Chapter 328 - 177: Official Banquet (Part 2)

Chapter 328: Chapter 177: Official Banquet (Part 2)

"Very good. You’ve worked hard. Fully cooperate with the Municipal Bureau’s Special Cases Office for the follow-up interrogation. Stay safe, and be tactful with your methods." With those few words of advice, Yang Wenqing ended the communication.

After the call, he turned his attention back to the official business piled on his desk.

The first order of business was a stack of documents from Deputy Director Wang Hai that required the director’s final approval. Although Yang Wenqing had told him to report once every five days, the veteran officer was clearly being cautious, insisting on sending a daily summary.

By the time Yang Wenqing finished processing the last application report, a request for equipment procurement for the new public security station, the hands of the mechanical clock on the wall were already pointing to quitting time.

He put down his pen and, suddenly remembering something, pressed the communicator to give Liu Qin an order. "Xiaoxian, contact Yang Yong for me. Have him bring Li Yi and Sun Yan to my home tonight. Tell him I’ll be home a little late and that I need to see them."

"Yes, Director."

Liu Qin acknowledged the order.

A short while later, she returned with another document in hand. "Director, these are the proposed topics for tomorrow’s monthly meeting, drafted by the General Affairs Department. Please take a look."

Yang Wenqing took the document and quickly skimmed it. The topics covered routine matters like security in the Port District, progress on the new public security station, analysis of recent crime trends, and internal disciplinary measures. There was nothing sensitive or out of the ordinary, so he nodded. "This is fine. Distribute it. Notify all departments to attend on time tomorrow."

"Understood." Just as Liu Qin was about to leave, the Communication Array on the desk lit up again. It was Liao Tianming.

"Director Yang..." Liao Tianming’s voice came through, the background somewhat noisy. "Supervisor Wang set the location... um, it’s at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Seven p.m., Private Room Sky-Three."

"The Drunken Immortal Pavilion?"

Yang Wenqing’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He knew of the place. It was a rather famous house of pleasure in the New District, known for its lavish, risqué decor and song and dance performances, a playground for many Commerce Association magnates and hedonistic scions.

’For Wang Yanzhi to host a "fundraising" banquet of a quasi-official nature in a place like this... his intentions were intriguing.’

"Alright, I understand. I’ll be there on time."

Yang Wenqing didn’t ask further questions, simply agreeing calmly.

After ending the communication, he looked at Liu Qin and said, "Xiaoxian, you can head home for the day. I’ll go to the banquet by myself tonight."

"Yes, Director. Please be careful." Liu Qin also knew what kind of place the Drunken Immortal Pavilion was. A flicker of worry crossed her eyes, but she quickly concealed it before bowing and taking her leave.

Yang Wenqing glanced at the mechanical clock on the wall, then leaned back in his office chair and closed his eyes to rest. The sky outside gradually darkened. At half-past six, he finally rose, went into the adjoining lounge to change into the plainclothes prepared for him, and then summoned Yang Zhong before heading downstairs to board the Flying Shuttle.

"Patriarch, where to?" Yang Zhong asked.

"The Drunken Immortal Pavilion."

Yang Zhong said no more. He piloted the Flying Shuttle, ascending smoothly and heading toward the most prosperous part of the commercial district.

By now, the street where the Drunken Immortal Pavilion was located was a flicker of neon lights. After the Flying Shuttle landed at a relatively secluded public landing pad nearby, Yang Wenqing and Yang Zhong proceeded on foot.

Even from a distance, the five-story wooden building, brightly lit with its carved beams and painted rafters, came into view. The faint sound of string and wind instruments drifted out, mingled with the flirtatious banter of men and women. The front of the building was packed with all sorts of luxury Flying Shuttles and hovercars, and a constant stream of splendidly dressed guests moved in and out.

Yang Wenqing walked on without breaking his stride, heading straight for the vermilion main doors, which were flanked by several burly, sharp-eyed guards.

A wave of warm air washed over him as he stepped inside, a cloying mix of expensive incense, powder, and the stench of liquor.

He found himself in an extremely spacious hall. In the center was a massive indoor pool, its surface rippling, with an exquisite white marble stage built in its middle.

On the stage, several graceful dancers clad in sheer gauze were performing. Their see-through wraps did little to conceal their figures, drawing repeated cheers from the guests seated at the surrounding circular viewing platforms. The atmosphere was both fervent and decadent.

’A truly decadent atmosphere,’ he thought. ’Tacky, yet an unapologetic display of wealth and pleasure.’

