Chapter 590

With the secretary of an Executive Vice Governor lowering himself like this, what else could Su Yang say?

Normally speaking, for someone of his rank, even an ordinary County Party Secretary and County Magistrate, if you invite them to a meal, they might not even give you face; at best, when others go, being able to bring them along is already not bad.

He hurriedly explained: "Lai Ge, you see what you're saying—I know your work has a certain special nature, so I didn't dare call you. Coincidentally, two friends from Lancheng Shi had already arranged to have a meal with me, and I didn't refuse, so I let them come directly."

I really didn't expect you to come too; otherwise I'd have told them to go back and we could reschedule later. Letting them see you directly isn't exactly taking a big advantage, is it? But we can't let them get a freebie.

Lai Junchen can figure out the intentions of any leader's words, let alone Su Yang's. If the relationship weren't good, could they come to the provincial capital to invite him for a meal? If the relationship weren't good, could Su Yang casually agree? If the relationship weren't good, would he bring it up to his face, or just send a text to refuse? Since he said it, it's solid as iron.

Moreover, from his own perspective, he couldn't possibly remain a secretary forever; sooner or later he'll move down. By then, those Municipal Party Committee secretaries and mayors who once held him in their palms might not treat him the same way as now, while ordinary officials would still have to look up to him three points.

Saying that makes you sound distant. Your friends are my friends. As the saying goes, 'One fence needs three stakes, one hero needs three helpers.' To develop in an official career, to go far, without a few reliable friends, how could you manage? Tonight, no matter what, even if it's just me.

Su Yang chuckled and said: "Thank you, Lai Ge, for giving me such great face. If things go badly, I might still have a request for you."

Lai Junchen said: "From now on, never say that 'request' word to me! Us brothers speaking like that would be too distant; otherwise it means you don't have me in your heart."

These words, Su Yang naturally accepted: "Okay, okay, okay—let's go wait for them a bit, or we could eat first? Our relationship is this good, I think they won't mind."

After the two left the room, they passed through the fire exit, went out the other side and entered the front desk of National Mansion First Class. A middle-aged person stood at the front desk; seeing Lai Junchen, he hurriedly greeted: "Lai Ge, the private room has been arranged—it's the one upstairs you usually use."

Lai Junchen nodded: "Sure, thanks. We still have two friends who haven't arrived; don't rush the hot dishes, prepare the cold platters first. But today we won't use my usual room; use the leader's instead."

After saying that, he brought Su Yang into the elevator. Only after reaching the top floor did they step out; Su Yang glanced at the location—wasn't it the rooftop terrace? What met his eyes was a large Chinese-style private room; though not luxurious, it was certainly noble. Moreover, the private room had floor-to-ceiling windows; below, cars and horses flowed like a river, and straight ahead was the endless Yellow River—clearly, this was a high-end river-view room.

Seeing Lai Junchen gazing outside lost in thought, Lai Junchen explained: "Don't overthink it; it's not that the leader dislikes this sort of thing, trying to pull some privilege."

Actually, this has been the provincial government's standing arrangement; banquets hosted by the Governor and the Executive Vice Governor are always held here. Normally, this private room is for the Governor's use, but our Governor Zhao has other places, so this place has become the boss's venue for entertaining guests.

When I came today, I told the boss; his intention was to invite you to eat here. He originally planned to come in person, but later got held up by other matters.

Su Yang then suddenly realized; otherwise, even if it were a one-of-a-kind private room, it would definitely be Governor Zhao's exclusive, and some unspoken rules still need to be observed. Moreover, Uncle Huang is from Jingcheng; he hasn't seen any sort of luxurious ambience, so he would either look down on this place or not be attached to it. The emotional reasons are all here.

This is the helplessness of working within the System—you can't not fit in, yet you can't go along with their corruption. So on many matters you can only grasp the big and let go of the small; for example, if you don't recognize or accept the places where people tacitly agree to eat, what will others think of you?

It would only make others think you're hard to get along with, thus silently distancing themselves; then, if you try to do anything, it would likely be harder. This is also called 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do.' Su Yang could even imagine that, upon going to Lieshan Xian, there would likewise be someone's careful arrangements, and he wouldn't know how to break the situation when the time comes.

After sitting down, Lai Junchen first chatted with Su Yang about everyday matters, then finally spoke about the situation in Lieshan Xian: "The situation in Lieshan County is now so bad it can't be described in words, and moreover, the connections behind them are beyond your imagination—not only do they have ties within the city, but even within the province there are their people."

Moreover, this Geng Miao himself is a Provincial People's Congress Deputy; one could say he treats Lieshan Xian as his own fiefdom, tolerating no dissenting voices. Let me put it to you this way: whether the County Party Secretary and the County Magistrate eat with him depends on his mood.

When he's in a good mood, he goes to the foot of the County Government building and shouts, calling their names directly; when he's in a bad mood, he simply sends someone to call them—no need to phone. Moreover, whether it's the County Party Secretary or the County Magistrate, they must come; otherwise he'll see them as disobedient, making it impossible to work in the county at all.

Think about it—the County Party Secretary and the County Magistrate have to listen to him; what can others do when they go there? I bet the leadership also told you: the previous few County Party Secretaries and County Magistrates were either his lackeys, going along with his corruption, or were directly gotten rid of by him.

Now this place can be said to be his personal domain; every department has his Cultivation Clan's people, and even his wife is the chief of the Paichusuo. Forget it, I won't say more—you'll know once you go there.

After hearing that, Su Yang couldn't help but shake his head; he knew this person all too well, yet he still asked: "Lai Ge, does Lieshan Xian really not have a single usable person? I refuse to believe that so many cadres would completely submit to his wicked might—even outward submission aside—I just don't believe they all genuinely admire and obey him."

Lai Junchen said: "How could it be? Anyone who doesn't cooperate with him or listen to his words is almost always pushed to the sidelines, just shy of being removed from public office. Not to mention ordinary civil servants—even the native-born former County Magistrate of Lieshan Xian, Tong Guohua, who once supported him in rebuilding the winery, was squeezed out by him into early retirement, and he didn't even manage to become a vice-chairman of the municipal CPPCC."

This former County Magistrate Tong Guohua is deeply dissatisfied with him; countless reports were initiated by the old comrade Tong Guohua himself. That's why the provincial authorities learned of the gravity of the situation, leading to the subsequent decision to select cadres and resolve to thoroughly eradicate this tumor.

So when you go there, if possible you should still visit this old comrade; perhaps he could give you some guidance.