Lin Hao didn't refuse to meet with Yu Peishan, and they arranged to meet after two in the afternoon.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Hao reviewed all the members of the County Party Committee Office, and finally decided to let Liu Tingting take on the role of the office director.

After all, Liu Tingting had been intimately involved with him, and this young woman understood boundaries, knew when to advance and retreat, and wouldn't entangle herself with him.

Soon, Liu Tingting received the call and came to his office.

"Director Lin, is there something you need me for?"

Liu Tingting was wearing a professional skirt suit, her pencil skirt hugging her waist perfectly and accentuating her shapely hips, while her ample bosom was still as strikingly prominent.

Ever since their transaction was completed, Liu Tingting had wanted to rekindle things with Lin Hao, but Lin Hao exhibited some self-control and did not further complicate matters with her.

"Liu Tingting, I believe you're aware that the municipal discipline inspection commission just took away two deputy county magistrates..." Lin Hao lightly mentioned.

Liu Tingting immediately got excited, leaned in close to him, and asked in a hushed voice: "Director Lin, I heard that County Magistrate Zhou, Secretary Qin, and County Magistrate Zhao were also taken by the municipal commission. Is that true?"

"Where did you hear that from? I don't know anything about that. Weren't they supposed to go to the city to attend a meeting?" Lin Hao feigned ignorance.

"The meeting is just a cover; it's reported that County Magistrate Zhou's wife sent clothes to the city and was also taken by the municipal commission." Liu Tingting added.

"You guys are real gossips. If you used that energy for work, wouldn't that be better." Lin Hao glanced at her.

"I got it." Liu Tingting pouted in response.

"Alright, I have a serious matter to discuss with you. If you become the director of the County Party Committee Office, what are your thoughts?" Lin Hao smiled and asked.

"What? You want me to be the director?" Liu Tingting was initially surprised, then suddenly realized, saying: "Are you getting promoted?"

"Secretary Li is letting me rise to the position of deputy county magistrate, in charge of the economy." Lin Hao nodded slightly.

"Deputy county magistrate? That's great news, congratulations, Director Lin... No, I mean County Magistrate Lin." Liu Tingting smiled and congratulated him.

"I am recommending you to be the director of the County Party Committee Office. Any thoughts?" Lin Hao asked earnestly.

"Really? Thank you so much." Liu Tingting leaned closer, wanting to give Lin Hao a peck.

Lin Hao, scared, dodged backward, and with a stern face, said: "I'm talking business here?"

"Of course, I'd love to be the director, just worried that my skills might not be enough..." Liu Tingting said with a bitter face.

"Not skilled enough? The organization says you are capable, and so you are; they say you aren't capable, and then you aren't, so what are you worried about?" Lin Hao jested with a smile.

Liu Tingting naturally knew he was speaking the truth, and she responded solemnly: "Then you'll have to watch over me in the future."

"I'll surely look after the people I promote." Lin Hao nodded emphatically.

"So, our County Magistrate Lin, how do you want me to thank you?" Liu Tingting's eyes were seductive, filled with desire.

"Let's focus on business; for the next few days, keep quiet, and we'll talk after you've stabilized in this position." Lin Hao firmly declined her charm.

"Alright, so when are you leaving? We'll give you a send-off... No, we'll celebrate your promotion." Liu Tingting agreed.

"Because the municipal commission took away Jiang Yunchao and Luo Zhijun, the two deputy county magistrates, Secretary Li wants me to take office tomorrow." Lin Hao replied.

"Then we should have a dinner gathering tonight to celebrate your promotion." Liu Tingting proposed.

"It's also sort of a celebration for you." Lin Hao readily agreed.

Celebrating a promotion is a good thing; everyone having a dinner gathering is quite normal and part of regular team building, nothing shady, and there's nothing to fear about gossip.

Lin Hao wanted to use tonight's dinner to publicly support Liu Tingting, so she wouldn't be undermined by those in the County Party Committee Office.

Once the matters here were settled, Lin Hao headed to the National Development and Reform Commission to speak with Deputy Director Wei Lianggui about the official title.

Given that it was Lin Hao who came to talk to him, Wei Lianggui knew getting an official title was surely Lin Hao's wish, and he was deeply grateful to him.

With the support of the heads of two major departments, Lin Hao felt that serving as a deputy county magistrate in the future shouldn't pose too much of an issue.

Additionally, now that he was assigned to manage the economic development sector, the duties are quite similar to those of the National Development and Reform Commission, but with greater power.

Technically speaking, today is Saturday, and tomorrow is Sunday, normally it's a two-day break within the system. However, several high-level leaders in Wucheng County had issues, and during this power transition period, who dared to take a break?

...

After lunch, Lin Hao took a nap before driving out to meet Yu Peishan.

The two went to the west of the city to find a fortune teller to determine whether Yu Peishan was doomed to jinx her husband.

However, Lin Hao had already bribed the fortune teller to depict Yu Peishan as having the so-called "prosperous husband" trait, which delighted her.

After the fortune-telling, they casually picked a café and touched upon the new energy project again.

During the leisurely afternoon tea, Lin Hao seemed quite relaxed, and they chatted while having coffee.

"Today Chairman Guo called me, insisting I find a way to reclaim the new energy project, but I have no idea what to do." Yu Peishan casually remarked.

"What do you think? Do you want to go back?" Lin Hao smiled, observing her.

"I definitely can't go back now. Not just Chairman Guo, but even that Du Yumeng is likely to deal with me." Yu Peishan wasn't foolish.

"You don't have to worry; I said I'd give you the project. Secretary Li agreed, just instructing us to avoid any financial conflicts, so I can't accept your shares." Lin Hao didn't hide the situation.

"Then I'll give you compensation in another form. I surely won't skimp on your benefits." Yu Peishan smiled as she spoke.

"Given your current financial constraint, I'll have someone invest some money for you, and later on, I'll just take a share of the profits from the other side." Lin Hao suggested a compromise.

"Director Lin, if you take care of me, I definitely won't shortchange you." Yu Peishan promised again.

Honestly, these promises held no real value; Lin Hao genuinely wanted to help her so she wouldn't have to endure humiliation back at Zhi Xing Group.

Obviously, there was another reason: this project truly needed someone reliable to handle it.

Zhi Xing Group and their type, who make promises then renege, if they treat the County Party Committee and government as pushovers, they'll have to eat their own bitter fruit.

As the saying goes, 'Heaven may forgive sins committed by the heavens, but sins committed by men are unforgivable.'

Du Yumeng's haughty demeanor annoyed Lin Hao and displeased other leaders in the National Development and Reform Commission, which contributed to Lin Hao terminating cooperation with them.

Frankly speaking, a business fortunate enough to secure a footing in the new energy sector is already quite lucky; how dare they demand things from the County Party Committee and government, even considering transferring their taxes elsewhere—it's like burning bridges after crossing.

Such unreliable entities mustn't be indulged by the County Party Committee and government. That's why Li Jingyi ordered the retrieval of the project and told them to get lost.