I cannot believe he holds such high prestige!

Tang Ye returned to the government offices to attend a coordination meeting regarding the demolition work.

The demolition process for the AO Electric factory site had hit a snag.

Guo Liang had gotten into an argument with some villagers while working and ended up taking a beating; he was currently recovering in the hospital.

Chen Zhihua was in a terrible mood. "The demolition work has already been delayed. If we drag this out any further, we will be in breach of contract."

Tang Ye knew that breaching the contract was secondary. The crucial issue was that if AO Electric's factory was not built on time, it would disrupt their production schedule. Since AO Electric was a listed company, this would subsequently impact its stock price and shareholder equity.

Dou Fanggang had chosen to invest in Pinghu specifically because of Tang Ye; therefore, Tang Ye could not afford to drop the ball!

Tang Ye stroked his chin in thought. "Hand the list over to me. I will handle them personally."

Had it been in the past, Wang Kaicheng and Cao Debiao might have thought Tang Ye was just blowing hot air.

However, Tang Ye's ability to crack tough nuts had already earned widespread recognition.

After reviewing the list and the corresponding files, Tang Ye caught a faint whiff of a conspiracy.

……

After getting off work, Sun Hai came to pick up Tang Ye for dinner.

Once Tang Ye learned the reason behind Sun Hai's gathering, he felt this dinner invitation was completely unjustified!

Still, such was the nature of romantic affairs: one was willing to beat, and the other was willing to be beaten.

Sun Hai had bought a second-hand Santana.

Tang Ye was quite supportive of this purchase.

First, it made getting around much more convenient.

Second, doing business required a certain facade; people couldn't see your bank account balance, but seeing you drive a car made them feel you had substance.

Along the way, Sun Hai received a call from Liu Fang.

Liu Fang asked, "Is it convenient if I bring an extra friend along?"

Without even asking who the person was, or whether it was a man or a woman, Sun Hai smiled and said, "Of course, the more the merrier."

The location was set at a seafood restaurant in Jinshui Town.

Back in 2005, logistics cold chains were not yet fully developed, and since Hanzhou was not a coastal city, seafood restaurants were extremely rare. This newly opened establishment was enjoying booming popularity.

Although Jinshui and Pinghu were separated by only a single lake, with the shortest straight-line distance being merely two kilometers, taking the waterway required a boat, while taking the land route meant making a detour, both taking around forty to fifty minutes.

Sun Hai and Tang Ye walked into the private dining room.

Not long after, Liu Fang and Du Xi arrived, accompanied by a man.

Liu Fang introduced him to Sun Hai and Tang Ye. "This is my senior schoolmate, Hu Zhongping. He used to be the deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Police Affairs Support Division, and is now temporarily posted in Jinshui Town as the deputy town mayor concurrently serving as the police station chief. We both graduated from the Huai Province Police Academy, and he is three years ahead of us."

Hu Zhongping shook hands with Tang Ye and Sun Hai respectively. "I happened to be having a meeting at the municipal bureau this afternoon, and when they mentioned they were coming to Jinshui Town for dinner, I realized this was right in my backyard! So I gave them a ride here on my way. Sorry for intruding so abruptly."

Sun Hai laughed heartily. "The more people there are, the livelier the dinner."

Once inside, Hu Zhongping cast his gaze toward Tang Ye from time to time.

With his sharp sixth sense, Tang Ye thought to himself, Could this guy possibly view me as a rival?

Hu Zhongping had strong, chiseled facial features, stood around one meter seventy-five, and was thirty years old. He had previously been in two relationships, one of which had progressed to the brink of marriage before breaking apart due to irreconcilable conflicts.

Hu Zhongping had crossed paths with Du Xi during their school days, but back then Du Xi hadn't changed all that much, leaving him with little lasting impression.

He hadn't expected to see Du Xi again recently and find that she had seemingly transformed into a completely different person compared to the past, which instantly sparked the desire to pursue her.

