"Feng Ge, it's like this. Ming City's three major technology industries—the chip industry, the new energy industry, and the cold fusion industry—are developing rapidly. However, if our focus remains solely on these three, it's still a bit narrow. When opportunities arise, we should also develop other technology industries. How can we take the lead in developing other technology industries? Observing the fluctuations in the Hong Kong international futures market can provide some inspiration. The Hong Kong futures market is primarily about predicting international commodity delivery situations. If you guess right, you make money; if you guess wrong, you lose money. The development of technology industries is inseparable from the supply of raw materials. Therefore, I want to observe the operation of the Hong Kong futures market up close. Afterward, I can analyze various data online. In the near future, I should be able to discover other emerging technology industries, and Ming City can then vigorously follow suit."
Li Hongling explained with a serious expression.
Chen Feng looked at Li Hongling with great satisfaction.
In a way, Li Hongling was very much like him.
He had risen to his current position from being a dedicated driver for a deputy town mayor.
Li Hongling had risen to her current position from being a factory worker.
The changes they had both undergone on their respective journeys were immense.
Who could have imagined that this insightful and capable businesswoman was once a bullied factory worker?
It had to be said that Li Hongling's business acumen was even stronger than Jiaye Meizi's.
Jiaye Meizi was skilled in business mainly because she had grown up surrounded by the business world, and her talent had been cultivated through constant exposure.
Li Hongling's talent was acquired.
Inadvertently, Li Hongling entered the business arena, and her business talent became unstoppable.
To be honest, at the beginning, he had merely helped Li Hongling, the factory worker, out of kindness. He never expected that a twist of fate would lead him to find such a capable assistant for managing his businesses.
Since Li Hongling joined, his businesses in China had grown from nothing to something substantial.
It was precisely because he earned more and more money from his businesses that his work in the political arena became smoother.
That's how it is these days; with money, things proceed smoothly.
Conversely, without money, things become very difficult.
After a brief chat with Li Hongling, Chen Feng took her to the Hong Kong international futures market.
After a few instructions, Chen Feng returned to Jiangcheng.
He had been out exploring for a week, and it was time to see Li Shan.
That evening, Chen Feng returned to Jiangcheng.
Before he could even settle down, Li Shan entered the office with an obsequious, fawning smile.
"Director Chen, I've been waiting for you. It's good that you're finally back."
At this moment, Li Shan had completely lost his former arrogance and dominance.
"Waiting for me for what? Isn't your own brother the head of the Jiangcheng Development and Reform Commission? Didn't you look down on me, a mere director of the Wuzhou District?"
Chen Feng deliberately taunted Li Shan.
"Director Chen, I was blind and didn't recognize your immense influence before, which led to my lawlessness. I beg Director Chen to be magnanimous..."
Li Shan said, bowing and scraping.
"Forget it, I won't hold it against you. Relocate the landfill and the public cemetery to the mountainous area in the northern suburbs of Jiangcheng. Then, I will entrust you with the project for the new campus of Jiangcheng University of Technology, as well as the land development around the new campus."
Chen Feng got straight to the point.
Li Shan was stunned.
What the hell?
This was completely different from what he had expected.
He had anticipated that Chen Feng would severely reprimand him.
Make him lose face and suffer a significant financial loss.
To his surprise, Chen Feng not only didn't punish him severely but also handed over so many major projects to him.
"Director Chen, are you still setting a trap for me? If so, I'll kneel down to you. I truly know I was wrong."
Li Shan said nervously.
"Setting a trap for you? Handing over substantial projects with real money for you to undertake—is that how one sets traps?"
Chen Feng said with a smile.
"Director Chen, you mean you don't intend to take revenge on me?"
Li Shan probed.
"If I were someone else, I would definitely seek revenge. However, I am not someone else. I am an official in the Wuzhou District and a member of Jiangcheng. I cannot ruin an excellent real estate developer like you for personal vendetta."
Chen Feng explained word by word.
Li Shan was instantly won over by Chen Feng's words.
The vision, the same vision.
Not neglecting public affairs due to personal grievances.
Such things were only seen in novels before.
Moreover, they were seen in those sycophantic, so-called positive energy novels.
He never expected that in reality, there were actually officials with such broad vision.
With such a high-minded, good official like Chen Feng in Jiangcheng, why worry about development not progressing?
With such a young, high-minded, good official like Chen Feng in China, his future prospects were brilliant.
"Director Chen, please rest assured. I guarantee that I will build the new campus of Jiangcheng University of Technology beautifully and will also fully exploit the land's potential around the new campus."
Li Shan promised with great excitement.
Chen Feng didn't say much more. He simply encouraged Li Shan to continue his good work and not to disappoint him, then returned to Wuzhou District.
It had been a while since he had left Wuzhou District.
Upon returning to Wuzhou District, Qin Yan personally came to his office to find Chen Feng.
"Chen Feng, there's something we must discuss."
Qin Yan got straight to the point.
"What is it, Director Qin?"
"You've done several major things for the Wuzhou District's financial sector recently. You facilitated cooperation between Hong Kong and Wuzhou District for financial development, secured preferential policies from the provincial authorities to encourage more of Jiangcheng's financial institutions to relocate to Wuzhou District... With these accomplishments, it's time for you to return to your position as Deputy District Mayor from your current director's post."
Qin Yan advised earnestly.
"That's acceptable."
Chen Feng did not refuse.
Staying in the director's position for too long would gradually narrow one's perspective.
"Then it's settled. I'll submit an application to the provincial authorities. In a few days, you and Cheng Lu can become Deputy District Mayors. No, I should say, you and Cheng Lu will return to the position of Deputy District Mayor. You were initially appointed as Deputy District Mayors when you first came to Wuzhou District."
Qin Yan said excitedly.
Chen Feng didn't feel much excitement; instead, he was very calm.
According to the rules of the political arena, if Qin Yan submitted a formal application to the provincial authorities in a conventional manner, his and Cheng Lu's chances of becoming Deputy District Mayors were slim.
Just as Chen Feng had predicted, a week later, Qin Yan found Chen Feng again.
"Chen Feng, I'm sorry, the matter didn't go as planned. Two Deputy District Mayors were parachuted into Wuzhou District by the higher authorities without any prior notice."
Qin Yan said without taking blame.
"Director Qin, it's not your fault. The political arena is like this. If you don't leverage personal connections, simply relying on formal applications will never lead to promotion. I told you before that important official positions in the political arena are already reserved for those with connections. Who ultimately gets the position depends on who utilizes their network of relationships. And if everyone is using their connections, it comes down to whose connections are more powerful."
Chen Feng calmly advised Qin Yan.
"Chen Feng, I was too naive."
Qin Yan replied, feeling embarrassed.
"It's alright, we learn from our mistakes."
"Chen Feng, how do you plan to handle this? Will you really let these two connected individuals snatch away your achievements?"
Qin Yan asked with a serious expression.
"Definitely not! If you want to succeed in the political arena, lacking ambition and compromising at every turn will only keep you at the bottom forever. You know me, my ambition is to enter the higher echelons of China's political arena and change its current state. Therefore, I will not allow two connected individuals to simply take away my achievements. So..."
Chen Feng spoke with a hint of mystery.
"So, what do you plan to do?"
Qin Yan's inner frustration vanished.
She had full confidence in Chen Feng's abilities.
As long as Chen Feng didn't give up, nothing was impossible.
"I think the three of us should go back to Ming City together. You become the Mayor, and Cheng Lu and I become Deputy Mayors. Since everyone is using connections to secure official positions, why can't we?"
Chen Feng said with confidence.