Yang Songping only had a small meal for dinner before heading to the study, encountering a turn of events he hadn’t expected.
Today’s unexpected appointment saw Luo Zhenggang promoted to Secretary, and Song Fangzheng acting as the Deputy Mayor. Wasn’t this just a clear sign that he himself was merely a figurehead Mayor?
As his annoyance grew, his phone rang. Feng Yuning’s deep voice came from the other end, "Songping, come over to my side, let’s discuss how to proceed."
"Let me be alone for a while," Yang Songping said and hung up the phone abruptly. He knew exactly what she wanted to discuss. He and Feng Yu, Feng Yuning’s brother, were childhood friends, and she always liked to follow them around, eventually becoming even clingier to him.
She had even confessed her liking for him, proposing marriage; he was ten years older and brushed off her words as childish whims.
When he was about to marry Wang Liqing, she tearfully begged Old Sir Yang for a chance. Out of helplessness, Old Sir Yang had discussed it with Old Sir Feng, who agreed but with the condition that there be no engagement; if Feng Yuning still liked Yang Songping at 22, they could marry.
At that time, Feng Yuning was 15 – an apparent polite refusal. The Wang Family was thriving at the time, and Old Sir Yang did not want to ruin things, so the wedding proceeded as planned for Yang Songping.
After the wedding, Feng Yuning, who resented him, had almost ceased contact with him until she herself got married. But within five years, she was widowed and never remarried. In fact, from the second year of her widowhood, she was back with him.
Back then, he was serving as Deputy County Magistrate in a remote county, without his family by his side, so when Feng Yuning came looking, he quickly gave in.
Initially, she was content to be the woman behind the scenes, but over the years, she grew increasingly concerned about the title of Mrs. Yang, exchanging it for helping him through his current crisis.
She certainly had the capacity—a fact that both Mr. Yu and Old Sir Feng, who felt sorry for her struggles over the years, especially Old Sir Feng, regretting the past obstruction, naturally gave their full support.
The so-called help didn’t mean seizing the position of Island City Secretary; a 3 billion investment only recognized Luo Zhenggang as the Secretary. Who else would dare push this investment away? Moreover, Luo Group had also declared support only for Luo Zhenggang, making Island City Secretary undeniably Luo Zhenggang’s position.
Thus, the most beneficial course for him would be a speedy transfer to another province or city as the top official, a move unlikely without the backing of several significant families.
The case involving Liu Zhengxing implicated many officials—it was said to be still under investigation. The City Government was in disarray these days; not everyone was worried, but many connected to Liu Zhengxing were extremely anxious.
Those uninvolved were overjoyed, especially the non-Liu faction attendees at the Song Family wedding; their fear turned to fortune, now walking with more swagger.
He believed, for stability’s sake, some officials with minor issues would temporarily be left in place under such circumstances, imagining the resistance for his intended move.
To stabilize the situation, the province quickly settled on a Secretary candidate, a timing crucially influenced by Ye JiaPing, or rather, he had timed it to benefit the Luo Family.
He even felt that Luo Zhenggang and Song Fangzheng knew in advance about Liu Zhengxing’s downfall; otherwise, Song Meng’s wedding banquet would not have been so conspicuously utilized to assert their authority.
Had he foreseen the situation in Island City, he would not have come here, now finding himself stuck in a difficult position.
Divorcing his wife willingly to marry Feng Yuning, he had thought of it; however, Feng Yuning’s temperament differed from Wang Liqing’s, and it would be difficult for his son to get along with her.
At his age, he couldn’t just abandon his wife and child, especially after so many years with Feng Yuning who wouldn’t let him go. Just thinking about living under Feng Yuning’s scrutiny, he felt a chilling shudder.
The urgent matter of deciding the next head of the Yang Family, and yet he was caught in such a mess. Mulling over it, he frustratedly swept a teacup off the table.
The shattering of the cup sounded like it struck directly at Wang Liqing’s heart. At this moment, her telling her husband about her fortune-enhancing influence was clearly absurd. Thinking it over, she nudged Yang Xing, who was pondering deeply: "Go console your father."