Du, the young master, suddenly realized he had been saved by a complete idiot, and he felt somewhat desperate. He was dealing with hundred-million-yuan projects, yet here he was, managing the Xia family’s messy affairs – this was beneath his status!

Among all the Xia family members combined, Du Zhaohui only respected Xia Xiaolan. She was smart, beautiful, and ambitious, yet she paid him no attention. Like a bone dangling before him, this piqued his interest. The others were hopelessly stupid – why should Du Zhaohui respect them?

Du Zhaohui knew that in Xia Dajun’s heart, he commanded 99% loyalty. He should endure this irritation and help Xia Dajun one more time, turning that 99% into 100% – that would maximize his interests. But Du Zhaohui simply couldn’t bear it.

“Since this is just a misunderstanding, let Ah Hua handle it. Will you return to Pengcheng, or wait until they’re released from detention… Never mind, just stay in Yangcheng and wait for news.”

Xia Dajun felt slightly disappointed, but the young master had business to attend to – how could he keep running around for the Xia family? Xia Dajun was already eternally grateful that he had rescued Hong Bing’s family from the traffickers.

Du Zhaohui waved him off. As Xia Dajun wheeled himself to the door, the young master called out to him again:

“Dajun, stop being so embarrassing. Women can be found anywhere – didn’t you used to keep a female fellow villager in the Special Zone?”

For satisfying desires, finding a female villager or a hostess was fine, but why make a fool of himself on the streets?

Xia Dajun fled in shame.

Du Zhaohui didn’t wait for him, having his people pack up to return to Yangcheng.

Coincidentally, before his convoy had even left Yangcheng’s borders, they encountered Tang Hongen again.

This time, Du Zhaohui recognized Little Wang through the car window.

“Isn’t that Mayor Tang’s driver?”

His assistant scrutinized as well, “Yes, the car should have government plates, though it’s not the mayor’s dedicated vehicle.”

Du Zhaohui’s assistant would never mistake which cars the mayor and party secretary used – he could tell just by looking at the plates.

Mayor Tang had deliberately chosen an understated car, likely coming to Yangcheng for personal business.

“Young Master, we encountered this car when we first came to Yangcheng, though I didn’t recognize Driver Wang that day.”

Du Zhaohui immediately grew suspicious – why was Mayor Tang making such frequent trips to Yangcheng while trying to avoid notice?

He considered having someone follow but feared Tang Hongen would discover it and damage their relationship.

Investigating personal matters was what those in power despised most. Though Du Zhaohui was curious, he restrained himself – the recent car accident incident had already created a rift between him and Mayor Tang. If he hadn’t decisively sold out Liu Tianquan to demonstrate his commitment to switching allegiances to Mayor Tang, the matter wouldn’t have been resolved so easily!

“Never mind. If Mayor Tang isn’t using his official car, let’s pretend we didn’t see anything and ignore it.”

…

“That’s Young Master Du’s convoy again.”

Little Wang mentioned casually. Tang Hongen, resting with his eyes closed in the back seat, gave a light “mm” in response.

Du Zhaohui was just a Hong Kong merchant investing in Pengcheng. Tang Hongen only needed to ensure his investment plans benefited Pengcheng’s development. Why would he interfere in Du Zhaohui’s personal affairs? If Du Zhaohui did anything illegal on the mainland, that was for the Public Security Bureau to handle.

Though lately, Young Master Du had been quite well-behaved – the Kang family matter wasn’t even resolved yet.

Du Zhaohui hoped Tang Hongen would mediate, but Tang Hongen hadn’t agreed yet.

Little Wang expertly drove to the guesthouse, instinctively staying in the car while Tang Hongen went in alone:

“Comrade, please call Liu Fen for me.”

“Liu Fen… she went out and hasn’t returned!”

Tang Hongen felt something odd about the receptionist’s tone.

These small guesthouses operating under work unit names were mostly privately contracted now and weren’t particularly legitimate.

Liu Fen came to Yangcheng to source goods, and with her modest accommodation budget, she was trying to save money.

Tang Hongen wanted to suggest Liu Fen switch to somewhere better, like a government guesthouse – safer and more proper – but Liu Fen would likely refuse. Comrade Liu Fen was uncomfortable taking advantage of others, especially if that “other” was him personally. Liu Fen kept her distance even more in such cases.

Tang Hongen sat in the guesthouse lobby to wait, showing no impatience.

The youthful restlessness was rarely seen in him; instead, he possessed a gravitas tempered by years.

His clothes didn’t matter – his mere presence exuded dignity.

The previously discourteous receptionist sneaked a few glances and took the initiative to brew tea for Tang Hongen.

“Thank you, Comrade!”

“No- no need…”

The receptionist felt foolish for being so attentive – why bother when this man wasn’t even staying here!

Over a cup of tea, Tang Hongen naturally struck up a conversation. The receptionist was no match for Mayor Tang’s social skills. In just a few exchanges, he had extracted all the details about Liu Fen’s movements since checking in. The receptionist also hesitantly explained her earlier poor attitude:

“…Two women staying at a guesthouse, dressed all flashy, bringing loads of stuff back – who knows what they’re doing in Yangcheng.”

Liu Fen’s attire could hardly be called flashy – she just dressed properly, befitting her clothing business.

Society’s attitudes were like this now – most people looked down on private entrepreneurs, and women doing business away from home invited even more criticism.

When even a guesthouse receptionist would gossip behind their backs, Tang Hongen felt uncomfortable: “Comrade, it’s not right to criticize others behind their backs without evidence. Such talk should stop. As long as guests follow proper procedures and aren’t fugitives, they pay for their stay, the guesthouse provides beds, and the staff should provide good service… don’t you agree?”

The receptionist was nearly brought to tears by Tang Hongen’s lecture.

Who was this person, even scarier than their supervisor?

At the guesthouse entrance, Liu Fen froze. The lobby had glass doors, allowing visibility from outside. As Liu Fen and Li Fengmei returned with their bags of clothes, they spotted Tang Hongen sitting inside.

Liu Fen stopped, hidden behind a large pillar.

So Tang Hongen hadn’t noticed her yet, and she and Li Fengmei overheard him seriously “teaching” the receptionist.

So the receptionist’s snide remarks weren’t directed at all guests – she simply thought Liu Fen and Li Fengmei, two women from out of town, looked too flashy to be respectable.

Liu Fen couldn’t pretend she wasn’t angry – Xia Dajun had accused her the same way on the street.

Yet here was Tang Hongen, a major city mayor, specifically explaining things to a receptionist just because she had criticized Liu Fen.

It was easy to find people who were courteous in public, but defending her behind her back – only the closest family members did that, and Tang Hongen was the first outsider to do so.

Standing there, Liu Fen’s heart felt both sour and bitter.

Li Fengmei heard too, “Ah Fen when a man is willing to defend you like this, even if he weren’t a mayor, he’d be worth giving a chance!”

But what could she do?

The problem was precisely that Tang Hongen was the mayor.

If he weren’t the mayor, Liu Fen might have considered trying.

Their movement caught their attention, and Tang Hongen spotted them. He left the receptionist behind and strode out:

“Comrade Liu Fen, you’re back from sourcing goods?”