Chapter 654: Sun in the east, rain in the west

For several days, Lao Bi was nowhere to be found. He didn't answer his phone, and when I went to his office to find him, I was always met with a closed door. He seemed to have vanished into thin air, with no news at all.

Lao Bi's sudden disappearance made me feel uneasy.

Was he deliberately avoiding me? If so, it meant that the matter he was handling for me still had no progress. I knew Lao Bi's personality too well; if there was even a shred of progress, he would definitely be asking for credit and rewards, without considering anyone else's feelings at all.

But Lao Bi was easy to serve; he wasn't very greedy for money, but his greatest hobby was greed for sex. As long as there were women, he was willing to do anything, heaven or earth.

After contacting him a few times, I had basically grasped his pulse. Therefore, whenever I came to the provincial capital and needed his help, I would always find a good place, take him to enjoy himself, and then talk about the matter, which basically yielded twice the result with half the effort.

In fact, in my heart, I actually hoped Lao Bi liked money more than women. After all, having me find women for him everywhere was much harder to handle than stuffing a red envelope into his hand. I had been to almost every place in the provincial capital of Central Province where one could be entertained with Lao Bi.

Of course, every time, Lao Bi went to have fun alone, and I was just a companion. But every time I accompanied him, I still had to pretend to be like-minded. When Lao Bi called for a woman, I had to call one too. Lao Bi did the work, but I just chatted.

I couldn't find Lao Bi, but Meng Xiaoyu's call came, inviting me to his office to talk, saying he had something urgent to find me for.

Meng Xiaoyu wanted to see me, so I couldn't not go. This person held the power of appropriation in Central Province; if he was happy, with a wave of his pen, I could get money from the Provincial Finance Department.

I ran to Meng Xiaoyu's office, and at a glance, I saw the dejected Lao Bi. I was happy in my heart—you son of a bitch, I've caught you!

Meng Xiaoyu sat behind the wide desk without saying a word. Seeing me come in, he nodded slightly as a greeting.

I asked Lao Bi with a smile, "Division Chief Bi, on a business trip?"

"Bullshit!" Lao Bi gritted his teeth and said hatefully, "Chen Feng, you brat have harmed me."

"Is that so?" I looked innocent and hurriedly apologized, "Division Chief Bi, you've worked hard! I'm sorry for you!"

Meng Xiaoyu laughed and stood up from behind the desk, "Chen Feng, if you didn't become an actor, it would really be a waste. Look at you, you've made Lao Bi soul-stirred, begging grandfathers and grandmothers to handle the countersignatures for you, acting like a grandson to others every day."

I knew Lao Bi was Meng Xiaoyu's man. With Meng Xiaoyu speaking like this, there must be some things hidden behind his words.

I had to play dumb and said, "Secretary-General, I really didn't know."

Meng Xiaoyu waved his hand, "Don't be formal with me. After all, we are classmates; just call me Xiaoyu from now on. It's more intimate!"

I hurriedly waved my hand, "No! No way. Secretary-General, you are a leader in our Central Province. Even if I call you a classmate, wouldn't others scold me to death? Being a person, one must understand the hierarchy of high and low."

Meng Xiaoyu smiled noncommittally and handed me a newspaper, "This move of yours is powerful!"

What Meng Xiaoyu handed me was the *Central Daily*, the only party newspaper in the province, which not only had authority but also could not be changed. On the second page, the entire page was a reprint of the long news report written by Chen Meng from Hengyue City. Even more surprisingly, not only was there a commentary, but an editor's note had actually been added.

According to newspaper conventions, only front-page headlines would have editor's notes. This report was on the second page and had an editor's note added, which was unprecedented, showing the weight of this report.

Seeing me reading the newspaper carefully, Meng Xiaoyu added, "It's not just the *Daily*; all the media in the entire Central Province published this article today. To put it bluntly, your Hengyue City has become famous overnight. I think that now, in the entire Central Province, I'm afraid there is no one who doesn't know about your Hengyue City. And they know that Vice Provincial Governor Lin went to inspect the industrial park in Hengyue City and gave instructions."

I smiled shamelessly, "Secretary-General, this is a good thing."

"It is a good thing, but with you doing this, we are now in a passive position," Meng Xiaoyu sighed, "Originally, Lao Bi was going to finish the last step of the countersignature for you today, and it would have been a perfect success. But this morning, the Provincial Government Office suddenly called and said to hold it for now; the province wants to hold a special research meeting."

As soon as I heard this, my heart went cold.

"Secretary-General, is this special meeting specifically targeting my project?"

"Yes."

"Trouble!" I muttered, "Falling short of success."

Meng Xiaoyu laughed, "Not necessarily. Projects that generally require a special meeting are key projects that the province wants to focus on. If you are included in the key projects, haven't you gained benefits out of thin air?"

"What benefits?" I asked suspiciously.

"In terms of supporting funds, it should at least double," Meng Xiaoyu extended a finger and shook it in front of me. I felt as if I saw a dazzling holy light, and my cold heart immediately came back to life.

"When will the special meeting be held?" I still had no bottom in my heart. Meng Xiaoyu's words could not be ignored, but they couldn't be fully believed either. Not all projects that go through a special meeting can be successfully implemented; many projects are killed at the special meeting.

