Chapter 1

Wang Yilin had never intended to truly confront Shi Lengxing; he merely wanted to drive him away. However, upon hearing Shi Lengxing's words, Wang Yilin lost control and reprimanded loudly: "Minister Shi, you must take responsibility for your words. Today's matter is not over. If you do not provide a clear explanation, I will take this to the Standing Committee, and I expect a response from you. Otherwise, do not blame me for taking actions that are unbecoming of our status"

One month after Wang Yilin submitted the list of research projects requiring funding to Huang Longfei, he received a response from Huang Longfei just before New Year's Day, which exceeded all expectations. Huang Longfei not only agreed to fund all biomedical research projects but also extended support to unrelated fields such as computer science, basic electronic technology, materials science, fundamental energy development, ecological science, mechanical instruments, and more. Even projects in mathematics, fundamental physics, basic chemistry, sociology, and religious psychology, which should ideally be funded by the state, received investment and support from Huang Longfei. This encompassed nearly all research projects, leaving Wang Yilin feeling elated and immensely grateful to this brother, as it significantly alleviated his burdens.

Fifteen minutes later, there was a knock on the door, "Dong... Dong... Dong" three times, and Wang Mingquan walked in, carrying three lunch boxes. Upon seeing Shi Lengxing and the Prime Minister engaged in a "cold war," Wang Mingquan discreetly tidied up the Prime Minister's desk, placing the three lunch boxes on the Prime Minister's right side, opening each one in turn, and then quietly exited. After leaving the Prime Minister's office, Wang Mingquan finally breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but laugh; Shi Lengxing was actually competing with the Prime Minister in "Zen skills," which was quite a sight to behold. Due to his curiosity, Wang Mingquan did not return to his own office but stayed outside the Prime Minister's office, carefully listening to the sounds inside.

Every country has its secret expenditures, and as the Prime Minister, Wang Yilin can only try to scrape together some funds from the tightest of budgets to meet the military's demands. He has no choice but to comply, as it was Old Zhao who personally approached him, and after some persuasion, left him with this hefty bill. Moreover, as Prime Minister, he has no authority to question military matters. In Old Zhao's words, this is for the sake of national security, and the needs must be resolved promptly, without a single penny less. This is a matter of political awareness, and Wang Yilin dares not be negligent in the slightest. However, the difficulties are also very apparent; it is now the end of the year, and this year's government budget has nearly been exhausted. The bill left by Old Zhao carries significant weight. Wang Yilin simply calculated and found that if he only relied on the government budget, even if he pooled all the funds that have not yet been allocated, it would still be insufficient to meet Old Zhao's demands. Furthermore, other expenditures cannot be cut off either; he is not a deity who can conjure up such a large sum of money out of thin air. Now, Wang Yilin truly feels that being Prime Minister is quite challenging. There are always people asking for money, and they come incessantly, as if he possesses an inexhaustible mountain of gold. Moreover, those who ask for money either look as if someone has died in their family or are influential figures he cannot afford to offend. Is it really true that in this world, there are people who can scare off those who are in need?

In fact, he did not know that this was the money that Huang Longfei had directly "extorted" from the military, which was essentially using government funds to assist the government. The "Qingtian" plan is still in its preliminary stage, and the current focus of the plan is abroad, while the economic adjustments domestically are quietly underway. Therefore, it is entirely under the responsibility of the General Staff, and the State Council has not been informed. After Zhou Guohui left Huang Longfei, he began to play the "missing" game again, as he was involved in the highest state secrets and could not communicate with the outside world. Even if Huang Longfei wanted to find him, it would require contacting him through intermediaries, and he did not have time to inform Wang Yilin about these matters. Huang Longfei was also busy preparing to undertake the tasks entrusted to him by Zhou Guohui, feeling overwhelmed. He feared that ordinary communication methods would leak secrets, and these matters absolutely could not be disclosed. He harbored a small personal interest, so he did not inform Wang Yilin about this. As a result, Wang Yilin remained in the dark. When he received the funds that had been transferred from Huang Longfei, he was very grateful to this brother, not realizing that the money was actually the secret funds he had just allocated.

