Chapter 91

The sound of sobbing and moaning continuously came from the room. As a high-pitched scream echoed, all the stormy activities came to a halt. Apart from the low, heavy breathing, there was no other noise. The air conditioner was on, sending a cool breeze to dispel the heat inside the room.

"Are you trying to kill me? Why are you so amazing today?" Zhou Ci, her eyes filled with coquetry, crawled beside Su Mu, her slender fingers rising to caress his firm muscles.

"I'm not always like this!" Su Mu snorted.

"Alright, I know you're still angry about what happened earlier. Actually, I was the one who told my father about it, and today's drinking party was my idea. Who is my father? He knows everything. Do you think he wouldn't notice something was off if I broke ties with the Zheng family? It's better to put it out in the open rather than hide it.

"Isn't it better for everyone this way? Besides, with my father backing you, you have another support in Qinglin City. Isn't that a good thing? As for what my father said at the end, I asked him. He said if you have insight, you'll figure it out on your own. If not, even if he explains it, it won't make a difference.

"I've said everything I needed to say. Are you still thinking about how to punish me? Fine, I'll take it all. Come on, ravage your Ci." Zhou Ci, like a wronged wife, made her eyes even more alluring, deliberately acting as if she had suffered greatly.

"This time, I'll let it slide. If it happens again and you don't report it in advance, you'll face the family rules!" Su Mu curled his lips and pinched the breast in front of him hard.

"Ouch, you're killing me... " Zhou Ci cooed, "By the way, the imperial jade we found in Langya Garden has been made into two bracelets and a few small jade ornaments. Each one is quite expensive. Take them, you can give them as gifts."

Saying this, Zhou Ci took out a few boxes from her bag and placed them beside Su Mu. Su Mu didn't open them, not even bothering to glance at them.

"Whatever you give me is mine, and I won't take it back. Wear the jade bracelet, and leave me two of the small ornaments."

"Yes, Master!" Zhou Ci said with a smile.

"Also, since you have no connection with Yajian anymore, are you interested in managing a business?" Su Mu took out a cigarette, and Zhou Ci quickly lit it for him. She also picked up a cigarette and leaned back on the pillow, smoking on her own.

Some women are naturally born to be seductive, and Zhou Ci is clearly one of them. Describing her as a temptress is not an exaggeration.

"Manage a business? What do you mean?" Zhou Ci asked, "You're not asking me to sell the jade bracelet and use the money to start a business, are you?"

"Rubbish, is that all I can do?" Su Mu glared at her, "I have a few antiques that can be sold for about ten million. You should also try to get a loan from the bank. A big project is about to start in Heishan Town, and I plan to have you invest in sprout tea."

"Really?" Zhou Ci sat up in surprise.

"Of course not!" Su Mu said irritably.

"Wow, my husband, you're so good. I knew you would take care of me. I'm so poor now, and you bring me money. This is the best life a wife can have." Zhou Ci smiled coquettishly, put her cigarette in the ashtray, and lowered her head, "Husband, let me serve you well!"

As she slid into a warm and moist place, Zhou Ci's head began to move up and down, and Su Mu moaned in pleasure.

Since Su Mu entered the political arena, he had never intended to use public funds. Using public money for personal gain is not a skill; it's a crime. So from the moment he obtained his position, he began to build his own economic foundation. In today's society, without money, one can accomplish nothing.

To put it bluntly, when Su Mu governs a region in the future, the enterprises he has cultivated can at least invest and develop the local economy.

Of course, these are future plans. Now, Su Mu just wants to ensure that since Zhou Ci is with him, there's no reason for her to live in poverty. Besides, the money he is using is all legal, and investing in a sprout tea plantation is not for personal gain.

No one would invest in sprout tea here even if you put up a sign. Since you don't believe in it, I'll do it myself. Let Zhou Ci establish this enterprise, and I'm sure it will succeed. Once the tea plantation is successful, anyone who wants to invest will have a different situation.

Xingtang County Party Committee Office Building.

Su Mu didn't stay in Qinglin City for long. He left early the next morning as the sun was just rising, appearing in front of the Xingtang County Party Committee Office Building. He tidied up his clothes, made sure everything was in order, and then walked into the building with a determined step, heading straight for an office.

Su Mu was not unfamiliar with the Party Committee Office Building. He had come here several times to report to Xie Wen. He knew the place well. However, with Xie Wen's downfall, the building was noticeably more desolate. The staff were all huddled in their offices, and no one was moving around casually.

Speaking of Xie Wen, Su Mu had no good feelings towards him. As the top leader of Xingtang County, this guy's behavior was too despicable. Not only did he ruin two state-owned enterprises, but the amount of money he embezzled was enough to execute him ten times over. Such a person should have been executed long ago.

Now, Su Mu was heading to the office of the county party secretary, Nie Yue.

In the system of the Heavenly Dynasty, there are many unique phenomena that seem strange but are actually quite normal. Each phenomenon is the result of power struggles. For example, the relationship between the party and government leaders. According to their defined responsibilities, they should each perform their duties and work together for the common good.

However, in reality, the conflict between the party and government leaders is inevitable and irreconcilable. The party controls personnel, which means both sides can only compete through their own strength. Whoever has more power has more say.

Whoever has more say can control the overall situation. In Xingtang County, Xie Wen was always very domineering. He not only suppressed County Magistrate Zhao Rui'an but also left County Party Secretary Nie Yue with no say.

As the county party secretary, Xie Wen tightly controlled the Organization Department, which should have been under Nie Yue's jurisdiction. Li Ya, Xie Wen's loyal subordinate, only listened to Xie Wen and showed no respect to Nie Yue, his superior.

In terms of authority, Nie Yue, as the county party secretary, was supposed to assist Xie Wen in the daily work of the county party committee, with the main power being the promotion of county-managed cadres. Li Ya, as the organization minister, was supposed to submit the list of promoted cadres to Nie Yue for preliminary review, and then Nie Yue would submit it to the county party committee for collective discussion and decision.

However, the key issue was that Xie Wen's dominance made him treat Nie Yue as a mere figurehead. All matters of cadre promotion and appointment were directly handled by Xie Wen, instructing Li Ya to do the work.

In such a situation, Nie Yue was always very low-key at the county party committee meetings. Since he couldn't confront Xie Wen, he retained the right to abstain from voting.

In Xingtang County, everyone knew that very few people came to report to Nie Yue. Many of those who had served as his secretaries resigned after just a few days. No one wanted to follow a leader with no future. After using two secretaries, Nie Yue became disheartened and left the secretary position vacant, not appointing anyone to this day.

This created a situation where Su Mu appeared outside the office without a secretary to receive him. Looking at the empty corridor, a mysterious smile appeared on Su Mu's lips.

In the past, Su Mu might not have come to report to Nie Yue, but the information he got from Zhou Conglan shocked him. Knowing that the currently popular Zhao Rui-an might end up with nothing, Su Mu had no hesitation in coming to "warm the cold stove."

If this "cold stove" is warmed well, it could become a solid backing for Su Mu in Xingtang County. After all, between Nie Yue and Zhao Rui-an, Su Mu now leans more towards the former.

Zhao Rui-an's purely bureaucratic style has completely disappointed Su Mu. Following such a leader means he will never achieve anything.

Su Mu took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and then raised his right hand to knock on the tightly closed door.