Sun Lian Cheng thought that by refusing to participate in the calligraphy and painting competition, he could avoid it.
Unexpectedly, Principal Huang actually chased him to the district government and cornered him in his office.
“District Chief Sun, you must help out no matter what. This competition is very important. As a famous calligraphy and painting master in Jingzhou, you must step forward and take the lead at this time!”
Sun Lian Cheng said with a gloomy face: “Principal Huang, is it necessary? We have many talented people in Jingzhou, are we really lacking me?”
“We are lacking, how could we not be? You are a key force, this is indispensable!”
Sun Lian Cheng asked again in a serious tone: “Principal Huang, is there a task from above this time?”
Principal Huang stammered, “Well, cough, cough, there is indeed a bit of a task, so we must do it well!”
Sun Lian Cheng saw the strange look in his eyes and felt that something was amiss.
But before he could refuse, Principal Huang continued to beg.
“District Chief Sun, you must help with this! How about this, doesn’t Teacher Liu want to step down as the deputy director of the teaching affairs office? As long as you help with this, I will push for this matter in the school committee meeting later, how about that?”
This time, Sun Lian Cheng was truly hit where it hurt!
If he was still a little bit mischievous in his younger days, now he only cared about his wife, Liu Miao Miao.
Liu Miao Miao, being older and needing to take care of their children at home, had been wanting to step down from the deputy director position of the teaching affairs office for several years, and just be a teacher.
But Principal Huang dared not approve it, afraid that Sun Lian Cheng might get angry over it one day and settle the score with him.
After all, the Experimental High School was under the jurisdiction of the Guangming District, and they, the education department, were also under the management of Sun Lian Cheng, the district chief!
But this time he had heard good news, that there was a good opportunity for advancement, so he had to seize this golden opportunity.
He was willing to go all out, so his expression was very determined.
Sun Lian Cheng thought about it for a long time and finally agreed.
“Alright, painting is fine, but what kind of painting do you want?”
Principal Huang said with a smile: “A painting of orchids or bamboo, it would be best to add a poem inscription, that’s what embodies the spirit of a scholar!”
“Okay, I know what to do. I won’t have time these two days, you can come to my house and get it over the weekend! But you have to do the framing yourself, I don’t have time to deal with these small matters!”
“That’s only right, that’s only right! Haha, then I won’t disturb District Chief Sun’s work, we’ll see each other over the weekend!”
After sending this slightly slick principal away, Sun Lian Cheng felt somewhat puzzled.
In the past, he always thought that people who had some accomplishments in calligraphy and painting should possess a kind of scholar’s spirit, with integrity and noble character.
Yet, Principal Huang, with his slick and cunning style, was actually very knowledgeable in calligraphy and painting…
He was indeed a peculiar person!
In the beginning, Sun Lian Cheng had received a system reward for mastery in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and later practiced for several years at home. Finally, out of curiosity, he participated in an event organized by the calligraphy and painting association.
He realized then that the people there had varying levels of skills, and he himself was completely a master.
Later, after those rumors started circulating, he knew what it meant to be “文人相轻” (literally: scholars disparaging each other), so he didn’t want to mix with them anymore.
Anyway, he was a deputy departmental-level district chief, he wouldn’t rely on this for a living.
However, since he had promised, Sun Lian Cheng would create the painting carefully.
When he had free time in the next few days, he created a painting of orchids and bamboo with great care, and inscribed an ancient poem on it.
He used the pen name “行者孙” (Walker Sun) for the inscription at the end, and casually stamped an unnamed seal on it.
In previous years, he had carved seven or eight seals in private, two of which were randomly named "逍遥散人" (Free and Easy Recluse) and "羁旅之臣" (Sojourner), so as to not reveal his real name.
Of course, since these paintings were passed through acquaintances, it was impossible to completely conceal his real name.
But as long as he didn’t take the initiative to come forward, no one would bother to spread his fame.
When Principal Huang saw the painting, he was very pleased!
After expressing his gratitude profusely, he happily left with the work.
Less than half a month later, Liu Miao Miao successfully stepped down as the deputy director of the teaching affairs office and became a regular teacher.
This way, she would have more time to take care of her family, she had been quite tired these past few years!
Sun Lian Cheng didn’t continue to pay attention to this matter, because there was a lot of work to do at the district government.
Especially with the launch of the Guangming Peak project, he, as the district chief, would inevitably have to handle many things.
Unless he truly slacked off and dealt with everything perfunctorily.
But the Lying Flat system was still there, and he was still covetous of those rewards!
This system was relatively humane, it knew to raise the level of the prizes with the advancement of time.
At the beginning, there weren’t even smart phones, but now there were high-tech products from certain science fiction worlds.
For example, gene repair fluid, gene optimization fluid, light sabers, ion thrusters, anti-gravity devices, nuclear fusion and heavy fusion technology, etc.
Although the probability of drawing them was low, he had only obtained a mid-level AI and some material technology over the years, but these alone were already quite amazing!
Besides that, there were some more mystical items, like talismans, higher-level pills, potions, etc., he truly coveted them all.
So Sun Lian Cheng had been working diligently all these years, at least to meet the requirements of the Lying Flat system. While being conscientious and responsible, he also had to find ways to get some good stuff!
So he had to go to work as usual, unless he truly retired one day and wouldn't have to do anything anymore?
However, he had just stepped into the district government office that day, and Cui Hao in the office came to report behind him.
“District Chief, today is the day Secretary Ding is in charge of receiving the public, do you not intend to go and have a look?”
Sun Lian Cheng laughed, “What are you thinking, kid? I know what you’re up to. You want to make fun of me for not knowing how to use tactics, right?”
The young man laughed, “District Chief, I don’t mean that! I just feel that you’re working so hard, what’s it all for? When you receive the public, you’re exhausted after a whole day. But look at Secretary Ding, he just finds a few policemen to stand at the door, and no one dares to enter all day, how easy is that?”
“I see, you envy Secretary Ding, don’t you?”
“No, no, I just feel that you should make some changes, otherwise how can you get promoted?”
Sun Lian Cheng’s smile instantly turned serious, and he said solemnly: “Remember, don’t say such things in the future, and don’t spread words that affect unity!”
The young man also said with a stern look: “Yes, thank you for your advice, District Chief!”
Sun Lian Cheng nodded, “You’ve been in the office for a while now, you’re doing a good job. Keep working hard, and go down to experience things for a while, otherwise when will you be able to take on independent responsibility?”
“Hehe, I’m not obsessed with getting promoted, it’s good enough to be like you!”
“Hehe, you can say that after you’ve reached my position!”
“Uh…”