161: Chapter 161 Deputy Director Zhao VS Deputy Director Song

Early the next morning, at a breakfast stall outside Wenhua Jiayuan, Lu Zhanbo and Zhao Yang signed the formal software development contract.

While eating sweet tofu pudding, Lu Zhanbo asked, "Brother Yang, I've looked at this software, and it's truly impressive. The audio and video compression algorithm inside, in particular, is incredibly powerful. After this software is released, what do you plan to call it?"

Zhao Yang thought for a moment and said, "WeChat. 'Wei' from smile, 'Xin' from information."

"Great name." Lu Zhanbo gave a thumbs up. "It sounds good and is easy to remember."

Looking at Lu Zhanbo's clear eyes, Zhao Yang sighed inwardly. This kid probably didn't realize what a great product he was about to complete; it was something that would change the way over a billion people communicated!

He glanced at his watch and said, "I have to go; I have a meeting this morning. Zhanbo, I believe in your talent. Use the WeChat project to build up the studio's framework; I have even cooler software for you to develop later."

"Thank you, Brother Yang. I will certainly live up to your trust and won't let you down."

Zhao Yang patted him on the shoulder, turned, and drove away.

Now that the country's wireless network construction had entered a fast-paced rhythm, and Red Bean smartphones were beginning to conquer the market, launching WeChat was perfectly timed. Once things developed to the 4G or even 5G era, he could then ride the trend to launch other popular video apps.

In fact, Zhao Yang could redeem the complete code for these software from the System, but he didn't need these things to make money anymore; he intended to cultivate a few more internet upstarts.

In the Dragon country of that original timeline, although talent emerged generation after generation, Zhao Yang always felt that there were still too few. From a consumer's perspective, there were too few selectable internet platforms, making it easy to be manipulated by them.

If it weren't for the unique national structure of the Dragon country, which had a highly capable and progressive management group, the vast majority of ordinary people wouldn't know what they would have been reduced to by those large, allegedly monopolistic conglomerates. In this timeline, however, Zhao Yang wanted to see a hundred flowers bloom; only then could there be sufficient competition, and only then could ordinary consumers benefit.

He spent the whole morning in meetings. After the meeting, as Zhao Yang was walking out, a gentle, middle-aged male voice came from behind: "Chief Prosecutor Zhao."

Zhao Yang turned around and saw a middle-aged man with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes walking over with a smile—Song Siming.

Today's meeting had a broad scope, concerning social stability and public safety before the Olympics. Personnel from the public security, Procuratorate, and judiciary, as well as government staff, all had to attend. Even Mayor Zhang had to sit obediently below, listening to the top leader of Magic City give instructions.

Zhao Yang had never dealt with Song Siming before. Although he knew who he was, he still put on a puzzled expression: "You are…"

"Song Siming." Song Siming smiled and extended his hand. "I work at the Municipal Government."

Zhao Yang put on a look of realization: "Oh, so it's Deputy Director Song. Hello, hello, I've long heard of your name."

Song Siming paused, his heart sinking suddenly. For someone from the Procuratorate to know people from the Municipal Government was not a good sign. He kept a smile on his face: "Chief Prosecutor Zhao is too polite."

"I'm not being polite," Zhao Yang laughed. "I heard that our Mayor Zhang's top secretary is not only highly capable but also a handsome man of outstanding appearance. Seeing you today, how should I put it—meeting is better than hearing."

Song Siming relaxed inside and also laughed: "Chief Prosecutor Zhao, you… you really are something. When compliments about being handsome come from your mouth, they don't sound like compliments at all."

Zhao Yang chuckled: "Deputy Director Song, don't be modest. It's almost time to eat, want to grab a bite together?"

Song Siming paused, his heart tightening again, but he said: "Sure. To be treated by our Magic City's recognized rising star in the official circles, I really feel lucky."

"Deputy Director Song, look at what you're saying." Zhao Yang put on a straight face. "What star or not? We are all serving the people; don't make it sound like the entertainment industry."

"It was a slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue. Chief Prosecutor Zhao, please don't take it to heart. It's all that girl of mine; she talks about this star or that star every day. I hear it so much that I've been influenced by her. To apologize, I'll treat you to lunch."

