"Mayor Meng, you can't leave, you can't abandon me. I've even given you my woman, you can't leave..."

The voice of Shen Shanghu came from behind.

The defeated Meng Zheqing had completely stopped caring about what he was thinking and left without looking back.

On the way back to the municipal government.

Cui Weiguo asked, "Just like that? Are we really giving the position of director of the Economic Development Zone to Chen Fang?"

Meng Zheqing sneered and said, "Chen Fang has some brains, but he still overlooked one point, the most crucial one."

"What?"

Cui Weiguo asked.

The corners of Meng Zheqing's mouth revealed a sinister smile, and he said, "He forgot that Shen Shanghu was promoted by Ren Yiweng. By standing up for Shen Shanghu today, we are maintaining Ren Yiweng's face. Losing a director's position in exchange for the support of the Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee—how can this deal be anything but beneficial?"

With these words spoken,

Cui Weiguo also laughed.

He said, "No wonder you agreed to him. You had another plan all along."

"Hahaha..."

The two laughed loudly in the car.

At that moment, in the police department office of Pei Shanglian.

Having won a battle, Xue Bo was still complaining.

"Chen Fang, weren't you too foolish? Why do we need the director? We should aim for the secretary, you should have asked him for that position," lamented Xue Bo.

Chen Fang replied, "Mayor Xue, I wasn't planning to ask for that director position for you. The candidate I nominated is Comrade Lin Fei from the organization department."

"What did you say?"

Xue Bo was stunned.

Seeming to realize something, he asked through gritted teeth, "Are you playing me?"

Chen Fang sipped his tea lightly and asked, "Mayor Xue, let me ask you a question. Between the positions of the secretary and the director, which one do you really want?"

"Isn't that obvious? It has to be the top position," said Xue Bo irritably.

Chen Fang nodded and said, "The secretary is their core interest. Just with today's event at the police department, do you think if you were them, would you agree to give up the secretary's position? No! You would fight to the death. So, do you think, based on the magnitude of today's event, would Meng Zheqing be overthrown?"

Xue Bo was taken aback.

He shook his head and said, "No."

He was beginning to understand Chen Fang's intention and complained, "But you shouldn't monopolize the director position. Without me, this entire plan would never have succeeded. Could it be that after all my efforts, all the benefits go to you, Chen Fang? You've been too cunning with this calculation."

Chen Fang smiled and asked, "Mayor Xue, another question for you: when you nominated Shi Zhengqing for this director position, did Secretary Xu Jianfeng object?"

"No!"

Xue Bo shook his head and said.

"Then let me ask you, when Meng Zheqing nominated Nie Quan as the director of the Economic Development Zone, did Secretary Xu Jianfeng object?"

"He did," said Xue Bo.

Chen Fang continued to ask, "Why is there a difference here?"

"It's simple, interests must be balanced. Meng Zheqing can't take both the top and the second position. Monopolizing everything isn't so easy," Xue Bo said.

As soon as these words were said,

Xue Bo jolted and suddenly looked at Chen Fang, asking, "Are you suggesting that now I have secured the second position, once the top position becomes vacant later, it will have nothing to do with me, right?"

Chen Fang nodded and said, "Yes, now do you understand why Secretary Xu Jianfeng doesn't have any demands for the position of second in command? It's simple, he also knows that once he takes down the second position, he can't go after the top position anymore. If he took both positions, you and Meng Zheqing would join forces against him, so he lets you struggle for the position of second in command. What he hopes most is that you seize the second in command."

It was a revelation.

Xue Bo was stunned and said, "I was wondering why Xu Jianfeng hasn't budged from the second-hand position in the Economic Development Zone, so he was waiting for me here. He wants me to win the second in command spot and then focus all my efforts on taking down the top position of the Economic Development Zone. He really did play a good game."

Chen Fang heard this.

A barely perceptible smile appeared on his face.

He said, "So, the second in command of the Economic Development Zone, I'm the only one who can take it. After I do, it won't affect anyone else's competition for the top spot. Right now, we are in a partnership, and I am your best cover. By winning this position in my name, I can later help you take down the top position."

"Alright, that's settled then."

Xue Bo slapped the table vigorously and said.

"However, I still have doubts. By taking down Shen Shanghu, you have offended Ren Yiweng, making it easy for Ren Yiweng to side with Meng Zheqing. Ren Yiweng has always been neutral, and once Meng Zheqing gains his support, it will be like adding wings to a tiger, thereby greatly increasing his influence, which seems like an even worse result for us."

Chen Fang chuckled and said, "Mayor Xue, rest assured, Ren Yiweng won't side with Meng Zheqing..."

"How do you know?"

"I told you before, wine should be sipped one sip at a time, dramas should be played out one act at a time, the show isn't over yet, please be patient, Mayor Xue."

That phrase before.

Xue Bo hadn't taken it to heart, but this time, he completely believed it.

Knock knock knock.

A series of knocks sounded.

Pei Shanglian pushed the door open.

He said to Chen Fang, "Minister Chen, Ding Jianmu says he wants to see you."

Chen Fang slapped his knee.

He stood up.

He said, "It seems that some things are about to be revealed."

The scene returns to the interrogation room.

Ding Jianmu's confession had already been taken.

He was very cooperative.

He not only confessed to bullying his neighbors, embezzling bribes, and misusing public funds over the years in He Shou Village, but he also admitted all about how he had driven the Jia Yuanqing family to their deaths.

With all these charges, he wouldn't be coming out any time soon.

This local tyrant who had tormented his neighbors was completely finished today.

"Heard you were looking for me?"

Chen Fang asked.

Ding Jianmu exhaled a long breath and said, "What I should and shouldn't have said, I've said it all. Now you should be able to tell me how you know so much about He Shou Village and about my... my issues, how did you find out?"

Chen Fang stared at Ding Jianmu for a while.

He said, "Ding Jianmu, who do you think knows you best in this world?"

"That would certainly be my closest family members," Ding Jianmu said without thinking.

Chen Fang smiled slightly and said, "There you have your answer."

"Impossible, Chen Fang, don't try to drive a wedge, my family would never betray me, that's absolutely impossible," Ding Jianmu said, thinking Chen Fang was just stalling him, and he became loud.

Chen Fang sighed and said, "The world hustles and bustles, all for profit; in the presence of profits, love, kinship, and friendships all become trivial. For those in the officialdom, nothing is more tempting than promotion, and every step up is tread upon a pile of bones. Director Ding, you understand this, I believe."

Ding Jianmu heard this and suddenly froze, then asked in disbelief, "Is it him?"

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