51: Chapter 51 Su Changming's Conditions, Zhu Wenhao's Reminder

Mayor Su Changming heard this direct "instruction" and was surprisingly not angry.

"Wenhao, why so serious?"

Mayor Su Changming picked up the wet towel on the table and wiped his fingers unhurriedly.

"At today's meal, we will only discuss private matters."

"I have heard that the current Deputy Director Liu Qiang of the Development and Reform Commission was once Elder Li's most prized student."

Mayor Su Changming tossed the towel back onto the porcelain plate.

"Back in the Provincial Party Committee Compound, Deputy Director Liu Qiang and Director Qi Shan of the Provincial Public Security Department were like a civil and military duo, and they were Elder Li's most trusted right-hand men."

The main topic had arrived.

"Wenhao, the resolution to expand city investment bonds passed at the Standing Committee meeting two days ago is stuck at the Development and Reform Commission."

"Ask your mother to call Elder Li and smooth things over; this is all for the sake of Linjiang City's urban construction."

Zhu Wenhao frowned slightly. "Mayor, as a junior, how could I possibly make the decision on this matter?"

Mayor Su Changming leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

"Of course you cannot make the decision."

"Go back and tell those who can."

With the conversation reaching this point, it was a naked exchange.

"Of course, in return."

Mayor Su Changming threw out his real trump card for the deal tonight.

"I will personally step in and persuade Division Chief Liu Haiping of the Provincial Government Office to have his daughter, Liu Xiaolei, give up the competition for this special admission spot in the Young Cadre Training Class."

This deal sounded extremely fair.

Trading a Development and Reform Commission approval document for a Young Cadre Training Class spot for a young grassroots cadre.

But Zhu Wenhao knew deep down that for that spot, Division Chief Liu Haiping had even managed to get Secretary Tian Limin to vouch for him.

With such a determined stance, could Mayor Su Changming really persuade him to back down with just a few words?

"Mayor, for you to personally persuade Division Chief Liu, this is no small matter."

Zhu Wenhao met Mayor Su Changming's gaze.

"It's not that I don't believe in your influence. It's just that for such a concession of interests, if you don't have some bargaining chips, I'm afraid Liu Family won't easily let go."

Mayor Su Changming looked at the young man across from him. This kid wouldn't act without seeing the reward; he was ten times harder to deal with than his father.

He did not refute this.

He simply extended his index finger and dipped it lightly into the cold tea in front of him.

Then, he wrote a position on the tabletop.

An extremely prominent position with real power that happened to be facing a personnel change in the near future.

The water stain shimmered on the solid wood tabletop.

Zhu Wenhao only glanced at it once, and he already had a calculation in mind.

Mayor Su Changming took a tissue and casually wiped the words clean, the wood grain returning to its original state, leaving no trace.

"With this bargaining chip, is it enough for Liu Family to step back?"

Zhu Wenhao leaned back.

"I will go back and discuss it with my father."

"Then I will await the good news."

Mayor Su Changming picked up his wine cup.

Zhu Wenhao also picked up his wine glass, deliberately lowering his wrist slightly, and tapped the rim of his glass against the lower side of Mayor Su Changming's cup.

A crisp sound of porcelain colliding echoed in the private room.

This was the first glass of wine the two had shared tonight.

After finishing the wine, Mayor Su Changming put down his cup and added, seemingly nonchalantly.

"Wenhao, the deadline for confirming the final list for the Young Cadre Training Class is at the end of the month."

"There is still half a month left; hurry up and make a decision."

"We had a very pleasant chat tonight."

After saying this, Mayor Su Changming took out his private phone, dialed a number, let it ring twice, and hung up.

Half a minute later, the door to the private room was pushed open.

Chief Secretary Li Changgeng walked in, carrying the chill of the night wind, and stood to the side with his hands hanging down.

"Changgeng, make sure to safely take Zhu Wenhao home."

"Don't worry about me; the driver will take me later. After you take Zhu Wenhao home, go back and rest yourself."

Chief Secretary Li Changgeng nodded repeatedly. "Understood, Mayor!"

Zhu Wenhao stood up to take his leave at the right moment.

"Thank you for your hospitality today, Mayor."

He adjusted the hem of his suit and followed Chief Secretary Li Changgeng out of the private room.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away.

The carved wooden door was knocked on again.

Two long knocks, one short.

The door was pushed open.

A woman in a dark coat walked in. She had an average appearance, the type that would be impossible to find if thrown into a crowd.

But the big bosses in Linjiang who operated in the gray areas had to respectfully call her "Sister Juan" when they saw her.

Her name was Wang Juan.

She was the boss behind a large construction company in Linjiang, nicknamed "Black Widow."

Wang Juan walked to the table, took off her coat, and tossed it onto the back of the chair.

She walked around the round table and sat directly on Mayor Su Changming's lap.

She fed a plump cherry into Mayor Su Changming's mouth.

