Xu Chunliang knew that what he said at the dinner last night did have an effect. As soon as he hung up Zhang Haitao’s call, Zhao Feiyang’s call came in.

Zhao Feiyang’s voice carried a touch of friendliness: "Xiaoxu, where are you?"

Xu Chunliang replied, "Oh, Dean Zhao, I’m on Weishan Island."

Zhao Feiyang laughed, "I know you’re on Weishan Island. I’m on the island now too, and I’d like to meet you."

Zhao Feiyang didn’t say for Xu Chunliang to find him, nor did he say he’d come to him. He wanted to use Xu Chunliang’s response to gauge his current attitude.

Xu Chunliang said, "You should have told me in advance. I’m with President Zhang from Da Heng right now. How about this, I’ll arrange for us to all have lunch together at noon."

Zhao Feiyang immediately agreed and took the initiative to propose arranging it himself.

Xu Chunliang said, "How can I let you arrange it? I’m the host. Give me a chance to express my thanks to the old leader. Wait for my notification."

Zhao Feiyang sensed from the words "old leader" that Xu Chunliang’s mindset had changed. It seemed that he had already drawn a line in his heart and would likely not return to Changxing.

Xu Chunliang hung up the phone, smiled at Zhang Hengyang, and said, "President Zhang, Dean Zhao from Changxing Hospital is here. Do you have time for lunch at noon?"

Zhang Hengyang said, "Great, I was thinking about that too. I’ll arrange it."

Xu Chunliang said, "You come from afar, I’ll invite."

Zhang Hengyang didn’t argue, nodded, and indicated that he’d go back to handle some things first and wait for Xu Chunliang’s notification about the location.

Xu Chunliang contacted Wang Jinwu and asked him to prepare a table at the water restaurant, putting it on Ding Si’s account.

The luncheon guests included Secretary Qin Zhengyang, Deputy Town Mayor Zhou Hongyuan, and Deputy Secretary He Qiweng. Xu Chunliang also invited Deputy Town Mayor Li Guangtian, who was in charge of natural resources.

When Qin Zhengyang heard about this lineup, he initially hesitated. After all, the issue wasn’t resolved yet. Huayuan and Da Heng were both waiting to resume work. Meeting at noon would inevitably bring up these issues. He had already delegated this matter, but meeting would still concentrate the problem’s resolution on him.

If he didn’t go, it would seem like he wasn’t taking work seriously. Xu Chunliang was clearly shifting responsibility to him. After thinking it over, Qin Zhengyang decided to go. At crucial moments, leadership needed to demonstrate decisiveness.

Xu Chunliang arrived early. Wang Jinwu had heard about the hot spring discovery at the distillery and immediately wanted Xu Chunliang to confirm its authenticity. After Xu Chunliang affirmed it, Wang Jinwu marveled at Mo Han’s luck. She had just leased the land when a hot spring was found. If it turned into a hot spring resort, it would surely bring in immense wealth.

Xu Chunliang told Wang Jinwu that Equatorial Capital was wealthy and wouldn’t mind such a small sum. He had privately reached an agreement with Mo Han: she would take control of the distillery, and he would be responsible for excavating the ancient cellar pools. The hot spring discovery was purely accidental, an unexpected bonus.

Currently, Xu Chunliang had workers at the distillery building a wall to separate the hot spring area from the cellar pools to avoid mutual interference. Still, the hot spring’s appearance had drawn everyone’s attention, leaving few to notice the ancient cellar pools inside the workshop.

Qin Zhengyang and Zhou Hongyuan arrived together, and on the way, Zhou gave him a brief report about meeting with Zhang Hengyang. Qin made no comments throughout; he was familiar with Zhou, who was essentially just a messenger. For Qin, an incompetent deputy was problematic, but an overly capable one wasn’t good either. The ideal subordinate should be diligent and low-key, leaving opportunities for recognition to leaders without taking undue credit, be willing to shoulder responsibility, and occasionally take the blame.

Such a perfect role was indeed hard to find. Zhou Hongyuan and Xu Chunliang evidently represented two extremes. The former was mediocre with no sense of responsibility, but he didn’t seek the spotlight. The latter was capable and resourceful but overly ambitious and forward, ignoring leadership’s feelings. Finding a suitable deputy was challenging.

Gazing out the car window, Qin saw they had entered Xianhong Farm’s territory. Looking at the large stretches of land, he pondered Tong Guangsheng’s foresight. Acquiring so much land initially hadn’t cost much. Had he received insider information?

Zhou started the conversation, "I hear Xiaoxu and President Tong of Xianhong Farm are close."

Qin replied, "I heard he saved President Tong’s life."

Zhou nodded, recalling last year when Tong had gone missing on Shiliang Mountain, and it was Xu Chunliang who found him. The Audi Q7 Xu Chunliang often drove was borrowed from Xianhong Farm.

Zhou said, "I heard Town Mayor Mei went to the High-Tech Zone?"

Qin said, "Old Zhou, you really know a lot."

Zhou smiled, "I’m just making casual conversation."

Qin said, "You haven’t expressed your stance yet. What do you think about Da Heng’s situation?"

Zhou said, "I respect your view."

