Chapter 118: Chapter 115: The Official's Aversion to the "Deputy" Title

Liu Jiangqiu was a man who cared deeply about face. He despised it when people addressed him with the prefix "Deputy." In government offices, people used the title to show respect to Jiang Zhonggen, but outside the office, in private, everyone would instinctively drop that prefix. This had become an unwritten rule in the Chinese political scene, and Liu Jiangqiu was particularly fastidious about it.

The lobby manager pulled the waitress aside and complained, "Sigh, Little Liu, it’s all my fault. You’re new here and don’t know the ropes; there are many rules I haven’t explained to you yet. Go to the finance department this afternoon to settle your pay and leave. I’ll have them give you an extra month’s salary as compensation."

"Huh?" The waitress was stunned, looking at the manager in disbelief. She said nervously, "Manager, I... what did I do wrong? Why are you firing me?"

"Sigh, Secretary Liu has a pet peeve: he hates it when people add 'Deputy' to his title," the manager shook his head helplessly. "Damn it, I forgot to tell you about this when you first started!"

"Oh?" The waitress blinked, her face falling. "But he is only the Deputy Secretary. Secretary Jiang is the one in charge!"

"Sigh, are you stupid? Secretary Jiang will be moving to a provincial post sooner or later. It’s almost a foregone conclusion that Secretary Liu will become the top leader now. Why bother with such distinctions at a time like this?" The manager said, frustrated. He waved his hand helplessly and added, "Go on. I’ll arrange for you to work at another hotel later. Also, come to the Jinsheng Hotel tonight to see me; it’s been a while since we were intimate."

"Okay!" The waitress nodded, her eyes bashful.

Liu Jiangqiu entered the private room. A government-designated hotel was indeed different. By rank, such hotels were not supposed to exceed three-star status, but although the Green Mansion carried a three-star label, its decor, equipment, and amenities were nearly at a five-star standard.

"Secretary Liu, President Li and her party will be here soon!" his assistant whispered in his ear.

"Haha, let them come! Li Ruo, oh Li Ruo, I don't know how long I've been waiting for you!" Liu Jiangqiu grinned. "That slender waist of yours, that perky bottom... they are the images of my dreams."

Before long, Li Ruo and Lin Ziwen hurried to the scene. Captain Cao and a bodyguard waited downstairs. The lobby manager rushed to greet them and led Li Ruo to the room where Liu Jiangqiu was waiting. Seeing Li Ruo enter, Liu Jiangqiu stood up immediately.

"Little Ruo, nice to see you!" Liu Jiangqiu called her "Little Ruo" right away, positioning himself as an uncle figure.

"Secretary Liu, it’s been a long time. I hope you’ve been well!" Li Ruo smiled faintly, revealing a row of white teeth; the smile was perhaps the most beautiful in the world. Every movement of Li Ruo’s face fascinated Liu Jiangqiu. He hurried over, took Li Ruo’s slender hand, and said, "Indeed, it’s been a long time. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so much. You used to only reach my waist, and now you’re almost as tall as your uncle!"

Liu Jiangqiu was one meter seventy, lean and gaunt, having exhausted all his energy on women. He was hollowed out by wine and lust, to the point where a gust of wind could almost knock him over. Li Ruo smiled faintly and politely pulled her hand away. She said, "Secretary Liu, I’m here today because I have something to discuss with you."

"Haha, no rush, no rush! Since you arrived late, you must punish yourself with three drinks first!" Liu Jiangqiu immediately ordered his assistant to bring over several boxes of top-tier Moutai.

Li Ruo knew she couldn't escape it today, so she didn't refuse. Once the food and drinks were served, she immediately downed three glasses of Moutai, totaling about two taels. Drinking spirits on an empty stomach made her feel as if her entire body were burning. Lin Ziwen hurriedly served her food. Li Ruo took several bites to suppress the fire rising within her. Once she managed to steady herself, Liu Jiangqiu raised his glass and laughed, "Little Ruo, how is your father doing?"

"He's doing quite well, thank you for your concern, Secretary Liu!" Li Ruo smiled faintly.

"It’s only right, it’s only right. This drink is to toast your father; I hope he recovers soon!" Liu Jiangqiu laughed heartily.

Li Ruo could not refuse and downed it in one go. Lin Ziwen whispered, "President Li, you can't keep drinking. You'll get drunk!"

"It's fine. If I don't handle this old fox today, he won't agree to help!" Li Ruo gritted her teeth. She accompanied Liu Jiangqiu in drinking an entire catty of Moutai. Having spent years at dinner tables, Liu Jiangqiu had learned not only how to drink but how to coerce others into drinking. By the end of it, Li Ruo had consumed at least seven taels of Moutai, while Liu Jiangqiu had only had three. The direct result of this disparity was that Li Ruo’s face was flushed and her eyes were watery.

