Chapter 508 - A Promotion Through a Phone Call

Chapter 508: Chapter 518: A Promotion Through a Phone Call"Yifei, what do you think?" Ye Yunzhu gripped Li Yifei’s hand tightly. This family decision wasn’t a bad thing for her; she could be with Li Yifei in the future without anyone to stop them. Besides, Li Yifei was already married. Being with him wasn’t exactly honorable; the circumstances were awkward. If keeping the child would bring hardship to both of them, then perhaps it was better not to have it and to lessen the burden for both.

Li Yifei held Ye Yunzhu’s hand firmly and said, "Yunzhu, I’ll only ask you one thing— do you like the child?"

Ye Yunzhu hesitated, then replied, "I can’t really say."

"Then let me ask you another question—if you don’t have this child and can never have another for the rest of your life, would you regret it ten or twenty years from now when you have no children to enjoy?"

Ye Yunzhu opened her mouth but found herself unable to speak. She had never been particularly fond of children, but since she had gotten pregnant, touching her belly every day, it felt like she could sense the life inside her. It was a mother’s innate nature. She had begun to look forward to the birth of this child.

Indeed, she could abandon this child for her career and to be with Li Yifei, but as Li Yifei said, what if she remained childless? Would she feel an immense sense of loss as she grew older?

Ye Yunzhu’s mother quickly interjected, "Silly child, when you’re older and you want a child, you can always adopt one. You can take one that’s just been born, and then they won’t know whether you’re their biological mother, and it will be just like they’re your own."

Li Yifei responded with a faint smile, "Auntie, I know that you want what is best for Yunzhu, but as a woman, being deprived of the right to be a mother is absolutely unfair to her. Biological and adopted children are different. Without carrying a child for nine months, without that flesh and blood connection—even if the child doesn’t know, could the feelings of a parent be the same?"

At this, Ye Zhenlong slammed his hand on the table and barked, "Kid, what are you really up to? Let me tell you, even if Yunzhu has a child with you, don’t expect any advantage from the Ye family."

Li Yifei met Ye Zhenlong’s gaze and said, "The Ye family might be wealthy and influential, but to me, Li Yifei, I have not given it a thought."

"Quite big talk!" Ye Zhenlong became even more incensed. If he were not in such a high position that required some self-control, he would likely have resorted to cursing.

Ye Jingfeng had been silent all this time, but then he looked at Li Yifei and said, "Young man, since you claim to be unconcerned with the Ye family, let me ask you. Yunzhu is currently a Township Chief and her rank might rise even higher in the future. Don’t tell me you believe love alone will suffice for you to be together. When there is a disparity in status, serious conflicts will arise. How would you resolve them?"

Li Yifei gave a faint smile, "Grandfather, is what you are going around in circles for simply to find out what capabilities I have to be deserving of Yunzhu?"

Ye Jingfeng nodded, "Exactly."

Li Yifei smiled proudly, "In that case, grandfather, you may propose a condition, and we shall see if I can meet it."

Ye Jingfeng’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Alright, I want Yunzhu to be promoted to Deputy County Head within a month. If you can achieve that, I’ll let her be with you."

Ye Yunzhu’s complexion changed. She indeed had a great chance to advance, but not so quickly—it would take at least a year. To accomplish this task within a month seemed an immense challenge. Moreover, Li Yifei was not part of the officialdom; how could he make it happen? She clenched her fists and said, "Grandfather, the conditions you set are too harsh. Even the Lin family wouldn’t have such capability."

Ye Zhenlong quickly added, "That’s a good suggestion. To take someone from the Ye family, if you don’t have some ability, don’t even think about it."

The others also watched Li Yifei as if anticipating a show. Li Yifei had sabotaged the marriage alliance between the Ye family and the Lin family. They all found Li Yifei extremely distasteful, and this was an opportunity to trouble him and vent their frustration.

At that moment, Li Yifei offered a slight smile, "Why a month? I can settle this matter right now, within a week Yunzhu can report to the county office."

"Ha ha..." The Ye family nearly all laughed at this. Ye Zhenlong looked at Li Yifei disdainfully and said, "Young man, you’re really overestimating yourself. Do you think you run Huaxia’s bureaucracy? Not even the Municipal Party Secretary could make such a rash decision, plus it involves balancing many aspects. The post of Deputy County Head is coveted by numerous people; if it were so easy to secure, our Ye family would have done it already."

"Indeed, the kid’s talk is just too big, absurdly funny."

"Truly clueless about the scale of heaven and earth, how naive."

As her relatives mocked, Ye Yunzhu frowned secretly. How could Li Yifei speak so arrogantly? But in a situation like this, she couldn’t muster the courage to rebuke him and shot him a reproachful look. Deep down, she decided if things didn’t work out, she would terminate the pregnancy. She could simply be with this good-for-nothing in the future. After all, Li Yifei now had a daughter, and she could regard the girl as her own in the future.

