I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 207: Chapter 122: Important Clue, a Smart and Terrifying Woman

At Yang Wenqing’s signal, Zhao Tiezhu stepped forward and took the Jade Pendant from the man’s hand. Yang Wenqing then retrieved a half-moon Jade Pendant he had almost forgotten from his Storage Bag. It fit perfectly with the man’s token, forming a circular jade disc embedded with a hidden identification rune.

"Bring him in to see me."

After giving the order to Zhao Tiezhu, Yang Wenqing walked into the station.

Zhao Tiezhu turned, his gaze still sharp as he scrutinized the visitor. He strictly followed search procedures, and only after confirming the man wasn’t carrying anything dangerous did he lead him through the station’s main doors.

Once inside the station, the man’s expression relaxed noticeably, though a hint of tension remained. He looked to be in his thirties, with regular features and clothes that were well-made but not ostentatious, suggesting he came from a well-to-do merchant family.

Upon entering the investigation team’s office, he glanced around before saying to Yang Wenqing, "My cousin said the fewer people who know about this, the better."

Yang Wenqing sized up the man until he lowered his head. Only then did he signal to Zhao Tiezhu and Qian Lu. Zhao Tiezhu immediately left the office, while Qian Lu first spoke to the clerks and led them out of the office as well.

Afterward, Yang Wenqing took out a metal cube from his Storage Bag, activated the Sound Insulation Array inside it, and said to the man, "You can speak now."

"Yang Group Leader, my name is Wu An. I’m Liu Min’s distant cousin, and I run a small medicinal herb business in town." He first introduced himself, then took a hardcover notebook from his coat, presented it with both hands, and added in a low voice,

"My cousin entrusted this to my care a few days ago. She said if she met with some misfortune in Lingshan Town, or if you came in person, I was to make sure this got into your hands."

Yang Wenqing took the notebook. It felt quite heavy in his hands.

He opened the cover. Inside, it was all handwritten—pages of account tables, transaction records, and summaries with numerous annotations and connecting lines.

After flipping through just a few pages, Yang Wenqing’s expression grew grim.

This was a summary of ledgers, but it depicted a vast and complex web of money and interests, meticulously woven with the Hongyuan Trading Company at its center, radiating outward.

The accounts clearly showed that the Hongyuan Trading Company’s public-facing lumber business was just a front. A large amount of its funds flowed through a series of intricate shell Commerce Associations, affiliated workshops, and even industries registered under the names of certain officials’ relatives.

The sources of the incoming funds were varied: special construction funds allocated by the Civil Affairs Bureau, investments or loans from other Commerce Associations, and, even more concerning, large injections of cash from untraceable sources.

As for the outflowing funds, one portion was used to maintain the trading company’s superficial operations and to bribe officials at various levels. Another portion flowed to some obscure research institutions, cultural societies, and the like. But the largest portion was funneled through underground banks and cross-regional smuggling channels to several specific overseas accounts. Here, Liu Min had heavily drawn several question marks and exclamation points in red ink.

Moreover, Liu Min had also specifically marked the people involved in the accounts in red. This web had ensnared nearly twenty percent of Qianjiao County’s mid-to-high-level officials, from departments like construction and taxation all the way to the Civil Affairs Bureau’s own offices.

The staff of the Lingshan Town preparatory office were especially implicated. The names of Jin Lai and Vice Director Li, along with their relatives and proxies, appeared frequently. The "lubrication fees" for many financial transactions and project approvals were documented with crystal-clear details: time, amount, and the person who handled it.

And Hongyuan Trading Company was very likely a conduit for this network in Lingshan Town and even Qianjiao County. Liu Min had made a special note: the identity behind this trading company was a fake!

But Yang Wenqing knew Liu Min was implying it was Zhang Qiming, because a lot of the trading company’s funds flowed to the Zhang family’s companies.

’These people at the Civil Affairs Bureau really have some nerve. Their methods are so crude. I suppose that’s what happens when you think you’re untouchable...’

Yang Wenqing thought to himself. And it was precisely because of this that they had left such a massive loophole.

After reading through the contents, he looked at Wu An, his tone complex. "When did Section Chief Liu start investigating this?"

Wu An’s face showed a mix of admiration and lingering fear. "My cousin is meticulous and has a stubborn streak. After she was transferred to Lingshan Town, she noticed many irregularities in the accounts and project approvals, so she started looking into it privately."

’What a formidable woman.’

This wasn’t meant in a derogatory way, but as a compliment filled with shocked admiration.

Liu Min was nothing like she appeared on the surface. She possessed astonishing perception, patience, and courage. In Lingshan Town, a place where various powers intertwined, she conducted such a dangerous investigation all by herself, prepared an escape route in advance, and knew exactly who to hand the knife to.

"Did she give you any other instructions?" Yang Wenqing asked.

"She never told me much."

"The reason Liu Rong and Wu Yan went to investigate Hongyuan Trading Company... that was at her subtle prompting too, wasn’t it?"

Wu An froze, looking somewhat bewildered. He clearly didn’t know about this matter.

But Yang Wenqing was already certain that Liu Min must have been the one to guide them. Given her ability to uncover all this without being discovered, she was clearly skilled at such things.

However, she probably didn’t send the two of them to their deaths. He reckoned she also hadn’t expected it to be a hornet’s nest.

"Thank you for bringing this. This matter is of grave importance. If you don’t have anything urgent, I advise you to stay here at the station for the time being. What do you think?" Yang Wenqing’s tone was inquiring.

"No problem!" Wu An agreed readily. He had clearly already prepared himself for this possibility.

Yang Wenqing immediately summoned Xia Meng and had him get Wu An settled. He then walked to the Quiet Chamber at the side of the office, which had been prepared specially for him. Reactivating his portable Sound Insulation Array, he took out a badge, formed a hand seal, and activated the highest-level secure Communication Array within it.