"It definitely won't be reported. Whether it's Mingshan Town or any other town, they have very strong local protectionism. In their eyes, my actions are betraying them. So, it's highly unlikely that the budget for a luxury bus will be approved."
Chen Feng explained calmly.
"If the budget isn't approved, then what? Money isn't the biggest issue, but it feels strange to be doing work for Mingshan Town without using public funds."
Cheng Lu replied with a hint of melancholy.
"It's fine. If Mingshan Town doesn't fund it, I'll pay for it myself."
Chen Feng responded calmly.
"You'll pay for it yourself?"
"Yes, I'll pay for it myself. A few tens of thousands of yuan, I still have that."
Chen Feng continued to reply with a calm demeanor.
"Chen Feng, you still don't understand what I mean. I mean, this isn't about money. You're clearly doing this for Mingshan Town, for those victimized women. Why should you be the one to pay?"
Cheng Lu said indignantly.
"Miss Cheng, let's broaden our perspective. As you know, this is an act of charity. When doing good deeds, there's no need to haggle over who pays. Besides, it's quite normal for Mingshan Town to have such an attitude. Every place has its local protectionism; it's been like this for thousands of years, and it can't be changed overnight."
Chen Feng explained calmly.
"Chen Feng, I'm more and more impressed by you. This kind of perspective, I dare say my father doesn't have it. It seems that before long, China will have a leader with such a grand vision, bringing a fresh change to the Chinese political arena."
Cheng Lu said with excitement.
"Miss Cheng, please don't say that. I'm just a low-level employee in the political arena. I truly can't bring about a fresh change to the Chinese political landscape. Alright, I need to go find Mayor Qin. Such a major incident has occurred in Wuli Village of Mingshan Town, I should inform Mayor Qin."
With that said, Chen Feng went to find Qin Yan immediately.
"I disagree."
After listening to Chen Feng's entire plan, Qin Yan refused without hesitation.
Qin Yan's reaction caught Chen Feng completely off guard.
Even Cheng Lu approved, so why did Qin Yan have a narrower perspective than Cheng Lu?
"The reason?"
Chen Feng replied softly.
"The reason is very simple. What you're doing is slapping the grassroots of Wuli Village in the face. The entire leadership of Wuli Village knows about the wife-buying situation. Everyone just turns a blind eye. You're not only exposing it all at once but also releasing so many villagers' wives. Do you know the consequences of doing this?"
Qin Yan patiently advised.
"I know. The entire leadership of Wuli Village will hate me to the bone."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"Not just Wuli Village, but most of the leaders in Mingshan Town will hate you intensely because you've violated the most important unwritten rule in the political arena: local protectionism."
Qin Yan said with a dejected look.
Chen Feng was good at everything, except sometimes he was too careless about the environment when acting.
Since ancient times, wife-buying in Chinese rural areas has continued to this day and has never been eradicated. Why? It's precisely because of local protectionism.
No matter how capable Chen Feng is, can he challenge the unwritten rules of the entire political arena?
"I know."
"You know there are such serious consequences, and you're still doing this? Listen to me, pretend you never heard about the wife-buying situation in Wuli Village."
Qin Yan said earnestly.
"Mayor Qin, I'm sorry. Although I know the consequences of this, I also know that in today's society, if a normal woman is still treated like livestock, bought and sold, and used as a tool for sexual release and childbearing, my conscience will be restless every night."
Chen Feng said earnestly.
"Chen Feng, I know what kind of person you are. But the problem is, have you considered how severe the consequences will be if you go against the entire political arena by yourself? Listen to my advice, pretend it never happened, and then slowly climb up over the years. Once your position in the political arena improves, you'll have the ability to go against it. Right now, you're just a grassroots employee, and it's truly not enough."
Qin Yan still patiently advised Chen Feng.
Honestly, if it were someone else, they wouldn't have persuaded him so earnestly.
The political arena is like a martial world; if you court death, no one can save you.
However, Chen Feng's talent in the political arena is truly remarkable. To have come from being a driver and village head to his current position is not easy, and it would be a great pity to fail now.
"Mayor Qin, if it were a minor matter, I could tolerate it, pretend I didn't see anything. For example, I know many leaders in Mingshan Town are corrupt and take money, and I can pretend not to see it. To be honest, corruption isn't a big deal in the political arena. But the problem is, treating women as tools for sexual release and childbearing without dignity, I truly cannot tolerate it. It's a matter of bottom line, and I can't tolerate it."
Upon hearing Chen Feng say this, Qin Yan stopped trying to persuade him.
In terms of political experience, Chen Feng was definitely no match for her.
However, in terms of his original intentions, he was not inferior to Chen Feng.
Honestly, she had forgotten the upright and youthful young man she once was on her journey through the political arena.
"Alright, since you've made up your mind, I won't persuade you any further. To be honest, I truly admire your ability to hold onto your original intentions and remain untainted. I'm timid and have a small perspective; I don't dare to take risks. I don't have much I can do to help you, but rest assured, if you are demoted because of this wife-buying issue, I will still be your backer. You will slowly rise again in the future."
Qin Yan said with mixed emotions.
"Thank you, Mayor Qin. However, please rest assured, the situation you're worried about won't happen."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"What? You won't be demoted? Why?"
Qin Yan looked at Chen Feng disbelievingly.
"I'll use public opinion to protect myself."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"What? Use public opinion to protect yourself?"
Qin Yan was still completely confused.
"Mayor Qin, it's like this: the self-media is very developed now. As long as I spend some money to expose the wife-buying situation in Wuli Village, letting all of China know about it, then under immense public sentiment, they won't demote me."
"..."
Qin Yan was stunned.
My goodness, how could she not have thought of such a clever countermeasure?
It had to be said that Chen Feng's political acumen was truly beyond that of ordinary people.
"Since that's the case, go ahead with confidence. The town government will cover the cost of the luxury bus."
Qin Yan said with a smile.
"It's not good for the town government to cover this expense, is it? Wouldn't that inadvertently pull you into this?"
Chen Feng asked tentatively.
"If you weren't planning to expose the wife-buying situation in Wuli Village through the self-media, I truly wouldn't dare to get involved. But now that you've thought of this exposure method, I dare to get involved, and I must get involved. I want to show the Chinese political arena my stance: I oppose this kind of wife-trading behavior."
With Qin Yan saying this, Chen Feng readily accepted.
Once the issue of wife-buying in Wuli Village was exposed, the actions of many political figures would be brought to light, and Qin Yan could seize this opportunity to gain favor.
With Qin Yan's support, the wife-buying issue in Wuli Village was quickly resolved, and all the trafficked women were safely returned home.
To Chen Feng's surprise, under the热度 of the self-media, a group of local grassroots leaders were investigated.
Although these grassroots leaders were clearly scapegoats, it also indicated that the Chinese political arena was progressing and was no longer as overtly corrupt.
"Chen Feng, your transfer order has arrived."
A month later, Chen Feng was in his office reviewing Mingshan Town's economic development data when Qin Yan suddenly entered with a serious expression and said.