Zhao Yang laughed: "Fine."

"What kind of flavor does Chief Prosecutor Zhao like?"

"Me? Anything is fine." Zhao Yang paused. "As long as you don't serve me Beijing's douzhi."

"Hahaha." Song Siming couldn't help but laugh. "You can't buy that in Magic City even if you wanted to. Then let's have some local Magic City cuisine. Please."

In the original show, Song Siming traveled in either an audi a6 or a Land Rover. However, this was a meeting, so he wasn't being that flashy; he drove a volkswagen passat from his unit. He was clearly still wary of Zhao Yang and didn't drive directly to a luxury hotel, but instead found a mid-to-high-end restaurant with a relatively good environment.

After chatting for a few sentences, Zhao Yang understood that Song Siming had no other intentions in proactively calling him; it was purely to expand his social circle based on interpersonal relationships, and of course, he also had the intention of pulling Zhao Yang into his circle.

Zhao Yang, on the other hand, used the excuse of learning about the Magic City officialdom to ask about quite a bit of gossip from the government side. Although these things sounded insignificant, they might come in handy one day.

During the conversation, Zhao Yang could see that Song Siming did not know he had already been noticed by people with ulterior motives, and could only secretly wish him good luck.

Zhao Yang didn't really want to interfere with Song Siming's fate, as long as he prevented him from dying in a car accident like in the original show.

Keeping him alive meant he could get more information out of him, which would mean more work for the Procuratorate—all of which would be political achievements. Besides that, Zhao Yang also remembered that Manager Chen Sifu had caused an old person to be crushed to death during a forced demolition; this could also be avoided, because he would soon find some trouble for Manager Chen Sifu.

After the meal, Song Siming suddenly asked: "Chief Prosecutor Zhao, a friend invited me to play Golf this weekend. I wonder if you'd be interested in joining?"

Zhao Yang paused, unable to help but laugh inwardly. Just yesterday, he felt his luck was bad, having drawn a Golf skill, yet he didn't expect to be able to use it so soon. It seemed he still had a koi-fish Physique? Was it the System?

[Consultation fee: 1000 emotion points.]

Take it.

[Without using items that increase luck, such as a Luck Card, the host does not have a koi-fish Physique. Drawing Golf was purely a coincidence.]

Are you jealous?

[Consultation fee: 1000 emotion points.]

…

Seeing Zhao Yang a bit dazed, Song Siming couldn't help but ask: "Chief Prosecutor Zhao, Golf isn't very difficult to learn, and…"

Zhao Yang chuckled: "To tell you the truth, I've only played Golf video games and haven't actually touched a club yet. Well, I'll go try it this weekend then?"

"Great." Song Siming smiled. "Then shall I pick you up this weekend?"

"No need, just tell me the location, and I'll go there myself."

"Alright, once the time and location are set, I'll send them to you immediately."

The two chatted about some daily topics again, then returned to their respective units.

After entering his office, Song Siming closed the door and dialed Manager Chen Sifu's number.

Manager Chen Sifu's fawning voice quickly came through the phone: "Brother, do you have any instructions?"

"Zhao Yang will be going to play Golf with me this weekend."

"Ah? Brother, you… you and Zhao Yang have already met?"

Song Siming's eyes flashed with a hint of sarcasm: "Nonsense. Both he and I are in the System; it's naturally easier for us to get to know each other than you. Didn't you say there's a female employee in your unit who is familiar with Zhao Yang? Remember to bring her along this weekend."

"Okay, do you have any other instructions?"

Song Siming was silent for a moment and said, "Bring that Su Tan along too."

"Brother… aren't you annoyed with her?"

"You idiot, she's for show." Song Siming snorted coldly. "And make sure you arrange it well; tell that Su Tan not to just fawn over me, but to direct more of it towards Zhao Yang. I want to see what Zhao Yang is made of. Understand?"

"Understood, understood, Brother, you are truly brilliant."

"Stop buttering me up."

Song Siming hung up the phone, his fingers tapping gently on the desk: "Zhao Yang… Zhao Yang… twenty-nine years old, unmarried… likes to enjoy himself… the weaknesses should be quite obvious…"