Qin Yan sat before Wang Delai in his office in Mingshan Town.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, I suddenly called you here to discuss the land compensation matters for Hewu Village," Wang Delai said as he observed Qin Yan's expression.
"Mayor, please speak," Qin Yan replied, her expression unchanged from usual. However, she already had a general idea of what was happening. She suspected Wang Delai had taken benefits from the village head of Hewu Village, otherwise, he wouldn't suddenly meddle in village affairs.
"Did you send your driver back to his hometown, Hewu Village?"
"Yes, there hasn't been much going on lately, so I gave him a few days off. What's wrong?" Qin Yan continued to feign ignorance.
"Call Chen Feng immediately and tell him not to confront the Hewu Village head. I know a little about the Hewu Village situation. The land compensation was indeed a bit short. However, this is part of a grand plan by the Hewu Village head to use this money for a large collective village industry. The villagers have short-sighted views and don't understand these things. I'm afraid it would be bad if Chen Feng incites the villagers to cause trouble," Wang Delai said with a serious demeanor.
Qin Yan felt a wave of amusement. This excuse could only fool idiots. Compensation funds were designated funds, and in the political arena, designated funds were always for specific purposes; no person or unit could withhold them for other uses. Even more ridiculous was the idea that a village head understood rural industries! It was clearly a case of embezzlement.
Considering Wang Delai was the mayor, Qin Yan decided not to confront him directly but to win with strategy, planting a subtle hint to make Wang Delai back down.
"Mayor Wang, I can call Chen Feng right now. After all, Chen Feng is my driver. However, calling him would be pointless," Qin Yan said calmly.
"What do you mean?"
"It's like this: Cheng Lu also went with Chen Feng on this trip back to his hometown. You know Cheng Lu; her network and connections in Jiangcheng are very strong. I can only command Chen Feng, but I can't command Cheng Lu. Perhaps you could make a call to Cheng Lu?" Qin Yan said with a serious expression.
"What? Cheng Lu went with him? What's going on? Cheng Lu is from Jiangcheng, not Hewu Village. What is she doing in Hewu Village?" Wang Delai, the deputy mayor, asked with exasperation.
"I don't know the specifics either. I heard from people below that Cheng Lu mainly went to Hewu Village for a rural getaway, as there have been quite a few things happening in Mingshan Town recently," Qin Yan replied.
"Alright, I understand. You can go back to your office and do your work." Wang Delai's frustration reached its peak. That damned Cheng Lu had forced him to spit out the meat he had already swallowed. Despite his extreme reluctance, Wang Delai still made a very unwilling call to the Hewu Village head. The reason was simple: he had heard that Cheng Lu had a deep connection with Cheng Liren, the top official in Jiangcheng. Although he didn't know the exact nature of their relationship, one thing was certain: Cheng Lu definitely had a connection with Cheng Liren. On several occasions, people had seen Cheng Lu and Cheng Liren chatting and laughing together. People connected to such a powerful figure in Jiangcheng were absolutely not to be offended!
"Chen Feng, you rascal, tell me quickly, what exactly is going on?" After receiving Wang Delai's call, the village head was beside himself. Strange, Wang Delai wasn't interested in money anymore? He actually spat out the meat that was already in his mouth.
"What do you mean, what's going on?" Chen Feng was also a bit bewildered.
"I just received a call from Mayor Wang. He actually doesn't want this money anymore," the village head replied.
"Is that so? Hmm, that must be Deputy Mayor Qin's doing. I told you before, Deputy Mayor Qin is no ordinary deputy mayor. She's known in Mingshan Town for her capability and integrity; she doesn't take bribes. The situation is clear: Mayor Wang wanted to take the money with Qin Yan, but Deputy Mayor Qin refused. Since Deputy Mayor Qin refused, Mayor Wang also felt embarrassed to take it. It's as simple as that," Chen Feng exaggerated, scaring the village head.
"Then what should we do next?" the village head asked tentatively.
"What else can we do? Distribute the compensation as it should be," Chen Feng replied nonchalantly.
"Then I won't get a single cent?"
"Haven't you already profited enough over the years?" Chen Feng retorted coldly.
