"Director Liao, please don't be angry. How about this, I'll arrange for other women to accompany you for a couple more drinks." Chen Feng suppressed his anger and replied perfunctorily.
"Do I look like someone who lacks women? Someone you need to arrange?" Director Liao glared, his eyes wide with fury.
"Then how do you want to proceed?" Chen Feng was starting to lose patience. He had already given Director Liao plenty of face, but the director wasn't taking the hint.
"Today, I must have Li Hongling..." Director Liao said with a lewd expression.
"Director Liao, there's really no need for this. Li Hongling is my sworn sister, and she's not feeling well. If you could be magnanimous..." Chen Feng said, barely containing his anger.
"Stop the nonsense. Just one sentence, are you handing her over or not?" Director Liao said with a chilling gaze.
"Director Liao, if you put it that way, then I apologize, but we have nothing further to discuss." Chen Feng decided he wouldn't tolerate it anymore. He had given Director Liao enough face, and if the director didn't accept it, there was nothing he could do.
"Chen Feng, think carefully before you answer. If you offend me, forget about any bank loan business in Mingshan City from now on." Director Liao threatened.
Chen Feng didn't doubt Director Liao's words at all. Director Liao was not only the director of the Provincial Agricultural Bank but also the director of the Provincial Financial Supervision Office. The Provincial Financial Supervision Office, though relatively small in scale, was a crucial institution. As long as the Provincial Financial Supervision Office did not approve, any large loans from any bank would not go through.
"Director Liao, if you say that, then I apologize, but we can only part ways." Chen Feng said calmly. He truly didn't want to fall out with Director Liao, but if Director Liao was acting like an idiot, then there was no other way but to part ways. He wouldn't sacrifice his woman for the sake of so-called benefits. A person could compromise, even grovel, but there had to be a bottom line. Women, brothers, and the common people were his bottom line. Other things could be negotiated, but these three were not.
"Kid, you have guts. You dare to offend me for a woman. Don't say another word. Go back and prepare to be kicked out of Mingshan City's political arena along with Li Hongling." Director Liao said with a sinister smile.
Chen Feng replied coldly.
In the evening, Chen Feng returned to the villa complex in Mingshan City. He, Qin Yan, and Cheng Lu all lived there. This villa wasn't bought by the three of them; it was a gift from several prominent businessmen in Mingshan City. The three of them didn't stand on ceremony and accepted it directly. The reasoning was simple: to survive in the political arena, one couldn't be too aloof. If wealthy businessmen offered a villa in a very secure manner, refusing it would be going against the unspoken rules of the entire political arena. Resisting in such a way would make every subsequent action met with increasing resistance.
...
Upon arriving at the entrance of the villa complex, Chen Feng saw Li Hongling waiting at the gate.
"Xiao Ling, what are you doing here?" Chen Feng asked in surprise.
"Brother Feng, I'm still worried about Director Liao. I just have a feeling he won't let this go. Although I've only recently entered the political arena, I'm aware of the disgusting character of some men in politics. If they set their sights on a woman, they must have her. Anyone who stops them from getting a woman will face their frenzied revenge." Li Hongling asked with concern.
"Xiao Ling, you're right. After I refused to hand you over, Director Liao indeed made threats to retaliate against me and you." Chen Feng said calmly.
"Ah? Director Liao really intends to retaliate against you and me?" Li Hongling asked, stunned.
"In politics, this is standard practice. Since we refused him, he's bound to retaliate."
"Brother Feng, it doesn't matter if he retaliates against me, but he can't retaliate against you. It was incredibly difficult for you to reach your current position. How about this, I'll go see Director Liao tonight." Li Hongling said earnestly.
"You're going to see Director Liao? Do you know what Director Liao intends to do to you?" Chen Feng asked deliberately.
"Brother Feng, I'm not stupid. How could I not know what a man like Director Liao wants? He just wants to sleep with me. I've thought it through. It's impossible for a woman like me to navigate the political arena and maintain her integrity while keeping her body pure. That's not the point. Honestly, if it were just about staying in politics, I certainly wouldn't give up my body; I could just leave the arena. However, this time, because my issue has implicated you, Brother Feng, I can only choose to go see Director Liao." Li Hongling said with determination.
"Xiao Ling, you are my woman. If I agree to you going to see Director Liao, doesn't that mean I'm handing my woman over to another man? If I agree to do this, am I still a man?" Chen Feng replied, speaking word by word.
"Brother Feng, I know you are a man of principle, and you protect your women with your life. However, having your heart is enough. I still need to go see Director Liao tonight. I'll do whatever it takes, however lowly, because your future in politics is boundless, and I absolutely cannot ruin it." Li Hongling said earnestly.
"Actually, you don't need to be so pessimistic." Chen Feng stopped playing coy. Li Hongling was a good woman, willing to sacrifice for her man. As a man, having such a woman was something he definitely needed to cherish.
"Brother Feng, what do you mean?" Li Hongling was taken aback.
"I mean, Director Liao cannot retaliate against us." Chen Feng explained directly.
"Director Liao is not only the director of the Provincial Agricultural Bank but also the director of the Provincial Financial Supervision Office. With a word from him, most large loans in Mingshan City will be impossible to secure in the future. Nowadays, whether it's for business or for developing projects in the political arena, if large bank loans cannot be approved, it's essentially over." Li Hongling said worriedly.
"According to the unspoken rules of politics, Director Liao is a big shot in the provincial financial sector. With a word from him, he can easily block the approval of large loans in Mingshan City. However, for everything, there are always exceptions. Mingshan City is the exception..." Chen Feng said calmly.
"Mingshan City is an exception? How is that possible? Mingshan City's loan system belongs to the Sanshui Province's loan system, and it ultimately needs provincial approval. How can it escape Director Liao's grasp? Director Liao is the director of the Provincial Financial Supervision Office. Although this title sounds small, his influence is immense." Li Hongling continued, her brow furrowed with worry.
"If Mingshan City's huge loans don't go through the Sanshui Province loan system, wouldn't that solve the problem?" Chen Feng said with a smile.
"What? Not go through the Sanshui Province loan system? How is that possible? Mingshan City is a county-level city under Sanshui Province; how can its loans not go through the Sanshui Province loan system?" Li Hongling asked, full of confusion.
"I stayed in Sanhai Province for a while. I can go to banks in Sanhai Province to secure loans. Once a large loan is negotiated, Director Liao will then proactively seek us out." Chen Feng said calmly.
"Brother Feng, I have two questions. First, is it possible to get loans across provinces? Second, why would Director Liao come begging us once a cross-province loan is successfully secured?" Li Hongling continued to ask, her confusion evident.
"Firstly, under normal circumstances, cross-province loans are not permitted, and banks are unwilling to handle them. However, for premium clients, banks are very willing to provide cross-province loans. Premium clients are those who have the ability to repay. Mingshan City's economy is developing rapidly and has the full capability to repay. Furthermore, if we successfully secure a huge cross-province loan, Sanshui Province will definitely find trouble with Director Liao..." Chen Feng explained calmly.
"Brother Feng, you truly have a natural talent for politics. Difficult tasks that seem impossible are resolved so skillfully by you. By the way, Brother Feng, are you going to Sanhai Province next?" Li Hongling asked, her eyes shining with excitement and admiration. Chen Feng was undoubtedly a man full of charm.