Liu Yong and Wu Mengyue have already semi-publicly attended some private

    gatherings together with friends.

    At the age of thirty-four or thirty-five this year, Wu Mengyue having a handsome young man by her side will undoubtedly spark speculation among friends who are close to her. However, there’s one thing to remember: the type of individuals Wu Mengyue associates with, and how she interacts with the opposite sex, is her own private matter and others have no right to intervene. Even if they are her closest friends, they shouldn’t spread rumors or gossip. Because, as someone who is still single, she has the right to freely socialize with the opposite sex.

    Of course, upon returning to the Moon City, Wu Mengyue was mentally prepared. When she left the Moon City back then, she knew she had to settle the debts owed to creditors as a top priority upon her return. Otherwise, moving forward would be extremely challenging, let alone starting any new ventures.

    In this regard, Wu Mengyue took the initiative. She arranged for an assistant to specifically handle the debts owed to creditors from the past. Back then, she chose to “leave” over a sum of hundreds of thousands, so how did she become proactive in addressing those long-standing debts now? From leaving Moon City burdened with debt to returning prominently as the General Manager of Moon City Grand Hotel and taking the initiative to settle her old debts, what exactly transpired during this period that led to such a fortunate transformation?

    How an individual achieves success and what they have sacrificed for it is something only the person themselves truly know. From an outsider’s perspective, beneath the polished and shining surface, the actual experiences and trials someone has endured might involve immense suffering and personal struggles that are often unspeakable. Rarely does anyone wish to bring up those past difficulties. Wu Mengyue, now the General Manager of Moon City Grand Hotel, is one such individual.

    Despite her departure from Moon City and her subsequent stint as a “hostess” in a southern “KTV,” as Liu Yong has come to understand, what remains unclear to  him is how Wu Mengyue transformed from a few years of working as a “hostess” to becoming the owner of a mid-to-high-end hotel upon her return to Moon City. In  reality, the key to Wu Mengyue’s transformation lies in one word: “investment.”

    Wu Mengyue didn’t remain working as a “hostess” in that southern city for long. She was eventually noticed by a Hong Kong businessman who decided to “invest” in her. It’s no wonder that during that time, there were reports of special communities known as “mistress villages” or “third party” villages in various southern cities. It seems that such trends were prevalent in the southern regions. When the Hong Kong businessman “invested” in Wu Mengyue, she was cautious. She understood that there was no future with someone like him. Thus, she made preparations for her future. After several months of living together, as the businessman frequently traveled between locations, he gradually dropped his guard. He entrusted Wu Mengyue with managing some of his business affairs in the southern city while he regularly returned to his original family in Hong Kong. With this arrangement, Wu Mengyue gained a certain level of autonomy and made some moderate adjustments to the business affairs entrusted to her by the HongKong businessman.

    Taking advantage of the Hong Kong businessman’s “investment,” Wu Mengyue exchanged large sums of cash. Once she had accumulated a substantial amount, she executed a similar plan as before and made her exit!

    However, this time the direction of “leaving” is different. Back then, it was “leave,” but now it’s “return.” That’s the first point. The second point is that after “leaving” back then, none of the creditors’ debts could be evaded, unless you never returned to Moon City (or the Moon City). However, this time, she is returning to Moon City safely. Whether it’s in a southern city or with the HongKong boss, there has never been a woman named Wu Mengyue. The Hong Kong boss wouldn’t even know where Wu Mengyue is from, so the property acquired through the exchange doesn’t involve the troublesome aspect of creditors, and there won’t be a risk of it being recovered.

    Wu Mengyue, with just one “investment,” achieved her initial accumulation of capital.

    Wu Mengyue quickly learned about Liu Yong’s idea of organizing a special song and dance performance, and she understood the main purpose behind his intention: it was for another young woman named “Yueyue.” However, her own use of the name “Yueyue” was merely a protective talisman she used when she occasionally appeared at the “KTV.” The true woman who occupied Liu Yong’s thoughts and heart,residing far away in Jinling, was the one named TianYueyue.

