A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 627 - 627

At this moment, Dirk Carter had no idea.

Because of a word from Jeanette Houseman.

His political career was about to take another turn.

Right now, he was still in a small restaurant, having a meal with Dorothy Zechariah.

The dishes were simple: three small plates, two bowls of noodles, yet they ate with great enjoyment.

They cleaned the plates.

Dirk Carter wiped his mouth with a napkin.

He asked, "Have the issues with the two major groups been settled?"

Dorothy Zechariah nodded and said, "Dad went to the detention center once, his health worsened, so I let him rest, and now I'm in charge of the group's affairs. I've arranged professional managers for both major groups to move away from family-style management, making it much easier for everyone."

"What are your plans next?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Dorothy Zechariah smiled lightly and said, "No particular plans, just want to be closer to the person I love."

Hearing this,

Dirk Carter couldn't help but cough.

Dorothy Zechariah gave him a provocative look and asked, "What? Don't you want to know who the person I love is?"

"Is it me?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Dorothy Zechariah boldly nodded.

She said, "I've told you before, I really like you. But my dad used to stop me. Now he's come around and encouraged me to find you, so wherever you go next, I'll be there—I just don't want to lose you."

Speaking of this,

She bowed her head and murmured, "Actually, the day you left, I wanted to say it, but I didn't have the courage. I've thought it through during this time, if I'm not brave enough, I'll never have another chance."

"I'm not a good man, unfaithful, unreliable."

Dirk Carter said.

Dorothy Zechariah chuckled and said, "I know, you have many admirers, and many women fancy you. That only proves my taste isn't bad. I wouldn't want a man no one cares about."

Dirk Carter stiffened for a moment.

Looking at Dorothy Zechariah again, he felt unfamiliar.

When nothing was said, he felt disappointed.

But now that it was said, he didn't know what to do.

Such a contradiction.

He quickly paused and asked, "The child... what's the child's name?"

"So much happened during the birth, we hadn't decided. But while I was pregnant, we named her Paige Zechariah, nickname Chelsea."

This name.

Warmed Dirk's heart.

"Chelsea" sounds like "Dirk," and Paige corresponds to "loyal," indeed a very nice name.

"Then Chelsea it is, I think it sounds nice."

Dirk Carter said.

Dorothy Zechariah asked, "If her last name is Zechariah, Paige Zechariah is good, but if it's Carter, what name should it be?"

"If it's Carter, then Chelsea Carter, simple and elegant, I think..."

Without thinking, Dirk Carter blurted out.

Halfway through,

He looked abruptly at Dorothy Zechariah, realizing there was a certain "suggestion" in his words.

Dorothy Zechariah noticed Dirk's flustered appearance and burst out laughing.

She said, "Okay, okay, let's drop this topic and not talk about it. Let's discuss work matters. This time you made history, and I'm afraid many bigshots from Koryn City will come to catch the buzz, you'll be busy."

Dirk Carter gave a wry smile.

He said, "Koryn City is the last provincial-level city managed like a county, with neither much provincial status nor resources tilted toward it. Thanks to your help, it made a significant splash this time, attracting all sorts of characters, which is quite troubling. I just got a call, a vice governor will come for an inspection tomorrow and specifically requested that I accompany him."

After speaking,

He sighed.

A face full of helplessness.

Dorothy Zechariah said, "This is also an opportunity for you. You've made a name for yourself as executive deputy mayor, and provincial leaders now remember you, increasing your chances of promotion."

Dirk Carter shook his head.

He said, "Not necessarily, the officialdom doesn't favor those who stand out. There are many development districts throughout the province, and emerging like this makes unknown numbers of people resent me, especially those projects personally managed by certain leaders. They probably cursed my eighteen generations of ancestors."

"Is the vice governor coming tomorrow the same way?"

Dorothy Zechariah asked.

Dirk Carter nodded and said, "Vice Governor Lai Yu-ting, the Economic Development District in Gildan City is his personal project. Since its development began two years ago, it's been lukewarm. His coming to our Koryn City is partly for the limelight and partly to see if there are opportunities to poach, in short, it's unlikely to be a good thing."

Just as he finished speaking,

A voice came from behind.

It said, "Young man, don't harbor such dark thoughts about others. Maybe he's just here to learn. Not everyone has ulterior motives, right?"

Dirk Carter turned around abruptly.

He saw a man in his sixties or seventies sitting at a table behind him.

He was dressed very plainly.

His hair was mostly white.

There was also a bowl of noodles in front of him, which he had finished cleanly.

"Old man, eavesdropping on others isn't a good habit."

Dirk Carter said.

The old man chuckled and said, "This is a public place, you're sitting right in front of me, even if I don't want to listen, I can hear it. I can't very well cover my ears while eating, right?"

After finishing,

His gaze fell on the three small plates in front of Dirk.

He asked, "Are you done with those dishes?"

Upon hearing that, Dorothy Zechariah quickly said, "We're done, we're full."

She stood up and placed all three plates in front of the old man.

The old man picked up his chopsticks, tasting without reservation.

As he ate, he said, "You youngsters waste so much; during our time, if we had these kinds of meals, not so many people would have starved. Times have changed, no one will go hungry again."

"Grandpa, have you had enough? If you're still hungry, how about I order some more for you?"

Dorothy Zechariah sat down across from the old man, asking kindly.

The old man perked up immediately.

He asked, "You're treating?"

"My treat, you can eat whatever you like."

Dorothy Zechariah said.

The old man chuckled and said, "Then I'll have another bowl of noodles, and... a big pork chop, if that's okay?"

"Sure, of course, no problem."

Dorothy Zechariah quickly called the waiter over.

After placing the order,

Dorothy Zechariah said, "Grandpa, it's rare to see someone your age with such a good appetite."

"I'm just a hungry ghost, maybe from not getting enough food when I was younger, so I'm particularly able to eat in old age. To me, having a full meal is the happiest thing in the world."

The old man said with a smile.