Chapter 380

My ambiguity with Li Lian stopped there. I set a bottom line for myself, whether for me, for her, or for everyone who hoped I would do well.

Deng Hanyu called one last time, saying he had arrived, and how much longer would I be?

I told him, don't worry! Since I, your father, promised, I will absolutely not break my word.

When the car arrived at Qilin Villa, Lao Can the villain came out, opened his arms exaggeratedly, wanting to hug me. I sidestepped and remained calm.

The villain changed his form, reaching out to shake my hand.

I still avoided it, turning a blind eye.

The villain went to shake Li Lian's hand, praising exaggeratedly: "Leader Li, you're getting younger and more beautiful."

Li Lian pursed her lips and smiled, not answering, and followed me into the house.

Several cars were parked in the courtyard at the entrance, all expensive goods. I was in no mood to browse or admire; until now, I still didn't know what medicine Deng Hanyu was selling in his gourd.

The sky grew dim, and it was hard to see the full picture in the shadows.

Qilin Villa was hidden deep in the mountains, reached by a winding road. On the right side of the villa, there was a large pond, with clear water and a long sky all year round. There were several fishing spots by the pond, and a long corridor covered with straw wound around the water pond.

Taking advantage of the night that hadn't fully set in, I examined the situation before me. I had only been to this place once, but it had left many doubts in my heart.

Entering the door, I saw a newly erected high wall with water flowing down it. Several lights shone on the flowing water, creating a blurry light.

Water is wealth! It seems the owner, the villain, is well-versed in the way of Feng Shui.

I smiled, my eyes catching the girl who had washed my feet last time, but she was much plumper than before. The revealing clothes made one feel as if they had entered a nightclub in a big city.

"Brother Deng is waiting for you upstairs," the villain came over and told me in a low voice.

"Lead the way," I said, taking Li Lian along the stairs, winding our way up.

The villain Lao Can was missing two fingers, known in the underworld as the "Eight-Fingered Saint Hand." It is said that Lao Can mixed in Macau in his early years and practiced a unique skill, but because the net of heaven is wide, he ended up disabled. This story has already been told in the previous text, so I won't repeat it here.

The door opened, and I saw an old man with his back to the door, with Deng Hanyu standing to one side, bowing. Seeing me enter, he blinked and remained silent.

I walked over a few steps and heard a sentence in my ear: "You're here!"

It was Guan Peishan!

I was startled, stopped my feet, and didn't dare to go further.

Guan Peishan turned around, smiled kindly, and reached out to shake my hand.

I moved up in fear and trepidation, held his almost withered hand with both hands, and said in a low voice: "Hello, old Secretary."

Guan Peishan seemed to enjoy my panic, patted the back of my hand gently with his other hand, and said: "Sit down."

Deng Hanyu didn't miss the opportunity to bring me a chair.

"Hello, old Secretary," Li Lian, standing behind me, also didn't miss the opportunity to call out.

Guan Peishan looked at Li Lian in surprise and remained silent.

I quickly explained: "Li Lian is a cadre of the County Women's Federation, don't you remember, old Secretary?"

Guan Peishan said "Oh" and looked at me inquiringly.

I am not in charge of the Women's Federation work, so the Women's Federation cadres don't need to report to me. But Li Lian, as a Women's Federation cadre, appeared here with me, so Guan Peishan would naturally be confused.

"She is familiar with the road here, so I invited her to come," I explained again, speaking against my will.

Guan Peishan waved his hand generously and said: "It's good that you came. Since you're here, just play with peace of mind. This place is not bad, it's very relaxing. The air is good, and the food is all green food, it's healthy."

I laughed and glanced at Deng Hanyu. Damn you, Deng Hanyu, so you buried this surprise soldier, Guan Peishan! What are you intending to do?

Lao Can said obsequiously: "Secretary Guan, you talk, I'll go out first?"

Guan Peishan waved his hand and said: "That's fine. I invited County Magistrate Chen here today because there is a small matter I want to chat with him about."

Since it had reached this point, how could Li Lian not understand? She quickly said: "Old Secretary, I'll go out too."

Guan Peishan smiled noncommittally.

Once Lao Can and the others went out, Guan Peishan coughed lightly and said: "Little Chen, is work going smoothly?"

"It's okay. With you covering me, I'm not afraid," I said with a smile, flattering him.

"Young people, work needs drive. It's right to have many ideas. But, you must consider the cause and effect when doing things; some things, pulling one hair affects the whole body. As a leader, you must have a big-picture view. Don't you agree?"