    The reason why Wu Mengyue was unwilling to refer to Tian Yueyue as a young girl or a young woman was that Liu Yong had laid on Wu Mengyue’s bed in a luxurious room at the Moon City Hotel and candidly disclosed his emotional life to her. Of course, these revelations about his emotional life usually came after Wu Mengyue had been satisfied and pleased. After all, she hadn’t been seeking any emotional connection initially; her intentions were quite clear. Therefore, whether there were any “young girls” or “young women” around Liu Yong wasn’t of great concern to Wu Mengyue.

    In an era dominated by a single word, a time when everything was measured by a single word, Wu Mengyue keenly felt the immense significance of that one word. On this matter, she had a profound understanding that went deep beneath the surface.

    Therefore, in her perspective, amidst the vast sea of humanity in the mortal world, there were those who wrestled with sleeplessness and unrest for the sake of that one word; there were those who racked their brains, pondering deeply until their mental faculties were exhausted for the sake of that one word; there were those who hurried and bustled, their steps hurried for the sake of that one word; there were those who left their hometowns, severed family ties, all for the sake of that one word; there were those who resorted to any means, causing harm to others for the sake of that one word; there were those who abandoned all principles, losing their moral compass for the sake of that one word; and there were those who found themselves imprisoned, even sacrificing their lives for the sake of that one word.

    That one word renders people materialistic and mundane. Everything becomes  transparently valued, subject to negotiation. In one person’s eyes, the other often  becomes a mere means to an end. That one word teaches people to “consume life.” The worship of possessions becomes inevitable, while rejecting the sublime becomes  fashionable. Consequently, relationships between individuals become distorted.  Some of their desires swell uncontrollably, while other faculties deteriorate to an  extreme, leading to deformed and handicapped individuals whose lives have become  malformed.

    Is it only about individuals being handicapped? In the present world, at some point unknown, the measure of a person has been reduced to that single word. A person’s success or failure, their value, their contributions, and even what they leave behind in this world are all reduced to and judged by that word, used to measure and define them. Such a phenomenon is rampant in Moon City. Looking at Wu Mengyue’s life experiences, it’s not limited to just Moon City; the southern cities where she once struggled were no different. Wu Mengyue dares not delve further. When “handicap” is everywhere, how deep does this “handicap” go! This seems to have become somewhat frightening.

    Wu Mengyue, who doesn’t typically read books and doesn’t really have a reading habit,happened to come across a writer who once made a unique portrayal of the word “money.” This writer said, “When our children close the door, they only count money at home. Five, ten, fifteen, twenty…… Think about it, on the vast land of 9.6 million square kilometers, the sound of counting money echoes everywhere. How joyful, how happy, how hollow, and how desolate that sound is!” Please note that the translation provided here is based on the information you’ve provided, and there might be some variations in interpretation depending on the context of the original passage.

    Wu Mengyue pondered whether this vividly depicted the essence of “handicap.” However, she quickly reconsidered, thinking that the writer might have been overly  concerned. What’s wrong with having “money” that can be “counted”? After all  her years of struggle, everything else seemed illusory, fake. Love, friendship, even  family ties—pardon the language, they were all nonsense. Only “money” was real,  never deceiving. “Money,” in your pocket, lying in your account, is what it is—no  more, no less. It provides you with security and confidence. Even if you have to go  to great lengths for it, it’s worth it.

    Now, Wu Mengyue is determined to forge a more powerful kingdom of “money” for herself. To establish this “kingdom,” she is willing to go to great lengths,  including using any means necessary. However, as someone who has already  accumulated wealth, she won’t act recklessly without considering the consequences.  She needs to create an efficient pathway and accelerate the construction of her  “kingdom.”

    The importance of networking resources is well known to anyone with even a hint of strategic thinking. The question is, how do you acquire the networking resources you need? Upon returning to Moon City, Wu Mengyue set her sights on the city’s “Number Three Figure,” Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, Liu Chengyin. Just as she was expending great effort on how to approach Liu Chengyin, an “opportunity” arose—Liu Yong entered Wu Mengyue’s field of vision.

    Dealing with a young man in his “rooster” years, for someone as experienced in  understanding people as Wu Mengyue, whether it’s a “small kiss” or a “small case,” it’s a piece of cake. Besides, this “rooster” is even seeking something in return.

