Chapter Eleven Negotiation

  Liu Siyuan returned from Zhang Jinsong's place, feeling a chill run down his spine. This officialdom is indeed full of hidden dangers everywhere. If he hadn't kept a low profile and obtained crucial hints from Zhang Jinsong, this mine would have been triggered. Having offended the city party secretary's son, the consequences are imaginable.

  At night, still at the old place Chunfeng Pavilion, facing Fang Xinyu and Ding Hui, he was still feeling lingering fear, feeling lucky for himself. He told the two women about the Beihong District's affairs from start to finish as if reporting work, Fang Xinyu listened carefully and furrowed her brow in thought.

  It's said that Fang Xingyu always dresses like a pure and innocent student, but her every move reveals the elegance of a young lady from a noble family. On the other hand, Ding Hui's dressing style has become increasingly mature, and today she even got a perm, although there is still some hint of a student's air around her eyebrows. It's true that one's temperament can't be concealed by clothes.

  "I think that's what happened, Zhang Zhengguo must have known the background of this matter, but it doesn't mean he wanted you to step on a landmine. After all, he couldn't have predicted that you would specifically mention Tianyu Company. To be precise, this is a test for you from him. You can deal with it simply by fining them some money, as your deputy director said, but if you do so, your position in Secretary Zhang's heart may drop a bit. If you want to prove your ability, you'll definitely need a better result."

  Liu Siyuan was also shocked, not expecting that there was a test of Chapter Secretary's own hidden behind this matter! Another wave of cold sweat soaked through his back shirt, and after a while, he heard Fang Xinyi say: "Zhang Jinsong obviously saw it, so he deliberately didn't remind you of Tianyu's background, letting you play by yourself. If you stepped on thunder, it was your own fault. Later, you really did step on it, but since your attitude is good and you went to ask for advice, he couldn't bear to hide it from you anymore. However, at the same time, he took advantage of the opportunity to guide you to handle it in his simple way. Although this would allow you to pass, in Chapter Secretary's eyes, you would inevitably be evaluated as 'not worthy of great use'."

  Liu Siyuan was stunned for a while, then let out a sigh and said: "Zhang Ge, why are you trying to harm me?"

  Fang Xinyu shrugged casually and said, "It's not that he's harming you, it's just that he doesn't have the obligation to make you stand out in front of Secretary Zhang. On the contrary, the more mediocre you are, the more it will highlight his abilities, letting Secretary Zhang know how important Director Zhang is in the Supervision Room. It's all part of the layout for the director position. That's just how things work in official circles - there are no eternal friends, only eternal interests."

  "Alright, Xin Yi, just tell me what to do." Liu Siyuan was like a defeated rooster, and it wasn't until now that he deeply understood his own shallowness. In the previous Hanjiang University incident, he had simply relied on that notebook to make the correct choice, and his ability and judgment were still far from sufficient.

  "With so much idle land, you should at least start working on one or two plots to show off your skills, Liu Siyuan. If Tianyu can start work too, that would be even better, but I think it's quite difficult for them to actually start." Fang Xinyi said thoughtfully.

  "Doesn't that mean there's no way out?" Liu Siyuan said helplessly.

  "It's not that there's absolutely no way, persuading the municipal party secretary's son to start work is impossible, but persuading him to transfer it to another developer might be worth a try." Fang Xinyi said slowly after taking a sip of her drink. "Invite him out and reason with him."

  "I'm dizzy, what reason do I have to know." Liu Siyuan said gloomily.

  "This is also something I love but can't help with, however, I've heard that the country is currently strictly investigating land idleness, it's possible that a working group will be sent down to secretly investigate soon. If Hu Gongzi is unfortunately caught as an example, it would have a significant impact on his father's position as municipal party secretary." Fang Xinyi said with a smile. "I'm just giving an example, there might be other methods, you should think for yourself."

  Liu Siyuan now only felt that he had two big heads, and he was not familiar with land management. A layman outside the door still wanted to persuade an opponent with a deep background, which was simply as difficult as ascending to heaven.

