Mayor Li and Tang Song's handshake lasted a full dozen or so seconds.
In official circles, where etiquette and propriety mattered immensely, this was practically the highest-level signal of closeness and regard.
They were followed by other City Hall leaders, as well as county official Zhang Chengming, Principal Liu Zengyin, and others.
"Chairman Tang! Welcome, welcome!"
"I'd long heard of Confluent Capital, but I never expected its chairman to be one of Quancheng's own talents. You're truly the pride of our hometown!"
"Chairman Tang is young and accomplished. You must come back more often in the future and offer more guidance for our hometown's development!"
One after another, officials who counted as "big shots" locally stepped forward of their own accord, exchanging brief pleasantries with Tang Song in an exceptionally respectful manner.
At the center of it all, Tang Song kept a confident, composed smile on his face and handled everything with ease.
A low murmur of discussion gradually rose from the crowd in the square, no longer possible to suppress.
Wang Zhigang from the Mining Construction Company stood blankly at the edge of the crowd, his gaze shifting back and forth between Liu Qingning and Tang Song. A layer of cold sweat instantly broke out across his back.
He was seized by lingering fear, grateful that he had decisively dragged his nephew Zhou Hao away when they had been at Liu Qingning's home.
If he had said even half a wrong sentence or slightly offended this "true deity," he did not even dare imagine the consequences!
Beside him, Zhou Hao was breathing rapidly, his face pale, as if he could not understand what was happening.
It was not just them. Everyone around them who did not know the inside story had been startled by the scene before them.
As