Zhang Hengyang said, "Congratulations to President He then."

He Xingjian replied, "Originally, our company’s development plans were well justified, but some people just have to make trouble."

Zhang Hengyang secretly laughed to himself, He Xingjian is in trouble. Xu Chunliang is not easy to deal with. He took a puff of smoke and said, "Are you referring to the Hu Shan Town side?"

He Xingjian asked, "Who exactly is this Xu Chunliang?"

Zhang Hengyang said, "He used to be the director of the Weishan Island Branch of Changxing Hospital. He was recently seconded to Hu Shan Town as deputy town mayor. I heard he’s in charge of investment promotion, as well as culture, education, and health."

He Xingjian exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, "He can do his job, and I’ll make my money. It’s better for us not to interfere with each other. Some people just have to cross the line. Do they really think I’m easy to bully?"

Zhang Hengyang was eager for them to get into a conflict, at least it would serve to divert focus. On the surface, he feigned a conciliatory stance, "President He, harmony brings wealth, there’s no need to get upset with him. I know a bit about Xu Chunliang, he’s young and arrogant, relying on some background to look down on everyone. Give a bit, maintain peace; step back, and you gain a broader view. If all else fails, maybe you could concede a little."

He Xingjian chuckled, "What is he, anyway? You expect me to give in to him? His girlfriend has a deputy division level position and he acts so arrogantly? Whether he’ll succeed in the future is not even certain yet. In all of Dongzhou, only our group has an exclusive license to develop the hot springs. This was decided after much evaluation and is a decision from above. And a small deputy town mayor has the nerve to challenge the city?"

Zhang Hengyang sighed, "A fury for a beautiful woman!"

He Xingjian was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Hengyang said, "There’s a reason he’s working so hard. The person contracting the winery is Mo Han, and she’s very beautiful."

He Xingjian asked, "Are you saying Xu is involved with her?"

Zhang Hengyang smirked mischievously, suggesting what couldn’t be said aloud, allowing He Xingjian to ponder it himself.

He Xingjian said, "I thought there must be something going on here. How bold, abandoning principles for a woman."

Zhang Hengyang took a puff of his cigarette, "Although Mo Han is young, she’s the assistant to Luan Yuchuan, the CEO of Equatorial Capital, wielding significant power in the company. However, the investment in the hot spring winery is her personal endeavor, unrelated to Equatorial Capital. I’ve heard some news." He deliberately paused there.

He Xingjian sat down beside him, prompting Zhang Hengyang to continue leisurely, "It’s said that Qianfan Group was initially interested in the Weishan Island Winery, but somehow Mo Han snatched it midway, and then the hot springs were discovered."

He Xingjian said, "They likely discovered the hot springs long ago. Xu Chunliang had inside information, but couldn’t act directly, so he let his lover come in to contract the winery. How bold of him, a small deputy town mayor engaging in such corruption."

Zhang Hengyang said with deeper meaning, "There’s not just corruption here, but possibly a trade of power for sex."

He Xingjian sneered, "I’m curious to see who will protect him this time!"

Ding Si handed the collected materials to Xu Chunliang. Xu Chunliang flipped through them quickly, "Is this all?"

Ding Si said with a bitter face, "Everyone knows He Xingjian relies on his father-in-law to bully others, but his documents and qualifications are all in order. It’s not easy to find evidence against him."

Xu Chunliang said, "It doesn’t have to be evidence of a crime, other aspects will do. For instance, does he have women outside, any illegitimate children, dine and dash, use the restroom without bringing toilet paper... any unscrupulous acts he’s committed, gather them all, the more the better."

Ding Si laughed, "Got it, I’ll keep mobilizing people to investigate. Town Mayor Xu, hasn’t the Ecological Environmental Investment Group left already?"

Xu Chunliang said, "My family’s traditional Chinese medicine is adept at inspection by observing, listening, asking, and feeling the pulse. I can tell He Xingjian is narrow-minded. This kind of person won’t give up easily. Just wait and see; it won’t be long before he comes back."

Ding Si said, "What’s so special about that guy? He’s just cozying up to Chen Yiru, some so-called boss, just a pretty face living off a woman."

Xu Chunliang said, "Don’t insult pretty boys." He couldn’t help but think that living off a woman is an art in itself, not everyone can easily make a living that way.

Ding Si nodded. At that moment, Li Guangtian, the deputy town mayor in charge of resources, came to find Xu Chunliang, and Ding Si took his leave.

Li Guangtian was there to inform Xu Chunliang that the city had dispatched a hot springs exploration team. This team had been authorized by the city planning administrative department, filed registration with the minerals resources exploration management agency, and obtained an exploration permit before coming.

