Chapter 67 Plotting Strategies Amidst the Banquet

At six o'clock in the evening, in front of the rustic and elegant entrance of "Quiet Cottage," a private dining restaurant in the provincial capital, a black Passat pulled up quietly.

Li Yifei pushed the door open and stepped out. His crisp, dark suit made him look even more composed in the twilight. Arriving half an hour early was both a matter of etiquette and a personal habit—mastering the overall situation begins with mastering time.

In the trunk rested quietly two cases of vintage Moutai and several cartons of Soft Zhonghua cigarettes. This was a habit Li Yifei had formed after taking office, preparing these "strategic supplies" out of his own pocket.

Working within the administrative hierarchy, especially as a frontline chief official, welcoming guests, seeing them off, communicating, and coordinating were standard routines. Tobacco and alcohol were not absolute necessities, yet in certain occasions, they served as "lubricants" to quickly narrow distances and express sincerity. With the proportions properly managed, they became assistants rather than burdens.

At precisely six o'clock, Li Yifei was already standing at the most prominent spot by the entrance of Quiet Cottage. His posture was as straight as a pine, and his calm gaze swept over the flowing traffic.

At ten past six, a black Audi A6 drove up smoothly. Li Yifei immediately walked forward a few steps, wearing a proper smile. "Director Zhuang, Director Wang, welcome, welcome!"

Two men stepped out from the car. They were none other than Zhuang Jiaguan, Director of the Comprehensive Planning Division of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and Wang Yongjun, Director of the Rural Road Construction Division of the Provincial Department of Transport. Zhuang Jiaguan retained his scholarly refinement, while Wang Yongjun was slightly plump with a kind face, exuding the shrewdness tempered by years of working at the grassroots level.

"Have you been waiting long, Comrade Yifei?" Zhuang Jiaguan asked with a smile, extending his hand.

"It is only right. Please come in, Director Zhuang, Director Wang." Li Yifei turned sideways to lead the way.

However, Zhuang Jiaguan waved his hand, his gaze fixed on the end of the street. "No rush, let's wait for one more distinguished guest."

A slight ripple stirred in Li Yifei's heart, though his expression remained completely unperturbed and his smile unchanged. "Very well, I shall follow your arrangements." He keenly realized that the stature of tonight's dinner banquet was likely even higher than anticipated. A "distinguished guest" capable of keeping Zhuang Jiaguan waiting in person certainly carried considerable weight.

About five or six minutes later, a low-key yet substantial black Maybach S-class sedan glided silently to a halt in front of Quiet Cottage. The driver promptly stepped out to open the rear door.

Zhuang Jiaguan immediately stepped forward, his smile growing even broader, carrying a touch of intimacy. "President Shen! Welcome, welcome! You've had a tiring journey!"

A man in his early fifties, dressed in an exquisite casual suit, stepped out of the car. His demeanor was composed yet tinged with a sharp edge. His face was lean and his gaze deep; a natural aura of authority belonging to someone who had occupied high positions for a long time emanated from his casual glances.

This man was none other than Shen Tianpeng, the helmsman of "Shuisheng Group," an aquaculture and processing giant with significant influence throughout Jiang Province and even the entire nation!

"Old Zhuang, Director Wang, I've kept you waiting." Shen Tianpeng's voice was even and calm. He was clearly familiar with Zhuang Jiaguan and Wang Yongjun, and his gaze immediately landed on Li Yifei with a hint of scrutiny.

"President Shen, this is the young talent I mentioned to you, Li Yifei, Deputy County Magistrate of Duoshui County and Party Secretary of Duogang Town."

Zhuang Jiaguan hurriedly made the introduction, then turned to Li Yifei. "Yifei, this is President Shen Tianpeng of Shuisheng Group, a benchmark for private enterprises in our Jiang Province."

"Hello, President Shen! I've long admired your reputation. I am Li Yifei, and it is a great honor to meet you!" Li Yifei stepped forward, extending both hands. His attitude was respectful yet not ingratiating, and his eyes were clear and open.

Shen Tianpeng extended his hand to shake Li Yifei's lightly. His gaze lingered for a split second on the young man's excessively youthful face, a flicker of imperceptible surprise crossing his eyes before returning to calm.

He nodded slightly. "Secretary Li, young and promising." His tone revealed no particular emotion; clearly, he did not hold this young grassroots cadre in high regard, merely viewing him as an accompanying guest or the bill-payer brought along by Zhuang Jiaguan.

The group entered the "Tingyu Pavilion" private dining room that Li Yifei had booked in advance. The room was tastefully decorated, antique, and possessed an excellent ambiance.

Li Yifei quickly settled into his role, transforming into the most dutiful "waiter," greeting the attendants to serve tea and arranging the seating. His movements were smooth and natural, without the slightest hesitation.

"Director Zhuang, Director Wang, President Shen, shall we have a few drinks today to whet our whistles?" Li Yifei asked for their opinions, and upon receiving tacit approval, he signaled the attendant to unbox the Moutai he had brought.

