At this moment, Jiang Yuan and Director Huang walked over.

"It's rare for Mr. Li to visit Lingjiang; if you have time tomorrow, I'll have Director Huang entertain you," Jiang Yuan said.

After all, Jiang Yuan is the Deputy Mayor and a local faction.

Moreover, there's an age gap between him and Li He, a generation's difference.

Being too proactive would be somewhat inappropriate.

Director Huang, as the head of the National Development and Reform Commission, belongs to the same system as Li He's father. It's most suitable for him to do the entertaining, and no one would find fault.

Li He courteously said, "I initially didn't want to trouble Mayor Jiang, but if it weren't for him stepping in tonight, I might have suffered a loss."

Mayor Jiang, with a cheerful smile, patted him on the shoulder: "No need to say such things."

"Director Huang, entertain him well tomorrow, and don't let such mishaps happen again."

Director Huang smiled, "Mr. Li, leave a phone number, and we'll get in touch tomorrow."

Mayor Zheng looked at this scene and then at Yang Kangji, who was pale beside him, and sighed internally.

He originally wanted to draw Yang Kangji into his camp, but now, there's no chance.

And this time, he not only lost a deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission but also offended Li Jiuling's son.

In fact, he wasn't particularly bothered by this.

He had only asked Li He to apologize and hadn't done anything excessive.

Moreover, he was the Mayor.

Li Jiuling, far away in Yanjing, couldn't affect him.

He actually had ways to resolve this conflict.

For instance, he could go up and apologize in a humble manner, scold Yang Kangji in front of Li He, and distance himself from him.

But he did not do so.

Firstly, as the Mayor, if he humbled himself before the son of a director from the National Development and Reform Commission, he would be losing face.

Secondly, if he, in order to clear his responsibility, distanced himself from Yang Kangji in front of everyone, who would dare work for him then?

Thus, this matter could only be handled with cold treatment.

After Li He left with the young lady, Wang Zhenbo ran over, "Director Huang, this was a misunderstanding..."

Director Huang coldly looked at him, "Mr. Wang, you are a businessman; you should be better at reading people's expressions than I am. You need to know whom you can offend and whom you cannot."

Saying this, he then looked at Yang Kangji, "Since you listen to Director Yang, you should continue to do so. For any projects in the future, go find Director Yang."

Wang Zhenbo was internally fearful, realizing he was now tied to Yang Kangji.

No, absolutely not!

"Director Huang, I am loyal to you, without any ulterior motives!"

"Director Huang, you know well; I've always come to you before. It was you who asked me to liaise with Director Yang, and that's why I did."

"I didn't know there was anything between you and Director Yang... Had I known, I wouldn't dare even if given a bold heart."

Director Huang's eyes softened a bit, but he still reprimanded, "What loyally devoted? What nonsense are you talking about? You are a businessman, and I am just a director. Saying these things in front of Mayor Jiang, what do you want? To coerce me?"

"No, no, I... I'm just inarticulate; Director Huang, you know I've always had a hard time with words."

Wang Zhenbo gave an awkward smile and said to Mayor Jiang, "I made Mayor Jiang laugh."

Mayor Jiang smiled, "I think Mr. Wang also drank too much, hence the confusion. Director Huang, when you entertain Mr. Li tomorrow, bring Mr. Wang along to apologize with some drinks."

Wang Zhenbo felt a jolt of hope return to his life.

Listening on the side, Yang Kangji felt utterly desolate.

He knew he had completely lost favor with Mayor Jiang.

He could only turn his pleading gaze towards Zheng Bihui.

With a cold expression, Mayor Zheng got into the car and left without saying a word.

After Zheng Bihui and Yang Kangji left, Song Guanchao got out of the car and walked over.

"Mayor Jiang, are you satisfied with this gift?"

Mayor Jiang smiled, having already heard from Director Huang over the phone that it was orchestrated by Song Guanchao.

He was a bit curious, "How did Secretary Song manage to do it?"

Song Guanchao said, "Yang Kangji thinks too highly of himself, plus he had been drinking. People like him, who live in flattery every day, just need a little provoking, and something will happen."

He deliberately spoke vaguely, allowing Mayor Jiang and Director Huang to fill in the blanks themselves.

And indeed, tonight Yang Kangji was the one who initiated the trouble.

The two assumed he had a precise grasp of human nature and acted according to the circumstances.

Song Guanchao offered a cigarette to Jiang Yuan, lighting it for him, and said, "Mayor Jiang, the Standing Committee meeting is next week."

Jiang Yuan raised his eyes slightly, "Hmm?"

Song Guanchao smiled, "Secretary Wu has a candidate for the Director of the Finance Bureau."

Jiang Yuan remained silent, took a few drags on his cigarette, and softly acknowledged.

He knew Song Guanchao wanted to use tonight's favors to gain his support for Wu Qiangwei at the Standing Committee meeting.

Song Guanchao actually wanted to ask another question: whether Qu Xiangru had been in contact recently.

But he held his tongue.

The level difference was too vast, and such questions were not for him to ask.

If it were necessary, Wu Qiangwei should ask herself.

Anyway, he had already conveyed his intentions.

As for whether Jiang Yuan's "hmm" was in agreement or not, that would be revealed next Monday.

The next day.

Director Huang entertained Li He, and Wang Zhenbo, after downing two bottles of alcohol, finally got Li He's forgiveness.

On Friday evening, Song Guanchao hosted a banquet for Li He's group, drinking to their heart's content.

These days, Yang Kangji seemed absent-minded and couldn't focus on anything.

He called Mayor Zheng every day, asking when the high-ranking leader would meet him.

Mayor Zheng, utterly frustrated, returned his call on Friday, telling him the leader was currently unavailable.

Yang Kangji knew there was no hope from Zheng Bihui either.

He had become completely isolated.

Having offended Mayor Jiang, even Mayor Zheng was deliberately distancing himself, unwilling to get further entangled.

He realized that he had lost all his power.

Not even knowing how long he could hold onto the position of Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Before long, it was Monday.

The Disciplinary Committee and the Audit Bureau left the National Development and Reform Commission today.

At the same time, the City Committee's Standing Committee meeting commenced simultaneously.

In the City Committee's large conference room, each agenda item proceeded in an orderly manner.

Soon, it came to the topic of personnel appointment and removal.

Secretary Lu asked, "For the position of Director of the Finance Bureau, do any comrades have recommendations?"

Chu Xiao'e was the first to speak, "I recommend the Deputy Director of the Finance Bureau, Gao Liangwei."

Su Zhengwei said, "I have no objections."

Minister Zhou remained silent, looking instead towards Secretary Lu and Mayor Zheng.

Jiang Yuan also did not rush to express an opinion.

As for Secretary Wang, he had always been a fence-sitter, never expressing his stance in advance.

"Deputy Director Gao is quite good."

Contrary to everyone's expectations, the third person to speak was Zheng Bihui.

Wu Qiangwei also gave him a surprised glance.

What surprised her even more was Secretary Lu also nodding, "I vote for Director Gao."

Four votes!

Adding Wu Qiangwei would make it five.

Yet unexpectedly, Wu Qiangwei suddenly hesitated about whether she should cast this vote.

However, before she could think further, Secretary Wang, the fence-sitter, immediately said, "I agree."

Five votes.

Gao Liangwei, who was ranked last as Deputy Director of the Finance Bureau, incredibly obtained five votes of approval from the Standing Committee as if by a stroke of impossibility.

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