I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 143: Chapter 99: Governing a Region?

「An hour later.」

There was another knock at the office door, and Liu Qin walked in, a hint of relief on her face.

"Group Leader Yang..." She took a few steps closer and said in a low voice, "The matter has been resolved. The Sun and Yang families have reached a private settlement. The public security department handled it through mediation as a common civil dispute, and everyone has been released."

The pen in Yang Wenqing’s hand paused. He then signed his name at the end of the document and nodded to show he understood. Taking the hint, Liu Qin immediately excused herself.

He then went back to his paperwork. When the wall clock indicated the end of the workday, he immediately tidied up his desk, grabbed his coat, and left the branch office at a leisurely pace.

The banquet was held in a private room at a distinctive private kitchen in East City, which Yang Yong had booked several days in advance.

When Yang Wenqing arrived, Deputy Director Sun Ming was already there. The two exchanged pleasantries and took their seats. Shortly after, the younger members of both families were led in. Three came from the Sun family. From the Yang Family Village, there were the three involved in the brawl, plus two others. With Yang Yong also in attendance, they filled the table perfectly.

What should have been a lively banquet to celebrate and build closer ties was now awkwardly quiet. This was especially true for the five youths from the Yang Family Village, who seemed fidgety and nervous, their eyes constantly darting toward Yang Wenqing at the head of the table.

Yang Wenqing acted as if he hadn’t noticed. His expression was placid as he chatted with Sun Ming about trivial county affairs. He would occasionally raise his glass in a gentle gesture. Sun Ming was just as affable, and both of them studiously avoided mentioning the day’s unpleasantries.

After a few rounds of drinks, once the polite small talk was exhausted, Yang Wenqing rose and smiled at Sun Ming. "Director Sun, why don’t we let the young ones chat among themselves while we go have a cup of tea next door to cleanse our palates?"

Sun Ming understood. He rose with a smile. "Excellent. I was thinking the same thing."

The two men moved to a smaller, adjacent tea room. The moment the door closed, all sound from outside was cut off. Yang Yong had already prepared a pot of fine Cloud Mist tea; after pouring them each a cup, he quietly excused himself.

"My apologies for the trouble today," Sun Ming said, raising his teacup to speak first.

"Don’t mention it. Youngsters are hot-headed. It was a trivial matter," Yang Wenqing said with a laugh. Then he asked, "But this must have cost you quite a bit, no?"

Sun Ming took a sip of tea, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Not really. It just cost me two sponsored enrollment slots. Director Li has been in power too long. He’s forgotten that the academy isn’t kind to fools. If he’s willing to send his own people to suffer, why would I object?"

They exchanged a look of mutual understanding before Sun Ming brought up another matter on everyone’s mind in the county. "Regarding the New Town in the south... I hear progress is accelerating?"

Yang Wenqing answered truthfully, "It’s a massive project."

"A lot of people have their eyes on it," Sun Ming said meaningfully. "Your City Defense System has a heavy responsibility, especially with the Police Chief position... Wenqing, are you interested?"

"Not at the moment," Yang Wenqing denied flatly.

Sun Ming laughed and didn’t press the issue. Instead, he lowered his voice and said, "A few days ago, at an internal meeting of the Civil Affairs Bureau, the county magistrate singled out your Four Seas Trade. You’d be wise to keep a lower profile going forward."

Yang Wenqing’s eyebrow twitched, and he nodded in thought. In recent years, Four Seas Trade had expanded rapidly within Qianjiao County, inevitably cutting into other people’s slice of the pie. Someone had clearly grown tired of it.

He had been meaning to talk with Wang Ren and the others for some time. He, too, felt the company was expanding too quickly, making too many enemies, which would be detrimental to their future development in Qianjiao County.

The two men continued to chat about the shifting political winds of county appointments until the teapot had been refilled three times and the wall clock struck eleven at night.

"It’s getting late. I should be heading home to rest."

Sun Ming rose to his feet.

Yang Wenqing also stood to see him off. "Let me walk you out."

When they stepped out of the tea room, the banquet was long over. The younger crowd had already departed, leaving only Yang Yong and Yang Tie waiting by the door. Yang Tie stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Brother Wenqing, the Flying Shuttle is ready. It’s waiting in the back alley."

Yang Wenqing nodded, bid Sun Ming farewell once more, and followed Yang Tie out the restaurant’s back door.

The night was deep, and the alley was deserted and silent. A sleek, black private Flying Shuttle hovered quietly about half a foot off the ground.

Yang Wenqing settled into the comfortable rear seat. The Flying Shuttle activated silently, ascended with perfect stability, and followed its pre-programmed route toward Bluestone Lane, at the edge of the city center.