When two classic white porcelain bottles of Feitian Moutai were placed on the table, Shen Tianpeng's gaze lingered on Li Yifei's face once again—this young man certainly came well-prepared.

Li Yifei personally held the decanter, filling three crystal-clear glasses of liquor for the distinguished guests, and finally poured his own. His movements were steady, unhurried, and deliberate.

Zhuang Jiaguan timely gave Li Yifei a meaningful look. Understanding instantly, Li Yifei immediately raised his glass and stood up, his posture humble yet sincere:

"Director Zhuang, Director Wang, President Shen, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to grace us with your presence! Junior Li Yifei has just arrived for grassroots work in Jiang Province, deeply feeling the heavy responsibilities and knowing full well the difficulties of grassroots development.

Today, having the opportunity to listen to the profound insights of you three seniors and to learn from you is my utmost fortune. This toast is dedicated to the three of you! First, to thank Director Zhuang and Director Wang for your tremendous support toward the development of Duogang Town!

Second, to thank President Shen for sparing the time to honor us with your presence! Third, to express my deepest respect as a junior toward the three seniors! I drain my glass; please drink at your leisure, leaders!"

With that, he tilted his head back and downed nearly a tael of high-proof liquor in one go. The movement was crisp, decisive, and his expression did not change in the slightest.

A flash of genuine surprise finally crossed Shen Tianpeng's eyes. A deputy county-level official at the age of twenty-three was already rare; this composed, unyielding yet polite demeanor at the wine table, coupled with articulate speech and decisive actions, revealed a maturity and poise far exceeding his peers. He picked up his cup and took a small sip in response.

As the banquet proceeded through its courses, the two bottles of Moutai were soon emptied. The atmosphere grew increasingly warm, fueled by the alcohol and skillfully guided by Zhuang Jiaguan and Wang Yongjun.

Li Yifei consistently played the role of an appropriately attentive listener and server, interjecting with clarifications only at crucial moments, keeping the boundaries impeccably judged.

"President Shen," Zhuang Jiaguan said, sensing the timing was ripe, and smilingly steered the topic toward Li Yifei. "You mustn't underestimate our Comrade Yifei just because he is young. He is a shining star in our Development and Reform Commission system!

Back at the ministry, the 'Sharp Eyes' project evaluation system he spearheaded and developed was promoted nationwide—that is a brilliant stroke in the record of achievements! Moreover, speaking of which, Yifei is actually your alumnus!"

"Oh?" Shen Tianpeng put down his chopsticks and looked at Li Yifei, truly interested this time. "An alumnus? Secretary Li is also from Yan University?"

"Yes, President Shen," Li Yifei replied respectfully. "I was an undergraduate in the class of '07, graduated in '11, and completed my bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees all at Yan University. I studied under Professor Lu Guocai, Professor Xia Yetong, and Professor Zong Ye." He deliberately named three mentors held in high esteem in both academic and management circles.

"Lu Guocai?!" Shen Tianpeng sat up straight abruptly. The calm on his face vanished in an instant, and his eyes burst with an incredulous light!

He slapped his thigh with a resounding *thwack*, his voice rising a notch. "Professor Lu?! You are Professor Lu's student?!"

"Yes, President Shen. Professor Lu was my undergraduate macroeconomics tutor and also one of my joint advisors during my master's and doctoral stages." Li Yifei was somewhat taken aback by Shen Tianpeng's sudden agitation.

"Ah!" Shen Tianpeng abruptly stood up, picked up the glass in front of him that had just been refilled by Li Yifei, and without another word, tilted his head back and emptied it!

His movement was heroic and bold, a stark contrast to his earlier composure! He put down his cup, his face beaming with a nearly ecstatic warmth as he pointed at Li Yifei:

"Junior brother! Why didn't you say so earlier?! Professor Lu was also my mentor during my master's studies! Back at Yan University, I worked on research projects under Professor Lu for two years!

I can never forget Professor Lu's rigorous academic standards and his dedication to nurturing younger generations! This... this is truly mistaking our own family for strangers out of ignorance!"

A sudden twist of fate! The atmosphere exploded instantly!

Li Yifei also stood up immediately, his face revealing genuine, pleasant surprise. "So Senior Brother Shen is also a disciple of Professor Lu! Forgive my lack of respect! Not knowing earlier, I have been remiss. This glass is a toast to you, Senior Brother!" He immediately finished his cup as well. The sense of alienation between them was instantly washed away by their shared academic lineage.

During the subsequent conversation, the atmosphere changed completely. Shen Tianpeng seemed like a different person, transforming from a cold and aloof CEO into a warm and talkative senior brother.

He dropped his airs, talking enthusiastically about past days at Yan University, recounting anecdotes about Professor Lu Guocai, and mentioning the current status of several fellow disciples who now held high-ranking positions. His words were filled with pride for their scholarly roots.

Lowering his voice with a hint of gossip and showing off, he slyly mentioned, "Junior brother, do you know? Our old secretary is currently serving right here in Jiang Province! Whenever the old secretary has spare time outside of work, he still asks after us unworthy students!"

