"Old Zhou, honestly, if I weren't the deputy mayor of Mingshan Town, I would have let this matter go. I'm not a fool, I know how difficult this is. But, I grew up in Mingshan Town, and Mingshan Town has such a great opportunity to take off right now. To just give up without trying, I truly can't accept it."
Chen Feng spoke the truth.
"Chen Feng, I understand how you feel. I haven't known you for just a day or two, and your perspective is different from other grassroots leaders. I've known this for a long time. But have you considered it? Once this fails, your political career will be over."
Zhou Kewang asked Chen Feng seriously.
"I know."
Chen Feng replied firmly.
"You know, and you're still being stubborn?"
Zhou Kewang asked with a look of incomprehension.
"Old Zhou, if my political career is ruined because of this, I will definitely regret it. I'm not a god, so saying I don't care about fame and fortune would be a lie. However, if I don't try, I will regret it for the rest of my life."
Chen Feng explained word by word.
"Alright, since you've put it this way, I won't say anything more. Go bravely and try."
Zhou Kewang looked at Chen Feng with admiration.
He, as the head of the provincial Development and Reform Commission, had always wanted to admire someone in his life. This young man, Chen Feng, was definitely the first.
He possessed extraordinary talent in politics, and more importantly, he retained a rare sense of his original intentions.
With these two qualities, Heaven should favor this young man.
Without hesitation, Chen Feng went directly to the office of the head of the provincial Department of Commerce and Industry.
Just as he had imagined, Sun Gui, the head of the provincial Department of Commerce and Industry, flatly rejected the project applications for Mingshan Town.
"Old Sun, is there any way to be flexible?"
Chen Feng asked tentatively.
"Deputy Mayor Chen, you are a friend of Zhou Kewang, so by rights, I should be flexible. But the problem is, these two projects in Mingshan Town are too big. If I am flexible, I might lose my position next. You are also in politics, so you should know the current provincial strategy is to develop the provincial capital with the strength of the entire province. For projects as large as these two in Mingshan Town, you don't even need to think about it – they must belong to the provincial capital."
Sun Gui replied with a serious expression.
Chen Feng felt no emotional disturbance, as what Sun Gui was telling him now was exactly the same as what Zhou Kewang had told him before.
"Old Sun, please think again, is there any other way to secure these two major projects for Mingshan Town?"
Chen Feng asked tentatively.
"Deputy Mayor Chen, I'm not trying to lecture you, but really, you're too stubborn. For these two major projects, if you proactively hand them over to the provincial capital, your political path will be smooth sailing. Why are you being so stubborn?"
Sun Gui looked at Chen Feng with incomprehension.
For such a good opportunity, others would never hesitate.
"There's no other way, my affection for my hometown is too strong, and I just want my hometown to develop rapidly."
Chen Feng replied with self-deprecation.
"Alright, you don't need to preach to me. As I said before, out of respect for you being Zhou Kewang's friend, I'll give you a suggestion. Of course, this suggestion is almost no suggestion at all. If you want the provincial capital to stop focusing on these two major projects in Mingshan Town, it would only happen if the provincial capital had another major project. To be honest, it's really hard for ordinary people to attract such a large project."
Sun Gui explained seriously.
"Thank you, Old Sun. With your words, I know what to do."
Chen Feng's eyes lit up as he replied.
"Well, take care of yourself."
Sun Gui didn't want to say anything more.
What a pity for such a promising young person in politics. He had good political talent and good connections. If he weren't so stubborn, he could definitely have a smooth career.
Chen Feng left Sun Gui's office and immediately returned to Mingshan Town.
"Chen Feng, I think what the provincial capital said is very reasonable. Right now, every province is implementing a 'strong provincial capital' strategy. The provincial capital will not give up on these two major projects in Mingshan Town. There's no need to go against the provincial capital."
Qin Yan advised Chen Feng with a solemn expression.
"Mayor Qin, don't you think it's very feasible to use an even bigger project to make the provincial capital stop focusing on Mingshan Town?"
Chen Feng replied earnestly.
"On the surface, it's feasible. But in practice, it's very unfeasible. Who can secure a project even greater than the new energy vehicle project and the Sino-foreign cooperative branch campus of the Capital University?"
Qin Yan retorted.
"If we search seriously, we should be able to find one."
Chen Feng didn't know exactly how to find such a large project, so he could only reply instinctively.
"Mayor Qin, I've been on the front lines of economic development for many years and have the authority to speak on economic matters. The major project you mentioned belongs to the national level. Forget about you, even Jiangcheng, the provincial capital... cannot handle it. At the very least, it would require the capital city level."
Qin Yan advised earnestly.
"Mayor Qin, how about this: give me a week. If it's really not possible, then we'll have to let the two projects be located in the provincial capital, and Mingshan Town will continue to develop slowly as planned before."
Chen Feng's heart began to waver.
It wasn't that his original intentions had wavered, but he was touched by Qin Yan's words.
Having original intentions is good, but being blinded by them is not.
What Qin Yan said was very true, it wasn't easy to find a project larger than the two major projects Mingshan Town currently had.
"You don't need a week, three days. If it's not possible in three days, immediately push the two major projects to the provincial capital."
Qin Yan said very seriously.
"Understood, Mayor Qin."
After speaking, Chen Feng left Qin Yan's office.
For the next three days, Chen Feng was basically not in his office. He ran around everywhere looking for projects.
After three days, Chen Feng truly understood what it meant for dreams to be full, but reality to be bleak.
There were no major projects in Jiangcheng or the provincial capital.
Even if there were projects, they were small projects worth millions or tens of millions, which the provincial capital completely disregarded.
After much consideration, Chen Feng accepted reality.
However, Chen Feng, who accepted reality, was not discouraged. Instead, he was full of fighting spirit.
This incident made Chen Feng profoundly understand a truth.
Politics is complex and full of entanglements of interests. Not everything can be turned around.
Many times, one is powerless to resist when caught in the currents of life.
To stand invincible in politics, one must be able to endure loneliness! And endure setbacks.
"What? You've decided to voluntarily give the two projects to the provincial capital?"
Cheng Lu was stunned.
Having been with Chen Feng for quite some time, his unyielding nature was Chen Feng's basic persona. How could he choose to give up this time?
"Yes."
"Chen Feng, didn't you tell me before that you should never give up in the face of any difficulty? Why are you giving up this time?"
Cheng Lu questioned Chen Feng with disappointment.
"That was before. Now I've realized another principle."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"What principle?"
Cheng Lu asked curiously.
"One must be adaptable and flexible! Especially in politics, one must be even more adaptable and flexible. Take these two major projects in Mingshan Town as an example. They are indeed good for Mingshan Town, but the problem is that Mingshan Town absolutely cannot resist the provincial capital's 'strong provincial capital' strategy. Since we cannot resist, we can only be adaptable and flexible."
Chen Feng said firmly.
"The principle is like that, but I still feel a sense of unwillingness. These two projects were secured by you. Are you just letting others reap the benefits?"
Cheng Lu sighed and said.
"There's no need to be so pessimistic! Although the two projects will be located in the provincial capital, Mingshan Town hasn't gained nothing..."
A hint of excitement surged in Chen Feng's eyes.