"It's simple, we streamline the process. We'll only have two subjects: Mathematics and Chinese. Nothing else. Then, we take half the candidates based on their Math rankings, and the other half based on their Chinese rankings."
Chen Feng explained calmly.
"I still don't quite understand. To select capable officials, shouldn't politics be tested?"
Cheng Lu asked with a puzzled expression.
"Streamlining the process means simplifying the political test first. Whether an official has high political literacy cannot be truly determined by an exam. A candidate might score full marks in politics, but they'll still be corrupt if that's in their nature, so it's useless. In my personal opinion, political literacy should be judged by the law. If it's lacking and they engage in rampant corruption, they go to jail. It's that simple."
Chen Feng patiently explained.
"No politics test, I get it now. It seems to make sense. But what does it mean to test Chinese and Math, and then select half the candidates based on each subject's ranking?"
Cheng Lu asked, still confused.
"It's very simple. Good at Math means they are definitely talented in science. Good at Chinese means they are definitely talented in humanities. It's that straightforward."
"That makes sense, but good exam results don't necessarily mean they'll be good civil servants."
Cheng Lu continued to ask, still perplexed.
"That's why I'm doubling the overall number of candidates. The reason is a knockout system. We'll give them a month to weed them out gradually."
Chen Feng's explanation convinced Cheng Lu.
It had to be said, the leadership of the Mingshan City Industrial Zone had underestimated Chen Feng.
They thought that by employing the tactic of "the masses are not to blame" and resorting to a strike, they could force Chen Feng to concede.
Little did they know, Chen Feng had mastered human nature and the dynamics of the workplace like a seasoned professional.
The leadership of the Mingshan City Industrial Zone remained oblivious to Chen Feng's actions.
They still believed that after a week, with no civil servants in the Mingshan City Industrial Zone, chaos would ensue.
Under such chaos, Chen Feng would surely compromise and beg them to return.
"Boss, there are still half the people working as usual."
In the hotel room, the second-in-command of the Mingshan City Industrial Zone said to the top leader with utmost respect.
"Have you investigated the reason?"
The top leader said dismissively.
With half the people not working, it should be enough; the other half wasn't crucial.
However, he was curious about the thoughts of the remaining half.
Did they think that young Chen Feng would win?
How many years had he been in the Chinese political arena? How could he possibly contend with them, the seasoned veterans?
"Boss, I've investigated. The reason they participated in our strike is that they've only been in the political arena for a few years. They are full of ideals and convictions, wanting to serve Mingshan City well and help the people of Mingshan City earn more money and live better lives sooner."
The deputy of Mingshan City said with a mocking smile.
"A bunch of bookworms who are too engrossed in their studies. In this day and age, who enters the Chinese political arena without wanting to make a fortune? They talk about ideals and convictions? What's wrong with their heads?"
The top leader of Mingshan City also sneered mockingly.
"Boss, should we take more drastic measures against these bookworms?"
The second-in-command said with a sinister tone.
"What drastic measures?"
The top leader asked curiously.
"Boss, here's what I think. I have the files of these bookworms. In the Chinese political arena, files are extremely important. If there's a stain on your file, you can never get promoted. Don't these bookworms have ideals and convictions? We'll add a significant indelible mark to their files, so they'll only have ridiculous ideals and convictions for their entire lives."
The second-in-command said with a fawning smile.
"You're still too merciful."
The top leader said with a cold smile.
"Boss, do you have a better idea?"
The second-in-command asked obsequiously.
"We don't need to tamper with their files; it's pointless. Let them enjoy themselves for a while. When Chen Feng compromises, we'll find a government project for these people to participate in, and then we'll embezzle the money. They'll all be scapegoats, and they'll all go to prison. Once they're in prison, their political files will be completely invalidated, and they'll never be able to enter the political arena again. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"
The top leader explained triumphantly.
"Boss, you truly are the boss. This plan is brilliant."
The second-in-command said with a sinister, flattering tone.
"Also, not only do we need to teach those bookworms who didn't follow us a harsh lesson, but we also need to deal with Chen Feng. This kid has ability, but he publicly challenges the unspoken rules of the political arena, and he must be retaliated against. With him around, we won't be able to make money anymore."
The top leader said with a frown.
"Boss, this kid Chen Feng, although not very old, is a seasoned veteran in the political arena. I'm afraid..."
The second-in-command said cautiously.
"What are you afraid of? I told you, Chen Feng has some ability, but he's a rigid thinker who likes to go against the unspoken rules of the political arena. There are many people who want him dead, not just us. If we unite a little, this guy will undoubtedly die mysteriously."
The top leader explained calmly.
"Boss, do you mean you want to kill Chen Feng?"
The second-in-command asked in confusion.
"He's poked the hornet's nest of most people in the political arena; he cannot live. Doesn't China have a saying? Blocking someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents; it's an irreconcilable hatred."
The top leader said proudly.
"Boss, can you tell me specifically how you plan to kill Chen Feng? I'm really curious."
The second-in-command said excitedly.
"There's a piece of land in the industrial zone that was requisitioned, and it offended a farmer. This farmer always wants someone to go down with him, so he's been held in the detention center. You understand, right?"
The top leader said with an excited, sinister tone.
"Boss, I know how you'll get rid of Chen Feng. We'll deliberately have Chen Feng inspect that industrial land. Then, we'll release the extremist farmer from the detention center. That way, the farmer will take Chen Feng down with him."
The second-in-command said with a sly smile.
"Got it. Aren't you going to arrange it quickly?"
The top leader urged.
The second-in-command didn't waste any time and immediately went to make arrangements.
The second-in-command's thinking was simple: Chen Feng had to die sooner rather than later.
Once Chen Feng was dead, they could continue to exploit external investors.
Local investors were like local bullies, difficult to exploit.
But external investors were different.
They only had money, no background, and could be exploited to the hilt.
After exploiting them, they would use the same empty promises to lure another wave of external investors.
Chen Feng was unaware of the top leader's scheme and went to inspect the industrial zone with no guard.
After a round of inspections, Chen Feng felt something was very wrong. Although the demolition funds allocated by the Mingshan City Industrial Zone were ample and the standards were much higher than in other places, in reality, the farmers didn't receive much money.
It seemed that the leadership of this industrial zone was too greedy.
Chen Feng sighed, recalling that a few years ago, this leadership team seemed quite good.
They were capable, and although they took bribes, they knew when to stop.
In just a few years, they had completely lost their bottom line.
Previously, for a million yuan, they'd take a hundred thousand.
He could accept that proportion because it was similar everywhere in the Chinese political arena.
There was no place that didn't involve corruption; the methods of corruption just differed.
Some corrupted through engineering losses, some through activity expenses, some by inflating compensation prices, some through kickbacks, and some through material pricing...
Therefore, as long as the corruption wasn't excessive, people would turn a blind eye.
It was impossible to eradicate corruption entirely.
Because there were ten thousand ways to corrupt, how could it be eradicated?
However, the leadership of the Mingshan City Industrial Zone had recently become increasingly greedy, taking ninety-five thousand out of a million yuan.
This wasn't corruption; it was massive corruption!
This kind of devilish greed had to be dealt with thoroughly!
However, speaking of which, the corruption capabilities of the leadership of the Mingshan City Industrial Zone were truly remarkable.
It was so seamless that if he hadn't conducted a field inspection, he wouldn't have noticed anything just by sitting in his office.
As Chen Feng was thinking, suddenly, a powerful killing intent erupted from the crowd...