Chapter 424: Unpredictable Changes

Jiang Pengpeng's office and asked, "Department Head Jiang, good afternoon. I'm Chen Hong, the director of the department office." 。"Jiang Pengpeng looked up and saw a woman with delicate features, e...Xiao Zheng always believed that the old man he saw in the river in front of Zhuangyuan Street before he fell in was real. 。Though he was drunk that time, he still remembered clearly that the good wine and cigarettes he brought were undoubtedly given to the old man. 。Later, he and Xiao Jingyu changed clothes at the Bailu Inn. They couldn't buy cold medicine for a while, and it was a stranger who brought them soup to dispel the cold and dampness. Afterwards, neither of them caught a cold. 。That day, it seemed only the old man knew he had appeared in the old city. The old man was also the most likely to know that he and Xiao Jingyu fell into the water, and this medicine was most likely sent by the old man. 。So, with such precise medication and such good results, this elder is very likely the "Zhou Muyun" he's been looking for. 。Even if the elder was not "Zhou Muyun", he was still a master hidden in the city. Xiao Zheng should go to visit him anyway. 。Perhaps he could treat the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department Director Fang Ya's illness too So, after leaving Li Haiyan's youth cadre dormitory, Xiao Zheng instructed Xiao Zhong to drive towards the old town. 。At the intersection, Xiao Zheng said: "I'll go in first. You park the car and come find me later." 。"Xiao Zhong expressed some worry: "County Head Xiao, why don't I park the car first and accompany you there" Today, Xiao Zheng didn't bring Sha Hai with him, leaving him in the county to handle any urgent matters. 。So, Xiao Zhong not only undertakes the responsibilities of a driver but also, to some extent, bears the duty of protecting the leader. This is what Sha Hai has explained to him. 。Xiao Zheng said, "It's broad daylight, nothing will happen. Don't worry." 。Just park your car and come to me. 。Xiao Zheng wanted to walk around and see the living conditions of the people in this old city. 。Entering the alley, Xiao Zheng felt a sense of familiarity. He had been here several times recently, and the impression it left was quite deep. 。This area was crisscrossed by narrow alleys of varying sizes. In the afternoon, there was a cacophony of sounds: the clanging of bicycle bells and the shouts of adults scolding mischievous children. Several households had coal braziers at their doorsteps, with fans used to kindle the flames. A plume of blue smoke swirled upward into the air. 。Xiao Zheng felt that this old city district was backward and impoverished, but there was a rare tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle of the city and a kind of ease and leisure that ordinary people rarely experienced. 。This old town has its own charm. If it could be protected, developed, and utilized well, it might even attract tourists from other places to linger here. 。Over the years, Xiao Zheng has worked hard and gained strong support from his superiors. He transformed places like Fengqi Village and Baishuiwan Village, which were severely environmentally damaged and posed a serious threat to villagers' health, into vibrant areas with lush greenery, thriving economies, and stronger communities. This gave him greater confidence that as long as the government takes the lead, leaders design well, and the implementation is effective, even the most impoverished and challenging regions can flourish. 。Not to mention, this old city district that already has a history, culture, and accumulated folk customs 。If given the chance, Xiao Zheng would really love to "give the old city a new face". 。Of course, Xiao Zheng is still in An County now. This beautiful idea can only be temporarily stored in his mind and will be discussed when he has the opportunity. 。Walking deep into the alley, Xiao Zheng soon found that old doorway. 。This was Xiao Zheng's first time drinking here, and that's when he met the old man. 。The second time, Zhang Yimeng and Xiao Zhong came together. A girl in a cheongsam opened the door. 。This is Xiao Zheng's third time here. 。Xiao Zheng knocked on the door, wondering who would open it this time.

At first, no one answered. Xiao Zheng continued knocking, and this time someone responded, "Just a moment, I'm coming." 。"It was still a woman's voice, somewhat like the little girl's last time, but not quite the same." 。Xiao Zheng waited curiously at the door. After a while, someone came to open it. It was a woman in a white coat, with a melon-shaped face, beautiful features, her hair tied up at the back of her head. She looked very similar to the little girl he had seen last time, but today's woman seemed to have gained a bit of weight and looked a few years older. 。If you were to say that she was the girl in the cheongsam from last time, I wouldn't entirely disagree, because they are really quite similar. 。But this woman seemed not to recognize Xiao Zheng at all, and asked: "Who are you looking for" Xiao Zheng said: "Hello, I came here once before, and I think I met you. This phone number, I don't know if it's the one you gave me"Xiao Zheng took out a piece of paper with a phone number written on it. 。This is the cheongsam girl I met last time, she left him her phone number. 。The phone number above belongs to the little girl's mother. Have her call ahead to schedule a time. 。Xiao Zheng always kept this number. 。This woman smiled slightly and said: “This was written by my daughter” 。"Your daughter" Xiao Zheng couldn't help but glance at the woman again and said, "I really didn't expect..." The woman smiled gently: "Didn't expect what" Xiao Zheng said, "Firstly, I didn't expect you and your daughter to look so alike; secondly, I didn't expect that you are so young, already have such a grown-up daughter." 。The woman smiled again and said, “Thank you for the compliment.” 。But I'm getting up there in years. 。My daughter told me that someone went to an old man and said they would come back later. 。"Yes," Xiao Zheng nodded. 。The woman looked at him and said, "Why don't you come in first" 。"Xiao Zheng glanced inside and said, “Are you home alone Where is your daughter”

