Names: Uncle Zhao Mengsheng, Father-in-law Pei Yihong

Sha Ruijin stopped getting bogged down in pointless arguments and took the pen that Secretary Bai handed him.

He wrote a few lines and signed his name.

Secretary Bai handed it over to Chen Qingquan.

Chen Qingquan glanced at it, not caring about anything else.

All that's needed is for Sha Ruijin to sign it.

Without any further hesitation, Chen Qingquan stepped forward and tore off the seal from the Intermediate People's Court on the conference room door.

A group of provincial and municipal officials, factory leaders, and management from the Shanshui Group entered the conference room in an orderly manner.

It quickly became so crowded that it was impossible to move.

The stadium was packed, with people standing in the aisles and along the walls.

The area outside the conference room was packed with workers from the Dafeng Factory, three or four layers deep.

Everyone was eager to see what outcome this symposium would produce.

The stuffy air, mixed with the noise of people, made the meeting room feel even more stifling and oppressive.

Zheng Xipo stood in the corner, looking at the crowded and stuffy scene, and subconsciously reached out to press the air conditioner switch.

Turning on the air conditioner is perfectly normal.

Just as his fingertip was about to touch the switch, a calm and cold voice rang out, directly interrupting his action.

"Chairman Zheng, the air conditioning cannot be turned on."

Qi Tongwei didn't even lift his eyelids, his tone calm yet carrying an unyielding force.

Zheng Xipo's hand froze in mid-air, looking bewildered, before awkwardly withdrawing it.

Everyone in the room turned to look, full of doubt, no one understanding why the air conditioner wasn't turned on.

Sha Ruijin glanced sideways at Qi Tongwei, asking in confusion, "Executive Qi, it's stuffy and hot inside with so many people. Turning on the air conditioning to cool things down is a minor matter, so why can't we turn it on?"

Qi Tongwei raised his eyes, glanced indifferently at Chen Yanshi beside him, and asked a question instead of answering.

"Secretary Sha, you can ask Old Chen Yanshi about this, and he will know the answer."

All eyes immediately fell on Chen Yanshi.

Chen Yanshi paused, looking puzzled, and waved his hand. "Executive Qi, it's just turning on the air conditioner, a trivial matter. You're making a mountain out of a molehill. Why are you asking me?"

Completely baffled, I couldn't understand how such a trivial matter could involve me.

Qi Tongwei smiled faintly and hit the nail on the head, "Old Chen, I wouldn't dare take that risk."

"What if we turn on the air conditioning today, and tomorrow you turn around and report us, the provincial party committee members, to the provincial party committee standing committee for extravagance and waste, and for not being frugal? We'd be speechless and have to publicly apologize for nothing. It's not worth it."

Upon hearing this, some people in the room immediately suppressed their laughter, everyone knowing the implication.

Everyone remembers that back then, Chen Yanshi reported Zhao Lichun for turning on the air conditioning in a hotel during his tenure, causing a huge uproar.

Chen Yanshi blushed slightly, looking a little embarrassed, and quickly explained, "Executive Qi is joking. Times have changed."

I reported Zhao Lichun for using air conditioning back then because those were difficult times, resources were scarce, and the whole country needed to be thrifty and work hard. Public officials should set an example.

Times have changed. Our Handong economy is booming and developing well. We're well-off now, so turning on an air conditioner isn't extravagant.

He didn't want to be labeled as someone who made baseless accusations or nitpicked over trivial matters.

Feng Liqun spoke up at the right moment: "Old Chen, you can't say that."

Hard work and frugality are the unchanging fine traditions of our Party. No matter how far the economy develops, these fine traditions must not be lost, and we cannot slacken them in the slightest.

This statement is perfectly balanced and flawless; it's a standard answer.

Sha Ruijin tapped the table. "Alright, comrades, let's not dwell on the past. Let's get down to business and start the meeting."

As soon as he finished speaking, the noise in the room returned.

