"No," Chen Feng replied with a smile.
"Since you're not afraid of me being drunk by them, why did you accompany me to toast?" Li Hongling asked, a hint of confusion on her face.
"Xiao Ling, think carefully. If I hadn't gone with you to toast, would you have gone alone? Would they have drunk? Secondly, if I hadn't followed and introduced these people to you, would you have known them?"
Chen Feng's explanation made Li Hongling understand instantly.
So, Li Hongling followed Chen Feng from table to table for toasts. The effect was excellent after a round.
"Feng Ge, we've toasted everyone. Are we done?" Li Hongling asked excitedly.
"We still have the private rooms to toast," Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"Private rooms?" Li Hongling was taken aback. She had only thought of the main hall, not realizing there were private rooms too. The problem was, if the tables in the main hall were so expensive, wouldn't the private rooms be even more so?
"Yes, there are influential figures from the provincial level in the private rooms. They are a much higher caliber than the officials in the main hall; they are leaders from the provincial capital," Chen Feng explained patiently.
"Ah? Provincial leaders? Feng Ge, let's forget it. My position as the head of the Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission doesn't require me to connect with the provincial powers-that-be for now. I won't go with you to the private rooms to toast. It wouldn't be good if I said something wrong and offended them," Li Hongling said earnestly.
Chen Feng didn't push it. Li Hongling's current position indeed didn't require her to know the provincial powers-that-be. So, Chen Feng entered the private room alone.
Chen Feng knew all ten or so provincial power players in the hotel's private room. The atmosphere for toasting was quite good. After the toasts, Chen Feng, with a smile, prepared to leave the private room. Unexpectedly, someone called out to him. Chen Feng turned around and saw it was the president of the Provincial Agricultural Bank.
"Director Liao, did you need me for something?" Chen Feng asked respectfully. The Provincial Agricultural Bank was wealthy and powerful. If the Ming City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission needed to borrow a large sum of money in the future, they would definitely have to approach the Provincial Agricultural Bank. Therefore, Director Liao absolutely could not be treated carelessly.
"Chen Feng, do you know the female leader of the Ming City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission?" Director Liao asked with a somewhat lewd expression.
"The head of the Ming City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission is Li Hongling. She's my god-sister," Chen Feng said, deliberately emphasizing the words "god-sister."
"What? Your god-sister? That's great. Wait until you go out and tell your god-sister that after the banquet today, I want to invite her for another drink," Director Liao said with a sly, lewd smile.
"Understood, Director Liao. I'll make the arrangements," Chen Feng replied perfunctorily, suppressing his anger. There were many other influential figures from the provincial capital in the private room, and showing anger in front of them would be disrespectful. He decided to endure and go along for now.
"Chen Feng, don't worry. As long as your sister is happy drinking with me, you and your sister can get loans anytime you want, it's just a matter of a word," Director Liao said, deliberately emphasizing the word "loans."
"Then I thank you in advance, Director Liao." After a perfunctory reply, Chen Feng forced a smile and left the private room.
Upon leaving the private room, Chen Feng immediately went to find Qin Yan. It was the Mid-Autumn Festival tea party for the Ming City power system, so Qin Yan would definitely be there.
"Mayor Qin, please take Li Hongling and leave here immediately," Chen Feng said straightforwardly.
"What? Leave here now? What's going on?" Qin Yan was taken aback.
"Director Liao from the Provincial Agricultural Bank harbors ill intentions towards Li Hongling. Li Hongling must leave quickly," Chen Feng said without concealment, stating things as they were.
"Chen Feng, don't be rash," Qin Yan said earnestly.
"Don't be rash? Mayor Qin, what do you mean?" Chen Feng asked, bewildered.
"Chen Feng, you're an experienced veteran in the power circles. You should know what Director Liao of the Provincial Agricultural Bank means to us. If you make Li Hongling leave, he will definitely get angry, and the consequences will be unthinkable..." Qin Yan continued to explain earnestly.
"Mayor Qin, honestly, I know the consequences of Li Hongling leaving now. However, I must do this. Li Hongling is my god-sister, my woman, and a capable subordinate under me. Regardless of which aspect you look at it from, I cannot throw Li Hongling into a fire pit," Chen Feng said sternly.
"Chen Feng, your chivalrous nature is indeed commendable. However, have you considered if this is worth it?" Qin Yan continued to persuade Chen Feng.
"It's absolutely worth it!" Chen Feng replied without hesitation.
Qin Yan stopped trying to persuade him. Having been with Chen Feng for so many years, she understood his personality well. Chen Feng could do things he disliked to thrive in the power circles, but he had his bottom lines. Chen Feng's bottom lines were women, brothers, and the common people. As long as these were not involved, Chen Feng could do anything.
"Chen Feng, since you've decided, I won't persuade you any further. I believe you have the ability to handle this," Qin Yan said, after giving a few instructions, she left the hotel hall with Li Hongling.
Li Hongling was not foolish and naturally understood everything Chen Feng had done.
"Mayor Qin, perhaps I should go back. If I leave, it will be difficult for Chen Feng to explain to Director Liao," Li Hongling said softly.
"Xiao Ling, do you know what it means if you go back now?" Qin Yan asked Li Hongling intentionally.
"I know. Director Liao will definitely sleep with me," Li Hongling replied earnestly.
"Director Liao is a perverted old man. Aren't you afraid?" Qin Yan continued to ask Li Hongling intentionally.
"I am afraid. But no matter how scared I am, I have to go back. Feng Ge has been so good to me, he's given me life twice. I must repay Feng Ge well," Li Hongling said with determination.
"Honestly, I'm truly happy for Chen Feng to have a woman who would risk everything for him. However, you still don't need to go back," Qin Yan said word by word.
"Why?" Li Hongling asked, confused.
"Chen Feng will not let you go back. You've been with Chen Feng for quite some time; you should know Chen Feng's personality. He's the kind of man who would rather die himself than let his woman suffer even the slightest grievance," Qin Yan explained.
"But if I don't go back, Director Liao of the Provincial Agricultural Bank will retaliate against Feng Ge," Li Hongling asked worriedly.
"Given Director Liao's character, he will do that. However, don't worry, Chen Feng can handle Director Liao," Qin Yan reassured Li Hongling.
"Mayor Qin, Chen Feng is just a vice-mayor of Ming City. How can he contend with the powerful figures from the provincial capital?" Li Hongling asked tentatively.
"We need to believe in Chen Feng's ability to handle matters. If Chen Feng didn't have some skills, could he have gone from a small driver to the position of vice-mayor of Ming City now?" Qin Yan continued to comfort Li Hongling.
"That's true." The stone in Li Hongling's heart finally landed.
"Chen Feng, where is your god-sister?" Three hours later, as the banquet ended and most people had left, Director Liao actively found Chen Feng and asked excitedly.
"Director Liao, I'm very sorry. I had originally planned for my god-sister to have a few more drinks with you. However, my god-sister suddenly felt unwell and left early," Chen Feng replied, feigning composure.
"What? Your god-sister left early? Chen Feng, what do you mean?" Director Liao's face instantly turned cold as he questioned Chen Feng.