This high-ranking, bureaucratic-looking executive deputy director was named Zheng Zuxin. He was a low-ranking deputy mayor of Sanya City, primarily in charge of agriculture and rural affairs. In a tourist city like Sanya, managing agriculture was, as one can imagine, a very leisurely job. Therefore, he concurrently served as the executive deputy director of the forum's organizing committee, effectively in charge of the forum's preparations. The director of the organizing committee was personally appointed by the city's party secretary and mayor.
In Chen Yang's memories from his previous life, this Deputy Mayor Zheng was dismissed for his mishandling of the incident at the International Law Forum where the representative of the Bero Kingdom distributed a large number of leaflets, causing a negative international impact. He was later transferred out of Sanya in disgrace.
Chen Yang had a strong impression of Deputy Mayor Zheng and the events at the International Law Forum because Zheng Zuxin was, to some extent, an official within the Fang family's faction.
One of Zheng Zuxin's former superiors was now the vice chairman of the Qiongzhou Provincial Political Consultative Conference. He had previously served in Sanya, and during his tenure as the Sanya city party secretary, he was promoted half a rank and given vice-ministerial level treatment. Zheng Zuxin had risen step by step to the position of deputy director-general by closely following in the footsteps of this old leader.
And this old leader, who served as vice chairman of the CPPCC, was a typical henchman of the Fang faction.
Chen Yang still remembered Fang Hongda's eight-character assessment of this deputy mayor Zheng after the incident at the international law forum in his previous life:
"More than capable of ruining things, but incapable of achieving anything!"
Chen Yang believed that without intervention, history would not change, and this bureaucrat who held a position without merit was largely unreliable. However, Professor Yan had already left, and as a student, he naturally couldn't stay and have breakfast in peace.
Zheng Zuxin was pacing back and forth in the hotel lobby, occasionally glancing at his watch, appearing somewhat anxious, yet also with a hint of anticipation. Professor Yan strode over to Zheng Zuxin and said,
"Hello, Director Zheng!"
Zheng Zuxin paused, glanced at Professor Yan, seemingly unable to recall who this white-haired scholar was. Just then, a young man wearing glasses and carrying a briefcase leaned closer and whispered a few words in his ear. Zheng Zuxin then realized who it was, and said with a smile tinged with reserve,
"It's Professor Yan! Hello!"
This small detail reveals that Zheng Zuxin's mind wasn't truly on the conference preparations. Otherwise, how could Zheng Zuxin not recognize Professor Yan, such a renowned expert, arguably the most distinguished scholar from China at this forum? Professor Yan didn't seem to care whether the other person recognized him. After exchanging greetings, he got straight to the point:
"Director Zheng, there's a problem I wanted to raise with the organizing committee. Since I've run into you here, I'll just speak to you directly!"
"Ah?" Zheng Zuxin seemed a little distracted. He glanced towards the door before saying, "Oh, Professor Yan, please speak freely."
"Recently, there have been many international upheavals. Holding a forum to discuss international law at this juncture... I believe the organizing committee should have taken some precautions regarding security, especially since Bello has sent a sizable delegation to this conference," Professor Yan stated bluntly, then proceeded to analyze the implications of the situation in detail.
Zheng Zuxin nodded frequently, but seemed distracted, constantly glancing towards the hotel entrance.
Seeing this, Professor Yan sighed inwardly, losing interest in continuing and abruptly ending his statement. Zheng Zuxin sensed Professor Yan's displeasure. He cleared his throat and pondered, "Oh! Professor Yan, the issue you raised is very important. I will have the relevant officials study it carefully."
This was essentially meaningless. In China, the most flexible response from officials is "study it," but who knows when a result will be found? And the issue Professor Yan raised was so important and urgent that by the time they finished their research, it would be too late.
Moreover, Zheng Zuxin was clearly just giving a perfunctory answer; he would probably forget Professor Yan's words soon enough.
Professor Yan shook his head in disappointment and was about to leave when Chen Yang suddenly spoke up:
"Mayor Zheng, I agree with your opinion. I think we should immediately develop a response plan to avoid being caught off guard in case of unforeseen circumstances."
Chen Yang's words seemed to agree with Zheng Zuxin's opinion, but they addressed two different issues. Zheng Zuxin was merely giving Professor Yan a perfunctory answer, while Chen Yang's words implied an immediate need to convene a meeting and devise a contingency plan.
This was because Chen Yang had finally had enough. Professor Yan, nearing seventy, was a renowned expert and scholar in China, highly respected for his virtue and integrity. This Zheng Zuxin, however, completely disregarded his words, truly embodying Fang Hongda's eight-character assessment:
"More trouble than good!"
Facing this young man, Chen Yang, Zheng Zuxin's perfunctory smile vanished. He adopted a reserved expression, turned to Professor Yan, and asked:
"Professor Yan, who is this...?"
"His name is Chen Yang, he's my student, and he will also be speaking at this forum tomorrow," Professor Yan replied.
