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

Lin Zheng glanced at it and quickly looked away.

Liu Rong noticed the ambiguous interaction between the two and quietly kicked Lin Zheng under the table.

Lin Zheng understood and stopped talking.

Yang Wanshan returned quickly, and after a few more words, the group dispersed and left.

Stepping out of the hotel, the night breeze was slightly cool.

Yang Wanshan couldn't drive because he had been drinking, so Lin Zheng offered to take them home.

"Then I'll have to trouble Manager Lin."

Yang Wanshan did not refuse and opened the back door to get in.

Qiu Xiuqin originally wanted to sit in the back seat, but seeing that Yang Wanshan was already seated, she hesitated for a moment and then sat in the front passenger seat.

Liu Rong drove back by herself, and before leaving, she gave Lin Zheng a wink, signaling him to be careful.

The car started and drove into the night.

Qiu Xiuqin sat in the passenger seat, and the faint scent of her perfume wafted into Lin Zheng's nostrils, making him uneasy.

He recalled the scene under the dinner table, and a surge of restlessness rose within him.

"Manager Lin, what's your relationship with Liu Rong?" Yang Wanshan suddenly asked from the back row.

"Business partner," Lin Zheng replied casually.

Yang Wanshan's tone carried a hint of doubt: "Just business partners?"

"Liu Rong is not someone who helps others easily."

Lin Zheng sensed the probing in Yang Wanshan's words and smiled, "Mayor Yang, Sister Liu and I are indeed just business partners."

"She helped me because I was in Haidong City and I had helped her with some things."

"What is it?" Yang Wanshan pressed.

"It's some private matter, and I can't go into details," Lin Zheng said, without giving a direct answer.

Yang Wanshan wasn't angry and changed the subject.

How confident are you about this project?

"Seventy percent," Lin Zheng said.

"Only 70%?" Yang Wanshan frowned.

Lin Zheng smiled wryly: "It would be good if we could achieve 70%."

"Mayor Yang should know better than I how many interests are involved in this project."

"Some people within our Tenghua Group don't want the project to restart, some people in the town want a piece of the pie, and there are also people in the district eyeing this lucrative opportunity."

"I've done my best to navigate between so many forces."

Yang Wanshan was silent for a moment, then said, "You're right, this project is indeed difficult to manage."

"But I'm warning you, Qiu Ruiming is not someone to be trifled with."

"He has been operating in Dianhai Town for more than ten years, and his connections are very complex."

"By messing with Tianlong Engineering Company, you've essentially taken their money."

"He will definitely try to retaliate then, so you need to be mentally prepared."

Lin Zheng nodded. "I understand."

"That's why I need Mayor Yang's help to keep an eye on him for me in the town."

"If there's any movement on his end, let me know immediately so I can prepare accordingly."

"No problem," Yang Wanshan agreed.

As the car turned into a small alley, Qiu Xiuqin suddenly spoke.

"Manager Lin, just turn left up ahead and you'll arrive."

Lin Zheng turned left as instructed, and a detached house came into view.

Yang Wanshan got out of the car and said, "Manager Lin, you've had a hard night. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?"

"No, it's getting late, and I have to go to the village committee tomorrow," Lin Zheng declined.

"Alright, I'll treat you to dinner another day." Yang Wanshan said, then turned and walked into the courtyard.

Qiu Xiuqin did not get out of the car immediately; she sat in the passenger seat, seemingly hesitating about something.

"Sister-in-law, we've arrived," Lin Zheng reminded her.

"Manager Lin, did you...did you see something at the dinner table just now?" Qiu Xiuqin suddenly asked in a low voice.

Lin Zheng was startled, but his face remained expressionless.

"Sister-in-law, I don't understand what you're talking about."

Stop pretending.

Qiu Xiuqin turned her head and looked straight at him.

When you bend down to pick up the chopsticks, where are your eyes looking?

Lin Zheng was taken aback by Qiu Xiuqin's directness and was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Qiu Xiuqin sighed.

