bye-election; by-election
fabricated story; cooked up (news) report
poisonous substance; toxic substance
paper mill; paper factory
girl (usu. attractive) with glasses; glasses-wearing girl
special election; by-election
simplified receipt with a blank line to be filled out with the customer's name (used specifically for claiming expenses); hand-written receipt
winning one's first election; being elected for the first time
whole nation; entire nation; all the people
to get back together (with a former partner)
to be refined; to be polished; to be stylish; to be sophisticated
depopulation; falling population; decrease in population; population decline
scented insert (to enclose with a letter); perfumed insert
John Doe; person of unknown name; (arch.) country bumpkin
putting one's affairs in order; ordering one's affairs; tidying up
top university; leading university; first-rate university
raising an army; launching business
rival candidate; opposing candidate
electoral district; precinct
ruling and opposition parties; parties in and out of power
greening (i.e. planting to increase greenery); tree planting; afforestation
to become famous; to gain fame
long (time that has passed); old (story)
fighting with one's back to the wall; having burnt one's bridges; last stand; from strategy of general Han Xin in the Battle of Jingxing
clear one's name; redeem oneself; clear (vindicate) one's honor (reputation)
shutting oneself in (one's room, etc.); barricading oneself in (a fort, etc.) while being besieged; holing up (in a building)
merchant's home; rented home; store; shop