Next, Chen Fang was to visit the Party Secretary Zhu Hanmin and the Mayor Zhao Yiping.

For Chen Fang, however,

this was a dilemma.

For anyone else, the decision wouldn't require a second thought, they would definitely visit Zhu Hanmin first.

Because he was the top official.

But the situation was somewhat different for the Secretary-General of the municipal government.

He was the Mayor's chief aide, in other words, the Mayor was his direct superior.

Of course,

if it were anyone else in this position, people wouldn't pay much attention to whom they visited first, but for Chen Fang, it was an entirely different matter.

He visited Zhu Hanmin first.

Immediately, there would be people claiming Chen Fang was disregarding Zhao Yiping.

And if he visited Zhao Yiping first, others would say Chen Fang was ultimately leaning towards Zhao Yiping, stirring troublemakers to gossip that he looked down on Zhu Hanmin.

It wasn't just because Chen Fang had offended many of the city leaders during his time in Guyang City.

It was also because this involved the shadowy conflict between Zhu Hanmin's and Zhao Yiping's factions.

As mentioned before,

even though Zhu Hanmin was the top official, Zhao Yiping had the backing of the Hou Family, making him hardly acknowledge Zhu Hanmin's authority at all.

Naturally, Zhu Hanmin wouldn't just sit around and wait for his demise.

The buzz surrounding Chen Fang was high.

Therefore, whoever Chen Fang visited first would indicate who would attract more attention.

It seemed to symbolize which side Chen Fang would align with.

After all, his acquaintance with Fang Zhongshu was already making waves within the inner circles.

"Visit which side first?"

In the hall of the municipal committee building,

Yu Zhengchuan asked Chen Fang.

Chen Fang looked at Yu Zhengchuan and asked, "What do you think? Which side should I visit first?"

"Isn't that obvious, we should definitely visit Secretary Zhu first. You're not suggesting visiting Zhao Yiping first, are you? Will he cease making things difficult for you then?"

Yu Zhengchuan inquired.

Chen Fang laughed.

He said, "That's true, but if I don't visit Zhao Yiping first, he'll then have an excuse to suppress me. I fear that before I even get settled, he'll start creating obstacles for me."

"Then we'll go to Zhao Yiping first,"

Yu Zhengchuan suggested.

Chen Fang chuckled and replied, "Doing so will also displease Zhu Hanmin."

"If this won't work and that won't work, then we might as well not visit either side."

Yu Zhengchuan proposed.

Chen Fang laughed heartily and responded, "That would play right into the Hou Family's scheme. Their wish is for me to die in Wulan City. 'Heavy lies the crown,' they say. No matter what, both must be faced; there's no escaping it."

Yu Zhengchuan said grumpily, "So what now? Why don't you just call both of them and ask them to come to your office?"

"Good idea,"

Chen Fang said.

Yu Zhengchuan was startled and responded, "Are you out of your mind? I was just speaking off the cuff, yet you're taking it seriously. You're just a little secretary of the municipal office, do you think they'd listen to you?"

"Of course, they won't listen to me, but there's someone they definitely would listen to,"

Chen Fang replied.

"Who?"

Yu Zhengchuan asked.

Chen Fang gestured and said, "Come on, let's go to the retirement home."

"To the retirement home?"

Yu Zhengchuan murmured, but he instantly understood.

He gave Chen Fang a thumbs up and said, "It's always you who has the tricks up his sleeve."

Why did the mention of the retirement home elicit such a reaction from Yu Zhengchuan?

Because living there was a former leader, Ye Qian.

Ye Qian was the one who had stepped down from the position of Mayor of Wulan City.

His partner in the municipal committee at the time, who later became the Vice-Chairman of the Provincial People's Congress, was Lin Duangxiong.

In other words,

Ye Qian was a veteran leader of Wulan City.

Whether it was Zhu Hanmin or Zhao Yiping, they both had to give him some respect.

When Chen Fang and Yu Zhengchuan left the City Committee courtyard, both the windows of the secretary's and the mayor's offices saw their departure.

This left Zhu Hanmin and Zhao Yiping somewhat baffled.

About half an hour later.

Zhu Hanmin and Zhao Yiping each received a call from the retirement home, saying that Ye Qian wanted them to visit, and only then did Zhu Hanmin and Zhao Yiping come to their senses.

They had both been vying over who Chen Fang would visit first.

Chen Fang, however, had forged his own path and went to visit the retired leader at the retirement home.

Almost simultaneously.

The cars designated as number one and number two for the City Committee left the courtyard.

When they hurriedly entered the retirement home, Chen Fang was already in the garden, playing chess with Ye Qian, both of them chatting and laughing; the scene could not have looked more harmonious.

"Good day, Secretary Zhu, Mayor Zhao."

Upon seeing the two arrive at the same time.

Chen Fang promptly stood up and greeted them.

Ye Qian pulled him back down, commanding, "Continue the game first."

Chen Fang could only sit down again with a helpless expression.

Ye Qian waved his hand towards the two, saying, "You both take a seat, I'll finish this game with Comrade Xiao Chen."

The face of a senior leader had to be given.

So they both had no choice but to sit obediently.

This wait lasted for about twenty minutes.

All that could be heard was the sound of Ye Qian placing his piece, saying triumphantly to Chen Fang, "Checkmate, you've lost."

"Aiyo, elder leader, I just got distracted for a moment and you found a gap; that's not fair, I'm not making that move."

Chen Fang intentionally acted shamelessly.

Ye Qian saw this.

He immediately held onto his hand and said, "No take-backs in chess, you've lost anyway, don't cheat. Cigarettes, bring me cigarettes!"

Chen Fang said with a resigned face, "Elder leader, your chess skills are superior, and I definitely am the loser, but I can't offer you a cigarette; I already said at the beginning, if the leaders agree, then I will surely give you one, but if they don't, I don't have the guts to."

Publicly, the words seemed meant for Ye Qian.

Actually, they were directed at Zhu Hanmin and Zhao Yiping.

Chen Fang was trying to signal to them that although he Chen Fang was in the limelight now, he was still their subordinate and wouldn't dare do anything without their approval.

Both of them were old hands.

And they picked up on the hint.

Zhu Hanmin was the first to speak, "Elder leader, the doctors have told you so many times, you can't smoke. I certainly don't agree."

"I don't agree either, elder leader, you have to think about your health," Zhao Yiping added from the side.

Upon hearing this, the excitement of winning the chess game instantly faded from Ye Qian.

His hand swept across the board scattering the chess pieces to the ground.

Standing up indignantly, he said, "Neither of you are any good, sending this young man to watch over me and not keeping your promises. I'm not playing anymore, I'm going back to sleep."

After saying that.

He left the scene huffing and puffing, hands behind his back.

Witnessing this, Zhao Yiping angrily said, "Chen Fang, what have you done? If the elder leader is upset because of you, can you bear the responsibility?"

Having said this, he hurriedly followed after.

Zhu Hanmin stood still.

Watching Zhao Yiping disappear at the door of the retirement home.

He let out a long sigh.

Turning to Chen Fang, he said, "Everyone says Chen Fang is clever, but with this stunt today, I can't see what you're trying to do."

Chen Fang smiled slightly.

He said earnestly, "Greetings, leader, Chen Fang reporting in."

Zhu Hanmin was taken aback.

He asked, "What do you mean?"

Chen Fang smiled faintly, and replied, "It's nothing special, from the top to the bottom of the City Committee and the City Government, everyone is watching to see whom Chen Fang visits first. Now the word will spread that Chen Fang has seen both leaders at the same time..."

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