Who was Huang Tao? He was the de facto fourth-in-command of Northern Mountain City, the Executive Deputy Mayor, wielding enormous real power and astonishing influence.
Moreover, in the officialdom where age was still a significant factor, he was not even forty-five years old. If he achieved outstanding political results, it would only take someone from above to give him a casual push for him to go even further. Climbing another step, or even entering the provincial-level echelons, was not out of the question.
For such a major figure in Northern Mountain City's official circles, a man destined for a bright future, to personally invite Chen Fei to a banquet was an unmistakable gesture of goodwill. It showed great respect to both Chen Fei and Gao Zhinan.
However, Chen Fei didn't think much of it. He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head and declining, "Thank you for the kind invitation, Mayor Huang, but I think I'll have to pass."
