"Vice District Chief Qin, since you've been nominated, there's no need to dwell on it so much, is there?" Chen Feng said, concealing his intentions.
In fact, Qin Yan's selection as an outstanding student in the Jiangcheng Youth Training Camp had something to do with him.
"I must clarify this matter. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease," Qin Yan replied earnestly.
"Alright, Vice District Chief Qin. Originally, I didn't want to mention this. Since you insist on clarifying, I'll be straightforward. I asked someone for a favor," Chen Feng said calmly.
"What? You asked someone? No wonder I thought, how could someone with ordinary connections like me be inexplicably selected as an outstanding student in the Youth Training Camp? So, it turns out you helped me by asking someone. Um... could it be Cheng Liren you asked?" Qin Yan tentatively inquired.
"I wanted to ask Cheng Liren, but Cheng Lu takes care of him. It wouldn't be practical to take care of you as well. So, I went to the provincial capital to ask someone for you," Chen Feng continued calmly.
"Went to the provincial capital to ask someone for me? Who?" Qin Yan grew increasingly curious.
"Vice District Chief Qin, perhaps it's better not to ask? Knowing the general idea is sufficient," Chen Feng advised Qin Yan.
"I definitely need to know clearly. People are naturally curious. If you stop halfway, do you think I can rest easy?" Qin Yan retorted.
Chen Feng, upon hearing this, realized she had a point.
"It was the provincial capital's top official, Xiang Wentian," Chen Feng replied word by word.
"Who?" Qin Yan was stunned.
"Xiang Wentian."
"You mean the provincial capital's top official, Xiang Wentian, who is so insidious, a completely different person in front of others and behind their backs?" Qin Yan asked with a frown.
"That's him."
"Xiang Wentian is the provincial capital's top official. How did you get in touch with him?" Qin Yan asked, perplexed.
"Xiang Wentian used to drive for a leader in Jiangcheng, so he would return to Jiangcheng to show off from time to time. Wang Ziwei works as a math teacher at Jiangcheng University of Technology, and she had dinner with Xiang Wentian a few times. That's how I coincidentally got to know Xiang Wentian," Chen Feng explained the general process to Qin Yan without concealment.
"Chen Feng, we are very, very good friends, almost like a couple. I won't lie to you. How can you be so close to someone like Xiang Wentian?" Qin Yan asked softly.
"Vice District Chief Qin, you are also an old hand in the political arena. You should know that to establish a foothold in politics, one must take sides. My closeness to Xiang Wentian means I am aligning with Xiang Wentian's faction," Chen Feng explained.
"Chen Feng, I understand that in politics, one must choose a side. However, if you have to choose a side, why not choose someone you like? Aligning with someone of such low moral character, wouldn't it be disgusting every day?" Qin Yan asked, utterly confused.
"Vice District Chief Qin, thinking this way only shows that your understanding of politics hasn't reached a certain level. In politics, there are no preferences, no right or wrong, only interests. Think carefully, besides aligning with Xiang Wentian, who else can bring such enormous benefits? If not him, who else?"
"That makes sense, but have you ever thought about what would happen if, while working with Xiang Wentian, you were discarded like a chess piece one day?"
"Vice District Chief Qin, you are absolutely right. In politics, officials like us have limited power and can only be chess pieces for the big bosses above. Swapping to a so-called boss you like is still being a chess piece. Since we are chess pieces, there is always a possibility of being abandoned. What we can do is strive to be an extremely important chess piece, one that cannot be discarded," Chen Feng explained.
"I understand what you're saying, but I still feel uncomfortable. I've heard from people in the circle that Xiang Wentian has done many unscrupulous things: sleeping with his subordinates' wives, sleeping with his own brother's wife, and to get promoted, letting his wife sleep with higher-ups, even letting his daughter accompany higher-ups to sleep... Someone with such low moral character can become the top official of the provincial capital. I can only say that Xiang Wentian is too cunning and too good at disguising himself. Aligning with such a person, I really fear being betrayed to the bone if I'm not careful. This guy truly has no bottom line in his actions!" Qin Yan replied gloomily.
"Vice District Chief Qin, don't worry. Most people who work with Xiang Wentian will be backfired upon. But I am not most people; I won't be backfired upon by Xiang Wentian. On the contrary, I am Xiang Wentian's terminator," Chen Feng said with a smile.
"What? You are Xiang Wentian's terminator?" Qin Yan asked, her eyes shining with intensity.
"Yes, I am Xiang Wentian's terminator. To put it plainly, I want to use Xiang Wentian and also bring him down. It's not that I want to replace Xiang Wentian, but if someone like Xiang Wentian continues to stay in politics, the ceiling for the provincial capital's development will be limited. For the provincial capital to achieve leapfrog development, people with low moral character like Xiang Wentian must step down. Of course, that's for later. For now, Xiang Wentian can still shamelessly remain in the provincial capital's political arena without affecting the overall situation," Chen Feng said calmly.
"Chen Feng, honestly, I truly admire your breadth of mind, being able to pretend to like someone you don't." Qin Yan sighed.
"Vice District Chief Qin, this is the most basic skill for navigating politics and must be mastered. In politics, you must conceal your joys and sorrows. If others easily know who you like and dislike, then your future in politics is essentially over. To put it in common terms, this is called having depth of character," Chen Feng said with a smile.
"I understand, Chen Feng. You've told me so much that if I still don't get it, I'd be more foolish than a pig. By the way, Chen Feng, Xiang Wentian helped me so much, it couldn't have been for free, right?" Qin Yan asked softly.
"Everything in politics is conditional. Xiang Wentian is no exception, and this is precisely what I will tell you next. Tomorrow, I will go to the provincial capital. Xiang Wentian kept his word by getting you nominated as an outstanding student in the Jiangcheng Youth Training Camp, and I must also fulfill my promise," Chen Feng said indifferently.
"What agreement do you have with Xiang Wentian?" Qin Yan asked curiously.
"Xiang Wentian helped you get selected as an outstanding member of the Youth Training Camp, and I will help Xiang Wentian receive a Japanese investment delegation in the provincial capital. Xiang Wentian knows I can speak Japanese, and I am also familiar with Fengdao Huizi and Jiaye Meizi, so it is most appropriate for me to receive the Japanese investment delegation."
"Just receiving them? This doesn't fit Xiang Wentian's shrewd and cunning persona," Qin Yan tentatively asked.
"Of course, it's not just about receiving the Japanese investment delegation; I also have to secure several major deals. If I fail, I will resign to take responsibility," Chen Feng said earnestly.
"Chen Feng, are you crazy? For the sake of my so-called outstanding student status in the Youth Training Camp, you made such a deal with Xiang Wentian? If it fails, won't your political dream be completely shattered?" Qin Yan asked with mixed feelings.
"Vice District Chief Qin, you are the most important woman to me, and it's your first time entering the political arena of Mingshan District. You must have political qualifications to stabilize your position, so I must make this deal with Xiang Wentian. Of course, this is not a suicide mission; I have a certain degree of confidence. I might not have confidence dealing with other businessmen, but I am very confident dealing with Japanese businessmen. Although Japan and China have historical enmity and are always at odds, deep down, Japanese people have many Chinese influences. As long as I grasp the psychology of the Japanese, closing several major deals shouldn't be a big problem," Chen Feng reassured Qin Yan.
"Now that you've said it, I'm relieved. By the way, I heard that the Japanese princess will also be accompanying this Japanese investment delegation to the provincial capital. Is that true?" Qin Yan asked with curiosity.