Lu Fan wasn't annoyed. "Village Chief," he said, "I heard our village road is scheduled to be repaved next year?"
"How do you know that?" The Village Chief froze for a second, watching him with a guarded expression.
"I happen to know someone at the Transportation Bureau, and I heard it from them," Lu Fan said with a cheerful smile. "But I also heard the project isn't finalized yet. Several villages are fighting for it."
The Village Chief's expression faltered, but he said nothing.
"It'd be a real shame if our village road doesn't get approved," Lu Fan said, his tone deliberate. "After all, a new road would be great for the village's development, and it would be a political credit to you as the Chief."
The Village Chief glared at him, his temper rising. "What are you trying to say?"
