Chapter 61: Feast at Hongmen

Words : 973 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Feast at Hongmen When Lin Fan arrived at this private club, it was already evening. He parked his car and looked at the three-story Western-style building before him, taking a deep breath. This would be a feast of dangers, and though no one knew the outcome, Lin Fan still got out of the car and went in. "Hello, all electronic devices are prohibited inside. Please leave your devices outside." As soon as he stepped through the door, there were two security guards standing with metal detectors, giving the impression of entering an airport. After a body search, they took away Lin Fan’s two mobile phones, keys, and metal lighter, and placed them in a special box. Then, led by a hostess wearing a high-slitted cheongsam, he walked into the luxuriously decorated clubhouse. Soon, as the door to the private room opened, Lin Fan stepped inside, finding himself in an atmosphere of opulence. There was even a Dragon Chair in the room, large enough to seat five or six people side by side, carved completely from a single piece of root wood. The dozens of uniquely designed dragon heads on it alone were breathtaking. At this moment, the room was empty, and Lin Fan, guided by the cheongsam-clad lady, admired the antiques placed in every corner. He learned from her that the Dragon Chair alone was worth over a hundred million, and the seemingly unremarkable antique vases and calligraphy paintings were worth tens of millions each. In total, the room’s decorations were worth billions, making this the most expensive decor Lin Fan had ever dined in. Just as Lin Fan was marveling at the luxurious decor, the door to the private room was opened, and Guo Baoming appeared in casual attire, smiling as he shook Lin Fan’s hand, "Mayor Lin, sorry to keep you waiting, some official matters held me up." "Mayor Guo, managing so many tasks must be exhausting." Despite looking at the man who had taken away his former girlfriend, Lin Fan could only greet him with a smile, "It’s an honor to be part of your dinner, and it’s still early, I was the one who arrived too soon." "I’ve seen the documents you prepared when you were at the secretary’s office. They were splendidly written; you’re truly a man of talent. I’ve wanted to get to know you for a long time, but as you know, the secretary’s office is Mayor Hou’s territory, and as the second-in-command, getting too close to you might raise unnecessary suspicions. But now things are different since you’re currently the deputy mayor of Lotus Town, and I was previously the district mayor of Lianhua District. Many of my old colleagues are still there, and we should get closer from now on." This seemingly ordinary conversation carried an implicit warning. The direct superior to Lotus Town was Lianhua District. Even if Lin Fan was Zhu Defu’s man, the county official held no authority against local governance. Without going through Lianhua District, many things couldn’t be accomplished, so he was reminding Lin Fan that he could still control his fate from the background. "Following in Mayor Guo’s footsteps will surely motivate me even more." Lin Fan had to pretend he didn’t understand, and just then, several people entered the room. Introduced by Guo Baoming, Lin Fan hastily stood up to shake hands with each. These were all heads of various city departments, a lineup not inferior to Zhu Defu’s former gatherings, even suggesting a certain ascendancy. This was his demonstration of strength. "Alright, we’re all friends here. Let’s sit down and eat." Guo Baoming waved his hand, and everyone found their seats according to their ranks. Lin Fan, being a mere deputy county magistrate, could have only taken a seat near the door at such a grand table but was beckoned by Guo Baoming to sit beside him. "Mayor Guo... I’m too young to sit here." Lin Fan quickly shook his head. Sitting beside him were the Minister of Propaganda and the Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee, part of the city committee’s leadership. Even the heads of the Health Commission, in this arrangement, would have to sit down below. In theory, standing outside by the door wouldn’t be unfitting for a deputy county magistrate like him, let alone sitting next to Guo Baoming. "If I ask you to sit, you sit." "Mayor Guo asked you to sit, you mustn’t disregard the leader’s arrangement." "This is Mayor Guo showing his trust in you." Amidst urging from Guo Baoming and flattery from others, Lin Fan sat down apprehensively. According to this seating order, the dean of the City Hospital and his wife could only find seats by the door. Lin Fan had met this couple at a previous dinner. The man was in his fifties, wearing glasses, and his wife, who was only in her early thirties, was not very tall but looked rather refined and well-proportioned, embodying the reserved nature of southern women. As the only woman present, she took the initiative to pour drinks for everyone. "Today, aside from introducing a good brother to everyone, the most commendable event is that our Dean Liu has finally been officially promoted." Guo Baoming raised his glass, smiling towards Dean Liu and his wife, and the rest followed suit, lifting their glasses as well. Dean Liu and his wife also raised their glasses, "Thank you for the leadership’s trust, allowing me to occupy this position. I will definitely perform well in the future." "This second toast, of course, is dedicated to our young brother, Lin Fan. Let me tell you, this man is the youngest deputy mayor we have. On the path of officialdom, he’s truly a promising young talent. We, the preceding waves, must maintain a good relationship with the following waves."

Chapter 61: Feast at Hongmen

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