School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

Chapter 204 Accepting Gifts Without Doing Favors

"Uh..." Li Hengzhong was taken aback and said, "What...what's going on? Old Li, what happened to you?"

"There's a problem this time, we have such a good relationship, you have to help me out!" Director Li said anxiously.

"Tell me, let's see if I can help you!" Li Hengzhong asked curiously.

"You have to promise me first." Director Li grabbed Li Hengzhong's clothes, his face full of worry, making one somewhat concerned.

"Alright, alright, I promise you!" Li Hengzhong nodded immediately and said, "Now tell me, what's the matter? What has driven you to this state?"

Upon hearing this, Director Li's face, which had been full of sorrow, immediately changed, and he said with a smirk, "You said so, you promised me. So I'll speak!"

Seeing this, Li Hengzhong suddenly felt tricked. Director Li's ability to change his expression was too strong; in just a few seconds, it was like a person with a terminal illness had transformed into a burly man charging around with two hundred pounds.

"Hehe..." Director Li sat down on the couch with pride, then while holding a cigarette, he said, "Hengzhong, I came to you this time for just one thing."

"What is it?" Li Hengzhong asked curiously.

"It has to do with that mysterious instructor from the Hanmen Training Class!" Director Li smiled and then said, "I know you endorsed the Hanmen Training Class before, it was quite a big deal at that time. So, you must have contact with that mysterious instructor, right? Hehe, can you connect me with him? I want to do an exclusive interview with him. Look...

our LJ City TV station is a local station, and the mysterious instructor is also a local. Wouldn't it be a pity if such a highly followed local person couldn't do an exclusive interview with our local TV station?"

"Uh..." Li Hengzhong was almost persuaded, he quickly shook his head and said, "I don't know the mysterious instructor you're talking about. So I can't help you."

"You!" Director Li, seeing this, became anxious: "Damn, you can't back out now."

"I'm not backing out." Li Hengzhong chuckled and then said, "I said I'd help you, but that's within my capabilities. However, I don't know that so-called mysterious instructor. So, I can't help you!"

"You, you're talking nonsense!" Director Li got anxious: "If you don't know him, how could you endorse them? You're just talking nonsense."

"Oh, why don't you believe me?" Li Hengzhong crossed his legs, then said with a smile, "I only endorsed them, not cooperated. Just a small favor, hardly a matter at all."

"Oh, I'm saying, Hengzhong, we've been friends for so many years. Can't you help me out just this once?" Director Li paused, then said, "Our TV station is having a tough time right now. We finally got a big story, and it's right here in LJ City. If our local station can't be the first to break the news, then...that's truly our loss."

"But, I really am powerless." Li Hengzhong took a drag on his cigarette.

"Fine cigarettes, fine liquor..." Director Li put the gifts he brought onto the table, then said, "Look, two 'Heaven and Earth' cigarette cartons, and also two bottles of Maotai. Hehe... I refuse to believe you won't be tempted. Just tell me a tiny bit."

"Old Li, this is bribery!" Li Hengzhong immediately said.

"How can this be considered bribery?" Director Li glared at him, then said, "This is just old friends looking out for each other, exchanging gifts. Besides, isn't it normal to look after one another? We've known each other for so many years!"

"I'll take the gifts," Li Hengzhong chuckled, "But as for that matter, I really can't help you!"

"You!" Director Li was nearly faint from anger.

Li Hengzhong took the gifts from his hands, and before Director Li could react, he had already taken all the cigarettes and liquor. He became frantic: "You ingrate, over four thousand yuan worth of cigarettes and liquor, do you have no shame in just taking them like that? And still not helping me?"

"I really want to help you." Li Hengzhong sighed, then said, "But alas, I am truly powerless."

"You!" Director Li had no more fight left in him, though he knew Li Hengzhong had a connection to that mysterious instructor of Hanmen, he just couldn't produce a shred of evidence, so he could only watch as Li Hengzhong walked away with his gifts.

Director Li blinked quickly, snatched back a bottle of liquor and a carton of cigarettes from Li Hengzhong's hands, then barked, "You didn't help me, I'm taking half back. I'm leaving!"

After saying that, the guy strutted out.

Watching the man's retreating figure, Li Hengzhong burst into laughter, pointing at the figure and shaking his head helplessly: "This guy, he's just a typical hustler, too wicked, too wicked!"

The relationship between the two was indeed good, more than a decade of friendship. They were truly close friends. That's why Director Li could make such childish, comical gestures, and Li Hengzhong completely accepted and indulged such impolite behavior. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

............

The top scorer of the college entrance exam was announced.

