After leaving the bank, they came to Chunyu Road District and, accompanied by the street office, interviewed dozens of displaced residents.

The displaced residents had been on edge during this period, fearing the city wouldn't release the funds.

Now that they received the money, the heavy burden in their hearts finally fell, and they beamed with joy.

After the live broadcast ended, the related topic topped the trending searches for three straight spots.

What should have been a major issue causing a stir quietly resolved in a way no one expected, while also casting Lingjiang in a positive light in the news.

The bank personnel realized the city's attitude towards the high-speed rail project seemed to shift again.

Yet there was still some hesitation.

After all, the fiscal budget was tangible and indeed didn't support the high-speed rail much.

In the afternoon, Secretary Lu and Mayor Zheng gave interviews to the media, expressing their supportive stance towards the high-speed rail.

They candidly stated that the high-speed rail and old city renovation projects would become the twin engines driving Lingjiang's future.

There would be no competition between the two, both projects would run parallel, providing aid to Lingjiang's economic development.

The remarks from the city's top leadership gave some confidence to the hesitant investors.

Moreover, the promotional efforts for this investment meeting were quite massive.

Not only did the provincial and city official media extensively report it, but even the Ministry of Propaganda covered it.

Past investment meetings never received such treatment.

Potential investors and banks felt conflicted and torn.

On one hand, Lingjiang currently supports the high-speed rail, and the support appears substantial.

Yet, previously, there were reports that Lingjiang would fully support the old city renovation and freeze the high-speed rail budget.

As the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire.

Both matters should be real.

This left them very torn, unable to make a decision.

But regardless, they had to attend the investment meeting.

Whether to invest or not, they needed to see the scene firsthand.

...

"Secretary, the source of the demolition funds has been clarified."

Near the end of the workday, Secretary Sun entered the office to report.

"Where did it come from?"

Although the matter was settled, Secretary Lu was still curious about the source of the demolition funds.

"The Magic City Railway Bureau."

"What?"

Secretary Lu was taken aback: "The Railway Bureau?"

He recalled it.

Song Guanchao had asked him to sign a document.

A document applying for funds from the Magic City Railway Bureau.

At the time, he had even laughed about it.

Laughed at Wu Qiangwei for reaching a dead end, ridiculously hoping for the Railway Bureau to send money.

It was simply a pipe dream!

In the end, the Railway Bureau indeed provided the funds!

With Secretary Lu's temperament, he almost couldn't hold it together.

This... how could it be?

Did the Magic City Railway Bureau lose their minds?

Secretary Lu's face looked very unpleasant.

Clearly, this must be Wu Qiangwei using her connections.

He knew Wu Qiangwei had a strong background, but he never imagined it was to such an extent.

Even the Railway Bureau yielded to her!

The loss made him feel extremely stifled.

In his view, he had already done everything to the utmost.

Wu Qiangwei's actions, in his eyes, were cheating, using dishonorable means!

It made him feel greatly stifled and depressed.

But what use is being stifled and depressed?

Connections are inherently a part of one's strength.

"I get it, you may leave now."

After Secretary Sun left, he called Zheng Bihui.

"The Magic City Railway Bureau?"

Zheng Bihui cursed: "Are they out of their minds? The city treasury is broke, don't they know? A bunch of idiots!"

After venting, Secretary Lu said: "We need to figure something out for the old city renovation project."

"What can we figure out? Isn't the fiscal budget already set?"

"Precisely because it's set, we need to think of a way."

Secretary Lu sighed and said: "You've got to consider the investment meeting on the 1st, what if someone really invests in the high-speed rail!"

"What do we do then?"

"Money!" Secretary Lu said: "More than ten billion in financing, plus interest, this is all unexpected."

"I could just wash my hands of it, but if I leave, what will you do?"

"This money will ultimately have to be paid back."

Zheng Bihui paused for two seconds before it dawned on him.

Indeed, the original fiscal budget was entirely devoted to the old city renovation project, leaving just over a billion for the high-speed rail.

What's this over a billion even good for?

It's hardly enough to cover next year's interest.

After a few seconds of silence, Zheng Bihui said: "Let's wait until the investment meeting is over. Maybe we'll manage to raise some more."

He still held on to a sliver of hope in his heart.

...

When Song Guanchao returned to the project team, Director He asked: "Secretary Song, should we get together tonight and celebrate a bit?"

With the fiscal budget being stalled, Director He, as a member of the project team, had been troubled for several days.

Now that the demolition funds have been released, he finally felt a sense of relief.

"Let's wait until the investment meeting is over to celebrate."

He didn't like to pop champagne halfway through.

Although everything was going smoothly, and Secretary Lu and Mayor Zheng were coerced by him with the "high-interest loan contract" to support the high-speed rail.

It all seemed to be going smoothly.

But at the investment meeting, whether someone would be willing to invest, and how many would do so, remained unknown.

Even though Song Guanchao had prepared everything he could and considered all the details, until that day, there was still a slight uneasiness in his heart.

Having asked him to celebrate now, he truly wasn't in the mood.

Director He felt a bit awkward: "Alright, let's wait until the investment meeting is over."

Evening.

Song Guanchao had dinner with Lin Wanqiu, watched a movie, and returned to the hotel for a couple's bath.

Just after a vigorous first round, preparing for the second, Wu Qiangwei suddenly called.

"Hello, Secretary..."

"Asleep?"

"No."

"Can you come over?"

"Now?"

"Mm."

"No problem."

The Secretary wouldn't contact him for no reason; if she did, it was surely something important.

He didn't ask what it was, hung up the phone, firmly gripped Lin Wanqiu's alluring body, and got up to dress.

"The Secretary needs me for something, I have to go."

Lin Wanqiu glanced at the time, it was almost midnight.

She remarked with a strange expression: "Now?"

What could possibly require this timing?

Couldn't it wait until tomorrow?

"Yes."

She remained silent for a few seconds before asking: "Are you coming back tonight?"

"What kind of question is that, where would I go if not back here?"

"Oh, then I'll wait for you."

"No need to wait for me, you go ahead and sleep."

Having dressed, Song Guanchao took the room card and left.

Lin Wanqiu leaned against the bedhead, feeling a peculiar sensation in her heart.

Even though the leader had a reason to find him, at this hour, it didn't seem appropriate.

Furthermore, Wu Qiangwei was a woman, not much older than Song Guanchao.

Normally, she wouldn't think along those lines.

But either due to a woman's sixth sense, or some subtle details she caught during the interview with Wu Qiangwei these past few days.

She always felt that the relationship between Wu Qiangwei and Song Guanchao wasn't like the typical superior-subordinate relationship.

Their relationship seemed deeper than just hierarchical.

If she had to find a word to define or describe it, it would be boundary!

The boundary between Wu Qiangwei and Song Guanchao was quite blurred.

It had already surpassed the limits a superior-subordinate relationship should have.

But with Song Guanchao's candid attitude, she felt perhaps she was overthinking it.

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