At six o'clock in the evening, the canteen of the Shuangsheng Township Government.

The four round tables were crowded with people, far more than the usual people in meetings, including all the civil servants and a few temporary workers.

The "neighbors" exchanged heads and ears, or smiled or frowned, and their expressions were very rich, obviously the interaction was very smooth, and the topic resonated. But the whole room was "buzzing", and I couldn't hear any words clearly.

"Knock", "knock" footsteps sounded, and Zhao Qiang and Li Xiaohe appeared in the canteen.

It was still "buzzing" just now, and it was silent in an instant, and it was obvious that people were paying attention to the direction of the door at any time, waiting for some people to arrive.

Zhou Liang stepped forward at the right time: "Secretary, township head, please here." ”

Zhao Qiang and Li Xiaohe didn't reply, but with Zhou Liang's guidance, they went straight to the table against the wall in the northeast corner and sat in the two empty positions.

All the people sitting at this table were members of the township party committee, and when they saw Zhao and Li coming, most of them smiled, but the content of the smiles was not the same. Zhao and Li didn't pay attention to these meanings, they just thought about it.

Colleagues who are very familiar on weekdays have become a lot stranger at once, people have not spoken, they don't know what to say, and the atmosphere is very embarrassing.

"I'll pour the wine." Zhou Liang said, took the wine bottle, and twisted the cap.

With Zhou Liang taking the lead, the others followed suit, picked up wine bottles and drink bottles, and served everyone. Even the people who did not make cameo appearances as "waiters" moved because they needed to hold cups and turn sideways.

Four plates of cold dishes were served one after the other.

The white wine glasses and drink glasses are full.

Two plates of stir-fry came to the table steaming hot.

Li Xiaohe touched Zhao Qiang: "Secretary, let's start." ”

"I'm coming? I'll come, I'll come. I won't have that chance in the future. Zhao Qiang said as if self-deprecating and self-comforting, and stood up.

Seeing Zhao Qiang get up, many people were still a little surprised.

After a pause, Zhao Qiang said again: "Colleagues from Shuangsheng Township, I am Zhao Qiang, and I have been in Shuangsheng Township for seventeen years. Among all of you here, Lao Zhou, Lao Ge and I came at the same time, but the two of you have been away for a few years halfway, and the rest of you have a shorter time. From this point of view, I am a real old man in Shuangsheng Township. The iron-clad townships, the flowing water civil servants, everyone has the day to leave, and no one is an exception. No, I, the 'old cadre' of Shuangsheng Township, should also say goodbye.

Raise your glasses, and I salute you. Thank you all for your support and love for me over the years, and please forgive me for being inconsiderate in individual aspects, whether I do it properly or not, it is all in this glass. For this glass of wine, you can understand it as a thanks, it can also be regarded as an apology, or it can be seen as a farewell. Dry. ”

Everyone got up, "Bah", "Dry", the sound of clinking glasses, the sound of response, and then the sound of drying up the drink.

After sitting down, after taking two mouthfuls of food, Li Xiaohe took the cup and got up: "Comrades, Secretary Zhao is an old man in Shuangsheng Township, our leader, and a generous elder. I believe that all of you have been taught and cared for by the secretary. Let us all raise a glass together, thank our old secretary, and wish the secretary good health and all the best. ”

Everyone raised their glasses again, responding to this second glass.

"The secretary and I have already mentioned it, so let's drink freely." After speaking, Li Xiaohe sat down.

"Okay, okay." Zhao Qiang nodded in response.

Although the mayor of the township proposed to drink freely, everyone was not immediately "free", and people felt that the atmosphere was a little awkward today.

In fact, Li Xiaohe was very awkward when he lifted the cup, and the key was that the choice of sentences was limited. Generally, when sending off leaders or colleagues, there will definitely be blessings of "smooth work" or even "step by step", but they can't be used today. Because Zhao Qiang only has a decision to dismiss, but he does not hold a position, he is temporarily equivalent to Bai Ding, at most, he has a party membership.

It is not only Li Xiaohe who is awkward in lifting the cup, but Zhao Qiang is actually even more awkward. Originally, I planned to send Li Xiaohe off today to express my recognition of Li Xiaohe, which was also a disguised support, but I never thought that I had become a leaver. The key is that he is nothing now, and it is not in line with his identity to send blessings or show concern to everyone, and he can only speak as an old man. Knowing that it would be awkward to lift the cup, Li Xiaohe clearly expressed his respect for himself, and he was not easy to push, otherwise Li Xiaohe would be uncomfortable, in fact, Li Xiaohe had been uncomfortable for more than half a day.

noticed that the old secretary and the township chief spoke awkwardly, and the others naturally felt awkward, and they couldn't let go of drinking for a while. Now the old secretary is not promoted, but dismissed, if he is loud and happy, it doesn't seem to be right.

Because of this, it was very cold for a while.