"Wait for the notice." After Meng Xiaoyu finished speaking, he stood up and turned to his desk, opened the drawer, took out the stele rubbings I gave him, held them carefully, and placed them on the coffee table in front of me, saying, "Take this thing back."

I waved my hands, "Secretary-General, aren't you slapping me in the face?"

Meng Xiaoyu looked at me in surprise and said righteously, "How can I take your things? Besides, this stele rubbing of yours is a rare treasure. I cannot take what you love!"

I smiled, "Secretary-General, you think too highly of me. Regarding stele rubbings, I don't know a thing; in my hands, it's just scrap paper. You are an expert; only an expert can let these things exert their value."

Meng Xiaoyu still didn't take it, but from his expression, I could already see his reluctance. With this, I had a bottom line.

Meng Xiaoyu was testing me, or deliberately pretending to be high-minded. Anyone who is obsessed with something to the point of dreaming about it—whoever touches his things, it is more painful than cutting a piece of his flesh. He said he wouldn't take what I loved, but he was actually hinting to me that he loved this thing!

Lao Bi finally swept away his dejection. He pointed at the stele rubbings and said, "A few pieces of scrap paper, pushing them back and forth, why bother? If neither of you wants them, just burn them with a fire."

Meng Xiaoyu glared and scolded, "You know a fart! This is a national treasure-level thing, worth more than your life. Burn it with a fire? It's a pity you've been a division chief for so many years and have no awareness at all."

Lao Bi chuckled and pushed me, "Chen Feng, brat, your messy business has made both the Secretary-General and me restless. Originally, the countersignature would have been finished today, and twenty million would have been approved for you to leave, but who would have thought such a thing would happen? From now on, I, your brother, can't help anymore; everything is up to fate."

I said readily, "Good! Up to fate."

After pondering for a moment, I said, "However, Division Chief Bi, you must send the Buddha to the west. How to proceed next, you still have to guide me."

Lao Bi looked at Meng Xiaoyu, sighed, and said, "Future matters are not for me to speak about. With the Secretary-General here, everything is under control."

I felt a burst of joy. Lao Bi's words revealed several meanings. First, Meng Xiaoyu was paying attention to this matter and, like him, was very concerned. Second, no matter how this matter changes, with Meng Xiaoyu here, it will not deviate from its origin. Even if the industrial park project is denied at the special meeting, the Provincial Development and Reform Commission will still give me a certain amount of supporting fund support.

This is like Zhao Kuangyin's gamble: opening is winning, not opening is also winning.

I said sincerely to Meng Xiaoyu, "Secretary-General, let's not say anything for now. If you still insist, I am now doubting whether you will help me. Now, setting aside our superior-subordinate relationship, just from the perspective of classmate friendship, I think the Secretary-General will not fail to support me, right?"

Meng Xiaoyu smiled and said, "Rest assured! Just because we were classmates, you don't need to think too much. Besides, Gan Lu has called me several times, entrusting me to look at the face of an old classmate."

With Meng Xiaoyu speaking like this, it can basically be confirmed that he will no longer hypocritically return the stele rubbings to me. As long as he holds my stele rubbings, he has no reason not to speak for me.

With the conversation reaching this point, everything can only wait for the Provincial Government's special meeting to judge life and death. I felt as if a stone in my heart had fallen to the ground, and there was no more feeling of floating.

The conversation was over, and there was no need to sit any longer. Leaders are all busy people, and me standing in someone's office is not a thing. So I stood up and said, "Secretary-General, I have to go first; I will visit another day."

Meng Xiaoyu said politely, "Really busy leaving?"

I nodded earnestly.

Lao Bi stood up and said, "I have to go back too. I've been running outside for this period and haven't returned to the office yet. I don't know if that group of monkeys has turned the place upside down."

Seeing my firm attitude, Meng Xiaoyu didn't keep me and said softly, "If there is a situation, I will let Lao Bi find you."

I left, and Lao Bi followed. As soon as we reached the courtyard, Lao Bi started complaining about back pain.

I stopped and looked at him with a smile, "Why don't we go for a massage to loosen your bones? Consider it compensation for these past few days."

Lao Bi's brow jumped, "Don't try to corrupt me! I am a cadre with firm willpower."

I ignored him. After leaving the gate, I reached out and called a taxi, and without a word, I stuffed him into it. Lao Bi was still waving his claws and shouting, but as soon as the car started, he hurriedly asked me in a low voice, "Where are we going?"

"You'll know when we get there," I said, while taking out my phone, preparing to call Zhu Hua Yu.

Zhu Hua Yu had told me that there were several beautiful girls among their graduate students who were open-minded and had a good relationship with her. She once joked about introducing them to me, not for anything else, but so that after they graduated, they could ask me for a job.

The call was connected, and Zhu Hua Yu was obviously in class. She asked me in a low voice, "Where are you?"

I said, "Invite the classmate you mentioned last time out; I'll introduce her to a big leader."

Before Zhu Hua Yu could speak, I hung up directly.

As soon as Lao Bi heard this, he asked me nervously, "Why did you find a student?"

I laughed, "Times have changed. How can vulgar powder match our Division Chief Bi? However, Division Chief Bi, isn't it a piece of cake for your charm to conquer a young girl?"

Lao Bi chuckled and said in a low voice, "I'm nervous." ===== CHAPTER 655 =====