"Chen Feng, how about this? Since Mayor Wang and Deputy Mayor Qin don't want it, you can have it. Besides your family's one million, how about we split this money equally?" the village head asked slyly, looking at Chen Feng. If Deputy Mayor Qin was unyielding, he would try to pull Deputy Mayor Qin's driver into it.
"Village head, think about it carefully. If I were the kind of person you imagine, would Qin Yan let me be her driver?" Chen Feng replied coldly.
"Deputy Mayor Qin is Deputy Mayor Qin, and you are you. Deputy Mayor Qin is wealthy and doesn't care about these meager sums, but do you?" the village head tempted him.
"Village head, let me tell you, I love money. Honestly, who doesn't love money these days, except fools? However, a gentleman loves wealth and acquires it rightfully. I will not take, nor will I let others take, money that goes against conscience. Hewu Village has been poor for so many years, and now there's an opportunity for collective prosperity. We can't let you ruin it like this."
"So, you mean this money should all be distributed?" the village head asked tentatively.
"Not only should the money be distributed, but you, the village head, must also resign and let a university graduate village official take over," Chen Feng said calmly. He believed in doing things thoroughly; if this village head wasn't removed, there would be more trouble in the future. Only by replacing him with an ambitious and positive university graduate village official could the compensation funds for all villagers of Hewu Village be secured.
"Hahaha, you want me to resign? Chen Feng, do you take yourself too seriously as a deputy mayor's driver? Let me tell you, not only can you not force me to resign, but even your boss, Deputy Mayor Qin, cannot make me resign voluntarily. My backing is Mayor Wang Delai, understand?" the village head retorted arrogantly to Chen Feng.
"Then let's try." Chen Feng said no more, turned, and left the village committee with Cheng Lu.
"Chen Feng, do you really intend to make the village head resign voluntarily?" Cheng Lu asked curiously on the way.
"For the benefit of all villagers of Hewu Village, this scumbag village head must resign voluntarily," Chen Feng replied with a serious expression.
"Chen Feng, I understand your intentions. But the problem is, this village head has Mayor Wang Delai behind him, and neither you nor Deputy Mayor Qin can handle him. I don't think this is an easy matter," Cheng Lu said, shaking her head.
"Don't worry, when we return, I will make Mayor Wang voluntarily force the village head to resign," Chen Feng said confidently.
"Chen Feng, do you have a plan? Quickly tell me," Cheng Lu asked excitedly.
"Well, let's stay in Hewu Village for a few days to ensure the compensation is smoothly distributed to each household. Then, we'll return to Mingshan Town and show Wang Delai some photos of the renovation site of the outer river channels in Hewu Village. After seeing them, Wang Delai will definitely call the village head himself and force him to resign," Chen Feng said calmly.
"What's the logic behind that? What's so powerful about photos of a river channel renovation project?" Cheng Lu was stunned.
"This river channel renovation project is a provincial water source diversion plan funded by the province. Simply put, it's to divert excess water from Jiangcheng to the provincial capital to alleviate the huge water shortage for nearly eight million people there. This water diversion project is a key provincial project that Wang Delai has always been responsible for. Given Wang Delai's character, he must have embezzled a lot from such a large project. By using the drinking water project to put pressure on Wang Delai, he will definitely compromise," Chen Feng explained with a smile.
"In this case, aren't you directly confronting Wang Delai?" Cheng Lu asked tentatively. She was increasingly impressed with Chen Feng's thinking; his mind was so active, and he could think of things quickly, accurately, and precisely in all aspects.
"No, because these photos won't be given to Wang Delai by me."
"If not by you, then who?" Cheng Lu asked curiously.
"You."
"Me?"
"Yes, it's most appropriate for you to deliver them! Everyone knows you have connections in Jiangcheng. Wang Delai fears and flatters you. If you deliver the photos, Wang Delai will have no choice but to swallow his anger and won't dare to say a single word, let alone target you," Chen Feng explained earnestly.
"If that's the case, you know what my relationship is with Jiangcheng's Cheng Liren?" Cheng Lu's heart tightened, and she asked tentatively. If Chen Feng knew that the top official of Jiangcheng was her father, what would happen next? Would he, like others, become an ultimate sycophant under her, trying to curry favor with the Jiangcheng top official? Or would he remain as he was, a dedicated driver with ambition, principles, and manliness?