The room was packed with people, their voices rising and falling.

Under such conditions, it's impossible to hold a meeting.

Qi Tongwei scanned the crowded people and turned to Wu Xiongfei. "Mayor Wu, with so many people here and so much noise, can the meeting proceed normally?"

As the mayor of Jingzhou City, please feel free to speak your mind.

Wu Xiongfei's heart tightened, and he instantly became extremely cautious. "Executive Qi, I have no objection. Secretary Sha and Secretary Gao are both present. I will learn diligently and learn from outstanding people."

The more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; if you do nothing, you make no mistakes. This was his survival principle after years of navigating the officialdom.

Upon hearing this, Li Dakang couldn't help but make a lighthearted joke, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery.

"Mayor Wu is truly a lifelong learner; his attitude is worth emulating."

Tomorrow I'll send you a set of online courses, and also a set of "Five Years of College Entrance Examination and Three Years of Simulation".

You could choose to retire early, study at home, and even take the college entrance exam a few more times.

Hahaha!

A burst of laughter rang out.

The tense atmosphere eased slightly.

Gao Yuliang adjusted his glasses, then smoothly replied with a refined smile, "Secretary Dakang, I'd also like to share in this. I have a penchant for history; what book are you planning to give me?"

Li Dakang waved his hand readily, "If Secretary Yuliang asked, of course there's no problem; it must be arranged. I'll give you a set of 'Five Thousand Years of Chinese History'."

Obviously, it was all a joke.

However, Tian Guofu took it seriously.

Tian Guofu chimed in, "Secretary Dakang, I also enjoy reading and studying in my spare time. Could you arrange a set for me too?"

It's okay to take advantage of a little bit.

Li Dakang immediately turned hostile, his tone blunt: "Secretary Guofu, you wish."

My salary, Li Dakang's salary, comes from nothing, not from some windfall.

If you want to read books, buy them yourself.

We absolutely will not tolerate that old scoundrel Tian Guofu.

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter again.

Tian Guofu's face stiffened, he was both amused and exasperated, yet he had no way to refute it.

He tried to gain a small advantage but failed and instead got scolded by Li Dakang. He really lost both his wife and his army.

Wu Chunlin quickly tried to smooth things over: "Garlic Bird, alright, alright, Dakang, Guofu, let's not joke around during the meeting."

"Secretary Sha is here!"

Now that he was on the Sha family's side, Wu Chunlin had to uphold Sha Ruijin's authority.

Qi Tongwei sat up straight and said, "Minister Wu is right. Since everyone has no opinion yet, let me say a few words first."

Today's meeting has only one core topic: the demolition dispute at Dafeng Factory and the resettlement of workers.

Unauthorized personnel, please leave.

As soon as he finished speaking, there was complete silence, both inside and outside the venue; no one moved.

The workers present were all eager to hear the results, and none of them wanted to leave.

Qi Tongwei had anticipated this, and without changing his expression, he spoke in a deep voice.

"Fang Ping, would you like to talk?"

Fang Ping rolled up his sleeves. "Governor Qi, distinguished leaders."

When I first arrived in Handong, I was still getting to know the situation at the grassroots level in Jingzhou.

But as the executive vice mayor, I must tell the truth.

The Guangming Peak project is the top priority project in Guangming District and a benchmark project for boosting GDP and revitalizing the regional economy in Jingzhou.

The project has a tight schedule and is of great significance. The biggest obstacle now is the demolition of the Dafeng Factory.

"As long as the Dafeng Factory remains standing, the Guangmingfeng project cannot commence fully, and the entire urban development plan of Jingzhou will be hampered."

The words were objective and straightforward, and every sentence was closely related to the overall development of the city.

That is undeniable.

Qi Tongwei nodded slightly and looked at Sun Liancheng.

"Liancheng, you are the district head of Guangming District. You should know the situation on the front lines best. Please add some information."