Upon seeing Shi Lengxing barging in so directly, Wang Yilin hurriedly hung his clothes back up, feeling a surge of anxiety within. Why did he have to start tidying up five minutes early? Now, there was no way to escape. If Shi Lengxing caught him leaving work early, it would be a scandal.

As soon as Shi Lengxing spoke, he realized that he had misspoken out of excitement. However, Wang Yilin did not give him a chance to correct himself and immediately said: "Oh, Minister Shi, if I have taken up your time, then you may leave first. I don't have anything to discuss with you at the moment. If something comes up, I will call for you again"

"You..." Shi Lengxing exclaimed, but immediately held back, constantly reminding himself not to lose his temper. The other party was clearly trying to provoke him, and he must not fall for it. After calming his emotions slightly, Shi Lengxing said: "Prime Minister Wang, what I mean is do not waste my time"

On that day, Wang Yilin had not yet finished the official duties at hand. Upon noticing that there were only five minutes left until the end of the workday, he hurriedly began to pack his things in preparation to leave. He was not actually planning to finish work for the day, nor was he intending to take work home; rather, he sought a place to hide in order to complete his tasks. If he did not hide, officials from various departments would surely come looking for him. Even if he went home, they would follow him there, as if he were in debt and they were debt collectors. This situation had caused Wang Yilin to become increasingly paranoid over the past few days, suspecting that anyone he encountered was there to demand money from him.

"Prime Minister Wang, let us not digress from the topic; let us first address the matter at hand..." Shi Lengxing also noticed that Wang Yilin was completely uncooperative, which made him somewhat irritated, but since the economic power was in someone else's hands, he could not afford to lose his temper at this moment

Due to the substantial secret funds demanded by Lao Zhao, Wang Yilin nearly cut off all unnecessary budgets, including a report submitted by Shi Lengxing for activity funds from the Ministry of Defense. Although the justification for the fund application was normal operational expenses, Wang Yilin knew that the reality was quite different. Those funds were not for normal operational expenses; they were entirely extravagant expenditures made by Shi Lengxing's subordinates under various pretenses. Relying on their positions within the Ministry of Defense, they dared to indulge in lavish spending outside, thinking that the State Council would not cut their funds. However, Wang Yilin specifically decided to withhold those funds. In fact, Wang Yilin was also left with no choice; under normal circumstances, he would not have clashed with Shi Lengxing over such a small amount of money. However, this was a special period, and he had no alternative. All departments had reduced their expenditures, and the Ministry of Defense could not be an exception. Moreover, the use of this money was unclear, giving Wang Yilin every reason to withhold it. Even if the matter escalated to the Standing Committee, he would not be afraid.

Wang Yilin's words immediately took effect, and Shi Lengxing suddenly stood up from his chair, disregarding the fact that as the Minister of Defense, he was a direct subordinate of Wang Yilin. Standing there, he shouted: "Wang Yilin, what do you mean by this? Do you think that as the Prime Minister, you can treat me this way?"

However, before Shi Lengxing could finish speaking, Wang Yilin had already taken over, saying: "Minister Shi, there is no need to rush with any official matters; people need to eat, don't they?"

Shi Lengxing was taken aback by Wang Yilin's sharp remarks, and he quickly realized that his initial comments had been excessive. However, he could not afford to lose face, as that would certainly place him under Wang Yilin's dominance in the future. Therefore, he immediately responded with firmness: "Alright, let us take this to the Standing Committee and see whether it is you who has unjustly withheld our funds, or if my initial statements were indeed incorrect!"

Wang Yilin's actions were still a beat slow, and just as he was hanging up his clothes, he was spotted by Shi Lengxing. However, Shi Lengxing was not someone to be underestimated; he immediately exclaimed with a look of surprise, "Oh, Prime Minister, are you preparing to go home?"

Now, when Shi Lengxing says he wants to discuss the so-called important matters, Wang Yilin deliberately refrains from speaking. In any case, he refuses to give money to www.hetushu.com. Shi Lengxing has no energy to waste on him, and he is not afraid.

"Minister Shi, do not forget your own identity!" Wang Yilin's anger suddenly flared up, and he dropped his chopsticks and documents, standing up as well. His height was slightly greater than that of Shi Lengxing, and being younger, he exuded a stronger presence, thus overshadowing Shi Lengxing. Seeing Shi Lengxing glaring at him, he continued, "If you believe I am not your superior, you may say so, but at this moment, I am the Prime Minister, and you are the Minister. What do you mean by saying that? I demand an apology from you in person!"

