“Xiao Feng, do you really think your parents don't know anything? The village is doing this solely to curry favor with you. You're such a high-ranking official now; you can bring benefits to the village. To be honest, this is normal! Isn't it like this everywhere in China? China has always been like this. When someone becomes a high official, their hometown prospers too. Is there a problem with that?”
The two elders’ rhetorical questions completely stumped Chen Feng.
It was true, the logic made sense.
There was a Chinese idiom that described this perfectly.
"When one person attains the Tao, even their poultry and dogs ascend to heaven."
This was ingrained in the Chinese psyche. It was impossible for an individual to change it.
“Mom and Dad, I understand. Please don’t worry. Now, I need to go find the village chief. The village chief and the village committee have given our family such a great benefit; I should go thank them. Oh, right, this is Director Qin, and this is my secretary. Get the local specialties from home and let these two have a taste.”
Seeing Qin Yan and Cheng Lu standing there awkwardly, Chen Feng quickly made arrangements.
Chen Feng’s parents brought out many local specialties with smiles. In their eyes, these two women were Chen Feng’s women.
In the Chinese officialdom, ever since ancient times, officials could have as many wives as they wished.
It had to be said, these two women of his son were truly excellent.
They had class and were beautiful.
“Chen Feng, are you really planning to use your power to help the village?”
Qin Yan whispered to Chen Feng.
“Director Qin, as you can see, the village built such a large villa for our family. Besides the villa, they’ve also treated my parents very well. It wouldn't feel right not to reciprocate. You are also Chinese, so you should know that Chinese people value repaying even a drop of kindness with a gushing spring.”
Chen Feng replied earnestly.
“Chen Feng, I understand what you’re saying. If I were in your shoes, I would undoubtedly do my best to use my power to bring benefits to the village. However, you are different. You have grand ambitions in officialdom; you want to be the person at the very peak of China’s political arena. If you do this, what’s the difference between you and ordinary officials? Doing this will greatly lower your standing.”
Qin Yan said anxiously.
“Director Qin, you misunderstand me.”
Chen Feng replied with a smile.
“What? Misunderstand you? Aren’t you going to see the village chief to discuss repayment? Why would that be a misunderstanding?”
Qin Yan retorted with confusion.
“Director Qin, I am going to see the village chief. However, I’m not going to talk about using power to help the village. I said I would help the village with my own money. Did you forget? I have a large company in Japan. And recently, I’ve started a large company in China too, managed by Li Hongling. Helping the village doesn’t only have to be through power; it can also be through money.”
Chen Feng continued to explain with a smile.
“Oh, you scared me. I almost thought you’d compromised your integrity. I was wondering how a young man with political aspirations could make such a foolish mistake. Alright, since you won’t make a mistake, then hurry up and go see the village chief. Cheng Lu and I will stay at your house and enjoy the local specialties. Honestly, living in the city all the time, it’s rare to get a chance to eat natural foods from the countryside.”
Qin Yan said with a smile.
Chen Feng didn’t say anything more and went directly to the village chief’s house.
“Deputy District Chief Chen has arrived.”
The village chief said with a fawning expression.
“Village Chief, please don’t call me that. No matter how high an official I am outside, when I return to the village, I am still the same Chen Feng. Just call me Chen Feng.”
Chen Feng said humbly.
“Deputy District Chief Chen, you are too polite. You are the highest-ranking official in our village’s history, our village’s pride.”
The village chief continued with a fawning smile.
“Village Chief, I’ve come this time specifically to thank you for building such a large villa for our family and for taking such good care of my parents.”
Chen Feng got straight to the point.
“Deputy District Chief Chen, you are too kind. You are busy with state affairs outside, so helping you resolve your worries is what we should do.”
The village chief flattered him.
“How about this, Village Chief, I’ve thought about it. I am now a deputy district chief, and although the position isn’t very high, I can attract some investment to the village…”
Chen Feng stated his intentions upfront.
“Attract some investment?”
The village chief whispered.
It was evident the village chief had misunderstood, thinking Chen Feng meant a small amount of investment.
Frankly, the village wasn’t interested in investments of a few million yuan.
That villa alone was worth more than a few million.
“Yes, just a little investment. My current position isn’t very high, so attracting major investments is difficult.”
Chen Feng deliberately teased the village chief.
“Deputy District Chief Chen, you are too modest. You are the deputy chief of a district, equivalent to a deputy county magistrate. That’s a high-ranking official!”
The village chief said excitedly.
“Wuzhou District is a poor district, so when you really calculate it, it’s not really a high-ranking official. How about this, the village can accept this small investment first. Later, when I become a high official, I’ll help the village attract large investments. This time, it will be an investment of about eight hundred million yuan to help the village build a canning factory. This way, the village’s fruit won’t have to be sold at low prices to fruit intermediaries.”
Chen Feng said, suppressing a smile.
“How much?”
The village chief was stunned.
“Eight hundred million.”
“And this is a small investment?”
The village chief looked at Chen Feng, dazed.
“Compared to a deputy district chief, eight hundred million is indeed a small investment.”
Chen Feng said with a smile.
“Indeed, indeed…”
The village chief replied awkwardly.
“By the way, Chen Feng, at your age, shouldn’t you be getting married?”
The village chief changed the subject.
“According to the village rules, at my age, I should be married. But I’m busy.”
Chen Feng replied perfunctorily.
“Chen Feng, what do you think of my daughter?”
The village chief asked tentatively.
“Your daughter? She’s very good.”
Chen Feng burst into laughter again, but he managed to restrain himself.
After all, his parents often relied on the village chief when they were in the village. For appearances, he had to maintain a good relationship.
“Since you think my daughter is very good, and you’re back in the village, why don’t the two of you get married?”
The village chief said excitedly.
“I’d really like to, but my girlfriend doesn’t agree.”
Chen Feng said, suppressing his laughter.
“What? You have a girlfriend? Didn’t you just say you didn’t…”
The village chief asked, extremely disappointed.
“Village Chief, I just said I haven’t gotten married yet. I didn’t say I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Chen Feng replied, word by word.
“That’s true. How could a high official like you not have a girlfriend? I was thinking too naively.”
The village chief replied awkwardly.
“It’s okay, your daughter is so beautiful; she’ll definitely find a wealthy husband.”
Chen Feng said awkwardly to comfort the village chief.
“Deputy District Chief Chen, how about this, since you have many girlfriends, let my daughter be one of them.”
The village chief said loudly.
He didn’t feel it was shameful to have his daughter become a mistress to a high official.
On the contrary, he felt it was a good thing for his daughter to be a high official’s mistress.
His daughter could enjoy a good life, and he, as her father, could also benefit.
“Village Chief, that wouldn’t be appropriate. Your daughter is a young unmarried woman; how could you let her be wronged like this?”
Chen Feng tried his best to decline.
At the same time, he was also shocked.
He never expected that the worship of money in China had become so twisted and perverse.
For money, they had no bottom line in their actions.
“She’s not wronged, not at all.”
The village chief immediately stated his attitude.
“Village Chief, thank you for your kind offer, but I am an official, and I cannot make mistakes.”
Chen Feng continued to decline.
“Alright, since Deputy District Chief Chen, you say so, I won’t force you. However, since you’ve come to see me, you must stay for dinner today.”
The village chief said with a sly, meaningful look.
As long as Chen Feng stayed for dinner, he could drug the wine, and his daughter could have a consummated marriage with him…