Chapter 162: Too Nervous

ance was still quite comparable to Su Can's in terms of overall ranking. The frequency at which he invited his parents to school showed a trend surpassing even that of Su Can’s past performances. Afte...Chapter 162: Too Nervous

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The mayor's meeting would be held in the new week.

This month, a lot of things had happened in Huancheng City. However, Su Licheng, who came from the provincial capital and became vice-mayor, was one of the focuses in the municipal government compound. Last week, the harmless son of Vice-Mayor Su Licheng started to enter people's sight as well. There were some murmurs within the city government about him, and many families were discussing his background and origin behind closed doors.

The new mayor’s meeting was triggered by the abnormal proposal made by Su Licheng regarding the construction plan for the eastern lakeshore of the dam lake. This led to a dispute between Xu Changcheng and Huang Yu. As part of Xu Changcheng's portfolio as vice-mayor, he managed the development project of the dam lake area, intending to turn it into an operational holiday villa area. Vice-Mayor Huang Yu, on the other hand, focused on agriculture and water affairs, believing that the lakeshore aquaculture project had been discussed for a long time and should develop silver carp specialty resource bases.

The direct conflict at the mayor's meeting had already spread out. It was said that the executive vice-mayor sided with Xu Changcheng in the middle of it. However, Huang Yu had been managing agriculture for a long time and saw an opportunity to make a breakthrough, thus refused to compromise. The argument became intense. Ultimately, because both vice-mayors insisted on their own views, Mayor Yang Wanli understood the principle of mediation and balance, so he overturned the two phases of construction plans for the eastern lakeshore of the dam lake, re-planned and researched them, waiting until there was a conclusion to publicly tender them again. This could be seen as making a decision.

Back in his office, Xu Changcheng drank a mouthful of tea, then heavily threw down the teacup on the ground, even startling his secretary who quickly cleaned up. Soon after, he received a phone call from Executive Vice-Mayor Zhou Zhaofeng's secretary, inviting him for a small drink at Huancheng’s high-end restaurant "Funan Family."

In a private room of the restaurant, Xu Changcheng greeted Zhou Zhaofeng with a cold voice as soon as he saw him, saying, "Does she really think she is so great Where can't silver carp base be built Everyone in Huancheng knows that the quality of silver carp upstream from the dam lake is the best. She stretches her hand into my lakeshore development area just to compete with me for resources. Even after you spoke up, she still firmly did it. Isn't this clearly ignoring your existence When we presented the planning bureau's research report, she gave us a report from the agricultural bureau to Mayor Yang Wanli, intentionally opposing us! I've said before, Huang Yu always thinks she comes from a military big courtyard in the province and doesn’t take us seriously..."

Zhou Zhaofeng listened calmly as Xu Changcheng finished speaking. His face was still gloomy; even the hotel PR manager accompanying them knew this was a sign of Zhou's rising anger, silently pouring him a glass of wine without saying anything. Finally, Zhou Zhaofeng shook his head and said with clear eyes, "Huang Yu is indeed a thorn in our side, but this time, the one driving that thorn into us isn't Huang Yu..."

Xu Changcheng was initially overwhelmed by anger from today's mayor's meeting. The fierce argument during the meeting would be incomprehensible to those who were not present; if it spread out, it would be seen as a farce.

Now hearing Zhou Zhaofeng’s timely cooling words, he himself was an experienced veteran in political struggles and had already sensed something earlier. "What you mean is that Su Licheng deliberately proposed this plan at the city committee meeting to provoke our conflict To cause us to split so that he doesn't have to show a united front"

Then Xu Changcheng waved his hand, saying, "This is impossible. Su Licheng just arrived and probably hasn’t even familiarized himself with the place yet; he's still like a headless fly in Huancheng. There’s no foundation for him to establish as vice-mayor here. How can you say that he knows about my conflict with Huang Yu’s plan Even more so, how could he set up this trap for us"

Zhou Zhaofeng narrowed his eyes and said, "It's hard to say... His son doesn't seem as simple as he appears. He says he is still a college student but has a complicated background. Do you know what happened between him and Xu Dong at the lakeside hotel"

Xu Changcheng snorted and said, "Do we really need to save face for Su Licheng" He was notorious for being overly protective of his own kind, which also indirectly contributed to Xu Dong's fame in Phoenix City.

At this moment, Xu Changcheng’s secretary came into the room and told them, “Director Zhang, Director Wang and others are at Mansion South Family today. They seem to know that Zhou Shi and Xu Shi are here as well and have come to pay a visit.”

Suddenly, Xu Changcheng got agitated and said, "Why should I see anyone Isn’t Wang Wena supposed to be going down to the county soon for an inspection tour So many funds were approved for him. What does he want from me Slowpoke! No meeting!"

With one sentence of venting his anger, he turned away a group of bureau chiefs who had come to show off their achievements to their peers outside the door. After hearing this news, those bureau chiefs left the city that night and headed for the county in a despondent state.

