Just as Ma Tiejun and Ma Baotian were about to break down the door, Ma Gang finally spoke up.
"Dad, we can’t crash in! We’re asking for Secretary Chen’s help today, smashing the door open wouldn’t look good. I’ll go to the front desk to find someone to unlock it instead."
Ma Baotian nodded, "Alright, Tiejun, go with Gang!"
Hearing the commotion outside, Ma Juan finally woke up.
After hastily putting on her clothes, she stood up and began fixing her hair.
Chen Bin, on the other hand, yanked the bloodied bed sheet and stuffed it under the bed.
Once Ma Juan had tidied up her clothes and hair, she hurriedly opened the door.
Seeing this, Ma Baotian couldn’t help but ask.
"Secretary Chen, we’ve been knocking on the door for ages, why didn’t you open it?"
Chen Bin coughed lightly and pretended to respond calmly.
"I drank too much earlier—accidentally fell and couldn’t make it to the door."
Not long after the two entered the room, Ma Tiejun and Ma Gang came rushing back, accompanied by the receptionist.
Seeing the door already open, the receptionist asked Chen Bin if he knew Ma Baotian and the others.
After receiving confirmation, she turned and left.
The room still reeked of alcohol.
Ma Baotian didn’t overthink things. Glancing at Ma Juan, who sat awkwardly on the bed, he asked abruptly.
"Xiao Juan, why are you sitting on Secretary Chen’s bed?"
Clutching her lower abdomen, Ma Juan replied with a pained expression.
"I suddenly got a stomachache, so I sat here for a bit."
At this point, Ma Baotian’s mind was solely on Ma Xiangqian. Without time to question further, he immediately asked.
"Secretary Chen, how’s my grandson doing now?"
Though his tone was calm, his face was full of worry.
Chen Bin replied, "I just had dinner with the County Public Security Bureau folks, and they said the person injured by Ma Xiangqian has now regained consciousness..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ma Tiejun interrupted him.
"So, does that mean my son is out of trouble?"
Chen Bin shook his head.
"Not exactly. Though the injured party is out of danger, they’ll need to be monitored in the hospital for a while. Plus, they made it clear—they’ll handle their own medical bills, but their only demand is to see Ma Xiangqian severely punished."
Upon hearing this, Ma Baotian frowned heavily.
Lighting the pipe in his hand, he sat on a nearby stool, puffing away gloomily.
Ma Gang muttered anxiously to himself.
"If they sentence him to ten or eight years, what are we going to do? Secretary Chen, can you figure out a way? As long as Xiangqian doesn’t end up in jail, we’ll spend whatever it takes!"
Ma Tiejun added gravely, "Right. As long as Xiangqian comes out safely, we’re willing to sell everything we own to raise the money."
Sighing slightly, Chen Bin pretended to be in a difficult spot and said.
"With my abilities, I’m afraid I can’t help you. This matter requires Secretary Wang to step in personally."
Ma Tiejun hurriedly asked, "Secretary Wang is a big shot. How can we common folks get a meeting with him?"
Chen Bin didn’t reply but instead turned to look at Ma Baotian.
"Old man, what’s your opinion on the matter of the formula?"
Ma Baotian remained silent, his brow furrowed as he silently smoked his pipe.
Seeing no other option, Chen Bin had to turn back to Ma Tiejun.
"Secretary Wang holds the brewery’s matters in high regard. If you want him to help, this might be the angle to pursue."
Ma Gang was naturally impatient. Hearing this, he immediately began nagging Ma Baotian.
"Dad, Xiangqian is our family’s only hope! You can’t just sit back and do nothing!"
"You brat, this is no place for your input! Go stand aside!"
Angrily glaring at Ma Gang, Ma Baotian then turned to face Chen Bin.
"If I hand over the formula and the technology, can you guarantee every member of the Ma family a spot in government work?"
"Absolutely! If you agree, I can immediately arrange for Secretary Wang to meet with your family."
Sighing deeply, Ma Baotian nodded.
"Then contact him quickly. So long as my grandson can be freed, I’ll agree to anything."
Seeing him relent, Chen Bin wasted no time and sent a message to Wang Jun.
He also forwarded the hotel’s address.
Not long after, Wang Jun arrived hurriedly with Cheng Zhuang and Xu Ruoxuan in tow.
After meeting, Chen Bin immediately moved to arrange a private dining room at a nearby hotel.
During the meal, the tension was palpable among the Ma family.
Wang Jun, meanwhile, praised Ma Baotian’s willingness to contribute to the development of Qingshi County.
Faced with the County Committee secretary’s commendation, Ma Baotian was clearly pleased.
However, his main concern remained with Ma Xiangqian.
Upon learning his thoughts, Wang Jun promptly promised to handle the matter.
He assured them that once the agreement was signed tomorrow, he’d find a way to get Ma Xiangqian out.
Hearing this, the group was overjoyed.
As the meal was nearing its end, Chen Bin excused himself to use the restroom.
On his way back, he bumped into Ma Juan, who had been waiting for him for a long time.
She hobbled over and dragged Chen Bin aside immediately upon seeing him.
Hands on her hips, she angrily demanded.
"Don’t you have anything to say to me right now?"
"Not really. I think the food here is pretty good, although I probably ate too much at lunch..."
"Who asked you about that?!"
With a sharp rebuke, Ma Juan grabbed him by the collar.
"You slept with me and now have nothing to say for yourself?! Do you want me to go to Secretary Wang right now and demand justice?!"
Chen Bin frowned slightly and countered.
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
Shaking his head, Chen Bin refused flatly.
"Sorry, I don’t plan on getting married right now."
To Chen Bin, although Ma Juan was fine, she couldn’t compare to Zhao Xinmei.
The only person Chen Bin truly wanted to marry was Zhao Xinmei!
Infuriated, Ma Juan hobbled off toward the private dining room.
"Fine! You took advantage of me and refuse to take responsibility—I’ll make you regret it!"
Chen Bin grabbed her wrist and replied calmly.
"I won’t do anything I don’t want to. If Secretary Wang decides to make this an issue, I’ll resign from the job!"
For a moment, Ma Juan was at a loss for words.
Looking at Chen Bin, she whimpered.
"If you won’t marry me, at least take responsibility! Before I met you, I was clearly an innocent girl..."
Chen Bin, who always softened under pressure, couldn’t help but feel a pang of tenderness seeing her .
He gently tilted Ma Juan’s chin with his right hand and replied sincerely.
"I can’t marry you now, but I promise that as long as you listen to me in everything, I’ll make sure to treat you well..."