The important figure in the provincial capital that Chen Feng knew was none other than Zhou Kewang, the second-in-command of the provincial Development and Reform Commission.
When they were in university, Chen Feng was an enthusiast of wild swimming, and so was Zhou Kewang. One day, while wild swimming at a reservoir outside Jiangcheng City, Zhou Kewang's leg cramped, and Chen Feng saved him.
From then on, Zhou Kewang had always wanted to repay Chen Feng.
However, each time Zhou Kewang invited Chen Feng to be a secretary at the provincial Development and Reform Commission, Chen Feng refused.
It wasn't out of affected modesty that he didn't want to be a secretary, but because he couldn't do it.
A secretary at the provincial Development and Reform Commission was entirely different from a company secretary.
Anyone could be a company secretary, simply handling documents and arranging the boss's schedule.
If it were a female company secretary, they would be earning money while lying down.
A secretary at the provincial Development and Reform Commission was an important position in the political arena. They handled many tasks, and the secretary had to make prior arrangements for everything the leaders of the Development and Reform Commission needed to do.
For example, government report writing, government planning, and government policy feasibility studies were all drafted in advance by the secretary for the leaders of the Development and Reform Commission. If the leader found the proposal acceptable, they would use it directly. If they found it unacceptable, the secretary would have to revise it.
Frankly speaking, a secretary at the provincial Development and Reform Commission was a reserve of important provincial cadres.
After serving as a secretary for a few years, they would emerge to take charge as provincial leaders.
Chen Feng believed he truly lacked that talent and thus declined Zhou Kewang's enthusiastic invitations each time.
It is valuable to know one's own limitations, especially when navigating the political arena. Without the ability, one would be exposed in no time amidst the great storms of the political world.
"Chen Feng, you've finally come to the provincial capital to see me. How is it? Have you made up your mind? I can arrange the secretary position for you right away. Once the special procedure is completed, you'll be the secretary of the provincial Development and Reform Commission."
Zhou Kewang said excitedly.
"Uncle Zhou, thank you for your kindness. However, I haven't come for the secretary position this time."
Chen Feng spoke truthfully.
"You haven't come for the secretary position? Then what is it..."
Zhou Kewang asked, looking puzzled.
Chen Feng did not hesitate and explained the Wulin Village crayfish project in detail, followed by the provincial strong road plan.
"I understand what you mean. You mean you want to secure the procurement for the provincial strong road plan?"
Zhou Kewang said seriously.
"Yes, and I hope Uncle Zhou can help."
Chen Feng said somewhat sheepishly.
"Chen Feng, we're old acquaintances. I won't beat around the bush with you. This favor is not easy to grant."
Zhou Kewang also replied with a hint of embarrassment.
It was difficult to help his savior who had asked for a favor, and the matter was not guaranteed.
"Uncle Zhou, you are the second-in-command of the Development and Reform Commission and are in charge of this. It should be a simple matter for you to say the word, how can it be..."
Chen Feng said softly.
"In theory, that's how it is. However, the provincial strong road plan is a massive project. Frankly, it's unlikely for a village-level supplier to secure such a large order."
Zhou Kewang said earnestly.
"Then what should we do? The crayfish project has already invested tens of millions. If the new asphalt material cannot open up the market, the tens of millions of investment will go down the drain."
Chen Feng started to panic.
Once the crayfish project was declared a failure, his path in the political arena would also be declared a failure.
The political arena is very pragmatic. With ability and connections, one rises. Without ability, even with connections, one will fall.
"Don't worry, Chen Feng. I said it's difficult to handle, but I didn't say it's impossible. Let me give you some inside information. The provincial strong road plan has a total investment of over fifty billion. It's definitely impossible for you to secure the entire project. Don't even mention me, the second-in-command; even the top leader wouldn't be able to. I heard you worked as a driver for a deputy town mayor and are now the village chief of Wulin Village. You should understand some aspects of the political arena. The bigger the cake, the more people there are to share it."
