However, the dining places for officials and businessmen were separate, so Jiang Xiaochuan did not find a chance to ask Rong Shaobai what the expression on his face was.

Only when he went to the bathroom, he bumped into Rong Shaobai. He seemed to have been drunk. He was holding the sink with his hands and looked miserable.

Seeing Jiang Xiaochuan coming, Rong Shaobai raised his eyelids and said in a tired voice: “Mayor Jiang, I haven’t congratulated you yet.”

Jiang Xiaochuan was now the acting mayor.

But hearing Rong Shaobai’s tone, he felt unspeakably depressed.

Something was wrong with Rong Shaobai now.

“Although it is important to discuss business and build relationships, President Rong still needs to pay attention to his health. Drinking too much wine will hurt your stomach.”

This was Jiang Xiaochuan’s true words. As far as he knew, there were not many officials in the municipal government who had a good stomach. Chinese people loved talking about things at the dinner table and usually done while drinking. There was a female director in the municipal government who was an expert at drinking with others. She relied on the wine table to rise to the top. However, she was sent to the hospital due to stomach bleeding a few days ago. She hadn’t been back yet.

Rong Shao had a good capacity for liquor, but it was a bit too much to drink like this.

But Rong Shaobai didn’t care very much. “Does Mayor Jiang know Yue Fan?”

Jiang Xiaochuan raised his eyes and shook his head, “What’s wrong?”

Then he heard Rong Shaobai burst into laughter, and then he shook his head, looking at Jiang Xiaochuan with an extremely sarcastic look. “It’s nothing. I just feel that Yue Fan is really pitiful. He can’t compete with me.”

Rong Shaobai patted his forehead, then smiled, “I am talking nonsense again. Mayor Jiang, I still have a few glasses of wine to enjoy. I want to go in and drink. See you later.”

“Please, help yourself.”

.

Jiang Xiaochuan watched Rong Shaobai leave. He turned on the faucet and put his hands under the water. The coolness of late summer lingered. As the water flowed, Jiang Xiaochuan’s gaze lowered, his expression remarkably calm.

Rong Shaobai suddenly mentioned Yue Fan, but Jiang Xiaochuan denied knowing him.

In fact, he vaguely suspected that Rong Shaobai must have known something. Jiang Xiaochuan was aligned with Yue Qingci’s faction, and while he wasn’t personally close to Yue Fan, he clearly lied when he denied knowing him.

The underlying message of Rong Shaobai’s words implied that Jiang Xiaochuan knew Yue Fan but sided with Yue Qingci.

In the recent power struggle, Rong Shaobai appeared victorious, yet behind the scenes, it was Yue Fan who fell, with the ultimate victor being Yue Qingci.

Their cooperation benefited each other initially. However, Rong Shaobai might not have realized Jiang Xiaochuan’s connection to the Yue family. Jiang Xiaochuan’s collaboration with Rong Shaobai was primarily to defeat Yue Fan and bolster Yue Qingci.

Rong Shaobai used Jiang Xiaochuan to eliminate Yue Fan, while Jiang Xiaochuan utilized Rong Shaobai’s strategy to undermine Yue Fan, thereby aiding Yue Qingci.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, but Jiang Xiaochuan never disclosed his true intentions to Rong Shaobai. Perhaps Rong Shaobai now questioned why Jiang Xiaochuan cooperated so readily before learning this information. Hence, Rong Shaobai’s sarcastic laughter when Jiang Xiaochuan denied knowing Yue Fan.

Jiang Xiaochuan wiped his hands with a tissue, pondering only four words:

“Seeking skin from a tiger.”

This epitomized his relationship with Rong Shaobai.

Rong Shaobai’s aloof demeanor stemmed not from perceiving their collaboration as unique but from feeling slighted by Jiang Xiaochuan’s implied disdain.

An individual as proud as Rong Shaobai couldn’t tolerate anything being out of his control. Thus, upon realizing Jiang Xiaochuan’s true motives, he felt as though he had unwittingly aided Jiang Xiaochuan’s ascent, making him feel used and undervalued.

In the end, neither Rong Shaobai nor Yue Qingci emerged victorious. The true winner was Jiang Xiaochuan.

.

Exiting the bathroom, Jiang Xiaochuan returned to the dining table, adeptly navigating through toasts and pleasantries. As the newly appointed acting mayor, everyone had a reason to raise a glass in his honor.

Wei Lai, his confidential secretary, ensured Jiang Xiaochuan’s safe return to the municipal compound, even knocking on the door for him. Opening the door was Jiang Xiaochuan’s father, Jiang Encheng.

Jiang Encheng frowned when he saw Jiang Xiaochuan drunk like this, “What’s the matter with you?”

Jiang Xiaochuan pressed his forehead, leaning against the door frame, and replied with a smile, “It’s okay, I just had a bit too much to drink, nothing serious. By the way, Wei Lai, thank you. Come in and have a glass of water.”

Wei Lai quickly shook his head. He noticed there were people in Jiang Xiaochuan’s living room. Now was not the time for him to linger. Besides, he wasn’t thirsty. “I appreciate your kindness, but the car is still parked outside, and I have to get back.”

It was too late to return the car to the government office now.

Jiang Xiaochuan had no choice but to watch Wei Lai leave first. He entered the living room and had just slipped on his slippers when he noticed someone sitting there.

Before Jiang Xiaochuan could speak, the elderly man next to the chessboard chuckled, “Is this Brother Encheng’s son?”

Brother Encheng?

Jiang Encheng?

Jiang Xiaochuan was momentarily taken aback.

Jiang Encheng nodded, “Yes, Xiaochuan, this is an old comrade of mine.”

The old man added, “We had a pleasant chat while watching others play chess on the street, so I thought I’d drop by and say hello.”

It seemed they met on the street.

The atmosphere in Chengzhou, a livable city, was quite friendly. People often gathered to play chess outside tea shops, adding to the city’s charm.

As long as Jiang Encheng was happy and healthy, Jiang Xiaochuan had nothing else to worry about. Feeling exhausted, he smiled, “I’m going to take a nap now. Dad, please don’t stay out too late.”

After a serious illness, Jiang Encheng appeared much older. He saw Jiang Xiaochuan entered, then resumed his position, ready to make his move.

“What a move!” The old man’s eyes gleamed as he made his own move.

The two of them played chess in the living room for a while.

As soon as Jiang Xiaochuan collapsed onto his bed, he drifted into sleep, oblivious to the vibrating phone beside him.