Inside the private room, moans rose and fell in waves.
Under the table, three women had completely removed Lin Fan’s pants. Xu Jiaojiao took the lead while the other two assisted, each clearly designated in their roles, almost wishing they could take all three of Lin Fan’s "legs" into their mouths.
Above the table, Lin Fan still chatted and laughed with Guo Baoming, whose sincerity, mingled with a chilling undertone, was truly the opposite of Zhu Defu’s.
"Mayor Guo, there are things I shouldn’t ask, yet I can’t help but inquire... If you were me, how would you choose?"
Lin Fan looked directly at Guo Baoming. The meal was becoming increasingly thrilling, and his question made Guo Baoming smile contentedly, "No wonder Chu Shihan is crazy about you. You really have progressed quickly. You’re a natural at this officialdom game. What you really want to ask is, how can you trust what I say?"
Guo Baoming paused before continuing, "I invited you to dine not to try to sway you but to show you, accurately speaking, that you don’t need to change anything right now. After all, Zhu Defu has already disclosed the bidding details to you. If you don’t act, he will definitely not use you again. Once doubt creeps in, your move to Red Flag County would be akin to walking into certain death. At the very least, if he opposes you, your path to promotion becomes incredibly difficult."
"So, this meal is just for show?"
Lin Fan seemed to understand something. Guo Baoming’s invitation was an open secret, but Zhu Defu had never questioned it, which was the most abnormal part.
"You’re really clever, I’ve started to like you."
Guo Baoming nodded, "Exactly, I want him to know that I’m always trying to win you over. The most fun part of this world is competition because once there is competition, something originally costing five yuan might just become worth ten yuan. So, he needs to think twice about using you as a pawn, whether I would help you out. By doing so, you would become my weapon, and when it’s time to stab him, it’s doubly vicious!"
"I must thank Mayor Guo for being involved."
Lin Fan lifted his glass, a hint of a smile crossing his lips. He spoke honestly yet covertly—it was indeed enlightening dealing with such high-ranking figures.
"Don’t mention it, to be precise, I’m not here voluntarily either. We’re just pawns in someone else’s game. If I play this game right, I might no longer need to act as the City Secretary. If it goes poorly, I’ll be stuck as the perpetual number two."
Guo Baoming also smiled as he raised his glass, which might just be one of life’s unavoidable frustrations. Nobody could predict the future. Just like Hou Changyao, he never expected to end up in prison during his rise.
"In the realm of officialdom, one is either a friend or an enemy. At least for this moment, I still don’t want to be your enemy, so when I see something troubling, I have to tell you plainly to avoid issues later with the Commission for Discipline Inspection catching your tail and dragging out unnecessary dirt which would also land me in trouble!"
Lin Fan raised his glass, puzzled by what Guo Baoming said, but was too apprehensive to ask directly, though Guo Baoming could tell. Without further explanation, he guzzled his drink and then watched Lin Fan with a grin.
"He truly is the Golden Spear King. These three are famously talented music graduates, unmatched in their skills. I once resisted for a while, but it seems I’m getting old now. Time ushers in fresh talents, and old ones fade away. This world will eventually be yours."
"This... doesn’t mean much."
Lin Fan hadn’t expected Guo Baoming to hint at such matters, and now his words made Lin Fan lose any mood to enjoy the women’s service. The numbness had long erased any physical sensation, leaving no chance for release.
"What are men’s struggles for in the end if not for the wine in hand, wife in arms, children at knees, and lovers at feet? Without a source of ambition, where’s the will to fight? So, as long as the ’number two’ stands firm, the desire to fight remains."
Guo Baoming chuckled lightly, "This time I’ll just give you a piece of advice. You thrived in Lotus Town, but stepping into Red Flag County is stepping into a life-or-death struggle. Always be cautious. I don’t want to see news one day of some Deputy County Magistrate committing suicide due to severe depression."
"Thank you for the warning, Mayor Guo!"
Lin Fan squinted his eyes, observing the three women still busy below him. Both above and beneath the table were scenes of consumption, but entirely different kinds—it was just like the visible and hidden sides of officialdom.
"Once you’ve had enough fun, you’ll realize women really aren’t that different from each other, just varying in how much and how well they perform. Don’t let these low pursuits distract you from what truly matters. Be careful, these mermaids always come with hooks."
Guo Baoming smiled as he tossed his cigarette butt onto the ground before finally speaking slowly, "Sometimes I really admire Zhu Defu; he even uses his own daughter as bait. This time to reel you in, he’s really spared no expense!"