You ... ... '' Shi Lengxing was almost driven to a fit of rage by Wang Yilin's words, but after a pause, he managed to hold it in

Oh, does Minister Shi also know what it tastes like? I can't tell! Wang Yilin spoke with sarcasm, but inwardly he was secretly laughing, wondering what serious business Shi Lengxing could possibly have, other than coming to ask him for money.

Wang Yilin looked at Wang Mingquan with gratitude, knowing that he had offended quite a few officials in order to protect him over the past few days. Today, with Shi Lengxing determined to force his way in, Wang Mingquan could not stop him, so Wang Yilin did not blame him. Seeing the difficult expression on Wang Mingquan's face, he quickly said, "Xiao Wang, go help me brew two cups of tea for Minister Shi, and then go have your meal. By the way, bring me a boxed lunch as well"

However, today, his luck was not good; just as he took off his coat, he heard a knock on the door. Before he could take any action, the door had already been pushed open

Hehe, it was quite difficult for me to find you. A few days ago, when I came, Xiao Wang said you were busy, so I didn't dare to disturb you. Therefore, of course, there is something!" Shi Lengxing said, already coldly glancing at Wang Mingquan, who was still standing in the room, feeling uneasy.

Gains come with losses; although the adverse effects caused by the pharmaceutical factory have been successfully resolved and the issue of tight research funding has also been addressed, Wang Yilin now faces numerous troubles. The military's demand for the allocation of secret funds is driving Wang Yilin, the steward, to the brink of madness

After Wang Mingquan went out and closed the door, Shi Lengxing said softly: "Prime Minister, you must take care of your health. If you were to fall, who else could hold up this situation?"

Shi Lengxing was almost so enraged that he could not catch his breath; Wang Yilin was indeed becoming more and more outrageous in his statements. The nameless anger within him was rising higher and higher. If it were not for the fact that Shi Lengxing had spent a considerable amount of time in government agencies, he would have surely lost his temper long ago

Wang Mingquan, who was waiting outside, hurriedly ran in upon hearing the Prime Minister's call. This was the second time in five years that he had seen the Prime Minister so furious; the first time was at the flood relief front when the Prime Minister displayed a furious demeanor upon learning that a corrupt official had embezzled flood relief funds. He did not dare to say much and quickly made a gesture of invitation, sending Shi Lengxing out.

Wang Mingquan walked in with a face full of sorrow and said: "Prime Minister, the Minister of History wants to see you, should we..."

"I was just saying, where is the Prime Minister? Who is the Prime Minister, and how could he have gone home before finishing work?" Before Wang Mingquan could finish his words, he was interrupted by someone from behind, while Shi Lengxing walked in, laughing.

"Prime Minister Wang, please finish your meal quickly and do not waste any more time!" Shi Lengxing held back for a long time before finally managing to utter a statement he believed was correct.

"That's right, Minister Shi, you know that a person is like iron and food is like steel; without food, how can one have the energy to do things? Even as the Prime Minister, I am still a person. One cannot only work and not eat, can we discuss matters after we have eaten?" Wang Yilin said with a smile, knowing that one cannot rush someone like Shi Lengxing. If he were to rush him, it would not be wise to provoke his anger, so he spoke with great patience, as if afraid of angering Shi Lengxing. However, every word he spoke was laced with barbs, and it was likely that no matter how good-natured Shi Lengxing was, he would eventually be provoked.

"Wasting time, Minister Shi, do I look like someone who wastes time? If I were to waste time, I would need twenty-five hours a day to get by!" Wang Yilin said, feeling quite pleased with himself. After all, this Shi Lengxing was currently in need of his assistance; it seemed he was quite adept at playing the fool. With that thought, Wang Yilin continued, "Moreover, as you can see, I am even working during meal times, so how can one say I am wasting time?"