"Chen Yang, is that you? We take Professor Yan's opinions very seriously." Zheng Zuxin glanced at Chen Yang, then changed the subject, "However, whether to raise the security level, whether to prepare contingency plans, these are issues that our organizing committee leaders, Secretary Yang, and Mayor Chen need to consider comprehensively. It's not that simple!"
Zheng Zuxin was inwardly annoyed, feeling that this young man was incredibly inconsiderate, even interfering in the organizing committee's work. He had to maintain politeness with Professor Yan, after all, these senior experts, though powerless, had countless students, many of whom held high positions, so their influence was considerable even outside politics. Chen Yang, at best, was just a graduate student, so Zheng Zuxin wasn't as polite.
Having lived two lives, Chen Yang could easily detect Zheng Zuxin's impatient tone. But since Professor Yan, at his age, had condescended to speak so politely to Zheng Zuxin, he naturally felt he should prioritize the overall situation.
So Chen Yang simply smiled faintly and said sincerely,
"Mayor Zheng, Professor Yan didn't mean anything by it; he just wanted to remind the leaders. If Bero really does something underhanded at the forum, the international impact will be terrible. Once such consequences occur, I'm afraid no one can bear the consequences."
Professor Yan nodded in agreement, but Zheng Zuxin was even more dismissive after hearing this.
"Who do you think you are? You think something bad will happen just because you say so? International impact? Nonsense!" Zheng Zuxin thought disdainfully. His face gradually darkened, and he said with a forced smile:
"Young man, we welcome your feedback and suggestions to the organizing committee, but spreading alarmist rumors is not advisable! The representatives from Bero were invited to the conference by us. If your words reach their ears, it will likely cause even more negative international repercussions!"
Zheng Zuxin paused, then added in an official tone:
"Although there have been some disagreements between our country and Bero recently, this will not affect the smooth convening of this forum! The representatives from Bero are all well-known experts and scholars in their own country. You should know that scholarship knows no borders!"
Zheng Zuxin's words were utter nonsense. This forum discusses international law issues, and the participants are officials and experts in the field of international law from various countries. How could these people not have their own stances? The recent disputes and the theme of the forum meant that Bero would almost certainly cause trouble at the forum. Moreover, Chen Yang's experience in his previous life had already confirmed this.
Only a pig-headed person like Zheng Zuxin would take these high-sounding words seriously! Chen Yang sneered, utterly disappointed in Zheng Zuxin. He turned to Professor Yan and said,
"Professor, let's go! It seems your good intentions aren't appreciated! Anyway, you've fulfilled your duty to remind them. Even if the leadership is held responsible, it won't have anything to do with you!"
As Chen Yang spoke, he glanced sideways at Zheng Zuxin. He was indeed angry. In his previous life, the Fang family's power was at its zenith; countless officials wanted to curry favor with them but couldn't get in. Zheng Zuxin was nothing in Chen Yang's eyes. He had rarely seen such behavior from local officials; they used to be extremely respectful in front of Young Master Fang.
The angry words were usually best left unsaid, but the secretary carrying Zheng Zuxin's bag wouldn't have it. He'd been observing coldly for a long time. While Vice Mayor Zheng hesitated to speak too harshly out of respect for Professor Yan, the secretary had no such restraint and sneered, saying:
"Hmph, student, don't be so idealistic. Leaders have their reasons. If everyone who makes a request to the leader doesn't get it and then spouts irresponsible nonsense, wouldn't that create chaos?"
Professor Yan was also unhappy, but being in his sixties or seventies, he wasn't as hot-tempered as Chen Yang. He simply smiled faintly and said:
"Young comrade, my student is just being selfless and worried someone might cause trouble. His tone was a bit harsh, you shouldn't…"
"Secretary Wu, please write down the professor's opinion!" Zheng Zuxin, his mind far from the matter, rudely interrupted Professor Yan, then forced a smile and said, "Professor Yan, we will definitely study your opinion carefully, don't worry! Um… I have official business to attend to today, so please excuse me!"
He turned and left without glancing at Chen Yang once, clearly showing his disdain for him. What was even more infuriating was that his so-called "excusement to attend to official business" simply involved walking to a nearby guest sofa, occasionally checking the time, seemingly waiting for some important guest, but never once looking at Professor Yan or Chen Yang again.
Chen Yang, enraged, laughed inwardly. He shook his head repeatedly, completely losing interest in Zheng Zuxin, this obstinate petty bureaucrat. Just as he was about to leave with Professor Yan, he suddenly saw Zheng Zuxin spring to his feet as if springs had sprung from his buttocks, his face instantly plastered with an extremely obsequious smile.
From the moment Professor Yan approached him until the end of their conversation, Zheng Zuxin's face had been as expressionless as a playing card. Yet now, he could instantly switch to a completely different expression, giving the impression of being a completely different person. Chen Yang was greatly impressed by the ability of these petty officials to change their expressions.
Seeing this, Chen Yang stopped curiously to look. He saw Zheng Zuxin quickly approaching the hotel entrance, bowing slightly and extending his hands from afar, displaying a perfectly executed fawning, servile demeanor.
Chen Yang looked up at the hotel entrance and vaguely saw a young figure in a black shirt and white casual pants step out of a Mercedes-Benz and stroll into the hotel…