Power and Wealth

3 pm.

Xie Huilan, Zhao Xinglong, and other leaders are still making their rounds in the Investment Promotion Agency offices. Until now, other than the Agency's leaders, most people don't know the contract signing had been canceled. A Deputy Director from the County Government is still ordering the TV station's staff to film the ceremony.

"Secretary Hu, please help us to buy some time."

"It's already 3 pm. I can't buy any more time."

"I will think of a solution and will let you all handle the situation here."

Dong Xuebing ran upstairs after speaking to Hu Silian and Luo Haiting. He avoided the County Leaders and returned to his office to make phone calls. His solution is simple. He must settle this problem first. Since the Chicken Manure Processing plant is canceled, then he will switch to other projects. He must let the County Leaders host the contract signing no matter what.

One call…

Two calls…

Three calls…

But how can the contract signing be arranged so last-minute?

Most of the time, the agency might not have any contract signing within a month. No investors will sign the contract within this short span. They must consider and plan their budget before they sign the contract. After a few calls, Dong Xuebing could not get anyone to sign the contract today and slammed the phone in anger. "Damn!"

Ring… ring… ring… Dong Xuebing's phone rang.

Zhao Xinglong asked angrily when Dong Xuebing answered. "Where are you? Is the contract signing ceremony canceled? Xiao Dong… What the hell are you all doing?! You all are embarrassing Mayor Xie!" The inspection ended, and the Leaders found out what happened.

Dong Xuebing could not refute. "Sorry, we had failed in our duties."

"You all had failed us! You… I really don't know what to say about this!"

"Mayor Zhao, someone had set us up. This morning, Peng Kenong was still…"

"Don't give me excuses! Come over and explain to Mayor Xie now! You… you should know how much Mayor Xie trust you and had come to help you by hosting the contract signing ceremony! But you…"

Dong Xuebing really felt he had failed Sister Xie and Mayor Zhao. Damn! Don't let me find out who is behind this! This is too much! Dong Xuebing composed himself and rushed downstairs. He needs to explain to the County Leaders and takes responsibility for this screwup.

Fourth floor…

Third floor…

When Dong Xuebing reached the second floor, his phone rang again.

Luo Haiting shouted angrily. "Chief Dong, come to our main entrance now!"

Dong Xuebing is puzzled, but he did not ask any questions and quicken his pace. When he reached the main lobby, there are no one around. Xie Huilan, other County Leaders, and the Agency's Leaders are standing at the main entrance. He can hear some arguments, and something must have happened. Dong Xuebing quickly ran over and saw Sun Shuli's Buick blocking a Mercedes. He recognized it was Peng Kenong's car!

Sun Shuli is furious and started arguing with Peng Kenong.

"Mr. Peng, didn't you say you are busy at work? Why are you at the restaurant?"

"I had finished my work and drove past here. No matter how busy we are, we must not skip our meals."

"All the County Leaders and our agency have been waiting for you, and you are just having lunch nearby?! You are so near, and you refused to turn up? What's the meaning of this?!"

Dong Xuebing immediately realized what had happened. Peng Kenong had been dining in a restaurant near the Agency, and Sun Shuli saw his car turning out from the restaurant's carpark and blocked him. Xie Huilan and Zhao Xinglong had walked to the main entrance because they heard the commotion.

Dong Xuebing is furious. Peng Kenong is just eating at the restaurant next to the Agency, and he purposely did not answer his calls. He even claims he is busy in his company!

Peng Kenong!

This is too much!

But before Dong Xuebing could flare up, he is shocked by what happened next!

The Mercedes doors opened, and Da Feng County's Investment Promotion Agency's Chief, Pang Zhou, and Mayor Li Feng stepped out with a frown!

Da Feng County's Leaders?!

Sun Shuli's face changed. "Mayor Li? Pang Zhou?!"

Everyone understood what happened when they saw Li Feng and Pang Zhou!

Why did Peng Kenong change his mind suddenly! It's Da Feng County who is behind this! Peng Kenong should be having lunch here when Li Feng and Pang Zhou found him and entice him with better benefits! As a businessman, he will invest in the County with the best benefits!

F**k!

This is stealing!

Pang Zhou pretended not to see the others and stared at Sun Shuli. "Aren't you Chief Sun? Why are you using your car to block the road? Don't you know about traffic regulations?" He had met Sun Shuli in the past, and they have a bad relationship. Sun Shuli is only a Deputy Chief and Pang Zhou, did you speak nicely to him. "Move your car away! Who do you think you are to block Mayor Li's car?! What are you trying to do?!" Pang Zhou has a habit of hiding behind others and purposely bring up Li Feng's name.

