Dashing Student-Chapter 572: Chen Nan’s Ambition

Wang Guodong was once the president of the Jizhou Chamber of Commerce.

But later, thanks to a recommendation from Yang Ruoshui, the Jizhou Prison Director, he leaped through the dragon's gate, going from being a minor president at the Jizhou Chamber of Commerce to becoming the vice-president of the Provincial Commerce Association!

Wang Guodong had actually been paying attention to Chen Nan all along, knowing he came to the Provincial City for university. He had called before, hoping to have a meal and catch up with Chen Nan.

It's just that before, Chen Nan had been busy and did not have much time.

"Sure!"

Wang Guodong readily agreed: "I am more familiar with the Provincial City than you are, so how about this: Tonight Uncle Wang will arrange the place, and you can just come over directly later!"

"Done!"

After hanging up the phone, it wasn't long before Chen Nan's phone screen lit up, displaying the location information sent by Wang Guodong, clear to the eyes.

He immediately hailed a cab, stepped inside, and set off towards the destination.

Outside the car window, the bustling streets of the Provincial City unfolded and then quickly rolled by like a swiftly unfurling and retracting gorgeous scroll.

The densely packed skyscrapers shimmered in the daylight with a cold hard sheen of metal and glass, like a forest of titanic steel giants.

On the streets and alleys, pedestrians swarmed, bustling about, some hurrying to work, others leisurely enjoying life, and the chaotic sounds of people's voices mixed with car horns composed a symphony of urban clamor.

Before long, a residence sporting the distinctive style of Jiangnan gardens burst into Chen Nan's view.

Walls as white as snow, paired with the neatly arranged dark grey tiles resembling fish scales, emitted an air that was both ancient and elegant.

The flying eaves and upturned corners resembled birds about to take flight, and their intricate carvings elicited admiration, with every line seemingly telling stories of bygone years.

This residence, surrounded by the city's glamour, cleverly isolated the urban noise, like a sanctuary aloof from the world, quietly hidden within this mortal realm.

Chen Nan stepped into the residence, and a fresh and delicate scent of flowers instantly wrapped around him, the fragrance emanating from the carefully planted flowers in the garden, refreshing and invigorating.

An exquisite waitress, dressed in a fine cheongsam, approached with light and graceful steps. Her face was aglow with sweetness and a perfectly balanced smile, reminiscent of a blooming flower in spring, bringing a touch of warmth to the heart.

Following the waitress through the winding corridors, Chen Nan reached a quiet private room.

Upon opening the door, he saw Wang Guodong already seated inside, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

As soon as he saw Chen Nan enter, he stood up immediately, striding forward with a warm smile on his face.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Wang Guodong gestured to the waitress and said, "Serve the dishes, please."

Once the waitress left and only the two of them remained, Wang Guodong squinted slightly, showing a trace of a senior's casual curiosity, and asked: "Kid, why did you suddenly think of inviting me to dinner today?"

Chen Nan's lips curved gently into a warm smile as he spoke calmly, "Uncle Wang, you see, there's nothing more normal than a junior inviting an elder to a meal, there couldn't possibly be any special agenda."

Despite his words, the glint in Chen Nan's eyes suggested a deeper meaning.

Hearing this, Wang Guodong laughed and shook his head, his mind as clear as a mirror; Chen Nan's invitation surely hid some underlying issue.

Chen Nan asked with concern, "Uncle Wang, are you still enjoying your work?"

Upon hearing this, the smile on Wang Guodong's face froze for a moment, then turned a bit bitter. He sighed softly, his tone carrying a slight resignation: "Quite... relaxed."

He picked up the tea cup, took a light sip, and said slowly, "Even though I hold the title of vice president of the Provincial Commerce Association, I was ultimately transferred here from Jizhou, a prefectural-level city. In Provincial City, I don't have deep connections; my words carry little weight in the Chamber of Commerce. Frankly speaking, it's just a nominal position."

Chen Nan listened, a bitter smile emerging on his face. He deeply understood Wang Guodong's helpless frustration—the taste of being marginalized with an impressive title but no avenue for showcasing capabilities was indeed unpleasant.

Soon, an array of dishes that resembled works of art was placed on the table in an orderly fashion, beautifully crafted and fragrant.

Chen Nan glanced around and gestured for the waiter to leave the private room with a wave of his hand.

The door to the private room closed slowly, shutting out the noise from the outside world.

The two raised their glasses and drank together, a spiciness with a hint of warmth running down their throats.

After a moment, Chen Nan put down his glass, his gaze becoming deep and focused as he looked at Wang Guodong and asked, "Uncle Wang, what is your view on the current situation in Provincial City?"

Hearing this, a peculiar light flashed in Wang Guodong's eyes, and his face revealed a meaningful smile.

He was well aware that the reason Chen Nan invited him for the meal probably lay within this question.

He cleared his throat, slightly adjusted his posture, picked up the tea cup, took another light sip, and said slowly, "At present, Provincial City appears calm and peaceful, unnaturally stable, to the point that it makes one feel that this might just be the calm before the storm."

He paused, his gaze conveying insight into the situation: "But once this false stability is shattered, whether it's in political circles or the business world, both will face an unprecedented major reshuffle."

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"Then, the forces from all sides will compete anew, and the situation is likely to turn upside down."

Chen Nan nodded thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on Wang Guodong as he pressed on, "In your opinion, which aspect is most likely to disrupt this seemingly calm situation?"

Wang Guodong put down his tea cup, his expression grave as he said, "You should know, the core of power in Provincial City and commercial interests are intertwined complexly."

"Take Zhao Zhenghui's case for example, the sudden downfall of a Provincial Committee Secretary involves a complex web of interests."

"It's not just a shock to the political world; those businesses and forces linked with him by a thousand threads have all begun to panic."

"From the business perspective, although the major family dynasties appear harmonious on the surface, there is actually an undercurrent brewing."

"To fight for limited resources and market share, the struggle has never ceased, both openly and covertly."

"For example, the Zhang Family and the Wang Family have been in fierce competition in real estate projects, and recently, they've been intractable over the development rights for a prime piece of land."

"Each has their own set of officials behind them, trying to gain favoritism in policies."

"This kind of tense competitive relationship, if not handled carefully, could lead to a business war and disrupt the current equilibrium."

"In the political arena, after Zhao Zhenghui's fall, the vacuum of power left behind has made various forces eager to move."

"Those officials who were once dependent on him are in a hurry to find a new backer."

"And some forces that were consistently suppressed are thinking about rising up during this opportunity."

"During this period, exchanges of interests and power contests are continuously enacted."

"If actions are taken too aggressively by any side, or if a key incident is exposed, it could trigger a chain reaction, causing a massive shift in the political landscape."

Chen Nan took a bite of his dish, his gaze piercing as he looked at Wang Guodong, making no attempt to hide his ambition: "Uncle Wang, I want to support a family's rise to power, to take control of the economic lifeline of Provincial City!"