I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 108: Chapter 87: Integrating into the Circle and Acquiring Properties

Wang Jianchao looked at Yang Wenqing again, his words tinged with alcohol as he said, half-joking and half-serious, ”Wenqing, Ah Liang, Section Chief Wang, what do you say we get a piece of land in Xiaoqiao Town and build our own manors? Even a small one, where we could grow some things for ourselves or start a unique animal farm, would be an asset.”

Yang Wenqing’s heart stirred. Owning a manor that could provide a stable supply of cultivation resources was undoubtedly the dream of every ambitious Cultivator. It didn’t just mean financial independence, but also a solid foundation for one’s cultivation. However, he also knew that his focus had to be on his duties at the City Defense Bureau, leaving him no energy to manage it personally.

”That’s a good suggestion, Brother Jianchao. I’ll give it serious thought,” Yang Wenqing replied solemnly. ”But just as Brother Wang said, we can’t manage it ourselves. If we really do this, we’ll have to entrust it to our clansmen or a completely trustworthy steward. I’ll bring it up when I go back to my village to discuss things with the clan elders.”

The setting sun slanted westward, painting the private room’s windows golden. A luncheon that had started as a celebration for a promotion had somehow turned into an in-depth planning session for their future business blueprint.

Their scheming might seem like they were using their power for personal gain. In reality, in Qianjiao County, and even throughout the entire Wanxuan nation, this was a tacitly accepted norm among officials and the Cultivator class. As long as one was discreet, it was considered harmless and even tacitly approved as a reasonable perk and investment channel.

The key to all of this was ’not competing with the common people for profit, nor stealing their livelihoods.’

The Four Seas Trading Company they were planning would target the circulation and primary processing of bulk commodities, not compete with the common folk for their means of survival. In fact, it could even provide them with numerous job opportunities.

Of course, the prerequisite for all this was to operate legally and in compliance with regulations. The company’s operations had to be strictly confined within the framework of laws and regulations, with clear accounting and taxes paid according to the law. They would absolutely not get involved in illegal activities like smuggling, tax evasion, or market manipulation.

The compliance review authority that Yang Wenqing possessed now had a dual meaning. To the outside world, it was a deterrent and a protective shield. Internally, it was a sword of Damocles hanging over their own company, a constant reminder not to cross the line.

Therefore, the concept for the Four Seas Trading Company born from this luncheon was less a greedy exchange of power for money and more a cautious investment in the future, made by a group of newly empowered individuals testing the boundaries of what the rules allowed.

The last rays of the setting sun gradually faded, and soft illumination runes lit up within the private room. The four of them discussed more specific details, such as initial investment ratios, the criteria for finding a reliable public-facing agent, and the types of goods for their first trial trade. They didn’t part ways, content, until the night had grown deep.

After leaving Joy Pavilion, the cool night breeze blew away the last of their tipsiness. The four said their goodbyes, agreeing to meet again to flesh out the company’s charter once they had all settled into their new positions. Yang Wenqing politely declined Wang Ren’s offer to give him a ride in the Flying Shuttle, deciding to walk for a bit to clear his head in the breeze.

Walking down the streets as the lanterns were being lit, Yang Wenqing watched the patrol teams—still more numerous than usual—and the crowds of lecturers who had not yet fully dispersed. His feelings were complicated. On one hand, the county was in the midst of a grim storm of power reshuffling and order being restored; on the other, his own small circle was quietly sowing the seeds of wealth and a solid foundation on the storm’s edge.

The two things seemed contradictory, but perhaps they were a microcosm of the grassroots ecosystem of this vast nation. On the surface, law, powerful Cultivators, and the machinery of power maintained order and deterrence. Underneath, all sorts of networks based on personal connections, regional ties, and mutual interests were like sprawling root systems, drawing sustenance from the cracks in the rules and growing tenaciously.

He touched the new deputy team leader badge at his waist. Its cool touch made him feel even more clear-headed.

Power brought opportunities, but also more complex games and heavier responsibilities. The road ahead required him to tread even more cautiously. Whether it was the open and hidden struggles within the City Defense Bureau, the quiet launch of the Four Seas Trading Company, or the advancement of his own cultivation, he could not afford the slightest negligence.

PS: This last bit isn’t just filler. I was worried people might complain, so I’m putting up a shield first. Some of you might still think they’re hypocrites, but this is probably just the reality of how the system works.