Chapter 409: Chapter 409
To tell the truth, once the leaders... oh, fleeced the money and snapped some photos, they were pretty content and took off.
Moreover, Feng Xiaoyue even took Yang Bingbing and those beauties from the company's PR department to the parking lot with smiles on their faces to send them off.
Originally, Feng Xiaoyue wanted to keep everyone for lunch, but one by one the leaders said they had engagements at noon and couldn't get away.
So, the whole group got into their own official vehicles, greased their heels, and slipped away.
Liu Zhizhong, holding a stack of thick donation forms in his hand, saw his smiling face from bidding them farewell disappear, replaced with a crestfallen one. It felt like bandits had entered his home, looted everything, and then strutted out, leaving nothing but feathers strewn about...
Upon seeing this, Feng Xiaoyue actually chuckled, tugged on his hand, and said, "Hey, Zhizhong, let's go, come to my office and sit for a while."
Yang Bingbing, seeing Liu Zhizhong like that, actually felt quite sorry for him, poor Mr. L!
Nearly six hundred million was at hand, and the donation papers were signed on the spot, promising bank transfers within three days, leaving him with just 98 million.
Right, they left him with some change.
A full five billion fleeced!
He wasn't fond of money, but wasn't this just too ruthless?
Even if hugging thighs and waiting for promotion was the game, having to fork over money for it, but goddammit, five billion in one go, was he just too rich? These big leaders, they saw me as easy money, didn't they?
He had promised Zhang Yuxing that at least five billion would go to the Yangzhou Municipal project—the Sanitation Workers' Rest Station.
Now look, it's all gone to shit, promise broken.
Going into Feng Xiaoyue's office, Yang Bingbing didn't even follow in, leaving just the two of them.
Feng Xiaoyue made her own coffee, and with a smile, said, "Zhizhong, does it feel like they fleeced too harshly?"
Liu Zhizhong had calmed down by then, accepted it, and smiled, "Director Feng, it doesn't matter! I've never been much interested in money, and this money was meant to be d anyway. It's all going to donations, so what difference does it make who gets it?"
But inwardly, he thought damn it, donating to those who get helicopter deliveries of roast whole sheep, it really hurt! All these earnings generated by the love fans and consumers have for me, sigh...
Feng Xiaoyue gave a chuckle, appreciating his attitude inwardly, "Zhizhong, it's remarkable that you can think this way. I've seen quite a few young officials, and few possess your talent, charisma, and magnanimous spirit. This is officialdom, these are the rules. You can have money, but it can't come too easy; your money is not your own, it's theirs when they say so; they can sing your praises or label you, and just as easily demand cash. Unless, of course, you can change these rules... heh..."
Liu Zhizhong laughed along, shaking his head, "Change them? How could I? I have no wish to revolt. It's probably good to lower my high-profile a bit these days. Having too much money isn't good; having less makes for a more serene life. I just feel a bit... heh, like I've let down the leaders of Yangzhou."
Feng Xiaoyue caught on and laughed heartily, "No worries there. You'll have more profit-sharing to come, and it's not a small amount. Just make it up to Mayor Zhang later. Under these circumstances, she probably won't say much. This is also what's precious about you. Despite being oppressed by the Zhang family in Yangzhou, you're still fulfilling your promise to the Zhang family members, to Mayor Zhang Yuxing. So, Zhizhong, I have high hopes for you."
"Thank you, Director Feng. I'll keep striving," Liu Zhizhong replied on the surface, but inwardly he thought, Director Feng, if you only knew, if it weren't for the fact that Zhang Yuxing is my woman, I wouldn't give a damn about her, heh heh... Fresh chapters posted on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
Thinking of Zhang Yuxing, thinking of returning to Yangzhou, Liu Zhizhong was quite excited.
To hell with it, Mr. L would still make money, gain fame within the organization, and personal prospects mattered, after all. As for what the fans and consumers would think, there was nothing he could do.
At least Feng Xiaoyue valued and admired him. Latching onto her, whose background was still unclear but now seemingly a good catch, was not a loss.
Today, Liu Zhizhong could see that those big leaders treated Feng Xiaoyue differently, with respect. As for him, it was a different story; lots of hot air and not much substance. The only one with a bit of sincerity might be Luo Tianlin. Yes, it seems only Luo Tianlin was sincere, sigh...
Alright, when the time comes, I'll make a good showing and maybe contribute a lovely, adorable, and smart grandchild to Luo Tianlin. Ha ha... Damn, just thinking about this brings a sense of balance and solace.
Dealing with officialdom, there will always be disappointments. Being stepped on, suppressed, bullied, you really need to learn to find balance and self-consolation.
As noon approached, Feng Xiaoyue still took Liu Zhizhong to a very upscale restaurant nearby. They enjoyed a good meal as a culmination of their work and as a temporary farewell.
What should have been a pleasant lunch, with Western cuisine, fine wine, and congenial company, turned sour when Liu Zhizhong saw a news alert, ruining his mood.
Liu Zhizhong, utterly agitated, said, "Director Feng, tell me, aren't these people just shameless? How can they play these dirty tricks?"