"Changming, do you really think that highly of this kid?" Wang Juan's voice was slightly hoarse.

Mayor Su Changming swallowed the cherry and licked the juice from the corner of his lips with his tongue.

"What? Do you not think highly of him?"

Wang Juan shook her head.

"I can't see through him."

"It's good that you can't see through him." Mayor Su Changming reached out and put his arm around her waist. "I don't know what kind of luck that soft persimmon Secretary Zhu Tianhe had to produce such a ruthless offspring."

"I just hope he won't become my enemy completely."

"However, if I could take him in as a son-in-law, that would be a win-win deal."

"Of course, the premise is that he must be Xiaoxiao's husband. That girl Qinghan already has a wild heart; she can't be kept."

Wang Juan chuckled and reached out to adjust his collar.

"Mayor, you have a good plan."

The night wind was biting.

Chief Secretary Li Changgeng drove the black Volkswagen and took Zhu Wenhao to the entrance of Villa No. 4 in the Municipal Party Committee Compound.

The car stopped, and Zhu Wenhao pushed the door and got out.

Chief Secretary Li Changgeng followed him out, and only after seeing Zhu Wenhao push open the heavy security door and disappear into the light inside the house did he turn around and take a taxi away.

Inside the villa.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe and Li Juan were not asleep. On the sofa, the TV was on mute, and the kettle on the coffee table was steaming.

Li Juan heard the movement and immediately stood up to greet him.

Zhu Wenhao had just changed his shoes when a faint smell of alcohol drifted over.

"Who did you drink so much with?" Li Juan took his coat. "Go change your clothes; I'll make you some hangover soup."

"With Mayor Su Changming."

Zhu Wenhao loosened the top button of his shirt and walked into the house.

Li Juan's footsteps stopped abruptly.

Even Secretary Zhu Tianhe on the sofa straightened his back.

"Mayor Su Changming?" Li Juan raised her voice. "He's a mayor; why would he invite a probationary section member like you to dinner?"

Zhu Wenhao walked to the stairs without stopping.

"The Municipal Government's approval document for the expansion of city investment bonds is stuck at the Development and Reform Commission."

"He invited me because he wants Liu Family to step in and ask Director Liu to give him the green light."

"The condition is to give me the Young Cadre Training Class spot."

After saying this, Zhu Wenhao went straight upstairs.

The living room on the first floor was dead silent.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe and Li Juan looked at each other.

This temptation was simply too great.

As long as Elder Li said a word to his former student and the approval document was released, Zhu Wenhao could directly catch a ride on the provincial-level selection cadre program.

Li Juan sat back on the sofa, and after a long while, she sighed softly.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe, for Zhu Wenhao's future..."

Li Juan gritted her teeth and made up her mind.

"Tomorrow, I will go back to the provincial capital and visit Elder Li. At worst, I'll sacrifice my dignity."

Just then, steady footsteps came from the second floor.

Zhu Wenhao had changed into dark, loose home clothes and was walking slowly down the stairs.

He stood on the steps, looking down, his voice cold and devoid of any warmth.

"Mother, are you trying to help a tyrant?"

Li Juan was stunned.

Her good intentions were met with such harsh accusations.

"Wenhao, how are you speaking?" Secretary Zhu Tianhe frowned slightly. "Your mother is doing this for you."

"I don't care for a spot obtained by drinking poison to quench thirst."

Zhu Wenhao walked down the stairs and sat in the single sofa.

He looked directly at Secretary Zhu Tianhe.

"Father, you left a written objection at the Standing Committee meeting just so you could escape unscathed when the city investment bond bomb explodes."

"The bad debts of the South City project haven't been cleared up, and the cause of Zheng Jianguo's death is still unresolved."

"Mayor Su Changming is in a hurry to issue new bonds now just to take new money to fill the old holes!"

"If Mother goes to find Deputy Director Liu Qiang tomorrow and releases the approval document, then this city investment bond will have Uncle Liu's mark on it!"

"When the bomb explodes and the Provincial Party Committee investigates, we can escape, but all the dirty water will be splashed on Uncle Liu!"

"For a mere Young Cadre Training Class spot, you are willing to sacrifice Uncle Liu; can't you calculate this account?"

Li Juan grew up in a high-ranking official family and naturally understood the dangers in this.

She was just confused by her concern earlier, but now that Zhu Wenhao had pointed it out, she realized how deep the pit Mayor Su Changming had dug was.

"Then... what about the Young Cadre Training Class spot?" Li Juan asked with lingering fear. "Just give it to Division Chief Liu Haiping's daughter like that?"

Zhu Wenhao picked up the hangover soup that had just been poured, gently blowing away the foam.

"Things haven't reached that point yet."

"Mayor Su Changming thinks he can have it both ways, getting the approval document and selling a favor."

"Then I will make him watch; he won't get the approval document, and Liu Family won't be able to take the spot either."