I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 201: Chapter 120: Endless Meetings

”You are all pillars of Lingshan Town’s development. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed; both the county and the city recognize your contributions. However...”

His tone shifted. His voice remained steady but gained a serious edge. ”I’m sure you’ve all heard that two of our colleagues from the City Defense Bureau were attacked. This is a grave provocation and a crime against our City Defense System and the order of Lingshan Town’s development.”

He paused, his gaze sharpening. ”The city bureau and the county are taking this matter extremely seriously. A joint investigation team has been formed, which I will be leading, with a deadline to solve the case. I’ve asked you all here today for two reasons: first, to inform you of the situation, and second, to clarify a few things.”

”First, the development of Lingshan Town is a major initiative set by the province and the city. It absolutely cannot be halted or disrupted. Production must continue, and projects must move forward. For the business owners present, as long as your operations are legal and compliant, the investigation team will not interfere without cause. Director Liao, you and your colleagues from the Civil Affairs Bureau are to handle coordination and support to ensure the overall stability of the development.”

”Second...”

Yang Wenqing’s tone grew heavier as he looked toward the leaders from the Commerce Association:

”I also ask for your understanding, support, and unconditional cooperation. Anyone who is summoned must appear. Any materials requested must be provided. Any questions asked must be answered truthfully. I do not want to see any evasiveness, concealment, or, worse, any obstruction of this investigation.”

The Commerce Association representatives immediately voiced their compliance, their sincere attitudes making the conference room’s atmosphere seem warmer. Yet this warmth felt forced, as if they were all putting on a clumsy performance.

Yang Wenqing paid no mind to their performance. In fact, he played along, engaging them in conversation.

Finally, he concluded:

”In short, construction cannot stop, and the case must be solved. I ask for your understanding and support where your cooperation is needed. As long as you all abide by the law, I guarantee that the pace of Lingshan Town’s development will not be unduly affected.”

He stood up. ”That’s all I have to say. Director Liao, I’ll leave the subsequent coordination from the Civil Affairs Bureau in your hands. To the business owners, go back and reassure your people. Continue with business as usual, but also be prepared to cooperate with the investigation.”

With that, he met Liao Tianming’s gaze. ”Director Liao, do you have anything to add?”

Director Liao smiled and shook his head. ”Yang Group Leader spoke very well. I won’t take up any more of everyone’s time.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Wenqing studied Director Liao for a moment. Then, without gauging the others’ reactions, he turned and was the first to leave the conference room.

As Yang Wenqing’s figure vanished from the doorway, Xia Meng and Qian Lu followed him out. The palpable pressure in the room lessened with their departure, but the atmosphere didn’t relax immediately.

The smile on Liao Tianming’s face faded considerably. He stood and gestured downwards with his hands, motioning for the business owners, who had begun to whisper amongst themselves, to quiet down.

”Gentlemen, you all heard what Yang Group Leader had to say.”

Liao Tianming’s tone was gentler than Yang Wenqing’s, possessing the characteristic tact of a government official. ”The situation is as he described. Our superiors have given us a deadline to solve this case, and the goal is to restore peace and order to Lingshan Town as quickly as possible, allowing all of you to conduct your business with true peace of mind.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. ”Yang Group Leader also said that development is the top priority; it cannot stop, nor can it fall into chaos. We at the Civil Affairs Bureau will certainly provide our full support and help you overcome any difficulties. So when you return, focus on production, meet your deadlines, and don’t let this weigh on your minds.”

”However, please take to heart what Yang Group Leader emphasized about cooperation. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. As long as we all operate within the law, it will be a good thing for everyone, and for all of Lingshan Town, once the investigation team gets to the bottom of this.”

The business owners from the Commerce Association all nodded in agreement, their expressions far more animated than before. It seemed they had actually taken his words to heart.

”Alright, that’s all for today,” Liao Tianming said finally.

Only then did the crowd begin to rise and file out of the room.

Liao Tianming also left the public security station with the other officials from the Civil Affairs Bureau. He was followed by a short man with sharp, active eyes. This was the director of the Lingshan Town preparatory office, Jin Lai.

After leaving the station, Jin Lai quickened his pace to catch up to Liao Tianming. Leaning in, he whispered, ”Director, isn’t that Yang Group Leader a bit too domineering? Reading between the lines, it sounds like he suspects all of us. He’s from the City Defense Bureau; he should stick to investigating the case. Why is he meddling in production and construction? It’s a clear sign of distrust in our Civil Affairs Bureau.”

Liao Tianming didn’t break his stride, merely glancing sideways at Jin Lai. ”Domineering? He’s the head of an investigation team jointly appointed by the city and the county. The weight on his shoulders is immense.”

His tone was casual, but it made Jin Lai flinch.

After a brief pause, he continued, ”Solving this case is the absolute priority right now. Yang Group Leader’s demand for cooperation is perfectly justified. Forget him—even I would have to cooperate unconditionally if the investigation required it!”

”You need to remember, this isn’t some ordinary public order case. This is the most heinous crime Qianjiao County has seen in nearly a decade. City Defense personnel were attacked in public, leaving one dead and one injured. The provincial government is probably watching this closely. The only reason you haven’t been dealt with already is that they’re giving you a chance to redeem yourself. And you have the gall to complain? We should be banding together, and here you are saying things that sow discord!”

His tone remained level throughout this speech, yet it carried the weight of a stern lecture.

Jin Lai was thoroughly frightened. He quickly bowed, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. ”You are right to correct me, Director Liao. I was thoughtless. I misspoke, I misspoke...”

「On the other side.」

When Yang Wenqing returned to the investigation team’s temporary office, he found Yang Tie, who had been waiting for quite some time.