Power and Wealth

In the ward.

After hanging up with Mayor Zhao, Dong Xuebing called Guo Panwei to ask about the details. He immediately got mad after knowing what happened. He had not contacted Park Yongxi, and Jia Yan is a good-for-nothing. This credit is almost given to him and Xiang Daofa for free, and instead of getting it, they even screw it up. Yet they still want him to help them?

Dream on!

They should not have treated me this way in the first place!

You all had kicked me aside to steal my credit, and when you all realized you would had screwed up, and you want me to bear the responsibility? Go to hell!

Although Dong Xuebing knew Park Yongxi's not investing will not benefit him, and he might even be held responsible for it. However, he still wants to boast about it. You, Xiang Daofa, like to find trouble with me? Carry on! Anyway, I am not leading the investment fair, and we can all suffer together. Xie Huilan had opposed to Jia Yan replacing me. If the higher-ups are going to pursue this, we will not be held responsible.

Dong Xuebing is prepared to sit back and watch everything unfolds. He could roughly guess Xie Huilan's plan, and she should have predicted this to happen. But having a lose-lose situation will not benefit either party. She is doing these to let Dong Xuebing regain control over the investment fair. But will Xiang Daofa agree? Impossible!

One hour…

Three hours…

Five hours…

Office hours are over.

Jia Yan, Sun Shuli, Luo Haiting, and the rest of the Agency's Leaders are waiting in Xiang Yi Hotel's lobby. Jia Yan looks terrible after negotiating with Park Yongxi's representative the whole day and not making any progress. Some County Government staff are setting up the venue. At around 6 pm, Deputy Mayor Zhao Xinglong had arrived to welcome the investors.

At around 6.15 pm, Lin Pingping arrived with the first investor. She had driven the investor over.

Jia Yan, and the rest, quickly walk over to welcome him.

After a while, the second investor arrived. He had driven himself, and everyone welcomed him warmly and started to arrange the lodging for him.

But after the second investor arrived, no other investors arrive for the next 30 minutes. A few more investors arrive later, and there are only six investors in total. When Zhao Xinglong looked at Jia Yan and was about to shout at him, Jia Yan's phone rang. He looked at the number and quickly answered. But almost immediately, he falls into a daze.

The person on the other line told Jia Yan that the investment group would not be coming.

Everyone is speechless. Although they know this will happen, no one had expected it to be so bad!

Six people!

There are only 6 participants for this investment fair!

Although there might be investors arriving later, there might also be investors not turning up. Nevertheless, there will not be many people attending tomorrow's opening ceremony!

They can imagine the County Government staff waiting to welcome the investors, reporters, and TV station staff with their cameras at the venue tomorrow. The County's leaders speak on the stage, and there are… only six investors in the huge ballroom! Only six! This is a disgrace!

"Chief Jia!" Zhao Xinglong could not hold back his anger. "Is this how you do your job?!"

Sun Shuli, Luo Haiting, and the rest are also furious. If Jia Yan had taken his words seriously, there might be a few dozen investors. But it's too late to do anything now. The opening ceremony is tomorrow, and there are only six participants! What are they going to do now?

Jia Yan felt wronged. He felt this is not his fault, and it is because Yan Tai County's conditions are too unattractive to the investors.

Ring… ring… ring… Jia Yan's phone rang again.

Jia Yan answered and suddenly looks better. He immediately rushed out of the hotel and got into a taxi.

The rest of the Agency staff were stunned and looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

News of the poor attendance had spread, and Xiang Daofa, Xie Huilan, and Cao Xupeng arrived at the hotel one hour later.

Xiang Daofa arrived at the hotel first and shouted. "Where is Jia Yan?"

Zhao Xinglong replied. "He received a call from an investor and left. We don't know where he has gone.

Xiang Daofa can no longer control his anger. He already knows about the number of participants, and the investment group which Jia Yan promised had not appeared. His secretary just informed him that Park Yongxi is not going to attend this investment fair!

Everything had screwed up!

Xiang Daofa is disgraced by what happened.

"Secretary Xiang!" Cao Xupeng entered with a frustrated look.

After a while, Xie Huilan also arrived, and they immediately have an emergency meeting in the hotel's private room. They need to discuss how they are going to salvage the situation.

In the room.

