I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 325: Chapter 176: Wang Yanzhi’s Contradictory Personality

After ending his call with Liao Tianming, Yang Wenqing glanced at the time. It was nearly noon. He quickly tidied his appearance, then headed to the Government Office Building with Liu Qin.

The dedicated landing pad in front of the Government Office Building and the surrounding area had long since been decorated in a manner both solemn and festive.

A brand-new red carpet stretched from the center of the landing pad to the steps of the main building. Staff from the Civil Affairs Bureau, dressed in matching uniforms, were lined up neatly on both sides. At the far end of the carpet, a group of young women holding bouquets of fresh flowers waited with sweet smiles.

In the distance, there was even a small ceremonial band, adding the perfect touch to the welcome ceremony and fully showcasing the professionalism of the Civil Affairs Bureau when it came to official receptions.

When Yang Wenqing arrived at the Government Office Building, Liao Tianming personally rushed out to greet him and led him toward the landing pad. The officials who knew Yang Wenqing immediately gathered around to chat.

Just after one o’clock, a deep blue Flying Shuttle bearing the emblem of the Provincial Civil Affairs Bureau cut across the sky, arriving right on time. It landed lightly and smoothly in the center of the landing pad.

The cabin door slid open, and a man who looked to be in his early thirties stepped out first. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored, deep cyan formal suit. While he could be called handsome, his eyes held an obvious reserve and aloofness. His gaze swept over the welcoming crowd below, less a greeting and more a condescending, routine inspection.

This was none other than Supervisor Wang Yanzhi, dispatched from the Provincial Civil Affairs Bureau.

As the head of the Civil Affairs Bureau in the New District, Liao Tianming immediately led his deputies and the heads of the main departments forward. His face was wreathed in an enthusiastic smile as he recited a well-prepared welcoming speech.

Wang Yanzhi only gave a faint nod. When he shook Liao Tianming’s hand, their fingertips brushed for just a moment before separating. He couldn’t even be bothered to extend his hand to the others, merely inclining his head slightly, as if receiving his nod were some great boon.

However, when his gaze fell upon Yang Wenqing, who was standing behind and to the side of Liao Tianming, he paused. He then walked straight past Liao Tianming and the others to stand before Yang Wenqing, extending a hand.

”You must be Director Wenqing,” Wang Yanzhi said, his smile warm. ”I’ve long heard that the Xuanyue Lineage recently gained a true inheritor. Rumor has it he has an extraordinary presence, and seeing you today, I find the rumors did not lie.”

Yang Wenqing’s expression was placid as he shook the offered hand. ”You’re too kind, Supervisor Wang. Welcome to Lingshan New District. We appreciate you coming to guide our work.”

Wang Yanzhi clearly relished the feeling of playing the gracious superior before the crowd, even giving Yang Wenqing’s hand a gentle shake before releasing it.

Afterward, flanked by Liao Tianming and his entourage, he stepped onto the red carpet. He accepted the flowers from the young women and, to the sound of the ceremonial band, strode slowly toward the main building.

He kept a smile on his face the entire time, yet he consistently ignored greetings from others, perfectly showcasing the characteristic arrogance of a scion from a great house. It was a pride born from his family’s deep-rooted power in the East Sea, typical of the younger generation from the short-lived families who practice Divine Arts.

In the future, they were all but guaranteed to suffer a major setback. If they managed to recover, they would soar to new heights. Most, however, would never get back up.

Amid a round of thunderous applause, the group entered the spacious and brightly lit auditorium of the Government Office Building. The heads of the New District’s various departments, sub-districts, and key enterprises were already inside, having been waiting for some time.

Wang Yanzhi’s aide handed him a thick speech manuscript. Holding the script, he ignored Liao Tianming’s invitation to sit in the guest of honor’s seat in the front row, turning instead toward Yang Wenqing, who had also been escorted to the front.

”Director Wenqing...” Wang Yanzhi began, his expression probing. ”I heard the New District branch recently cracked a major case? One involving foreign Divine Art Cultivators?”

The words sounded like a compliment, but they were really a test. It was a deliberate attempt to touch on a sore subject, as cases involving internal infiltration and scandal were hardly appropriate for public discussion.

Yang Wenqing’s expression remained unchanged as he corrected him. ”You’re well-informed, Supervisor Wang. However, the case is being overseen directly by the Municipal Bureau’s Special Case Office. Our branch is merely providing necessary assistance and support within the scope of our duties.”

”If I were really handling that case, I’d probably still be at the bureau, swamped with work. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to come welcome you, Supervisor.”

Wang Yanzhi raised an eyebrow. Having been politely rebuffed, he immediately feigned a look of sudden understanding. ”Oh, so that’s how it is. It seems my information was faulty. Such vile acts that endanger our Wanxuan are infuriating. Do you know how the investigation is progressing? Is there any support the province can provide?”

He had steered the conversation right back around, still trying to pry.

Yang Wenqing smiled. ”Your concern for local security is admirable, Supervisor Wang. The Municipal Bureau should issue a formal briefing on any progress. If you wish to learn the details, I can accompany you later to the temporary command post of the Special Case Office here in the New District to make an inquiry, should the opportunity arise.”

He was passing the buck directly to the Special Case Office.

An imperceptible flash of annoyance crossed Wang Yanzhi’s eyes, but he masked it instantly with a hearty laugh. ”You jest, Director Wenqing. My main purpose here is to supervise project construction. I have every confidence that the Municipal Bureau and your branch will handle the security case appropriately.”

Just then, Liao Tianming scurried over again. He carefully and obsequiously repeated his invitation for Wang Yanzhi and Yang Wenqing to be seated. Liao Tianming was being extremely deferential, because he knew perfectly well that this young supervisor was backed by the Provincial Government’s Wang family—a man who could truly determine the future of his career with a single word.

This time, Wang Yanzhi accepted the invitation with a smile, taking one of the two seats in the very center alongside Yang Wenqing. Only then did everyone else begin to sit down.