Cheng Lu was immediately impressed by what Chen Feng said.
She had been thinking too simply; matters of officialdom, especially significant ones, could never be so straightforward.
Therefore, Cheng Lu decided to bring Chen Feng back to Jiangcheng with her.
To avoid revealing anything, Cheng Lu still informed her father in advance to engage with Chen Feng as an outsider.
However, this time, Cheng Lu miscalculated.
The current Chen Feng was no longer the driver who used to drive for Qin Yan.
At this moment, Chen Feng, having been through the baptism of grassroots officialdom, had already become a seasoned veteran of the political arena.
After a brief analysis, Chen Feng quickly concluded that Cheng Liren was the top official in Jiangcheng.
"Elder Cheng, the integration of Yongming County into Jiangcheng has strong operability. I hope you can relocate the unmanned vehicle parts project, a focus of Jiangcheng's investment promotion, to Mingshan Town."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"Chen Feng, do you know who my father is?"
Cheng Lu by his side was stunned for a moment.
"I didn't know before, but I do now."
Chen Feng replied unhurriedly.
"I didn't say anything, how did you guess?"
Cheng Lu asked with confusion.
"When I was Mayor Qin's driver before, I was ignorant, so if you and your father concealed it a little, I wouldn't know. Today, after struggling in the political arena for so long, my ability to read people is vastly different. From Elder Cheng's demeanor and speech, I can be sure that Elder Cheng is Mr. Cheng Liren, the top official of Jiangcheng."
Chen Feng replied unhurriedly.
At the same time, he felt even more admiration for Qin Yan.
Qin Yan had known long ago that Cheng Lu's father was no ordinary person.
"Hmm, I was careless, I always thought you were still that driver from before."
Cheng Lu said, feeling a bit dizzy.
"Chen Feng, stop talking nonsense. Since you've seen through my identity, I won't hide it any longer. The matter you've come to ask for today, I tell you clearly, is impossible."
Cheng Liren said coldly.
"Dad, how can you be like this? Helping Mingshan Town develop its economy is actually helping Jiangcheng develop its economy. You can't intentionally refuse just because you have a prejudice against Chen Feng."
Cheng Lu immediately tried to persuade her father.
"Xiao Lu, you underestimate your father. My perspective is not as narrow as you think. The reason I'm unwilling to move the Jiangcheng unmanned vehicle parts project to Mingshan Town is not because of Chen Feng, but because I cannot make this decision alone. You've been in the political arena for a while and should know that big shots in politics aren't all-powerful; there are things they cannot achieve."
Cheng Liren explained calmly.
"Dad, then tell me, as the top official of Jiangcheng, how can you be unable to act freely?"
Cheng Lu questioned with disbelief.
"Firstly, the Jiangcheng unmanned vehicle parts project is not a standalone project; it's part of Jiangcheng's hundred-day investment promotion. It's not as simple as just assigning it to Mingshan Town. Secondly, Chen Feng's idea of integrating Yongming County into Jiangcheng to reduce resistance to Mingshan Town's integration is futile. Jiangcheng only wants to integrate Mingshan Town, not Yongming County. With these two factors combined, it's destined that Jiangcheng's unmanned vehicle project cannot be transferred to Mingshan Town. Since it's impossible, there's no need to waste time."
Cheng Liren said with a grave expression.
"..."
Cheng Lu was stunned.
Her father was the top official of Jiangcheng, and his words carried significant authority.
Perhaps, this time, Chen Feng had indeed overthought it.
"Elder Cheng, the two reasons you just gave sound plausible, but upon closer examination, they are riddled with flaws."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"You're saying the thoughts of Jiangcheng's top official are riddled with flaws?"
Cheng Liren stared coldly at Chen Feng.
"Elder Cheng, you are indeed the top official of Jiangcheng, and your authority is high. However, high authority doesn't always mean correctness. Even the smartest people make mistakes. For example, right now, your views on the Jiangcheng unmanned vehicle project and the integration of Yongming County into Jiangcheng are full of loopholes."
"Speak, continue."
Cheng Liren continued to stare coldly at Chen Feng.
This time, he wanted to prove to his daughter with irrefutable facts that Chen Feng was just a publicity-seeking opportunist who didn't know his limits.
"Firstly, Jiangcheng forcing the unmanned vehicle parts project to remain in Jiangcheng is actually detrimental to Jiangcheng."
Chen Feng explained calmly.
"Chen Feng, don't you think you're being absurd? Anyone with common sense knows that the larger the investment amount, the better. How is it that in your view, a project being too large is a bad thing? It's exactly as I imagined; you're just a sensationalist with no real substance."
Cheng Liren said excitedly.
Having a handle on Chen Feng was enough.
"Elder Cheng, haven't you considered the provincial capital?"
Chen Feng countered unhurriedly.
"What does Jiangcheng's hundred-day investment promotion project have to do with the provincial capital?"
Cheng Liren didn't react immediately.
"Of course, it's related. As a political heavyweight, you should know that the provincial capital has a 'strong provincial capital' strategy. Jiangcheng is undertaking such a large-scale investment promotion; do you think the provincial capital won't be envious?"
Chen Feng retorted calmly.
"..."
Cheng Liren was speechless, shocked.
My heavens, he had been so excited that he had forgotten such a significant matter.
In recent years, the provincial capital had indeed been promoting a "strong provincial capital" strategy; any project that scaled up was to be relocated to the provincial capital.
"Chen Feng, I underestimated you. Then tell me, how can this issue be resolved?"
Cheng Liren was very reluctant to concede, but he had to.
If this problem couldn't be solved, Jiangcheng's hundred-day investment promotion efforts would have been in vain.
"It's simple: divide to conquer. The concentrated projects can be divided into several smaller projects and dispersed throughout Jiangcheng. Especially Mingshan Town and Yongming County, they can undertake more projects."
"Chen Feng, your solution is good. But the problem is, if the projects are divided, the cluster effect will be lost, and Jiangcheng will still suffer considerable losses this time."
Cheng Liren sighed deeply.
"Elder Cheng, you don't need to worry about that. Dividing to conquer is merely a formal division; the substance remains whole. It's like a phenomenon in education: branch campuses of prestigious schools. They appear as branch campuses, but their teaching quality is not compromised at all. For this batch of projects, as long as the relevant departments in Jiangcheng coordinate, dispersing them won't be a major issue."
Chen Feng explained earnestly.
Cheng Liren was convinced.
After a few years, the former town mayor's driver had indeed grown into a rising star in the political arena.
"Good, the first issue is perfectly resolved. But what about the second issue? You are a local of Mingshan Town, and you should know that the merger of Mingshan Town with Jiangcheng has been a contentious issue for over a decade, a notorious problem in Jiangcheng's political arena. Tell me your solution?"
Cheng Liren looked at Chen Feng earnestly.
If Chen Feng could perfectly resolve this long-standing problem in Jiangcheng's political arena, it would be enough to prove that Chen Feng was a rising star with boundless potential.
It wasn't necessarily a bad thing for his daughter to be with him.