The woman replied, "My daughter is back at school. She studies in Zhonghai. The last time you came, she was just back on holiday." 。“Oh, is that so” Xiao Zheng nodded. “If you’re home alone, I wouldn’t feel comfortable going in, would I” The woman said, “I don’t think you look like a bad person, though.” 。And I'm not afraid of bad people either. 。The woman spoke with such certainty, as if she were absolutely sure. 。。He just smiled and said, "Then I'll bother you for a while." 。The woman turned and said, "Follow me." 。Xiao Zheng followed the woman into the cave entrance and only then did he feel that there was another world inside. 。It was like a corridor of medium length, quite spacious. Though it had wooden floors and elegant calligraphy paintings on the walls, there was a faint scent of ink in the air. 。Inside was a small courtyard. In the center of the courtyard sat an ancient water tank, brimming with clear water and cradling a single lotus flower. Autumn had already begun to paint it with its hues of decline, but this imperfection only added to the flower's genuine beauty. 。Beside it is a small corridor, the walls are still ink paintings, the protagonist is an ancient doctor, all the way to walk, on the left you can see the painting, on the right you can admire the lotus. 。Xiao Zheng followed behind the woman. Her figure, concealed within her white coat, was slender and well-proportioned. Perhaps it was due to the attire, but she possessed an innate attractiveness and a sense of inexplicable association. 。In Xiao Zheng's mind, he was secretly amazed by the wonders of human nature. When a man and a woman are alone together, if the other person's appearance and temperament attract you, it is very likely to trigger some of your imagination and desires. Perhaps this is the program that the creator implanted in humans to ensure the continuation of mankind

What made Xiao Zheng even more strange was that the woman in front of him should know that her looks, figure, and temperament were all top-notch, but why would she so readily allow such a stranger as him to enter here with her

After passing through the small corridor, there was another grotto. 。This space resembles a parlor, with an elegant set of wooden sofas dividing it into two sections. 。On one side was a place where ten or so people could drink tea, and on the other was a sizable study. The walls were lined with bookshelves that stretched from top to bottom, neatly arranged with books. In the middle was a large desk similar to those found in libraries, piled high with unread scrolls. Xiao Zheng took a quick glance, and these books were mainly medical texts, but there were also historical classics, even some science, geography, and novels. 。The whole room is made of wood, elegant and dignified with a strong cultural atmosphere. 。Xiao Zheng couldn't help but ask, "My name is Xiao Zheng. May I ask your surname" The woman said, "My surname is Su, and my name is Menglan; my daughter's name is Su Yucheng." 。Xiao Zheng asked about the specific way to write it, and the woman told him one by one. 。Xiao Zheng thought that this mother, Su Menglan, was indeed more elegant and gentle than her daughter "Su Yucheng," just from her name. 。The last girl he entertained was even sharper than her mother. 。And the Ms. Su in front of me, though she has a somewhat cold demeanor, speaks with a gentle and warm tone. 。Xiao Zheng looked around the living room again and asked, "Ms. Su, are you from a scholarly family and a medical family" Su Menglan said, "Where would that be It's just that there were some ancestors in my family who practiced medicine, and they were traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. I learned a bit from them, and later I went to study for some time. I could only say that I have 'a superficial understanding.'" 。Please have a seat. I'm brewing some red tea, Mr. Xiao. Why don't you join me for a cup 。Sure, here's the translation:"

As expected, there was a small teapot on the coffee table in front of the sofa, with a short candle burning beneath it, brewing tea. The aroma of red tea faintly wafted into the air at this moment." Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!。"Well, I'm actually quite thirsty," Xiao Zheng said. "Thanks." 。Since he was here already, time was ample. Xiao Zheng planned to relax and get a good understanding of the people and things in this mansion. 。Everything in this house was both new and mysterious to him, a realm he had never known. 。Su Menglan smiled faintly, took a white porcelain teacup, poured a cup for Xiao Zheng, and said: "This is Jinjunmei, you can try it." 。As Xiao Zheng picked up his teacup, Su Menglan suddenly asked, "Mr. Xiao, what time is it now" Xiao Zheng glanced at his watch and replied, "A little past two forty." 。Su Menglan smiled again and said, “Okay, thank you.” 。Xiao Zheng found that although she had a cold temperament, she was extremely fond of smiling. In just a short period of time, she had already smiled many times. 。Although they are all faint smiles, they give people a very comfortable feeling, like winter water lilies. They are not passionate, but very soothing. 。Xiao Zheng placed the teacup to his lips. The aroma of the tea was very strong, and it differed slightly from the tea he usually brewed, being more mellow and rich. 。Xiao Zheng took a sip, it was very refreshing, he couldn't help but drink several sips in a row, finishing the tea before putting down his teacup and saying, "This tea is really…"

Xiao Zheng woke up to find himself lying on the sofa. 。Su Menglan was still sitting on the other sofa, leisurely reading a book. 。Seeing Xiao Zheng sit up, she smiled faintly and said, "Mr. Xiao, you're awake" Xiao Zheng was very puzzled. He had actually fallen asleep just now He raised his hand and looked at it. It was already "3:38". "I slept for almost an hour""Yeah" 。Su Menglan put down her book and smiled, "Before, Mr. Xiao asked me why I let you in when I was home alone. I said, I'm not afraid of bad people." 。This is why I'm not afraid of bad people. 。"Xiao Zheng suddenly realized, there might have been a hypnotic drug in the tea just now! He drank it and fell asleep! At this time, he couldn't help but be startled, luckily, the woman opposite him didn't have any ill intentions." 。Three line breaks.ary family, a hundred years wouldn't worry about food and clothing." 。Could it be that they started their company for the benefit of humanity"Sun Liangji said: "Secretary Cui is right." 。This message...