Chapter 850: The Reversal Comes Quickly

In the innermost "Jinxiu Hall" of the Emei Restaurant, the lights were bright, and the fragrance of wine and food drifted through the air.

Deputy Director Liu leaned back against his chair, a layer of intoxication on his face. Wang Yongnian filled his glass with Wuliangye and asked, "Siqiang, what exactly is the background of this Ma Rui? He has some crappy advertising company; I wasn't satisfied with the stuff they filmed and asked them to reshoot, and he actually threatened to sue me."

Deputy Director Liu waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of stirring up trouble. "Little Wang, forget it. Don't think about standing up for me. I heard his uncle is the president of the Federation of Industry and Commerce; we can't afford to provoke them."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yongnian's temper flared up instantly.

So what if he's a president? He, Wang Yongnian, had been working in the district for so many years; he wouldn't be scared by the president of a non-governmental organization.

"Siqiang, I'm the client this time. If I can't even handle him, then I've wasted all these years." He tilted his head back and poured the glass of Wuliangye down his throat.

Li Xiang, who was sitting nearby, said with a chuckle, "Senior Brother, can you hand over the work on your side to me in the future? I can find those big directors who shoot commercials. The kickback that should be left for you will be exactly as agreed, not a cent less."

Deputy Director Liu picked up a piece of roast duck with his chopsticks and slowly swirled it in the sweet bean sauce. The oily, glistening duck meat was coated in dark brown sauce. He didn't wrap it in duck skin, but stuffed it directly into his mouth, chewed twice, and said, "Li Xiang, do you think your Senior Brother can't find commercial directors? Many of his classmates are big directors in the advertising world."

Li Xiang laughed, "That's different. If my Senior Brother hands the advertisements directly to those classmates, would he still have the nerve to take a twenty percent kickback?"

Wang Yongnian's eyes lit up, feeling that this kid was quite savvy. Who he did it for didn't matter, right? Li Xiang could leave him a kickback, but those old classmates might not.

He nodded and changed the subject: "That's easy to handle. But Siqiang, I came here today because I also want to ask you for a favor. The chief accountant at my unit has a daughter who wants to get into the Film Academy. I know it's hard to get into the undergraduate program, but could you help push for it—would getting into the junior college program work?"

Deputy Director Liu leaned back against his chair, thought for a moment, and nodded, "Bring her over to take a look first."

"She... has no foundation in acting." Wang Yongnian rubbed his hands, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Then she'll have to go to the training class that I and a few friends run for a month first." Deputy Director Liu picked up his teacup and took a sip. "The art exam is in March; we need to hurry."

Wang Yongnian nodded quickly, "She's taking the college entrance exam... I reckon she won't be able to score very high."

Deputy Director Liu gave a bitter smile and set down his teacup: "Little Wang, you're setting a difficult problem for me. Admissions aren't decided by me alone. I think if it really doesn't work, just have her attend the one-year advanced study class. After she finishes that, she can take the exam; it might be better."

Wang Yongnian quickly raised his wine glass: "Thank you, Siqiang, thank you, Siqiang!"

Although Ma Rui had acted calm and collected in front of Chen Xueru, he was far from feeling as relaxed as he appeared inside.

When he walked out of the company, he felt a bit lost. Things had been too smooth lately, and he had overlooked many problems. In fact, the contract they signed with the Chaoyang Food Factory was not written in detail. If Wang Yongnian really pushed to be difficult with him, he might not necessarily win the lawsuit.

"Xiao Tian, go to the No. 95 Siheyuan." He opened the car door and said.

Xiao Tian glanced at him through the rearview mirror, didn't ask any questions, and stepped on the gas pedal.

Arriving at the Siheyuan, Ma Rui strode into the East Cross Courtyard. He Yuzhu was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, drinking tea, with a plate of peanuts set beside him.

Ma Rui didn't say a word, picked up the teapot in front of He Yuzhu, and gulped down two large mouthfuls.

"Hey, you brat! You've been drinking from my teapot since you were little, and you still haven't changed that habit. Tell me, coming back in such a rush, did something happen?"

Ma Rui put the teapot on the table and, like a machine gun, poured out everything that had happened, inside and out.

After listening, He Yuzhu's expression darkened.

He didn't rush to speak, but picked up his phone and dialed Wang Xia's number.

