Chapter 515

When Zhang Kaishan heard that the Hou family would still be going to Shangjun County tomorrow, he was very happy and asked Su Xinghui what time they would go to welcome them.

However, Su Xinghui said, "Uncle Zhang, I estimate that Ge Honglin will not give up easily; there might be some twists and turns tomorrow. Let's do this: I will call you again before we set off tomorrow."

Zhang Kaishan said, "All right, then I will wait in the office tomorrow morning and won't go anywhere."

While Su Xinghui was talking to Hou Guangbi, Ge Honglin was with Cheng Han at the home of Zhang Shiguang, the Deputy Secretary of the Jiangcheng Municipal Committee, talking to him.

Zhang Shiguang was an old man in his fifties. His hair was dyed pitch black, not a single white hair visible, and combed perfectly. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and a navy blue suit, appearing refined and elegant. Clearly, he was a leader who cared deeply about his image.

Ge Honglin was complaining with full grievance, "Secretary Shiguang, you didn't see it. The arrogant and domineering face that kid surnamed Su had in front of me was simply abominable. Does he have any basic respect for leading cadres? I don't know whose influence he is relying on."

In private, Ge Honglin had already heard from Cheng Han and Zhang Chenxi that Su Xinghui was the boyfriend of Lu Zheng’s daughter, Lu Xiaoya. Only then did Ge Honglin realize that the beautiful girl who was always by Su Xinghui’s side was actually Lu Zheng’s daughter.

Ge Honglin was an old subordinate of Zhang Shiguang, so naturally, he came to complain to him when he felt wronged. Moreover, the situation was now very unfavorable for them, and he hoped Zhang Shiguang could find a way to turn the situation around.

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Shiguang said, "The Hou family is from Shangjun County?"

Ge Honglin nodded, "Yes."

"Was it Shangjun County that invited them first?"

"Yes. But how can Shangjun County’s investment environment be as good as our Jiangcheng’s? If we let them mess around in Shangjun County, the Hou family might be disappointed and end up investing in Jingcheng or Shanghai, which would be unfavorable for Hudong Province. So, we are also thinking for the sake of the whole province."

Zhang Shiguang laughed, "Honglin, don't say that in front of me. If the matter goes to the provincial level, go tell that to Governor Tian."

Seeing Zhang Shiguang laugh, Ge Honglin embarrassedly scratched his head. Yes, there was no need to say that to Zhang Shiguang; he was also a leader in Jiangcheng.

Zhang Shiguang said, "Honglin, was that Su Xinghui really so rude to you?"

Ge Honglin said, "Secretary Shiguang, you can ask Cheng Han. That kid surnamed Su is simply too arrogant!"

Zhang Shiguang looked at Cheng Han, and Cheng Han nodded, "Dad, Su Xinghui is indeed very arrogant. I heard from Chenxi that he beat him, Yan Qing, and Ma Bin up in front of Tian Xiaotao. Yesterday, he was also very arrogant in front of Mayor Ge, and when I spoke to him, he snapped at me too."

Ge Honglin said, "He doesn't even take me seriously, so why would he give you a good look? I estimate that even if Secretary Shiguang goes, he won't buy it."

Zhang Shiguang’s expression turned serious, "He even beat Chenxi? Why didn't Chenxi tell me? Whose family does Su Xinghui belong to?"

Cheng Han said, "I only found out today. It seems this Su Xinghui is dating the daughter of the Provincial Committee Secretary-General Lu."

"Provincial Committee Secretary-General Lu?" A shadow crossed Zhang Shiguang’s face. "Even if it is Secretary-General Lu, he shouldn't indulge him like this, right? A mere greenhorn, daring to speak to a deputy mayor like that—too lacking in discipline."

Ge Honglin quickly said, "Exactly. Young people today are too lacking in discipline. He was so presumptuous in front of the French guests. If I hadn't been considering the big picture, I would have taught him a lesson right then."

Zhang Shiguang thought to himself, *You are just too incompetent, unable to suppress even a young person. Now that you’ve messed things up, you come looking for me.*

However, Zhang Shiguang couldn't ignore Ge Honglin. Ge Honglin was his old subordinate, and Zhang Shiguang was currently facing a critical moment. At the beginning of next year, the main leadership team of Jiangcheng might undergo significant changes, especially the top positions in the Municipal Committee and the Municipal Government. Zhang Shiguang had thoughts of moving up himself.

Jiangcheng’s economic development in recent years had been unsatisfactory. Jiangcheng had always been a major economic hub in the country, ranking in the top ten for many years, sometimes as high as sixth or seventh. However, in recent years, the situation had changed significantly.

Jiangcheng’s GDP growth in recent years had been small, even stagnant, while some emerging coastal cities were developing at an extraordinary pace. This caused Jiangcheng’s ranking to drop repeatedly, falling to fifteenth last year. This year’s situation hadn't improved, and it might even drop another one or two spots.

This situation made the provincial and even central authorities very dissatisfied with Jiangcheng’s leadership team, and they wanted to make a major adjustment.

The transfer of the Jiangcheng Municipal Committee Secretary and the Mayor was a foregone conclusion. For other team members, this was both a crisis and an opportunity. As long as they operated well and showed impressive economic performance during this period, Zhang Shiguang might be able to take a step forward and ascend to the mayor’s throne.

Zhang Shiguang was currently the Deputy Secretary of Jiangcheng, at the department level. If he could become mayor, he would be at the deputy ministerial level, which would open a new door for his career. Naturally, he craved this opportunity.

If, under his leadership, he could keep the Hou family, a major investor, in Jiangcheng, this would naturally count as an impressive economic achievement, which would be very beneficial for his advancement.

Thinking of this, Zhang Shiguang said to Ge Honglin, "All right, I will go find Governor Tian tonight. I think Governor Tian will definitely support us. Jiangcheng is the city with the best investment environment in the province, after all. If we want to keep the Hou family in Hudong Province, we have to rely on our Jiangcheng."

Ge Honglin was overjoyed, "That would be great!"