Please, mature women, have some self-respect. I just want a raise and a promotion.

Hearing these words, Lin Zheng's temper flared up. He stood up and glanced at the three of them.

"I respect you three bureau chiefs as my elders and leaders, and I have always been very polite to you."

"But aren't you going a bit too far by making things difficult for me like this?"

"Making things difficult?"

Lin Jingshun smiled.

"Manager Lin, what you said is incorrect."

"We're just following the rules, how is that considered making things difficult?"

"According to the rules? You didn't say that when Zhang Wenshan was around."

"Zhang Wenshan?"

Lin Jingshun's face darkened, and he said coldly, "Manager Lin, are you trying to use Zhang Wenshan to pressure me?"

"Zhang Wenshan is working on a sewing machine in jail now. Do you want to go in and join him?"

"Director Lin, what do you mean by that?"

"What do you mean?"

Lin Jingshun stood up, walked up to him, and looked down at him.

"Lin Zheng, who do you think you are?"

"A mere project manager dares to put on airs in front of us?"

"Let me tell you, we only came to this dinner because of Mayor Yang."

"Otherwise, what are you?"

"You want your approval? Dream on!"

Lin Zheng's face was ashen as he coldly stared at Lin Jingshun.

Yang Wanshan stood up and walked between the two.

"Director Lin, calm down, let's talk this out."

"There's not much to say."

Lin Jingshun waved his hand and said, "Mayor Yang, your friend is so inconsiderate. We came here to have a meal out of good intentions, and he just tries to use Zhang Wenshan to pressure us."

"Manager Lin is young and doesn't know any better, please don't take it to heart," Yang Wanshan said with a smile.

"Young? Immature?"

"He's not some young man; he's Zhang Wenshan's secretary, and he knows a lot of Zhang Wenshan's secrets."

"They invited us to dinner today, maybe they just wanted to find out what's going on with us."

"Director Lin, you've misunderstood."

Lin Zheng took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.

"I invited the three of you to dinner simply to make friends; there's no other intention."

"Make friends? You think you're worthy?"

Cai Mingsheng chuckled, but his tone was contemptuous.

"Manager Lin, do you know what our level is?"

"You, a development manager at a subsidiary of Tenghua Group, dare to be friends with us?"

"This meal is a favor to you, so don't be ungrateful."

Lin Zheng's face was ashen, and his lips trembled as he was unable to speak.

Chen Guowen stood up and straightened his clothes.

"Alright, we've eaten and drunk our fill, it's time to go."

He glanced at Lin Zheng and said coldly, "Manager Lin, let me remind you, in Dianhai Town, money can't buy everything."

"You must have rules, understand the rules, and abide by the rules."

"You need to redo your environmental impact assessment report."

"Come find me when you pass the test."

After saying that, he walked out of the private room without looking back.

Lin Jingshun put his arm around Xiaoya and patted her bottom.

"Xiaoya, stay with me tonight."

Xiaoya glanced at Lin Zheng, who nodded slightly.

Lin Jingshun smiled, put his arm around Xiaoya, and walked out of the private room.

Cai Mingsheng also stood up with Xiaoyu in his arms, walked up to Lin Zheng, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Manager Lin, you're still young and inexperienced."

"You can learn it slowly later. Come back to us when you've mastered it."

After saying that, he put his arm around Xiaoyu and left.

Only Lin Zheng and Yang Wanshan remained in the private room.

Lin Zheng slumped in his chair, his face pale and his forehead covered in cold sweat.

Yang Wanshan lit a cigarette and handed one to him.

"Don't rush, take your time."

Lin Zheng took the cigarette, took a deep drag, and said, "Mayor Yang, they're making things difficult for me."

"I know."

Yang Wanshan sighed and said, "But what can you do? Fall out with them?"

"But the project can't wait."

"We have to wait, even if we can't afford to."

"Lin Zheng, let me remind you, in Dianhai Town, money can't buy you anything."

"Also, great things can't be rushed; they take time."

"Think about it carefully, isn't it because you offended them in the past?"

Lin Zheng shook his head: "I really can't think of one."

Yang Wanshan took a puff of his cigarette, thought for a moment, and said, "Could it be because of Ma Cuihua at head office?"

"Lin Jingshun is Ma Cuihua's cousin, Cai Mingsheng is Ma Cuihua's classmate, and Chen Guowen is Ma Cuihua's fellow townsman."

"By bringing down Ma Cuihua, you've cut off their source of income."

Lin Zheng's eyes widened after hearing this; he hadn't expected such a complex relationship to be hidden inside.

"Mayor Yang, what should I do now?"

"How do I do it?"

Yang Wanshan's gaze returned to Lin Zheng's face.

"Either you bow your head and beg them to be lenient."

"Either you find something on them and force them to comply."

Lin Zheng paused for a moment before saying, "Is there no third way?"

"no."

Yang Wanshan shook his head and said, "That's how it is in Dianhai Town."

"Either you get eaten, or you eat people."

Lin Zheng stubbed out his cigarette and stood up.

"I see."

"Where are you going?"

"Looking for someone."

After leaving Wangjiang Tower, Lin Zheng did not return to his residence, but took a taxi directly to Li Zhengang's sand field.

It was late at night, but the lights were still on in the battlefield.

Several large trucks were loading sand, raising clouds of dust.

Lin Zheng walked into the office. Li Zhengang was sitting in front of the computer looking at something. When he saw Lin Zheng enter, he looked up and said, "Manager Lin, it's so late, is there something you need?"

"Something's up."

Lin Zheng sat down opposite him and lit a cigarette.

"Help me investigate a few people."

"Who?"

"Lin Jingshun from the Planning Bureau, Cai Mingsheng from the Tax Bureau, and Chen Guowen from the Environmental Protection Bureau."

Li Zhengang was taken aback: "Why are you investigating them?"

"They're making things difficult for me and refusing to give me the permit."

Lin Zheng exhaled a puff of smoke.

"I want to know their background, the more details the better."

Li Zhengang paused for a moment, then said, "Lin Jingshun, Ma Cuihua's cousin."

"It was because he was holding your project back at the planning bureau that Zhang Wenshan was unable to move forward."

"Later, Zhang Wenshan gave him benefits, and only then did he relent."

"Now that Ma Cuihua has fallen, of course he'll want to take revenge on you."

"Cai Mingsheng is Ma Cuihua's classmate, and their relationship is unusual."

"At the tax bureau, a lot of Ma Cuihua's shady money was laundered through him."

"You've ruined Ma Cuihua, and his source of income has been cut off. He'll definitely hate you."

"Chen Guowen is from the same hometown as Ma Cuihua; the two grew up together."

"He helped Ma Cuihua with many of her projects at the Environmental Protection Bureau."

"Now that Ma Cuihua is in jail, he's afraid you'll trace his whereabouts back to him, so he's striking first."

"So, it's difficult for you to get the approval."

"The three of them have been operating in Dianhai Town for so many years, and their relationship is very complex."

"If you offend them, it's the same as offending half of the officialdom in Dianhai Town."

"What should we do then?"

Lin Zheng looked at Li Zhengang and asked, "The project can't stop, or I'm finished."

Li Zhengang was silent for a moment, then said, "There is a way, but it's not easy."

"What method?"

"Find their weakness."