On a rainy evening, the city's neon lights shimmer ambiguously, and a hidden alley looks deserted in the cracks of high-rise buildings. Deep in the alley, a teahouse called "Yalan Pavilion" has a half-hidden door, revealing a warm light that contrasts with the desert around it.
"Mr. Li, this tea is a good Longjing, can you taste it?" A woman dressed in a cheongsam with a gentle temperament spoke softly, her eyes had both a professional smile and a little imperceptible deep meaning. Her name is Lin Wan, and she is the owner of this teahouse, and she is also an unknown character in the city's power and sex trading chain.
Mr. Li, a middle-aged man, in a suit and leather shoes, looked a little tired, but his eyes still revealed the shrewdness and calculation of a businessman. He took the teacup, took a sip, and then showed a satisfied smile: "Miss Lin, your tea art is really amazing, every time I come here, I can temporarily forget the disturbances outside." ”
Lin Wan smiled slightly, there were too many stories hidden in that smile, she gently turned the teacup in her hand, her eyes seemed to penetrate the teacup, and she saw farther away: "Mr. Li's words are serious, but it is just a means to settle down." Having said that, I have recently heard that the government has become more and more stringent in the approval of commercial projects, how is Mr. Li's project progressing? ”
This sentence, like an invisible thread, gently touched the sensitive point in Mr. Li's heart. He put down the teacup and his expression became solemn: "Yes, Miss Lin, I won't tell you, my project has been stuck in the approval process for several months, and if it drags on like this, I'm afraid there will be problems with the capital chain." ”
When Lin Wan heard this, she sighed softly, as if she felt the same way: "Mr. Li, in this world, sometimes strength alone is not enough, and a little bit of ...... 'help' is needed." She deliberately said the word "help" vaguely, leaving it to Mr. Li's infinite reverie.
When Mr. Li heard this, his heart moved, but he still maintained his demeanor on his face: "Miss Lin is reasonable, but where does this 'help' come from?" ”
Lin Wan smiled lightly, stood up, walked to the window, and opened the corner of the curtain, so that the sound of rain outside could be heard more clearly: "Mr. Li, look at this rain, although it is cold, it can nourish all things. Sometimes, people also need a rain to wash away the dust from their bodies and find a new way out. ”
When Mr. Li heard this, he already had a general understanding in his heart, he stood up and walked to Lin Wan's side, his eyes burning: "Miss Lin, you have something to say." ”
Lin Wan turned around and looked directly into Mr. Li's eyes, there was both determination and helplessness in her eyes: "Mr. Li, I'm not a person who likes to beat around the bush. I have some resources in my hands that can help you get through the approval hurdles, but you also know that there is no such thing as a free lunch. ”
Mr. Li was silent for a moment, as if he was weighing the gains and losses, and finally he took a deep breath: "Miss Lin, just say it, what do you need me to do?" ”
Lin Wan smiled slightly, and there was both the joy of victory and the compromise of reality in that smile: "Mr. Li, you are a smart person, you should understand what I mean." All I want is a little bit of 'return' after your success, and we can talk about it in detail privately. ”
In this way, a seemingly ordinary tea party is actually a prelude to a power transaction. In the following days, Mr. Li's project was successfully approved, and Lin Wan also got the "return" she wanted. Such stories, which are quietly playing out in all corners of the city, are much more common than people think.
According to an unofficial social survey, in some industries, more than 30% of the project approval process has varying degrees of power trading. These transactions are often hidden behind glamorous business activities and exist in various forms, such as the provision of special services, the transfer of benefits, etc., which seriously undermines the principle of fair competition in the market and also corrodes the moral bottom line of society.
However, as Lin Wan said, this world is sometimes so complicated. Everyone is running for survival and profit, some people choose the right path, and some people choose the shortcut. But no matter which path you choose, you will ultimately be responsible for your choices.
In the dead of night, Lin Wan often sits alone in the corner of the teahouse, looking at the lights outside the window, with mixed feelings in her heart. She knows that what she has done is not glorious, but she also has her own helplessness and suffering. In this world full of temptations and traps, she can only walk cautiously and try to maintain her bottom line and conscience.
And Mr. Li, after enjoying the convenience brought by power, gradually realized that this kind of success obtained through improper means cannot last long after all. He began to reflect on his actions and tried to find a more legitimate and sustainable way to develop.
The story doesn't end here, it's like a microcosm, reflecting a side of today's society. In this complex and ever-changing world, everyone is looking for their own place and direction, and power trading is just a part of the dark corners. But as long as we remain vigilant and stick to the bottom line, we will definitely be able to walk out of a bright road.