Yang Wenqing gave the scene a single glance before looking away. He was about to ask a server for the location of Private Room Sky-Three when he saw Liao Tianming hurrying down from a nearby staircase, a warm smile on his face.

"Director Yang! This way, please! Supervisor Wang and a few guests have already arrived; they’re just waiting on you," Liao Tianming said, striding forward to greet him.

His timely appearance was no coincidence; the Civil Affairs Bureau had clearly posted someone at the door to watch for him. Once Yang Wenqing was close, he lowered his voice and said, "Tonight, the Civil Affairs Bureau will take point."

Yang Wenqing glanced at him, his face devoid of expression, and simply grunted a soft "mm" to show he’d heard.

Liao Tianming didn’t press the matter. He beckoned over a man waiting to the side, pointed at Yang Zhong, and whispered a few words. The man, a manager of some sort, immediately beamed and gestured to Yang Zhong. "This way, my friend. Please, follow me to an adjacent room to rest for a while."

Yang Zhong looked to Yang Wenqing, and only after Yang Wenqing nodded did he follow the man away.

"Director Yang, this way, please."

Liao Tianming led Yang Wenqing up a thickly carpeted staircase. The soundproofing was excellent; the moment they set foot on the stairs, the decadent music from the hall below grew much fainter.

Private Room Sky-Three was at the end of the third-floor hallway. The clamor from within was clearly audible before they even reached the door.

"Yang Haishan invited a lot of people," Liao Tianming explained in a low voice while taking two quick steps to push open the ajar mahogany door. The instant it swung open, a thick wave of liquor and perfume gushed out.

The private room was brightly lit and incredibly spacious, dominated by a large round table that could seat twenty. The fine delicacies on the plates seemed mere afterthoughts; the table was mostly covered with wine jars of all kinds and scattered dice cups.

But the most arresting sight was in the open space between the table and the host’s seat. A slightly heavyset, middle-aged man in a well-tailored silk suit was on all fours, trying his best to mimic a dog’s bark. "WOOF! WOOF WOOF!"

His movements were clumsy and ridiculous, sending the people around the table into roaring laughter. There was table-slapping and whistling; the atmosphere was fervent to the point of madness.

Yang Wenqing’s gaze swept the room, and he immediately recognized the man on the floor: Wu Xianming, the owner of Lingshan New District’s Futong Company. His company was a subcontractor for Energy Stone processing. Wu was considered one of the more prominent and wealthy businessmen in the New District, a man who was usually impeccably dressed. Yet here he was, playing the dog for others’ amusement.

Meanwhile, in the host’s seat, Wang Yanzhi was lounging back in a wide, brocade-covered chair. A wine cup was in his hand and a playful, mocking smile touched his lips as he watched Wu Xianming on the floor. Two beautifully made-up young women sat beside him, giggling coquettishly as they poured his wine.

"Haha, that’s a pretty good impression! Give us a couple more!"

someone goaded him.

Wu Xianming had no choice but to strain his throat and bark twice more, a brilliant smile plastered on his face.

Just then, the light from the doorway was blocked. The laughter faltered, and every head in the room turned to look.

"Director Yang is here!" Wang Yanzhi was the first to react. He put his wine glass on the table, his mocking expression instantly replaced by a warm one. He stood and came forward to greet him. "We were just waiting for you!"

The moment he stood, everyone else scrambled to their feet, their faces all smiles—though traces of their recent debauchery still lingered in their expressions.

Wu Xianming, who was still on the floor, reacted as if he’d been granted a pardon. He scrambled to his feet and, without bothering to dust off his clothes, plastered a fawning smile on his face and shuffled closer.

"Director Yang!" A booming voice cut through the air. A tall, middle-aged man in gold-rimmed glasses moved past the others, getting to Yang Wenqing first and extending both hands in greeting.

It was none other than Yang Haishan, Chairman of the Lingshan New District’s Mining and Processing Company.

"Chairman Yang, it’s been a while," Yang Wenqing said, shaking his hand.

"It must be almost half a year. The last time was at the New District’s development meeting. You’re always so busy, Director Yang. I’ve tried to make an appointment several times, but you’re a hard man to get a hold of," Chairman Yang replied with a hearty laugh.

A flash of displeasure crossed Wang Yanzhi’s eyes as he saw Yang Haishan beat him to greeting Yang Wenqing, but he quickly joined the others in coming forward. For a moment, the air was filled with calls of "Director Yang," and compliments flowed as freely as water.