I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 323: Chapter 175: Provincial Government Supervisor

The family slowly finished their breakfast before Yang Wenqing stood up, said goodbye to his parents, and boarded a Flying Shuttle to the precinct.

He had just arrived at his office and hadn’t even had a sip of the hot tea Liu Qin had prepared when Qiu Zheng and Liu Xin showed up together.

Qiu Zheng entered the office, saw Yang Wenqing looking at ease, and was the first to speak. ”Director Yang, it must be nice being a leader. You work from sunrise to sunset, a perfectly unshakable routine.”

Yang Wenqing lifted his teacup, blew on the steam, and looked up, replying unhurriedly, ”You’re joking, Captain Qiu. The only reason I can keep regular hours is thanks to your Special Security Bureau. If you all hadn’t taken over the case, I probably wouldn’t even have time for a sip of tea.”

Qiu Zheng laughed, not lingering on the topic. His expression turned serious. ”Director Yang, our Director Sheng, along with a division chief from the Municipal Internal Affairs Inspectorate, arrived in the New District this morning. They’d like to speak with you in person about the case’s progress and the subsequent arrest plan. Please come to the Major Case Team’s conference room.”

”Director Sheng came in person?”

Yang Wenqing put down his teacup, a look of exaggerated surprise on his face. ”To what do I owe the honor? Why wasn’t I notified in advance? I would have arranged a proper welcome.”

His gaze shifted to Liu Xin, who was standing beside them.

Just as Liu Xin was about to explain, Qiu Zheng replied, ”He only just arrived, almost at the same time as you, Director Yang. See? I came to report to you immediately.”

”Also, Director Sheng and the others wanted to keep a low profile on this visit to avoid unnecessary attention. We have to arrest a lot of people today, and the scope might be wider than anticipated. To ensure stability in the New District, the arrest operation must be kept absolutely confidential. That’s why the leadership traveled light and without an entourage. It wasn’t an intentional slight against you.”

”I see.” Yang Wenqing nodded in understanding, his expression shifting to one of support. ”The municipal leadership is always so thorough. Shall I go and report to them now?”

Qiu Zheng couldn’t answer that. Yang Wenqing’s rank was one level below Vice Director Sheng, but he was the local official in charge. Using the term ”report to” was a polite formality, and any response should come from Vice Director Sheng himself.

So, Qiu Zheng lowered his head, pretending not to have heard Yang Wenqing’s question.

Meanwhile, Liu Xin felt like she was being roasted over a fire. Only now did she belatedly realize that she should have reported this matter sooner.

Ignoring their discomfort, Yang Wenqing stood up and instructed Liu Qin, ”Xiaoxian, I’m going to a meeting with the Major Case Team. If anyone comes looking for me, just take a message unless it’s a life-or-death emergency. I’ll handle it when I get back.”

”Yes, Director.”

Liu Qin acknowledged.

Only then did Yang Wenqing turn to Qiu Zheng and Liu Xin. ”Let’s go.”

The three of them left the director’s office and walked down the corridor toward the floor where the Major Case Team was located.

Yang Wenqing’s expression was calm, but his mind was racing. ’The Vice Director of the Special Security Bureau and a division chief from Internal Affairs Inspection arriving together in secret, and openly stating they’re going to arrest a lot of people... This means Li Xiulan’s Soul Search must have uncovered an unexpectedly large network.’

Just as they left the office, the badge on Yang Wenqing’s chest began to pulse with a familiar fluctuation—a communication signal from his master, Qin Huaiming.

He paused, gestured for Qiu Zheng and Liu Xin to wait, and walked over to a window in the hallway to accept the call.

”Wenqing!” Qin Huaiming’s voice came through, carrying a rare note of gravity. ”The specific identity of that supervisor from the province has just been announced. They kept this one buried deep. I had people asking around for a long time without getting any solid information. It was only made public half an hour ago.”

Yang Wenqing followed up, ”Who is it?”

”Wang Yanzhi,” Qin Huaiming said. ”He’s from a classic Provincial Government family, a direct descendant of the Wang family of Donghai Province.”

He paused, seeming to choose his words carefully. ”The Wang family has been rooted in the East Sea for generations, operating within the Civil Affairs Bureau system. They have deep roots and wide branches, with protégés and old acquaintances scattered throughout the province. Their family doesn’t cultivate the Yin Yang Five Elements path; instead, they pass down a Divine Art from generation to generation.”

”Because practicing a Divine Art provides only a limited extension to one’s lifespan—far less than the orthodox Great Daos—the Wang family descendants, despite their considerable power, don’t typically live long. They’re more like a mortal family of scholar-officials, sustained by blood ties and a vast network of secular connections.”

”Wang Yanzhi’s visit this time is ostensibly to supervise public security and the construction of strategic projects in Lingshan New District. In reality, he’s representing certain provincial factions to inspect the implementation of the newly divided mining interests. He’s also here to audit the books and clarify the tax categories for the mining area.” ℴ

Qin Huaiming concluded with a word of advice, ”This man has a complicated background, and the interests he represents are deeply entangled. When you deal with him, just stick to official business. There’s no need to get deliberately close, but no need to be overly guarded either.”

”I understand,” Yang Wenqing said. ”Thank you for the guidance, Master.”

Ending the call, Yang Wenqing walked back to Qiu Zheng and Liu Xin, his expression unchanged. Liu Xin asked, ”Director Yang, is everything alright?”

”It’s nothing, just a work-related call.” Yang Wenqing waved a hand dismissively and smiled at Qiu Zheng. ”Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep the municipal leadership waiting.”

A short while later, the three of them arrived at the door of the Major Case Team’s small conference room. The door was ajar, and they could hear low voices from within.

Yang Wenqing pushed the door open and stepped inside, taking in the scene.

Six or seven people were already seated in the small room. Beside the head seat was a man with a stern expression, dressed in a formal, long-sleeved dark blue suit. Yang Wenqing recognized him as Vice Director Sheng of the Special Security Bureau.

Next to him sat an elderly man in a simple gray uniform, holding a case file. Yang Wenqing knew at a glance that he was from the Internal Affairs Inspection System; that uniquely scrutinizing aura of theirs was impossible to hide.

Zhu Yunchuan was speaking in a low voice with this elderly man, but Yang Wenqing paid it no mind. The Internal Affairs Inspection System was relatively independent, and Zhu Yunchuan had his own channels to report directly to his superiors, so their relationship wasn’t a strict hierarchy with him as director.