“Of course.”
Old Hong said with a smile.
“It just doesn’t feel very realistic. A female host in Jiangcheng City is considered a celebrity. Having them with me?”
Chen Feng asked softly.
Female celebrities, female leaders – such women, to men, felt like an unattainable dream.
“That’s the charm of power. The longer you stay in the political arena, the more you’ll understand power.”
Old Hong continued with a smile.
Chen Feng understood instantly.
Forget it, it wasn't time to reveal everything to Old Hong yet. He might as well play along for now.
So, Chen Feng took the two female hosts to the adjacent lounge.
The events that followed are not to be described.
In short, they were as wild as they could get.
But playing with two female hosts wasn't the wildest part.
The wildest part was that the two female hosts mentioned Old Hong had a peculiar habit: he liked to play with his subordinates’ wives.
What's more, he had recently set his sights on Chen Feng's supposed girlfriend, Cheng Lu.
Chen Feng felt a wave of disgust.
Old Hong, who played with other men's wives and trampled on his subordinates' dignity, was truly scum.
The worst part was that he was even thinking of touching Cheng Lu.
Although Cheng Lu wasn't his official girlfriend, she was his best friend. Bullying his friend was something he absolutely could not tolerate.
Therefore, after returning from the Jiangcheng nightclub, Chen Feng accelerated his plans to deal with Old Hong.
A week later, all the arrangements were complete, with only the final steps left.
Old Hong, still unaware, excitedly came to find Chen Feng.
“Chen Feng, it’s time to wrap up the Mingshan Town New Energy Parts project. After we conclude it, you’ll be rewarded for your contributions.”
Old Hong said with a sly grin.
“How will I be rewarded?”
Chen Feng asked intentionally.
“Besides money, there’s a tremendous benefit for you. Of course, whether you want this tremendous benefit depends on your own thoughts.”
Old Hong continued with a knowing, sly smile.
“Old Hong, tell me about it. What kind of tremendous benefit is it?”
Chen Feng played along.
“Since we’ve come this far, I’ll be direct. I have my eye on your girlfriend, the secretary to Mayor Qin. If you personally deliver your girlfriend to my bed, I’ll have you transferred to Jiangcheng immediately. You know how the political world works; if you follow the usual progression, it would take at least ten years to get to Jiangcheng. If you're unlucky, you might stay at the bottom your whole life.”
Old Hong tempted him.
“Old Hong, you have so many unmarried women available. With your status, you can have as many as you want. Why would you need to take someone else’s woman?”
Chen Feng asked deliberately.
“You wouldn’t understand this. This is called excitement, called a special thrill. The feeling of dominating another man’s woman is extraordinary.”
Old Hong said shamelessly.
“Hong Tao, you can shut up now.”
Chen Feng decided he wouldn't play along anymore.
Old Hong's mouth was spewing filth, and he couldn't stand another word.
“What do you mean?”
Old Hong was stunned.
“It means your days of abusing power and acting lawlessly are over. Look who’s here.”
Chen Feng said calmly.
Old Hong quickly realized and looked towards the door. He was shocked to see who it was.
It was the provincial disciplinary inspection team.
“What are you here for?”
Old Hong asked with a grim expression.
“Hong Tao, come with us.”
The disciplinary inspection team members replied sternly.
“Go with you? Are you kidding me? I’m the number one person in the Jiangcheng Development and Reform Commission. On what grounds are you taking us?”
Old Hong glared at the disciplinary inspection team.
“Someone has reported you for long-term corruption using shell projects. The evidence is sufficient, so we can take you.”
The disciplinary inspection team members said with grave expressions.
“Nonsense, slander, absolute slander! I have a clear conscience throughout my career. Those so-called shell projects were simply businesses that failed due to poor management. What do they have to do with me?”
Old Hong feigned indignation.
“Hong Tao, stop the nonsense. The evidence is conclusive. You’ll know if we’ve wronged you when you get to prison.”
The disciplinary inspection team members replied calmly.
In the past, Old Hong might have been intimidated by such unreasonable accusations. But things were different now. The powerful figure behind Old Hong, the second-in-command of the provincial Development and Reform Commission, had explicitly stated that Old Hong’s matters had nothing to do with him. Since there was no connection, it meant that the second-in-command of the provincial Development and Reform Commission was no longer Old Hong’s backer.
“Wait, I can go with you. However, I need to make a phone call to the second-in-command of the provincial Development and Reform Commission.”
Old Hong shouted loudly.
“That is your prerogative. Of course, you can make the call.”
The disciplinary inspection team members replied nonchalantly.
