"Dad, did I hear you correctly? The top official in Jiangcheng city is afraid of some rich second-generation heir?"
Cheng Lu was stunned.
"It's not about fear, it's about caution. Young Master Luo's father, Luo Yang, is a star entrepreneur in Jiangcheng. If we antagonize the Luo family too much, it's tantamount to slapping the faces of Jiangcheng's high-ranking officials, understand?"
Cheng Liren explained with a serious expression.
"How does dealing with the Luo family slap the faces of Jiangcheng's high-ranking officials?"
Cheng Lu asked, bewildered.
"The logic is simple: Luo Yang, this star entrepreneur, was selected by Jiangcheng's high-ranking officials. If I go after Luo Yang now, aren't the high-ranking officials negating their own judgment?"
"So, according to you, there's no solution to this?"
Cheng Lu asked with a dejected expression.
"Basically, there's no solution. Xiao Lu, you're involved in the officialdom now, you should know that a play needs to be performed completely. Previously, Jiangcheng's high-ranking officials promoted Luo Yang as a star entrepreneur, and the higher-ups are aware of it. Now, if we say Luo Yang is causing trouble in Jiangcheng, aren't we contradicting ourselves? What will the higher-ups think when they find out?"
Cheng Liren continued to explain.
"Logically, that's how it is. But, does that mean Luo Yang can act with impunity? If that's the case, honestly, you, the top official of Jiangcheng, are truly incompetent."
Cheng Lu replied with a furrowed brow.
"Xiao Lu, you're being too harsh. I admit I haven't lived a life of integrity, nor have I stayed aloof from worldly affairs, but rather gone with the flow. However, I've held onto my bottom line. I haven't harmed the common people. This matter with Luo Yang has nothing to do with the common people; it's just a wealthy individual borrowing money and clashing with a small town over a bank loan. Honestly, the bank, for its own benefit, has the right to decide who to lend money to and who not to."
Cheng Liren explained with a serious expression.
"Dad, I don't care. If you don't help resolve this, you're not a good official for the people! Chen Feng borrowed this interest-free loan not for himself, but for the people of Lianhua Town. You said earlier that you have a bottom line and wouldn't harm the common people."
Cheng Lu deliberately goaded Cheng Liren.
"Alright, I'm afraid of you, okay? You're turning your elbow outwards too obviously."
Cheng Liren said, torn between laughter and tears.
"I'm not turning my elbow outwards; I'm standing on the side of truth."
Cheng Lu said with a happy smile.
"Fine, fine. You and Chen Feng are the guardians of truth, and I'm the bad guy, alright? Go back and tell Chen Feng that the interest-free loan will appear in Lianhua Town's public account on time."
"Dad, you've agreed to deal with Luo Yang?"
Cheng Lu asked tentatively.
"Xiao Lu, didn't I tell you earlier? Luo Yang is a star entrepreneur promoted by Jiangcheng. Unless Luo Yang is clearly acting recklessly, we won't move against him."
"If we don't move against Luo Yang, how will the interest-free loan appear in Lianhua Town's public account on time?"
Cheng Lu asked, confused.
"I'm convinced by you, Xiao Lu. Is there only one agricultural bank in Jiangcheng?"
Upon hearing Cheng Liren's words, Cheng Lu immediately understood.
"Dad, now that you say it, I understand. You are the top official of Jiangcheng, so getting another bank to issue an interest-free loan is not difficult at all. However, how should we handle Young Master Luo's insult to Chen Feng?"
Cheng Lu asked tentatively.
"How else can we handle it? We can only endure. The world of politics is like a martial arts arena; there's no such thing as immediate revenge for grievances. If Chen Feng cannot even tolerate this, I advise you to leave him quickly. He won't achieve anything great."
Cheng Liren said, deliberately goading her.
"Dad, now I understand why you say that."
With that said, Cheng Lu immediately went to the hotel to find Chen Feng.
"Thank you, Miss Cheng. If you hadn't intervened, that interest-free loan would have been lost."
Chen Feng said sincerely.
"We don't need to thank each other given our relationship. Rather, I owe you an apology. The Luo family has strong connections in Jiangcheng, and my connections can't help you teach the arrogant Young Master Luo a lesson."
Cheng Lu replied with a dejected expression.
If Young Master Luo had insulted someone else, she wouldn't have felt anything.
However, when Young Master Luo insulted the man she liked the most, she naturally felt indignant.
"Miss Cheng, please don't think that way. We in the officialdom often face grievances. If we can't even bear such minor grievances, how can we achieve great things? Honestly, it's not suffering the grievance that matters, but whether the task is accomplished after enduring the grievance."
Chen Feng's response resonated deeply with Cheng Lu.
It was exactly the image of an ambitious young man her father had in mind.
"Alright, Chen Feng. Since the interest-free loan has been sorted out, let's not dwell on unpleasant matters and go for a happy meal. Didn't you say that to thank me for using my bank card to help you collect money, you'd treat me to a meal?"
Cheng Lu said with a smile.
"I haven't forgotten! How could I forget such an important matter? Not only did you use your bank card to help me collect money, but you also helped me secure the interest-free loan. I must treat you to a grand meal!"
"A grand meal isn't necessary; a roadside stall would be fine."
Cheng Lu continued with a smile.
"Miss Cheng, please don't spare my money. As you know, I've recently received quite a bit of money from the coastal bosses, so a grand meal is not a problem."
This was Chen Feng's thought process. Currently, there were two people he was willing to spend a lot of money to treat to a grand meal: Qin Yan and Cheng Lu.
These two women were benefactors in his life and were absolutely worthy of a grand meal.
"That's true. After knowing you for so long, you really haven't treated me to a grand meal. Since you've received some money recently, I won't be polite. Let's go to the hotel's Western restaurant for a good meal."
Cheng Lu said happily.
A man willing to spend money on a woman, while not necessarily indicating that the man likes the woman, certainly implies that the man does not dislike her.
After tidying up slightly, Chen Feng took Cheng Lu to a five-star hotel restaurant in Jiangcheng.
If it were in the past, Chen Feng would have been uncomfortable, being a country boy after all.
However, after spending some time in the officialdom with Qin Yan, Chen Feng had completely let go.
To succeed in officialdom, one must be magnanimous, not petty.
Only with magnanimity can one achieve great things.
Petty and stingy people can only remain at the bottom, doing small tasks forever.
Sometimes, things happen so coincidentally. As Chen Feng and Cheng Lu sat down, they noticed that at the next table sat Young Master Luo and the bank manager.
It was clear that Young Master Luo had invited the manager specifically to thank him for the interest-free loan.
"Chen Feng, shall we perhaps change to another hotel restaurant?"
Cheng Lu whispered.
"No need to change. I'm not that petty or unable to let things go. He's just a profit-seeking bank manager. Once the matter is over, he's just a passerby."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"Chen Feng, I truly underestimated you. Your current breadth of mind and vision are truly extraordinary."
Cheng Lu looked at Chen Feng with excited admiration.
Just as Chen Feng and Cheng Lu were about to enjoy their grand meal, the bank manager inexplicably walked over to their table, sneered at Chen Feng, and said:
"Chen Feng, what's your intention, boy? Still lingering in Jiangcheng without going back, are you trying to get revenge on me? Humph, don't forget your status. A mere deputy town mayor, trying to get revenge on me? Overestimating yourself!"