"Furthermore," he added, his tone taking on a different flavor, "I previously promised you certain conditions. You mustn't forget them!"
"If all our previous efforts go to waste, then neither of us will benefit."
Xu Pei's heart gave a slight clench, and he glared at Yi Kaicheng.
The reason he was helping Yi Kaicheng so much was simple.
Yi Kaicheng had promised him that as long as Kaicheng Chemical secured investment from Tianbao Group, Yi Kaicheng would give him a twenty percent dividend annually.
At that point, Xu Pei could earn a substantial amount of money without lifting a finger.
Who wouldn't be tempted by such a deal?
Thinking of this, Xu Pei's gaze turned grim once more.
He nodded and said, "Stop talking. Leave this matter to me."
Yi Kaicheng was overjoyed to hear this, realizing Xu Pei had accepted his suggestion.
Once the county magistrate arrived, all problems would cease to be problems!
With this thought, a cunning smile spread across Yi Kaicheng's lips.
Disregarding Zhou Mingxue's presence, he directly addressed Wu Tian, "Kid, you're completely finished."
"You're still too green to try and compete with me!"
Xu Pei took out his phone, intending to call the county magistrate, but at that moment, his phone rang instead.
The caller ID displayed "Elder Bai."
Seeing this contact, Xu Pei's expression drastically changed. He immediately answered the call without any hesitation.
"Hello, hello, Elder Bai. Is there something you need?"
His tone was subservient, completely devoid of the arrogance he displayed as Secretary Xu.
A voice of an old man came from the other end of the phone, "Secretary Xu, are you free? We'd like to invite you to a meeting."
Upon hearing this, Xu Pei became somewhat hesitant.
He said, "Elder Bai, you need to have a meeting now? I'm currently in Taohua Village dealing with something."
"Could you wait for me? I'll be right over."
"Taohua Village?" Elder Bai's tone shifted, becoming slightly off.
He said gravely, "What are you doing in Taohua Village?"
Xu Pei replied, "Nothing much, just helping Kaicheng Chemical with some matters. Their village doctor is a bit uncooperative. I'll be there immediately after I handle this!"
But Elder Bai's tone grew even stranger, "What did you say? The village doctor in Taohua Village? Secretary Xu, is the village doctor you're referring to named Wu Tian?"
Xu Pei froze upon hearing this.
He stammered, "Yes, his name is Wu Tian. Elder Bai, how do you know him?"
Elder Bai was silent for two seconds, then spoke with a stern tone, "Secretary Xu, I don't want to waste words with you."
"But I must tell you today, if you dare to lay a hand on Wu Tian, you can forget about being a secretary."
Xu Pei's mind went blank.
He thought he had misheard and asked foolishly, "Elder Bai, what do you mean by that?"
"That Wu Tian... does he have any connection to you?"
Elder Bai let out a low hum, then said sternly, "Let me put it this way, Mr. Wu is not just connected to me, but to the entire Bai family."
"Mr. Wu is a friend of the Bai family, and the Bai family has always been willing to go through fire and water for their friends."
"If you don't believe me and insist on testing the Bai family's limits, then by all means, try."
At this moment, if Wu Tian could hear Elder Bai's voice, he would be greatly surprised.
For this Elder Bai was the same elder from the Bai family who had appeared at the gemstone invitation event!
Elder Bai had intended to call Xu Pei for a meeting simply because Tianbao Group was about to set up operations, and there were many matters to discuss with the government.
However, Elder Bai had not anticipated that this phone call would coincide with such an event.
After hearing Elder Bai's words, Xu Pei was utterly stunned.
His wide eyes had almost lost their focus.
After a long pause, he finally stammered, "Elder Bai, did I hear you correctly just now?"
"Wu Tian is a friend of the Bai family? How is that possible!"
Elder Bai seemed to have lost patience with him and said directly, "Whether you believe it or not is your business."
"In short, if you don't do as I say, then be prepared to resign!"
With that, Elder Bai hung up the phone.
Xu Pei held his phone, still unable to recover for a long time.
Seeing his dazed state, Yi Kaicheng asked in confusion, "Secretary Xu, what happened?"
"What do you mean by friend? What are you talking about? I don't understand at all."
Xu Pei jolted as if struck by lightning and finally came back to his senses.
He glared fiercely at Yi Kaicheng, looking as if he wanted to devour him alive.
Yi Kaicheng was terrified by Xu Pei's expression and asked nervously, "Secretary Xu, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Get out of here!" Xu Pei roared, pushing Yi Kaicheng with his palm.
If it were the old Yi Kaicheng, this push would have been nothing.
But the current Yi Kaicheng had a crippled leg!
So, when Xu Pei pushed him, he fell directly to the ground.
Xu Pei's actions shocked and angered Yi Kaicheng. He glared at Xu Pei and exclaimed, "Secretary Xu, what are you doing!"
Wu Tian and Zhou Mingxue were also stunned, clearly not understanding why Xu Pei was acting this way.
Then, Wu Tian saw Xu Pei nervously walk towards him and bow, saying, "Mr. Wu, Mr. Wu, I'm truly sorry. I had no idea you were a friend of Tianbao Group!"
"Ignorance is not a crime. Since I truly didn't know, please let me off the hook!"
Upon hearing this, Yi Kaicheng was completely dumbfounded.
He exclaimed, "Secretary Xu, what's wrong with you? How can this guy, how can he be a friend of Tianbao Group?"
"Shut up!" Xu Pei yelled at Yi Kaicheng. "The people from Tianbao Group personally told me that Mr. Wu is a friend of Tianbao Group. How could that be false!"
For a moment, Yi Kaicheng felt as if he had gone deaf.
Wu Tian is a friend of Tianbao Group?
This shouldn't be!
Wasn't Wu Tian just a village doctor? How could a village doctor be a friend of Tianbao Group?
Zhou Mingxue also said dazedly, "Wu Tian, you're a friend of Tianbao Group? Is... is this true?"
Although Tianbao Group was just a company, behind it was the renowned Bai family, wielding immense power and wealth.
Let alone the officials present, even the provincial governor would have to be courteous to Tianbao Group!