"Chen Feng, can you draft your bragging before you start? Who do you think you are? You want me to abdicate and let you have my position, and I'll just do it? Do you have any idea how much money and connections I spent to get this job? You want me to step down, that's a joke."
Zhao Mingpu stared at Chen Feng with icy killing intent.
"Your actions right now are a classic case of occupying a position without fulfilling its duties. Since that's the case, why don't you go back to your old line of work and stay in a sinecure until retirement? It's quite good. As for how I'll make you abdicate, you'll know soon enough."
After dropping the words, Chen Feng pulled Cheng Lu and left Zhao Mingpu's office.
"Chen Feng, weren't you a bit too impulsive earlier? Although Zhao Mingpu refused to release the poverty alleviation funds, you could have just been angry and let it go. Why did you have to confront him so directly? You used to tell me that in the political arena, it's always better to have more friends than enemies."
Cheng Lu asked with a worried expression.
"Cheng Lu, if it were about anything else, I would have walked away. But the problem is, this matter isn't a trivial one; it's about the poverty alleviation funds. Zhao Mingpu is acting erratically at such a critical juncture, and since I encountered it, I can't just pretend I didn't see it."
Chen Feng said with a serious look.
"Chen Feng, I really don't think it's necessary. We've been in the political arena for so long, you should know that there are too many people in positions who only know how to embezzle money and don't do their jobs properly. You can't manage them all."
Cheng Lu advised Chen Feng.
"Miss Cheng, I know what you're saying. As I said earlier, if it were about anything else, them being corrupt and inactive, I could pretend I didn't see it. You also said that such things are too common in the political arena, and you can't manage them all. However, this matter with Zhao Mingpu, I must deal with it. So many impoverished households in Mingshan Town are waiting for this poverty alleviation fund to turn their lives around. Zhao Mingpu is actually delaying its disbursement. I absolutely cannot let this go."
Chen Feng explained slightly.
"Alright, since you've made up your mind, I won't try to persuade you anymore. What do you plan to do about Zhao Mingpu next?"
Cheng Lu asked tentatively.
"I won't deal with Zhao Mingpu for now. I need to find a way to disburse a sum of poverty alleviation funds to those impoverished households in Mingshan Town through another channel. After I get this done, it won't be too late to think about dealing with Zhao Mingpu. For now, let's find a place to have a good meal and relax."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"In the current situation, it's better not to relax and eat. Let's hurry back to Mingshan Town."
Cheng Lu whispered.
"Miss Cheng, don't worry so much. To be honest, the poverty alleviation funds for Mingshan Town and dealing with Zhao Mingpu are not as difficult as you imagine. Relaxing and eating won't delay things."
Chen Feng advised Cheng Lu.
"Really?"
Cheng Lu asked with excitement.
"Of course, it's true. I'm no longer the same driver for a leader who just entered the political arena. After scrambling around in political positions for so long, my abilities have improved by leaps and bounds. To be honest, if I can't handle these two matters, how can I climb higher?"
Chen Feng advised Cheng Lu.
"That's true. In that case, I won't be polite. Let's go for a Western meal."
Cheng Lu said excitedly.
"A Western meal? Not this time."
Chen Feng replied softly.
"Chen Feng, although a Western meal is a bit expensive, the money in your account is no small sum, and a Western meal is more than enough. Especially recently, after you tricked the assets of Hong Tao, the head of the Yongming County Development and Reform Commission, using the method from 'The Shawshank Redemption,' the money in your account is even more substantial. In this situation, you're saying you won't treat me to a Western meal, is that right?"
Cheng Lu asked, a little annoyed.
"Miss Cheng, you've misunderstood. It's not that I'm unwilling to treat you, but it's not appropriate in the current situation. You know, I've offended Zhao Mingpu, and I've offended him to the death. If I were to eat Western food right under Zhao Mingpu's nose, do you think he would make a fuss?"
Chen Feng explained patiently.
"You don't think so?"
Cheng Lu was stunned for a moment.
"In the political arena, anything is possible. It's always best to be careful."
Chen Feng said solemnly.
"That's true. Chen Feng, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you. Since it's inconvenient to have a Western meal, it's not a big problem. We can eat at a street stall, is that acceptable?"
Cheng Lu asked excitedly.
"That's fine."
Chen Feng replied with a faint smile.
So, the two drove to eat at a night stall.
It just so happened that when Chen Feng and Cheng Lu were eating malatang in the provincial capital before, they encountered Zhu Hangyi and her wealthy second-generation boyfriend. This time, Chen Feng and Cheng Lu were eating malatang in Yongming County and once again encountered Zhu Hangyi and her boyfriend Zhao Mingpu.
Zhu Hangyi and Zhao Mingpu came out of a hotel next to the malatang night stall. When they saw Chen Feng and Cheng Lu eating malatang, Zhu Hangyi was ecstatic.
Finally, an opportunity arose to thoroughly humiliate Chen Feng.
"Oh my, Chen Feng, how have you been getting by? You were eating malatang in college, you were eating malatang when you were a village head last time, and now that you're the deputy town head of Mingshan Town, you're still eating malatang?"
Zhu Hangyi said sarcastically.
"Zhu Hangyi, is there anything wrong with us liking to eat malatang?"
Cheng Lu, standing beside Chen Feng, answered before he could.
"You like to eat this kind of low-class malatang for a few yuan? It seems that the preferences of the poor are quite interesting."
Zhu Hangyi continued to mock Chen Feng and Cheng Lu with excitement.
"We are poor, and we can't afford a feast, but it's better than selling our bodies and souls to eat delicacies."
Cheng Lu retorted defiantly.
"Cheng Lu, don't speak so nastily. My boyfriend is currently the head of the Yongming County Finance Department. Believe it or not, with just one word from him, you two will be kicked out of Mingshan Town's political arena?"
Zhu Hangyi said in exasperation. Cheng Lu wanted to continue arguing with Zhu Hangyi, but Chen Feng pulled her away.
"Chen Feng, are you afraid of them?"
Cheng Lu asked with a pout.
"I dared to confront Zhao Mingpu directly, so why would I be afraid of them? I just don't want to ruin major plans with minor impatience. We are currently planning to take down Zhao Mingpu. If we confront him too early, it will definitely affect the subsequent plan. Understand?"
Chen Feng explained patiently.
"Chen Feng, the logic is sound, but Zhu Hangyi and Zhao Mingpu's expressions just now, I can't swallow the anger in my heart. How can you just let it go?"
Cheng Lu asked confusedly.
"Miss Cheng, you've been in the political arena, you should know that it's a place where you're always being taken advantage of, unless you're at a high position. Then you won't be taken advantage of, and instead, you can make others suffer. To be honest, from the moment I entered the political arena, I was prepared to be taken advantage of. If I couldn't even endure this much, I wouldn't have entered the political arena in the first place."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"It seems my cultivation is still insufficient. There is still much to learn in the political arena. By the way, Chen Feng, it's so late now, why don't we get a hotel room and rest for the night, and return to Mingshan Town tomorrow?"
Cheng Lu asked Chen Feng with a hidden meaning.