It turned out that Liao Chengzhi, using his position, contracted a large reservoir on the outskirts of the provincial capital to his relatives.
To be honest, this kind of operation is very common in China's official circles.
China is a society of relationships, and the official arena is even more so, a society of relationships within a society of relationships.
To give a simple example, if the father is a powerful figure in the official arena, and his son has just graduated from university, he will definitely not go to a factory to work. He will definitely try his best to enter the official arena.
This was the case in ancient China, and it is still the case now.
This leads to a negative consequence.
The official arena is too riddled with nepotism, and it persists despite prohibitions.
However, fortunately, society today is much more civilized than in the past.
When powerful figures in the official arena want to do bad things, they don't do them openly but secretly.
Liao Chengzhi's relative was quite peculiar. For the sake of the fish farm's profitability, he refused to release water during the dry season.
As a result, many crops downstream suffered from insufficient water and their yields decreased.
The people downstream had complained to the Provincial Water Resources Department many times. In the end, Liao Chengzhi, having accepted a huge bribe from his relative, simply ignored the problems reported by the people downstream.
The reason given to the higher authorities was that there was no water to release during the dry season.
The powerful figures in the higher authorities sit in offices and do not know whether there is water or not during the dry season. They basically believe whatever the Water Resources Department says.
As the saying goes, officials protect each other.
Now, the problem is that the people downstream, having reported their problems to no avail multiple times, and some even being arrested and detained for several days, have stopped complaining over time.
To this end, Chen Feng came up with a good idea that would not only encourage the people downstream to continue reporting problems to the provincial capital but also make money.
Making money is the core motivation for getting people to do things.
For farmers, money equates to courage.
Chen Feng's way of helping the people downstream make money was to provide them with crayfish seedlings for free and then buy them back at a high price.
Not only that, but he also taught them the techniques for raising crayfish in Mingshan District hand in hand.
In this way, every household would be 100% willing to raise crayfish.
As long as every household raised crayfish, the matter of the reservoir on the outskirts of the provincial capital could not be kept secret.
No sooner said than done, Chen Feng immediately returned and asked Cheng Lu to arrange the Mingshan District crayfish farming support project.
"Chen Feng, don't be impulsive. The Mingshan District crayfish farming support project is a pure money-loser."
Cheng Lu advised Chen Feng.
"Yes, it's a money-loser. But, it doesn't matter. I will cover the losses, not the public funds."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"What? You're personally funding the support for the people on the outskirts of the provincial capital to raise crayfish? What's the point?"
Cheng Lu was dizzy.
Chen Feng did not hide anything and explained the whole process.
"Chen Feng, your method of counter-attacking Liao Chengzhi is quite good. But the problem is, isn't the cost too high? The crayfish support project is not a small amount."
Cheng Lu continued to advise Chen Feng.
"If it were just spending so much money, it would definitely not be worth it, and I wouldn't do it. I'm not an idiot, and I wouldn't throw money away like an idiot just to save face. The main thing is that this time, I can take advantage of Liao Chengzhi to make money while also helping people escape poverty and get rich. It's a win-win situation, which is great."
Chen Feng explained.
"Chen Feng, I'm more and more impressed with you. Your vision is several levels higher than other powerful figures. Other powerful figures fight in the political arena, not only with insidious cunning but also by harming innocent people. You are different; when you fight with your opponents, you also do a great deed."
Cheng Lu said with admiration.
"I've won an award, Xiao Lu."
Chen Feng smiled humbly.
"By the way, Chen Feng, Liao Chengzhi is the head of the Water Resources Department. How can the problems reported by the people about the reservoir on the outskirts of the provincial capital avoid the tragedy of the past, where officials protect each other, issues are ignored, and deception prevails..."
Cheng Lu asked tentatively.
"Two words can fix it."
Chen Feng said confidently.
"Which two words?"
Cheng Lu asked curiously.
"Declaration."
"Declaration of what?"
Cheng Lu became even more confused.
Chen Feng's words were becoming increasingly unfathomable.
It required a lot of thinking.
Sometimes, even after a lot of thinking, the deeper meaning of his words could not be understood.
"Let the people on the outskirts of the provincial capital bypass the Water Resources Department and apply to the provincial capital for a crayfish base. Once this base is successfully applied for, then, in the future, the crayfish farming projects on the outskirts of the provincial capital will not need to go through the Water Resources Department. By bypassing the Water Resources Department, Liao Chengzhi's good days are numbered."
Chen Feng patiently explained.
"Is it difficult to apply for a nationally renowned base in China?"
Cheng Lu asked tentatively.
"It's not difficult. As long as the relevant local departments are willing to spend money, they can easily get the title of 'base.' Things like 'leading production base,' 'film and television base,' 'capital of leather shoes,' 'capital of socks,' 'global small commodity market'... these might seem very impressive, but they are not as difficult to apply for as imagined. All it takes is money."
Chen Feng said with a smile.
"Then who will pay for this?"
"Of course, I will."
Chen Feng replied without thinking.
"Chen Feng, don't you think this money is too much?"
Cheng Lu asked tentatively.
"It is a lot, but it is worth it. Cheng Lu, you are also an employee of the official arena, and you should know that if you want to do great things in the official arena, you can't be stingy. The official arena is different from the business world. In the business world, you invest money and see results quickly. The official arena is different. Investment in the official arena is a very slow process, a very inconspicuous process, but it is a very necessary process. Just like this time, if I don't spend a huge amount of money to deal with Liao Chengzhi of the Water Resources Department, he will intensify his actions against the women around me, possibly Qin Yan, possibly you, or other women. I can tolerate it once, but if it happens many times, how can I tolerate it? Also, Liao Chengzhi has played a trick on me once with his cunning and maliciousness, and there will be a next time. I must deal with him before his next treacherous and malicious act. This is called foresight."
Chen Feng patiently explained.
"Chen Feng, can you tell me where you get so many deep thoughts? To be honest, neither Qin Yan nor I can give you such profound ideas."
Cheng Lu asked curiously.
"Let me give you an analogy, and you'll understand. If I don't know how to swim, and someone throws me into the sea, I can only learn to swim by myself. Not only learn to swim, but also become proficient. If I don't learn, I will die. The official arena is the same. Since I have entered the official arena, I must look carefully and learn diligently every day. Otherwise, I would have been reduced to dust by the official arena."
Chen Feng said with deep feeling.
"Chen Feng, the official arena is so complex and unfathomable. Are you sure you still want to stay? Actually, you, me, and Qin Yan already have enough money to live a lifetime."
Cheng Lu asked tentatively.
"This question is a classic. Actually, I have thought about it before, washing my hands of gold and withdrawing from the official arena. However, to put it bluntly, I feel that the reason why China cannot truly become a world power is that the entire Chinese official arena has major problems. I want to enter the high levels of the Chinese official arena and change this situation with my own strength. Of course, this idea is a bit like a fantasy, but I have decided to strive for this noble goal for a lifetime."
Chen Feng said with determination.
"Chen Feng, Chen Feng, I realize now that everyone has underestimated you. Your vision is to become a great figure of the era! But there is one problem, have you considered it? Every great figure of the era has a woman with a very deep background, or several very powerful brothers as strong support, and then strives for a lifetime before reaching the pinnacle of the official arena. However, you only have us women around you, which seems to be holding you back..."
Cheng Lu said guiltily.