Chapter 37
"I just think that since that piece of land is such a trouble, why not get rid of it?" Gu Xi feigned innocence. "We can't afford to offend the Gu family in Beijing right now, so it's better to fulfill their wishes—then they won't frame us again."
"You… you still think things are too simple," Wei Fangzheng smiled wryly. "But simplicity has its merits. At least you grasp the core of the matter."
Before Gu Xi could fully enjoy her uncle's praise, she saw Wei Fangzheng turn to Gu Changan. "Changan, Xixi's idea is good. You should announce the sale of the land tomorrow."
"So soon?"
"This needs to be done as soon as possible."
"But Chairman Zeng…"
"I'll talk to Chairman Zeng. Don't worry."
"Okay, I'll follow your lead." Though Wei Fangzheng was upright, he was not lacking in political savvy—otherwise, he wouldn't have risen from a commoner to a deputy position in the city.
The land sale was agreed upon, but Wei Fangzheng's doubts lingered. Many people had their eyes on the Yunzhou chief position, yet he hadn't expected Gu Wantong, so far away in Beijing, to be scheming for the same post.
"Have we ever offended the Gu family in Beijing?" Wei Fangzheng asked, puzzled. "Besides your company, is the Yunzhou chief position really that attractive?"
Just then, the dishes arrived, interrupting the conversation, but Gu Xi's thoughts continued racing. "Uncle, haven't you heard the rumors?"
"What rumors?"
Once the door to the private room was closed, Gu Xi revealed the news from her previous life. "Uncle, I heard from my classmates that Yunzhou might be upgraded."
"How is that possible?" Wei Fangzheng was surprised. How could he, the city's deputy, not know such news? "Where did you hear that?"
"My classmate's classmate told me," Gu Xi fabricated smoothly. "It might not be entirely accurate, but it's not baseless either."
If the news was true, then Gu Wantong's ambitions for Yunzhou made sense. But such a city upgrade wouldn't happen overnight; it required application, approval, and countless procedures. Sometimes even a whole city's effort wasn't enough.
Wei Fangzheng didn't want to believe the rumors, but all these subtle signs convinced him it might be true. Yet if that was the case, why hadn't he, as Yunzhou's deputy, heard anything?
Could it be that he had been deliberately excluded?
The thought sent a cold sweat down Wei Fangzheng's back. This was definitely not a good sign.