"Why did you come?"

Amid the applause, Chen Fang asked Zhong Xiqian.

Zhong Xiqian smiled lightly and said, "I came to support your work. Otherwise, you would only look for other women's help."

Her words were heavy with sarcasm.

Chen Fang also picked up on it.

It seemed that Zhong Xiqian knew who had helped Chen Fang with his situation today.

Who else could it be?

It must have been Xu Yan.

Only Xu Yan had such significant influence for such a grand gesture.

Chen Fang scratched his head and said, "Alright, take a seat for a while. I need to handle some things at hand."

Zhong Xiqian nodded and found a chair to sit down.

32.1 billion!

Not to mention in East River Province, even on a national level, that was a leading figure.

They had intended Chen Fang to make a fool of himself.

Now, on the contrary, he had managed to make a great impression. It would not be surprising if this investment conference became legendary, shocking the entire province.

Zhao Yiping's face turned from pale to purple, too ugly to describe.

Not only had his plan to entrap Chen Fang failed.

The 16 business leaders he had pulled together were now also full of complaints; for example, Gu Zhengqi from Puhua Technology had lost his investment. What next? How could he set up in the Industrial Technology Park?

He, the Mayor of Wulan City, was outshone by Chen Fang, a Deputy Mayor of a county-level city—how could anyone feel good about that?

"Mayor Zhao, how is it? Any gains?"

Chen Fang asked.

Zhao Yiping snorted coldly and said, "Deputy Mayor Chen truly has impressive tactics; I admire it."

Chen Fang smiled faintly and said, "Mutual admiration, it was an unexpected gain. If Mayor Zhao hadn't been against me, I probably wouldn't have won so splendidly."

Upon hearing this.

Zhao Yiping was startled.

He asked, "You knew all along?"

"Not that I knew all along, but I had my arrangements. Mayor Zhao knows I am meticulous in my work, how could I inform the driver's team of my itinerary days in advance? Moreover, I seldom use a driver, but oddly, during that period, I did use one. Don't you think that's strange?"

Zhao Yiping suddenly came to an epiphany.

He exclaimed, "You intentionally leaked your itinerary to the driver?"

"Hahaha...Not really, it's like guarding against the honest but not the scheming. If nobody intended to stab me in the back, then it wasn't intentional. But if someone harbored ill intentions, calling it intentional isn't too far-fetched either."

This comment was quite a subtle jab at Zhao Yiping for being a 'petty person.'

Zhao Yiping was utterly dismayed.

But given the situation, he could only swallow his pride.

He lost all face.

And didn't have the gall to stay any longer, swinging his sleeve, he gritted his teeth and said, "Deputy Mayor Chen, I've gained a lot today. After I return, I will definitely hold a good meeting with the comrades at the Industrial Technology Park. We'll meet again if we have the chance."

Having said that.

He left angrily.

Chen Fang turned to look at Dou Qingquan, whose face had turned pale, and asked with a smile, "Mayor Dou, are you satisfied with the result?"

Dou Qingquan shuddered.

He nodded repeatedly and said, "Satisfied, definitely satisfied. Deputy Mayor Chen's real capability is truly extraordinary. You have made a mark for Guyang City this time. When we return, I will certainly credit you."

"So, do we agree that I won the bet?"

Dou Qingquan wanted to dodge the subject.

But Chen Fang had no intention of letting him off.

Seeing this.

He hurriedly said, "Deputy Mayor Chen, you are also a Deputy Mayor; talking about a bet is just a casual remark—why take it seriously?"

This comment was clearly meant to bail Dou Qingquan out.

Chen Fang's eyes suddenly sparkled with intensity as he sharply turned to look at Ou Jian.

He asked, "Secretary Ou, let me ask you, if I lost today, would you let me go? Would you tell Mayor Dou that this matter shouldn't be taken seriously?"

As soon as he spoke those words,

Ou Jian suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

Those who wanted to excuse Dou Qingquan were momentarily left speechless.

Sweat began to bead on Dou Qingquan's forehead.

Initially, he had made the bet under the assumption that he would surely win—who could have imagined that he would lose so utterly?

"Comrade Chen Fang, mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice. You indeed won this time, but who can be certain about next time?"

Yang Guanghong cleared his throat, his tone somewhat strange as he spoke.

Chen Fang cracked a slight smile.

He replied, "Secretary Yang makes a valid point. Leave some leeway in life, so we may meet amicably in the future. But if we just let this go, some clueless individuals might actually think they can push me around as they please. So, let it be, I won't be too critical."

At that point,

Chen Fang pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips.

He said, "Mayor Dou, would you light my cigarette, please? Let's let bygones be bygones with this matter."

Light a cigarette?

A city mayor lighting a cigarette for a deputy mayor?

Dou Qingquan hadn't even responded yet.

Ou Jian, grinding his teeth, said, "Chen Fang, don't push it!"

Hearing this, Chen Fang smiled slightly, "It seems Mayor Dou would rather clean toilets. Well then, I won't insist."

He pulled out a lighter and lit the cigarette himself.

After taking a puff, he said, "This bet was indeed a gentleman's agreement. If Mayor Dou insists on being dishonorable, there's nothing I, Chen Fang, can do. However, I believe Mayor Dou is certainly not that kind of person."

After dropping that remark,

Chen Fang turned and walked away.

The scene was engulfed in silence.

Ou Jian, as if boasting, addressed Dou Qingquan, "Mayor Dou, don't take it to heart. What can happen if we don't clean toilets? You are the top official. Surely, Chen Fang isn't going to hold a knife to your throat?"

Dou Qingquan cast a glance at him.

He said, "Comrade Ou Jian, as the Political and Legal Committee Secretary, aren't your words a bit too many?"

Upon hearing this,

Ou Jian's face instantly turned pale.

He wasn't stupid.

He could tell that this was Dou Qingquan's way of giving him a warning.

And it wasn't unjustified.

A matter that could have been resolved just by lighting a cigarette took a turn towards toilet cleaning.

A mayor's word not holding up could become a laughingstock if word got out, and then his reputation in Guyang City would be utterly destroyed.

Watching Dou Qingquan also quickly leave,

Ou Jian muttered, "What's wrong with me? Wasn't I just looking out for you? How did it become my fault?"

Yang Guanghong snorted coldly from the side.

He said, "You've shot yourself in the foot by sucking up too much, Secretary Ou. Honestly, I have no idea how you got to be the secretary of the Political and Legal Committee."

"I…"

Ou Jian shivered momentarily.

He didn't know how to explain himself.

The news of the Economic Development Zone attracting investments worth 32.1 billion quickly spread to Wulan City and then to East River Province.

The phones at the offices of the Guyang City Municipal Committee and Municipal Government were ringing off the hook.

Apart from the higher-level governments inquiring about the details, numerous media outlets, having heard the news, were scrambling to get the story firsthand. After all, in an era where the economy reigns supreme, such news is exceedingly uplifting.

Of course,

For some, such good news is bad news indeed.

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