"To be honest, the development of the Ming Mountain District Development and Reform Commission has been so good these past few days, it's not just thanks to you and me. All the subordinates in the Development and Reform Commission have done their best. Since they've done their best, there must be rewards. Otherwise, who will work hard in the future? The political arena is actually similar to the business world. For example, money is a motivator for work. You can say a thousand things to your subordinates, and while it might sound inspiring, it's actually nonsense; they won't be moved at all. Conversely, if you give subordinates financial encouragement, they'll treat the company or department as their own. In modern society, no one is foolish. Just relying on empty promises won't work," Chen Feng said with emotion.
"Chen Feng, what you've said is very good, which is why I'm asking you what would be good to give for the May Day bonus this time," Cheng Lu said with a smile.
"Your father is the top leader in Jiangcheng. You should know what the Development and Reform Commissions in other districts are giving, so ask him first and then decide," Chen Feng said earnestly.
"What does the Ming Mountain District giving bonuses to its subordinates have to do with other districts giving bonuses to their subordinates?" Cheng Lu asked with a look of confusion.
"It has a lot to do with it. Simply put, we can use the bonuses in other districts as a standard. The bonuses given by Ming Mountain District should be one level higher than those in other districts, but not too much higher," Chen Feng explained.
"I can understand not being lower than other districts, or being higher. But why not too much higher? To be honest, Ming Mountain District's economy has been developing rapidly recently, enough to support very high bonuses," Cheng Lu continued, still puzzled.
"Xiao Lu, you're still too young. Frankly, it's not just Ming Mountain District giving bonuses; all districts in Jiangcheng are. If the bonuses are too high, it will put other districts in an awkward position, and you know the consequences. There's no need to offend other districts over a bonus. Ming Mountain District's rapid development, to be honest, is also related to the close cooperation with other districts. If relations with other districts are strained, how can Ming Mountain District develop with their help in the future? In the political arena, one must have a big-picture perspective," Chen Feng explained earnestly.
"Mm, I was thinking too simply," Cheng Lu said sheepishly.
"It's okay, you learn from experience. Alright, I need to go to the provincial capital first," Chen Feng said seriously.
Cheng Lu understood immediately. Other districts only needed to send gifts to Jiangcheng. Ming Mountain District was different. It was the fastest-growing district in Jiangcheng, with ambitious economic goals. Therefore, it had to maintain contact with the provincial government. The reason was simple: many major economic projects could only be approved by the provincial government. After chatting for a while longer, the two parted ways.
Upon arriving in the provincial capital, Chen Feng did not go directly to the top leader of the provincial government, Xiang Wentian, or the second-in-command, Wang Hai. Instead, he went to see an old acquaintance, Cui Yali. Cui Yali had been promoted from the head of the personnel department in Jiangcheng to the head of the personnel department in the provincial capital, and Chen Feng had not visited her since.
"Shao'an, you finally came to see me," Cui Yali said emotionally.
"Cui Yi, you are my woman, so I will definitely come to see you," Chen Feng replied casually.
"Don't call me Cui Yi. I like it when you call me Run Ye," Cui Yali said, looking at Chen Feng with infatuation. Chen Feng felt a bit dizzy. Years had passed, but Cui Yali's personality hadn't changed at all. She was still completely engrossed in the novel "Ordinary World."
"Run Ye, May Day is coming soon, so I came to see you and ask for a small favor," Chen Feng said, feigning deep emotion. Since Cui Yali liked him to play the role of Sun Shao'an and dote on her as Tian Run Ye, he would act the part wholeheartedly. For those in the political arena, acting was their forte. Without the ability to act, one could never survive in politics. What is a political big shot? Someone who no one knows what they truly think. That is a political big shot. Why do some people only manage to stay at the bottom of the political ladder their entire lives? They are too bad at acting, too lacking in foresight. Their inner thoughts are easily seen through. If their thoughts are exposed, how can they climb higher?
"Whatever favor you need, just say it. I promise I'll handle it perfectly for you. Honestly, I was able to leap from being the head of the personnel department in Jiangcheng to the head of the provincial personnel department thanks to your connections in the provincial capital. I've always wanted to find an opportunity to repay you, but I never had one. Now, I finally have a chance," Cui Yali exclaimed excitedly.
"Run Ye, please don't say that. You are my woman. If I have connections in the provincial capital, I will definitely think of you first. My thought is, since we are like in 'Ordinary World,' destined to love each other but unable to marry, I must think of you more," Chen Feng said with affection. Women love it when men have affection in their eyes; give it to them.
"Shao'an, I didn't misjudge you. You are exactly like Sun Shao'an in 'Ordinary World,' a true man," Cui Yali said, and then she sat directly on Chen Feng's lap, disregarding that they were in an office.
"Run Ye, you are also a political big shot, so you should know that May Day is not just a golden week for tourism, but also a golden week for maintaining political connections. I want to give gifts to some big shots in the provincial capital, but I don't know what they like, so I've come to trouble you, Run Ye," Chen Feng said gently.
"This matter you're talking about is a piece of cake. I am the head of the provincial personnel department, so no one understands the situation of the provincial political big shots better than I do. However, I think you are currently only the head of the Development and Reform Commission in Ming Mountain District. This position, frankly, doesn't require you to cultivate connections in the provincial capital at this time. It's enough to cultivate connections in Jiangcheng," Cui Yali said seriously.
"Run Ye, to be honest, I've already handled the connections in Jiangcheng. You also know that Cheng Lu is my woman, and her father is the top leader in Jiangcheng. With that relationship, I'm smoothly managing the connections in Jiangcheng. However, my ambitions are a bit higher. I want to develop Ming Mountain District into a provincial-administered county-level city, that is, Mingshan City. To do this, I will definitely need to establish good relationships with the big shots in the provincial capital," Chen Feng explained in detail.
"What? You want to turn Ming Mountain District into a provincial-administered county-level city? This task is not generally easy, especially in Sanshui Province, an inland province. Coastal provinces are economically developed, and developing a county-level city is not difficult. This is why coastal provinces have many developed county-level cities. For example, the top county-level cities in China's economy include Kunshan, Jiangyin, Zhangjiagang, Changshu, Jinjiang, Cixi, Yixing, Changsha, Taicang, Liuyang... Most of them are county-level cities in developed coastal provinces. I think it's really difficult to develop a county-level city in an inland province," Cui Yali advised Chen Feng.
"Run Ye, I understand what you're saying. But for the sake of my grand political ambitions, I must tackle difficult political tasks. I've gone from being a deputy town mayor's driver to where I am now, and I intend to keep going. If I don't have any eye-catching achievements along the way, it will be difficult to advance to higher political ranks..." Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"That's true. If your achievements are mediocre, you won't be able to climb higher. It's good that you have grand ideas and put them into action. Reaching the peak of the political arena is harder than climbing to the heavens; that's a fact. But I believe that with your ability, you will eventually overcome it. How about this, give me the money, and I'll help you handle the May Day gift-giving for the provincial big shots," Cui Yali said decisively.
"Okay," Chen Feng replied without hesitation.
"Giving gifts to provincial big shots isn't a small sum of money. Are you really giving it to me like this? Aren't you afraid I'll embezzle it?" Cui Yali asked deliberately.
"Run Ye, you are my woman. If I don't even trust my woman, then I'm a pretty terrible person, right?" With that said, Chen Feng deliberately said the words "my woman" very loudly, then affectionately took off Cui Yali's clothes...