    To make the “Moon Above the Willow Tips - Liu Yong and Tian Yueyue Song and Dance Special Performance” more appealing and impactful, Wu Mengyue not only invested hundreds of thousands to hire a professional company for the

    packaging and planning of Liu Yong and Tian Yueyue, but also spared no expense in inviting a domestic “queen” level singer to be the guest performer for the special event.

    All of this greatly touched Liu Yong. From his perspective, he and Wu Mengyue hadn’t reached such a “deep” level of connection. A woman being willing to invest so much for him is becoming rarer in today’s world. Hence, he found a straightforward reason for himself and Tian Yueyue to accept Wu Mengyue’s support: investment.

    He and Wu Mengyue signed a contract for the “Moon Above the Willow Tips - Liu Yong and Tian Yueyue Song and Dance Special Performance,” transforming themselves and Tian Yueyue into the second party (Party B), and Wu Mengyue into the first party (Party A). The contract stipulated that the song and dance special performance of Party B would be entirely handed over to Party A for market-oriented operation. A preliminary investment of 1 million yuan would be made by Party A, assuming the associated risks. In the event of profit, both parties would share it in a 5:5 ratio. On the issue of profit sharing, Wu Mengyue displayed a generous attitude, once again leaving Liu Yong touched.

    Wu Mengyue’s true intention was that if she didn’t invest, she wouldn’t be able  to secure her position. Without spending some “capital,” building her “kingdom” would be far from easy! Only by holding the “bait” in her own hands could the “fish” be lured in. Fortunately, everything was proceeding according to Wu Mengyue’s  plan, step by step becoming a reality.

    Liu Chengyin, previously holding the position of Deputy Mayor in a city in Northern Jiangsu Province, was transferred to become the Deputy Secretary of the Moon City Municipal Party Committee. He played a significant role in the establishment of the “Greater Moon City.” As a heavyweight figure in the political scene of Moon City, his presence carried substantial influence.

    When he first arrived in Moon City, he still held ambitious aspirations to make a mark. Truth be told, at the age of around 44 or 45, he was in his prime with abundant energy, a perfect time for career development. Moreover, as Moon City was a newly established prefecture-level city, there was significant potential for improvement in various aspects of its operations. The room for growth implied that the existing groundwork was not yet solid, and there were numerous weak points to address. Consequently, a substantial amount of work needed to be accomplished. Some tasks weren’t just about completion; they required ongoing research to find new methods and initiatives based on the current situation, calling for innovation in working approaches. This undoubtedly posed tremendous challenges for those involved in the work, but it also provided a rare opportunity to showcase their talents.

    During the years when Liu Chengyin was transferred from the position of County Party Secretary in Chu County to the Provincial Agricultural and Industrial Department, he was harboring a strong sense of determination. An outbreak of severe flooding triggered by a major flood incident resulted in his unofficial demotion and transfer from Chu County. At the time, Liu Chengyin had his own thoughts. Facing a once-in-a-century flood, what kind of test did it pose for a young County Party Secretary in his thirties? In the course of work, deviations were inevitable, but how could his performance in Chu County be accurately judged without a comprehensive, truthful assessment? It is said, and indeed later confirmed by Liu Chengyin, that if it weren’t for the involvement of Deputy Secretary Shen Dachuan from the Provincial Party Committee, Liu Chengyin would have faced disciplinary action at that time. Luckily, during the year of flood fighting, Deputy Secretary Shen was stationed in Chu County and had gained a thorough understanding of Liu Chengyin’s work, his character, and the reputation he had among the people. As a result, Deputy Secretary Shen vouched for Liu Chengyin, ensuring his original rank was retained and facilitating his transfer to the Provincial Agricultural and Industrial Department.

    In the subsequent steps, especially after being transferred to the position of Deputy Secretary of the Moon City Municipal Party Committee, Liu Chengyin was filled with gratitude and a sense of indebtedness towards Old Secretary Shen. He felt that he had been recognized and given a chance by Shen. He was ready to make a difference in Moon City. Although shortly after his appointment, Old Secretary Shen retired from his position as Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Liu Chengyin was even more motivated to achieve accomplishments and report to his former leader. He wanted to prove himself and showcase his achievements to the leader who had placed trust in him.

