Nominal: The Handong Game, the Energy System's Counterattack

Upon hearing Li Dakang mention this, Wang Dalu paused for a moment while holding the teacup, but then resumed his normal posture.

He put down his teacup, looked at Li Dakang, and the smile in his eyes slowly faded.

"She mentioned a little, but I don't know how she brought it up to you, Dakang. I can explain this."

"Explain what?" Li Dakang leaned back in his chair, his gaze sharp as he stared at him. "Explain why you bypassed me and went straight to my wife?"

Wang Dalu didn't rush to answer. He remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

"Dakang." Wang Dalu hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, his pace neither too fast nor too slow.

"After Ding Yizhen fled, the Guangmingfeng project was left to rot."

"After the Dafeng Factory incident, the Jingzhou Municipal Government issued a document requiring Shanshui Group to make up for the resettlement expenses advanced by the government."

"It's possible that Shanshui Group felt it couldn't hold onto the Dafeng Factory land and is now looking to sell it off."

"They found several buyers, and I was one of them."

"There were normal business contacts involved, and—I admit—connections made through some personal relationships."

"Ouyang Jing knew about this because she knew someone from the Shanshui Group."

"Who is from the Shanshui Group?"

Wang Dalu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Gao Xiaoqin."

Upon hearing this name, Li Dakang's face darkened considerably.

He knew that Ouyang Jing, Ding Yizhen, and Gao Xiaoqin from the Shanshui Group might be involved, but he didn't expect it to be true.

"What did Gao Xiaoqin say?"

She said the Guangmingfeng project was a good project, with no problems with the location of the land or the prospects of the planning.

"Ding Yizhen's escape was an accident, but Shanshui Group's qualifications and initial investments were genuine."

"If so many things hadn't happened, they wouldn't have wanted to transfer the land."

Hearing this, Li Dakang's face grew increasingly grim.

"Everyone has seen what's happened in Jingzhou recently. Shanshui Group is worried that it's not safe for them to develop this land on their own."

"What we lack now is a strong buyer to take over and keep the project going."

Wang Dalu paused for a moment, then said, "Dakang, to be honest with you, I think this is an opportunity."

"The land at Dafeng Factory is the last prime piece of land in Jingzhou. If it is developed into a commercial complex, the subsequent returns will be very substantial."

"I've been in business for so many years, and I'm pretty good at judging projects, so I thought I'd get involved."

"Do you know that there's a dispute over the ownership of the land where Dafeng Factory is located?" Li Dakang asked in a low voice.

Do you know what role the Shanshui Group played in all of this?

"Do you know who's behind this Shanshui Group?"

"Do you know what the relationship is between Gao Xiaoqin of the Shanshui Group and Qi Tongwei?"

Li Dakang didn't mention Zhao Ruilong, but Wang Dalu should know, "They all want to get rid of this land, can your Dalu Group really handle it?"

Wang Dalu was silent for a moment. "I know part of it."

"How much is 'partial'?"

"That's enough for me to know there's a lot more to this than meets the eye." Wang Dalu raised his head, looking directly into Li Dakang's eyes. "But..."

Wang Dalu didn't continue, and Li Dakang understood. What he meant to say next was, "But isn't there a municipal party secretary like Li Dakang?"

Li Dakang stared at him for a long time, directly forcing Wang Dalu to back away.

Wang Dalu also knew that his attempt to acquire the Dafeng Factory land plot from Ouyang Jing had indeed annoyed Li Dakang.

He also knew that because of the January 16 Incident, the Shanshui Group might not be able to hold onto that land, and he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire it.

Of course, he had this idea in his mind: if others couldn't get this land, he could.

Because Li Dakang owes him something.

"Dalu," Li Dakang said slowly, "I know you have grievances in your heart. About that matter back then, I—"

"Dakang," Wang Dalu interrupted him.

"Let's not talk about that anymore. I've never regretted it, and I believe Yi Xuexi hasn't either. Neither of us are people who regret things."

He picked up the teacup again, took a sip, and then put it down.

"I know what you mean by asking me to come here today."

"When Gao Xiaoqin approached me, I knew this project was risky."

"But I've weighed the risks and they're within a manageable range. I'm optimistic about the prospects of the Guangming Peak project."

"As for the relationship between Gao Xiaoqin and Qi Tongwei, there's also Zhao Ruilong."

"Dakang, we live in a market economy now. Shanshui Group is a legally registered company, and Gao Xiaoqin is a legally operating businesswoman."

"Even if she has some private dealings with Qi Tongwei, that's her business."

"I'll do my projects. As long as the procedures are legal and compliant, who can do anything to me?"

"You're too naive." Li Dakang shook his head. "Having been in this position in Jingzhou for so many years, do you still believe in the saying 'as long as the procedures are legal'?"

"Who determines whether the procedures are legal or not?"

"Whether a procedure is compliant or not, who decides? Think about Ding Yizhen; in all his bidding and tendering processes, which one was incomplete?"

"Which procedure was incomplete? But what was the result? It was all fake."

"What you see as a golden road before you go in turns out to be a sheer cliff once you're inside."

"The water here is too deep; you can't handle it."

Wang Dalu fell silent, but Li Dakang didn't try to persuade him any further.

"Dalu, we are old comrades-in-arms and old acquaintances. I will remember and cherish the responsibility you shouldered for me back then for the rest of my life."

"That's why I want to remind you of a fundamental principle for being an official and doing business: In this life, you must always take the main road and never take the side road."

"The main road is smooth and easy to walk on, but the narrow path is where you are most likely to stumble and fall."

"If you want to join, I won't stop you, but you have to go through the proper procedures."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dalu felt relieved, understanding the unspoken meaning behind Li Dakang's words.

He quickly sat up straight, his tone full of helplessness and grievance: "Dakang, I understand what you mean, and you know what kind of person I am."

"Since I founded Dalu Group, I have never dared to think about taking shortcuts or seeking special treatment."

"I have always been diligent and compliant in my business operations. I just want to do things in a down-to-earth manner and establish myself in the industry based on my own strength."

"Since you are in charge of Jingzhou, I also want to contribute to the development of Jingzhou and the Guangmingfeng project. I absolutely have no intention of seeking personal gain through illegal means."

He paused slightly, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes: "It's just that you yourself may not be aware of the inside story of the Bright Peak project."

"Previously, Ding Yizhen controlled the entire project's bidding and engineering approval processes."

"Ding Yizhen is greedy and audacious. He holds great power over projects and can control everything."

"All the publicly announced bidding processes are just formalities, a show of compliance and legality, but in reality they are all backroom deals and fake bidding."

"Legitimate companies that lack connections, don't know how to give gifts, and are unwilling to compromise simply cannot obtain any project resources."

Wang Dalu stated that he had previously followed the proper procedures, but was blocked from the Guangming Peak project by Ding Yizhen.