Li Yifei understood clearly in his heart. This "old secretary" was none other than the current number-two figure in Jiang Province, and this was likely one of the key reasons Shen Tianpeng had come to develop his business in Jiang Province. Appropriately displaying reverence and concern for their shared mentor's generation, Li Yifei conversed with Shen Tianpeng with increasing rapport.

Amidst the flushed excitement of wine and food, Zhuang Jiaguan smiled and brought up the main business. "President Shen, look, our junior brother is doing a thriving job at the grassroots level. That pilot scheme in Duogang Town holds immense potential!

It's just that during the startup phase, the funding gap is quite substantial. On our side at the Development and Reform Commission, the Comprehensive Division has preliminarily considered specially approving 10 million in special funds to support the construction of this demonstration site!"

Wang Yongjun immediately followed up, "Since Director Zhuang is lending such heavy support, our Department of Transport cannot fall behind either! Comrade Yifei, submit your detailed requirements and application report for the upgrading and transformation of your town's road network as soon as possible!

I might not dare guarantee other things, but incorporating it into this year's 'Four Good Rural Roads' quality-improvement and efficiency-enhancement key project, and prioritizing the allocation of funds—I, Wang Yongjun, give you a military pledge!" He patted his chest in assurance, doing so partly to give face to Zhuang and Shen, and partly in recognition of Li Yifei's identity as a "fellow disciple under Professor Lu."

Shen Tianpeng nodded repeatedly as he listened, looking at Li Yifei with the appreciation reserved for "one of our own." "Good! Good! Since Director Zhuang and Director Wang are offering such strong support, as his senior brother, I certainly cannot stand idly by!" With a wave of his hand, he asked directly, "Junior brother, how much is your project actually short of? What kind of supporting resources do you need? Tell me about it!"

Li Yifei already had a well-prepared plan in mind. He concisely and methodically outlined Duogang Town's development blueprint, the progress of the Liuzhuang pilot project, the potential for aquaculture and deep processing, as well as the funding gaps and supporting requirements. He heavily emphasized the project's sustainability and its role in driving income growth for local residents.

Shen Tianpeng nodded repeatedly, finally making a decisive judgment: "Here is what we will do, Junior brother! Your project has clear thinking, and I am optimistic about the prospects! Our Shuisheng Group can invest in building a modernized aquaculture seedling base and a supporting deep-processing plant in Duogang Town!

The first-phase investment will not be less than 50 million! For land and policy aspects, we will need coordinated support from the county and town levels. Technology, markets, and branding will be handled by our group! Let us, as senior and junior brothers, join hands to build Duogang Town into a benchmark for rural revitalization in Jiang Province. What do you think?" This was both a commercial investment and a forceful show of support for his "Lu Sect" junior brother!

50 million! Shuisheng Group! A modernized base and deep-processing plant!

This generous gift far exceeded expectations!

Even with Li Yifei's resolute willpower, a massive surge of emotion and heartfelt gratitude welled up inside him. "Senior Brother Shen! This... this is truly too generous! Your support is nothing short of sending charcoal in the dead of winter. On behalf of all the cadres and masses of Duogang Town, I thank you!" He raised his glass solemnly once more.

Shen Tianpeng laughed heartily, clinking glasses with Li Yifei. "Between family, we don't speak of outside matters. As senior and junior brothers, we ought to support one another! Bottoms up!"

Amidst the interweaving of cups and goblets, Li Yifei looked at the warm and harmonious scene before him, listening to the robust support from Director Zhuang and Director Wang, and feeling the all-out assistance of Shen Tianpeng, a business titan, a bolder and sharper plan instantly crystallized in his mind!

*"The Wei clan's Li... Qian Youwei..."* He murmured inwardly, a cold, sharp glint flashing deep within his eyes. *"Is that seemingly unbreakable interest group of yours truly impervious to attack? Beneath greedy desires, corruption and fractures are inevitable!*

*Senior Brother Shen's 50 million investment and the provincial-level multi-million support form a massive, alluringly scented cake! When a cake big enough to reshape the landscape of Duoshui County and bring monstrous political achievements and profits drops down... can your internal unity really hold?"*

He could already foresee that, stimulated by massive profit temptations and uneven distribution, the preexisting cracks among the Wei clan's Li, Qian Youwei, and their unsavory "partners" behind the scenes would be instantly torn apart and widened!

Greed would drive them to madly pounce on the cake while simultaneously tearing viciously at their "companions" by their side!

*"Fortresses are usually breached from within."* Li Yifei raised his cup and took a light sip. The spicy liquor slid down his throat, making his mind even clearer and calmer. *"When you tear each other apart like dogs over uneven spoils, those filth-hiding corners will naturally be exposed to the sunlight.*

*As for me, I only need to stand quietly on the shore, watching you... struggle and sink in the mire of desire."*

A gentle, humble smile surfaced on his face as he stood up once again to pour wine for the three distinguished guests.

Beneath that smile lay an unfathomable depth of political calculation and an invisible giant net already cast toward the core of Duoshui County's power. The bait within the net had been cast; it only awaited the frenzied feeding of the school of fish tearing into one another.