Liu Fang noticed Hu Zhongping's intentions and initially regretted bringing him along to the dinner date.

On second thought, however, she realized she could use this opportunity to put some pressure on Tang Ye.

To let him know that Du Xi was also exceptionally talented and had many suitors, so he needed to actively strive for her affection.

Sun Hai handed the menu to Liu Fang. "Order the most expensive dishes, don't hold back on my account."

Liu Fang shot Sun Hai an annoyed glance. "Rest assured, I'll order until your wallet hurts."

Despite her fierce words, Liu Fang only ordered a few very simple dishes.

Then she passed the menu to Du Xi.

Du Xi had taken off her coat, revealing a plain white shirt underneath, paired with straight-cut suit trousers. On her feet were round-toed leather shoes, with white socks showing just above the instep.

She was a natural hanger for clothes; the simpler the outfit, the more high-end and elegant it looked on her.

Du Xi casually flipped through a couple of pages and, finding the prices exorbitant, brushed it off by saying she didn't know how to order.

The menu landed in Hu Zhongping's hands.

He asked the waiter offhandedly, "Do you have Australian lobster?"

The waiter froze, pen in hand, and shook his head. "No."

Hu Zhongping frowned. "I ate here last time and distinctly remember you had Australian lobster."

The waiter paused for a moment. "We do have it occasionally, but we certainly don't have it today. Our ingredients are extremely fresh and change every day; today's featured recommendation is prawns."

Hu Zhongping sighed with disappointment. "Well, bring us the prawns then. Your place makes decent prawns too." He turned to Du Xi and extended an invitation. "Next time, once I confirm with the owner that they have Australian lobster, I'll invite you over to try it. Their lobster is exceptionally well-prepared."

Sun Hai leaned over and whispered into Tang Ye's ear, "This guy sure loves to put on an act..."

Tang Ye chuckled. "If we get angry, we've already lost."

While waiting for the food, Hu Zhongping spoke endlessly, running his mouth without pause.

Tang Ye noticed that this fellow loved to act profound, insisting on elevating the simplest everyday matters to the level of quantum mechanics for explanation.

Out of consideration for Liu Fang and Du Xi, Tang Ye refrained from acting out; had it been anyone else's friend, he would have flipped the table long ago.

Sun Hai made a trip to the restroom and returned to tell Tang Ye, "Cai Meifen is also dining here tonight, and she said she'll come over later to toast us."

Just as the words left his mouth, the exquisite and pretty Cai Meifen pushed open the door and walked in with a radiant smile. "Mayor Tang, what a coincidence! I'm just here having dinner with a close friend. I came over to offer everyone a toast."

Tang Ye stood up, raised his glass, and said, "Thank you, President Cai."

The others raised their glasses in unison.

Cai Meifen didn't leave immediately; instead, her gaze fell upon Du Xi's face. "Mayor Tang, is this your girlfriend? She is so gorgeous!"

Hu Zhongping's expression shifted slightly as he glanced toward Tang Ye, a hint of gloom flashing in his eyes.

Du Xi's cheeks flushed red, and she hurriedly shook her head in denial. "I am not!"

Hu Zhongping's expression instantly returned to calm.

Cai Meifen smiled and said, "Then I can rest easy. I was just planning to introduce a girlfriend of mine to Mayor Tang; if he already had a girlfriend as pretty as you, I wouldn't dare."

Tang Ye shot Cai Meifen an exasperated look. "Thank you for your concern. Besides, you should worry more about yourself and make sure you don't drink too much."

Cai Meifen smiled enchantingly. "Alright, I'll moderate." With that, she swayed her graceful figure and departed.

Liu Fang observed Du Xi and noticed her close friend wearing a somewhat unnatural expression.

She had originally intended to bring along a third wheel to stimulate Mayor Tang's competitive spirit.

She hadn't anticipated that Cai Meifen's appearance would actually instill a sense of crisis in Du Xi.

