I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 214: Chapter 125: Zhang Qiming’s Arrival (Part 2)

He swayed slightly, bracing his hand against the cold tabletop. The chill of the metal seeped through his skin, pulling his mind back from the brink. He didn’t sigh, didn’t curse. His face betrayed no sign of any intense emotional turmoil.

Then, he pulled out the chair and sat down again. His movements were steady, yet every joint seemed to be fighting against an invisible resistance.

’Retreat? No, this isn’t a multiple-choice question where I can back down. Taking a step back would be to fall into an even more terrifying abyss, and to personally push my Clan and family behind me into an even more unpredictable darkness.’

The pressure could bend him, but it could not break him.

「Two days passed in heavy silence. Xiaoqiao Town, at Wang Jianchao’s home.」

Dinner had just ended, but the atmosphere was strange. Yang Wenqing’s father, Yang Jianmu, clutched a letter, pacing back and forth in the main hall. His face was pale, and fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead.

”Wang’s Office... Wang’s Office!” His voice trembled as he looked at Wang Jianchao, who was sitting to the side. ”A message came from the village. They said Wenqing’s third grand-uncle was taken away this afternoon.”

Wang Jianchao grunted heavily, his face ashen. He understood the games at play far better than Yang Jianmu did.

Yang Jianmu was frantic. ”I... I have to contact Wenqing immediately! He has to do something! His third grand-uncle is so old, how can he endure such an ordeal!”

”What’s there to panic about...”

A calm female voice spoke up. Yang Wenqing’s mother, Wang Qin, walked out from an inner room, an unfinished piece of needlework still in her hands. There was worry on her face, but her eyes were much steadier than Yang Jianmu’s.

”Wenqing is handling something monumental in Lingshan Town right now. Do you know how many eyes are on him? What good would contacting him now do, other than distract him? Can he just fly back and get the man released?” Wang Qin’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear. ”Third Uncle being taken away is obviously someone’s attempt to use our family, to use the entire village, to pressure Wenqing into bowing his head.”

She walked over to Wang Jianchao, her tone sincere. ”Wang’s Office, you’re a man who’s weathered many storms, and you’re a former superior Wenqing trusts. You have a wide network in Xiaoqiao Town and in the county. Could you please try to think of something? Maybe find out what’s really going on and see if there’s any room for maneuver?”

Wang Qin’s words were logical and clear, showing both her trust in and desire to protect her son, as well as her calm and strategic approach to the crisis.

Wang Jianchao stubbed out his cigarette and looked at Wang Qin. ”Ma’am, you can rest assured. Wenqing is charging ahead on the front lines. We can’t let outsiders sabotage him from behind!”

...

「Lingshan Town Public Security Office.」

Yang Wenqing ended his communication with Director Qin. After staring blankly for a moment, he took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his chaotic thoughts.

In truth, he wasn’t the only one on the investigation team under pressure; the others were also facing interference. Fortunately, the pressure on the other members was much less. It was unlikely that a figure of Vice Director Li’s rank from the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau would contact them directly. However, the gossip and criticism from family, colleagues, and even uninformed onlookers were just as draining.

Yang Wenqing was well aware of this. That was why he insisted on holding at least two core meetings every day: a brief huddle at noon and a detailed summary in the evening.

The goal was not just to synchronize information, but also to build morale, to let everyone see their progress, and to feel that they were a team fighting side by side. One of the key points of Director Qin’s recent communication had been to remind him to pay attention to internal unity and maintaining morale.

「In the blink of an eye, it was the morning of the eighth day.」

The landing platform in the public security office’s backyard had just received the routine Flying Shuttle carrying supplies and documents. Before the noise had fully subsided, a black Flying Shuttle suddenly appeared in the sky. It hadn’t been announced in advance. The signal synchronized with the security office came from the Director’s office. Then, with an air of absolute authority, it sliced through the morning sky and landed directly in the center of the platform.

The hatch opened. Zhang Qiming emerged, dressed in a crisp white uniform, the two silver stars on his epaulets reflecting a cold light in the morning sun. His face was devoid of expression.

”The Director is here!”

The news spread through the public security office in an instant.

In the office area, the members of the investigation team, who were just about to start their day’s work, were all stunned. ’What could Zhang Qiming possibly want, visiting Lingshan Town in person without any warning at such a sensitive time?’

When Yang Wenqing received the urgent report from the guard at the entrance, he was in the middle of reviewing the details of a new testimony about capital flow with Liu Xin. A dozen thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. He then looked at Qian Lu and ordered:

”Contact Director Wang immediately. Inform him that Director Zhang has come to Lingshan Town in person.”

