law. Just the other day, my mother-in-law was telling me to let my brother-in-law be my secretary. I told her it wouldn’t work, and she wasn’t pleased. My brother-in-law is still waiting to hear from me. I know my own abilities, if it was someone as capable and influential as Secretary Tang, they wouldn’t dare to make a fuss. But with Xiao Zhang, it could, it could be risky. I fear my hard days are yet to come."

"Who dares? With your brother-in-law being such a fool, he thinks he can be a secretary? It’s hard enough for him even to be a bookkeeper. Leave these issues to me; I’ll take care of them. As for Xiao Zhang, that’s settled. I’ll personally issue his appointment."

"Well, if you say so!"

The slightly reluctant tone made Li Chuan frown. When he was heading out today, he thought that it was about time someone sorted out the Lu Family. Even as he entered the village today, he heard some rumors. Hmph, daring to mistreat the heroes of Ning County, they better not expect any mercy.

Secretary Tang sat upfront, his mouth opening and closing, eventually he shut it.

It felt like Shen Meng was setting a trap for Mr. Li, turning him into a tool in her hands.

Regardless, Shen Meng achieved her goal and even managed to irk the Lu Family, feeling invigorated.

Looking at the transfer order in her hands stamped with a red seal, she was thrilled. The order even specified her salary, two hundred and fifty-one yuan per month.

Huh???

"Did Mr. Li do that on purpose? Such a figure, it’s clear something’s not right."

"What’s not right?"

Shen Meng swiftly turned around, surprised and delighted to see the person standing at the door.

"Lu Zhenping, you’re back?"