Xie Huilan immediately flares up after the door is closed. "What is Jia Yan doing? Does he even have any capabilities?! How can he screw up with this investment fair!? I had given him all the support he requested. I had given him sufficient manpower and funds! 5 million RMB! The County Government had to cut expenses to raise 5 million for this investment fair, which is the result?! Only six investors had turn up?! What is this?!" Xie Huilan and the County Government had not said a word after all the issues surfaced two days ago. They are waiting for this moment.

This is scolding Xiang Daofa indirectly.

Xiang Daofa had appointed Jia Yan, and questioning his ability is equivalent to doubting Xiang Daofa's foresight!

Xiang Daofa is looking terrible and kept quiet as Jia Yan had indeed screwed up this investment fair.

The whole County is watching the Investment Promotion Agency. Not one had defied Jia Yan's instructions and had followed his orders. Even the County Government had provided all the support to Jia Yan, and Mayor Xie had given him everything he wanted. But what happened in the end? The investment fair only has a handful of participants, and even the confirmed investment is gone!

Cao Xupeng sighed. Secretary Xiang's reputation is seriously affected this time.

Is Xie Huilan responsible for this? Her responsibility is almost negligible. It was Secretary Xiang who had interfered with the County Government. The Agency had been doing well, but everything went downhill after Xiang Daofa replaces Dong Xuebing despite Xie Huilan's objection. Not only he had not to get the credit for it, he even made a big mess!

Xiang Daofa is now the joke of the County.

Cao Xupeng felt they should get Xiao Dong back to save the situation. At least Yan Tai County will not be so embarrassed.

But Xiang Daofa is not considering the County. He is more concerned for himself. He was the one who wanted to replace Xiao Dong initially, and he will not allow him to come back! He would rather see this investment fair fail than give in to Xie Huilan. He thought for a while and calmed down. "Mayor Xie, don't be anxious. I know Jia Yan well, and he has the capabilities. He had participated in several City investment fairs, and the current situation should be related to our County's economic situation. I don't think anyone can do a better job than Jia Yan."

Xiang Daofa had to speak up for Jia Yan because he had boasted about his capabilities during the Committee Meeting.

Xiang Daofa is implying that he will not let Dong Xuebing come back!

Xie Huilan smiled and asked. "Then how do you think we should settle this?"

"Let tone down the scale." Xiang Daofa replied. "We can turn the investment fair into a project presentation and don't have a grand opening ceremony tomorrow."

Xie Huilan looks at him. "Are we going to change the person in charge?"

Xiang Daofa shook his head. "Chief Jia had worked in the Investment Promotion Agency for five to six years, and I trust his abilities." He had contacted an investor before the investment fair. One of the six investors is his friend, who promised to invest 40 million RMB. Even if Park Yongxi's investment is gone, they will still have something, and they will not look so bad.

Xiang Daofa insisted on his ways and refused to let Xiao Dong come back. This is equivalent to not allowing Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebing to make a comeback. Do you claim Xiao Dong can turn things around? How are you going to substantiate this claim? It's fine if Dong Xuebing failed after coming back. Still, if he manages to save the investment fair, Xiang Daofa will be more embarrassed!

Cao Xupeng frowned and shook his head in his heart. Xiang Daofa's vision is nowhere near Xie Huilan.

But Xie Huilan tried to speak up for Dong Xuebing and stopped after a while. It seems that she had agreed to let Jia Yan continue to head the investment fair.

What is happening? Xiang Daofa suddenly has a bad feeling.

Cao Xupeng also felt something is wrong. Xie Huilan had plotted this for so long, and why did she stop fighting for Dong Xuebing now?

Xiang Daofa frowned and asked for Xie Huilan's opinions.

Xie Huilan smiled. "I have my reservations, but since Secretary Xiang believes in Chief Jia's capabilities, I shall go along with it. Oh, where is Chief Jia? How come I don't see him around?"

"He had gone to meet an investor." Xiang Daofa said, and his phone rang.

Everyone in the room heard it.

"Secretary Xiang, Chief Jia is… hospitalized!"

Xiang Daofa is stunned. "What did you say?"

"Chief Jia had drunk too much and is hospitalized."

Cao Xupeng's face changed. Is he faking sick to avoid being held responsible? How can you pretend to be sick at this time?! This is putting Secretary Xiang in a difficult spot!

Xie Huilan seemed to know this will happen and has been waiting for this call.