However, Shen Lei immediately thought of something. He was just a deputy section-level cadre in the Archives Department, how could the Zhong family possibly be interested in him?
There was no need for him to waste time worrying.
As for why the director was an old friend of Zhong Zhengguo, it was probably because they had worked together many years ago. They had no vested interests but shared the same aspirations, which allowed them to become friends.
After pondering for a moment, Shen Lei said to the director, "Director, you see, I'm just a deputy section-level cadre, my starting point is too low.
How could they possibly be interested in me?"
The director said with a smile, "Young man, don't underestimate yourself.
With your talent for appraising and restoring antiques, and your handsome appearance, Xiao Ai might just fall for you.
Then your problem would become whether you could accept someone so much older than you..."
Shen Lei shook his head and smiled wryly. "Director, I'm afraid the organization will think that since I can restore archives, they will make me do it for the rest of my life.
I'll be stuck in the Archives Department for the rest of my life, at most a department head. How could I possibly be worthy of a princess from the Bureau level?"
He said this to indirectly ask the director if he had a chance to leave the Archives Department and go to a core department, one that was easy to climb the ranks in.
The director looked at Shen Lei with a smile, "Xiao Shen, there aren't that many archives that need your restoration.
After you restore some important archives and get promoted to deputy director, you can be transferred out of the archives system.
Besides, if Zhong Xiao Ai falls for you, with the power of their family, they can transfer you to any department, as long as you are competent, there won't be any major issues!"
Shen Lei was feeling very conflicted at this moment.
On the one hand, he really wanted to leverage the power of Zhong Xiao Ai's family to rise rapidly and advance with leaps and bounds.
But on the other hand, he didn't want to become like Hou Liangping, who was subservient to his wife.
Another thought was that Zhong Xiao Ai's status was very similar to that of a princess in ancient times. Marrying Zhong Xiao Ai would be like becoming a consort.
Throughout history, which consort dared to take concubines?
That meant that after being with Zhong Xiao Ai, he would have to break up with Li Xiaoyue, and the women who liked him, including Hu Hai Li, would all be fleeting.
And this was something Shen Lei couldn't accept.
However, Shen Lei didn't immediately reject this opportunity.
After thinking for a moment, he said to the director, "Director, I just got divorced and I'm not in the mood for anything right now.
After I get over it, I'll go meet her. Do you think that's alright?"
The director smiled slightly. "Xiao Ai is currently out of town handling a major case and won't be back for a while.
Just wait until she returns to Beijing. If you've recovered by then, I'll arrange for you to meet."
Shen Lei nodded but asked with a hint of confusion, "Director, I'm just curious. Why would you introduce me to her?
With her family's position, there are countless young talents who would love to climb the ladder."
The director knew Shen Lei would have this question and smiled slightly. "I won't hide it from you.
Ever since her husband Hou Liangping died, the entire circle has been spreading rumors that Zhong Xiao Ai is a jinx.
So, even though they know that marrying Zhong Xiao Ai can lead to rapid advancement, it's terrifying to have no life to enjoy it."
Shen Lei couldn't help but laugh. "Director, do you think I'm not afraid of death?"
The director smiled and stroked his beard. "Xiao Shen, I can see you have great opportunities.
You've completely transformed compared to before. Your life energy is very strong and you have the features of a long life. Unlike her deceased husband Hou Liangping, who had the signs of a violent death..."
At this moment, Shen Lei suddenly remembered that their director, who seemed very upright on the surface, was actually disillusioned with his career path. He indulged in playing with antiques and was also interested in fortune-telling and other esoteric subjects.
The director's judgment was very accurate, he did have great opportunities, he had indeed transformed.
This was probably why the director dared to introduce him, a small section-level cadre, to Zhong Xiao Ai, a Bureau-level official!
The director said with a smile, "Xiao Shen, work hard and try to restore more important archives.
When the opportunity arises, I'll try my best to get you promoted to section head..."
Shen Lei knew that the current section head probably also had some connections behind him and hadn't committed any serious mistakes. It would be difficult for him to replace him.
But he didn't expect that the section head would soon commit a major error, and this error would be related to him.
...
When Shen Lei got off work and went to the parking lot to find his Mercedes-Benz SUV, he saw a familiar luxury car, the Land Rover belonging to Lu Jie, Xie Mei Lan's boss.
Lu Jie was sitting in the Land Rover, seemingly waiting for someone.
Shen Lei originally thought that Lu Jie was coming to find him. He thought that this guy was completely crazy to dare to come to his workplace, which was the police department.
Just as Shen Lei was about to approach and reprimand Lu Jie, he saw a familiar figure walking towards the Land Rover, it was Wu, the section head from their unit.
A sense of alarm immediately sounded in Shen Lei's heart. How could Lu Jie be conspiring with Wu?
Shen Lei quickly hid and quietly approached the Land Rover, wanting to hear what they were discussing.
The position where Shen Lei was standing was shielded from their view by a wall.
Therefore, Lu Jie and Wu didn't see Shen Lei earlier.
Lu Jie thought that Shen Lei was just putting on a front and rented a Mercedes-Benz SUV just to show off to Xie Mei Lan at the Civil Affairs Bureau. He wouldn't dare to drive it to work and would only take his electric car from another parking lot.
So Lu Jie dared to boldly meet with Wu in the car.
Lu Jie had been made a eunuch in the morning by Shen Lei, and he hated Shen Lei, but he had no way to deal with him.
Whether he took action himself or hired someone to beat him up, neither seemed like a good option.
This cunning guy immediately thought that within the civil servant team, the one who could easily control someone like Shen Lei, a grassroots official, was his superior.
So he immediately had someone inquire about Shen Lei's superior and found out that it was Wu.
Lu Jie also found out that Wu and Shen Lei had a bad relationship and had some conflicts recently. So Lu Jie called Wu and invited him to meet and discuss.
(There are too few comments, brothers, do you have any suggestions? Please leave them in the comments so that I can improve. Especially, should Shen Lei marry Zhong Xiao Ai or Li Xiaoyue? I want to hear your opinions.)