Chapter 650

My top priority now is to get funding from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

Of course, getting money from the Development and Reform Commission doesn't mean I can't find money elsewhere, but the whole province is looking to them for money. Looking at the whole country, the province asks the state for money, the city asks the province, and the county asks the city. It seems that asking for money has become a trend. At the same time, whether or not one can get money is one of the measures of a cadre's ability.

Back when I was in Suxi Township, I had sought help from the county and city because of the relocation of the township government. Although the money I ultimately got wasn't much, it opened up a shortcut for me.

Whether or not you can get money depends on the project proposal. If the project aligns with the leaders' intentions and can demonstrate political achievements, it's a highly sought-after good thing. Anyway, the national treasury is full now, and money sitting in the bank doesn't breed. It's better to take it out for investment; not only can it stimulate domestic demand and increase employment, but it can also create political achievements. What a win-win situation!

Leaving home in the evening, my heart filled with the thousand instructions and ten thousand exhortations of my wife Huang Weiwei, I drove north alone, feeling full of happiness.

It's so good to have a wife! Having a wife who understands you is the greatest happiness in life! I muttered Huang Weiwei's name as I turned the car onto the highway.

From Hengyue City to the Provincial Capital, it's a highway all the way. If there's no traffic jam, it takes just over two hours.

I had already made many preparations in the province last time. Whether it was Lao Bi or Meng Xiaoyu, I had put in enough effort. Even people like Xu Mengda and Xue Bing had helped me get the signatures.

When asking for favors, you must cater to their preferences. For example, Lao Bi likes to cheat, so I created opportunities for him and covered for him in front of his wife, giving him time to cheat with peace of mind. As for Meng Xiaoyu, this person's interests are relatively refined; he likes playing with calligraphy, paintings, antiques, and cultural relics, so I collected things that would keep him awake at night for him.

And as for Xu Mengda, with Xue Bing by his side, there would be nothing I couldn't get done.

It seemed everything was ready, only waiting for the east wind of my personal appearance. In a good mood, my singing flew out.

After driving for about an hour, I suddenly saw a stretch of taillights flashing on the road ahead. Just as I thought, "Oh no," I indeed encountered a traffic jam.

This highway carries too much; from south to north, from north to south, the culture, economy, and political thoughts of the two regions are all transmitted through this highway.

I secretly cursed, "It's over." I slowed the car down, preparing to find a safe place to park.

Once this highway has a traffic jam, it usually takes several hours to clear. Because the traffic volume is too large, as large as crucian carp crossing the river, continuous and endless.

I lifted my wrist to check my watch; the time was midnight. In another ten minutes or so, a new day would arrive.

Several people got out of the cars in front. I saw a few dark shadows crossing the traffic flow, heading toward the dark places on the side of the road.

Seeing this, I felt the urge to urinate myself, so I simply turned off the engine, locked the car doors, and prepared to go to the side of the road for a leak.

Several men were standing in the darkness by the side of the road. Borrowing the flickering car lights, I could see the columns of water flying in the air beneath them in the dark.

Not far away, several women were standing, whispering about something. On the side of the road below, one could see their white, glistening buttocks.

I wanted to laugh. In such an environment, there seems to be no more shame between people. As long as they can make themselves comfortable, women no longer care about exposing their buttocks under the eyes of men.

I was just about to take out my tool when I heard a voice in my ears say, "Mayor Gan, I'll go help you scout the road."

Parked behind me was a shiny Honda sedan; the black body showed the owner's steadiness and nobility. This type of car is the standard configuration for government personnel in our Central Province.

Just as I was about to continue looking at who was sitting in the car, the door opened, and a young man wearing glasses stepped out. Seeing me staring at their car, he snorted and said, "Hey, what are you looking at?"

I chuckled and turned around, preparing to continue taking out my tool.

Seeing my action, the young man with glasses gave me a light push and said, "Can you go further away?"

I was already annoyed by his snort just now, and now that I needed to pee, what business was it of his? What right did he have to manage me? The fire in my heart grew, and I glared at him angrily, "Is this your family's place?"

He smiled and said indifferently, "It's not my family's. But people should have some class, right? A grown man standing here peeing, how unsightly!"

Whenever I hear the word "class," my mood usually turns to the extreme. I'm not a person without class, it's just that in my view, as long as you express your true self, there's no need to put on airs. And some people, sanctimonious, with a belly full of straw, insist on pretending to be learned. In any situation, those who talk about class and cultivation at every turn are often the ones with the least class and cultivation.

"Brother, if you don't want it to be unsightly, go find me a toilet!" I laughed out of extreme anger, "Since you talk about class, go pee in your own pants!"

After being ridiculed by me, his face became very ugly. Looking at himself, with thin arms and legs, standing in front of me, he looked simply weak and unable to withstand a gust of wind. If we were to fight, I could grab my balls with one hand and still throw him half to death.

He seemed to realize that fighting wasn't my strong suit, and cursing didn't seem to get him anywhere either. He looked around anxiously like a stray dog.

I rolled my eyes at him, took out my tool without any scruples, and let my water column dance wantonly in the night sky.

After peeing, I returned to the car, took out a bottle of mineral water to wash my hands, and then walked to the side of the road, took out a cigarette, and lit it.

The glasses-wearer who had argued with me climbed up from the roadbed, returned to the car, and whispered a few words. I then saw a woman-like figure emerge from the car.

