Chapter 474: Undercurrents

Lin Xiaoxi ultimately did not come to Suxi, which was beyond my expectations.

Now, in the entire Chunshan County, anyone with even a shred of official rank knows that Lin Xiaoxi has a father who is a Vice Provincial Governor. In the past, people only knew her as a glamorous host on television; no one would have thought that the daughter of a dignified Vice Provincial Governor would actually demean herself by working at a television station in such a poor, remote mountain gully.

How much power does a Vice Provincial Governor have? Simply put, a single word can determine a person's life or death. Not to mention that her father is also the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department—a figure of immense power and influence. Looking across Central Province, how many people can rival him?

Even for me, the relationship with Lin Xiaoxi is currently so delicate that I dare not look her in the eye.

Knowing her in the past was one thing. Now that I have been intimate with her, wanting to act as if nothing happened is beyond my control. Unless Lin Xiaoxi decides to let go!

Since becoming intimate with her, I have felt both self-reproach and fear. At the same time, a sour feeling always rises from the bottom of my heart, making me afraid to think of Huang Weiwei.

This feeling is a first. Before, whether it was Yue Bai or Xue Bing, I never felt that I was letting Huang Weiwei down. But now, this feeling beats against me every moment, keeping me awake for many nights.

Finally, I discovered that I actually have no feelings of guilt toward Lin Xiaoxi; all my worries stem from the Vice Provincial Governor Lin standing behind her.

I increasingly feel that my hands and feet are bound, and I feel an invisible pressure that leaves me unable to breathe.

Therefore, whenever I hear the phone ring, my first reaction is whether it is Lin Xiaoxi calling. Once it is her, I become terrified.

I have even prepared for the worst: that Governor Lin will fly into a rage and I will be dismissed and investigated.

If all this becomes reality, my life's path will have reached its end. Because not only will I lose my current glory, but I will also lose Huang Weiwei. My life will become dull and colorless, with no hope of ever getting ahead.

As a cadre, matters of personal conduct are particularly important. Although "wild flower" stories are popular now, once you get involved in one, you will eventually be ruined.

Hao Qiang and Lao Mo suddenly being released from the detention center cannot be unrelated to Governor Lin. Governor Lin suddenly announcing he is coming to Suxi for the ribbon-cutting—what is he hinting at!

Is he telling me that he has released the people for me, and he is giving me a massive favor by personally attending the Suxi ribbon-cutting, so I should know what's good for me?

Thinking of what Hao Qiang and the others said, if there really is such an internal reference report on the Provincial Party Secretary's desk, then Governor Lin's actions are not strange at all.

I barely slept last night. Waking up this morning and remembering my agreement with Hao Qiang and the others, I realized I had actually forgotten about it last night.

I got up, washed up in a hurry, put on my shoes, and rushed out to find them at Qian Youyu's hotel.

Just as I stepped out, I saw Yue Bai coming over. She was wearing a well-tailored small suit, with the collar of the white shirt underneath flipped out over the suit's lapel. She looked every bit the professional woman—capable and full of charm.

Seeing me, she quickened her pace and asked with lively eyes, "Where are you going?"

I pointed in the direction of Qian Youyu's hotel.

"What was wrong with you yesterday? You didn't eat, and you didn't open the door."

I was startled and said, "Really? I didn't open the door?"

"I knocked for a long time." Yue Bai smiled faintly. "I knew you were inside; I saw you go in, but I didn't see you come out."

"Is that so?" I still wore an innocent look, trying hard to recall.

"Really." Yue Bai lowered her voice and said, "You have something on your mind, don't you?"

I shook my head and forced a smile, saying, "What could I have on my mind? Nothing."

"Then you must be too tired; you probably fell asleep."

"Yes, yes, yes," I said repeatedly. "I really am a bit sleepy."

Yue Bai looked at me deeply and said, "Take care of your health. If there's anything, just tell us to do it; you don't need to do everything yourself."

