"Alright, next time then."
Qin Yan could only suppress her displeasure.
Authority trumped everything. Since Wang Delai had made his position clear, and she was his subordinate, she had no choice but to accept.
However, she found it strange that Wang Delai had suddenly changed his mind. Just a few days ago, she had probed him, and he had said that arranging for someone to join the study group wouldn't be a big problem. Why the sudden change?
To figure this out, Qin Yan deliberately sought out the town mayor's secretary.
"Secretary Qin, do you know when the town's study group is starting?" Qin Yan asked, pretending to inquire.
"It starts next week. Deputy Mayor Qin, you should already know about the study group," the secretary replied, looking confused.
"I've been busy with the Kerry Apparel project lately and forgot. That's why I asked. By the way, Secretary Qin, are you on the list for this study group?" Qin Yan continued, deliberately probing.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, I'm just a secretary. How could I be so lucky?" the secretary said with a self-deprecating smile.
"No way? I heard that there's a young person from the town hall in this study group. Isn't it you?" Qin Yan feigned surprise.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, you've got it wrong. It's not me, it's Cheng Lu." The secretary couldn't resist the bait and told the truth.
"Cheng Lu? She's just an intern. How is she qualified for the study group?" Qin Yan continued to press the secretary.
"I don't know the specifics, I just heard. Cheng Lu's background is unusual. The mayor specifically arranged for her to attend the study group to build a good relationship with her." Hearing this, Qin Yan understood everything.
She could only blame Chen Feng's bad luck. With his capabilities, there should have been no problem. But suddenly, a Cheng Lu with an impressive background appeared. In this day and age, no matter how capable one is, it can't compare to a powerful background. Fortunately, Cheng Lu and Chen Feng were not in opposition.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, I have something I want to ask you."
While Qin Yan was lost in thought in her office, Cheng Lu entered.
"You can," Qin Yan replied, quickly adjusting her mindset. Although she valued Chen Feng greatly, she absolutely could not let her preoccupation with him destabilize her. This was a necessary quality for navigating the political arena!
"Didn't you tell me last time that as long as Chen Feng sorted out the Kerry Apparel project, he could join the study group? How come I heard that Chen Feng isn't on the list this time?"
"This matter concerns you." Qin Yan didn't intend to hide it. Mayor Wang Delai had made his decision, and as deputy mayor, she had no right to interject. However, Cheng Lu might be able to help Chen Feng get into the study group.
"Concerns me?" Cheng Lu was taken aback.
"Yes, it concerns you. Honestly, I wouldn't say much, I just follow the arrangements from above. But since you asked, I'll tell you the truth. Initially, there was a plan for Chen Feng to join the study group. Unexpectedly, you took his spot."
"What do you mean? I got into the study group?" Cheng Lu looked bewildered.
"I just got the news from the mayor. You are a participant in this study group. As you know, the number of spots for the study group is fixed. With an extra spot for you, Chen Feng had to be excluded." Qin Yan explained briefly.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, I understand now," Cheng Lu said, and then turned to leave for the mayor's office.
Qin Yan smiled knowingly as she watched Cheng Lu's receding back.
"Xiao Lu, why have you come?" Mayor Wang Delai asked with a fawning smile. Although he didn't know Cheng Lu's exact background, based on the current information, her background was not low. At least, she had connections at the Jiangcheng level. Jiangcheng connections were not to be offended.
"Mayor Wang, I heard that you arranged for me to join the study group?" Cheng Lu asked directly.
"Yes, your work in all aspects has been outstanding. The study group spot is rightfully yours," Mayor Wang Delai continued with a fawning smile.
"Mayor Wang, thank you for valuing me so highly. However, I don't want to join the study group," Cheng Lu said with a frown. Her intention for interning in Mingshan Town was to avoid being deliberately favored because of her background. She wanted to earn respect through her own merits. Little did she know, Wang Delai, slippery as an eel, had sensed it as soon as she arrived in Mingshan Town.
"You don't want to join the study group? Why? The study group is very beneficial for the growth of young people," Mayor Wang Delai said in surprise.
"Mayor Wang, I would have really liked to join the study group. However, I would never do something that prevents others from joining just so I can attend," Cheng Lu said earnestly.
"That's simple, both of you can go together," Mayor Wang Delai, a seasoned politician, immediately understood what Cheng Lu meant with her subtle words. Cheng Lu seemed to have developed a liking for Qin Yan's driver. It was only natural for women to be attracted to handsome men.
"Really?" Cheng Lu exclaimed excitedly.
"Xiao Lu, I am the mayor of this town. How could I make jokes frivolously? To be honest, I also admire Chen Feng. Although he's just a driver, his capabilities are extraordinary, and he's clearly destined for great things. Initially, there was a regulation limiting it to one person, so I couldn't allow both of you to attend. But now, I suddenly remembered that there's a reserved spot that hasn't been used. We can have Chen Feng fill that reserved spot." Mayor Wang Delai said with a sly expression.
"Then thank you, Mayor Wang," Cheng Lu said excitedly.
"It's my duty. You are both outstanding young people, and your advanced studies in the study group will benefit the country," Mayor Wang Delai said subtly. He didn't need to reveal his true intentions for currying favor with Cheng Lu just yet, as he hadn't found a use for her connections.
After thanking him, Cheng Lu didn't linger and went straight to find Chen Feng. She wanted to be the first to share this good news with him. After looking around, she found Chen Feng in a corner of the yard, washing Qin Yan's car.
"Chen Feng, I have some good news for you."
"What good news?" Chen Feng asked, slightly taken aback.
"You can join the study group." Cheng Lu originally wanted to tease Chen Feng a bit, but seeing no joy on his face, she blurted it out directly.
"I can join the study group? Really? Deputy Mayor Qin just told me that I couldn't join this round and would have to wait for the next one." Chen Feng replied, dumbfounded.
"That was the initial situation. I reasoned with the mayor, and he agreed to let both of us join the study group," Cheng Lu said with a smile.
"Miss Cheng, it's rather embarrassing for me to have you go and speak to Mayor Wang on my behalf," Chen Feng said, his face slightly flushed.
"Chen Feng, don't think too much about it. The main reason I went to talk to the mayor about us joining the study group together is that it would be too boring to attend alone," Cheng Lu replied, in a way that revealed more than she intended.
After chatting for a while longer, Chen Feng went to drive. Qin Yan was busy every day and needed the car.
In the mayor's office, Deputy Mayor Xiao was complaining to Mayor Wang Delai with a dejected expression.
"Mayor Wang, I heard that Chen Feng is joining this study group?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Mayor Wang, I shouldn't be commenting on your decisions. But allowing a mere driver to join the study group, and as a substitute at that, isn't that a bit... too much? How about kicking Chen Feng out of the study group? The vacant substitute spot could easily be sold for over a hundred thousand yuan." Deputy Mayor Xiao deliberately emphasized "over a hundred thousand yuan."
"Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?" Mayor Wang Delai replied coldly, his brow furrowed. He didn't dislike taking a hundred thousand yuan for free, but the problem was that Cheng Lu was the daughter of a powerful figure from Jiangcheng. Offending such a person for a hundred thousand yuan would be a loss-loss situation.