I nodded repeatedly, muttering in my heart. Guan Peishan's words were definitely not aimless.

"Little Chen, to what extent has the relocation of your Suxi Town reached?" Guan Peishan didn't give me much time to think.

I had been in Suxi Town for seven years and had never seen Guan Peishan go there once. Could he have an opinion on Suxi?

"It's okay, it's currently under construction."

"Building a new city is a huge project."

"Yes, yes," I bowed my waist unconsciously.

"In this urban construction, the main body hasn't moved yet, but the infrastructure must come first."

It was like a giant thunderclap exploding out of thin air; I was instantly dumbfounded.

I had made an unforgivable mistake!

The construction of Suxi Town had no infrastructure.

The so-called infrastructure is water supply, power supply, environmental sanitation, and other facilities related to people's daily lives. And in our Suxi Town, there was absolutely none of that.

At the beginning, we were single-mindedly focused on building high-rise buildings; the streets were planned, so why didn't we think of this point?

My heart felt like it had been hit by a heavy hammer, and even my head felt dizzy.

Infrastructure costs money, and it requires a lot of money. These things look inconspicuous, but if any one of them is missing, the whole life cannot be carried out.

"Old Secretary..." I stopped mid-sentence.

"I let Little Deng and Little Guo go to see it, and they have some opinions," Guan Peishan was as calm as water; I couldn't see what he was thinking at all.

"Old Secretary..." Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I am the Executive Deputy County Magistrate of Chunshan County, that's true, but I have another position; I am also the Party Committee Secretary of Suxi Town.

Making such an inexcusable mistake only shows that my ability to work has limitations. This limitation is a killer move that will make it difficult for me to move an inch on the road of politics.

"You don't have to be too anxious. Some things can be remedied," Guan Peishan's words made me seem to see a glimmer of light.

"I heard that during this time, you and Xie Tian are discussing a matter?" Guan Peishan changed the subject, and my thoughts had to follow to another matter.

"Are you talking about re-employment?"

"This matter, I discussed it several times when I was in office, it's not easy to move," Guan Peishan sighed, making me unable to see his thoughts.

"I just feel that, old Secretary, you also know. Our fiscal revenue is limited, and every year, the finance has to spend nearly half more on re-employment. The biggest problem is that fresh blood cannot come in, and new ideas cannot come in, so the work cannot open up the situation," I said sincerely.

Guan Peishan snorted coldly and remained silent.

"What is your opinion?"

I could see he was a bit unhappy; perhaps this re-employment matter had a thousand threads of connection with him.

"I have no opinion," he still said coldly, his eyes looking out the window.

Outside the window, it was pitch black, and one could vaguely see a few new branches under the light.

My heart stirred; he said he had no opinion, but actually, it was a big opinion. This big opinion was to maintain the status quo and not move.

And he had taken precautions; Suxi Town lacking infrastructure for urban construction was my Achilles' heel.

He had grasped my Achilles' heel!

I felt as if I had been seen through by him, and I became flustered and panicked.

"What should I do?" I asked tentatively.

"Personally, I think it is more appropriate for you to put your main energy into the construction of Suxi Town at this stage."

"I have no money in my hands."

"It's easy to get money. Didn't I let Little Deng go find Old Liu?"

"I mean I have no money to do infrastructure."

"To get money, you need projects; if you have projects, why worry about having no money?"

"Thank you, old Secretary," I expressed my gratitude sincerely and stood up, wanting to leave.

This trip was not in vain!

I reached a deal with them, and the bargaining chip for this deal was that I would not move on the re-employment matter, in exchange for Guan Peishan's investment in Suxi Town's infrastructure.

"Leaving?" he asked me, his fingers tapping on the armrest of the seat.

"No," I said, took the thermos, and refilled the teacup in front of him.

"Now, all over the country, regardless of the size of the place, everyone is engaged in economic development zones. Our Chunshan County doesn't have a development zone yet," Guan Peishan hinted to me.

How could I not understand? The thoughts that were originally knotted suddenly cleared up.

Why can't Suxi Town be turned into Chunshan County's economic development zone? With this signboard, there will be money if you want money, and people if you want people!

I laughed out loud.

Deng Hanyu was confused by my laughter. That I could laugh in front of the tiger-like Guan Peishan, and with nothing to fear, fully reflected my grasp of the situation.

Guan Peishan smiled without speaking. He picked up the teacup and took a sip.