I nodded hurriedly and said, "That's true."

Yue Bai was somewhat displeased by my insincere words. She walked a few steps, then turned back and said, "County Magistrate Chen, the people from the American company have arrived and are staying at the county hotel. Are you going to pick them up?"

Upon hearing this, my heart immediately filled with joy.

Liu Misi, that American devil, really didn't let me down.

Ever since I decided that the Suxi relocation should be held concurrently with the groundbreaking of the tourism development project, I had been in contact with Liu Misi. This guy initially disagreed with my suggestion, saying his was a commercial project and shouldn't be mixed with our government activities.

I tried every way to negotiate with him, but this guy was impervious to reason, which made me incredibly irritable. I wanted nothing more than to drag him over and give him a good beating.

I was clear about Liu Misi's thinking. Having lived in China for so many years, he was well-versed in Chinese culture. He was a businessman, and businessmen are driven by profit; they don't engage in empty posturing or fake routines.

He was afraid that if his tourism project was relocated together with my government project, we would try to stick our hands in.

No matter how arrogant Liu Misi was, his fingers were still in my mouth.

Therefore, I threatened him, "If you don't cooperate, Liu Misi, I won't let your project succeed."

This was his weak point. If the project couldn't go through, it wouldn't be so simple to take back the funds he had already wired over. I would drag him down until he died!

Sure enough, Liu Misi didn't dare to breathe a word and said he needed to report and ask for instructions from his headquarters.

Waiting like this, several months passed.

A few days ago, I called him again to inform him of the specific groundbreaking date. Liu Misi still couldn't give a definite answer on the phone, saying the headquarters hadn't reached a decision yet.

I had already planned to give up on the groundbreaking for the Hot Spring Resort, so I didn't expect such good news to come at this time.

The Suxi relocation is a great joyous event, and the groundbreaking of the Hot Spring Resort is just icing on the cake!

"I will go pick them up personally." I said to Yue Bai, "You go to Lao Qian's hotel and make arrangements. You must ensure our American friends stay comfortably, eat happily, and have a good time."

Yue Bai looked at my excited appearance, pursed her lips, and smiled, "Don't worry, it's already been arranged. Secretary Xuelai is sitting in at the hotel, and all reception tasks are being arranged by her."

I called Zhu Huayu and told her to accompany the Foreign Affairs Office staff to the Huihuang Hotel first.

I drove my car to Qian Youyu's Suxi Hotel, stood downstairs, and shouted at the top of my lungs, "Director Hao, Director Hao."

After shouting for a while, I didn't see Hao Qiang come out. Instead, Xuelai came out from inside with a smile, her hands on her waist, and said, "Stop shouting, they didn't stay here last night."

"Where did they go?" I asked suspiciously.

"Went home."

"What about Lao Mo?"

"Followed them."

"Damn!" I laughed and cursed, "That Lao Mo, why is he going to join in the fun at someone else's house."

Xuelai smiled and said, "Who knows."

Hao Qiang still lived in the old police station. The old police station was in the old township government, more than an hour's drive from the new Laoyingzui Suxi government.

"Have the arrangements for the police station been made?" I asked.

"Town Mayor Liu made the arrangements personally. It's been ready for a long time, and people are already working inside."

I said "Oh," pulled open the car door, and asked, "Xiao Xue, are you free?"

Xuelai looked at me and asked, "Where to?"

"To pick up the God of Wealth." I said with a laugh, sitting into the car.

"Director Hao is the God of Wealth?"

"Not him. We're going to the county."

Xuelai hesitated and said, "I won't go to the county; I'm busy at home."

I didn't want to say more, started the car, turned it around, and left.

Xuelai followed by my car and said, "This isn't the way to the county."

I laughed, "I'm going to pick up Director Hao and the others first. Foreign guests are coming; we need security personnel." ===== CHAPTER 475 =====