Deng Shaoqun seems to have an advantage now, but he has completely lost control of the government work. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that if the trend continues, Deng Shaoqun will be sidelined one day. After all, this is an era where economic development speaks for itself. A district head who can call the shots will definitely have a better future than a district party secretary who only knows party affairs. Besides, Fang Zhicheng is not even 30 years old.
Deng Shaoqun frowned, wondering why Fang Zhicheng was walking with such a beautiful young girl, so he asked the secretary beside him, "Who is the woman following behind Fang Zhicheng?"
Chen Chao raised his eyes on the bridge of his nose, looked carefully for a while, and said: "It seems to be the representative of Qi Group."
Deng Shaoqun didn't know much about the Qi Group. He snorted coldly and said, "This kid, his hair hasn't even grown out yet, he walks around recklessly when he sees a woman."
He was somewhat dissatisfied. As the district chief, he should receive all the merchants. However, Fang Zhicheng threw away his stall and directly received the representatives of Qi Group, while he was busy coping here, which made him feel a huge psychological gap.
In fact, Deng Shaoqun didn't see it as clearly as Fang Zhicheng. The other merchants present were probably not as strong as the Qi Group. Although the Qi Group had been a little lacking in development in the past two years, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. A group that ranks among the best in Asia, especially those other chickens and dogs, can't compare with it. Moreover, many merchants were not very interested in this policy briefing. Even if the reception was good, the transaction rate was very low.
Fang Zhicheng simply picked a big fish. It was simple, accurate and efficient!
Chen Chao thought about it and knew that Deng Shaoqun didn't know the strength of Qi's Group. After all, Qi's Group had not yet fully opened up the domestic market, and its popularity was still a certain distance away from other incense-funded enterprises. But Chen Chao didn't explain it to Deng Shaoqun in detail, because he knew that Deng Shaoqun didn't care much about it.
If Fang Zhicheng was with a leader, Deng Shaoqun might be very wary, but when Fang Zhicheng was with a young woman, Deng Shaoqun was very relieved, because he thought that was Fang Zhicheng's weakness, young people with hot blood could rarely resist temptation. Deng Shaoqun hoped that Fang Zhicheng would get into a lot of romantic debts, so that he would be embarrassed if the matter got out of hand.
Chen Chao couldn't help but sigh. Deng Shaoqun's recent behavior made him a little discouraged. With Fang Zhicheng coming to Xiaguang District, Deng Shaoqun fought with him several times, either openly or secretly, but all ended in failure. Deng Shaoqun began to feel unconfident when facing Fang Zhicheng. This unconfidence made Deng Shaoqun lose his unique charm.
A wise bird chooses the right tree to roost in, and Chen Chao actually felt like he was about to make some move.
While he was in a daze, Chen Chao had an illusion that Fang Zhicheng turned around and glanced at him. He couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat on his back and quickly told himself not to think too much.
Chapter 0549 How to Fulfill Both Loyalty and Responsibility
When Chen Chao was going home at night, a man suddenly walked out from under a tree in the compound. He looked carefully for a long time before recognizing who it was. A wry smile appeared on the corner of his mouth and he said, "District Chief Zhang, it's you? Why are you here so late?"
Zhang Xiaoliang took out a cigarette from his pocket, handed it to Chen Chao, and said with a smile: "Secretary Chen, do you believe that it was a coincidence?"
Chen Chao twitched the corners of his mouth and sighed, "I can't help but believe it."
The two people are not in the same camp. If it is not a coincidence, then one of them must have ulterior motives.
Zhang Xiaoliang nodded, looked upstairs, and said with a smile: "Would you like me to come up and sit for a while?"
Chen Chao didn't expect Zhang Xiaoliang to be so direct. He could only smile bitterly and said, "Welcome! Welcome!"
After entering the house, Zhang Xiaoliang was not restrained. After changing his shoes, he looked at every room in Chen Chao's house, and then commented with a smile: "Although the house is not large, it is decorated warmly. I heard that your wife is a kindergarten teacher. From the decoration of the environment, it can be seen that she is very caring."
Chen Chao didn't expect that Zhang Xiaoliang knew him so well, but after thinking about it, he suddenly understood that this guy was originally the director of the Statistics Bureau and had control over the intelligence network. There were private rumors that the reason why Fang Zhicheng gained support from many people so quickly was because Zhang Xiaoliang had leverage over many people.
Everyone who is deep in the quagmire of officialdom has his or her own troubles, but if someone deliberately exaggerates them, the consequences will be disastrous.
Chen Chao frowned, showing some hostility towards Zhang Xiaoliang, and said indifferently: "District Chief Zhang, why don't we be frank? Why did you come to see me today? We don't have any friendship. You go your way, I go mine. We should keep out of each other's way. This is my usual code of conduct."
Chen Chao's two sentences were a bit arrogant, but Zhang Xiaoliang didn't take it as an offense. Chen Chao did have the capital to say these words. In his opinion, Deng Shaoqun's current achievements were mostly due to Chen Chao, just like Lu Bu had Chen Gong. Deng Shaoqun faced many major events with Chen Chao as his think tank behind him.