Zhou Xiaoyue’s eyes sparkled as she watched Li Yifei. When with Chu Xiaoyao, she would always mention how incredible this "uncle" was, but Zhou had never taken it seriously. She had kept quiet just to appease Chu Xiaoyao, but watching Li Yifei stand his ground calmly in front of the Ye family without a hint of fear, Zhou found herself quite taken with him.

With a serene smile still on his face, Li Yifei said, "Grandfather, I need to step outside to make a phone call."

Ye Jingfeng nodded, and Li Yifei walked out with his head held high.

After waiting for over ten minutes without Li Yifei returning—although the younger members had gone out and seen him still in the yard—the family inside resumed their taunting of Ye Yunzhu.

"That kid isn’t trying to run away, is he?"

"Heh, he probably realized he spoke too boldly and can’t take it back now."

"Sigh, I’ve seen braggers before, but never one like this. Yunzhu, look at the person you’ve chosen. How are you so blind?"

"Yes, Yunzhu, can’t you see his true colors yet? Such a man is just too unreliable."

At that moment, Ye Yunzhu’s face alternated between pale and flushed. She didn’t believe Li Yifei could accomplish such a thing either, and hearing her family speak like this only made it sound more grating.

Just then, Ye Yunzhu’s phone suddenly rang.

Seeing the number, her eyes immediately widened in shock because it was a call from Secretary Song Zhentao of the Municipal Committee. She quickly said to her grandfather, "It’s a call from the Municipal Party Secretary."

Ye Jingfeng gestured with his hand, and everyone immediately fell silent, but no one believed the call had anything to do with Li Yifei.

"Secretary Song, hello." Ye Yunzhu answered the phone and respectfully greeted him.

"Xiao Ye, your work in the township has been very good. The Municipal Committee has decided to give you more responsibilities. Do you have the courage to take them on?"

Ye Yunzhu’s eyes widened even more. The implication of these words was clearly a promotion. She excitedly said, "Secretary Song, I have the courage."

"That’s good to hear. You’ve been working in Lanjia Village and are quite familiar with Qingping County. So now, we are planning to transfer you to Qingping County to take on the role of Deputy County Head. Do you have any objections?"

"No... no..." Ye Yunzhu stammered in her response.

"Haha, it’s settled then. The transfer order will be issued to you tomorrow. Spend the next few days wrapping up your work in the village well and prepare to hand over your duties to the next Township Chief."

"Alright, thank you Secretary Song."

"Haha, let’s leave it at that."

After hanging up, Ye Yunzhu stood there holding the phone, speechless for a long time.

Ye Yunzhu’s mother, who was standing beside her daughter, had heard the content of the call and was equally astonished.

Unable to contain himself, Ye Zhenlong asked, "What’s going on?"

Ye Yunzhu’s mother swallowed hard and said, "Yunzhu... has been promoted to Deputy County Head."

"What?" Everyone in the hall exclaimed in unison.

"That’s impossible! How could this be possible?" Having spent many years in the bureaucracy, Ye Zhenlong knew all too well how difficult it was to climb each step, even for someone with a major family backing. It was difficult enough, and the leap from a deputy township chief to a deputy county head was even more arduous. Therefore, even if it was Ye Yunzhu’s mother who said it, he still couldn’t believe it.

Ye Yunzhu took a deep breath and said, "Grandpa, that’s what Secretary Song said. The transfer order will come tomorrow, and he’s asked me to prepare for handing over my duties."

Ye Jingfeng nodded and said, "I understand."

At some point, Li Yifei had arrived next to Ye Yunzhu and said with a smile, "Grandpa, now you won’t oppose me and Yunzhu being together, will you?"

A smile crossed Ye Jingfeng’s face as he said, "Not anymore."

Ye Zhenlong quickly interjected, "Wait, Dad, could this be a coincidence? I absolutely don’t believe that just one phone call from him could result in Yunzhu being promoted from Township Chief to Deputy County Head."

"Right, it must be a coincidence, certainly a decision that the city had already made, just happening to coincide with this."

"There’s also a possibility that this kid heard some news from somewhere and deliberately said so. This definitely isn’t his doing."

Ye Yunzhu, who had been stunned by the news, suddenly became agitated upon hearing her uncles talk like this and said, "Grandpa, no matter what, you’ve already said so—you can’t go back on your word."

Ye Jingfeng nodded and said, "Our Ye family always keeps our word. Whether it’s a coincidence or Yifei really has the capability, this matter is settled."

Ye Yunzhu let out a cheer of joy, hugged Li Yifei tightly, and began to cry with happiness.

Meanwhile, the members of the Ye family looked at each other in bewilderment. The situation was just too bizarre. Wasn’t this kid a classmate of Ye Yunzhu? There was no major family in Mile City that could provide significant backing. How could just one phone call elevate Ye Yunzhu from Township Chief to Deputy County Head? It was utterly astounding.