Everyone ate and drank to their heart's content.

Hu Zhongping proactively called the waiter to settle the bill, smiling as he said to Sun Hai, "If we were in Pinghu, I certainly wouldn't fight you for the bill, but here in Jinshui Town, please do me the honor of letting me pay."

Normally, someone fighting for the bill wasn't a big deal, but today Sun Hai had organized the gathering specifically to apologize to Liu Fang.

For Hu Zhongping to snatch the bill was a blatant disregard for Sun Hai's face, proving he was dead set on stealing the spotlight.

Sun Hai resolved to have a proper showdown with Hu Zhongping over this.

Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open.

Tang Ye looked closely and was surprised to see Song Jin leading a group of people over to offer a toast.

Song Jin walked straight toward Tang Ye. "Let me introduce you. This is Director Gao from the Chongjiang County Committee Office. Director Gao, this is my good brother Tang Ye, the deputy mayor of Pinghu Town."

Director Gao walked up to Tang Ye and proactively extended a hand to shake his. "Mayor Tang, I've heard so much about you! Let me propose a toast to you."

After finishing his drink, Song Jin smiled at the waiter standing nearby and said, "Charge the bill for this room to our tab!"

The waiter, having already checked with the front desk, quickly reported, "Leader, the bill for this room has already been paid."

Tang Ye realized what had happened: right after Cai Meifen finished her toast, she must have immediately settled the bill.

Song Jin was momentarily stunned before bursting into hearty laughter. "Next time, I'll have to host a gathering of my own."

After Song Jin left, Hu Zhongping's mood plummeted into an abyss of depression.

He was acquainted with Director Gao, yet moments ago, Director Gao had merely given him a brief nod of acknowledgment.

Before he could even process his emotions... the private room door was pushed open once more, and Wan Ming walked in accompanied by a tall, heavily built man.

Catching sight of Hu Zhongping, the man's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, Zhongping, what a coincidence, you're here too."

Hu Zhongping's expression shifted slightly as he hurriedly greeted, "Director Zhu, hello!"

Director Zhu nodded and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Wan Ming toward Tang Ye.

Wan Ming smiled as he made the introduction. "This is the Tang Ye I've often mentioned to you."

Director Zhu was the deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, in charge of criminal investigation, and one of Old Gu's capable students.

Director Zhu grasped Tang Ye's hand and shook it firmly. "I've heard your name for a long time; you truly are a man of outstanding talent."

Tang Ye picked up his cup and took the initiative. "Director Zhu, you flatter me. Let me toast you."

"How refreshing!"

After finishing his drink, Director Zhu hooked his arm around Tang Ye's shoulder and began whispering intimately in his ear.

Hu Zhongping's composure completely shattered at this moment!

He never imagined that Tang Ye commanded such enormous prestige!

Having finished their toasts and preparing to leave, Wan Ming waved the waiter over and said quietly, "Put the consumption of this room on my tab!"

The waiter repeated with a blank expression, "Leader, the bill has already been paid!"

Wan Ming paused in surprise, rubbed his nose, and said with an air of regret, "Is that so? Well, it seems you won't even give me the chance!"

Hu Zhongping felt as though a fishbone was stuck in his throat, rendering him completely speechless.

His grand plan to snatch the bill now seemed utterly pathetic, because from the very beginning, he had never even had a chance to pay.

……

As the dinner concluded, Sun Hai drove Du Xi and Liu Fang home.

After starting the car and driving only a few meters, Sun Hai felt his rear end bouncing violently. He quickly got out to inspect, then frowned and said, "A tire's been punctured."

Tang Ye remarked, "There should be an auto repair shop not far from here."

Sun Hai got back into the car and drove it forward, biting the bullet.

Upon getting out, Tang Ye noticed an Audi parked inside the repair shop, its license plate painfully familiar.

However, right in front of the Audi, an atmosphere thick with the smell of gunpowder was brewing...