The Song brothers have always been very straightforward with me, but look at them now, surprisingly coming to greet me, and even holding my hand to congratulate me. This has never happened before, all the people in the lounge who used to keep their distance are applauding. Although I don't know what's so good about being the head of the logistics group, Lin Chuan understood that he seemed to have gotten a promotion.

"Hmm, good." Lin Chuan nodded, waved his hand, and said, "Let's encourage each other in the future, work hard together, serve our leaders diligently, and strive to offer the best service."

Rustle rustle...

A bunch of nonsense, yet still met with a round of applause. This satisfied the vanity in Lin Chuan's heart a little. No wonder so many people want to be leaders; delivering a pep talk gives you a feeling of superiority, completely satisfying the vanity deep in the human heart.

"Alright, everyone get back to what you were doing!" Lin Chuan waved his hand.

In the lounge, those who were picking their toes continued to do so, card players continued their game, chatterers kept on chatting...

Lin Chuan sat down next to Luo Guoqing and asked, "Where's Li Minghua?"

"That lad hasn't arrived yet, seems like something happened at home," Luo Guoqing said with a laugh.

"What happened?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Not sure," Luo Guoqing shook his head, "His home is in the Western City District, seems to be in the suburbs, perhaps a farm. You know how it is, lots of issues in the countryside, complicated personal relationships."

Lin Chuan listened for a while but still didn't quite understand the meaning.

At this moment, Xiao Xue peeked her head in at the door of the lounge while pinching her nose.

"Xiao Xue, Xiao Xue!!" Inside the lounge, a few men couldn't help calling out to her.

"Miss Xiao Xue, are you here to see me?" A bunch of them couldn't help joking.

Xiao Xue's face immediately turned red, and she cursed, "I'm not here for you guys, I'm looking for Lin Chuan."

"Ha ha..." The bunch laughed heartily.

Xiao Xue's face turned even redder, and she turned and ran. She really didn't want to come to this hellish place; if it wasn't Secretary Tang asking her to find Lin Chuan, she wouldn't bother coming to this stinky, smoky place. It was simply worse than a pigsty.

Lin Chuan hurriedly ran out, and Xiao Xue was standing at the nearby stairwell.

"Xiao Xue, did Secretary Tang send for me?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Mhm." Xiao Xue's face, finally having calmed down, once again flushed a hint of red at the sight of Lin Chuan.

"Alright, then I'll go up." Lin Chuan immediately scampered up the stairs.

In the great wide world, Tang Yumeng is the greatest, at least in Lin Chuan's heart it's like this.

He dashed straight into Tang Yumeng's office in the blink of an eye. Ever since Xiao Xue caught him and Tang Yumeng together, Lin Chuan has never knocked on the door when entering Tang Yumeng's office; he just pushes the door and comes in.

Tang Yumeng, dressed in a black business suit with a white lace blouse, looked very trim, but most importantly, the blouse was stretched tight. The buttons at the chest seemed like they were about to pop off. Moreover, the gaps in the shirt were nearly bursting open. Lin Chuan hooked a sly smile, his eyes constantly peeking into the gaps of the shirt. The glimpse of what was inside was incredibly tempting.

Tang Yumeng looked up and a blush came over her face as soon as she saw Lin Chuan.

"Tsk, coming in without even knocking." Tang Yumeng made a tsk sound.

"Hehe, we're so familiar now, why bother knocking?" Lin Chuan chuckled.

"What if there were someone in my office? What would you do then?" Tang Yumeng glared at Lin Chuan.

"What would it matter?" Lin Chuan walked over and sat down across from Tang Yumeng, asking with a smile, "Sis, you wanted to see me? Did you miss me? It just so happens I really missed you too!"

"Go away. Don't be so indecent in the office," Tang Yumeng snorted.

"I'm serious." Lin Chuan's face turned a bit red, saying, "Thinking of that day in Sheraton Hotel, our unfinished journey of love... Ah, it leaves me heartbroken!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Yumeng's face turned red: "You... what nonsense are you talking about!"

"Isn't that the case?" Lin Chuan frowned, saying, "Sis, you clearly were all prepared to give yourself to me, but now... you regret it."

"I've said it before, until Tang Hao's big revenge is not avenged, I definitely won't…" Tang Yumeng clenched her teeth.

"Won't do what?" Lin Chuan curiously looked at Tang Yumeng.

"Won't do that kind of thing with you." Tang Yumeng gave Lin Chuan a stare.

"What kind of thing is that?" Lin Chuan chuckled.

"Just the thing that's ********." Tang Yumeng huffed.

"Sigh, Sis, why did you call for me?" Lin Chuan was quite disappointed. He had originally thought that he could ask her out for dinner tonight, then find a place to have a couple of drinks, and maybe Tang Yumeng would half-willingly fall into his arms.

"There's something that's been really bothering me," Tang Yumeng said irritably.

"What is it?" Lin Chuan asked.

"It's about Zhu's Corporation," sighed Tang Yumeng.

