"Chen Feng, your deduction is spot on. Deputy Mayor Xiao really did something incredibly despicable. It seems this one-point-five-million debt will be very difficult to recover."
Cheng Lu said with a look of dejection.
Previously, her father, Cheng Liren, often said that the political arena was complex and fraught with danger, and she hadn't truly believed it. Today, Deputy Mayor Xiao's ugly facade made her instantly believe him. To contend for power and strike at opponents in the political arena, some individuals without normal values would truly do anything.
"Miss Cheng, the situation has reached this point, but it's not the final outcome. There's no need to worry too much."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
Initially, his thoughts were similar to Cheng Lu's. However, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck his mind, and a new method was conceived.
"Chen Feng, are you saying you have a way to make Fang Feng repay this one-point-five million?"
Cheng Lu asked tentatively.
"Yes! I have a way to make Deputy Mayor Fang willingly repay the money."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"Deputy Mayor Xiao has already transferred the core technology. We no longer have a trump card to restrain Lotus Town. Will Fang Feng honestly repay the money?"
Cheng Lu asked with worry.
"Deputy Mayor Xiao's shameless actions have indeed caused us to lose our trump card to restrain Lotus Town. However, it's alright, we can use the same method against him."
Chen Feng continued to reply calmly.
"Use the same method against him?"
Cheng Lu grew more confused. With even their last trump card gone, was there really a possibility of getting the one-point-five million back?
"Deputy Mayor Xiao deliberately transferred the core technology for his own fame and profit. Similarly, Deputy Mayor Fang will also willingly return the one-point-five million to us for his fame and profit."
Chen Feng said earnestly.
"I still don't quite understand."
Cheng Lu replied, feeling dizzy.
"What I mean is, since normal debt collection methods have been refused by Deputy Mayor Fang, we'll use abnormal debt collection methods. We'll hire a group of old men from a debt collection company to sit in Deputy Mayor Fang's office. If he doesn't pay, they'll just follow Deputy Mayor Fang around. Deputy Mayor Fang, to protect his reputation and profit, will definitely repay the money willingly."
Chen Feng said with confidence.
In a sense, Deputy Mayor Fang was of the same ilk as Deputy Mayor Xiao. Therefore, utilizing their weaknesses would surely lead to success.
"Chen Feng, your method is feasible, and it makes sense. However, what if Deputy Mayor Fang is completely unfazed? Think about it, Deputy Mayor Fang can refuse to pay, so would he be afraid of a few old men sitting in his office?"
Cheng Lu asked with confusion.
"Miss Cheng, if it were last week, this method wouldn't have been able to pressure Deputy Mayor Fang. Just as you said, how could someone who became a deputy mayor not have seen major storms? He truly wouldn't be intimidated by a few old men. However, right now, Deputy Mayor Fang will absolutely be intimidated."
Chen Feng said with full confidence.
"Why is that?"
"Miss Cheng, think carefully, what special period is it these few days?"
Chen Feng prompted.
"Chen Feng, if you hadn't reminded me, I would have really forgotten. This week is the time for performance evaluations in the political arena. Within the performance metrics, there's a 'public satisfaction' scoring item. Are you saying that Deputy Mayor Fang, to avoid affecting his performance evaluation, absolutely won't confront us at this juncture?"
Cheng Lu looked at Chen Feng with admiration. Although Chen Feng was just a minor driver in the town, his mind was sharp, and he could quickly and accurately grasp all sorts of political matters. It was no exaggeration to say that Chen Feng was naturally suited for the political arena.
"That's exactly right."
After speaking, Chen Feng directly stated his intentions to Deputy Mayor Fang.
"Chen Feng, you have some nerve! You, a mere driver, dare to threaten me? Believe it or not, with one phone call, I can have you spending several weeks in the Lotus Town police station."
Fang Feng roared furiously.
"I believe you. However, I must remind you that behind me is Mingshan Town. You can only detain me for a while, not for a lifetime. As soon as I regain my freedom, your performance evaluation won't get a perfect score. Deputy Mayor Fang, think it over. Is it necessary for a deputy mayor like you to clash with a humble driver like me?"
Chen Feng said coldly, word by word.
"Alright, I'm afraid of you. This is the bank card for Lotus Town's public account. It has exactly one-point-five million in it. Take it back and report it."
Fang Feng was very reluctant to back down, but he had no choice but to do so. This period was crucial for performance evaluations, and there could be no mistakes. The one-point-five million belonged to Lotus Town, not to him personally. He had no reason to harm his own interests for the collective money of Lotus Town.
Cheng Lu, standing beside him, watched with immense excitement. A seemingly extremely complex and impossible task was resolved by Chen Feng with a casual remark. From this perspective, Chen Feng didn't seem like a driver, but rather a rising star in the political arena.
After a brief rest, the two immediately returned to Mingshan Town without delay.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."
In Qin Yan's office, Chen Feng said quietly.
"I know what you want to say. My answer is, let it go."
Qin Yan replied calmly.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, do you know that Deputy Mayor Xiao openly transferred the core technology to Lotus Town to deal with us?"
Chen Feng looked at Qin Yan with surprise.
"If I didn't even know this, how could I still maintain my position in Mingshan Town?"
Qin Yan replied calmly.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, Deputy Mayor Xiao, in order to deal with us, openly committed acts that harmed Mingshan Town's collective interests. Why shouldn't we seize this good opportunity to strike back at Deputy Mayor Xiao?"
Chen Feng asked with confusion.
"Chen Feng, you are very smart. You can think of many things and have strategies to deal with them. However, you have a fatal weakness: a lack of experience. Deputy Mayor Xiao is an old fox in the political arena. He handles matters with utmost discretion, and even if we were to accuse Deputy Mayor Xiao, we wouldn't win. And that's not the most important thing. The most important thing is..."
Qin Yan didn't continue. She wanted to see how flexible Chen Feng's mind was and if he could figure out the crux of the matter.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, are you implying that Mayor Wang is also on Deputy Mayor Xiao's side?"
Chen Feng's mind suddenly clicked, and the pieces of the puzzle instantly fell into place. In essence, the mayor was like Emperor Kangxi, Deputy Mayor Xiao was like S
"You've got it! That's exactly the reason! In the political arena, there is no true right or wrong, only different stances and constant struggle. We must remain deeply clear-headed, otherwise, it's easy to die without even knowing how. Alright, pack up. We have a family banquet to attend at Deputy Mayor Xiao's place tonight."
Qin Yan said with a smile.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, Deputy Mayor Xiao has severely tricked us, and we still have to attend his family banquet? Are you sure?"
Chen Feng was baffled, not understanding what scheme Qin Yan was hatching.
"Not only do we have to attend, but we also need to prepare a valuable gift."
Qin Yan continued to say with a calm smile.
"Deputy Mayor Qin, there's no need for that, is there? This time, Deputy Mayor Xiao clearly set us up. With the mayor's backing, we had no choice but to endure and not retaliate. However, at Deputy Mayor Xiao's private family banquet, we have the option not to go."
Chen Feng probed.
"Chen Feng, you are still too inexperienced. To put it plainly, attending Xiao Ming's family banquet is not about flattering Xiao Ming, but because the influential figure from Mingshan Town's Political Affairs Department, Meng Yiming, will also be there..."
Qin Yan said with a deep, knowing smile.