"Miss Cheng, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lied to you."
Chen Feng quickly apologized.
Although he felt there was no need to apologize to Cheng Lu, he still did.
Women, after all, could be appeased.
To be honest, Cheng Lu was usually quite good to him and had connections in Jiangcheng. Appeasing her was not being a sycophant for no reason.
"Tell me, why did you lie to me? Don't tell me you like Deputy Propaganda Minister Qin?"
Cheng Lu looked at Chen Feng with a pained expression.
"Miss Cheng, please don't misunderstand. Deputy Propaganda Minister Qin is about to return to Mingshan Town as the town mayor. Her future is limitless. As a village head, what qualifications do I have to like a female leader?"
Chen Feng quickly explained.
"What? Deputy Propaganda Minister Qin is returning to Mingshan Town as the town mayor? How is that possible? Wasn't Wang Defu always targeting her?"
Cheng Lu asked with surprise.
Qin Yan returning to Mingshan Town as the town mayor was akin to an official from the Education Bureau becoming a principal at a lower-level school. On the surface, it seemed like a demotion, but in reality, it was a promotion. Being an official without real power in the Education Bureau meant their career prospects in officialdom had reached their limit. However, becoming a principal at a lower-level school, if they could improve the school's enrollment rate, could lead to a steady rise. Several deputy department heads in the provincial capital had started their careers as principals.
"You probably don't know yet. Wang Defu has been transferred with the new town mayor of Mingshan Town to another city to take up honorary positions in the CPPCC."
"How is that possible? Wang Defu and the new town mayor of Mingshan Town were both in top leadership positions with real power. How did they suddenly go to another city to take up honorary positions in the CPPCC? Even if they were demoted, there's no reason to be completely sidelined."
Cheng Lu asked, puzzled.
"Because Wang Defu slept with the wife of the former Deputy Town Mayor Xiao. Deputy Town Mayor Xiao was so angry that he found a way to take photos and sent them to the provincial authorities. As you know, relationships between men and women in officialdom are very sensitive. Once discovered, one's career prospects are completely ruined."
"So that's how it is. By the way, what were you and Town Mayor Qin doing that was so secretive?"
Cheng Lu continued to ask with curiosity.
"Miss Cheng, to be frank, Town Mayor Qin asked me to discuss promoting the Wulin Village crayfish project as a typical case for Yongming County. As you know, I used to drive for Town Mayor Qin, and she has been quite kind to me."
"Promoting the Wulin Village crayfish project is a good thing. Does it need to be done so stealthily?"
Cheng Lu pressed.
"It's because Town Mayor Qin hasn't officially taken office yet. If she had officially taken office, there would be no need to overthink it. However, since she hasn't officially taken office, everything needs to be done cautiously. Once someone tries to exploit it, it can cause a lot of trouble."
Chen Feng said with a serious expression.
"That's true. By the way, after Town Mayor Qin takes office, will you also be transferred to Mingshan Town soon?"
Cheng Lu asked excitedly.
"Not soon."
"Not soon? Doesn't Town Mayor Qin have a good relationship with you? Why wouldn't she transfer you to Mingshan Town quickly after becoming the mayor?"
Cheng Lu asked, confused.
"Miss Cheng, you're misunderstanding. It's not that Town Mayor Qin can't, it's that I don't want to. A university student like me from a rural background doesn't have much of an advantage in officialdom. I have to work hard and achieve something to go far. If I'm transferred up without any achievements, I won't win the support of the public and could easily fall."
Chen Feng's explanation made Cheng Lu understand.
She immediately made a decision. Since Chen Feng was still going to stay in Wulin Village for a while, she would also stay in Wulin Village for a while.
Although the women's work in Wulin Village was tiring and tedious, being able to work in the same office building as Chen Feng every day made her very happy and content.
"By the way, Chen Feng, the crayfish project has been going on for quite some time. Other aspects are making money, but it seems the new asphalt material isn't profitable yet, right?"
Cheng Lu asked casually.
"Yes, that's also something I'm very worried about. No matter how much money the crayfish project makes in other areas, it's similar to other cities' crayfish projects and won't generate much profit."
Chen Feng sighed deeply.
The market promotion of the new asphalt material in the crayfish project once again proved that doing business was difficult.
According to expectations, this new asphalt material made from crayfish shells should have been very popular. However, the results were completely different.
After inquiring with several road construction contractors, they all explicitly stated that they would not switch asphalt materials and would continue to use the old asphalt material.
"Then promote it quickly!"
Cheng Lu said with concern.
"We have already promoted it, but the effect is not very significant."
Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"That's strange. The sales personnel you hired, I've seen them, and they are quite capable. They successfully promoted the crayfish meat, water plants, and insects... How come it's not working for the asphalt material?"
"I didn't quite understand what was going on before. I thought about it again just now and came up with something. The fundamental reason is that the new asphalt material is different from other products. Other products are ordinary market products, while the new asphalt material is not an ordinary product; it belongs to a national special product."
"A national special product?"
Cheng Lu was stunned for a moment.
"Yes, it's a national special product! National special products, like firearms and ammunition, are basically used and purchased by the state. Asphalt material is the same; ordinary companies won't use this kind of thing; it's the national highway administration that uses it. So..."
Chen Feng explained briefly, and Cheng Lu immediately understood.
"No wonder the new asphalt material's sales channels can't be opened. It turns out it's about dealing with the government. To sell products to the government, you can't use market tactics; you have to use connections to sell goods."
The worry in Cheng Lu's heart finally eased.
"Miss Cheng, you understand officialdom very well. Every word you say hits the mark. Therefore, for the promotion of the new asphalt material, I plan to take the lead myself."
Chen Feng said with a smile.
"That's also fine. You have Qin Yan as a strong supporter, so you have some connections, however little."
Cheng Lu initially wanted to handle this matter for Chen Feng but then decided against it.
Her connections were extensive, but if she solved every problem for Chen Feng, how would Chen Feng grow?
Moreover, her father already looked down on Chen Feng. If Chen Feng could only accomplish things with her help, her father would look down on him even more.
"Alright, you should go back to sleep. You've been standing all night."
"I didn't realize it until you reminded me. My legs are sore, and I can't walk, let alone climb stairs. Carry me to my room."
Cheng Lu said.
"Carry you? This is the Wulin Village dormitory building. It wouldn't be good if someone saw us,"
Chen Feng said softly.
"It's past four o'clock now, and no one is around. It's fine."
Cheng Lu didn't care if Chen Feng agreed or not and immediately climbed onto Chen Feng's back. Chen Feng had no choice but to carry Cheng Lu to the second-floor dormitory.
Five minutes later, Chen Feng carried Cheng Lu into her dormitory. As soon as he put her down and prepared to leave, Cheng Lu suddenly screamed: "Mice, mice!"
Before Chen Feng could react, Cheng Lu jumped into his arms, and two soft mounds pressed tightly against Chen Feng's chest...