On the other end of the line, after Wang Xia heard the sequence of events, her voice carried regret: "Zhuzi, this time I'm the one who harmed Xiao Rui."

"What exactly is going on?" He Yuzhu asked.

"That Lao Sun used to be the Deputy Factory Director at our Street Office, and later he was promoted to the Chaoyang State-run Popsicle Factory. He was quite capable; in a few years, he changed the factory from making popsicles to making jelly pudding, calcium milk, and such enterprises, and the efficiency was always good. But during this term change, he was transferred to Yanqing County to be the Deputy County Magistrate. A new young Factory Director came up, and I'm not familiar with that person, so I can't speak to him."

He Yuzhu pressed, "Who is their superior department?"

"If you're talking about the real superior department..." Wang Xia thought for a moment, "It should be the leaders at the Commercial Bureau. If it really doesn't work, you can ask Xiangxiu; she might be able to put in a word."

Just as He Yuzhu was about to hang up, the door curtain was lifted, and Chen Xueru walked in.

She was wearing a coat and carrying a vegetable basket. Seeing Ma Rui in the room, she asked with a smile: "Xiao Rui, are you eating at home tonight?"

Ma Rui had a mournful face, "Aunt, our advertising company took a job. But they changed the General Manager. He just said our film was shot poorly and wanted us to reshoot. Actually, that's just an excuse; the main thing is that this General Manager has a good relationship with the Deputy Director of our department, and he just wants to stand up for the Deputy Director to suppress our company, refusing to let our advertisement pass no matter what."

"Which enterprise is it?" Chen Xueru set down the vegetable basket, her brows slightly furrowed.

"The Chaoyang Food Factory, which used to be the Chaoyang Popsicle Factory." He Yuzhu answered for Ma Rui, then glanced at Chen Xueru, "Do you know their supervising leader?"

Chen Xueru thought for a moment and shook her head.

He Yuzhu sighed on purpose: "A president like you can't even solve this little thing; you might as well quit."

"Hey!" Chen Xueru glared, "Have you hit menopause lately? Why is everything you say so biting?"

He Yuzhu chuckled and wasn't annoyed: "If I wanted to deal with their factory, wouldn't that be simple? It's just that I'm afraid of attacking innocent people."

Chen Xueru rolled her eyes at him and turned to say to Ma Rui: "Forget it, I'll help you ask. Duan Xiaojie is the District Mayor over there; he should be able to manage him."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu was happy: "Ma Rui, look, your aunt is more capable than me. In the future, just go directly to her for these things."

Ma Rui felt relieved. He looked at Chen Xueru gratefully: "Aunt, if you can help me this time, I will definitely be filial to you."

"You brat, if I don't help you, you won't be filial to me?" Chen Xueru shook her head.

She picked up her phone, flipped to District Mayor Duan's number, and dialed it.

The call connected, and she explained the matter in a few words.

After hanging up, she said to Ma Rui: "Alright, wait for news tomorrow."

Wang Yongnian had just let the driver drop Deputy Director Liu off at home when his phone rang.

He took it out and looked—District Mayor Duan.

He immediately stood up straight, his back stiff, and even his voice became respectful: "District Mayor, do you have any instructions?"

Why was Wang Yongnian so afraid?

Come to think of it, he was also a formally trained actor who had spent two years at the film studio without any decent roles. Later, his family used connections to find him a job as a secretary in the district.

He was good at handling things and looked sharp. After grinding for a few years, he was promoted from a staff member to a deputy section-level official. This time, being sent to the Chaoyang Food Factory as Factory Director, he was considered a section-level Cadre.

On the other end of the phone, District Mayor Duan's voice was not loud, but it carried weight, "Little Wang, how did you offend the family of the president of the Federation of Industry and Commerce as soon as you took office? We have several big projects in our district recently that rely on the He Family for investment!"

A "buzz" went off in Wang Yongnian's brain, and sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

His brain spun rapidly, and he hurriedly explained: "I'm sorry, District Mayor, this, this is mainly the mess left by the previous Factory Director, Lao Sun. He gave two advertisements to some young people to do, and they didn't do them well, so I also..."

"Do you think those two advertisements of yours are important, or are the projects worth hundreds of millions in our district important?" District Mayor Duan interrupted him and said.