Zheng Bihui took a deep breath to suppress the urge to curse and said, "Secretary Song, are you interested in coming to the city government?"

"What do you mean?"

Song Guanchao squinted his eyes, inevitably doubting this guy's true intentions.

Zheng Bihui tried to show a friendly smile: "I need a secretary."

Before Song Guanchao could respond, Zheng Bihui said, "Secretary Song, you've been promoted three levels in a year; this speed is remarkable even on a national scale."

"But going further up is a bit difficult."

"If you are willing to come to the city government, I can assure you that you'll be promoted to a principal level by the end of the year."

"A principal level with real power!"

"You don't have to doubt the authenticity of my words."

"If you come, I can give you a hundred-billion-level project to oversee."

After throwing out this temptation, Zheng Bihui said, "Secretary Song, think about it."

A hundred-billion-level project?

When did Lingjiang have such a big project?

He hadn't heard a whisper about such a large project.

He seemed to have underestimated this old guy.

Song Guanchao didn't refuse but asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll take the project and run?"

Zheng Bihui seriously replied, "If you trust people, you don't doubt them; if you doubt them, don't use them. I trust your character."

Talk is cheap.

But what he said wasn't wrong.

If Song Guanchao really wanted to come to the city government, he surely wouldn't do such a thing.

"If Mayor Zheng needs the City Committee's cooperation in any area, I'll be more than willing to help."

"But Secretary Wu takes good care of me, and I have no intention of jumping ship."

His response didn't surprise Zheng Bihui, but it did bring a sense of regret.

He knew there was a ninety-nine percent chance that Song Guanchao would refuse, but he still held a tiny bit of hope.

After all, the promise he gave to Song Guanchao was the utmost sincerity he could offer.

Moreover, rising from a deputy to a principal level in a year is something few in the entire Lingjiang could guarantee.

Even Jiang Yuan couldn't do it.

Yet, even with such sincerity, Song Guanchao still refused.

Zheng Bihui picked up his teacup and said, "This promise holds indefinitely. If Secretary Song ever wants to come to the city government to develop, you can come to find me at any time."

"Thank you for your regard, Mayor Zheng, but I have no intention of changing allegiances, not now, nor in the future."

He didn't need Zheng Bihui to leave the door open for him.

No matter what temptation or benefits Zheng Bihui offered, he could never be his secretary.

Such matters never even crossed Song Guanchao's mind.

Zheng Bihui nodded and smiled, "Each has their own ambition. If Secretary Song doesn't want to come, I won't force you."

After leaving the restaurant, the two returned to the city government.

Song Guanchao drove back to the City Committee, replaying the scenes from the lunch in his mind.

Was Zheng Bihui genuinely inviting me?

Or did he have some ulterior motives?

It's not surprising he's suspicious; that guy's attitude was too abnormal.

Back at the City Committee, he went straight to the office.

Wu Qiangwei had just eaten and pulled out a recliner, lying down.

"What's up?"

"Cough."

Song Guanchao lightly coughed, unable to take his eyes off her ample thighs wrapped in pants.

The weather was still cold, and her pants were slightly thick, making them even more tight and the curve of her thighs exceptionally attractive.

Wu Qiangwei noticed his gaze shift and pulled a blanket over half of her body.

He walked over, sat down, and said, "Mayor Zheng invited me to lunch..."

After listening, Wu Qiangwei was very surprised.

She wasn't surprised by Zheng Bihui's olive branch but by the "hundred-billion-level project" he mentioned.

As the Deputy Secretary, she was completely unaware of this project.

As for inviting Song Guanchao, she found it quite normal.

Zheng Bihui had no capable people under him.

Secretary Sun was just useless.

It wasn't surprising he had this thought.

"Did he mention what project it was?"

"No."

"Strange."

"I find it strange too," Song Guanchao said. "I suspect he might be making it up, deliberately using a nonexistent project to fool me."

Wu Qiangwei said, "Look into it."

"Okay." Song Guanchao stood up, glanced two more times at her body under the blanket, and then left.

...

In the afternoon, a Hong Kong businessman came out of Lingjiang International Airport.

He took a rather low-key business car to the city and checked into a five-star hotel.

At seven in the evening.

The Hong Kong businessman arrived at the restaurant by car.

The private room door was pushed open, and Zheng Bihui stood up to greet him.

"Mr. Chu."

Zheng Bihui shook hands with this man, about fifty years old, slightly chubby, and exuding a remarkable demeanor.

Mr. Chu only brought a secretary and a personal assistant.

Both were male, tall, in suits and ties, emanating an elite aura.

Just one look, and you could tell they were top graduates from prestigious universities.

Mr. Chu spoke in somewhat halting Hong Kong Mandarin, occasionally mixing in English: "Mayor Zheng, sorry to keep you waiting."

"I just arrived as well, Mr. Chu, please have a seat."

Even when dealing with this wealthy businessman from Hong Kong Island, Zheng Bihui maintained his mayoral demeanor, neither overly subservient nor overly imposing.

He interacted with him with a grounded attitude.

During the past half-year of contact, he developed a fairly clear understanding of this Hong Kong businessman, Mr. Chu.

Mr. Chu's ancestral home was Jiangnan Guangling City, and he was taken to Hong Kong Island by his parents from a young age, where he received elite education. After reaching adulthood, he went to the UK and graduated from Cambridge University.

It's said that Mr. Chu's family owns two manors and a vineyard, as well as a horse farm in the UK.

Additionally, they own more than 700 acres of land in the USA and have investments in various European countries.

Ironically, they don't have much investment in Hong Kong Island.

Regarding this issue, he had subtly asked about it during meals.

Mr. Chu's answer was that Hong Kong Island had lost its status as a global financial center and its investment potential. He and his friends were moving their assets out of Hong Kong Island.

Being able to become a mayor, naturally, he's no fool.

He's observed the changes in Hong Kong Island over the years.

Indeed, as Mr. Chu said, Hong Kong Island is no longer as attractive as before.

Overseas investors are speeding up their departure from this city.

This time, Mr. Chu plans to make some investments in the mainland, mainly in real estate.

Mr. Chu is very optimistic about the mainland's real estate market and tourism industry.

Over the past half-year, he inspected more than a dozen cities, conducting detailed research in each one.

Ultimately, he chose Lingjiang.

He believes Lingjiang's geographic location is excellent and holds great appreciation potential.

Throughout this dinner, Mr. Chu still did not finalize the signing matters.

Though a little anxious internally, Zheng Bihui maintained his patience.

After seeing him off and watching him get into the car, Zheng Bihui stood in the parking lot, smoked two cigarettes, and then left.

The next day, the weekend.

After breakfast, Zheng Bihui suddenly received a call from Mr. Chu's secretary.

"Hello, Secretary Zhang."

"Mr. Chu wants to take a tour around Lingjiang. Does Mayor Zheng have some time?"

Zheng Bihui was delighted.

It seemed Mr. Chu intended to conduct a final inspection.

Perhaps today, the investment contract could be signed!

As soon as Zheng Bihui drove off, in an SUV parked opposite him, Lu Feng started the vehicle and followed.

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