I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 98: Chapter 84: The Competition Begins

The lunch in private room 302 of Fengtai Pavilion concluded with everyone in high spirits.

After a brief rest, Director Qin announced he was heading to the temporary command center set up at the sub-bureau to personally hear a more detailed report on the case. Vice Director Gao, Specialist Zhou Mingyuan, and Deputy Director Zhou naturally accompanied him.

Yang Wenqing respectfully saw Director Qin to the entrance of the restaurant. He watched them board a City Defense Bureau official Flying Shuttle and depart before he finally let out a long sigh of relief.

He didn’t return to the sub-bureau immediately. Instead, he found a quiet teahouse nearby and ordered a pot of tea. As he drank, he calmed his nerves and mentally replayed every detail of the lunch. Once he was certain he hadn’t committed any breach of etiquette or overlooked anything important, he got up and returned to the Third Squad office to resume processing the trivial yet mandatory paperwork.

Meanwhile, Vice Director Gao was personally piloting a private Flying Shuttle, taking Director Qin to the sub-bureau.

The Flying Shuttle ascended smoothly. As soon as the Sound Insulation Array fully activated, ensuring their conversation could not be overheard by any means, the warm smile on Director Qin’s face slowly faded, replaced by a stern and slightly reproachful expression.

”Xiaogao, this lunch you arranged today... it wasn’t a very smart move.”

Director Qin leaned back in his comfortable seat. ”The municipal bureau sent a specialist to oversee such an important case. As the director in charge at the sub-bureau, you host a meal for the municipal representative but exclude your own top leader, Director Zhang Qiming. What kind of message does that send? If word of this gets out, people will say you, Gao Zhen, are arrogant, that you’re building your own little faction and excluding outsiders. In the world of officialdom, that’s a cardinal sin.”

Vice Director Gao’s hand on the control stick tightened slightly, but he maintained a respectful smile as he explained, ”Teacher Qin, you’ve misunderstood. Today’s lunch was just a simple, informal meal. It was mainly to give Wenqing, that kid, a chance to thank you in person for your support and to let you get a sense of who he is...”

”The formal case briefing and reception dinner are already arranged for this evening. Director Zhang will be presiding personally, and all the available leadership from the sub-bureau will be there to host. There’s no question of slighting Specialist Zhou, and Director Zhang won’t be made to feel left out.”

Director Qin glanced at him, a half-smile on his face. ”You and your little schemes. I know what you’re up to—wanting to put your own man in the spotlight first. It’s fine to have ambitions, but you must be discreet. Don’t give others an excuse to gossip.”

”Yes, you’re right to correct me, Teacher. I was being shortsighted.”

Vice Director Gao quickly conceded.

Director Qin waved his hand, not wanting to dwell on the matter. After a moment of silence, he asked, ”That Yang Wenqing... his talent is certainly impressive, and his temperament seems steady enough.”

Upon hearing this, Vice Director Gao knew Director Qin was genuinely taking an interest in Yang Wenqing. Secretly delighted, he responded, ”Wenqing, that kid, his talent and temperament are both top-tier. Director, you’re so worldly and experienced, and your Cultivation is profound... I wonder if there’s a suitable candidate to guide him a little? Or perhaps someone in your circle...”

He was all but asking if Director Qin had any intention of finding a mentor for Yang Wenqing.

Inside the City Defense System, while taking a master wasn’t forbidden, the formation of a formal master-disciple relationship triggered a series of strict regulations, including rules on ’recusal for close relations’ and ’conflict of interest reviews.’

Many task assignments and resource allocations would become constrained. Therefore, unless one was entering a specialized research institution at the main bureau or a higher-level development program, most people opted not to formally take a master. Instead, they would be taught by seniors or leaders under the pretext of ’guidance’ or ’training’ to bypass the tedious regulations.

So he was asking if Director Qin had any intention of taking Yang Wenqing on as a disciple.

Director Qin fell silent for a moment. His gaze drifted to the cityscape flashing by the Flying Shuttle’s window as his fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.

”A good disciple is harder to find than scaling the heavens.”

He began to speak slowly, his voice tinged with emotion. ”Talent, temperament, serendipity, and character—not a single one can be missing. Yang Wenqing’s talent is truly outstanding, and his temperament seems acceptable for now. But he’s still young, after all. He hasn’t experienced enough.”

He pulled his gaze back and looked at Vice Director Gao. ”Taking on a disciple is no small matter. Once the relationship is formalized, you share in both their honor and disgrace; your fates become intertwined. I need to observe him for a while longer.”

Vice Director Gao could hear the caution in Director Qin’s words, but he could also discern the high value and expectations he placed on Yang Wenqing.

”You are thorough in your considerations, Teacher. I was too hasty,” Vice Director Gao said quickly. ”It is already a great blessing for Wenqing to have earned your attention.”

”Mm.”

Director Qin nodded, said no more, and closed his eyes to rest.

That evening, Yang Wenqing finished his daily paperwork as usual. He hadn’t received a message from Vice Director Gao, so he put the matter out of his mind. As he packed his things and walked out of the main building, he saw Vice Director Gao’s personal attendant at the sub-bureau entrance.

The next morning, when Yang Wenqing stepped into the City Defense sub-bureau building again, he immediately sensed that the atmosphere was completely different. He walked into the Third Squad’s office and saw that not only was Liu Qin there, but Qian You and Zhao Qin had returned as well.

”Captain!”

The three of them stood up.

Yang Wenqing looked at Zhao Qin and Qian You and asked, ”What, is the case over?”

Qian You shook his head. ”Not even close. It’s just getting started.”

Yang Wenqing asked, confused, ”Then why are you back?”

Zhao Qin quickly answered, ”They transferred in new people. Some came over from the next county, others from different public security offices.”

”The holding cells at the sub-bureau were cleared out last night. We were arresting people all night long. As soon as we were done, they sent us back. Only Brother Wu and Ah Rong are still on it.”