Chapter 436: Lust Befuddles the Mind

There's a saying: A man who can't control his lower half will surely ruin his lower half!

Another saying goes: When well-fed and warm, thoughts turn to lust; when hungry and cold, thoughts turn to theft.

After Zhao Tao's "promotion and wealth," he had already experienced the pleasure brought by power and money, but the only thing unsatisfied was "lust."

Every day facing his "dream lover," Zhao Tao's desire burns uncontrollably, fulfilling that saying: What you can't get is always stirring!

Women you shouldn't touch shouldn't be touched; touch them and you might die by shock. To truly understand this saying, one often has already paid a painful price!

January 5, the newly appointed Executive Vice Mayor Cheng Jian came to Yingjiang for research, supervising the reporting of economic indicators. Since Wang Hongtao left Qinchuan, the province's ranking has kept falling, putting great pressure on Secretary Xu Yongjiang and Governor Niu Qianhua; they can't even talk about conquering the land, now just holding onto it is difficult.

Cheng Jian oversees the economy, just like Lu Fan, and at year-end must grasp the reporting of economic indicators.

After inspecting key projects all day, in the evening Secretary Li Ruifang hosted a banquet for Cheng Jian at the Yingjiang Guesthouse; Mayor Zhao Tao, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Si Daiqiang, Executive Vice Mayor Lu Fan, and Municipal Party Committee Secretary Guo Shanbo kept him company, while Yao Qian served as the waiter.

After sitting down, Cheng Jian said with a smile: "Yingjiang's work is solid, the results are obvious, and the reporting of all economic indicators meets the province's expected targets. Lu Fan, I think you'd better come to the Provincial Government Office to be my secretary; then I'd have it much easier!"

Lu Fan smiled and replied: "Thank you, Governor, for thinking highly of me. I am a brick for the organization, to be moved wherever needed; I am a flower of the revolution, to be planted wherever it can bloom. As soon as the organization gives an order, I will immediately pack my bags and report to you, Governor!"

Everyone thought it was a joke, but Cheng Jian continued: "I'll take it as your agreement. I'll go discuss with Governor Qianhua to see if we can free up the director's position of the Provincial Government Office; in any case, I won't let you be wronged!"

Hearing this, Lu Fan became uneasy. Although he was going to the province, he really didn't want to do servant work; there are too many mothers-in-law in the office. At least if he became a head, he could decide everything himself.

Li Ruifang smoothed things over, saying with a smile: "Governor, it's not appropriate to poach our Yingjiang's capable cadres in front of me! Come, I propose a toast to welcome Governor Cheng's inspection and guidance in Yingjiang; tonight I will certainly let you feel the work style of our Yingjiang cadres."

Cheng Jian laughed: "Just keep me company; I'll drink as much as you. You can't rely on numbers to play tricks on me—I won't fall for that! Come, let's have a drink, thanking Secretary Ruifang and the comrades for their warm hospitality!"

Everyone raised their cups together and drank them all down, including Yao Qian.

Having come to Yingjiang, one must follow Yingjiang's customs; Li Ruifang started the toasts, persuading Cheng Jian to drink three full cups, setting a good example for the other comrades.

Next, Zhao Tao, Si Daiqiang, Lu Fan, Guo Shanbo, and Yao Qian took turns in succession; after the round, Cheng Jian had already consumed nine taels of white liquor.

After the host finished his toast, it was Cheng Jian's turn to finish; he personally drank a jin. The only exception was Yao Qian, whom Governor Cheng specially allowed to count one cup as three—beautiful women get privileges wherever they go.

Cheng Jian has a large capacity for alcohol, is bold and straightforward, and since it's his first time in Yingjiang, he wants to get close with the comrades; after all, work needs grassroots leaders' support, and moreover Li Ruifang is already a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, able to sit as equals with him, so today he plans to drink freely.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone began playing a game; recently popular in Yingjiang is "Beauty Entanglement."

Lu Fan fetched a deck of cards, explained it to Cheng Jian, then started the game; everyone had a great time, and the drinks kept going down one after another.

People's alcohol tolerance varies; Mayor Zhao Tao was the first to "collapse," dazedly withdrawing from the "battlefield."

The game was still underway; Yao Qian, out of goodwill and not wanting to disturb the leaders' mood, voluntarily took Zhao Tao back to his room.

Just as they entered the room, Zhao Tao, stimulated by alcohol, burst out with his most primal beastliness, tightly embracing Yao Qian from behind, reeking of liquor, he said: "Yao Qian, I love you! I'm simply bewitched by you! Promise me, for you I can do anything!"

Yao Qian had also drunk three or four taels; being a frail woman, she struggled desperately to break free, then angrily said: "Mayor Zhao, please show some respect!"

"Yao Qian, just agree! Money, house, car—whatever you ask for, anywhere in the country you can buy it, I'll satisfy any demand!" Saying this, Zhao Tao began to make a move!

Fortunately it's winter now; Yao Qian dresses conservatively, and Zhao Tao has been drinking, so in his haste his hand simply couldn't get in.

Yao Qian was utterly furious, shouting: "Zhao Tao, you're still the mayor, yet you're a beast in human form—let go and get out; seeing you makes me want to vomit!"

When a man is completely provoked, he loses all reason, especially when humiliated by the woman he loves!

The lovelorn Zhao Tao went completely mad, directly pressing Yao Qian onto the bed and groping her, secretly swearing he must possess her, turning raw rice into cooked rice, ignoring her insults and cries.