Seeing this, I felt my face burning a little. The glasses-wearer had told me to go further away just now, actually because there was a woman in his car. But this glasses-wearer just couldn't see the situation clearly; on a pitch-black highway, apart from the little light brought by the car lights, how could human eyes see the thing under a man's body?

Since there was a woman present, she had obviously seen my argument with the young man in glasses. I felt embarrassed and turned my face away, preparing to sneak back to the car to take a nap during this time, waiting for the road to clear so I could continue my journey.

The woman who got out of the car walked past me, and I smelled a wisp of faint fragrance drifting in the night.

I was very familiar with this scent. Recalling that I had just heard someone call "Mayor Gan," my heart suddenly jumped, and I wanted to see who the woman was.

Just as I lifted my head, I met the woman's gaze. My head went "boom," it was exactly Gan Lu, whom I wanted to see yet was afraid to see!

She smiled lightly and whispered, "You hooligan!"

I was so embarrassed I wished I could find a hole to crawl into; the wanton ease from just now had vanished without a trace.

"Why is it you?" I muttered, looking at her car and then at her in disbelief.

"Why can't it be me?" She smiled shallowly, looking as if she had more to say.

I immediately understood, leaned over to look down the roadbed, and said, "You can't go down there, it's too dangerous."

She looked very anxious, as if she couldn't hold it anymore. Hearing me say she couldn't go down, she was clearly a bit urgent and said hurriedly, "My secretary just went down to check, it's fine."

I laughed and looked back at her car, "This secretary of yours is interesting."

She said impatiently, "What do you mean? Chen Feng, are you trying to make me burst?"

I laughed, "I wouldn't dare!"

Immediately, I took her hand and walked straight toward my car.

Before we had walked two steps, her secretary jumped out of the car and shouted, "What are you doing?"

His shout drew curious gazes from the idle people around, which made Gan Lu even more embarrassed. She wanted to shake off my hand, but after shaking a few times and failing, she helplessly whispered and begged me, "Chen Feng, what are you doing? Let go of me already."

I stopped and said to the furious secretary, "Shut up!"

Her secretary was clearly startled and actually stood still obediently.

"I am an acquaintance of your Mayor Gan!" I said, my voice very low, "If you don't want to make a scene, just stay quiet."

Her secretary still wanted to say something, but Gan Lu smiled, "Xiao Li, it's fine. This is Bureau Chief Chen from Hengyue City; we are classmates, old acquaintances."

Those watching the excitement saw there was no excitement to watch and dispersed, and some started grumbling.

I pulled Gan Lu into the car and handed her a plastic bag, "You understand, right?"

Gan Lu smiled shyly, not daring to look at me at all. She hesitated and refused to take my bag, saying, "I don't want it."

"Don't want it?" I sneered, "You can't possibly go down to the roadbed to solve it in public, can you?"

"No one can see anyway!" she muttered.

"Self-deception!" I laughed, "Whether you want it or not is up to you, Mayor Gan."

After saying this, I got out of the car, closed the door, and walked far away to smoke.

Her secretary came over and asked, "You are Bureau Chief Chen from Hengyue City?"

I nodded and said unfriendly, "Any advice?"

He smiled sheepishly and said, "Our Mayor often mentions you."

"Is that so?" I asked curiously, "What did your Mayor say about me?"

"Our Mayor said you are a talent, the class monitor of their provincial cadre training class. You have ability, courage, dare to take responsibility, can get things done, and know how to get things done. A good cadre with a pioneering spirit."

"Really?" I laughed, "I'm not as good as your Mayor says."

I took out a cigarette and handed it to him, "Want one?"

He waved his hand, "I don't smoke! Thanks!"

I laughed, "I do! Not only do I smoke, but I also drink. A man who smokes and drinks is the kind of person you call lacking class."

He smiled awkwardly and said, "Bureau Chief Chen, you are teasing me!"

"I wouldn't dare!" I threw the cigarette butt at my feet, crushed it with my shoe sole, and asked casually, "Are you guys also going to the province?"

The secretary hesitated for a moment and whispered, "No, we are going to Beijing."

"Going to Beijing?" I was startled and asked, "What for?"

"Mayor Gan's instructions. I'm not very clear about the specific matters. It's probably about the upgrading of the development zone! Mayor Gan wants to upgrade our city's development zone to a national-level development zone."

I said "Oh," and just happened to hear Gan Lu calling me from my car, so I left the secretary and walked toward the car in three steps.

Gan Lu sat motionless in the darkness; I could feel her slight panting and shy breathing.

"Done?" I asked, reaching out my hand, "Give it to me!"

She hesitated for a long time before shyly handing over the plastic bag. My nose caught a faint scent of urine, which actually carried a faint fragrance like roses.

I took it, walked straight to the side of the road, and threw the plastic bag far away.

In the night sky, the plastic bag opened, and the liquid inside scattered with the wind. I walked back to the car, got in, and said, "Are you okay?"

Gan Lu was still shy and didn't dare to talk to me at all.

I reached out and took her hand, holding it in my palm, and said, "As long as it's your business, I'm willing to do it."

Only then did she burst into laughter, scratched my palm with her hand, and said, "With that mouth of yours, how many women will die because of it!"

I laughed, "At least you haven't died because of this mouth of mine."

"You!" She took my hand and bit it, saying while biting, "Damn Chen Feng, you just want me to die because of this mouth of yours!"

I chuckled and let her bite me.

She bit very lightly; I didn't even feel pain, but was wrapped in a gentleness.