”Yes, Yang Group Leader.”

Yang Wenqing stood up, straightened his collar, and said to Liu Xin in a low voice, ”Continue the review. Follow our established line of thinking. I’ll go greet him.”

Liu Xin nodded, a flicker of worry in their eyes, but it was overshadowed by determination. ”Understood. Don’t worry, Yang Group Leader.”

Yang Wenqing strode out of the office and through the somewhat noisy corridor. The guards and clerks he passed along the way all stopped, either saluting or stepping aside, their gazes complicated as they watched him.

Everyone knew that this meeting between Yang Wenqing and Zhang Qiming would be no ordinary work-related discussion.

Stepping out of the main building, the early morning summer sun was already starting to burn. Zhang Qiming was walking toward the security office’s interior. Hearing footsteps, he raised his eyes to meet Yang Wenqing’s as he came out to greet him, a habitual smile appearing on his face.

”Wenqing, you’ve been working hard here in Lingshan Town,” Zhang Qiming said, taking the initiative. ”I was just nearby inspecting the security upgrade project for the mining area and decided to drop by to see how your investigation team is progressing. Thought I’d give everyone a boost of encouragement. How about it, I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

”Director, you’re too kind. Your personal guidance is something we couldn’t have hoped for.” Yang Wenqing stood at attention and saluted, his expression respectful and flawless. ”I just didn’t expect you to arrive so suddenly. We are ill-prepared, so please forgive us, Director.”

”Ah, we’re all on the same team. No need for all these empty formalities.”

Zhang Qiming waved his hand dismissively, but his sharp gaze swept over Xia Meng, Zhao Tiezhu, and the others who had followed Yang Wenqing out. It lingered for a moment, especially on the fully armed Government Soldiers. ”It seems your security level here is quite high. Good. In special times, you can’t be too careful.”

Yang Wenqing stepped aside and gestured. ”Director, please, this way to the conference room. I will give you a detailed report on our recent work.”

”Good. Let’s hear about your results.”

Zhang Qiming nodded and strode forward.

The two of them walked into the main security office building, one after the other. The guards along the way snapped to attention and saluted the moment they saw them.

The investigators involved in the case, however, kept their eyes glued on Yang Wenqing.

Their eyes held a mix of complex emotions: worry, scrutiny, and a faint glimmer of hope. They wondered if this young police commissioner, this investigation group leader, could hold his ground in front of his deeply entrenched superior and protect the chain of evidence they had collected.

This subtle atmosphere made the security office fall incredibly silent. Only the sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor, so clear it was almost piercing.

Yang Wenqing led Zhang Qiming to the largest conference room. It was originally a personal office that Wang Ze’en had prepared for Yang Wenqing, but he had never used it.

”Director, please have a seat.” Yang Wenqing pulled out the chair at the head of the table.

Zhang Qiming didn’t stand on ceremony. He sat down frankly in the head seat, leaning back slightly. His gaze, like a hawk’s, swept over the conference room’s layout before finally landing on Yang Wenqing.

”Wenqing, tell me, how is it progressing? I hear you’ve been making some big moves these past few days, arresting quite a few people and stirring up a mess in the County Civil Affairs Bureau and the branch office.” Zhang Qiming got straight to the point.

Yang Wenqing responded immediately, ”We have been mapping out the social network of the Hongyuan Trading Company. We found that it does indeed have numerous irregularities regarding its employment practices, accounting, and some project approvals. Furthermore, its connections with certain individuals within the Civil Affairs Bureau system are excessively close, suggesting potential benefit transfers. We are currently conducting in-depth questioning of the relevant personnel based on these leads.”

His report was watertight, completely omitting the core issues.

”Mm, the direction is correct.”

After listening to Yang Wenqing’s watertight report, Zhang Qiming first nodded.

But then, the formulaic smile on his face receded like the tide, replaced by a stillness as deep as a dark pool and a barely perceptible sharpness in the depths of his eyes.

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze in an instant, as if even the chirping of the cicadas outside had been shut out.

Zhang Qiming leaned forward slightly, lacing his fingers together on the tabletop. His gaze locked firmly onto Yang Wenqing. Getting straight to the point, he abandoned all pretense:

”Wenqing, there are no outsiders here. Let’s speak more frankly.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a unique penetrating quality, the kind possessed by someone long accustomed to being in a position of power.