The next day, Xiao Ming was secretly rejoicing in his office, thinking that Qin Yan would be out of Mingshan Town within a few days. Unexpectedly, the town mayor's secretary came to call him, saying the mayor wanted to see him in his office.
"Secretary Qin, thank you for the trouble of personally calling me."
Xiao Ming said to Secretary Qin with a fawning smile.
Although Secretary Qin was lower in rank than Deputy Mayor Xiao, Deputy Mayor Xiao showed no intention of putting on airs in front of Secretary Qin.
It was a rule to curry favor with anyone close to the leader, regardless of their position.
As the saying goes, it's easier to offend the King of Hell than the petty officials.
"Deputy Mayor Xiao, you're too kind. I'm just delivering a message, it's no trouble at all."
Secretary Qin replied with a smile.
He had already accepted the unlabeled can of tea that Deputy Mayor Xiao handed over.
Expensive tea without labels was standard in every office.
"Secretary Qin, may I trouble you to ask if Mayor Wang is calling me to tell me good news or bad news, so I can be prepared?"
Xiao Ming asked tentatively.
"It should be good news. I've known Mayor Wang for quite some time. I can tell whether Mayor Wang is harboring good news or bad news."
Secretary Qin said with a smile.
Upon hearing Secretary Qin say this, Xiao Ming felt more confident.
"Mayor Wang, I'm here."
As soon as he entered the mayor's office, Xiao Ming brought out all his skills in flattery.
His gaze, his subservient posture...
There was no sign that this Xiao Ming was a deputy mayor.
"Xiao Xiao, I've called you here this time because I have a good task for you to undertake."
Wang Delai said with a smile.
"Thank you for your guidance, Mayor Wang."
"It's like this, the expansion project of Phase IV of the Mingshan Town Industrial Zone is nearing completion. To meet the May Day deadline, you will be appointed as the deputy commander. With you there, many matters can be resolved conveniently, after all, you are a local of Mingshan Town."
Wang Delai continued with a smile.
"Mayor Wang, wouldn't that be inappropriate? Deputy Mayor Qin has always been in charge of the Phase IV expansion project of the Mingshan Town Industrial Zone. My sudden involvement might be seen as stealing credit."
Xiao Ming quickly found an excuse to refuse. He was on the verge of using the Phase IV expansion project of the Mingshan Town Industrial Zone to drive Qin Yan away, and at this critical juncture, he absolutely could not falter.
Speaking of which, he had underestimated Qin Yan. She had made such a small, leak-proof move.
"Xiao Xiao, you are good in everything, but sometimes you tend to overthink things. You worry that Xiao Qin might have opinions about you taking credit, but that's not the case. To be honest, the title of deputy commander was proposed by Xiao Qin herself. I must say, Xiao Qin has a good overall perspective."
Wang Delai's smile widened.
Everyone thought Qin Yan was parachuted into Mingshan Town from above, but in reality, he had requested her from above.
Xiao Ming absolutely could not serve as the second-in-command in charge of Mingshan Town's economy. Having a local person hold such an important position would only be detrimental to him, the top leader. He had to have a stranger parachuted in so that he could be controlled more easily.
From the current perspective, this parachuted-in Qin Yan was quite in line with his expectations. She didn't have many ulterior motives and was solely focused on driving Mingshan Town's economy.
This was a win-win situation. She could gain career capital, and he could also gain career capital.
"I apologize, Mayor Wang. It seems I was overthinking. Since this matter was proposed by Deputy Mayor Qin herself, then I have no choice but to accept."
Xiao Ming replied with a forced smile, inwardly wishing he could kill Qin Yan.
"Xiao Xiao, the Phase IV expansion project of the Mingshan Town Industrial Zone is of great significance to Mingshan Town and to us. Now that you are the deputy commander, you should not be lazy in your efforts. I hope you will cooperate closely with Xiao Qin and ensure the successful completion of the May Day tribute. I have already assured the higher authorities, and if I am made to look foolish..."
Wang Delai stopped smiling and said.
"Mayor Wang, please rest assured, I guarantee that the Mingshan Town Industrial Zone Phase IV expansion project will be completed on time, in full quantity, and smoothly."
Xiao Ming vowed.
"By the way, it's Xiao Qin's first time coming to Mingshan Town to preside over work, and there may be some areas where she makes mistakes. If you discover any, please communicate with me promptly. As the mayor, I have a responsibility to help you grow."
Wang Delai said with a serious expression.
"Don't worry, I will pay close attention to Deputy Mayor Qin. After all, Deputy Mayor Qin's position in charge of the economy is very important and cannot be taken lightly."
Xiao Ming said with a fawning smile.
He couldn't help but curse inwardly, "Damn it, an old fox!"
He wielded both the stick and the carrot simultaneously.
In front of Qin Yan, he was kind and spoke flattering words. Behind her back, he collected damaging information about Qin Yan by all means.
His goal was only one: to make Qin Yan wholeheartedly work for him.
Without even thinking, he probably had quite a bit of damaging information about himself in Wang Delai's possession.
It had to be said that Wang Delai was an unfathomable old fox.
After a few more words of flattery to Wang Delai, Xiao Ming returned to his office, dejected.
Old Li, the construction site supervisor, was sitting on the sofa in a good mood.
"Deputy Mayor Xiao, is that woman Qin Yan close to being finished?"
Old Li asked directly.
"Who said that?"
Xiao Ming replied impatiently.
"Didn't you say it? That you would use the matter of the compensation households to drive Qin Yan out of Mingshan Town."
Old Li was taken aback.
"The situation has changed. We cannot touch Qin Yan for now."
Xiao Ming replied with a frown.
"Deputy Mayor Xiao, what does this mean? Didn't we agree that we would join forces to drive that woman Qin Yan out of Mingshan Town? I also contributed half of the money for the compensation households, as you know."
Old Li panicked.
He had been counting on that damn woman Qin Yan to leave Mingshan Town so he could continue to make money from the construction sites, but the result was like this.
Everything was going well, and suddenly they couldn't touch Qin Yan. What had happened?
"Stop whining. You contributed half the money, and I contributed half the money. Also, I want Qin Yan to get lost even more than you do. However, Wang Delai and Qin Yan are not easy people to deal with. This time, we lost to them, so we have to accept defeat."
Xiao Ming said with red eyes.
To drive Qin Yan away, he had spent a lot of money this time, but it turned out to be a wild goose chase, so it was no wonder he was angry.
"Deputy Mayor Xiao, I think this idea of appointing you as deputy commander wasn't thought up by Qin Yan. I have acquaintances at the construction site, and they said that recently, Qin Yan has been looking at various engineering documents in the construction shed, and it was her driver Chen Feng who was handling the compensation households' affairs. Is there a possibility that this idea of appointing you as deputy commander was the driver's doing?"
Old Li said cautiously.
"Impossible. I know that young driver Chen Feng. He graduated from an ordinary university and became Qin Yan's driver through connections. He doesn't have much ability or intelligence. How could he have come up with something so leak-proof?"
Xiao Ming said in disbelief.