The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"I can't afford it? I can't afford it? You actually said I can't afford it? Who do you think I am?"

The old man had clearly never suffered such humiliation.

He kept muttering under his breath.

He asked, "Tell me, how much money?"

"Fifteen thousand!"

Chen Fang sneered as he spoke.

Hearing this price,

the old man was indeed a bit surprised.

However, he clenched his teeth and said with a disdainful tone, "It's just fifteen thousand. I don't carry that much cash on me; come back with me to get it."

"Please, if you can't afford it, just say so. Why put on an act? Apologize to me, and I'll give you a discount."

Chen Fang said contemptuously.

The old man got angry again.

Pointing at himself, he retorted, "I can't afford it? Are you joking? It's just fifteen thousand. I'll pay you, just follow me!"

Having said this,

he didn't even care about his fishing gear anymore.

He grabbed Chen Fang's hand and headed towards the apartment building.

Five minutes later,

the old man pushed open the door to a single-room apartment.

He rushed into the bedroom, opened a safe, and began counting out a stack of money.

Chen Fang was originally waiting outside.

When he heard the sound of the safe being opened,

he quickly followed him in.

The old man, hearing his footsteps, stood up hastily trying to block him.

But it was too late.

Chen Fang took a magazine out of the safe, flipped through two pages, and began reading it with great interest.

"Why are you touching my things? Don't you have any basic manners?"

The old man scolded while trying to snatch the magazine back from Chen Fang's hands.

Unfortunately for him, Chen Fang was taller and easily dodged his attempts.

"Old man, I didn't expect you to have this kind of hobby. I saw quite a few magazines just now,"

Chen Fang said, flaunting the magazine in his hand.

The page that was opened showed several scantily clad women in provocative poses. He flipped to the next page, and the images were even more explicit, a line of swimsuit-clad beauties, wearing barely more fabric than a face mask.

The old man was completely flustered.

Flushed and furious, he said, "You young man are too disrespectful! Who enters someone's bedroom and takes things from their safe? I'm going to call the police and have you arrested right now."

"Then call the police, by all means. It'll be good when the cops arrive; let everyone see that a famous professor and former headmaster at Wen'an University keeps pornographic material in his safe. After all, it's not me who will be embarrassed,"

Chen Fang confidently sat on the bed, crossed his legs, and spoke casually.

"You..."

The old man was left speechless.

Just then, he had acted out of momentary rage and was confused, but now, as he regained his composure, he sensed something unusual.

Pausing, he asked, "What exactly do you want?"

"Nothing much, I've just prepared some 'gifts' for Professor Zhu,"

Chen Fang said.

The old man furrowed his brow.

He inquired, "Do you know me?"

"Of course, I know you. Zhu Zhifang, a renowned literary giant; who wouldn't know you?"

At this point, Chen Fang was almost laughing aloud.

Still, he tried his best to keep a serious face.

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhifang's face was turning uglier by the moment.

He questioned, "What 'gift' are you talking about?"

Chen Fang gestured for him to wait a moment, then pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and said, "Come on in," before hanging up the phone.

About a minute later,

Guo Zheng entered carrying a large cardboard box.

After placing it down, he turned and left.

Chen Fang pointed at the box,

and said, "Professor Zhu, you will definitely like what's inside."

Zhu Zhifang opened the box skeptically, and what appeared before his eyes was a stack of magazines, each cover featuring a scantily clad young woman.

With a snap,

Zhu Zhifang was so frightened he quickly closed the cardboard box.

His old face shone brightly and smoothly.

"Mr. Zhu, the magazines you're looking at are far inferior to the ones I'm offering. Moreover, considering your status, it's not easy dealing with these magazines, right? No worries, from now on, I'll have someone deliver a box to you every month. Feel free to read them; I assure you they won't run out."

"Take them away, I'm not interested!"

Zhu Zhifang said sternly.

Chen Fang saw his determination.

He stretched languidly.

He said, "Alright then, since Mr. Zhu doesn't like them, I'll take them away. Sorry for bothering you."

After speaking,

he squatted down to pick up the box.

Zhu Zhifang panicked.

He spoke in a low voice, "I cannot accept something for nothing, and I cannot help you with anything that goes against my principles."

These words delighted Chen Fang internally.

He sat up straight and said, "Mr. Zhu, rest assured, the task is very simple. A phone call from you could settle it."

After finishing,

he leaned towards Mr. Zhu's ear and whispered a few words.

Zhu Zhifang sighed deeply and said, "I thought it was something big. This is simple; I can handle it for you. Did Li Duming send you?"

"No! I'm doing this for myself!"

Chen Fang replied.

Hesitating for a moment at this direct answer, Zhu Zhifang asked, "Oh? Then how did you know I enjoy this? Even the nurses who attend to me daily didn't notice. How did you find out?"

Chen Fang chuckled and said, "Mr. Zhu, there always has to be some secrets between people. But rest assured, the saying 'a man is a rogue until death unless he lies in a coffin, he'll think of women' I still understand. This will be our little secret; I ensure no one else will know."

Chen Fang's words struck a chord in Zhu Zhifang's heart.

He patted him on the shoulder.

He said, "You are sensible, young man."

Chen Fang smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Zhu, then I won't disturb your enjoyment of the beauties. This is my number, call me anytime you need."

"Alright, alright, you're busy, go on!"

After speaking,

Zhu Zhifang pulled the curtains of the room.

He picked up a magazine and began to read with relish.

At the door,

Guo Zheng saw Chen Fang coming out and hurriedly went up to him.

He asked with some concern, "Boss, did you manage to handle Mr. Zhu?"

"Handled it."

Chen Fang replied.

Guo Zheng's mouth fell open in disbelief and said, "Handled? How is that possible? I've heard that Mr. Zhu is very stubborn, unimpressed by anyone, and even provincial and city leaders visiting him get the cold shoulder. How did you manage him in less than an hour?"

"People, as long as they're alive, have vulnerabilities. Once you pinpoint the vulnerability, nothing can withstand."

Chen Fang said.

Guo Zheng nodded and asked, "So, Mr. Zhu's weakness was the contents of that box? I'm very curious, what's actually in that box?"

Chen Fang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Temptation!"

After saying these two words, he opened the car door and got into the car.

Guo Zheng was right.

Zhu Zhifang was indeed a difficult person.

He had retired from the position of president at Wen'an University. Being from Changming County and having lost his spouse early and childless, he had voluntarily chosen to live in the Changming County resting home.

As previously mentioned,

Zhu Zhifang was a literary giant, with many award-winning literary works over the years and significant influence in the literary world, holding high prestige in Wen'an City.

Besides this, Wen'an University, as one of the top universities in the province, has produced countless important government figures, some even at the national level.

Many provincial and city leaders tried to curry favor with him in hopes of climbing higher.

But he had a difficult temperament.

For those who came to visit him, it was hard even to get a glimpse of him, let alone give him gifts.

From the notebook left by Tan Yandong, Chen Fang knew his closely guarded secret, which led him to design this masterful plot.

If groveling didn't work, then it was time to toughen up and find another way, which indeed yielded a different result.

The reason for finding Zhu Zhifang was simple.

Because Xing Yu would definitely listen to Zhu Zhifang.