Chapter 508: Xiao Zi'an Reveals His Trump Card!

Before getting off work, Nie Kai took the initiative to come to Han Guangyao's office.

Han Guangyao had also been thinking of finding Nie Kai to chat about the progress of the Old City Commercial Reform.

"You've come at just the right time. The West City Development is in full swing, but there is zero progress on the Old City side. As far as I know, that funding from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission has already been transferred to the account of Anyu Company. If things continue like this, it will easily lead to problems."

Nie Kai had anticipated that Han Guangyao would hold him accountable for this matter and responded, "Secretary Han, the primary task of the Old City Commercial Reform is demolition, but the demolition costs have exceeded expectations, especially since several residences belong to families with influence in Suiyuan. After the demolition team went to their doors, they were beaten back directly."

Han Guangyao's expression grew grave.

He finally understood at this moment why Tang Ye had been unwilling to take over the Old City renovation back then.

Tang Ye must have conducted detailed research.

On one hand, he felt moved by Tang Ye's keenness, while on the other, he felt disdain for Nie Kai's incompetence.

"This project has already been reported to the city, and in a while, the city will certainly come down to investigate the progress. If it remains in this state, none of us will be able to save face."

Nie Kai said softly, "Secretary Han, I came to see you today because I also want to push this matter forward. I finally managed to get an appointment for a private gathering with the chairman of Anyu Group, Xiao Zi'an, and I would like to invite you to attend."

Han Guangyao looked at Nie Kai thoughtfully: "Send the address and time to me."

Han Guangyao had had a few contacts with Xiao Zi'an before, but the Anyu Group projects had always been handled by his subordinates, so he was not particularly familiar with Xiao Zi'an.

However, Han Guangyao knew that Xiao Zi'an was the son of the former Hanzhou Mayor, Xiao Jingyu.

Suiyuan was the foundation of Xiao Jingyu, and therefore, Xiao Zi'an also had deep roots in Suiyuan.

Han Guangyao understood.

To thoroughly resolve the deep-seated problems in Suiyuan's municipal engineering, large-scale infrastructure, and other fields, he had to make a clean break with Xiao Zi'an.

As for handing the Old City Commercial Reform over to Xiao Zi'an's company this time, it seemed like a compromise, but in reality, it was throwing a "dynamite package" over to him.

If Anyu Group breached the contract or if problems arose during the project's handling, then he would have the opportunity to deal with him.

However, Han Guangyao also knew that Xiao Zi'an was not as simple as he imagined.

Now, using the delay in the construction period and breach of contract as a pretext to intimidate Xiao Zi'an could be considered "beating the grass to startle the snake."

In the evening, Han Guangyao arrived at a famous five-star hotel in Hanzhou and met Xiao Zi'an in a private room at the restaurant on the third floor.

Xiao Zi'an was of medium height, about one meter seven, with fair skin, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and a faint upward curve at the corners of his mouth, his face carrying a gentle smile.

"Secretary Han, thank you for your trouble."

Han Guangyao shook hands with Xiao Zi'an, "Chairman Xiao, you are too polite."

Xiao Zi'an looked toward a person beside him and introduced him to Han Guangyao with a smile, "This is Chief Secretary Gao. You two should be very familiar with each other."

Han Guangyao shook hands with Secretary Gao and said with a smile, "Secretary-General Gao, hello!"

Gao Qiushan was the Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee and concurrently served as the full-time Deputy Director of the Municipal Reform Office; like Han Guangyao, he was a Department-level Official.

That Xiao Zi'an could invite an official of the same rank as Han Guangyao to accompany them showed his respect and was also a way to demonstrate his own strength to Han Guangyao.

Although the dinner had not yet begun, Han Guangyao smelled the scent of a Trap Banquet.

Nie Kai was very active at the dinner table, using a few jokes to start things off and making the atmosphere harmonious.

At the dinner table, one generally does not discuss official business.

When the dinner ended, Han Guangyao took the initiative to propose to Xiao Zi'an, "It's still early, I wonder if Chairman Xiao has time to drink some tea and sober up."

Xiao Zi'an laughed readily, "I was just thinking of having a good chat with Secretary Han!"

Gao Qiushan took his leave, and Nie Kai saw Han Guangyao to the door of the tea room but did not follow him inside.

In the tea room, a young woman with a beautiful figure was brewing tea.

After the tea was ready, the woman exited the tea room.

Han Guangyao took a sip of tea, set down the teacup, and sighed softly, "Young Master Xiao, you should know my current dilemma. For the Old City Commercial Reform project, the funds from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission have already been transferred to your company's account, but the demolition work has not progressed at all. The City Leaders attach great importance to this, so please take it seriously."

Xiao Zi'an said with a half-smile, "Secretary Han, the government also needs to put in effort for the Old City Commercial Reform project! Demolition work is inherently the government's task; we can only play an auxiliary role, so you cannot push everything onto us.

Besides, Secretary Han, there is a viewpoint of yours that I cannot agree with. You should know why that funding from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission was allocated so quickly; this was something Anyu deserved in the first place."

Hearing Xiao Zi'an say this, Han Guangyao was immediately somewhat displeased, "The funds from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission are for renovating the Old City; how can you say they belong to Anyu?"

Xiao Zi'an made a gesture for calm, "Secretary Han, if no one were operating behind the scenes, would the province pay attention to the Old City Commercial Reform project in Suiyuan? Without someone to pull the strings, would there be this special funding?"

Han Guangyao's eyes were full of coldness, "According to your meaning, the fiscal budget of Suiyuan County is your bank card?"

Xiao Zi'an waved his hand and laughed easily, "I don't mean that at all. I just want you to understand my helplessness. It is difficult to have major movements in the Suiyuan Old City Commercial Reform for a while. Of course, you don't need to worry too much. I will find a way to use this project to apply for more funding subsidies from higher-level governments. We will also continue to invest, and after a few years, the Old City will definitely change."

Han Guangyao finally understood Xiao Zi'an's plan.

He intended to use the Old City Commercial Reform as a pretext to parasitize it long-term and continuously suck its blood.

Governments at all levels would certainly continue to allocate corresponding funds to this project; Anyu Group would do some superficial work, but most of these funds would flow into Xiao Zi'an's pocket.

Han Guangyao suddenly felt that something was wrong; why would Xiao Zi'an move a secret hidden in the dark out onto the table to talk about it?

"Director Xiao is a leader I respect very much; he spent a lot of effort to secure this project, only for it to be intercepted into your private pocket. If he knew about this, what would he think?"

Seeing Han Guangyao bring up his father, Xiao Zi'an sighed, "If a man doesn't look out for himself, heaven and earth will destroy him. My father worked for Suiyuan and Hanzhou for so many years, and in the end, it benefited you and Zhou Chengwu! If I hadn't racked my brains to start a company and look for projects everywhere, the Xiao Family would have ended up with nothing but a bamboo basket to draw water. My father has grand ambitions, but I am more pragmatic; what is mine must be given to me."

Han Guangyao said in a deep voice, "Xiao Zi'an, that is the hard-earned money of the common people; your hand has reached too far."

Xiao Zi'an shrugged, "Since I dared to show you my trump card today, I naturally have the confidence to make you join us."

Han Guangyao looked at Xiao Zi'an in surprise, his eyes full of complex emotions.

Xiao Zi'an took out a document and handed it to Han Guangyao.

Han Guangyao browsed through it, and a look of surprise appeared in his eyes...