"Giggle." A woman's laughter broke the cold, "I respect the old secretary for a drink." ”

Seeing the woman holding the cup, Zhao Qiang also picked up the cup: "Thank you, Township Chief Jia!" ”

Jia Xianglan didn't immediately clink glasses, but continued: "The old secretary also said just now, you are an old man in the township, this old man is leaving, we have to toast and express our meaning." It's just a thousand words for a while, and I don't know where to start, and I don't know how to bless it. I really don't understand how the Organization Department got it, an old secretary was dismissed, and the new post was not written, how do you say this should be called, I don't mind calling you 'old secretary', right? ”

"Whatever you call it, everyone has such a scene. Deputy Township Chief Jia, I'll do it first. Zhao Qiang heard the other party's ridicule and decisively ended the wine.

"Yes, yes, everyone has this scene, it's just a matter of time or night, it's just whether you can see it." Jia Xianglan responded immediately.

, what's that? People are leaving, is it still so run? Li Xiaohe couldn't help but get angry, but he suppressed the fire again. I can't argue with her now, and it's likely that this woman is just waiting to add to the dinner party. So, Li Xiaohe sighed secretly and did not speak.

Jia Xianglan really wanted to stir up trouble to express her dissatisfaction and ridicule. In the past, Zhao Qiang was always a good man and a peacemaker, and he was simply a clay man, but recently he wore the same pants as the one surnamed Li. The guy surnamed Li is his opponent, and his accomplices are naturally also opponents. Especially excluded herself from the so-called office, there must be Zhao Qiang's approval, and she found out that the good old man turned out to be a smiling tiger, which is really hateful. The hateful person was taken down this time, which is really happy, but the fly in the ointment is not the guy surnamed Li. So before attending the banquet, Jia Xianglan was both gloating, but also regretful and dissatisfied. Of course, there are deep-seated reasons for her dissatisfaction.

Originally, I came with the mood to watch the excitement, and I also wanted to wait for an opportunity to take revenge, but I didn't want to be put together by those two guys first. Among the people here now, in addition to the top party and government leaders, it just so happens that the deputy secretary has been on sick leave for more than 100 days in a row, and he is the third child, so it is said that the third glass of wine should be brought by himself. But those two guys stopped talking, isn't this embarrassing themselves or what? How could she swallow this breath? How can you not be disgusted by the two "broken households". But after a provocation, there was no response, and Jia Xianglan was even more angry, but she had to endure it for the time being, thinking about waiting for the opportunity to move again.

"Secretary, I respect you." It was Zhou Liang who got up to speak. Zhou Liang not only stood up, but also held a cup with both hands and came to Zhao Qiang's side, "Thank you for the secretary's care and love all the time, and thank you for the secretary's earnest teaching, I wish the secretary good health and happiness!" ”

"Thank you, Lao Zhou." Zhao Qiang also stood up, "This time I'm leaving, you are an old man." ”

"Cheers, secretary." Zhou Liang's voice was hoarse, and the wine glass stretched forward.

"." Zhao Qiang raised his glass and touched it, and drank it all.

With Zhou Liang taking the lead, everyone toasted Zhao Qiang one after another, some single, some in groups. For a while, people came and went in the canteen. At the same time, other people also drank to each other, and the atmosphere of the scene was a little hotter.

……

The smell of wine and food mixed together, wafting throughout the cafeteria, and the clock on the wall also pointed to ten o'clock. Four tables were littered with messy cups and plates, three of them were empty, and only one table still had two people seated. These two people are none other than Li Xiaohe and Zhao Qiang, who persevered to the end.

With a wine burp, Li Xiaohe picked up his wine glass, and his tongue was no longer very neat: "Secretary, Lao Zhao, my brother understands in my heart that you have this experience, it is all because of me, and I hurt you." ”

"Lao Li, what you kid said is really right, I still fucking have a bag with you." Zhao Qiang's eyes were bloodshot, and his eyes were blurred, "However, it doesn't matter, I have already seen it, people are inherently dead, and they can't hide from it sooner or later." You're a kid too, but you're just a few days more guilty than me, and I'm relieved now. ”

"Yes, that person won't let me go, but I didn't expect you to be one step ahead of me, which not only made me suffer more, but also killed you. Come, apologize, I'm the one who has troubled you. As he spoke, Li Xiaohe pushed his wine glass forward.

Zhao Qiang didn't clink glasses with him, but withdrew his arm back: "Drink it, drink it, pay it back, pay a fart gift, I will use you to apologize?" ”

Li Xiaohe laughed "haha": "Lao Zhao is dirty today." Then don't apologize, a cup of respect for my brother, okay? ”

"It's pretty much the fuck." As he spoke, Zhao Qiang took the initiative to find the other party's cup and touched it, and tilted his neck dry.

Li Xiaohe drained the wine in the cup, and also said: "This is pretty much the same." ”

"Secretary, drink some soup, relieve hangover, and protect your stomach." A voice rang out.

"Old ...... Lao Cai, you haven't left yet? Zhao Qiang raised his head and looked at the man in a white coat at the table.

Lao Cai pushed the big bowl forward again: "Secretary, you have a bad stomach, you have drunk so much wine today, drink it while it's hot." ”

"You and the hell...... Lao Cai, Brother Cai, thank you! Zhao Qiang's eyes were misty, and he said hoarsely, picked up the big bowl, and drank it.

Li Xiaohe saw that while Zhao Qiang was drinking the soup, two drops of crystal things fell into the bowl. In fact, he didn't pay attention to himself, and something fell out of his eyes.