"Good, refreshing!" Liu Jiangqiu laughed. "President Li, now you can tell me what you need."

Hearing that he was willing to help, Li Ruo immediately explained the situation regarding Ye Chen and said, "Secretary Liu, you are the Secretary in charge of public security in Jianghuai City. Surely you can have the police station release him, right?"

"That's strange. Your Tianya Group is so large, why save someone like him?" Liu Jiangqiu began to wonder.

"He is different. Tianya Group is about to develop the plot of land in the North District, and only he can handle this important task. So, I must get him out!" Li Ruo gritted her teeth.

"Heh heh, I see. As for the price... I'm afraid that..." Liu Jiangqiu stroked his chin, his slippery eyes scanning Li Ruo’s body. They lingered particularly long on her chest. Staring at her proud, towering breasts, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva. Li Ruo knew, but she dared not speak out in anger. She could only respond with feigned politeness, hoping Liu Jiangqiu would save Ye Chen.

"Tell me, the price is negotiable!" Li Ruo replied hurriedly.

"This is a case of intentional homicide, and the victim is one of Zhang Dadan's men. The price will be at least ten million!" As soon as the words left Liu Jiangqiu's mouth, Lin Ziwen gasped. Damn it, this was too much of a rip-off. How could he be this greedy? Ten million to fish someone out of the police station? One had to know there were market rates for such things. Generally, getting a death-row prisoner out cost about one million, and a serious criminal only about five hundred thousand.

"Ten million..." Li Ruo’s eyes widened.

"That's right!" Liu Jiangqiu nodded. "Of course, if you, Little Ruo, are unwilling to pay this amount, there is another way!"

As he spoke, Liu Jiangqiu looked Li Ruo up and down as if admiring a commodity. Li Ruo read the intent in his eyes. Her voice turned cold as she said, "Ten million, it's a deal!"

"Haha... ten million is just the base price. If you can finish this bottle of Moutai, then it's a deal!" Liu Jiangqiu laughed loudly.

"I'll do it!" Lin Ziwen suddenly stood up. Liu Jiangqiu had gone too far, and even the usually gentle Lin Ziwen couldn't help but stand up for her friend. However, Lin Ziwen was just Lin Ziwen; she could not replace Li Ruo. Liu Jiangqiu jumped up without hesitation and slapped Lin Ziwen across the face. He looked at her coldly and laughed, "Damn, who do you think you are? Do you think you can replace Li Ruo in bed? Get lost, bitch!"

"You..." After being slapped, Lin Ziwen clutched her face, tears streaming down. Beside her, Li Ruo’s expression was agonizing. She slowly stood up, grasped the opened bottle of Moutai, and said coldly, "I'll drink it!"

With that, she began to chug. A catty of spirits, on top of the seven taels she had already consumed—even though the Moutai was only 38 percent alcohol—caused Li Ruo to feel the world spinning. She completely lost control of her drinking and downed the entire bottle. Throwing the empty bottle onto the table, she looked at the blurred images of Liu Jiangqiu and said, "I've finished it. I hope Secretary Liu keeps his promise!"

She turned to leave, but after two steps, she collided with a chair. Lin Ziwen rushed over to support her. Li Ruo had completely lost consciousness; after that last bottle, she felt as if she had entered another world.

"Captain Cao, Captain Cao, come help quickly!" Lin Ziwen screamed frantically.

Captain Cao and the other bodyguard heard the cries and ran over. Without a word, Captain Cao hoisted Li Ruo onto his back and ran toward the car. Smelling the heavy scent of alcohol on her, he asked in shock, "My God, how much did she drink?"

"Over a catty and a half!" Lin Ziwen replied nervously. "Hurry, take President Li back!"

"No, we have to go to the hospital!" Captain Cao, being an experienced man, saw Li Ruo’s pained expression and blue lips and knew she was suffering from alcohol poisoning. Even for a woman used to business socializing, drinking over a catty and a half of spirits in thirty minutes was impossible. Captain Cao shouted, "Hurry, don't waste a single minute!"

"Yes!" The other bodyguard jumped into the driver's seat. Captain Cao put Li Ruo in the back, Lin Ziwen took the passenger seat, and the car sped toward the Central Hospital. At the Jianghuai City People's Hospital, it was already past office hours, and the doctors were filing out of their offices. However, just as they reached the hospital entrance, a black Mercedes rushed toward them at over 100 kilometers per hour, startling everyone. Just as the doctors were about to complain, the door opened, and a thick stench of alcohol drifted out.