Chapter 296: Sworn Brothers (Part 2)

Zhao Qingfeng humbly nodded, “Uncle Gao, I always aim for win-win situations, the more the merrier, because what’s good for everyone is genuinely good!”

Deputy Mayor Gao took a deep breath and shook his head lightly.

He saw an unstoppable ambition and immense confidence in Zhao Qingfeng.

Vibrant, daring, and full of self-assurance, these were the three labels he attached to Zhao Qingfeng.

Then he thought of his own son and his friends, who were either officials’ or rich second-generation kids.

Most were spoiled brats, except for a few who were somewhat obedient, the rest were either causing trouble or acting like hooligans.

“If only I had a son like you…”

Thinking this, Deputy Mayor Gao couldn’t help but speak his thoughts out loud.

Zhao Qingfeng’s eyes lit up, “Uncle Gao, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ve lacked a father-son relationship since I was young and have forgotten how to maintain one. It might be better to have a relationship like the one between Kong Rong and Mi Heng in the Three Kingdoms era. If you don’t mind, I would like to swear you in as my elder brother.”

Deputy Mayor Gao was startled, then burst into laughter, “Haha, well said, a big brother! You rascal, if you put it that way, I really do want to take you as my younger brother!”

A closer relationship benefits everyone.

Besides, even though Zhao Qingfeng had a promising future, he needed someone to look after him during his development phase, didn’t he?

Caught up in the moment, they decided to become sworn brothers right then and there.

It might sound funny, but that was the reality. One was relying on his ‘big brother’ to help him in the future, and the other was hoping his ‘younger brother’ would rapidly develop and assist him in gaining more official ranks and honors.

The feelings involved were actually quite complex.

There was genuine affection, perhaps tinged with some pretense, but in any case, as long as they could always maintain a win-win situation, the relationship between brothers would undoubtedly last longer. Anyway, it was certainly more intimate than calling him ‘Uncle Gao.’

“Little Feng, I’ll go over the procedure once. Come and get the documents in three or four days, and then you can communicate with the banks under the government’s name.”

“But you must ensure there’s absolutely no corruption. I’ll propose at the meeting to establish a special audit department. If anything goes wrong, I can’t protect you.”

Zhao Qingfeng understood; good deeds were to be done together, but he would be the one to take the blame if anything bad happened.

It wasn’t that the good brother didn’t want to ‘share weal and woe’; it’s human nature to think of oneself first.

“Don’t worry, big brother, I won’t let you down.”

After saying this, Zhao Qingfeng stood up to leave.

Just then, the secretary came in, smiling and exchanging a few words.

“Deputy Mayor Gao, goodbye.”

At the door, Zhao Qingfeng no longer called him ‘big brother’; he knew what to say when.

Just as he was leaving, he received a call from home. Qingfeng’s mother urgently said on the other end, “Little Feng, come back quickly. Your uncle has been acting strange these past few days. Just now, Zhang Manman said he received a phone call, drank a bottle of beer, and left. Zhang Manman was afraid to tell Huang Hao about it, fearing it might lead to a fight. I heard your uncle might have gone back to the village. Your Ding aunt and I are still out of town. If you’re not busy, please go check on him. I’m really afraid he might get into a fight with his love rival…”

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