When Gao Qiqiang and his wife were invited along, their breath caught before uncontrollable delight spread across their faces.
This was An Changlin!
Businesspeople at their level normally couldn't even find someone to pass along an invitation to dinner with An Changlin.
What's more, a rumor had quietly spread through Yicheng's business circles the previous night: the municipal Party committee's Organization Department had spoken with An Changlin!
And this deputy mayor, whose portfolio had originally been public security, had recently begun involving himself frequently in economic development.
The signal couldn't have been clearer!
This powerful figure was almost certainly about to become executive deputy mayor!
That would make him Yicheng's number four.
He would soon call the shots on Yicheng's economy. Making a connection with him at this moment would be priceless for the Construction Group.
Gao Qiqiang and Chen Shuting hurriedly nodded and bowed, making themselves as deferential as possible as they followed close behind An Changlin toward Chen Lin's farmhouse courtyard.
An Changlin's driver and secretary followed too, making a procession of five.
Before they even reached the courtyard gate, the sight before them stunned Gao Qiqiang and his wife.
Along the dirt road from the village entrance to the courtyard, private cars of every description were packed bumper to bumper on both sides, forming a line nearly a kilometer long.
The couple exchanged a glance, each seeing the shock in the other's eyes.
How could a farmhouse restaurant in some impoverished mountain backwater do this much business? It defied everything they knew about commerce!
An Changlin remained composed, though an intrigued smile curled his lips as his gaze swept over the spectacular rows of parked cars.
It seemed he had still underestimated this young man.
As they reached the courtyard gate, an indescribable aroma seized them like