"Manager Lin, please don't misunderstand, I'm not blaming you."

"I just... I just wanted to tell you that it was an accident."

"I was originally going to wear that skirt with leggings, but I was in a rush to leave today and forgot to wear it."

"I only realized it when I got to the hotel, but I was too embarrassed to go back and change it, so I had no choice but to sit down."

Lin Zheng breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.

So that's how it is. He had thought Qiu Xiuqin did it on purpose.

Lin Zheng said, "Sister-in-law, I really didn't see anything."

"Don't worry, I won't say anything."

Qiu Xiuqin nodded, opened the car door, and got out.

After taking a few steps, she turned back.

"Manager Lin, you're a smart man. If you need anything in Dianhai Town in the future, feel free to come to me."

"My husband, Lao Yang, has some things he can't do in person, but I can."

After saying that, she turned and walked into the yard, leaving Lin Zheng alone in the car, stunned.

What does Qiu Xiuqin mean by that?

Is he implying that he can bypass Yang Wanshan and directly ask her for help?

Lin Zheng thought about it for a moment, then decided not to overthink it and started the car to leave.

It was already 11 p.m. when I got back to the hotel.

Liu Rong was still awake, lying on the bed in her pajamas, holding a magazine in her hand.

Seeing him come in, Liu Rong put down her magazine and patted the seat next to her.

"Come here, I have something to tell you."

Lin Zheng took off his coat and lay down on the bed.

"What did Yang Wanshan say?" Liu Rong asked.

"They agreed to join, but they set a few conditions."

Lin Zheng recounted Yang Wanshan's conditions and his own reply.

After listening, Liu Rong nodded, "The conditions are reasonable, and you handled it well."

"But be careful with Qiu Xiuqin."

Lin Zheng was taken aback. "What's wrong?"

"This woman is not simple."

"I've heard of her in the district. Half the credit for Yang Wanshan's ability to establish himself in Dianhai Town goes to her."

"She helped Yang Wanshan handle many shady matters, and her connections in the town were even wider than Yang Wanshan's."

"You were exchanging glances with her at the dinner table today, and I'm worried she might take advantage of you."

Lin Zheng's heart tightened as he recalled Qiu Xiuqin's words before she left.

"What do you think she's trying to do?"

Liu Rong cautioned, "I don't know exactly what she's doing, but you'd better stay away from her."

"Once you get involved with this kind of woman, you can't get rid of her."

Lin Zheng nodded, keeping Liu Rong's words in mind.

The two chatted for a while longer before turning off the lights and going to sleep.

The next morning, Lin Zheng got up, washed up, ate breakfast, and then headed to Zhuangdong Village Committee.

Deng Hong was already waiting for him in the office, with a stack of documents on the table.

"Here's what you wanted: detailed information on all the village committee cadres." Deng Hong handed him the materials.

Lin Zheng took it and examined it carefully, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

Liu Shanhai's power was greater than he had imagined.

Those three village committee members, as well as several village representatives, were also his people.

Even more seriously, Wang Jianguo, the deputy mayor in charge of village committee work, is also one of Liu Shanhai's men.

"Sister Deng, are you sure this information is accurate?" Lin Zheng asked.

Deng Hong nodded: "Absolutely accurate."

"I worked in the village committee for eight years, and I know better than anyone who's on whose side."

"Over the years, Liu Shanhai has used his power to place many of his own people in the village committee."

"Although these people do not hold official positions, they wield considerable influence and can garner a lot of votes for him in every election."

Lin Zheng lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and asked, "So, how confident are you about your chances in this election?"

Deng Hong smiled wryly: "Thirty percent."

"Without external intervention, I basically have no chance."

"Liu Shanhai has already declared that the position of village committee secretary must be filled by one of his own."

"Wang Jianguo from the town is in cahoots with him. Even if I wanted to report him, I wouldn't know where to turn."

Lin Zheng exhaled a smoke ring: "Thirty percent is enough."

"I have a way to help you turn this situation around."