Peng Kenong did not say anything after Pang Zhou and Li Feng stepped out of the vehicle. After all, he does not want to fall out with Yan Tai County as he is living here.

Li Feng is a County Mayor, and no one dares to say anything after he appeared.

At this time, a woman stepped forward. It's Xie Huilan, and her eyes are narrowed into a slit. People who know her well will know she is very angry now. "Mayor Li, did you all snatch away Mr. Peng's investment?"

Li Feng calmly replied. "We are still negotiating."

Xie Huilan smiled. "Haha… don't you think Da Feng County had crossed the line? Our Investment Promotion Agency had signed the Letter of Investment Intent with Mr. Peng from what I know. It had confirmed the contract signing ceremony this afternoon. Don't you think interfering at the last minute is too much? I have always encouraged healthy competition and let the investors pick. But now, we had confirmed the terms of the contract and are about to sign it, and you all traveled all the way here to create trouble?! Is this how you treat a fellow County? Shouldn't you give us an explanation?"

Da Feng County and Yan Tai County's Investment Promotion Agencies had been competing. The higher-ups are also at loggerheads. Li Feng had not thought of clashing with Yan Tai County's Leaders this time, as he had crossed the line. But at this point, he cannot step back. He smiled. "What you said is incorrect. It is up to the investors to decide where to invest. We have only extended our sincerity, and it was Mr. Peng who decided it!" He did not bring up about Yan Tai County snatching away the Pork Processing Plant from Da Feng County previously.

Almost all neighboring counties will fight for investors. It's hard to determine who is right as everyone is trying to get the investment for their County.

Sun Shuli shouted. "You all are purposely creating trouble!"

Li Feng gave him a cold stare.

Pang Zhou sarcastically replied. "Chief Sun, how can you say that? Mr. Peng has the right to change his mind before he signs the contract. Who says he must sign the contract with you all?"

Zhao Xinglong's face changed. "Your action is considered ruinous competition! When Peng Kenong was negotiating about his investment with you all in the past, why didn't you all sign the contract?! Why must you all wait until we are about to sign the contract and appear in our County to stop it? Chief Pang! No one does things like this! You all are coming over to our County to get investors?! When did Yan Tai County change its name?!"

Da Feng County's actions had infuriated everyone!

Yan Tai County had snatched a major project from Da Feng County, but before the investor signed the Letter of investment intent. At that time, Mr. Liang had not promised to invest in Da Feng County and is still checking Yan Tai County's investment site. That is normal competition. But what Li Feng and Pang Zhou did is too much. They are about to sign the contract, and they secretly come to Yan Tai County to stop it! This action had crossed the line!

This is too arrogant!

Both parties felt they are not wrong, and the situation got tense!

Sun Shuli knew it must be Pang Zhou behind all these, as he knew his character well. Li Feng is the Mayor, and he can't ignore his status to come to Yan Tai County to snatch this investment. It must be Pang Zhou who had said something to Li Feng and gave Li Feng the impression Yan Tai County was at fault first!

Li Feng and Zhao Xinglong have started arguing by the road!

Pang Zhou sneered as he looks at them arguing and did not join in.

Sun Shuli doesn't have a good temper, and when he saw Pang Zhou's expression, he exploded. He rushed forward and looks like he is about to hit him.

Luo Haiting panicked and quickly pull him back. Jiang Hailiang also grabbed Sun Shuli's arm to stop him.

Pang Zhou looked at him and laughed in his heart. He knows no one will dare to start a fight, and who is Sun Shuli trying to scare?!

Fighting is taboo in the government service. It's fine if a government official beats up a criminal. Still, hitting a fellow civil servant, the person who started the fight will have to face severe consequences. Anyone who has some political wisdom will never do that.

"Chief Sun!"

"Calm down!"

Everyone pulled Sun Shuli back and tried to stop him.

Dong Xuebing stepped forward and shouted. "Old Sun! Come back!"

Zhao Xinglong and the rest were glad that Dong Xuebing did not lose his temper and still stopped Sun Shuli. They can be angry but cannot raise their fist. Seems like Chief Xiao Dong had become more mature.

But the next moment, everyone's jaw dropped!

Dong Xuebing walks up to Pang Zhou…

"Arrgh!" Pang Zhou shouted in pain and flew backward while covering his face!

Bam! Pang Zhou's body knocked into Li Feng, who was arguing with Xie Huilan! Li Feng was knocked onto the group, and both Pang Zhou and Li Feng's heads knocked onto the Mercedes' door!

Dong! Dong!

Everyone was stunned by the sounds of their head knocking against the car's door!

The ones who felt Dong Xuebing had become matured earlier almost cursed out loud! Damn! You had called Sun Shuli back because you want to hit Pang Zhou yourself?!