Wang Ziwei immediately left Director Zhou's office and found Chen Feng, relaying Director Zhou's words to Chen Feng exactly as they were.
Chen Feng was very calm.
Because the moment Wang Ziwei entered Director Zhou's office, she knew this would be the outcome.
The higher-ups would not take the blame for the lower-ups' issues.
The best solution was for the lower levels to sort things out first, and then the higher-ups could grant a favor. It was impossible to expect the higher-ups to get involved in the lower-level turmoil.
"I've already thought of a solution."
Chen Feng smiled faintly.
"What? You've already thought of a solution? That was too fast! I even told Director Zhou to give me a few days, and you've already thought of a solution?"
Wang Ziwei looked at Chen Feng in astonishment.
"Teacher Wang, as I said before, adjusting administrative areas in China has always been very complicated. So, the moment you entered Director Zhou's office, I was already thinking of a way..."
Chen Feng explained.
"What way?"
Wang Ziwei asked excitedly.
"Spend money."
"Spend money?"
"Yes, spend money. I've decided that we'll merge the neighboring county. To ensure Jiangcheng City doesn't object, we'll hand over twice the annual fiscal revenue of the neighboring county."
Chen Feng explained word by word.
"Is that possible?"
Wang Ziwei asked, stunned.
"People die for wealth, birds starve for food. Of course, it's possible. With twice the fiscal revenue, Jiangcheng has no reason to disagree. Furthermore, I'll also explain to Cheng Liren that in just a few years, Jiangcheng will merge with Mingshan City, becoming a greater Jiangcheng. Regardless of immediate benefits or long-term interests, Jiangcheng has no reason to refuse."
Chen Feng explained.
Wang Ziwei was impressed.
Chen Feng's mind was too sharp, applying market economy principles to perfection.
However, a problem arose: was it worth paying twice the fiscal revenue to gain an underdeveloped county?
Chen Feng didn't hesitate and explained his thoughts to Wang Ziwei.
On the surface, exchanging twice the fiscal revenue for an underdeveloped county seemed like a losing deal.
However, in the long run, it was a massive profit.
The reason was simple: through the merger, Mingshan City's area would double.
With sufficient land, the economy would have unlimited development potential.
This was something money couldn't measure.
To give a simple example, why did Wuhan, China, keep merging with surrounding suburbs? It was to expand its territory. With a larger territory, development had infinite possibilities.
Heifei, China's merger with Chaohu followed the same pattern!
"Then do we need to go back to Jiangcheng City?"
Wang Ziwei asked tentatively.
"I'll call Cheng Lu to tell her father, Cheng Liren. The problem isn't that big."
Chen Feng replied unhurriedly.
"Just asking Cheng Lu to tell Cheng Liren, isn't that too casual? We should at least go and speak to Cheng Liren in person."
Wang Ziwei advised Chen Feng.
"Teacher Wang, if it were a different situation, I would definitely go to speak with Cheng Liren personally. However, this time, Mingshan City's administrative area expansion really doesn't require a personal visit. The reason is simple: Cheng Liren can also gain significant benefits from this matter. Think about it, for over a decade, Cheng Liren hasn't been promoted to the provincial capital. Why? It's because he lacks political achievements. If, after a few years, Jiangcheng City and Mingshan City merge into a powerful prefecture-level city, this achievement will definitely allow Cheng Liren to smoothly enter the provincial political arena. Since that's the case, even if I don't go back to the provincial capital to personally tell Cheng Liren about Mingshan City's administrative area expansion, Cheng Liren will very proactively handle this matter."
Chen Feng explained with a serious expression.
Wang Ziwei was instantly impressed.
Chen Feng's perspective was always thorough.
"Chen Feng, since you have a way to prevent Jiangcheng City from causing trouble, is this matter settled then? Director Zhou clearly told me that as long as the local authorities don't cause trouble, he has no problem."
Wang Ziwei asked tentatively.
"Theoretically, yes."
Chen Feng replied cautiously.
"What do you mean, theoretically? Are there any unexpected changes?"
Wang Ziwei asked, confused.
"Yes, there could be unexpected changes. The political arena is like this. Until an official document is issued, there can always be unexpected issues. Just like in China a few years ago, the person who was supposed to be the leader was suddenly replaced by someone else. Therefore, the political arena is the most likely place for unexpected events to occur. We can only take it one step at a time."
Chen Feng said with a serious expression.
Wang Ziwei didn't say anything further, thinking that Chen Feng was being overly cautious.
Director Zhou had already said that as long as the local authorities didn't cause trouble, he had no problem. How could there be unexpected issues?
After resting for a while, Wang Ziwei returned to Director Zhou's office.
"Director Zhou, it's confirmed. Jiangcheng City will not cause trouble. Mingshan City has made a significant concession. They've agreed to the expansion of Mingshan City's administrative area at the cost of twice the fiscal revenue."
Wang Ziwei said excitedly.
Director Zhou's expression was stern.
"Director Zhou, what's wrong? Is there an unexpected issue?"
Wang Ziwei asked, confused.
"Originally, if Jiangcheng City didn't cause trouble, I could have directly issued an official document approving Mingshan City's administrative area expansion. After all, doing things in the political arena involves favors and turning a blind eye when there are no complaints. However, it's just so coincidental and sudden that something has happened to me."
Director Zhou shook his head.
"Something happened to you? That's impossible! Weren't you working in your office just fine?"
Wang Ziwei asked, incredulous.
"Miss Wang, you haven't been in the political arena, so you wouldn't know. I personally haven't had any issues, but my classmate has."
Director Zhou said with concern.
"What? Your classmate had an issue? No, Director Zhou, what does your classmate's issue have to do with you?"
Wang Ziwei was confused.
"Of course, it has something to do with it. In the Chinese political arena, guanxi (connections) are important. We rise and fall together. Although I haven't committed any offense, if my classmate has, it's as if I have."
"Director Zhou, I still don't understand. If your classmate committed an offense, how is that your offense?"
Wang Ziwei asked, bewildered.
"It's like this, Miss Wang. My classmate committed an offense, and the higher-ups will assume that my classmate and I committed the crime together. They'll think I was also involved in corruption. Therefore, sooner or later, the higher-ups will investigate me to see if I've been involved in corruption."
Director Zhou didn't hide anything and spoke frankly.
"Then what should we do?"
Wang Ziwei panicked.
She never expected that Chen Feng's prediction would come true.
The bigger the matter, the more unexpected problems could arise.
"We can only wait."
Director Zhou spread his hands and replied.
"Then how long do we have to wait?"
Wang Ziwei asked tentatively.
"It's hard to say. According to the rules of the political arena, an economic case like this won't be resolved in less than a year."
Director Zhou said with a serious expression.
"A year? Isn't that too long?"
Wang Ziwei said with a worried expression.
"A year is still short! Economic cases are slow. Various parties drag their feet, and sometimes it can take two or three years."
Director Zhou continued with a serious expression.
"Alright then, Director Zhou, I'll go back and try to pull some strings. Perhaps there's a way to prevent you from being implicated by your classmate."
After comforting Director Zhou for a while, Wang Ziwei left Director Zhou's office.
Upon seeing Chen Feng, Wang Ziwei got straight to the point and told Chen Feng about Director Zhou's situation.
"Chen Feng, do you think there's any room for maneuver in Director Zhou's situation?"
Wang Ziwei asked eagerly.
"There is no room for maneuver."
Chen Feng replied directly.
"How could there be no room for maneuver? It's his classmate who committed the offense, not Director Zhou himself."
Wang Ziwei retorted, confused.