official career

Qin Feng didn't hesitate and sat down with Liu Xiaoping to drink tea.

"Mayor, there are no outsiders here, just the two of us. If you have any instructions, just tell us directly. There doesn't seem to be much need for us to beat around the bush, don't you think?" Qin Feng looked at his watch and asked Liu Xiaoping directly.

Qin Feng was right. Given the mortal-enemy relationship between him and Liu Xiaoping over the years, there was really no need to continue wasting time talking nonsense.

"Okay, then I'll be frank. Qin Feng, what do you think of the current situation in Xiquan?" Liu Xiaoping asked.

"Mayor, please don't test me at this time. What do you want to say?" Qin Feng smiled.

"Let me be more direct. What do you think is the reason behind Huang Jiancheng's investigation this time?" Liu Xiaoping asked again.

"Mayor, let me be frank. Although I was not in Xiquan when Huang Jiancheng was investigated, I still have a general understanding of the cause and effect of this case. However, I don't know what the Huang Jiancheng case has to do with me."

"Okay, then let me ask you again, do you think he pushed you to this position at this time because it's for your own good or just to use you? Do you think it's a good choice for you to sit in this position now?" Liu Xiaoping finally made it clear this time.

Hearing this, Qin Feng smiled and said, "Mayor, you are an old comrade who has been through many battles. Although I am young, I am not a rookie. We are both sitting here drinking tea, so don't use your tricks to sow discord between us."

"I'm not trying to sow discord. I just hope you can see the pros and cons more clearly." Liu Xiaoping shook his head and continued, "How long have we known each other?"

"I have been in Xiquan for more than two years, so I have known you for just over two years. Of course, my real acquaintance with you started when I was falsely accused of corruption." Qin Feng looked at Liu Xiaoping and said with a smile.

"Hahahaha, it looks like you have a lot of resentment towards me. Qin Feng, there are indeed conflicts and disputes between us. I did hit you, but you were not polite to me either. I won't tell you how much trouble you have caused me. My only son was detained in the detention center by you for several days. Anyway, we are even."

"And in the final analysis, there is no fundamental contradiction between the two of us, because we have no conflict of interest. The conflict before was because I wanted Yi'an, and you also wanted to extend your hand to other places, such as tourism, poverty alleviation, etc. This is the fundamental reason why there are so many contradictions and conflicts between the two of us."

"But now the times have changed. I think there is no fundamental conflict between us. Yian is basically your private land now. No one, including me, can get involved. And you can see my situation. I have no intention of interfering in Yian's affairs now."

"Secondly, although I tried my best to stop you, you still extended your hands to other places besides Yi'an. I didn't stop you before, and now that you want to take over as executive vice mayor, I can't stop you even more. What's more, whether it's the higher-ups or Xie Zhiguo, they will definitely let you be in charge of poverty alleviation work."

"Since I can't stop it, I might as well give in. So Qin Feng, I want to make a gentleman's agreement with you, a gentleman's agreement that will benefit both you and me." Liu Xiaoping said very bluntly.

After Liu Xiaoping finished speaking, he took out a cigar and handed one to Qin Feng.

"I'm not used to this one. I'll just smoke this one." Qin Feng shook his head and lit a cigarette for himself.

"What kind of gentleman's agreement does the mayor want to sign with me?" Qin Feng asked.

"Let's not beat around the bush. From now on, I will fully support Yian's affairs, and I will never interfere in the work of poverty alleviation. You have the final say." Liu Xiaoping said.

Qin Feng smiled as he smoked a cigarette while looking at Liu Xiaoping. Liu Xiaoping had obviously gotten to know Qin Feng. For Qin Feng, these two points were indeed his core demands. Liu Xiaoping did not interfere in Yi'an's affairs and fully supported Qin Feng's poverty alleviation work. This was what Qin Feng had always dreamed of.

"Then what does the mayor need me to do?" Qin Feng asked. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and Liu Xiaoping is not a Bodhisattva.

"I need you to do nothing." Liu Xiaoping looked at Qin Feng and said with a smile.

Qin Feng was stunned for a moment, but then he understood what Liu Xiaoping meant.

"Qin Feng, have you ever thought about your current situation? Have you ever thought carefully about your future?" Liu Xiaoping continued, with a serious look on his face.

"Qin Feng, I know the relationship between you and Xie Zhiguo. Xie Zhiguo discovered you and brought you out when he was the county party secretary of Shannan County, Dongyang City, so you have always regarded Xie Zhiguo as your benefactor and teacher."

"I don't object to nor belittle your spirit of gratitude, but Qin Feng, you should also know that there are not many people in this world who are as pure and sentimental as you, let alone in our circle."

"You feel grateful to Xie Zhiguo for his help. Does Xie Zhiguo really regard you as his disciple? I don't think so."

"If he really treated you as his disciple, he wouldn't have let you go to the coal mining town in Shannan County to be the secretary. I heard that you almost died there. You were lucky to survive. What if you were just a little bit less lucky? The final result would have been that you, Qin Feng, died, but the credit would have gone to Xie Zhiguo."

"The fact that Xie Zhiguo was able to rise to prominence is directly related to the big case you handled in that coal mining town. You should be aware of this."

"You, Qin Feng, have made such great contributions there, but he ended up sending you to set up an economic development zone, and only gave you the position of director of the management committee. Even a fool knows how difficult it is to set up this economic development zone, and how many people you will have to offend."

"What happened in the end? Qin Feng, you offended everyone you could. Xie Zhiguo was transferred and promoted with his achievements and fame. Did he care about you? I heard that as soon as he left, you were retaliated against by others and were hidden for a long time. If you didn't have the ability to make a comeback, your life might have ended there."

"Through these few times, you should have realized something in your heart. You regarded Xie Zhiguo as your benefactor, but he always used you as a tool. You had to do the dirty work, block the bullets, and take the blame, and the benefits were his. He just used you all the time."

"I am not saying so much to say bad things about Xie Zhiguo. On the contrary, I am praising his ability. Because everyone in this circle does this. Whoever can use more people is more capable. But this is not fair to you, Qin Feng. I said so much just because I hope you can see the nature of this circle clearly." Liu Xiaoping said one sentence after another.