"Zhu's Corporation?" Lin Chuan was taken aback, "Is it about that Heroic Spirit Monument?"

"Exactly," Tang Yumeng nodded.

"You already agreed to their request," Lin Chuan laughed: "So what's there to worry about? Since you've promised, it's only natural not to break the agreement."

"Look!" Tang Yumeng pushed a document in her hand towards Lin Chuan, saying, "This is a document sent by Zhu's Corporation."

Lin Chuan glanced over the document. It was full of Japanese names, and he recognized a few names at the front as war criminals from World War II, convicted by international courts. How could these names be on this document?

"What's going on?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Fujii Katsuyoshi said these names must be engraved on the monument," Tang Yumeng said with a wry smile. "Isn't this putting people in a difficult position? Once the monument is built, it will certainly face opposition. Once the media sensationalizes it, who knows how much trouble will arise? I don't even know if I'll be able to keep my position as Secretary."

Bang!

Lin Chuan slammed the table angrily, "That Fujii Katsuyoshi is going too far, isn't he?"

"There's no other way," Tang Yumeng said with a wry smile. "We've put everything on the line for this investment."

"Sister, you didn't agree to it, did you?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Yes, I agreed," Tang Yumeng nodded.

"You... you're crazy!" Lin Chuan said in shock, "Once this gets out, nationalists will tear you apart. Some extremists might even pose a huge threat to your safety."

"This was passed by the standing committee's meeting," Tang Yumeng said lightly. "Even if they're looking for someone to blame, it can't be just my trouble, right?"

"Someone has to take responsibility, and by then, you'll become the scapegoat!" Lin Chuan said coldly.

"There's nothing I can do," Tang Yumeng shook her head.

"Sister, did you find me just for this matter?" Lin Chuan asked.

"There's more," Tang Yumeng smiled and said, "In Wujiang, they want to build a tomb and erect a monument, but the local villagers strongly object. Liu Dagu has sent people to persuade them multiple times to little effect. However, the construction of the tomb is imperative, and it will inevitably cause friction between the locals and the officials. Lin Chuan, can you help me with this?"

"I cannot!" Lin Chuan shook his head.

"Why?" Tang Yumeng frowned and said, "You keep saying you love me, but you don't seem to want to help me at all."

"Sister!" Lin Chuan looked serious and said, "Of course I love you, and I'd sacrifice myself for you if I could. But you ask me to help the Japanese build a tomb, that's harder than killing me. Anyway... I just can't do it."

"You!" Tang Yumeng frowned deeply.

The two faced off against each other.

Her heart softening, Tang Yumeng said, "Never mind, if you can't help, then you can't. I'll find someone else."

Lin Chuan felt a sudden pain in his heart. Being abandoned by the one he loved felt like a series of stabbing pains.

"Sister, is securing this investment really that important?" Lin Chuan earnestly asked: "Is the respect of public opinion, the winning of people's hearts really so worthless? If I were you, I would rather give up the investment for the sake of the public's trust."

"You don't understand," Tang Yumeng said with a wry smile. "Jiangbei City needs development opportunities right now, it needs a large influx of capital. Economic growth, social progress, these create jobs and increase income levels for many. That is what's most important. As for public sentiment and opinion that you mentioned, once they understand, they will naturally respect the government. In a poor society, where there are no job opportunities, where the unemployment rate is high, even to the point where people can't afford to eat, where comes the public sentiment and opinion? Poverty makes a troubled marriage, a poor government is like a dismissed suitor!"

Lin Chuan's words had their own logic, of course. Given the current strong anti-Japanese sentiment across the country, suddenly building a Heroic Spirit Monument would naturally be an insult to the intelligence of the populace, a trampling on the sentiments of people nationwide. Should it explode, it would quickly become the target of national denunciation.

Tang Yumeng's words also had their reason: only when the country is strong and the people are wealthy can public sentiment be won. If the country is weak and the people impoverished, where does public sentiment come from?

The two held different concepts and thoughts.

Lin Chuan represented the thoughts of the common people at the bottom of society, while Tang Yumeng represented the understanding of government officials. In today's society, the people do not understand the government's intentions, and the government rarely cares about the people's thoughts, leading to the increase in social conflicts. Of course, neither side was wrong. After all, both the people and the government hope the country is strong and the people wealthy. However, there is a need for some mutual understanding at a certain level.

"Fine, I don't understand," Lin Chuan said with an open smile, "Sister, I really can't help you with this!"

"It's okay, you go on with what you were doing," Tang Yumeng smiled.

Lin Chuan moved his lips, wanting to say something, but ultimately could not bring himself to speak. Then he turned and left.

Tang Yumeng looked up at Lin Chuan's retreating figure, wishing he would suddenly stop as he left, even just to give her a smile. Unfortunately, Lin Chuan didn't pause for a moment and walked straight out the door.

"This jerk, this insensitive jerk," Tang Yumeng grumbled with annoyance, "Has no sense of romance, no romantic feelings at all. Humph!"

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