Before I stepped into the office, Fang Yanmeng's voice had already reached me from within. "He works for you—he’s under your command! You don’t know where he is? My patience has its limits—I can't guarantee my temper won’t tear this house to pieces by now!"

Mao, the Party Secretary, stammered apologetically, "You're right to reprimand me, Madam Fang. Zhao Qian always breaks rules even on Sundays, going off somewhere without telling anyone. I’ll definitely discipline him when he returns."

"You dare?" she snapped. "I told you to watch him—not criticize him! For heaven's sake, can't you understand that simple concept?"

Mao’s fear deepened. He might have dared confront the president of Peach Blossom Financial with some bravado, but Earth Energy? The world knew their ties to Hong Long ran deeper than any government’s reach. If he angered this woman, his career wouldn’t be the only thing at risk—his life could vanish overnight.

"Yanmeng, what brings you here?" Huo Qingqing asked brightly as she opened the door first. At Mao's stunned expression, she smirked—he couldn't help staring at her beauty, it seemed.

Inside stood Fang Yanmeng, who looked up in surprise and gasped, "Oh my! Sister Qingqing? What are you doing here? Did you sneak over to see him? Naughty girl!"

Huo Qingqing rolled her eyes. "I’m rescuing someone—hardly a personal errand. So what are *you* doing here accusing me?" Mao listened in confusion. The two breathtaking women were clearly arguing about someone, but it never occurred to his flustered brain that either might be referring to the local development office director.

Fang Yanmeng shrugged. "I’m here about road construction plans. This Party Secretary doesn’t know anything—he’s as useful as a mute donkey! Zhao Qian is the only one worth talking to. Did you hear he became a government official? A rather important recruitment office director, no less."

Mao pointed at me behind Huo Qingqing then exhaled with relief. I stepped forward from my hiding place and said, "You flatter me by calling it an office—it’s just my dorm room upstairs. Let's not disturb his work here."

"Finally!" Fang Yanmeng cheered. Mao paled instantly. "Zhao Qian! Don’t cause more trouble! Why would you invite Madam Fang to your *dorm*? What kind of place is that for her?"

Fang Yanmeng smiled sweetly, "I *like* his dorm. You can stay here if you want—but don't follow us or I'll be very angry."

As we ascended the stairs, Mao wiped sweat off his forehead and immediately dialed the Municipal Party Committee hotline. Since Earth Energy's acquisition of Chongyang Energy, their status in Dragon Empire had soared to near-untouchable levels—both government and military deferred to them with nervous politeness. It wasn't just because they controlled nearly half the world's energy reserves, but more critically for their shadowy connections to Hong Long. If he mishandled this situation badly enough to create diplomatic tensions between Dragon Empire and... well, let's say Mao wouldn’t live long enough to see his next birthday.

Yun Yao had already settled her mother in our dorm earlier. Soon she would join Ning Shixuan in finding new accommodations. Picking up my phone as we entered the room, I found nearly 100 missed calls—everyone from county government except Fang Yanmeng clearly thought Mao had lost his mind trying to track me down.

Fang Yanmeng plopped onto my bed and said dramatically, "I wanted to surprise you but couldn’t find you anywhere! So disappointed... did you sneak out with Qingqing sister?"

Huo Qingqing leaned over to pinch her sides. "Daring to mock me again? I told you it's a rescue mission. Careful—I might have Zhao Qian torture you on the bed."

Fang Yanmeng grinned, "Great! I miss him terribly—better if he strips me naked and has his way with me."

I pushed both women onto my bed and lay between them, hugging one on each side. Fang Yanmeng murmured happily in my arms, "Qingqing sister—are you doing this *in front of us* for the first time?"

Huo Qingqing shyly nodded. Though our relationship was no secret to her family now, she'd never been openly affectionate with me before company.

Fang Yanmeng kissed my neck and purred, "I miss you so much Zhao Qian, let's do *it* properly this time. My mother has asked about it multiple times already—said I need to be more proactive or someone else will get there first. Actually, I know my father told her that deliberately. Just take me right in front of Qingqing sister."

Even on a weekday she wanted sex—it must have been unbearable for her. "Tonight," I said, "too many people here during the day. How about just a teaser to tide you over?"

Fang Yanmeng glanced at Huo Qingqing still in my other arm and sighed, "Fine, let's talk business first—don't want Qingqing sister thinking I'm childish."

Huo Qingqing smirked, "I don't mind watching. Might as well learn something. Xiao Rou won’t tell me how you two play anyway."

Fang Yanmeng winked, "Easy solution—move in together! There are plenty of empty rooms upstairs. Within a week you'll know exactly what we do at night. And if you want... just ask Zhao Qian—he loves 3P, 4P, uniforms..." She paused suggestively. "By the way Qingqing sister—are those clothes deliberate? Trying to seduce your husband?"

My hands automatically found their breasts—one in white doctor's uniform, one in business suit—both sights deliciously stimulating. I said, "Tonight then—we'll go 3P. Both of you stay. Take you out for night market afterwards."

The two women giggled happily into my arms, whispering, "Don't mind us causing trouble?"

Especially Huo Qingqing gave me a knowing wink—I knew she was reminding me about the other two women Fang Yanmeng didn’t know yet. I said, "No problem—go to hotel instead. But you pay for your own room."