    However, things didn’t go as smoothly as Liu Chengyin had hoped. In a position where you’re the third in command, it’s not easy to surpass the first and second in command and accomplish something meaningful. The first question you need to ask is whether your ideas align with the strategies of the first and second in command. This is a crucial consideration. As a third in command, even if you have great ideas,without the approval of the higher-ups, they’ll remain ideas and might never come to fruition. Even if your ideas are approved by the first in command, they may still face obstacles in implementation if the second in command disagrees. Without the support of funds, it’s challenging to achieve anything significant. People often say, “Money makes the world go round.” Without financial resources, progress is often hindered. Therefore, “money” is always incredibly important. People value it,and it doesn’t need to be seen as an all-consuming force. If you want to achieve something, you also need to value it. Among all forms of support, financial support (referred to as “money” for the general public and as “financial resources” officially) is crucial. Those familiar with the division of labor within local governments know that the second in command oversees local finances. Without the approval of the second in command, projects that require financial support won’t come to fruition.

    From Liu Chengyin’s perspective, he didn’t have any major disagreements with the first and second in command. With his experience as the head of a county, he displayed a proactive attitude in his work, demonstrating a willingness to take on responsibilities. He was decisive in making decisions, willing to take actions, and ready to bear the consequences. These traits earned him a favorable reputation among departmental staff and grassroots officials.

    Of course, saying that there weren’t major disagreements with the first and second in command doesn’t mean that Vice Secretary Liu didn’t have any differences of opinion with the City Party Secretary and Mayor. At the municipal level, there’s an overwhelming amount of work to do—economic development, urban construction, social services, livelihood projects, stability maintenance, and so on. Each of these areas requires a significant amount of attention, and there will naturally be matters of varying importance and urgency. If everything is treated with the same level of priority, it becomes challenging to achieve tangible results and make significant progress. Forming a consensus among members of the municipal Party Committee and government leadership team is not difficult, particularly when it comes to fundamental principles and the overarching development strategy. Looking at Moon City’s situation, the leadership team of the Party Committee and government has a shared understanding on major issues, and the overall development direction is clear. However, clashes can still arise in specific areas of work.

    The public clash between Vice Secretary Liu Chengyin and Mayor Wen  Lianggong was regarding the “Moon City Avenue” project. The disagreement arose  over whether to carry out an immediate overhaul of the buildings along both sides  of “Moon City Avenue,” or to comprehensively plan and implement the project in  stages. As leaders of the city, their opinions diverged on this matter. As for Mayor  Wen Lianggong, the dilapidated buildings on both sides of “Moon City Avenue” were almost an eyesore. This issue was a result of the accumulated problems that the  city had before its elevation to a higher administrative level. As mentioned earlier,  the city’s development was stunted during its time as a county-level city, with limited  room for urban construction. After being upgraded to a higher administrative level,  the city’s development gained momentum. Although the city government’s offices  were located in rural areas and vice versa, a promising step had finally been taken  towards urban expansion.

    In Mayor Wen Lianggong’s perspective, regardless of the previous backlog of issues, now that Moon City had been upgraded to a higher administrative level, it should exhibit the appearance of a “big city.” The “Moon City Avenue” needed a refreshed look, shedding the label of being “dilapidated.” Otherwise, he felt that his reputation as the mayor would be compromised. Therefore, Wen Lianggong advocated investing several million yuan to give the “Moon City Avenue” a complete makeover. Such an investment was financially feasible, and the resources were available to support it. With a “small investment for big changes,” the citizens of Moon City would witness the welcome transformation of the cityscape after its elevation to a higher administrative level.

    Mayor Wen Lianggong’s ideareceived nearly unanimous approval during the expanded meeting of the standing committee. The use of “nearly” unanimous approval indicates that if Vice Secretary Liu Chengyin had agreed, there would be no need to use the qualifier “nearly,” and it would have been stated as “unanimous approval.” This undoubtedly laid a solid foundation for the smooth implementation of the “Moon City Avenue” urgent renovation project.

