"Xue Rong, I know you like me, but we two are impossible. I come from a rural background and graduated from a second-tier university. My family background is too poor, and your family would definitely not agree. Therefore, it's better for me to return to Jiangcheng."
Lin Xue Rong quickly advised Chen Feng.
"It's okay if you don't marry me. After I get married, I can secretly play with you, can't I? Such things are very common in modern society."
Lin Xue Rong said with a smile.
"Xue Rong, it's true that there are many such things as having affairs after marriage in modern society. However, I don't advise you to learn from it."
Chen Feng said earnestly.
"Why don't you advise me to learn?"
Lin Xue Rong asked with a look of confusion.
"Because you are not an ordinary woman, you are a woman from a prominent family, so your marriage is a political marriage. Political marriages are different from ordinary people's marriages. Ordinary people's marriages can be messy; at worst, they divorce. But political marriages cannot lead to divorce; you are tied together until death. Think about it, in such a serious political marriage, if an extramarital affair is discovered, it's terrifying. It can be said that a political marriage may lack love, but it absolutely cannot be messy. Once it's discovered to be messy, it can only lead to death."
Chen Feng explained patiently.
"Alright, I've thought about things too simply again. But it doesn't matter, you can stay in the capital and not contact me again. You can focus wholeheartedly on developing your career in the capital; entering the political arena of the capital is the dream of many people for their entire lives. If I help you a little, you'll realize your lifelong dream, which is quite good."
Lin Xue Rong continued to advise Chen Feng.
"Xue Rong, thank you for thinking of me so much. However, I don't want to come to the capital for now. As you know, I am still young and not mature in all aspects. Forcing myself into the capital's political arena will only lead to one outcome: being completely devoured by the old hands of the capital's political arena."
Chen Feng continued to explain.
"Chen Feng, I am completely convinced. You think about every issue so profoundly. Wang Zi Wei is truly lucky to have such an excellent man like you. Alright, you go back to Jiangcheng. I'll go back and discuss with my dad to find another political marriage. Someone like me who doesn't have much of a brain is fine following my dad's plan."
Lin Xue Rong said with self-deprecation.
Chen Feng did not hesitate and left the capital immediately.
He returned to Jiangcheng at lunchtime.
Qin Yan and Cheng Lu came together to call him for dinner, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward.
"Let's all three go together. My treat."
Chen Feng smiled to ease the tension.
"Forget it. You go have dinner with Director Qin. I'll pass next time."
Cheng Lu responded immediately.
Qin Yan sought Chen Feng for dinner this time for a serious reason. She found Chen Feng for dinner, and it was about personal matters.
In the face of serious matters, personal feelings would naturally be put aside.
Thus, Chen Feng went to a private room at a hotel with Qin Yan for dinner.
Midway through the meal, Qin Yan began to get to the point.
"Chen Feng, do you know that Ming Shan District is going to hold a leadership meeting soon?"
Qin Yan said seriously.
"I'm not very clear. As you know, I'm just the Director of the Development and Reform Commission and don't have the qualifications to attend the Ming Shan District leadership meeting."
Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"This is exactly why I asked you here. To be blunt, I want you to attend the leadership meeting."
Qin Yan stated her purpose directly.
"Director Qin, I understand your feelings, but it's best not to do that. The political arena has its rules. My rank is not high enough, and forcing my way into the leadership meeting will undermine your authority. "
Chen Feng said truthfully.
"Chen Feng, I know what you're saying. I'm an old hand in the political arena; how could I not know these things? It's just that I've been promoted to District Mayor of Ming Shan District so suddenly that I can't adapt. There are many things I can't give correct opinions on. One or two mistakes are fine; no one is perfect. But the problem is, if no one helps me, and I keep making mistakes in the political arena, how will the Ming Shan District leadership view me? That's why I want you to attend the leadership meeting. First, you can help me. Second, you can familiarize yourself with the operation of the Ming Shan District leadership in advance. With your abilities, it won't be long before you can enter the leadership team."
Qin Yan spoke truthfully.
"Director Qin, I understand what you're saying. In that case, I can find a way to attend the Ming Shan District leadership meeting, but even if I attend, I can only communicate with you with my eyes."
Chen Feng replied after some thought.
"Only communicate with your eyes? What do you mean?"
Qin Yan was taken aback.
"Because I am not a member of the Ming Shan District leadership, if I attend the leadership meeting, I can only do so as a meeting recorder. Since I'm a recorder, I naturally can't communicate directly with you verbally, only through eye contact."
Chen Feng explained.
"This can work."
A weight was lifted from Qin Yan's heart.
The reason was simple: she and Chen Feng had long formed a tacit understanding, and many things could be accomplished without much verbal communication.
"Then how will the original recorder be arranged?"
Qin Yan asked, following up.
"The original recorder will be sent down to be a section member. He'll be happy to go."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"A recorder becoming a section member so quickly, isn't that being too generous to the recorder?"
Qin Yan exclaimed.
"That is indeed being generous to the recorder! According to the conventions of the political arena, it would take at least ten years for a nominal recorder to become a substantive section member. However, from another perspective, it doesn't matter. If this recorder doesn't leave, how can I legitimately enter as a recorder?"
Chen Feng reassured Qin Yan.
"That makes sense. Chen Feng, Chen Feng, your insight into issues is really fast and accurate now. I haven't even reacted, and you've already figured it all out. Alright, get ready, the leadership meeting will be held in a few days."
Qin Yan marveled.
"Director Qin, could you briefly tell me the topic of this leadership meeting so I can prepare?"
Chen Feng asked, seizing the opportunity.
"The topic for this leadership meeting is the district's reported GDP for this year, whether to report it high or low."
Qin Yan directly revealed the topic without hesitation.
"I already have the answer to this question."
Chen Feng smiled calmly.
"What? You have the answer so quickly?"
Qin Yan was stunned.
"Actually, I've been thinking about this issue for a long time. China is a country that attaches great importance to GDP, so I've been studying this matter for a long time."
Chen Feng replied with a calm expression.
"Then tell me, should our Ming Shan District report its GDP high or low?"
Qin Yan countered.
"Either is fine; it depends on what you think. If you want Ming Shan District to develop greatly and have a bright future in the political arena, you must report it high. As high as possible, falsely report it as high as possible. Once a high GDP is announced, it will immediately attract the attention of the higher authorities, and preferential economic policies will follow immediately. This way, Ming Shan District will have strong development momentum. Reporting it low is also an option. Not only will you pay less tax, but you can also receive subsidies from the higher authorities. Of course, there will be no economic preference, and your political future will also be largely stagnant."
Chen Feng explained patiently.
"This is strange, Chen Feng. From what you've said, we should definitely choose to report it high. Why would some people in the leadership agree to report it low? What kind of mindset is that?"
Qin Yan asked with confusion.