During the meal, Luo Ziling spoke well of Yu Hong and Fu Leilei a few times, saying these two young people were very polite in receiving people and took their work very seriously, and that he regarded them as friends.
In fact, Wang Bijun could be considered the superior of Yu Hong and Fu Leilei; it was just that she wasn’t their direct leader.
The department Yu Hong and Fu Leilei belonged to was also under her jurisdiction, so after hearing Luo Ziling say this, she immediately stated her position, saying she would report this situation to the direct superiors of Yu Hong and Fu Leilei, and have them cultivate the two a bit more, giving these young people more and better opportunities.
Zhao Songliang likewise expressed his stance, saying he would say a few words to the person in charge on their side, and give them more opportunities.
They hadn’t expected Luo Ziling to recommend them to Zhao Songliang and Wang Bijun right to their faces, and Yu Hong and Fu Leilei suddenly felt flattered and overwhelmed.
They understood that because of their accompanying them today, their destinies might very well be changed from this point on.
Opportunities had come without them even noticing, and they were so excited they were a bit at a loss.
They also got up and expressed their stance, saying that from now on they would definitely work hard and strive for better performance.
The two were quite tactful as well; after eating for a while and having a few drinks, they excused themselves to go to the restroom and left the private room, giving space to the couple Zhao Songliang and his wife, and Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin.
After Yu Hong and Fu Leilei went out, Zhao Songliang let out a sigh of relief, and immediately started talking business.
He’d already exchanged views with Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin just now on their impressions of Yangzhou’s urban construction.
So once they moved on to business, Zhao Songliang at once spoke about the efforts he’d made since assuming his post in Yangzhou, and the achievements that had ultimately been realized.
While Zhao Songliang was talking, Luo Ziling only listened with a faint smile and didn’t take the initiative to say much.
The way Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin could sit so still, their composure completely unlike that of ordinary young people, left Zhao Songliang and Wang Bijun very surprised.
In the end, it was still Zhao Songliang who couldn’t help himself and, in a fairly direct way, expressed what he had in mind.
He said that once, when Ling Mingrui came to Yangzhou for an inspection, he had accompanied him at his side and they had a pleasant conversation.
At the time, Ling Mingrui had hoped that he would do his job well and strive to make this ancient city even more beautiful.
Now, this thousand?year?old city had already burst forth with unprecedented vitality, and he wanted to report the achievements he’d made in Yangzhou over these past few years to Ling Mingrui.
He hoped Luo Ziling could help him with this. If Luo Ziling was willing to do him this favor, he and his wife would certainly remember Luo Ziling’s kindness and repay him generously.
Zhao Songliang didn’t neglect Yang Qingyin either, saying he had once attended an event together with Yang Yuanshan, and very much hoped to once again listen to Yang Yuanshan’s teachings.
Of course, on matters like this, Yang Qingyin wouldn’t state any position. Today she was just playing the role of a little girl, behaving very quietly, leaving everything to Luo Ziling’s arrangements. Luo Ziling didn’t immediately take a position either, and instead jokingly asked Zhao Songliang how he knew that he was Ling Mingrui’s grandson and that Yang Qingyin was Yang Yuanshan’s granddaughter—since many people still didn’t know this, how did Zhao Songliang know?
When Luo Ziling asked like that, Zhao Songliang was immediately embarrassed.
In the end he still said that someone else had told him.
In fact, for someone of Zhao Songliang’s rank to know that he was Ling Mingrui’s grandson and Yang Qingyin was Yang Yuanshan’s granddaughter was not strange at all.
Luo Ziling only asked that question to put Zhao Songliang on the spot.
Last time, when Luo Ziling accompanied Ling Jinhua on an inspection tour of the south, the television media gave it wide coverage.
It’s fair to say that after that coverage, many people—especially those with an agenda—already knew what was what.
Hearing Zhao Songliang’s answer, Luo Ziling simply smiled and didn’t say much more.
But Luo Ziling’s smile was taken by Zhao Songliang as a cold sneer, which only made him feel more awkward.
Fortunately, seeing that the atmosphere was getting a bit awkward, Wang Bijun promptly stepped in to smooth things over.
She said that Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin were well?known figures in the Yanjing elite youth circle, and with so many achievements to his name, they had heard of Luo Ziling and held him in great admiration. They had always wanted to seek advice from Luo Ziling, who had accomplished so much at such a young age. Today they’d happened to run into him, so they were taking the opportunity to do their duty as hosts, and hoped Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin wouldn’t take offense.
Luo Ziling once again expressed his thanks to Zhao Songliang and Wang Bijun for their hospitality.
But on anything relating to the Yanjing elite?clan circle, he didn’t say a word.
It was still Zhao Songliang who couldn’t restrain himself; he again expressed his wish to meet Ling Ruonan or Ling Mingrui, hoping Luo Ziling could help make the introduction, and that he would generously repay him.
Luo Ziling didn’t refuse, but he also didn’t clearly agree. He only said that after he went back, he would speak to Ling Ruonan about this matter, but as for what would happen after he spoke to her, he couldn’t guarantee anything.
Yang Qingyin just sat quietly, making no response at all to what Zhao Songliang had put on the table.
What Zhao Songliang clearly wanted to cultivate was connections with the Ling Family; trying to simultaneously pull close to both the Ling Family and the Yang Family was certainly unrealistic, and not sensible.
After all, no one likes dealing with people who try to stand with a foot in two boats.
After he first mentioned wanting to listen to Yang Yuanshan’s teachings again, Zhao Songliang didn’t bring up anything further along those lines, which was fairly wise.
Zhao Songliang himself knew well that he couldn’t scheme around both the Yang Family and the Ling Family at the same time—if he did, he would end up with nothing, and no one would help him.
He had a general understanding of the situation in Yanjing, and he was even clearer that if he didn’t find a way to cut himself loose from the Chen Family now, what awaited him would very likely be being put on ice.
Struggle can sometimes be that cruel and merciless.
While you’re in office, it’s impossible that you haven’t made mistakes; in work and in life, it’s impossible not to have shortcomings.
For those who want to see you brought down, finding reasons is nothing more than a matter of minutes, isn’t it?
For the sake of his own future, Zhao Songliang could only go all in and hope that through Luo Ziling he could latch on tightly to the Ling Family’s thigh.
Right now he wasn’t asking to advance further, he only hoped he could ensure a peaceful, uneventful future.
Since Luo Ziling was willing to speak to Ling Ruonan about this matter, Zhao Songliang felt slightly more at ease.
But he was afraid Luo Ziling was only being polite, so he once again laid his heart bare.
Though he didn’t put it in the bluntest of terms, his meaning was very clear—that from now on, he was willing to follow the direction of Ling Ruonan and Luo Ziling.
Zhao Songliang’s tact was actually quite to Luo Ziling’s satisfaction.
"This time coming to Yangzhou, we’ve enjoyed Mr. Zhao and Ms. Wang’s warm hospitality. Next time you come to Yanjing, you must let us know so we can also do our duty as hosts!"
Luo Ziling’s response made Zhao Songliang and Wang Bijun both breathe a sigh of relief again.
The meal went on until around seven?thirty in the evening. Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin then got up to take their leave, saying that they would stroll around and take a look at the night scenery near the canal wharf, and then head to Gusu.
What surprised Luo Ziling was that Zhao Songliang and Wang Bijun actually took the initiative to propose that they personally accompany Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin to see Yangzhou’s most beautiful night views.
Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin exchanged a smile and didn’t voice any refusal.