    Liu Chengyin’s words were harsh, criticizing the city government’s approach of engaging in “image projects” and “achievement projects.” The rapid renovation, repainting, re-tiling, adding neon lights and electronic signs to the facades of the old buildings on both sides of the road might look impressive at first glance, but it was merely a superficial improvement. While it might seem good on the surface, the essence of the situation remained unchanged. Since they were planning to renovate the “Moon City Avenue,” they should approach it from the perspective of enhancing the city’s functionality. A proper functional zoning for both sides of the avenue should be established through comprehensive planning before proceeding step by step with the implementation. It wasn’t about just changing the road or prioritizing appearances over substance, as Wen Lianggong had proposed. Achieving a good “facade” and a favorable “image” might impress the public initially, and people might say positive things. However, once the public sees through the superficial changes and the true nature of the project, they might become critical. They could accuse the officials of not treating taxpayer money responsibly, only focusing on enhancing their own reputations. Even with several million yuan, it shouldn’t be squandered aimlessly.

    Vice Secretary Liu’s words didn’t receive a positive response from the attendees. Taking a stand against Mayor Wen Lianggong was a matter that other city leaders found delicate and worth careful consideration.

    Upon hearing Vice Secretary Liu Chengyin’s lofty discourse, which received limited agreement, Mayor Wen Lianggong immediately challenged Liu’s perspective head-on. Mayor Wen pointed out that according to Vice Secretary Liu’s viewpoint, there were two critical issues that needed attention. The first was the matter of time, and the other was the issue of finances. The proposed renovation project for the “Moon City Avenue” was intended to be a short, straightforward, and swift initiative. If they were to develop a comprehensive multi-year plan, the project would likely take two to three years to complete. Additionally, the question of funding was paramount. While devising an extensive plan might be feasible, implementing it would require a substantial investment in the order of billions. Given Moon City’s financial situation, which most were well aware of, it was akin to a “barely getting by” financial state. Coming up with such a significant amount, even in the billions,was far from easy.

    Although the Mayor did not adopt Vice Secretary Liu Chengyin’s viewpoint, adjustments were made to the city government’s “Moon City Avenue” urgent renovation plan. The directive was to take into account the practical value of the newly renovated facades, to strike a balance between appearances and functionality. This approach encompassed both the “head” (front) and the “tail” (rear) of the project, ensuring a proper balance between the two aspects.

    Amidst the small-scale struggle over the “Moon City Avenue” renovation  project, even though Mayor Wen Lianggong held a favorable position, the constant  emphasis by the City Party Secretary on balancing the “head” and the “tail” aspects of the project irritated him. His face turned from white to red, showing  his displeasure, resembling the redness of a monkey’s backside, which was quite  unsightly.

    Having had years of political experience, Liu Chengyin naturally wouldn’t give up his political ambitions and ideals just because a couple of proposals weren’t accepted. Of course, he wouldn’t waver in his initial goal of making a difference when he came to Moon City.

    However, the underlying tension between him and Mayor Wen Lianggong could not be ignored. Fortunately, with the central government’s emphasis on rural development, which fell under his responsibilities as the Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, he had both a unique opportunity and an obligation to act. Shifting his primary focus to rural development allowed him to reduce friction with Mayor Wen Lianggong in their work. Although Mayor Wen held the highest administrative position in the city, from the perspective of the City Party Committee, he was still just a Deputy Secretary, without the authority to directly intervene in the scope of another Deputy Secretary’s responsibilities. Therefore, in the matter of rural development, Liu Chengyin was able to act with greater freedom and make significant changes.

    In order to establish distinctive features in the rural development efforts, Liu Chengyin significantly increased the push for town and village mergers throughout the entire city. Moon City, as a prefecture-level city, had jurisdiction over four districts and two regions, with over two hundred towns and villages. Through these mergers, the total was to be reduced to 90 or fewer. This meant that more than half of the towns and villages would be merged. This initiative undoubtedly aimed to save a significant amount of manpower, resources, and finances, and to efficiently utilize public resources. This outcome was clear and evident.

    Liu Chengyin personally led a team to conduct on-site research on the town and village merger work in the four districts and two regions. He reviewed the merger plans of each city and region, visited pilot towns and villages in various areas to understand the situation, listened to feedback from grassroots officials and residents, and gained insights into the challenges and issues faced during the merger process.

    The comrades from the city, districts, and towns deeply felt that Vice Secretary Liu’s work style was down-to-earth. When he visited a pilot town, he would spend four or five days there. Vice Secretary Liu has quite a distinctive work approach. Wherever he goes, he doesn’t require local leaders to accompany him. He only designates a town’s responsible person to coordinate the service work. He brings along a secretary, a director from the City Committee’s Agricultural and Industrial Department, and a driver. He goes into villages and households to understand the situation and engage with local residents at a “close distance.”

