Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 20 Lust is a knife above one's head

Lang Wenping added meaningfully, "Many people know more or less about Zhang Wanlin."

He spent his early years in the underworld, and later made his first fortune by illegally mining river sand. Soon after, he monopolized nearly half of the sand and gravel supply in Longcheng.

Later, he ventured into industries such as real estate, coal, cultural tourism, entertainment, and construction, and his assets grew larger and larger, making him the richest man in Longcheng.

Although it has been legalized, rumors of forced demolitions, bid rigging, violent debt collection, and involvement in prostitution, gambling, and drugs continue to circulate.

His company has a security team, which is basically just thugs and henchmen.

In recent years, he has been passionate about philanthropy, such as establishing a fund to care for impoverished girls.

The villas at the Jintang Hot Spring Resort, which were not open to the public, were important bases for him to build his network of relationships and conduct power-for-money transactions.

For Wu Zhiyuan, this dinner was undoubtedly a vivid "onboarding lesson".

Not long after I returned to my rented room, Wang Meili unexpectedly called me.

Wu Zhiyuan guessed about 80-90% of the way.

"Secretary Wu, you've been promoted to Chief Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, and you didn't even tell me?" Wang Meili's hearty laughter came from the other end of the phone.

Wu Zhiyuan said coldly, "Section Chief Wang, why are you paying attention to a good-for-nothing like me today?"

"Secretary Wu, you are very knowledgeable, you should know what counter-incentive is, right?"

I used to be frustrated with you, and I wanted to give you a push to make your potential shine. See, it worked!

Wang Meili has taken hypocrisy and snobbery to a new level.

Wu Zhiyuan scoffed, "Section Chief Wang has really gone to great lengths for my advancement."

"Who told me to be your sister? Zhiyuan, last time I was bitten by a snake, you sucked out the venom for me, risking your life."

Although it was later confirmed to be a non-venomous snake, we didn't know that at the time.

Zhiyuan, do you think my sister's legs are beautiful?

Last time, a venomous snake bit Wang Meili's thigh, and Wu Zhiyuan sucked out the "venom" for her.

As Wu Zhiyuan listened, he realized that Wang Meili was tempting him!

This woman is no pushover.

It is said that her promotion to deputy section chief was the result of a later promotion.

Wu Zhiyuan said coldly, "Section Chief Wang, what does it matter to me whether your legs are beautiful or not?"

Wang Meili chuckled and said, "Zhiyuan, you're still so clueless about romance! By the way, my cousin told me you broke up with your girlfriend?"

Wu Zhiyuan was taken aback; this Wang Meili was very well-informed.

She found out the day she became Xu Youwei's secretary.

She even knew about his breakup with Su Taohong.

Before Wu Zhiyuan could speak, Wang Meili said, "Zhiyuan, aren't you surprised? My cousin and Su Taohong are colleagues, and even in the same department. Want to know what Su Taohong said about you?"

Wu Zhiyuan really wanted to know, but he was unwilling to admit it: "Section Chief Wang, Su Taohong and I broke up. What she says or does has nothing to do with me anymore."

"How can it be okay? She almost used a megaphone to shout in the hospital that she was single!"

She called you a useless good-for-nothing, said you were a chauvinist, said you were controlling, and said that she was blind to have been with you, mistaking a pebble for Hetian jade.

If I ever lie, may a real five-step snake bite me to death next time!

Wu Zhiyuan believed that Wang Meili was not lying, otherwise she would not have made such a solemn oath. He also believed that Su Taohong would really say these words.

Wang Meili added, "Zhiyuan, this kind of woman is a snob! She doesn't know you're a potential catch! She throws away a treasure like trash!"

It won't be long before she's begging you to get back together! Don't be soft-hearted then; this kind of materialistic woman doesn't deserve you at all!

Wang Meili's words sounded ridiculous.

She herself is a typical snob, yet she solemnly criticizes Su Taohong. It's truly a case of the pot calling the kettle black!

Wu Zhiyuan said coldly, "Section Chief Wang, are you finished?"

"No!" Wang Meili's tone carried a deliberate gentleness. "Zhiyuan, my cousin told me that Su Taohong didn't completely criticize you. She said you have two qualities that she finds captivating. Want to hear them?"

This Wang Meili really knows how to manipulate people's psychology!

Wu Zhiyuan's attitude remained indifferent: "Section Chief Wang, I have no interest in anything related to Su Taohong. Is there anything else?"

"Oh, you're putting on an act with me now?" Wang Meili's voice carried a smugness that seemed to see right through him. "If you're not interested, why don't you just hang up? Zhiyuan, don't pretend in front of me!"

Wang Meili paused, and after building up the suspense, said in a mysterious and ambiguous tone, "My cousin said that Su Taohong privately admitted that you have two qualities that other men can't match."

First, he has a pretty good-looking appearance.

Secondly, he's physically strong, has a brute force, and is very manly.

Wu Zhiyuan believes these are Su Taohong's original words, because Su Taohong did indeed make this assessment of him.

"Zhiyuan, I'm divorced, did you know?" Wang Meili suddenly said.

"What does your divorce have to do with me?"

"You men are all the same! You want to play with pretty women, but you're afraid of getting entangled and having to take responsibility!"

Don't worry, I won't bother you!

I just wanted to verify whether Su Taohong's claim that you're strong and manly was true.

Wang Meili's words were no longer an implication, but a blatant provocation.

Wu Zhiyuan was never a man of unwavering integrity, but he wouldn't be blinded by such utilitarian and calculating provocations either.

He said sternly, "Section Chief Wang, your words have crossed the line of normal colleague etiquette!"

Wang Meili chuckled: "Zhiyuan, are all you men really this hypocritical?"

They appear dignified on the podium, and act respectable in their offices, but aren't they all philanderers in private?

If I'm not afraid, what are you, a grown man, afraid of? I don't need you to take responsibility; it's just a mutually beneficial arrangement!

Zhiyuan, here's a poem for you: My humble door is now opened for you.

If you've thought it through, come find me.

Wang Meili proactively hung up the phone to avoid the awkwardness of Wu Zhiyuan hanging up directly.

Wu Zhiyuan finally understood why many fallen officials had problems with their lifestyles: the greater the power they held, the more temptations they faced.

Take Wang Meili, for example. She's a woman with good looks, and on his very first day as the municipal party secretary, she was already offering herself to him. If he becomes the county party secretary or the municipal party secretary in the future, he will definitely be tempted by her beauty.

Wu Zhiyuan repeatedly warned himself: "Lust is a knife above one's head. This knife can not only cut off one's future, but also take one's life."

Adultery has always led to murder; if you don't believe me, just ask Ximen Qing.

Wu Zhiyuan couldn't help but wonder: What kind of power-for-sex deals and debauchery took place in the mysterious Villa No. 5 of Zhang Wanlin's Jintang Hot Spring Resort? How many high-spirited officials were brought down in this harem of pleasure?

Wang Meili sent me a photo of her beautiful legs.

Perhaps fearing Wu Zhiyuan's reprimand, he added a seemingly serious explanation: "Zhiyuan, there are no marks left on the spot where I was bitten by the snake last time."

Wang Meili is a poison, a poison disguised as honey.