Flicking his sleeve to dismiss the people outside, Xu Changcheng coldly smiled as if he had some inkling of something, "What does Su Licheng mean by all this What is he trying to do To me, it’s like looking at the palm of one’s hand. He was just appointed and has high expectations from the province, so his first task should not be anything but finding his footing in Phoenix City and establishing his position here. I think his eagerness to establish himself already can’t wait.

Haha, as a newly appointed vice mayor, he must definitely notify all parties of how he plans to present himself to the public eye and what image he wants to project. This is probably the first step in his recent thoughts."

Pausing for a moment, Xu Changcheng said with malice, "If he tries to pull some stunts or set traps at the mayor’s meeting, I think it would be necessary to remind him how newcomers should behave according to規矩 (rules).

Zeng Ke invited Cheng Ruiyuan, who had just returned from seeing Su Licheng off, into the room. Since all vice mayors in the city government already have fixed secretaries and it wasn’t appropriate to assign one specifically for Su Licheng at this moment, several idle secretaries were temporarily placed under his command until a permanent secretary could be determined.

Cheng Ruiyuan had been temporarily assigned to serve under Su Licheng. Sitting inside the room, he looked around nervously. He knew that the city government’s Secretariat was controlled by Guo Huai, and they held him in low regard. Of the three secretaries currently allocated to Su Licheng, two were new members with little experience; Cheng Ruiyuan himself was the only senior member not assigned anywhere. It felt rather coldhearted.

"Little Cheng, thank you for bringing Old Su back. You’ve been accompanying him lately and must be very tired. Here’s some fruit, take an apple and I’ll peel it for you." Watching Zeng Ke peel an apple for him, Cheng Ruiyuan felt both surprised and honored. He had served several vice mayors before and always felt like a servant when visiting their homes—nothing more than reporting work progress or receiving assignments, followed by arduous tasks. On one occasion, he even ended up exhausted from moving flower pots for the director’s wife all day without getting a sip of water.

Seeing other secretaries interact amicably with leaders, Cheng Ruiyuan felt that an old sage's evaluation years ago had come true. He was described as having a broad face and being honest but unambitious—unsuitable for the Secretariat, which seemed like a quagmire rather than a place for dragons to rise.

Now holding the apple given by Zeng Ke with both hands and taking a small bite, he sat on the leather sofa straight-backed. Holding onto the apple without daring to take a bite, it felt as though he was grasping something secure and solid.

Everyone knew that Su Licheng used to be the general manager of a large construction company in Rongcheng City and could be considered a technical official. The difference between him and others doing similar work was obvious. This made Cheng Ruiyuan feel踏實 (at ease) about staying by Su Licheng’s side, even if it meant not getting promoted.

As a secretary, it wasn’t something everyone could master overnight; most people had to endure daily administrative tasks and drowning in paperwork and meetings.

Su Cun sat down in front of Cheng Ruiyan, biting into a washed but unpeeled apple. As he asked questions, he listened to Cheng Ruiyan talk about some internal matters within the government office, such as recent meetings with the mayor and Su Licheng's activities at the city hall. There were certain things even Su Licheng couldn't provide detailed information on, whereas Cheng Ruiyan was different. Having mingled in official circles for many years, he had a good grasp of the situation inside them and his own channels.

However, whether or not he would be aligned with his superiors' thoughts remained uncertain. Often, some secretaries were very well-informed, knowing everything through their sharp senses, but they usually acted ignorant to avoid leaving an unfavorable impression on their superiors; no one wanted the boss to think that they were too smart.

But from listening to Su Cun's questions and conversations, Cheng Ruiyan could tell that he was trying to gather information about various factions within the city government and their movements. In recent days, Cheng had heard that this young vice-mayor, Su Licheng’s son, had publicly criticized Mayor Xu's heir. Initially, he thought another arrogant child of a high-ranking official had arrived in Huancheng.

But now, facing Su Cun, Cheng realized things were far from what he imagined. Su Cun's perceptiveness and his measured speech made him nervous; beads of sweat formed on his back as he sat with the mayor’s family for the first time.

"Hmm, the city government usually makes decisions through three meetings: the Mayor’s roundtable meeting, the Mayor’s working conference, and the Standing Committee Meeting. Today's Mayor's roundtable is a regular one where work reports are given and tasks arranged. Each vice-mayor tries to secure some benefits for their departments... Today's debate was about developing the eastern shore of the landslide dam lake; everyone has different opinions... It's tough for Mayor Su to push forward his agenda..." Cheng said, though worry still flashed in his eyes.

Su Cun noticed this flicker and thought for a moment before saying, "When my dad was appointed as vice-mayor here, I wasn’t very supportive. He came alone without knowing much about the situation; it’s hard to open up新局麵. We’re all outsiders, so I told him that if things didn't go well here, we could always return to Chengdu where our family has a foundation. One shouldn't be too stubborn."

Cheng Ruiyan had served as a secretary for many years under various leaders and their relatives; none of them lacked ambition or desire for power. Controlling vast resources in the city, they all treated their families like a clan. However, entering Su Licheng’s home, everything was different from what he expected. Perhaps because of Cao Huan's apple or Su Cun’s words, Cheng felt that he could no longer live an oblivious life as before.

