There are three reasons why Luo Qiulin suddenly changed his attitude and opinion towards Xia Bingbing, and hinted at promoting her in front of so many people:

First of all, after Zhang Yaling learned the conclusion of the Organization Department's investigation of her from Qiu Aihua, she was very frightened and scared, worried that if she continued to compete with Xia Bingbing, she would be ruined and imprisoned, so she retreated and offered not to participate in the competition for the position of deputy director;

Secondly, Luo Qiulin learned from Qiu Aihua that Lu Tao had been helping Xia Bingbing compete for the post, and he was very likely to form an alliance with Su Yetai, Fu Lei, Xie Benzhu and others, which made him feel a little uneasy. In order to win over Lu Tao and divide and disintegrate his alliance with Su Yetai and others, he followed Liu Hong's advice, not only made an exception to attend Lu Tao's mother's birthday banquet, but also pushed the boat down the river to express his intention to promote Xia Bingbing, hoping to gain Lu Tao's favor;

Third, judging from the degree of intimacy between Xia Bingbing and Chen Pei, the two have established a very deep friendship. Chen Pei is the daughter of Chen Dengfeng, deputy secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and the head of the county and township group of the Budget Department of the Provincial Department of Finance. Just now, she praised Xia Bingbing's ability on the surface, but the implication was very obvious, that is, she wanted the county party committee to promote her. Even if other factors are not considered, purely from the perspective of pleasing Chen Pei, Luo Qiulin must also make a statement......

Xia Bingbing was completely desperate about the promotion, but she didn't expect to come to Lu Tao's mother's birthday banquet at noon today, but suddenly the willows and flowers brightened, Luo Qiulin actually promised to study her own promotion in person, and she was surprised and almost shed tears again - she knew very well: this time it was purely Lu Tao and Chen Pei who played a role, which made Luo Qiulin's attitude turn one hundred and eighty degrees. If it weren't for the two of them, not only would she be hopeless to be promoted this time, but she might even have unpredictable misfortunes waiting for her......

In order to avoid drinking and communicating with Li Weijun as much as possible, Lu Tao did not sit in the box on the grounds of accompanying his mother, but sat at the VIP table in the banquet hall, but went to the box a few times halfway through and toasted the leaders a few rounds. During this period, Li Weijun took the initiative to go outside to toast Lu Tao's mother's wine according to Liu Hong's instructions, and took this opportunity to toast Lu Tao alone. Seeing that he seemed to have something to say to himself after drinking, Lu Tao hurriedly excused himself to toast at another seat, and left the VIP table with a wine glass, which embarrassed Li Weijun......

After the banquet, Lu Tao called Du Xiaoyu and Lu Ping into a private room, first asked Lu Ping to count the gift money received, and then said to Du Xiaoyu: "Xiaoyu, please invite Brother Song over, I have something to ask him to help." ”

Du Xiaoyu picked up the phone and dialed Song Xitang's number and asked him to come to the box on the third floor.

A few minutes later, Song Xitang walked into the box. Lu Tao picked up the gift money register on the table, and said to Song Xitang with a smile: "Brother Song, please take a look at this gift money register, if you are an employee of O'Neill Hotel, please use a pen to sketch it." ”

Du Xiaoyu asked in surprise: "What are you doing with the O'Neill Hotel staff? Do you want to repay the favor in the future? You don't have to worry about this, I will return their favor in the future." ”

Lu Tao shook his head and said: "Xiaoyu, I am a staff member of the Local Taxation Bureau, and O'Neill Hotel is a taxpayer, if my mother makes birthday wine and accepts gifts from hotel employees, it is a serious violation of discipline and will be investigated and dealt with." Not long after my demerit punishment was lifted, I don't want to be punished again for this incident. ”

Du Xiaoyu hurriedly said: "These are two different things! Didn't I tell you? The employees of the O'Neill Hotel came to drink, it was all my favor, and it had nothing to do with you. Besides, they all came to drink the birthday wine, and now you will return all their gift money, don't you invite them to eat and drink for nothing?"

Song Xitang also persuaded: "Xiao Lu, the employees of our group came to drink birthday wine, it is indeed for Xiaoyu's face, it is a courtesy exchange between ordinary friends, and it has nothing to do with your position and work." To put it a little cheesily, you set up more than 20 tables of banquets, invite them to eat and drink, and if you return the gift money to them, it will be a loss-making transaction, and you also have to consider the economic loss, right?"

Lu Tao insisted: "Brother Song, this money must be returned, please give me a sketch!"

Song Xitang didn't want to say anything, so he had to pick up a pen and sketch out the names of all the employees of O'Neill Hotel in the gift money register.

Lu Tao asked Lu Ping to calculate the total amount of gift money for the hotel staff, and then calculated the gift money of Liu Hong, Liu Feiyan, Liu Shuangyan, and Li Weijun separately, and said to Song Xitang: "Brother Song, please help me return the money to the hotel staff." ”

Then, he said to Du Xiaoyu: "Xiaoyu, Mr. Liu, Li Weijun, Liu Feiyan, and Liu Shuangyan's gift money, please go and return them to them." In addition, I went to the bar to take a look at the money for last night's treat in the seafood restaurant, and after the discount, it was 8,500 yuan, which was the bill you bought, and now I will return it to you!"

Seeing that he was so resolute, Du Xiaoyu didn't accept a penny from the Liu family, and wanted to return the money he had for last night's treat, he suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart, and said to Lu Tao with a pale face: "Brother, don't be in a hurry to return the money first, I'll talk to you alone, okay?"

Lu Tao stared at her a few times, and said expressionlessly: "Xiaoyu, I know what you want to talk to me about, but I have to go to say goodbye to my relatives later, and I have to take my mother, sister, and brother-in-law to Songshan City at half past four." Well, when I get back from Matsuyama, we'll have some time to talk. ”

It turned out that when he was just eating, Lu Tao received a call from Zhou Yihong, saying that he wanted to rush to Taolin to drink birthday wine, but because he had to work overtime to hold an emergency meeting in the morning, he couldn't catch up, and asked him to take his mother, sister, and brother-in-law to Songshan City in the afternoon......

Seeing that Lu Tao didn't want to talk to him alone, Du Xiaoyu burst into tears, opened his mouth, and wanted to say something, but Song Xitang took her hand and motioned her not to say any more, and then took the money returned to the hotel staff from Lu Ping's hand, and said to Lu Tao: "Xiao Lu, thank you for treating me as a friend, and you don't want to return my gift money." I know that you have concerns and difficulties, and I understand it, and I believe that Mr. Liu and others will understand. I'll take my leave, and next time I'll invite you to drink alone. ”

Du Xiaoyu had no choice but to take the gift money returned to Liu Hong and others from Lu Ping's hand, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his hand, turned around and left the box quickly......

Lu Tao returned to the Green Bank Haoting Community, sent his relatives to the underground parking lot, and after seeing them drive away, he was about to call Xia Yuze to borrow a car, but his mobile phone suddenly rang, and when he looked at the number, it was Fu Lei calling.

After the phone was connected, Fu Lei lowered his voice and asked, "Xiao Lu, is it convenient for you to speak now?"