Fang Yanmeng gasped, "You won't? We're in bed with you and now we have to *pay* for rooms? You're cheap!"

I shrugged, "What can I say? Haven’t been paid yet since coming here—so deep in debt I can’t afford hotel expenses."

Fang Yanmeng pouted, "Then stay here. This place has more... atmosphere compared to hotels."

Huo Qingyqing tilted her head curiously, asking, "Atmosphere?"

Fang Yanmeng nodded decisively, "Definitely! It’s much more exciting here—imagine someone next door eavesdropping through the wall. Think about those fools who thought Zhao Qian is an idiot watching two beautiful women growing out of him like flowers blooming from cow manure..."

"Ah!" Huo Qingqing and I both groaned in unison.

"But first let's talk road construction," Fang Yanmeng said, pulling out her phone. "I already collected all necessary data on the way here. Just need to sign a contract with Liangshan County before starting work. But not today—we can't get asphalt and gravel ready until tomorrow. Thirty mechanical engineering teams will mobilize simultaneously—maximum 72 hours for completion."

I studied Fang Yanmeng's road blueprint carefully. Given the rugged terrain requiring numerous tunnels, plus national highway standards, costs would be astronomical. Fortunately for us it was just energy expenditure. "Can you finish in 72 hours? This is massive work," Huo Qingqing hesitated to ask.

Fang Yanmeng said confidently, "We'll only be ahead of schedule. Monday Jingjing will send workers to build the factory—she wants a copy of your plan from last time. She needs blueprints ready tomorrow since only my swarm bots and Xiaoyuyan can handle construction work with those mechanical engineers. This probably means I have to oversee it personally because Xiaoyuyan does military projects exclusively."

I said, "Factory plans are being prepared already. Some details need geotechnical surveys first. I'll contact Jingjing right away about measurements. But that contract you mentioned?"

Fang Yanmeng said, "We can't just help Liangshan for free—first of all we wouldn't agree to it, and neither would your crazy wife. So naturally we must extract some benefits."

I smiled, asking, "What kind of benefits?"

Fang Yanmeng declared, "Fifty years tax exemption on everything. Land use rights freely granted!"

Fifty years without taxes? Free land access? These wives truly knew how to bring home the bacon—every one of them shrewdly focused on accumulating wealth for our family.

"Too harsh a condition?" I mused. "Will Secretary Mao and County Magistrate Zhao even agree? Even if they do, will the national government approve? That’s a huge revenue loss."

Fang Yanmeng said, "They won't refuse. This road construction alone costs ten billion—look at these tunnels! No cost cutting anywhere. Overall Liangshan should be happy since our factory will minimize automation to create more jobs. With employed locals and rising wages, Liangshan's economy will boom naturally. The government can’t ignore that growth just because of a little lost tax revenue."

I nodded in agreement with Fang Yanmeng. "Then let’s find Mao and Zhao right now. If they refuse we withdraw completely."

Fang Yanmeng grabbed my hand excitedly, "No need to wait! I already ordered 100 cargo planes for materials. Don’t want you making me lose money otherwise Dad will yell at me again for being reckless with funds!"

As Fang Yanmeng pulled me toward the door, there came a creak from next room—Yun Yao appeared in doorway suddenly. She froze seeing both of us then stared longer when she noticed we were holding hands. "Brother Zhao... you and..."

Fang Yanmeng rushed over to grab her hand happily, "You're Yun Rao right?"

Both Yun Yao *and* I were stunned into silence. Fang Yanmeng continued, "Don’t recognize me? You’re the new Golden Flower contestant Yun Yao! We went to same school together!"

Ah—this was how she knew about Yun Yao. But naturally Yun Rao shook her head. With her lonely life and lack of internet access, there was no way she could know Fang Yanmeng from Golden Flowers competition. Fang Yanmeng didn't press further. "Why are you here? Oh wait—is Zhao Qian hiding you here secretly again? He's terrible like that always sneaking around with beauties in golden cages!"

Just as she spoke, Ning Shixuan emerged from next door over. "Oh? Brother Zhao—who’s this incredibly cute girl? Are my eyes deceiving me?"

Fang Yanmeng asked, "Are you his coworker? I'm Fang Yanmeng."

Ning Shixuan gasped, "You! As in Earth Energy's Fang Yanmeng? You really look just like your news photos!"

"Did I appear on TV looking worse?" Fang Yanmeng teased.

Ning stammered, "No way! No, you're both beautiful—Xu President and you are total idols of mine. Can I get an autograph?"

Fang smiled, "Of course, as many as you want—but we need to go talk with Secretary Mao first."

"Fine," Ning said happily, "I'll wait in your dorm for you two!"

When we returned to Mao's office, he was still discussing strategies with County Magistrate Zhao. Hearing Fang Yanmeng’s contract proposal immediately sent him scrambling to consult municipal authorities who urgently escalated it to provincial level before Zhou Qiang even finished his rural inspection trip. After understanding the situation, he directly called into the province and soon Premier personally ordered full support—this agreement would have massive economic benefits for Liangshan.

Thus was decided. Within a week, Liangshan’s face will transform completely.

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