Without further ado, Old Hong immediately called the second-in-command of the provincial Development and Reform Commission.
“Hong Tao, what can I do for you?”
The second-in-command of the provincial Development and Reform Commission replied, feigning ignorance.
“Elder Xiao, the provincial disciplinary inspection team is trying to arrest me.”
Hong Tao stated directly.
“That’s unlikely. You are the second-in-command of the Jiangcheng Development and Reform Commission, a person of considerable power in Jiangcheng. Why would they arrest you so easily?”
Xiao Feng continued to pretend ignorance.
“Elder Xiao, I don’t know who betrayed me, but all the evidence of my corruption has been given to the disciplinary inspection team. They are about to take me away. Can you speak to them?”
Hong Tao said in a panic.
“Speak to them? About what?”
“Say it’s all a misunderstanding, and they shouldn’t arrest me.”
“Didn’t you just say that all the evidence of your corruption is with the disciplinary inspection team? What can I say?”
Xiao Feng replied calmly.
“Elder Xiao, what do you mean? Don’t tell me you’re not going to help me anymore?”
Hong Tao asked fearfully.
“Hong Tao, I want to help you. But in this situation, how can I?”
Xiao Feng feigned difficulty.
“Elder Xiao, since it has come to this, I can’t hold back anymore. If I go to jail, I’ll have to implicate you, and that wouldn’t be good.”
Hong Tao threatened Xiao Feng deliberately.
“Hong Tao, if you dare, then implicate me. If you implicate me, you’ll be implicating a group of people in the provincial capital. I might let you go, but will they let you go, or your family?”
After speaking, Xiao Feng hung up the phone without waiting for Hong Tao’s reaction.
Hong Tao was speechless.
Damn it, he had underestimated Xiao Feng’s cunning.
By dragging other big shots into this, the matter had become complicated.
If not for himself, he had to consider his wife, children, parents…
Forget it, since things had come to this, he could only accept his fate.
“I’ll go with you, but you have to explain one thing to me.”
Hong Tao said, gritting his teeth.
“Ask.”
“Where did all the funds for the Mingshan Town New Energy Vehicle Parts project go?”
“Didn’t you say earlier? The project failed and went bankrupt, and all the funds were lost.”
Upon hearing the two disciplinary inspection team members say this, Hong Tao finally understood.
Damn it, after all this, he had fallen into Chen Feng’s damn trap.
“Chen Feng, come here.”
Hong Tao shouted frantically.
“What is it?”
Chen Feng said calmly.
“Why did you do this?”
Hong Tao stared intently at Chen Feng.
“What did I do?”
Chen Feng put on an ignorant expression.
“Stop pretending. I’m already going to jail, so there’s no need to pretend. Tell me, why?”
Hong Tao continued to stare intently at Chen Feng.
“If you insist on an answer, I can only say, for the sake of conscience.”
Chen Feng said calmly.
“What? You transferred all my money away just for the sake of so-called conscience?”
Hong Tao was so angry he wanted to die.
“Hong Tao, don’t talk nonsense. I haven’t touched a penny of your money.”
Chen Feng said calmly.
This time, one-third of Hong Tao’s money was donated, one-third went to the higher-ups, one-third plus a bit went to Qin Yan, and he kept one-third plus a bit for himself.
Although it was only one-third plus a bit, it was still quite a lot.
As for how much it was, let's just say it was enough to operate within the political connections.
“Chen Feng, you have some nerve. You embezzled so much of my money; aren’t you afraid someone will cause trouble for you?”
Hong Tao looked at Chen Feng with bloodshot eyes.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Most of the money, I believe, has already gone upstairs. As for how it got there, I don’t know. Anyway, I didn’t touch your money.”
Chen Feng continued to say with a calm expression.
“…”
Hong Tao was speechless.
Damn it, he had underestimated this grassroots political employee. He thought he could easily manipulate and control him, but who knew the depths of political intrigue were unfathomable.
Seeing that the situation was nearly resolved, the two members of the disciplinary inspection team, without further ado, escorted Hong Tao away.
“Chen Feng, I never imagined you would apply ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ so masterfully. Most importantly, you didn’t embezzle all the money. Honestly, if it were me, I would have definitely embezzled it all; that money would be enough for me to live a life of luxury.”
Qin Yan exclaimed.
“Mayor Qin, actually, I did have that thought. But the problem is, even if I embezzled it, would I have the chance to spend it? That’s a big question.”
Chen Feng replied truthfully.
“Yes, your political awareness is exceptionally high. Alright, let’s get back to the point. Mingshan Town currently has a matter that requires your assistance…”
Qin Yan said with a serious expression.