"Elder Miao, I admit I can't compare to that big shot. However, I will do my utmost to develop Mingshan City. As the saying goes, sincerity can move mountains."
Chen Feng said with a resolute expression.
"Chen Feng, I underestimated you. You have great ambitions, even greater than mine. Since that's the case, I will lend you a hand. For Mingshan City's special code, you just need to win over the deputy directors of the Provincial Land Bureau and the Economic Development and Security Bureau. With that, Mingshan City's special code will be almost certain."
Miao Qifeng said earnestly.
"Two deputy directors?"
Chen Feng asked tentatively.
"Not two people, but one person."
"One person? That's unlikely. According to the rules of power in China, one person can only hold one position. At most, they can concurrently hold a few honorary positions, but two substantive positions are impossible."
Chen Feng said seriously.
"Chen Feng, you're an old hand in power circles; you should know that rules are made for those without power to follow. With strength and background, rules are mere formalities. To put it plainly, Deputy Director Peng is sent by the higher-ups to monitor the situation below. Therefore, she can hold multiple substantive positions."
Miao Qifeng explained.
Chen Feng understood instantly.
The higher-ups would definitely want to have a firm grip on local affairs and know every move they made.
"Is Deputy Director Peng a woman?"
Chen Feng asked tentatively.
Miao Qifeng looked at Chen Feng with a knowing gaze.
"Yes, and she's an older woman. Young women don't usually hold such positions."
Miao Qifeng said with a knowing smile.
"Elder Miao, as the top figure in the provincial power circles, you must know Director Peng's preferences, right?"
Chen Feng probed.
"Chen Feng, your question is redundant. You are an experienced player in romance; don't you know how to win over a woman?"
Miao Qifeng continued with a knowing smile.
"Elder Miao, you think too highly of me."
Chen Feng replied humbly.
"Chen Feng, since you're playing coy, I'll be direct. Deputy Director Peng likes to play with her male subordinates, and not just any male subordinate."
Miao Qifeng stated openly.
"Elder Miao, please continue. I'm listening carefully."
"Deputy Director Peng likes male subordinates who are very manly. Therefore, over the years, basically no male subordinate has managed to conquer Deputy Director Peng. They are all ordinary people who, upon seeing a powerful woman, involuntarily fall to their knees. Although you are only a deputy mayor of a county-level city, you have broad experience and are a master of romance. I believe you can definitely handle Deputy Director Peng."
Miao Qifeng said with a smile.
"Elder Miao, would being too masculine in front of Deputy Director Peng be appropriate?"
Chen Feng asked, feeling a bit dazed.
"Chen Feng, you're being overly humble. Looking back at your journey, haven't you had enough women around you? Are you the type to be a lapdog? Furthermore, based on how you handle affairs in power circles, you need to be as manly as possible. That's how you'll conquer Deputy Director Peng and get things done!"
Miao Qifeng said with a smile.
"Elder Miao, since you've said it like that, I won't hold back."
With that, Chen Feng no longer hesitated and went directly to see Deputy Director Peng.
"Are you the one introduced by Elder Miao?"
Peng Jie asked with a hint of disdain.
She liked male subordinates, but not to the extent of liking a male subordinate at the deputy county mayor level.
She was a discerning superior, a superior with taste.
"Isn't that a silly question?"
Chen Feng shot back without hesitation.
Since Deputy Director Peng disliked lapdogs, he would just be himself.
"..."
Peng Jie was stunned.
After so many years in power circles, she had encountered countless male subordinates, but this was the first time someone dared to not flatter her.
Not only did he not flatter her, but he even taunted her.
"Chen Feng, do you know who you are talking to?"
Peng Jie trembled with anger.
"Of course, I know who you are. You are the Deputy Director of the Land Bureau and also the Deputy Director of the Economic Development and Security Bureau."
Chen Feng replied with a feigned look of indifference.
"Since you know who I am, how dare you be so presumptuous?"
Peng Jie stared intently at Chen Feng.
"Director Peng, you are not my direct superior, so I have no need to fawn over you."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"..."
Peng Jie was angered once again.
Indeed, this was how things worked in China's power circles.
A county official was not as influential as a direct supervisor.
"Since that's the case, you should leave my office quickly. I don't want to see you anymore."
After calming herself down slightly, Peng Jie directly ordered him out.
"Director Peng, I can leave. However, Elder Miao asked me to go drinking with you. Are you sure you don't want to go drinking?"
Chen Feng said, using a strategy of advancing by retreating.
"..."
Peng Jie was stunned once again.
Drinking?
Drinking with a male subordinate.
It seemed she had never done it before, yet she had been anticipating it.
However, a problem arose.
If she told Chen Feng now that she wanted to go drinking with him, wouldn't that make her lose face?
"Who do you think you are? You want to go drinking, so we go drinking?"
Peng Jie intentionally tried to pressure Chen Feng.
Peng Jie thought that if she just intimidated Chen Feng a little, he would definitely compromise.
In this world, there was no fool who wouldn't want to please his superior.
"Alright, since you don't want to go drinking, then so be it. I'll call Elder Miao right now and tell him you don't like to drink."
Chen Feng said, deliberately teasing Peng Jie.
"Are you out of your mind?"
Peng Jie was so angry her lungs felt like they would explode.
This was truly outrageous.
Normally, any male subordinate who met her would instantly transform into a lapdog.
They would fawn over her with all their might.
Now, Chen Feng actually didn't take her seriously at all.
If it were any other male subordinate acting like this, she would have slapped him by now.
"Director Peng, your logic is flawed. You said you didn't want to drink with me, so I'm telling Elder Miao in advance. This is a normal operation; why do you call it crazy? Forget it, I can't be bothered to explain. Go or don't go, if you don't go, I'll ask another woman to go."
Chen Feng deliberately emphasized the words "another woman" loudly.
"Wait a minute, it's just about drinking. Who says I won't?"
Peng Jie deliberately found a way to save face.
Chen Feng, seeing that he had achieved his goal, took Peng Jie to the hotel room immediately.
This time, drinking was not the main objective.
Getting Peng Jie to approve the Mingshan City special code was the key.
Peng Jie's intention was to outdrink Chen Feng, get him drunk, and then humiliate him severely.
She had to vent her frustration!
Hmph, she had navigated the power circles relying on her drinking capacity and feminine charms to reach the core of power. She refused to believe she couldn't handle a petty official like a deputy county mayor.
Thus, Peng Jie started drinking straight from the bottle.
Drinking baijiu.
Chen Feng was not afraid. The reason he could go from being a deputy town mayor's driver to his current position was not just his talent in power circles, but also his drinking capacity.
To climb up in China's power circles.
Without drinking capacity, even with connections and talent, it would be futile.
China's power circle culture was, in essence, a drinking culture.
After two bottles of baijiu, Peng Jie couldn't take it anymore.
She surrendered immediately.
"Chen Feng, I lost. You are the first male subordinate I couldn't outdrink."
Peng Jie said, her head throbbing.
Drinking too much baijiu caused a headache.
"Director Peng, I don't just want to be the first male subordinate to outdrink you; I also want to be the first in a hotel room..."
With that, Chen Feng, without any preamble, began to undress Peng Jie.
"What are you doing?"
Peng Jie said with feigned resistance.
"You don't like me doing this? Alright, I'll take you to your room upstairs to sleep."
Chen Feng said, using a strategy of advancing by retreating.
"Chen Feng, oh Chen Feng, I'm truly impressed. Can't you just be a warm man who understands what clothes are for?"
Peng Jie said, looking at Chen Feng with a plaintive expression.