Chapter 788

Lin Dongfan heard Yang Qing's theory of "first play the game of human relations, then strike with a heavy hand," and the beer he had just taken into his mouth almost sprayed out.

Although it's fallacious reasoning, I have to admit, Yang Sānsuì's idea is very realistic.

Lin Dongfan put down his beer cup, wore a speechless expression: "You're trying to get me to buddy up with Wang Qigang, smiling on the surface but stabbing in the back?"

"That's strategy! Do you understand strategy or not?!"

Although Yang Qing was gnawing on a chicken bone, it didn't stop him from snarking: "You think you're filming a martial arts flick? A showdown of masters must be on a moonlit night atop the Purple Forbidden City?"

That's just showing off!

Reality is, you first have to drink with him, become sworn brothers! Make him think you're savvy, lower his guard, then……

Saying that, Yang Qing made a throat-slitting gesture.

And he offered what he considered a professional killer move: "When he's dazed and confused, not knowing which way is north, hit him from behind with a brick."

Lin Dongfan rested his hand on his forehead, speechless: "Where did you learn all this?"

"Officialdom's Thick Black Learning Introduction", "The Art of Leadership", "How to Elegantly Dig a Pit for Colleagues"…" Yang Qing rattled off a string of titles, dead serious: "I've been 'nursing my illness' in the hospital these three years; idling is idling, I ought to bulk up on theoretical knowledge—life doesn't stop, learning knows no bounds."

"What a bunch of random junk." Lin Dongfan laughed helplessly.

"As long as it works." Yang Qing took a sip of beer to rinse his mouth, solemn and stern: "Listen to my advice—you can't directly move against the Zhao Group now; you can only play dumb with them."

Hearing this, Lin Dongfan felt somewhat gloomy inside.

He looked at the seemingly "old and scheming" Yang Qing: "Yang Sānsuì, do you think I've spent three years in a state-owned enterprise in Jingcheng, rusting my brain? Do you need to teach me how to be mayor?"

"I don't mean to look down on you; I'm just offering some folk wisdom." Yang Qing raised his cup and drank, relaxed and content.

Lin Dongfan stuffed a piece of braised pork into his mouth.

He said slowly: "Your folk wisdom is a bit outdated. Earlier you said Wang Qigang was protecting the Zhao Group, essentially to safeguard his performance project. But have you considered whether he can actually protect it?"

Yang Qing blinked: "What do you mean?"

"The total investment in Cloud Peak Mountain Villa is over two hundred billion, right?"

Saying that, Lin Dongfan set down his chopsticks.

He began counting on his fingers:

"First, where does this money come from?"

"The Zhao Group's own funds can at most scrape together fifty billion; the remaining one hundred fifty billion must rely on bank loans, trust financing, even private lending."

"In there, are there any violations?"

"Second, for a project over two hundred billion, from approval to groundbreaking, how many review stages must it pass?"

"Land, planning, environmental protection, urban construction, fire control… each review is an opportunity for power‑rent‑seeking. How many landmines has the Zhao Group buried in these stages?"

"Third, such a huge project involves how many suppliers, contractors, subcontractors?"

"How clean are these upstream and downstream firms? With someone like Zhao Tianyu's style of doing things, would he honestly bid at market price?"

Yang Qing's mouth opened slightly, the chicken bone in his hand almost dropping to the table: "You… you've figured all this out?"

"No need to feel around."

Lin Dongfan took a sip of beer: "For a development project of this scale, under today's regulatory environment, if you really want to investigate, there's no problem you can't uncover. The only difference is whether you want to investigate and how deep you go."

Having said that, Lin Dongfan leaned back in his chair.

"His gaze deep: 'Wang Qigang wants to protect this project because he thinks its completion will be a highlight of his term. But he hasn't considered what if it blows up? If a bunch of illegalities are uncovered, even triggering mass incidents? By then, this project wouldn't be an achievement—it'd be a political bomb.'"

"Yang Qing rolled his eyes: 'Nonsense, that's why as soon as you took office he put a tight headband on you, not letting you swing a big blade wildly.'"

Lin Dongfan smiled, unconvinced, too lazy to explain.

Wang Qigang proactively set up the "Citywide Discipline and Work Style Education and Rectification Leading Group," nominally letting Lin Dongfan serve as Executive Deputy Leader, but in practice he used various tricks to hollow out Lin Dongfan's authority.

This appears to be entirely under Wang Qigang's control.

But there's one thing Wang Qigang can't hollow out: the two words "nominal authority"!

Citywide Party and Government Cadres Discipline and Work Style Education and Rectification Leading Group!

This lofty‑sounding group name was coined by Wang Qigang himself. At that time, using this nominal authority, he could demand a corruption‑risk inspection of major city projects—reasonable and justified.

"What are you laughing at? Dead set on a head‑on clash?" Yang Qing looked at Lin Dongfan in surprise.

Lin Dongfan replied noncommittally: "The higher-ups transferred me to Wuzhou precisely because they know I, Lin Dongfan, am someone who won't rest until I achieve my goal."

Then how do you plan to clash with him head‑on? Yang Qing asked.

Lin Dongfan answered without hesitation: "Start by investigating Cloud Peak Mountain Villa. Not the Zhao Group, but using the Leading Group's name to screen the project for corruption risks—check whether planning approvals have problems, whether bidding procedures are standard, whether fund usage complies—these are all within the Leading Group's remit."

Got it, I'll shut up.

This time Yang Qing truly understood, utterly certain—Fan Ye intends to wield the "nominal authority" sword that Wang Qigang himself forged, to cut off Wang Qigang's claws and fangs.

Wang Qigang can't oppose this!

If anyone surnamed Wang jumps out to oppose checking for possible corruption risks in the project, it means he's guilty! That's equally detrimental to his smooth rise.

Yang Qing emphasized solemnly: "I know I can't stop you, but I still need to remind you: three years ago, my family's home was burned down by arson, and I was forced to feign amnesia, all because the case I investigated involved the Zhao Group! You'd better watch your step—don't follow in my footsteps."

I didn't die back then in Haishan—do you think I'll die in Wuzhou? What a joke.

In the midst of chatting and laughing, Lin Dongfan raised his beer and clinked glasses with Yang Qing.

In Lin Dongfan's political career, the most perilous battle was none other than the lawless Haishan showdown! Compared to that, he never even regarded Wuzhou's officials and businessmen as a side dish.

Yang Qing brushed aside the topic and continued:

Right, after that fire three years ago, my wife has been hiding with our two kids in the rural hometown in Nanzhou—this isn't a solution either.

I want to send them to Jing, mainly to make it easier for the kids to study and take the college entrance exam.

Can you help me think of a way? Transfer my family's Teacher Xu to Jingcheng to teach. Basically, aside from teaching, she can't do anything else.

Damn it, you always dump the tough stuff on me. Lin Dongfan laughed and cursed.

Yang Qing replied with righteous confidence:

You need to get this straight—you're not doing this for me; you're escorting your future daughter‑in‑law.

My family's Xiao Bei looks like her mother, a lively Jiangnan little beauty; your family's Fu Sheng will surely take a liking to her—this marriage is inevitable.

Send Xiao Bei to Jing to study.

Let her study at the same school as Fu Sheng—it'll conveniently cultivate their feelings and help them build a beautiful childhood-sweetheart memory.

"You tell Chu Lingxi about this and have her fix it for you." Lin Dongfan said: "I'm already the mayor of a city now—who has time to deal with your trivial matters?"