After careful consideration, the Provincial Committee made a decision. They awarded Xiao Han a scholarship of five hundred thousand. The funds were directly allocated by the Provincial Committee Education Department, and a special envoy was dispatched by car to the Fuxing Community in LJ City. Auntie Zhou from the Residents' Committee received the news early in the morning.

She heard that comrades from the Provincial Committee Education Department would visit the community and deliver the money to Xiao Han. Therefore, Auntie Zhou quickly organized the community residents. Early in the morning, they began cleaning the community, weeding, and eliminating pests, making the streets spotless.

"Sister Zhou, who is the important person visiting today?" someone curiously asked.

"Oh, it's a big deal indeed," Auntie Zhou said proudly, "Today, an official from the Provincial Committee is coming, and our Residents' Committee is responsible for the reception."

"Really?" the residents asked in surprise, "Shouldn't it be the comrades from the Municipal Committee Reception Office who take care of the reception, not your Residents' Committee?"

"I heard that the Provincial Committee has issued a directive to simplify things," Auntie Zhou replied, "So, the Municipal Committee asked our Residents' Committee to handle the reception. However, that's not a bad thing, as it will give us a chance to report the issue of our community's aging public facilities to the higher authorities."

"Exactly," everyone nodded in agreement.

At ten in the morning, the car from the Provincial Committee Education Department slowly arrived at the Fuxing Community. The typically closed gates of the Fuxing Community were, for the first time in many years, opened today. The old gates were covered in layers of yellow rust.

The worn-out sign at the entrance of the Fuxing Community was also replaced with a new one.

Over twenty staff members from the Residents' Committee dressed in brand-new clothes and, along with many community residents, stood at the gates to welcome the guests. For this reception, Auntie Zhou had used the community activity funds to buy many colorful balloons and ribbons and even laid a red carpet. This was the first time Fuxing Community had hosted such a high-level reception.

The last time they had such an event was twenty or thirty years ago when the Fuxing Community was recognized as an exemplary enterprise by the city government, and leaders from the Provincial Committee came for an inspection.

Today, it was still leaders from the Provincial Committee coming to guide the work, so Auntie Zhou followed the reception standards from decades ago.

"Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome!" Everyone shouted loudly.

At the entrance of the community, a long banner was hung, reading: "Welcome leaders to inspect the work at Fuxing Community."

The leading car, an Audi, stopped, and a man in a crisp suit and gold-rimmed glasses quickly got out of the front passenger seat. He then hurried to the back, bowed slightly, opened the door while holding the roof of the car, and said softly, "Deputy Director Zhang, please watch your step."

His movements were meticulous, his expression slightly tense and serious.

Following that, a middle-aged man in a yellow jacket got out of the car.

Auntie Zhou hurried forward, excitedly shaking the middle-aged man's hand, "Deputy Director Zhang, hello, I am the director of the Fuxing Community Residents' Committee, my name is..."

"Where does Xiao Han live?" Deputy Director Zhang looked around and asked, "Has student Xiao Han arrived?"

"Er..." Auntie Zhou hesitated, then answered, "Xiao Han has not been home these past few days; only his mother is at home."

"That's fine," Deputy Director Zhang said, a touch disappointed, then added, "Let's go sit at Xiao Han's house and see what the home of our top college entrance examination scorer looks like."

"Certainly," Auntie Zhou immediately nodded.

She led the way, with Deputy Director Zhang following closely. As they walked, Auntie Zhou began to introduce Xiao Han to him. These days, dealing with interviews from media reporters, she had prepared a speech about Xiao Han, ready to recite whenever someone or some media asked. After all, she had watched Xiao Han grow up and knew everything about him quite thoroughly.

At Xiao Han's home, two staff members from the Residents' Committee accompanied Mother Xiao.

Knowing that leaders from the Provincial Committee were visiting, Mother Xiao was extremely nervous. She changed into new clothes and anxiously waited at home. Her son had brought her pride, and naturally, she was very happy, but the intense media exposure and the leaders' attention also made her somewhat nervous.

"Big Sister Xiao, don't worry, if there are any questions, we will help you answer them," the staff members said, experienced in such matters.

"Thank you, thank you!" Mother Xiao quickly nodded.

Actually, in the past few days, Mother Xiao had also received quite a bit of prize money and sponsorships from various enterprises, totaling over a hundred thousand.

Today, the leaders from the Provincial Committee Education Department personally visited Xiao's family.

Just as Mother Xiao was extremely nervous, a voice came from outside, "Little Xiao, the leaders have arrived."

Mother Xiao 'swooshed' to her feet and hurried out to meet them, saying somewhat excitedly, "Welcome, leaders, to our home, thank you very much, thank you very much!"