Qin thought it was a non-answer and couldn’t be bothered with Zhou. He took out his phone and checked the news. Maybe due to his recent interest in Da Heng’s news, the app pushed updates predominantly about Da Heng, mostly negative.

Qin also searched for Huayuan’s news, which was mostly about debt restructuring. These two companies really were in similar plights.

When Qin Zhengyang got out of the car, he saw Zhao Feiyang and Zhang Hengyang approaching together and they exchanged greetings.

Qin Zhengyang specially shook hands with Zhao Feiyang and said, "Today, you two are the main guests, and we are here to accompany you."

Zhang Hengyang said, "I’m also here to accompany, Dean Zhao is the main guest. Town Mayor Xu said he’s inviting the old leaders."

Zhao Feiyang said, "How is Xiaoxu performing in Hu Shan Town? Has he given Secretary Qin any trouble?"

Qin Zhengyang smiled and said, "He is performing quite well. He hasn’t given me any trouble but has probably caused you a fair bit of trouble?"

Zhao Feiyang said, "That proves Secretary Qin’s guidance is effective."

Qin Zhengyang said, "Not at all, it was you who brought him up."

Zhang Hengyang watched the two of them from the side, secretly amused. Xu Chunliang is undoubtedly a hot potato, and neither Zhao Feiyang nor Qin Zhengyang had the strength to control him.

Xu Chunliang walked over from the waterfront restaurant and smiled from afar, "Sorry, I was just helping to catch some fish, my apologies for not greeting you sooner."

Qin Zhengyang said, "We’re all family, no need to be so formal."

Xu Chunliang smiled at Zhao Feiyang and said, "Dean Zhao, you’re here!"

Zhao Feiyang said, "I’ve been wanting to come for a while, and since it’s just in time for the New Year, I thought I’d come after the holiday. But I heard you were all working overtime during the New Year, so I decided to come take a look."

Qin Zhengyang said, "For people like us, holidays are a luxury. Xiaoxu has been working very hard these past few New Year days. I have to thank Dean Zhao for sending us a capable and responsible good cadre."

Zhao Feiyang said, "Xiaoxu, having just arrived and already getting Secretary Qin’s heavy responsibility, you must cherish the opportunity your leader has given you."

Xu Chunliang said, "Shall we go inside? The wind out here is a bit strong."

Xu Chunliang led everyone to the waterfront restaurant. Deputy Secretary He Qiweng and Deputy Town Mayor Li Guangtian were already there. Wang Jinwu was talking with them, and when Qin Zhengyang came in, everyone stood up to greet him.

Zhao Feiyang felt a slight sense of loss seeing the scene. He increasingly regretted resigning from public office. You can’t have both fish and bear’s paw. He had underestimated Huayuan Group. Once in the private sector, he found that the constraints there were no fewer than in the system.

In Dongzhou, he was the first to voluntarily step down from a division-level position and choose to join a private enterprise. Shedding the aura of the system, in others’ eyes, he was no different from Zhang Hengyang, both top executives of a listed company.

This was evident from the seating order at the table. Although Qin Zhengyang was only at the section level, he undoubtedly sat at the head seat, with Zhao Feiyang and Zhang Hengyang sitting on either side of him, Xu Chunliang sitting next to Zhao Feiyang, and He Qiweng next to Zhang Hengyang.

To gain something, you must lose something. After Zhao Feiyang resigned from his public position, his social status visibly declined.

Qin Zhengyang led by example; he didn’t drink, so the other cadres from Hu Shan Town naturally couldn’t drink either.

Zhao Feiyang and Zhang Hengyang were not ones to indulge in alcohol either. With their own thoughts, they proposed that everyone shouldn’t drink today and instead used tea to make friends at lunch.

Qin Zhengyang said, "Today’s lunch is a private treat from Xiaoxu; everyone is also on vacation, so it’s not considered a violation."

That one sentence made everyone laugh.

Xu Chunliang said, "Actually, I’ve wanted to invite you to this meal for a long time but never had the right opportunity. Today, with this meal, I kill two birds with one stone: first, to thank Dean Zhao for his guidance and nurturing in the past. Without Dean Zhao, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Then, I need to thank Secretary Qin for his tolerance and trust, giving me important responsibilities and space to develop as soon as I arrived."

Zhao Feiyang laughed, "So you combined two meals into one, you sly guy."

Xu Chunliang said, "No choice, my salary is too low, I have to be thrifty."

Everyone was well aware that he would never pay for this meal out of his own pocket.

They used tea as a substitute for alcohol, drinking three cups just the same.

Qin Zhengyang, on behalf of the leadership team of Hu Shan Town, welcomed Zhao Feiyang and Zhang Hengyang, emphasizing that Hu Shan Town Government would continue to be committed to improving the business environment and safeguarding investors.

Zhao Feiyang and Zhang Hengyang listened to Qin Zhengyang’s statement, not believing it in the slightest.

If there really were trouble, they probably couldn’t count on anyone. For officials like Qin Zhengyang, the most important thing in their hearts was their own political future. It was impossible for them to sacrifice for the investors’ interest. Just like how they improved the business environment and fought for foreign investment, at the end of the day, it was all for political achievements.

Fixed camps and temporary soldiers, these officials couldn’t stay in Hu Shan Town forever. Once they accumulated enough political capital, they would set their sights on another place.