Chapter 117: Beyond All Expectation

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As Guoyang Zhao approached a group of prominent figures, several security personnel moved forward to block his path.

Huang Zhigang frowned slightly and waved his hand; the security guards immediately stepped aside, repositioning themselves to maintain vigilance.

Zhao quietly approached the dignitaries, momentarily at a loss for words.

Li Kexian smiled warmly at the young man before him, extending his hand: “What’s the matter, comrade? It’s only been a month—don’t tell me you’ve forgotten this ‘businessman’ of yours?”

Hearing this, Zhao felt a flush rise to his cheeks.

Previously, at Siyang Group, he hadn’t paid much attention to the old man’s peculiar presence, but now, if he failed to recognize the man’s distinguished status, then the five or six decades of his past life would have been wasted.

Shaking Li’s hand, Zhao awkwardly said, “Greetings, sir. I apologize—I had mistaken you for a distributor at Siyang Group before…”

“Ha! Old Li, a distributor?” Ji Zhongxuan, standing nearby, nearly choked on his laughter at Zhao’s words.

Li’s face reddened as he cleared his throat: “Alright, alright, young Zhao, no need to dwell on the past. I’ve been thinking about you every day since we last met a month ago…”

Seeing Li grasp Zhao’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go, Mayor Huang chuckled, “Old Li, it’s quite noisy here with so many people around. Let’s move somewhere quieter. How about we head over to the Machinery Industry Committee with Xiao Liang and the others? What do you think?”

“Sure, sure! Mayor Huang, whatever you say, we’ll do!” Li nodded repeatedly.

Li’s words startled Zhao. He glanced sideways and asked, “Mayor Huang? Could you be the same Mayor Huang who gave the opening speech just now?”

Noticing Zhao’s surprise, Huang stepped forward, extending his hand with a friendly smile and a hint of teasing: “If there wasn’t a second opening speech, then it’s me. Hello, Comrade Zhao!”

Knowing Huang Zhigang’s identity, Zhao gradually composed himself.

Though the position of mayor of Songjiang City was high-ranking, Zhao’s previous life had acquainted him with many officials of similar stature, so he felt no usual nervousness or unease.

Observing Zhao’s calm and sincere handshake with Huang, without any hint of flattery, Fang Xuesen nodded approvingly nearby.

“Hey, Zhao Guoyang, why’d you leave so suddenly without waiting for me?” Zhao Siyuan’s voice came from behind.

“You don’t know, that little mustached guy was so annoying—kept jabbering and insisted I take his business card to give to you! Hey, did you run into someone you know?” Zhao Siyuan, ever carefree, didn’t seem to notice Wang Ziqing and the others behind her as her gaze fell on Zhao.

Zhao came back to himself, glanced at Zhao Siyuan, and didn’t quite know how to explain.

“Researcher Zhao Siyuan, right? Come on, let’s go together to our Machinery Industry Committee!” Huang Zhigang waved cheerfully.

When Zhao Siyuan clearly saw Huang’s face, her expression froze in astonishment.

It was true that Zhao Guoyang didn’t recognize Huang Zhigang, but Zhao Siyuan, a native of Songjiang, certainly knew her hometown’s mayor.

Seeing her mouth hang open, Huang chuckled: “Heh, looks like little Zhao knows me after all—I must have some reputation at the grassroots level…”

“Mayor, you’re joking…” Zhao Siyuan smiled awkwardly.

The group chatted as they left the convention center, where two silver-white Toyota Previa vans—commonly known as “bullet heads”—were waiting.

Huang Zhigang, Fang Xuesen, Li Kexian, and Ji Zhongxuan boarded the first van, while Liang Xiaofeng, Wang Ziqing, Zhao Guoyang, and Zhao Siyuan took the second.

Once inside, Zhao Siyuan couldn’t help but complain to Zhao: “You, Zhao Guoyang, sure know how to keep secrets! I thought you were a stranger in Songjiang, but you actually know our Mayor Huang!”

Zhao spread his hands innocently, at a loss for words.

Wang Ziqing, sitting ahead, chuckled and helped explain: “Little Zhao, you really misunderstood—he doesn’t know Mayor Huang; Mayor Huang knows him.”

“Ah…” Zhao Siyuan’s jaw dropped, nearly swallowing a huge lump of disbelief.

Clearly, Wang’s explanation was the last thing she expected.

……

On the second floor of Songjiang’s Machinery Industry Committee, an oval table was surrounded by a scattering of seated individuals.

At the head sat Mayor Huang Zhigang; opposite him was Director Fang Xuesen of the committee. Next in rank were Li Kexian, Ji Zhongxuan, Liang Xiaofeng, and Wang Ziqing.

Unsurprisingly, Zhao Guoyang and Zhao Siyuan took the seats of humble company at the far end.

Once the office staff served tea, Mayor Huang took the initiative to speak.

He first introduced the attending leaders and experts to Zhao and Zhao Siyuan.

In truth, even without Huang’s introduction, Wang and Liang had already informed them of the dignitaries’ identities during the car ride.

After introductions, Huang turned to Zhao: “Comrade Zhao, Old Li has been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Ever since he met you at Siyang Group, he’s mobilized all his resources to find you. Ha! Who would have thought we’d finally welcome you here in Songjiang? You and our city are truly destined!”

Hearing this, Fang Xuesen silently thought: The mayor’s talent-poaching skills really are exceptional—he’s even managed to frame it as destiny.

After Huang finished, Li cleared his throat: “Mayor Huang, Zhao and I hit it off immediately. He’s a talent I recognized first—you can’t snatch him away from me!”

Knowing Li’s straightforward nature, Huang laughed and waved his hand: “Don’t worry, we wouldn’t dream of stealing anyone away in Songjiang. But if Zhao is willing to work here and grow alongside our fifteen million residents, how could you hold him back?”

“The best talents must be coordinated by the central government!” Li retorted.

“Heh, the leadership has said that vigorously developing Songjiang is the nation’s top priority for the coming period. Central coordination surely takes that into account, doesn’t it, Old Li?” Huang countered playfully.

Listening to the friendly verbal sparring between the mayor and Old Li, Zhao Siyuan had countless questions but dared not voice them.

Instead, she silently glanced at Zhao, hoping for answers.

By this point, Zhao Guoyang had already pieced together the circumstances leading to his attendance at the Songjiang Auto Expo.

Undoubtedly, it was the words he had spoken to Old Li at Siyang Group that had impressed him and prompted efforts to recruit him.

But why the mayor of Songjiang regarded him so highly—that was something Zhao still struggled to understand.