He had thought that the village committee director of Wawa Village would simply invite him over for a casual meal at home. He hadn't expected Hu Dayong's car to drive further and further until it finally entered Huangjialing Town.
The project department was located in the northwest corner of Huangjialing Town. As Chen Xi drove past, he glanced towards the project department. It was almost six o'clock, and there shouldn't be many people left inside.
The car stopped in front of a hotel in town. Chen Xi first took out two hundred yuan and told two workers to return directly to the Engineering Team. After seeing them leave, he followed Hu Dayong and Old Bai into the restaurant. As soon as they sat down, Old Bai picked up the menu and started ordering. Hearing the dishes he was ordering, which were all seafood, Chen Xi immediately felt something was wrong.
"What's the meaning of this?" he asked coldly. "If this is the case, I can't eat this meal." As he spoke, he stood up and headed for the door, but Hu Dayong grabbed him.
"Old Bai, keep it simple," Hu Dayong said quickly, then forcefully pushed Chen Xi back into his seat.
"Director Hu, what exactly do you want? You said we were going to have a meal at the village at first, and now we're in town..." Before Chen Xi could finish his sentence, Hu Dayong interjected with a smile, "Brother, actually, there is something. My brother-in-law owns an excavator. He heard you were starting construction and had been discussing with me for a long time, wanting to take on some earthwork for the project department. I wonder if Engineer Chen could help with this?"
Hearing Hu Dayong say this, Chen Xi's heart finally settled. It was common to hire external equipment to speed up progress during construction. Such matters didn't even require Gù Xiǎoyán's approval; the Production Dispatcher, Old Liu, had the authority to decide. Moreover, as far as he knew, the project department not only needed to rent an excavator but also a crane and a 50-ton loader. The rental fees were quite high. So, he smiled and said, "Director Hu, why didn't you just say so? You made me so nervous. If it's just this, just say it directly. Why beat around the bush?" After speaking, he directly called Old Liu. He heard a commotion on the other end and learned they were drinking with local officials. This made him feel even more at ease.
When he mentioned the excavator, Old Liu readily agreed, asking them to have the person and the machine at the project department the next afternoon. After verifying the paperwork and vehicle condition, they could sign the contract. Old Bai was surprised that the deal was concluded so smoothly and expressed his gratitude profusely. He then picked up the menu again and continued to order seafood.
This time, Chen Xi didn't object. After all, one shouldn't accept rewards without having earned them. Now that he had earned something, it was appropriate to accept a reward. A moment later, the dishes were served, and the three of them began toasting and drinking.
"Engineer Chen, it's not that I'm beating around the bush, it's just that we don't interact much, and I was afraid of troubling you, so I wasn't sure," Hu Dayong said, raising his glass. "I didn't expect you to be so straightforward. I've decided to be your friend!"
Hearing Hu Dayong say this, Chen Xi was quite pleased. Befriending the director of the Land Management Office would undoubtedly be beneficial for future land acquisition and compensation work. He quickly smiled and replied, "Director Hu, you're too kind. I'll have to rely on you in the future! As for engineering matters, if there's anything I can help with, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll do my best!"
"Good! For that statement alone, let's have another one, my friend!" Hu Dayong said, raising his glass and drinking it all in one go.
"What do you mean rely on me? It's just about land acquisition! The common people are easy to deal with. A few smooth words, and the contract is signed. Don't worry about it, I'm very experienced, and it won't be a problem at all." Putting down his glass, Hu Dayong said nonchalantly.
The meal was very enjoyable, lasting from past six until ten at night. Two bottles of white wine were consumed, and countless bottles of beer. Chen Xi initially tried his best to control his drinking, afraid of saying something wrong if he got too drunk, but as his alcohol intake increased, he gradually began to lose control.
However, although his tongue was getting heavy, his mind was still quite clear. Old Bai had asked a few questions about land acquisition during the meal, but they weren't too outrageous. Chen Xi gave general answers, and Old Bai didn't ask further.
Towards the end, Hu Dayong suddenly called the restaurant owner over. They whispered for a long time, and Chen Xi didn't know what they were discussing. After they finished, Hu Dayong winked at Chen Xi and gave a mysterious smile.
"Director Hu... what are you up to now...?" Chen Xi asked, his eyes hazy with drink.
"You don't need to worry... have Old Bai pay for everything today!" Hu Dayong declared loudly, with an air of entitlement.
Before long, the private room door opened, and two young girls entered. Both were provocatively dressed and heavily made up, clearly women working in the adult entertainment industry. One of them walked straight to Chen Xi and sat beside him. The smell of cheap perfume made him sneeze several times.
Hu Dayong, meanwhile, put his arm around the other girl, his large hand reaching into her shirt, pinching and stroking her. This caused the girl to wiggle and giggle coyly.
Alcohol can lead to madness, especially after drinking so much. Seeing the bold and fiery actions of the man opposite him, Chen Xi couldn't help but feel a surge of desire. He glanced at the girl beside him. While not a supermodel, she was still pretty and graceful, especially her skin, which was rosy and fair, so delicate he felt he could pinch water from it. He immediately felt a strong impulse.
"Brother, you've had too much to drink. Don't go home tonight. I've booked two rooms at the Baolai Hotel across the street. Let's have a thoroughly good time tonight," Hu Dayong slurred, still speaking in a loud voice. Several waitresses in the restaurant covered their mouths and giggled.
This kind of special service was rare in the city center, and even when it existed, it was usually in high-end clubs, quite discreet. However, in some areas on the outskirts of cities and towns, there was a large market for it. In rural areas, the complex network of relationships was very serious, making management and punishment difficult. For town officials like Hu Dayong, who held real power, they acted with impunity, as if they were doing something legal and proper.
The impulse was only temporary. Chen Xi quickly calmed down. This was not a legitimate business. He was an employee of a state-owned enterprise. If anything happened, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing face; he would definitely be fired. So, he ignored the girl beside him, stood up unsteadily, grabbed his laptop and bag, and mumbled vaguely, "No... Brother doesn't have this hobby. I'll go back to the project department." As he spoke, his vision blurred, and his legs wouldn't cooperate. He swayed and almost fell. The girl beside him quickly supported him.
The girl draped his arm over her shoulder, holding his waist tightly. Her soft and elastic body made Chen Xi's heart pound. His blood surged restlessly under the influence of alcohol. In that moment, he thought to himself, isn't it okay for a man to be a little wild occasionally!
The Baolai Hotel was directly opposite the restaurant. Calling it a hotel was a bit of an exaggeration; it was only a two-story building, but the facilities were adequate. Many suppliers who came to the project department to discuss business often stayed nearby, so Chen Xi was no stranger to it.
As they left the restaurant, Old Bai busied himself seeing everyone into the hotel and then disappeared. Chen Xi, in a daze, was helped by the girl into a room. After closing the door, the girl first helped