Chapter 1817:

Chapter 1817: Chapter 1817:

Gao Qi paused slightly in his tea-drinking action upon hearing the words, and did not immediately respond.

He had guessed Cao Xiaolou’s purpose for seeking him out before coming, and at the moment he just didn’t want to expose it, going along with his act.

Cao Xiaolou saw that he didn’t speak, smiled faintly and said, "Did Mayor Wu promise to promote you, to make you the county mayor?"

Gao Qi smiled and shook his head, "I’m not familiar with Mayor Wu."

His answer suddenly made Cao Xiaolou’s emotions agitated.

Because he thought about how he was set up by Gao Qi this time, leading to losing his position as county mayor.

He skipped the prepared speech, glaring at him fiercely: "Don’t think Mayor Wu’s words are an imperial edict. This is Gaoshui County. Who becomes the county mayor, I decide!"

Gao Qi sneered, "Oh? And then?"

His tone, his reaction, made Cao Xiaolou, already agitated, almost lose control.

"Damn it!" Cao Xiaolou smashed the tea cup, pointed at his nose and cursed, "What kind of scumbag are you, Gao Qi? Just because you got lucky and became deputy county mayor, you think you’re qualified to be on an equal footing with me?"

Gao Qi wasn’t angry at all, waited for him to finish cursing, then slowly stood up and said, "I’m quite busy at work, if there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first."

"Did I let you go?" Cao Xiaolou said, "I told you, without my permission, you can’t become the county mayor!"

Gao Qi stood in place, thought for a few seconds, and asked, "What do you mean? Threatening me?"

Cao Xiaolou intended to curse him but forcibly calmed down, remembering the purpose of calling him over.

"The county government is full of my people, and the county’s standing committee is also mine. Without my say, the procedure for recommending you as county mayor can’t proceed. Even if Mayor Wu intervenes, you’ll be a county mayor in name only."

"But if you listen, I can have them vote for you."

Gao Qi sat down again and asked, "Listen to whom? What should I listen to?"

Cao Xiaolou sneered, "Don’t pretend to ask knowingly, I don’t have time to play word games with you."

He grabbed a document from beside him and threw it over: "Get this done."

Gao Qi picked up the document, flipped through it for a while, raised his eyebrows, and placed the document down again: "I can’t do it, you better find someone else."

Cao Xiaolou squinted his eyes, "Are you sure you want to go against me?"

Gao Qi couldn’t be bothered to argue, got up to leave.

"Gao Qi, leaving this door, we can really never be friends again. In Gaoshui County, no one wants to be my enemy. Even if you become county mayor, in front of me you’re just a dog. Before the standing committee meeting next Monday, if you change your mind, come find me."

Cao Xiaolou’s voice came from behind, Gao Qi’s footsteps showed no hesitation.

Only when he completely left did Cao Xiaolou snort heavily.

The document he gave to Gao Qi was a government contracting renewal contract.

The company for the contract was run by his relatives.

He wasn’t aiming to earn the contract money, but wanted to use this method to drag Gao Qi down.

With such matters, there’s a second time once there’s a first.

He wanted to drag Gao Qi down bit by bit, making him completely sink into the mire he constructed, trapped in a cage for life.

Though Gao Qi refused, he wasn’t worried at all.

Having been in Gaoshui County for so many years, Gao Qi was clearer than anyone about his local influence.

Even without being county mayor, he held incriminating information on several county high officials.

If he deliberately made things difficult, even if Gao Qi became county mayor, he’d be an empty shell without real power.

Hence, he was confident Gao Qi would certainly compromise.

...

Gao Qi returned to the county committee, told Secretary Xie about the meeting.

Cao Xiaolou’s little tricks were seen through by Secretary Xie with just a glance.

But knowing doesn’t mean being able to solve them.

The standing committee wasn’t really a big problem, after all, he was already acting mayor and county leaders knew the city government’s stance.

In this situation, recommending Gao Qi as county mayor in the county committee, who dared cast a dissenting vote would be blatantly slapping the city government in the face.

Hence, no one could stop Gao Qi from becoming county mayor.

But the problem was, even if Gao Qi became mayor, Cao Xiaolou would certainly have follow-up actions.

His words were arrogant, but indeed he had the grounds for such arrogance.

The county government’s several deputy mayors were his people, and the first and second heads of the county’s direct departments also surrounded him.

Who knows how much incriminating information he had on them over the years.

If he went slightly crazy, using the information to force those people not to cooperate with Gao Qi’s work, Gao Qi would truly have no solution.

"I know." Secretary Xie’s tone was calm, as if he hadn’t taken the matter to heart.

After Gao Qi left, he sighed.

Being a local official too, Secretary Xie had several more years of service than Cao Xiaolou, but their leadership styles differed.

Secretary Xie was relatively gentle, discussing collaboratively with team members.

Cao Xiaolou was brutish and direct, asserting the authority of a first-in-command vividly, teaming up with others to isolate any insubordinate or disagreeing colleagues or subordinates, even privately setting traps to ruin them.

Under his high-pressure methods, his power was quite concentrated, turning the whole county government into his authoritarian backyard.

Gao Qi was forced by him to resort to reporting.

The current issue was something Secretary Xie couldn’t resolve.

He deliberated for a long time, finally deciding to report to the city.

He originally intended to directly contact Wu Qiangwei, but felt it inappropriate, so he called Song Guanchao, reporting the matter.

Song Guanchao was typing and chatting with Wu Yun, took the call, listened to his report, and responded with a procedural "Noted."

"Are you busy?"

Looking at a message from Wu Yun a few minutes ago, Song Guanchao said, "Got a call, treating you to dinner tonight."

"Alright."

"Pick a place, send it to me, I’m going to report to the Mayor now."

He grabbed his phone, found Wu Qiangwei, and relayed Secretary Xie’s words.

Wu Qiangwei listened and frowned deeply, "It was indeed correct to remove him."

Previously she occasionally thought whether the handling of Cao Xiaolou was excessive. Knowing this matter, she only felt it was still too lenient.

"Regarding this, I suggest not giving Secretary Zhou any face anymore. Such trash should stay in prison where they belong." Song Guanchao said.

Wu Qiangwei nodded, "Collect the evidence thoroughly, don’t leave any room for argument."

She suddenly recalled the New Year was approaching, added: "If the timing doesn’t work, wait until after the New Year."

"Okay, I’ll see then."

"Will you have time for the New Year this year?" As the business talk ended, Wu Qiangwei suddenly asked, catching Song Guanchao off guard.

"Yes, why?"

Wu Qiangwei brushed her hair aside, her gaze unnatural, said: "If you have time, come to Modu, I’ll take you for a walk on the Bund."

Song Guanchao blinked, "Your parents want to meet me?"

Wu Qiangwei was caught a bit off guard by the question, lightly spat, "Who said they wanted to meet you."

"Isn’t it?" Song Guanchao scratched his head, "I thought this was going to meet the family, alright then, I’ll come to play for the New Year."

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket, he stood up saying, "I’m heading over now."

Leaving the office, he took out his phone, Wu Yun had sent him the restaurant reservation.

After work, Song Guanchao arrived at the restaurant, waited almost half an hour, and Wu Yun finally arrived leisurely.

Seeing her down jacket with a thoughtful, sexy inner outfit, Song Guanchao understood the reason for her lateness.

She had specially gone back to change clothes for the date.

Wu Yun pulled down the zipper, opened the down jacket, deliberately lowering the neckline, asked, "Do you like it?"

"I like it."

"Do you want to see something even better?"

"..."

"Do you want to see it?"

"Yes!"

"Then, after dinner, I’ll show you."