Wu Qiangwei sat on the bed with her legs curled up. Her clothes were disheveled, her hair was scattered, and one sleeve had been torn. Her slender arm was covering her chest, with a hint of panic still lingering in her eyes.
When she was serving as Mayor in Wu’an City, she had already dealt with Mr. Xu; their relationship wasn’t particularly good but definitely not unfamiliar.
Moreover, Mr. Xu always conducted himself in an orderly manner.
But tonight, Mr. Xu seemed to have transformed into a different person, suddenly erupting into violence with ill intent.
When he lost his sanity and began to assault, Wu Qiangwei’s heart was filled with despair.
The disparity in strength between men and women was indeed too great; she simply could not resist.
Just as she was sinking into despair, Song Guanchao appeared like a god descending from the heavens.
Watching him drag Mr. Xu away and stomp him like a dead dog, Wu Qiangwei’s inner panic vanished instantly.
"Secretary, are you alright?"
Song Guanchao’s concerned greeting allowed Wu Qiangwei to regain her composure.
She shook her head, got off the bed, grabbed a blazer, put it on, tidied her hair, and quickly restored her calmness.
Song Guanchao kicked the fainted Mr. Xu and asked, "Secretary, should we call the police?"
As long as Wu Qiangwei testified, rape charges would be unavoidable with a maximum sentence easily reaching seven years.
Wu Qiangwei picked up her phone, quickly sent a message, and said, "Someone will handle it; let’s go."
They left the hotel and got into the car.
Song Guanchao asked, "Secretary, are we heading back to Lingjiang?"
She was on this trip to attract investment.
The demolition funds must be settled by the end of the month, and if this money isn’t finalized, she could already imagine the consequences.
Mr. Xu was unreliable, and her only hope now lay in the Wu’an City where she once served.
Song Guanchao understood how much pressure she was facing, but he also realized that going to Wu’an City would be futile.
If investment could truly be secured from that side, she should have gone directly to Wu’an City today, instead of meeting Mr. Xu.
This suggested she knew that the probability of securing investment from Mr. Xu was higher than from Wu’an City.
"Secretary, how many enterprises did you help settle in Wu’an City during your term as Mayor?"
"A little over thirty in total."
"Do you plan to contact these enterprises directly?"
Wu Qiangwei suddenly fell silent.
Normally, if one wants to introduce quality enterprises, they would bypass the local government and make private contacts.
After all, you’re trying to poach enterprises from another city, you can’t possibly contact them openly.
If you openly attempt to lure personnel away, the local leaders might complain to the provincial government, accusing you of undermining local business environment, engaging in vicious competition.
Of course, Wu Qiangwei wasn’t aiming to attract businesses but hoping for investment in the high-speed rail project.
But the principle is the same.
On the surface, you claim it’s an investment in the high-speed rail project, yet what are the true intentions, how could they possibly know?
If local governments discover this matter, it will never succeed.
Not only won’t it succeed, but it might also cause trouble.
"Secretary, how is your relationship with the current Mayor of Wu’an City?"
If the other party was recommended by Wu Qiangwei after she left office, they would owe her a favor, perhaps they might provide some help.
Wu Qiangwei shook her head: "The Mayor was transferred from another place."
Song Guanchao smiled bitterly: "Then it’s better not to go."
Wu Qiangwei’s lips pressed tightly together, her brows furrowed deeply.
"Secretary, leave this matter to me."
Wu Qiangwei looked up, puzzled in her eyes: "You can solve it?"
Song Guanchao’s tone was affirmative.
In fact, he himself wasn’t too sure.
But this confidence must be displayed.
He had already decided, if this alternative doesn’t work, he would use his personal connections and relationships to borrow money.
The demolition funds were directly linked to Wu Qiangwei’s political career; even if it meant using personal ties, it was worth it.
Wu Qiangwei’s eyes flickered; she wanted to ask him how he would solve it.
But when the words reached her lips, she just nodded: "Alright."
She believed in Song Guanchao.
Since he said he could solve it, then he definitely could.
Feeling her trust, Song Guanchao suddenly felt very happy.
She asked nothing. Whatever he said, she simply believed.
No reason, just pure trust.
The trust between husband and wife is just .
"You drank at night, don’t drive. Get a room at the hotel across the street."
Wu Qiangwei got out of the car and walked towards a hotel across the street.
While checking in, Song Guanchao looked at Wu Qiangwei. The latter said, "A room with a king-size bed."
Song Guanchao swallowed, feeling rare tension.
In contrast, Wu Qiangwei appeared calm.
Walking into the room, Song Guanchao said, "Secretary..."
"Go and take a shower."
Half an hour later, the two had showered and were lying on the bed, one on the left and one on the right.
Since neither brought change of clothes, they had washed their underwear and hung them in the restroom while showering.
At this moment, under the sheet were two naked bodies. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕·𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎·𝚗𝚎𝚝
Song Guanchao sought a topic, asking, "Secretary, what does that Mr. Xu do?"
Song Guanchao suddenly understood.
Brokers, known as both political brokers and business brokers.
The former, commonly called connections.
Frequently mentioned "finding someone to establish a connection" refers to these kinds of people.
Establishing connections for schooling, army enlistment, handling various certificates, approvals, and even securing small positions.
Business brokers meanwhile act more like intermediaries, primarily focusing on networking, helping those with money find quality investment projects, and assisting governments in attracting investments.
No wonder Wu Qiangwei approached him directly.
Mr. Xu’s networking resources must be extraordinary.
But unfortunately, the guy’s appetite was too big, considering himself too important, intending to extort by leveraging high-speed rail investments to force Wu Qiangwei to comply.
"How will the subsequent funding be resolved? Have you thought about it?"
"First settle the demolition funds, we’ll worry about the rest later."
Wu Qiangwei was overwhelmed by the demolition funds, temporarily lacking the mind to consider other matters.
Song Guanchao said, "I believe we can raise funds through investments."
Wu Qiangwei chuckled bitterly, "You think Mayor Zheng hasn’t thought of it?"
"Do you know why banks refuse to give loans?"
"Because the fiscal budget allocation for the high-speed rail is too small."
"Without fiscal support, it means if the banks issue loans, this money might go unrecovered for several years."
"Capital is profit-driven, and Mayor Zheng treats the old city renovation as Lingjiang’s upcoming key support project; banks or private capital will think about profiting from the renovation project."
"As for high-speed rail, without strong governmental support, no one dares to join this endeavor."
This statement made Song Guanchao fall into deep thought.
He pressed his fists against his chin, pondering for several seconds, then suddenly asked: "If banks are willing to loan, does the government have to repay?"
"Yes." Wu Qiangwei nodded, then her tone shifted: "However, Mayor Zheng can delay. Delay until he’s transferred out of Lingjiang, taking his achievements along and leaving the debts behind."
Song Guanchao narrowed his eyes, suddenly asked, "What happens if the government borrows and doesn’t repay?"
Wu Qiangwei wasn’t clear why he suddenly asked such a question, but she patiently answered: "If not repaid, the government’s credibility collapses, capital flees Lingjiang, and external enterprises blacklist Lingjiang."
"Without strong subsequent policy stimulation, Lingjiang will become a dead city, even downgraded in administrative status, divided into other cities."
Song Guanchao’s eyes lit up suddenly: "Secretary, let’s attract investment!"