Chapter 1672: Chapter 1672
"Is that the police?"
Jiang Yiren glanced at the rearview mirror and asked belatedly.
Song Guanchao replied with a hum: "Plainclothes."
The local police reacted quite quickly, but no matter how fast, it was useless.
"Will they catch up... ah, they really are chasing!" Jiang Yiren was initially only worried, but now she saw several sedans chasing from behind through the rearview mirror and became nervous.
Song Guanchao glanced over and laughed: "Ignore them."
His mission to Feng City to rescue someone couldn’t be publicized, but Feng City’s illegal act of privately detaining Chairman Qiao couldn’t be discussed in the open either.
Song Guanchao just found it troublesome and didn’t want to make the situation bigger.
If they really angered him, he wouldn’t mind making a scene.
Let’s see who ends up losing!
Chairman Qiao kept turning around, eyebrows furrowed, appearing somewhat panicked, but perhaps influenced by Song Guanchao’s calmness, she had a strong sense of security.
Song Guanchao stepped on the gas pedal fully, President Xie’s car was a six-cylinder, with great power and engine force, quickly widening the gap.
Yet, the police behind were relentless, also flooring their gas pedals; even though they couldn’t catch up, they wouldn’t be completely left behind either.
"Endless chase."
Song Guanchao snorted, took out his phone, distractedly found Wu Qiangwei’s number and dialed.
The call connected, and Song Guanchao quickly briefed her on the situation, finally saying: "Mayor, send me the phone number of the Phoenix City Public Security Bureau Chief."
"What do you intend to do?"
"Better to untangle a feud than to form one; I’ll communicate with them."
Wu Qiangwei was silent for two seconds, then asked: "Need me to make contact?"
"No need." Song Guanchao said: "It’s best you stay out, if they don’t give face, I’ll reach out then."
"Alright."
A few minutes later, Wu Qiangwei sent a message with the Phoenix City Public Security Bureau Chief’s phone number.
He called them, and it quickly connected.
"Who is this?" Director Zhang was already on the highway too; he received a message earlier and had spotted the car.
"Hello Director Zhang, I’m Song Guanchao from Jiangzhou City..."
Upon hearing the other self-introduce, Director Zhang was somewhat puzzled: "Is there something, Director Song?"
Song Guanchao said: "I do have a matter I’d like to trouble Director Zhang with."
As someone from Nanjiang Province, you have a matter to trouble me with?
Director Zhang curiously asked: "What is it?"
Song Guanchao: "Trouble Director Zhang by notifying the police following me to stop. The car speed is approaching two hundred; driving this fast is rather dangerous."
Director Zhang was taken aback, eyes widened: "Is it you?"
"It’s me." Song Guanchao’s tone was amiable, he didn’t want conflict with the other.
He assumed the other wouldn’t want to argue with him either.
Yet things didn’t go as wished; upon finding out the rescuer was Song Guanchao, Director Zhang sneered darkly: "Director Song, do you realize what you’re doing?"
Song Guanchao said: "Chairman Qiao has already signed an investment agreement with Jiangzhou, I heard she’s being detained by the company’s executives, specially came to check."
He completely avoided mentioning Phoenix City Public Security.
But Director Zhang seemed oblivious to his implication, coldly saying: "Immediately return the person, I will pretend this never happened!"
His tone was cold and indisputable.
"Could Director Zhang give me a little face?"
"Now, immediately, return the person!" Director Zhang was extremely domineering, leaving no room for negotiation.
Song Guanchao suddenly laughed: "Is Director Zhang sure about doing this?"
Director Zhang: "What, you think it’s inappropriate?"
"Indeed inappropriate." Song Guanchao said: "Your actions of illegally detaining a private enterprise’s chairman without any evidence are inherently inappropriate. I don’t want our relations to sour, have them return. As for what benefits those executives have given you, I’ll ignore. When Director Zhang visits Jiangzhou, I’ll take care of you appropriately. How about that?"
"How about that? I think not." Director Zhang didn’t even consider his suggestion: "I’ll say it again, immediately return the person!"
"What if I don’t return?"
"This is Tian Nan Province, not your Nanjiang! If you don’t return, I’ll have you arrested!"
"Alright, I’ll wait for you to arrest me."
Song Guanchao chuckled, not making much of it, tossed the phone aside, and continued focusing on driving.
Jiang Yiren and Chairman Qiao couldn’t hear Director Zhang’s words, but from Song Guanchao’s responses, they could tell Director Zhang wasn’t going to let it go.
Chairman Qiao was worried; she was merely a private entrepreneur, no matter how much wealth she amassed, ultimately just a businesswoman.
Once a company grows large enough, without government backing, it’s like a juicy piece of meat.
This principle applies universally and across time.
Chairman Qiao glanced at Song Guanchao, quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
She suddenly felt very fortunate.
Luckily, she had signed that investment agreement with him.
If not, how could Song Guanchao personally come to Feng City looking for her?
Her backing was precisely Song Guanchao, it was Jiangzhou!
And from Song Guanchao’s attitude, he clearly intended to confront Feng City to the end.
The determination he showed slightly alleviated her inner anxiety.
Her only concern was that Song Guanchao’s rank might be a bit low.
However, just now Song Guanchao was on the phone with Wu Qiangwei, indicating the Jiangzhou Municipal Government shared the same stance.
About half an hour later, Wu Qiangwei called.
"What did Director Zhang say?" She had been awaiting the outcome from Song Guanchao’s contact.
"He was quite firm, telling me to send the person back or he’d arrest me too."
"Such audacity!" Wu Qiangwei huffed heavily; her temper was usually good, rarely becoming this angry.
Whether due to Director Zhang breaking the law and remaining defiant after exposure,
or because, the other party threatened Song Guanchao.
"Don’t be angry, Mayor. If he wants to arrest me, let him; I’d admire him if he manages to catch me."
"Stop being flippant." Wu Qiangwei rebuked: "Since the other party doesn’t want to handle it quietly, think about how to resolve it properly."
"I have a solution, but it might offend them."
"A Prefecture-level City Director from another province isn’t worth worrying about, tell me your plan."
Wu Qiangwei didn’t regard the other party highly at all.
Song Guanchao glanced at the rearview mirror, and the pursuers were relentless: "Have Director Liang send people to wait at the Jiangzhou highway toll station. Once they arrive, arrest them directly."
Hearing this, both Jiang Yiren and Chairman Qiao couldn’t help but widen their eyes.
He was truly planning to offend them gravely!
Chairman Qiao’s eyelids twitched continuously; she felt she needed to reevaluate Song Guanchao.
Normally, encountering something like this, one would definitely think to have higher-ups communicate with their counterparts.
There’s nothing communication can’t resolve, it’s simply a matter of interest distribution.
The other party might demand exorbitantly, but you can counter-offer slowly.
Eventually, you can reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
Song Guanchao, however, skipped this process entirely, or rather, he never considered yielding.
From his solution approach, one could see Song Guanchao’s personality starkly contrasted with those conservative minor officials within the system.
Ninety-nine percent of officials seek stability, preferring to downplay major issues rather than make a fuss.
Song Guanchao, however, if he could resolve something cleanly and promptly, wouldn’t waste time haggling.
Even if such resolution might cause significant impact, he wouldn’t care.
Wu Qiangwei was already used to Song Guanchao’s handling methods, paused slightly, then said: "I’ll contact Mayor Cai of Feng City, see if he’s willing to sit down and talk, you wait for my call."