With determination in his eyes, he said, "Today’s roundtable discussion has touched on Mayor Xu’s interests. Despite being here for a long time, I know he appears fiery but is quite meticulous... This might cause significant friction with Mayor Su." The Xu Changcheng group had suffered a setback this time, but they wouldn’t tolerate it indefinitely; their influence network in Huancheng was extensive and powerful, making them quick to retaliate. Since Su Licheng just arrived, there wasn't much leverage for them to grab onto yet, but causing obstacles for him was within their capability.

"Developing the eastern shore will cost millions of yuan; if this project stalls due to reconsideration and tendering delays, it means lost opportunities and profits. It’s understandable that no one would remain calm... Should I expect Xu Changcheng to be pleased with open democratic decision-making"

Cheng Ruiyan was surprised by Su Cun's direct criticism of the Xu family, but this also indicated that he considered Cheng a confidant.

Feeling both grateful and excited, Cheng left the residential compound. Su Cun personally saw him off at the door. Though he didn’t expect Cheng Ruiyan to suddenly disclose everything about official matters, today’s conversation clearly showed that Cheng was gradually opening up to them. For Su Licheng to establish a foothold in the city government and cultivate his own loyalists, this was already a promising start.

The residential compound's garden was unique, featuring artificial mountains, water pools, and wooden bridges. The air carried a faintly refreshing scent as Su Cun and Li Pengyu ran several laps around it every morning when they woke up, letting the first rays of sunlight touch them while breathing in the fresh air.

Each time they passed near Secretary Tian's small building along their running route, they couldn't help but see that quiet yet intense woman named Tian Tian. During regular times, she could be seen eating breakfast on her second-floor balcony or driving out in her Beetle car.

Tan Tian was seen running from the opposite direction, wearing sports clothes. His small blue vest and shorts were visible. Huángchéng is located in a subtropical highland monsoon climate zone, unlike the chilly Shanghai where it feels bone-chillingly cold. In winter, Huángchéng enjoys mild weather with little rain, making it very warm. So even on this day, one would not feel cold wearing exercise vests and shorts early in the morning.

Earlier, Su Cen and Li Pengyu had already seen Tan Tian's figure. Now seeing him again made their eyes sparkle anew. Running up to them, Tan Tian raised his head, revealing a handsome jawline. "I see you guys running every day recently, do you pay much attention to your health"

They were acquainted from previous interactions and had been living in the same courtyard compound where both families' small houses could overlook each other through the garden. With such close proximity, it would be odd to act like strangers.

Given their earlier misunderstanding, meeting up was somewhat awkward for everyone involved. Su Cen felt that his relationship with Tan Tian's boyfriend wasn't good either, which added another layer of discomfort. Yet, it seemed that Tan Tian didn't mind this situation at all.

"Mainly because I'm new here and want to get familiar faces around the courtyard," Su Cen said with a smile.

Tan Tian's slightly pursed red lips curved in amusement.

Su Cen and Li Pengyu ran here every morning, but they had never seen Tan Tian having such good spirits as to come downstairs for exercise before. It was hard not to think that she changed clothes with the intention of facing them.

"Don't take Xù Dōng's actions too seriously; he is just like that sometimes and can be short-tempered, but in essence, he isn't a bad person," Tan Tian said while blushing. Clearly, for someone usually proud, saying this was quite difficult.

The next day after Su Cen publicly humiliated Xù Dōng, the latter's internet account could no longer be logged into. This incident led to numerous speculations about this son of Vice Mayor Su, with all kinds of theories circulating. It seemed that Su Cen was not someone to mess with, and everyone worried if it would lead to a bigger conflict between the two families. As Xù Dōng's girlfriend, Tan Tian could not be excluded from these concerns.

Pausing her steps, she also stopped running towards the green belt area and walked towards a rest spot in the garden as if they were having a conversation. Li Pengyu followed behind.

"What does this mean Is Xù Dōng asking you to be an intermediary" Su Cen asked after turning his head.

Tan Tian was taken aback, shaking her head. "No way, he's not like that... He just cares about face and some things are hard for him to say."

No matter the relationship aspect, Tan Tian should be closer to Xù Dōng than Su Cen. There was no reason for her to side with Su Cen either, especially after this incident where Xù Dōng’s account was disabled; it was clear that Su Cen was more formidable than expected and must have a strong backing or influential connections far exceeding their expectations.

Yet such a person acted so relaxed in daily life, which she rarely saw. This made her view him with great appreciation. Today when seeing Su Cen and Li Pengyu running downstairs, there was an inexplicable impulse to change clothes and come out herself. Deliberately coming from the other direction to meet them face-to-face left Tan Tian's heart nearly stopping at their initial conversation due to extreme nervousness.

She was too tense.ue stress on yourself—focus on your studies and keep your dating in moderation."Was Xiao Rihua really saying this Su Cen wondered if he had heard it correctly.Xiao Rihua sipped some more tea. "Alright...