The Yingjiang Guesthouse was built to five-star standards, with excellent soundproofing; the commotion in the room went unnoticed.

More than ten minutes passed; Lu Fan saw Yao Qian still hadn't returned, and knowing Zhao Tao's relentless designs on her, he grew worried and called her phone.

But the phone rang for dozens of seconds with no answer.

Sensing something might be wrong, Lu Fan gave Si Daiqiang a look and left.

Si Daiqiang followed closely behind, quietly asking Lu Fan: "What's up?"

Lu Fan frowned and said: "Yao Qian went to see Zhao Tao off, and she hasn't come back yet; he's harassed her before, I'm afraid something will happen!"

Si Daiqiang was shocked, hurriedly saying: "This bastard, how dare he? Quickly ask, which room is Zhao Tao in? Lu Fan, nothing must happen!"

Lu Fan directly called the Reception Office to ask for Zhao Tao's room number, then had the Reception Office notify the guesthouse to send the key card to the tenth floor, and then he took Si Daiqiang in the elevator up to the tenth floor.

Less than three minutes later, a waiter came out of the elevator; Lu Fan snatched the key card and told her to leave quickly.

When the door was opened, the two saw a chaotic scene: Zhao Tao was giving in to his beastliness, tangled with Yao Qian.

Seeing Yao Qian's clothes still intact, the two immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing the arrivals, Zhao Tao instantly sobered, immediately released Yao Qian, but not knowing what to do with himself, he lay on the bed pretending to be drunk. The bigger the heaven and earth, the bigger the drunkard!

Yao Qian cried, grabbed her clothes, and rushed out of the room; Lu Fan and Si Daiqiang hurriedly chased after her.

"Yao Qian, no matter what happens there's a solution; we'll help you!" Lu Fan called out to Yao Qian, then phoned the Reception Office to open another room.

After entering, Yao Qian, tears streaming, told the two: "You go out first, let me be alone!"

Si Daiqiang said: "Secretary Yao, fortunately nothing happened! Rest assured, we will certainly see justice done and not let that scumbag get off easy!"

Lu Fan also said: "Yao Qian, how do you want to handle this? We'll follow your lead!"

At this moment Yao Qian was also at a loss, her heart full of grievance; she just wanted to call that number to vent, so she again asked Lu Fan and Si Daiqiang to step out.

The two had no choice but to go out.

Just then Secretary Li Ruifang called, asking where the two had gone, and that the drinking party should be breaking up.

Lu Fan had Si Daiqiang go downstairs, while he himself guarded the room's doorway.

Yao Qian cried for a while, unable to suppress her inner indignation, she dialed that number and sobbed: "Just now Mayor Zhao Tao offended me!"

"What? Did it cause you any injury?"

"No, I fought desperately; Lu Fan and Si Daiqiang arrived just in time to save me!"

"Okay, I understand; as long as you're unharmed it's fine! Yao Qian, protect yourself, take care first!"

After returning to the private room, Si Daiqiang hurriedly apologized to Governor Cheng Jian, indicating that Lu Fan had to urgently handle a matter, and he expressed the apology on Lu Fan's behalf.

Lu Fan was standing outside the door when the phone rang; seeing it was Secretary Hong Tao calling, he quickly answered, respectfully saying: "Secretary, good!"

"Lu Fan, is everything alright now?"

"Please rest assured, Secretary, I'm guarding the doorway! However, Zhao Tao indeed went too far, and he has harassed female comrades more than once."

"Hmm, I understand!"

After saying only a few words, Wang Hongtao hung up the phone.

But Lu Fan knew that as soon as this call came through, it would be of extraordinary significance!

Xiao Bin was almost asleep, but the phone ringing woke him up; he glanced at the number, answered, and said, "Everyone's asleep, you woke me up—what's up?"

"Yingjiang Mayor, do you have his complaint letter?"

Xiao Bin replied, "Definitely, someone at that level couldn't possibly not have one!"

"Take him down! You handle it, I'll communicate with Secretary De Ming."

"When?"

"Immediately, right away!"

Xiao Bin, without a word, started getting dressed, gathered his people, and drove overnight from Jingcheng to Yingjiang.

The instigator, Zhao Tao, felt he had caused trouble, now also sober, couldn't stay in the room, so he simply went back to his apartment to act like a "tortoise pulling its head in."

After seeing Governor Cheng Jian back to his room, Li Ruifang quietly asked Si Daiqiang, "Where did Lu Fan go?"

Si Daiqiang felt there was no need to hide it from her, so he said, "Lu Fan is on the tenth floor, and Yao Qian was molested by Zhao Tao!"

Hearing this, Li Ruifang's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief, and she angrily shouted, "Lust runs rampant—does someone like this deserve to be mayor? Utterly lawless! Where is Yao Qian? Take me there quickly!"

Soon, Li Ruifang knocked open Yao Qian's door, went in alone to console her.

Lu Fan said to Si Daiqiang, "What should we do about this?"

"Ah, this is hard to handle! What's your opinion?"

"You ask me, I ask who? Let's listen to Secretary Ruifang, after all Yao Qian is her secretary."

"This damn bastard, his gall knows no bounds!"

"Lust bears a knife above the character; beneath a pomegranate skirt, one cannot escape fate!"

"Since ancient times, beautiful women have been disaster waters; greed and lust ruin a lifetime!"