    After spending four to five days conducting investigations and assessments in a pilot town, Liu Chengyin would then come back to listen to comprehensive presentations about the situation from the main responsible comrades of the town. He followed the same pattern for several pilot towns within a city or district, ensuring that no area was left unexamined. Only after thoroughly investigating these pilot towns would he sit in the conference room of the city or district committee to listen to a comprehensive briefing from the comrades in charge of this work at the city or district level.

    Therefore, sometimes, Liu Yong would take the risk of going home for a meal,  and almost every time he didn’t come across his father. Inside the small building at  Phoenix Garden in the New District of Moon City, there would typically be “Two  Elders and One Middle,” and occasionally a “Young One” would appear. Clearly, the  “Two Elders” referred to Liu Yong’s grandparents, Lui Chunyu and Yang Xuehua.  “One Middle” naturally was Liu Yong’s mother, Su Hua. The term “Young One” occasionally appearing, let’s correct that.

    Tian Yueyue had already visited the owner of the small building in Phoenix Garden as Liu Yong’s classmate,of course, carefully arranged by Liu Yong. Whether it was the two elderly people or Liu Yong’s mother, Su Hua, how could they not like the charming and lovely Tian Yueyue? Upon hearing that this lovely young lady was going to hold a “Moonlit Melodies” song and dance performance in Moon City with Liu Yong, Lui Chunyu and Yang Xuehua jointly suggested to Su Hua that they must attend to support their grandson’s performance. They even requested Su Hua to come along and ideally bring Lui Chengyin too. They wanted to show that their “young lad” is quite remarkable; he’s not even finished with his studies yet and he’s already arranging a special performance. It was truly promising and not as simple as it seemed. From this incident, Lui Chunyu and Yang Xuehua began to change their father Lui Anran’s perspective on their family’s reputation.

    After Liu Yong revealed his plan to organize the “Moonlit Melodies” song  and dance performance in Moon City, Tian Yueyue was so moved that she was  left speechless. She could only express her gratitude to her future husband through  constant kisses. In Tian Yueyue’s heart, Liu Yong was already her man, her future  life partner, and the core of her future path in life. She couldn’t imagine being  without him. Despite their inseparable connection, their relationship hadn’t been  openly disclosed to theirrespective parents yet. Therefore, even though Tian Yueyue  came to Moon City to participate in the rehearsals for the “Moonlit Melodies” performance, she had to stay at Wu Mengyue’s Moon City Grand Hotel.

    As the time in Moon City passed, with his future in-laws just around the corner, Liu Yong couldn’t resist the growing desire to secretly meet them. The urge became too strong to ignore, and he eventually gave in to it. Besides, Liu Yong had always been compliant when it came to Tian Yueyue’s wishes. Consequently, there was another “ 青 ” figure seen in the small building of the Lui family in Fenghuang Yuan, and it was none other than TianYueyue herself.

    With TianYueyue’s arrival, the dynamics between Liu Yong, Wu Mengyue, and Tian Yueyue became more intricate. When using the term “intricate,” it primarily referred to the relationship between Liu Yong and Wu Mengyue. Tian Yueyue was well aware of her connection with Liu Yong, and she had a clear understanding of their relationship. However, Tian Yueyue had no knowledge of the relationship between Wu Mengyue and Liu Yong. In Tian Yueyue’s perspective, Wu Mengyue was simply the investor and boss behind the song and dance performance, someone she and Liu Yong should be grateful to. After all, for two soon-to-be graduates from an art school, having a professional team assist in planning a special performance was an exceptionally rare opportunity. Moreover, Wu Mengyue had even generously invited a well-known domestic singer, “Sun Diva Anita,” to perform as a guest,which was a significant gesture of respect considering Liu Yong and Tian Yueyue were newcomers who hadn’t officially debuted yet.

    Indeed, Tian Yueyue had no awareness of the true nature of the relationship between Liu Yong and Wu Mengyue, nor did she understand the underlying intentions behind Wu Mengyue’s investment in the song and dance performance.