Li Guangtian originally went to ask Qin Zhengyang’s opinion, but Qin Zhengyang said the hot spring matter didn’t need his input, everything was left to Xu Chunliang.

Xu Chunliang said, "You didn’t have to come in person, a phone call would have sufficed."

Li Guangtian replied, "My office is just next door; it’s more convenient to walk over."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "No, next time I should come to your office."

Li Guangtian was taken aback, then realized what he meant, and they both laughed, easing the atmosphere considerably.

"There are several official seals on this, all the procedures are complete, and there’s not a single department we can afford to offend," Li Guangtian spoke the truth; Hu Shan Town is just a small unit, if not for hitching a ride on the national-level resort wave, those high-ranking departments wouldn’t even look at them, much less could they afford to offend them.

Xu Chunliang said, "The cultural relics bureau’s seal is still missing. The Weishan Island Winery is now a national key cultural relic protection unit, and the hot spring is just within the designated protection range. Continued exploration requires approval from the cultural relics bureau."

Li Guangtian wondered when the winery became a national key cultural relic protection unit? Wasn’t it just a few days ago that they posted the Hu Shan Town key cultural relics protection unit plaque? The upgrade was too fast. Was he confused?

Li Guangtian kindly corrected him, "It’s the Hu Shan Town key cultural relic protection unit."

Xu Chunliang said, "Isn’t Hu Shan Town part of the country?"

Li Guangtian then realized their logic was different. Previously, he only knew people could build connections, but now he knew that cultural relics could too. According to Xu Chunliang’s logic, calling the winery a national key cultural relic protection unit wasn’t wrong.

Xu Chunliang told Li Guangtian not to worry about this matter. If the exploration team dares to start without permission from the cultural relics bureau, the Comprehensive Law Enforcement Office would confiscate their equipment and tools, and any illegal activities would be immediately handed over to the public security department.

Li Guangtian had to admire his toughness, but openly confronting higher-level departments wasn’t good. Anyway, he had already reported the situation to the secretary, and Xu Chunliang had been warned, fulfilling his duty. If it weren’t for overseeing natural resources, he wouldn’t have wanted to intervene.

Qin Zhengyang is the leader, Xu Chunliang has connections, he has nothing. The struggles and conflicts within the system are common, and Li Guangtian had often engaged in scheming, but he had one principle: never to challenge higher-ups. If you want to last in the system, this is a basic rule. He couldn’t understand Xu Chunliang’s approach—was it the naïveté of a newborn calf unafraid of tigers or fearlessness from ignorance?

Just as Li Guangtian left, Qiu Guixian, in charge of discipline, came looking for Xu Chunliang.

Xu Chunliang knew that whenever he came looking, it was never good news. As expected, Qiu Guixian was here under the guise of gathering information but was essentially here to accuse.

"Xiaoxu, what’s your relationship with the businessman contracting the winery, Mo Han?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Friends."

"Plain friends or boyfriend and girlfriend?"

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Secretary Qiu, what do you mean by that? Can’t boyfriends and girlfriends be plain friends?"

Qiu Guixian said, "Well, some have reported to the higher-ups that there’s a power-for-sex transaction between you and Mo Han, and the higher-ups asked me to look into it." Grassroots discipline inspection work is just straightforward like that.

Xu Chunliang said, "Power-for-sex transaction? Do I even qualify?"

Qiu Guixian paused, "But you’re the deputy town mayor at Hu Shan Town now?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Secretary Qiu, have you studied logic?"

Qiu Guixian’s face sank, truly thinking he couldn’t detect the mockery?

Xu Chunliang said, "I can say without exaggeration, this Miss Mo has assets in the billions. You can inquire about the scale of projects Equatorial Capital invests in domestically. I’m a deputy town mayor on secondment. What kind of benefits could I offer her, making her willing to risk it all to bribe me for a power-for-sex deal?"

"Uh..."

Xu Chunliang said, "Moreover, when she contracted the winery, I hadn’t even started working in Hu Shan Town. Everyone knows this. Tell me, what else could she want?"

Qiu Guixian said, "You’re quite handsome."

Xu Chunliang was amused, "So you’re saying she’s after my looks? Then that’s not a power-for-sex transaction, just a money-for-sex deal at most."

Qiu Guixian said, "A money-for-sex deal is also wrong."

Xu Chunliang said, "Isn’t money-for-sex beyond your jurisdiction?"

Qiu Guixian felt a bit puzzled, how did he end up diverted by him?

It’s the last day of the month. If you have monthly votes, please cast them for me, thank you!