Wang Mingquan nodded in understanding and immediately turned to leave the Prime Minister's office. He knew that the Prime Minister was preparing for a "protracted battle." In the government, no one has been able to outlast the Prime Minister during overtime, so the Prime Minister must be intent on wearing down Shi Lengxing. Shi Lengxing had come several times, but he had managed to block him with various excuses. Today, seeing Shi Lengxing's demeanor, it was clear that he was determined to succeed, and now there would be a good show to watch

Shi Lengxing's patience finally reached its limit, seeing Wang Yilin still appearing calm and unhurried, he said loudly: "Premier Wang, could you eat a little faster?"

"Alright, then we shall meet at the Standing Committee meeting!" The fire in Wang Yilin's heart grew increasingly intense; if he could not control it any longer, he would resort to violence. If the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense were to engage in a physical altercation and it were to be reported, it would not only be a scandal but also a source of ridicule. However, at this moment, Wang Yilin did not lose his composure, so he quickly said: "Minister Shi, please return; I still have work to do. Xiao Wang, please see our guest out!"

Shi Lengxing's expression changed several times, but his anger ultimately did not erupt. One does not strike a smiling face, and although Wang Yilin is secretly undermining him, he presents himself as a completely benevolent person. Shi Lengxing finally managed to calm his emotions and said: "Prime Minister Wang, let us get back to the main topic. I have also tasted the food here and know what it tastes like"

Wang Yilin did not rush to eat; instead, he held a document in his left hand while occasionally taking a bite. Both the dishes and the food were hot, and the room temperature was consistently maintained at around 26 degrees Celsius, so Wang Yilin was not concerned that the food would cool down quickly. At this rate, it would not be a problem to eat for an entire hour.

Although Wang Yilin felt uncomfortable inside, he could not get angry because he indeed wanted to leave early. Seeing Shi Lengxing staring at him, he quickly picked up the documents from the cabinet beside him, walked towards the chair, and said, "I just got back and went out to fetch some documents. Minister Shi, is there something you need from me at this late hour?"

It took Wang Yilin a full twenty minutes to eat just over half a bowl, and he had already changed the documents in his hands twice, with annotations made on each. From his appearance, it seemed as if he were snacking while working rather than eating a meal.

There is no need for Minister Shi to worry about this; my health is still good, and the meals prepared by this chef suit my taste very well. Working overtime can be considered as my contribution to the meal expenses, unlike Minister Shi, who lives such a leisurely life every day!" Wang Yilin said somewhat indifferently. He no longer needed to be polite to Shi Lengxing. After his nephew was transferred back, he wanted to be promoted to general within a month. If it weren't for Old Zhao blocking him from above, one could only imagine how pleased Shi Lengxing would be. Now, the relationship between the two parties has returned to its previous state, even worse than before, as Shi Lengxing has realized that he was tricked last time. He is now even more opposed to all administrative proposals put forward by Wang Yilin and He Yongxing. If it weren't for Geng Min being able to recognize the bigger picture, the national institutions might have been paralyzed. When Wang Yilin saw that Shi Lengxing was about to get angry, he quickly smiled and said: "Minister Shi, would you like to try a portion and taste the flavor of the boxed meal here?"

"Alright, alright..." Shi Lengxing was nearly driven to the brink of a blood vessel explosion. After saying "alright" several times, he finally produced a result, "Don't think that just because you are the Prime Minister, you can do whatever you want. Do you really believe that offending the military today will allow you to maintain your current position? Don't think I am unaware of your relationship with Huang Longfei. If this gets out, I wonder who will ultimately suffer!"

Wang Yilin took a bite of rice, then raised his head, expressing both surprise and concern as he said: "Eat faster? Old Shi, you are really putting me in a difficult position. You know I have a stomach condition; the doctor advised me to chew slowly and savor my food, as it aids digestion and is beneficial for my gastrointestinal health. In the future, you should not rush during meals, otherwise, if you develop a stomach ailment, you won't be able to eat spicy food or drink alcohol, and that would be quite uncomfortable"

When Shi Lengxing saw Wang Yilin sitting there in silence as if he hadn't eaten, he lost his resolve. The two of them fell into a state of silence, and upon noticing that Shi Lengxing was not speaking, Wang Yilin buried himself in dealing with those annoying official matters, as if there were no other person in the room.

Wang Mingquan, who had been waiting outside, quickly took out a recorder to document the argument that broke out between the two inside