  At this time, Ding Hui, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the two, spoke up: "Alas, officialdom is too scary, I'm a bit afraid, Xinyi, do you think I should still take the civil service exam?"

  "Xiaohui, don't be too afraid. Officialdom has two sides. If you and your Liu Ge are determined to climb up, it's naturally a road full of thorns. But if you don't have that ambition, being a civil servant is still not a bad job, it's the most comfortable and stable work."

  "This, I'm comfortable with it, I didn't say I was going to climb up with all my heart." Liu Siyuan couldn't help but protest.

  "Hehe, you have such good conditions, with the backing of the Minister of Organization Department, and also got the appreciation of the Secretary-General and even the Mayor. If you don't work hard, it's a pity." Fang Xinyi said immediately.

  Liu Siyuan thought about it and felt that even if he failed, he wouldn't lose anything, so he downed the beer in front of him and said: "Alright, I'll make an appointment with Hu Dage tomorrow. I don't believe it, is he going to grow three heads and six arms? Otherwise, the son of the provincial party secretary would be a thousand-handed Guanyin?"

  "You're Guanyin with a thousand hands." Fang Xinyi said with a smile of reproach.

  "It's also, Brother Liu will be promoted to a high position in the future, don't forget to pull me up too." Ding Hui said with a smile. "Mmm, it would be best if I could become a deputy department-level cadre too, hehe."

  "It's okay to eat, but you can't get fat from just one bite. Xiaohui should study hard and strive to become a civil servant, that's the most important thing right now." Liu Siyuan also joked.

  "Yeah, it's just that sometimes I couldn't focus at school because there was too much going on around me." Ding Hui sighed.

  "Then come to my place for a review." Liu Siyuan said casually, because the housing price had already exceeded his affordability, so he rented a room near the municipal government by himself. It's not far from Hanjiang University either.

  "Oh? Is it really possible?" Ting Hui seemed quite excited.

  "Xiao Hui, be careful or Liu Ge will eat you up." Fang Xin Yi suddenly said in a lukewarm tone.

  "Liu Ge wouldn't do that, would he?" Ding Hui ignored her and instead asked Liu Siyuan.

  "Of course, of course, Xin Yi might have thought too much." Liu Siyuan hastily explained. Fang Xinyi glared at him impatiently and didn't bother to argue with him anymore.

  "That's right, tomorrow is the weekend, or I'll go to Liu Ge's house for review tomorrow?" Ding Hui asked with a expectant face, Liu Siyuan didn't think she was still serious, and thinking about it, Saturday just happened to have no plans, so he nodded in agreement.

  As they chatted, Liu Siyuan really got a bit drunk in the end. As a result, two girls sent him back, and when he woke up the next day, he only felt dizzy and confused, and got out of bed in a daze. When he opened his phone, there were several missed calls, most of which were from Ding Hui. Although Liu Siyuan was still not fully awake, he insisted on returning a call, and the latter said over the phone: "Brother Liu is finally awake, is it convenient for me to come over now?"

  Liu Siyuan didn't want to say no, so he agreed. Hankang University was close to his rental house, and about twenty minutes later, Ding Hui arrived, carrying a backpack and holding some breakfast, smiling: "Brother Liu must have just gotten up and hasn't eaten yet, I brought you something on the way."

  Liu Siyuan hastily said: "This is too embarrassing, and thank you again for last night."

  Ding Hui pouted and said: "To say that you are really heavy, Heart Elegance and I couldn't lift you together."

  Liu Siyuan felt even more embarrassed, thinking that he had lost face. He quickly said that he wanted to treat her to a meal as an apology. Ding Hui smiled and said it wasn't necessary, borrowing the place to review was enough.

  Liu Siyuan also felt a bit dizzy, so he said you study well, I'll sleep for a while first. Ding Hui said okay, don't worry about me. The rented house is a relatively small one-and-a-half-room type, the layout is basically a straight path to the end. From the entrance, it's the kitchen first, the bathroom is on the right side, then there's a small room of about 7 or 8 square meters, and further inside is the 13-square-meter master bedroom, with a small balcony at the farthest end of the master bedroom.

