Song Sansi didn't know that Liu Fusheng was pretending to be confused.
He had just learned about Yu Xiaoqiang's disappearance from a phone call with He Jianguo.
He Jianguo was furious and scolded Huo Qisheng and the Huo family for being a bunch of idiots. They were so careless about someone as important as Xiaoqiang!
Following Song Sansi's suggestion, He Jianguo decided not to boil the frog in warm water anymore, but to meet Liu Fusheng immediately.
…
On the outskirts of the city, there is an exquisite courtyard.
It was already dark, and the lights in the courtyard were very soft.
When Liu Fusheng and Song Sansi entered the courtyard, He Jianguo was sitting under the grape trellis. There was a tea tray on the stone table with a pot and three cups of standard Kung Fu tea.
"Xiao Liu is here." He Jianguo didn't stand up, but just greeted him with a smile.
Liu Fusheng walked over and said, "Mayor He, you're too polite. Solving cases is my job, so I don't deserve special thanks."
He Jianguo smiled and said, "I'm a person who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. I will remember those who have helped me for the rest of my life. But as a public servant, I can't reward you generously. I can only prepare a little tea. Please don't despise it."
Song Sansi next to him said, "Xiao Liu, you said before that you were riding on my luck, but now I'm riding on yours! Mayor He is a master of tea ceremony. Even many provincial party committee leaders praise the tea he brews!"
Liu Fusheng feigned panic and said, "In that case, I'm even more flattered! I don't know much about tea, and I'm afraid I'll be wasting my time and energy, failing Mayor He's tea ceremony."
"Tea is a drink of tranquility. As long as you have the heart, you won't let it down. Sit down." He Jianguo laughed and raised his hand to make tea.
After Liu Fusheng and Song Sansi sat down, He Jianguo asked, "Comrade Liu, do you know why there are only three cups for this Kung Fu tea, no matter how many guests there are?"
Liu Fusheng nodded. "I've heard a little bit about it. The three cups form the Chinese character 'pin', which means tasting tea, tasting morality, and tasting life. Drinking the tea from the three cups in turns symbolizes the mutual support between the tea drinkers. Kung Fu tea originated in Chaoshan. There's a local saying: 'three cups of tea, four cups of wine, and two cups of peach.' Three people are the best for drinking tea, hence the three cups. Also, one tea drinker gets the spirit, two get the fun, and three get the flavor. These three cups represent the true taste of tea."
After hearing this, He Jianguo clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Well said! When I heard you say you didn't understand tea, I almost believed you! I didn't expect you to be so proficient in the tea ceremony."
Song Sansi also laughed and said, "Yes! Xiao Liu is really a hidden talent. When I was your age, I probably wouldn't even have touched tea. It must be because your family has a deep learning background and you have been taught since childhood, or you have been lucky enough to meet a noble person in your life."
Liu Fusheng chuckled and said, "Mayor He, you're too kind, and Brother Song is also too flattering! I come from a rural background, and my journey has been unremarkable. How could I possibly have any family background or benefactors? If I were to talk about benefactors, Mayor He and Brother Song would be my greatest benefactors."
The questions and answers are flawless!
He Jianguo and Song Sansi looked at each other, shook their heads and said, "Xiao Liu, your explanation of Kung Fu Tea was very comprehensive, but in my opinion, these three cups have a deeper meaning."
"Mayor He, please give me some advice."
He Jianguo said calmly, "The Tao Te Ching says, 'Tao begets one, one begets two, two begets three, and three begets all things.' In my eyes, these three cups are a small universe. As long as the three cups are in their proper places, all things will flourish and everything will be successful."
Three gives birth to all things? Liu Fusheng narrowed his eyes. He Jianguo was obviously pointing at him.
Song Sansi was afraid he wouldn't understand, so he hinted, "These three cups are just like the three of us right now. Mayor He is strategizing, Xiao Liu is charging into battle, and although I don't have much talent, I can get along with everyone and do errands. So, can't the three of us also make everything flourish and be successful?"
Liu Fusheng sneered in his heart, but his expression was one of panic. "Brother Song, you're too serious! If you want to talk about incompetence, I'm the least capable one. I'm not worthy of these three cups of Qiankun!"
He Jianguo had been observing Liu Fusheng's expression the entire time, and suddenly said, "Don't take it too seriously, Xiao Liu. Xiao Song was just making an analogy. We're all civil servants, serving the country and the people. What's with all the "Three Cups of Heaven"? If someone with ulterior motives heard this, they'd think we were forming a clique or a small group!"
Liu Fusheng nodded and smiled, thinking to himself: "This old fox is really steady!"
Song Sansi hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "Yes, yes, yes! Mayor He is right. Look at how I've come to understand! I made a mistake! Haha..."
"Let's have some tea." He Jianguo smiled slightly and poured the tea in the pot evenly into three teacups, just dividing the pot of tea horizontally.
After a cup of tea, He Jianguo continued, "I've been the deputy mayor of Liaonan for nine years. During this time, Liaonan has had two party secretaries and three mayors. They either used Liaonan as a springboard or were dismissed for various reasons. Most of the city's government affairs have been handled by me. Is it fair to say that I've been in charge of Liaonan for nine years?"
Liu Fusheng put down the teacup and said nothing.
Song Sansi smiled and said, "If it weren't for Mayor He, how could the policies of Liaonan City have been implemented for so many years? Look at the cities around us. Which one of them didn't frequently change leaders, causing policies to be changed just after they were formulated, wasting people's money and time, and causing the economy to regress? Only our Liaonan City has maintained stable growth and good weather! Mayor He has made great contributions to the economy and people's livelihood of Liaonan City!"
Liu Fusheng agreed with this point.
He Jianguo's strong position in Liaonan City makes it difficult for the new mayor and secretary to change policies easily.
At the same time, he also heard the implication of Song Sansi's words. As long as He Jianguo is stable, Liaonan City will be stable. If He Jianguo is unstable, then the officialdom of Liaonan City may very likely cause a major earthquake, and even lead to economic collapse and the decline of people's livelihood!
With their support, others may have the illusion that He Jianguo is the mainstay of Liaonan City and that Liaonan City cannot do without He Jianguo, and thus they do not want to touch He Jianguo.
There is a saying in military strategy that one can defeat the enemy without fighting. He Jianguo's methods are indeed extraordinary!
Seeing that Liu Fusheng remained silent, He Jianguo said to Song Sansi, "Don't flatter me. I'm just doing my job. It's my duty! In another year, the term will be up. Maybe a more capable mayor will be appointed. Let me have a good rest."
Song Sansi hurriedly expressed his loyalty: "Mayor He, please don't say that. Liaonan City can't do without you! Xiao Liu, what do you think?"
Liu Fusheng sat aside, watching the two of them interact with each other, a playful smile on his face. Only after their performance ended did Liu Fusheng say, "When I went to the Wanlong Group before, Huo Qisheng told me that Mayor He had drunk his tea."
As soon as these words were spoken, He Jianguo and Song Sansi's faces changed.
What does Liu Fusheng mean? Not only does this kill the mood, it also comes across as sarcastic!