Chapter 33: Let's Go In Together

Fang Xiaoyue was waiting for him at the main entrance. As soon as Chen Feng arrived, he saw her, and to be honest, he felt a touch of moved emotion in his heart.

Even though the permit approval had been blocked, Chen Feng certainly couldn't blame her. She was just an ordinary staff member at her unit; he could understand that she had no way to intervene.

Seeing Chen Feng, Fang Xiaoyue hurried over, pulled him to the roadside, and whispered the details of what had happened.

The main reason was that a section chief had stepped in to veto his application. Although this section chief was not from the approval office and was not responsible for issuing permits, he was from the Pollution Control Section. Given his rank, people were obligated to give him face, which is why the process had stalled here.

"Chen Feng, I can help you set up a meeting with Section Chief Zhang. You can meet him in person. If there's any misunderstanding, you can explain it clearly," Fang Xiaoyue said suggestively.

Chen Feng thought about it for a moment but ultimately shook his head. He was living on borrowed time; he truly didn't want to spend his final days acting like a subservient fool for others. Nor did he want to waste his precious time on this matter.

Furthermore, Chen Feng had guessed that this person might be connected to the other two car wash businesses, so meeting him likely wouldn't achieve much.

He planned to solve it using a different method—not an extreme one, but one through legitimate channels. We live in a society governed by the rule of law, so he would follow legal procedures. Since he had objections to the administrative penalty, he would apply for administrative reconsideration or even file a lawsuit in court. These were all permitted and encouraged by national law. Now that he had money, he could simply hire a lawyer to handle the case.

Seeing Chen Feng refuse, Fang Xiaoyue frowned slightly and asked, "Then what do you plan to do next? You said last time that you invested hundreds of thousands into opening this shop; you can't just let it close like this, can you?"

Chen Feng smiled and was about to speak when a black sedan pulled up beside them. The window rolled down, revealing the face of an elegant woman inside.

"Hello, Director Feng."

Before Chen Feng could say anything, Fang Xiaoyue immediately greeted her with a serious and restrained manner.

The woman in the car merely gave Fang Xiaoyue a slight nod, then looked at Chen Feng and asked with a smile, "Chen Feng, what brings you here?"

"Sister, I'm here to handle some business." Chen Feng was also quite surprised, as this woman was Feng Xiaoying, Teacher Zheng's daughter. He had never dreamed that Teacher Zheng's daughter worked at this unit.

"Oh, then come inside with me."

"Alright, thank you for the trouble, Sister."

"Don't mention trouble. I work here. I'll go in and wait for you."

Feng Xiaoying was very decisive; after speaking, she instructed the driver to drive inside.

Only then did Fang Xiaoyue look at Chen Feng with a face full of shock. "Old classmate, that's not fair. Since you know our leadership, why were you asking a lowly staffer like me for help? No wonder you refused to reconcile with Section Chief Zhang just now—you were waiting for this!"

Chen Feng smiled but offered no explanation; there was no need. As for the fact that Feng Xiaoying was Teacher Zheng's daughter, Fang Xiaoyue was clearly unaware, otherwise her reaction would have been different. After a brief hesitation, Chen Feng did not explain it to her.

The reason was simple: he didn't want to disturb the peace of Teacher Zheng's family. Presumably, Teacher Zheng hadn't disclosed this connection before; otherwise, having taught for decades and having thousands upon thousands of students, she would surely be visited by them constantly.

When the two walked inside, Feng Xiaoying was already waiting for him at the entrance of the building. The way she treated Chen Feng left Fang Xiaoyue even more stunned; clearly, there was a reason Chen Feng called her "Sister."

The way Fang Xiaoyue looked at Chen Feng changed instantly.

"Come, come inside with me and let's talk first."

Feng Xiaoying greeted Chen Feng very warmly, inviting him to sit in her office.

However, Chen Feng declined, shaking his head. "Sister, my matter today is a bit thorny. I'd rather get the business handled first, otherwise, I won't feel at ease."

"Oh? What exactly is the matter?" Feng Xiaoying asked with some confusion, her eyes sweeping toward Fang Xiaoyue, who was following behind him.

"It's like this." Fang Xiaoyue hurriedly explained everything in detail. At the end, she added specifically, "Chen Feng's auto detailing shop has already completed the sewage pipeline construction, and the project has passed our inspection. Procedurally speaking, this permit should have been granted to Chen Feng."

Feng Xiaoying nodded. "Alright, I understand." After a pause, she asked, "You're Xiao Fang from the Publicity Section, right?"

"Yes," Fang Xiaoyue nodded repeatedly.

"Mhm, I'll remember you. You're doing a good job. Go back to your work now."

"Yes, Director. I'll get back to work then." Fang Xiaoyue responded happily, nodded to Chen Feng, and left.

"What is your relationship with this Xiao Fang?" Feng Xiaoying asked Chen Feng with a smile.

Chen Feng smiled and said, "She's a high school classmate of mine."

"Your high school classmate? Was she also taught by my mother?" Feng Xiaoying asked, somewhat puzzled.

Chen Feng nodded.

Feng Xiaoying understood immediately and nodded without further comment. They were both students of her mother, but while Chen Feng still remembered to buy gifts and visit, Fang Xiaoyue clearly hadn't visited much. Otherwise, they would have known each other long ago.

"Come, come to my office and sit for a bit first. I have some good tea there; I'll brew some for you."

Feng Xiaoying remained very warm toward Chen Feng.

This time, Chen Feng did not refuse. He followed her to the office and drank the tea she brewed personally; it was indeed excellent.

Chen Feng's calm attitude after learning her official status satisfied her. She thought to herself that no wonder her mother spoke so highly of this kid; he truly had something special about him.

After chatting for a while and finishing a cup of tea, Chen Feng took the opportunity—under her questioning—to mention the auto detailing shop and the environmental pollution caused by the other two car wash businesses. This essentially served as a formal report.

Feng Xiaoying immediately made a phone call to notify the Inspection Team to go to Qingpu Town to investigate. Afterward, she called Section Chief Zhang and Section Chief Li from the Approval Office.

Chen Feng had originally intended to step aside, but Feng Xiaoying insisted he stay.

The two section chiefs arrived quickly. The situation unfolded exactly as Chen Feng had anticipated: Feng Xiaoying reprimanded them both without hesitation. Section Chief Zhang, in particular, was scolded so severely that cold sweat poured down his forehead.

After they left, Feng Xiaoying said to Chen Feng with an apologetic tone, "I've made a spectacle of myself for you. It's due to my lack of management. You came for approval following all reasonable and legal procedures, so the permit should have been issued to you. Instead, this happened."

"Sister, you're being too polite. This isn't your fault. Perhaps Section Chief Zhang just had his own considerations."

Chen Feng was not a magnanimous man; he was subtly throwing shade at Section Chief Zhang.

Feng Xiaoying's expression darkened slightly, and she nodded.

Afterward, Chen Feng offered his thanks and rose to take his leave. Since it was during working hours, Feng Xiaoying did not keep him long, only reminding him to find time to visit Teacher Zheng, noting that her mother had been mentioning him these past few days.

What else could Chen Feng say? He simply stated he would visit Teacher Zheng within the next two days.

As soon as Chen Feng stepped out, Section Chief Li from the Approval Office was waiting for him, personally processing and handing him the permit.

A matter that had seemed quite troublesome was resolved with such ease.

What luck!