However, because Deng Shaoqun relied too much on Chen Chao, Chen Chao's career was not as smooth as others. Chen Chao had been with Deng Shaoqun for five or six years. Under normal circumstances, he could have been transferred to a lower position and become an official, but Deng Shaoqun did not let Chen Chao go, so that Chen Chao is still a secretary and has no chance to be independent.
Zhang Xiaoliang saw this, so he wanted to test Chen Chao. Everyone hopes to have a better platform to display their strength. Chen Chao has been suppressed for so many years. As long as a little fire is lit, it is very likely that a prairie fire will spread.
If it were someone else, they might have left in anger in the face of Chen Chao's indifference, but Zhang Xiaoliang's mental endurance was not so fragile. Instead, he sat more steadily and spoke in a gentler tone, "Secretary Chen, you have served Secretary Deng for many years. Your hard work is seen by everyone. It can be said that every achievement of Secretary Deng is due to your contribution. But what have you gained?"
Chen Chao remained calm and sneered, "District Chief Zhang, I know you are a very powerful lobbyist, but it won't work with me. Secretary Deng has been very kind to me and trusts me. He has helped me a lot over the years. If you want to turn me against him, I'm afraid you will be disappointed. Before we completely fall out, I hope you leave so that we can both have some dignity."
Zhang Xiaoliang was good at observing people's words and expressions. When he saw Chen Chao trying hard to express his loyalty to Deng Shaoqun, he felt more relaxed, because this made Chen Chao's will seem a little weak.
Zhang Xiaoliang smiled and said calmly, "Secretary Chen, you are a smart person, but you have wasted many years here with Secretary Deng. If I am not wrong, you will be 35 years old next year, right? This is a watershed for cadres. If you don't start now and take charge of your own affairs, I am afraid you will have to remain unknown for the rest of your life."
Chen Chao frowned, stood up, pointed at Zhang Xiaoliang, and said righteously: "Please leave!"
Zhang Xiaoliang laughed loudly, brushed the corner of his clothes, stood up slowly, stared at Chen Chao, and said, "Secretary Chen, you lost your composure. When you calm down, I will come to visit you again another day. I believe that next time we will not be so confrontational."
Chen Chao did not see Zhang Xiaoliang off. He sat on the sofa, frowning and thinking. Then he took a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep puff. After an unknown amount of time, the door opened and his wife Shen Lin walked in slowly. Seeing the smoke-filled living room, she frowned and said, "Husband, didn't I tell you not to smoke?"
Chen Chao put out his cigarette, a smile appeared on his face, and he said, "Sorry, I was thinking about something and forgot."
Shen Lin simply put away the cigarette box and spat, "You always forget things at critical moments. If I find out again, I will deduct your pocket money."
Chen Chao nodded and said, "I promise I won't smoke anymore." Then, he looked at the bag in Shen Lin's hand and asked in confusion, "Wife, why is the strap of the bag broken?"
Shen Lin said distressedly: "Don't mention it. Today, two children were too naughty. When they were fighting, they broke my bag. I feel so sad. This is the wedding anniversary gift you bought for me."
Seeing Shen Lin's cute appearance, Chen Chao smiled and said, "It's just a bag. I'll buy you a better one next time."
Shen Lin quickly shook her head and said, "No way. The female teachers in our school are always comparing bags. They are too snobbish. I don't want to become like them."
Chen Chao sighed. Shen Lin was still as pure and innocent as when they got married five years ago. He owed her a lot. After all, any man hopes to have a successful career and let his wife live a better life. However, he has been in the position of secretary of the district party committee for too long. Although it seems glamorous, he is actually just a puppet controlled by Deng Shaoqun.
Chen Chao smiled bitterly and said, "Wife, I'm sorry, I didn't take good care of you."
Shen Lin shook her head and said sweetly, "Hubby, if I was greedy for those vanity, I would not have chosen you in the first place. I like your calmness and wisdom. It's not bad to live a comfortable life like this for the rest of your life. The most urgent thing is that we have to have a baby as soon as possible. We will be a family of three and that will be very happy."
Chen Chao kissed Shen Lin's neck and said happily, "Since you have a request, my wife, let's start preparing now."
After making love, Shen Lin fell asleep soundly with her head resting on Chen Chao's arm. Chen Chao then remembered that they had not had dinner yet, but he was reluctant to wake Shen Lin up.
Chen Chao is not an ambitious person, so he has been serving as a military advisor for many years in obscurity under Deng Shaoqun, but he is not a stupid person, and he has a different vision and judgment than ordinary people. Although Deng Shaoqun used to act tough, he was not stupid, arrogant or blind. But now Deng Shaoqun seems to have walked into a dead end and can't get out of it. He regards Fang Zhicheng as a thorn in his side and is hostile to him everywhere. This is not what a wise man does.