"I am now the Deputy Town Head of Mingshan Town, in charge of economic affairs. If Mingshan Town has anything to deal with, I naturally have to step forward. There is no such thing as troublesome or not troublesome." Chen Feng replied.
"This matter is quite peculiar. It can be considered your business, or it might not be. It's like this: Yongming County has withheld a sum of poverty alleviation funds for Mingshan Town. I want you to go to Yongming County and get it back." Qin Yan said with a serious expression.
"Poverty alleviation funds are dedicated funds. Can dedicated funds be withheld?" Chen Feng asked with a confused look.
"By rights, dedicated funds cannot be withheld. However, as you know, in the political arena, anything is possible. Originally, I wanted to go to Yongming County myself to resolve this. But the problem is, Mingshan Town has been very busy lately, and I really couldn't get away. So, it can only be you, the Deputy Town Head in charge of economic affairs, who has to go." Qin Yan said with a serious expression.
"Understood, this is already within my purview."
"By the way, bring Cheng Lu along. You've been busy lately and neglected Cheng Lu, which isn't good. We will be working together in Jiangcheng in the future, and we'll need her help to some extent." Qin Yan said with a meaningful smile.
"Town Head Qin, aren't you very busy right now? Cheng Lu is your secretary. If I take her away, won't you be even busier and more tired?" Chen Feng retorted.
"It's alright. It's a convention in the political arena to have more than one secretary. If I'm really too busy, I'll find other secretaries. As for you, take this opportunity to go to Yongming County to retrieve the poverty alleviation funds and bring Cheng Lu along for some fresh air. Honestly, Cheng Lu has been really dedicated in helping me with things lately. Although she doesn't have your talent and comprehension, she makes up for it with her undivided attention. Since Cheng Lu has been working so wholeheartedly for me, I can't treat her unfairly, you understand?"
Chen Feng nodded in agreement. Although Cheng Lu came from a wealthy family, she was willing to endure hardship and learn, truly surpassing many rich second-generation individuals. To be honest, he felt good being with Cheng Lu.
"Chen Feng, Town Head Qin said that you voluntarily offered to take me to Yongming County to do some serious business and also relax. Is that right?" Cheng Lu asked happily on the way to Yongming County.
"Yes." Chen Feng felt a bit dizzy. He had to admit that Qin Yan was not only experienced in the political arena but also in dealing with women. With just a few words, she had managed to make the woman extremely excited.
"Then I misunderstood you. I thought you were a blockhead who would forget about women once you got busy with work." Cheng Lu said, leaning her head on Chen Feng's shoulder.
Chen Feng was so dizzy that it was a miracle he didn't drive the car into a ditch, given his good driving skills.
"Miss Cheng, you are so beautiful and understanding. I'm not a fool, so naturally, I should cherish you and treat you well." Chen Feng replied with sweet words. According to Qin Yan, there were no other secrets to dating girls; you just had to keep complimenting them.
"Understanding? Then tell me, how am I understanding?" Cheng Lu asked with a blissful expression.
"While I was busy with all the important matters in Mingshan Town recently, you didn't bother me, allowing me to focus on my work. That's being understanding." Chen Feng said with a feigned serious expression.
"That's a given! I'm also involved in the political arena, so I naturally understand the importance of priorities. By the way, Chen Feng, this time Town Head Qin called you to Yongming County to request funds. I feel it might be difficult. Since they dared to withhold dedicated funds, it means they have sufficient preparations to deal with any unforeseen circumstances." Cheng Lu asked with mixed feelings. On one hand, Qin Yan entrusting such a difficult task to Chen Feng showed her complete faith in his abilities. In the political arena, being fully recognized by superiors was definitely a path to great success. However, the problem was that retrieving the withheld dedicated funds from the higher-ups was not just difficult; it was exceptionally difficult. They would likely return empty-handed.
"Miss Cheng, in fact, I also know this matter is very tricky. However, this involves poverty alleviation funds. No matter how difficult it is, I have to try. I come from a rural background and deeply understand how difficult life is for the poor in rural areas." Chen Feng said with a solemn expression.
"Chen Feng, do you know what I like about you?" Cheng Lu said emotionally.
"You like me because I'm handsome? Talented?" Chen Feng joked deliberately.
"I do like your handsomeness and your talent, but that's only part of the reason. What I like most is your unique sense of male responsibility and your deep-seated kindness. These qualities make you a person with great charisma and substance." Cheng Lu said with a doting expression.
"Is it that exaggerated?" Chen Feng replied modestly.
"Not exaggerated at all. I've been in the political arena for quite some time and have met many people. Most people lose their conscience once they enter it. Yet, you have been in the political arena for so long and have maintained your original intentions. It's truly rare. China is truly fortunate to have you in its political arena." As she spoke with emotion, Cheng Lu couldn't help but kiss Chen Feng's cheek.
Chen Feng instinctively wanted to dodge, but he was driving, so there was no escape. It wasn't that he disliked being kissed by Cheng Lu, but he was afraid that if it got passionate, Cheng Lu might want to do "that," and that would be troublesome. As he always said, the Cheng family was not an ordinary family. If he blindly slept with Cheng Lu, his political career would likely be over. To have a bright future in the political arena, one must have self-control regarding women. Too many powerful figures in politics have been ruined by women.
"Chen Feng, I don't think you need to evade me now. Your political aura is becoming more mature. My family should not object." Cheng Lu said earnestly.
"Miss Cheng, you are still too naive. My political experience has indeed increased compared to before, but the problem is my political status is very low. A Deputy Town Head is nothing in the Jiangcheng political arena." Chen Feng advised Cheng Lu while driving.
"Chen Feng, do you think my family is too snobbish?" Cheng Lu retorted.
"It's not that your family is snobbish, but the general environment in China is like that. Nowadays, you either have money or power. Otherwise, dreaming of marrying into a prominent family is just a pipe dream."
"Chen Feng, you're exaggerating too much. Our family isn't that exaggerated. We just have a bit of money; we're far from being a prominent family." Cheng Lu said evasively. If Chen Feng knew her father was the top leader of Jiangcheng, he would probably drive the car into a ditch in his excitement.
"Miss Cheng, you are too modest. By the way, when we go to Yongming County, I might need your help." Chen Feng said seriously.
"Need my help? What can I help with?" Cheng Lu asked nervously. Helping was not an issue, but if she often asked her father to help Chen Feng, Chen Feng might guess who her father was.
"You've been accompanying Town Head Qin on inspections in the countryside these past few days. You must have a deep understanding of the difficult lives of poor households. My idea is that when I discuss the poverty alleviation funds with the big shots in the Yongming County Finance Department, you can come forward and give a firsthand account." Chen Feng said seriously.
"Just this?" Cheng Lu said with a sigh of relief.
"What else?"
"I thought you wanted my family to help find connections."
"This small matter, I won't bother your family. Otherwise, your family will only think I'm useless and even less worthy of you." Chen Feng's answer greatly pleased Cheng Lu. His words fully demonstrated one thing: Chen Feng was a man with his own ideas, not someone who liked to rely on others for support.
Soon, the two arrived at the office of a senior official in the Yongming County Finance Department. As soon as she entered the office, Cheng Lu's heart skipped a beat. Good heavens, how could it be him? This person was none other than Chen Feng's ex-girlfriend's boyfriend, and also Chen Feng's university classmate, Zhao Mingpu.