  Liu Siyuan then went to sleep in the master bedroom, while Ding Hui opened her school bag and began studying in the small room outside.

  When he opened his eyes again, it was already after noon. Suddenly, he smelled a fragrance and got dressed in a daze to go to the outer room, only to find that it was Ding Hui stir-frying dishes.

  The little girl looked quite skilled, saw him coming out and smiled: "Liu Ge woke up, I'm hungry, saw you bought vegetables, just cook something yourself, don't mind, right?"

  "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Liu Siyuan hastily said.

  Ding Hui's craftsmanship was even better than imagined, and simple ingredients were processed into a different flavor. She supported her head with one hand and smiled at Liu Siyuan's wolf-like devouring appearance, making the latter feel a bit embarrassed.

  After dinner, Ding Hui continued to study, while Liu Siyuan was a bit bored. Suddenly, he remembered what Fang Xinyin said last night and made up his mind to call Yin Mo.

  "Director Yin, this is Little Liu from the City Hall Inspection Office. Sorry to disturb you on a weekend."

  "Liu Ke, no need to be polite, it's all for work, what are your instructions?" Yin Mo said politely over the phone.

  "Director Yin is too polite, what instructions? I'm here to ask for help. It's like this, I've thought about it and still want to have a separate talk with all the developers who have idle land, especially Tianyu, that plot of land by the river is key."

  "This...” Yoon's voice was extremely hesitant on the phone.

  "Director Yin, don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you, just take care of the appointment," Liu Siyuan encouraged.

  "Alright, but Liu Ke, I have to say a few more words, these developers all have some background..."

  "I understand, I have a sense of propriety. The municipal party secretary is also human, right? I'm just advising him with reason, I won't be reckless, don't worry." Liu Siyuan said straightforwardly.

  "Haha, so Liu Ke has done his homework too. Alright, I'll try to make some appointments, but no guarantee that all the developers will be available."

  "Do your best, then trouble Director Yin. By the way, if possible, can we schedule the meeting with Hu Gongzi first?" This was also Fang Xinyi's idea. If they could get the hardest part out of the way first, it would be a big help for the rest of the work.

  "It's good to be young." Yin Mo sighed and hung up the phone.

  Things went more smoothly than expected, and soon I received a call from Yin Mo, saying that Hu Dage would be waiting for me at the Golden Swan Nightclub's VIP room at 8 o'clock tonight. However, Hu Gongzi was quite busy and hoped I wouldn't be late, and he could only give me ten minutes at most.

  Liu Siyuan thanked him repeatedly, then dialed Fang Xinyi's phone number and discussed with her on the phone how to handle things that night. Finally, he took out his trusty notebook and wrote: "Methods to persuade Hu Tianfang?"

  Just then, when Liu Sanyuan thought it was showing off again, the notebook displayed a few words: Land Blitz Inspection.

  After reading the information on the notebook, I felt a little more at ease. It seems that Fang Xinyi's guess was not unreasonable. The little girl's political sensitivity is quite high. Hu Tianfang's father is none other than Hu Yinhua, the Standing Committee member of Qianhu Province and Secretary of Hanjiang City. He can be said to be the number one person in Hanjiang City, which is a huge official for someone like Liu Siyuan. Although I still feel a bit apprehensive, there's no turning back now. Anyway, I'll just make things clear with reason, and let Hu Tianfang decide what to do next.

  Relaxed Liu Siyuan, in the afternoon, also went out to run errands with Ding Hui, who was a bit tired from reviewing her lessons. The two of them bought some groceries and returned home, then worked together to cook a pretty sumptuous dinner. For the entire afternoon, the two of them were like a young couple, yet it all seemed very natural.

  Look at the time, Liu Siyuan is ready to go out, while Ding Hui hopes to stay a little longer. He takes out a spare key and hands it over to Ding Hui: "This key is for you, come here anytime to review."

  The latter was surprised and nodded repeatedly, saying that he would definitely help Liu Ge take care of his family.