"Town Mayor Qin, can you tell me who it is? Why the mystery?" Chen Feng asked curiously.
"Hong Lao, the second-in-command of the Jiangcheng Development and Reform Commission."
"Why would such a big figure come to Mingshan Town?" Chen Feng asked, confused.
"As far as I can estimate, it's nothing good," Qin Yan replied honestly.
"What do you mean?"
"This Hong Lao is notoriously greedy for money, and no one can do anything about him."
"Town Mayor Qin, that's an exaggeration. This isn't ancient times. How can he still be greedy for money and untouchable?" Chen Feng became more and more confused.
"Chen Feng, you're not an outsider, so I won't beat around the bush. Hong Lao's general strategy is that the Development and Reform Commission will find a county or a town below and start a project. The project will be just a shell, it won't really develop, and the money will eventually go into Hong Lao's hands. Then, a few foolish grassroots officials will take the blame and go to jail. Or, the project will simply go bankrupt. In short, no matter what method he uses, Hong Lao can stay out of it." Qin Yan explained.
"Town Mayor Qin, if Hong Lao is so despicable and ruthless, why do you still cooperate?" Chen Feng asked with a frown.
"You've hit the nail on the head with that question. Why do we cooperate? Because we are also part of the money distribution. Didn't I just say? Those grassroots officials at the bottom are the scapegoats. In other words, they don't even know how they ended up in prison. When their superiors and superiors' superiors collude to set them up, how could they possibly know? As for us, we don't consider the feelings of the grassroots officials too much. To be honest, most grassroots officials without connections are destined to be scapegoats. If they aren't ripped off by Hong Lao, they will be ripped off by someone else." Qin Yan explained calmly.
When she first entered the officialdom, she felt the same as Chen Feng does now. How could such heartless things be allowed to exist? Years later, having become an old hand in officialdom and seen too much darkness, she had become numb to grassroots officials being made scapegoats.
"Town Mayor Qin, will Hong Lao play the same trick this time?" Chen Feng asked tentatively.
"That's a question without a doubt."
"Town Mayor Qin, I can't reconcile it with my conscience," Chen Feng said with a frown.
"What do you mean?"
"I won't cooperate with Hong Lao."
"It's not an option not to cooperate. Hong Lao specifically requested you to be responsible for this shell project. Don't worry, with me here, he won't let you take the blame. It's just that a few newly recruited fresh officials from the streets below Mingshan Town will have to take the blame." Qin Yan advised Chen Feng.
"Even so, I still cannot cooperate with Hong Lao. Town Mayor Qin, others may not know me, but you should. I like power and money, that's true, but I have my principles. I can't cooperate with a sinister and venomous scumbag like Hong Lao." Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"Chen Feng, I know your integrity, but the problem is, Hong Lao has already named you. You have to cooperate whether you want to or not. A higher official can crush a lower one, let alone Hong Lao who is several levels above us. Listen to me, just turn a blind eye. This time, the shell project will only sacrifice a few rookies who just joined the officialdom after graduating from university. Don't sympathize with them too much. Honestly, in the Chinese officialdom, there are too many such things, you can't possibly sympathize with all of them." Qin Yan continued to persuade Chen Feng.
"Sympathizing with innocent grassroots officials is only one aspect. The most important aspect is that I don't want to see a despicable person like Hong Lao in the Jiangcheng officialdom. Therefore, this time, not only will I not cooperate with Hong Lao, but I will also find a way to ruin his reputation and send him to prison." Chen Feng replied calmly.
"Chen Feng, your idea is good, but it's too idealistic. You must know that Hong Lao is a famous 'undying immortal' in the Jiangcheng officialdom. Several times, when things were exposed, he managed to slip away quietly." Qin Yan said with a solemn expression.
"Town Mayor Qin, the reason Hong Lao can get away is that his vulnerabilities haven't been fully exposed yet. With the operation of his connections, he can naturally slip away quietly. However, this time, I will cleverly expose all of Hong Lao's crimes." Chen Feng said confidently.
"Chen Feng, do you really have this ability, or are you just bragging?" Qin Yan asked tentatively.
"If it were about other matters, I might not dare to claim I have this ability, but with Hong Lao's situation this time, I am confident that I can handle it flawlessly and make Hong Lao hoist himself by his own petard."
"Is it that miraculous?"
"Of course."
"Chen Feng, did you have similar experiences before? Otherwise, how could you be so confident?" Qin Yan asked excitedly. If Hong Lao were brought down, Chen Feng's political acumen would undoubtedly improve dramatically.
"Town Mayor Qin, I was your driver right after graduating from university. How could I have such experiences? Honestly, if I really had such experiences, I would have already made it big in Jiangcheng, how could I still be in Mingshan Town?" Chen Feng retorted.
"That's strange then. If you don't have this kind of experience, how are you so sure you can take down Hong Lao? I don't dare to act rashly against that old fox, Hong Lao." Qin Yan said with a serious expression.
"'The Shawshank Redemption' makes it very clear. As long as you replicate the tactics from 'The Shawshank Redemption,' Hong Lao will have no choice but to fall." Chen Feng said calmly.
"Chen Feng, Chen Feng, your brain is too sharp. I remember the movie 'The Shawshank Redemption.' In the end, the male protagonist took away all the money the warden embezzled." Qin Yan replied excitedly.
"Yes, I'm using that strategy." Chen Feng nodded slightly.
"In that case, I agree to your plan to deal with Hong Lao. By the way, do you need me to help with anything?" Qin Yan asked tentatively.
"There's no need for extra help, just try your best to help Hong Lao. Whatever Hong Lao wants to do, you help him with all your might." Chen Feng said calmly.
"Chen Feng, aren't we trying to trap Hong Lao? Why do you still want me to help Hong Lao? That doesn't make sense." Qin Yan asked, confused.
"Town Mayor Qin, Hong Lao is an old hand in officialdom; he's not that easy to trap. You must help him sincerely. Only then will Hong Lao let his guard down. No matter who it is, once their guard is down, they are not far from being deceived." Chen Feng explained.
"Chen Feng, the logic makes sense. But the problem is, if I sincerely help Hong Lao, and Hong Lao succeeds in his deception, won't all our efforts be in vain?" Qin Yan continued to ask with confusion.
"Town Mayor Qin, you can rest assured about that. Hong Lao has done so many heinous deeds; he can't escape. Alright, I'm relieved about you. However, I still need to find someone. This person is the most crucial figure in trapping Hong Lao..." Chen Feng said with a serious expression.