"I understand all that, Uncle Zhou. You mean, we can only find a way to get a portion of the provincial strong road plan procurement for me."
Chen Feng tested the waters.
"That's precisely the idea. Hmm, let me think. Let's go by proximity. I can approve the procurement order for the section of the highway between the provincial capital and Jiangcheng City. I can make that decision."
Zhou Kewang said earnestly.
"Uncle Zhou, thank you so much. This order will save the Wulin Village crayfish project. There's nothing else to thank you with, just this small token of my appreciation..."
Saying that, Chen Feng took out a box of mooncakes from his bag.
On the surface, it was a box of mooncakes, but in reality, the entire box was filled with gold.
Gold is bearer property and its origin cannot be traced. It has always been the hard currency in the political arena since ancient times.
"Chen Feng, I cannot accept this box of mooncakes. You are my savior, there's no reason for me to accept anything from you."
Zhou Kewang returned the box to Chen Feng.
"Uncle Zhou, it's just a box of mooncakes, not something valuable. You must accept it. Regarding the wild swimming incident, Uncle Zhou, you really don't need to keep it in your heart all these years. You've already repaid me. My graduation thesis was selected as a provincial excellent thesis, and the university scholarships... you pulled strings for all of these."
"You knew about that?"
Zhou Kewang asked with a smile.
"Uncle Zhou, although I hadn't entered the political arena back then, I understood the basic unwritten rules of politics. For an excellent thesis to be selected province-wide, it requires not only true talent and practical learning but also connections from above. The same applies to national-level scholarships... I received all of these, and I knew without a doubt that it was you secretly helping me."
Chen Feng replied with a smile.
"Chen Feng, you're much smarter than I imagined. Alright, since this box of mooncakes is a gesture of your thoughtfulness, I'll accept it. Since you're in the provincial capital, we must go out for a meal, and I'll introduce you to someone."
Chen Feng did not refuse.
It was just a casual meal, he could eat it.
Moreover, he could meet new friends, so he definitely should eat.
Zhou Kewang took the mooncake box and went into his room to change.
"Huh? Why is this box of mooncakes so heavy?"
Zhou Kewang muttered to himself.
Upon entering the room, Zhou Kewang opened the mooncake box to examine it.
He was shocked by what he saw.
A box full of gold.
Furthermore, it was foreign gold, even harder to trace its origin than domestic gold.
It seemed that young Chen Feng understood the unwritten rules of the political arena very well.
Zhou Kewang had originally intended to return this box of mooncakes to Chen Feng. Chen Feng was his savior, and there was no need to accept hundreds of thousands from him. But then he thought, if he really returned the mooncakes to Chen Feng, Chen Feng would surely overthink it: would returning the mooncakes mean that his connections in the provincial capital would be useless in the future?
To put Chen Feng at ease, Zhou Kewang decided to accept the box of mooncakes.
After preparing himself, Zhou Kewang took Chen Feng directly to a private room at a hotel.
Upon entering the private room, Chen Feng was stunned.
Why was it Cheng Lu?
"Chen Feng, why is it you?"
Cheng Lu also asked with surprise.
"Uncle Zhou is my friend. He invited me over for a meal and said he would introduce me to someone. I didn't expect it to be you."
Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"What a coincidence? Uncle Zhou is my friend too."
Cheng Lu replied, half-truthfully.
Actually, strictly speaking, Uncle Zhou was her father's friend. No, she should say, her father's powerful backer.
"You two know each other?"
Uncle Zhou asked, bewildered.
However, he was overjoyed inwardly.
Since the two young people knew each other, his plan would be even easier to achieve.
As it turned out, the reason Uncle Zhou thought of introducing Cheng Lu to Chen Feng was to have the two young people become a couple.
This way, he could properly repay Chen Feng for saving his life. Moreover, he had a slight selfish motive. Cheng Liren was his most capable subordinate, and Chen Feng was also a clever and talented young man. Combining the two would maximize his benefits.