I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 156: Chapter 104: Zhang Qiming

The meeting ended, and the attendees filed out.

Director Zhang exchanged a few more pleasantries with several section chiefs before ambling back to his office—the most spacious and brightly-lit one on the east side of the floor.

He walked to the window and stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing down at the construction vehicles busily upgrading the communications network in the plaza below. Morning light spilled onto his white uniform, making the silver stars on his epaulets glitter.

Recalling the meeting’s final outcome, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Zhang Qiming’s lips. Although Deputy Director Zhou had interfered, disrupting his plan to install Wu Qianjun in Lingshan Town and seize complete control, the result wasn’t bad. In fact, it was quite good.

’Liu Min? A deputy section chief in charge of clerical coordination. What kind of trouble could she possibly cause?’

Zhang Qiming scoffed internally, habitually weighing the pros and cons with the mindset of someone from a great clan. In his eyes, the administrative appointment from Gao Zhen’s side was merely a product of naive idealism, a move made by someone who didn’t understand the real rules of power.

Feeling quite pleased, he settled back into his high-backed chair. He even felt leisurely enough to take a fine cigar from his drawer, clip it unhurriedly, and prepare to light it and savor the moment of peace.

However, just as he brought the cigar to his nose, the black watch on his left wrist—seemingly ordinary, but in fact inlaid with a miniature runic array—began to emit a faint but persistent vibration. A ring of ethereal blue light immediately illuminated the edge of its face.

The relaxed expression on Zhang Qiming’s face froze instantly. A flicker of nervousness, even fear, crossed his eyes. He immediately set down the cigar, his right hand quickly tapping a complex sequence on several concealed studs on the side of the watch.

HUMMM...

An imperceptible energy barrier spread out from the watch, instantly enveloping his entire desk area and blocking all sound and energy detection from both inside and out.

The watch then projected a palm-sized, slightly blurry, pale blue screen of light. An abstract, ever-shifting runic symbol hovered in the center of the screen before a specially modulated voice spoke:

”Qiming.”

That single word was enough to make Zhang Qiming feel as if an invisible force had seized him by the throat. The bit of self-satisfaction he’d felt from the meeting’s outcome vanished without a trace.

His body leaned forward involuntarily, an obsequious and respectful expression forming on his face. His tone was utterly deferential as he spoke:

”Third Great-Uncle, I await your instructions.”

The cold voice dispensed with pleasantries and cut straight to the point. ”Progress on the New Town project is too slow. The clan elders are growing impatient.”

Beads of cold sweat instantly broke out on Zhang Qiming’s forehead. He rushed to explain, ”Third Great-Uncle, please, calm yourself. It isn’t that I’ve been incompetent. The establishment of New Town involves multiple factions within the county, and there are dissenting voices inside the City Defense Bureau. I am already doing everything in my power to push things forward. Just today, the meeting confirmed the deployment of our initial security forces. Our people have already secured key positions...”

”Spare me the trivial details.”

The cold voice cut him off impatiently. ”The clan doesn’t care about the process, only the result. The second phase of expansion at our Haiyuan Square is complete. What we need now is a stable supply of high-quality coral spirit ore. On top of the public mining quota, the clan is to take seventy percent.”

Zhang Qiming nodded profusely. ”Yes, yes, I understand. I’m greasing the wheels with the Civil Affairs Bureau, and as for Vice Director Li...”

”I told you, spare me the trivial details!” the voice from the light screen grew stern.

”If your delays or incompetence cause the clan to lose its advantage...” The voice paused, and the chill in it made Zhang Qiming feel as if he’d been plunged into an icy abyss. ”You should know that you’re not the only one in the clan waiting to take your position.”

Zhang Qiming’s face paled, and his back bent even lower, almost bowing and scraping before the screen. ”Third Great-Uncle, I assure you, I dare not slack off in the slightest! At most... at most one month—no, twenty days. Just give me twenty days! I will clear every hurdle and ensure the clan’s factory preparation team can move into the designated area in Lingshan Town. I will push through the relevant mining permits and priority agreements at the same time.”

He spoke in a rush, his tone filled with the desperate earnestness of a man swearing an oath. He had none of the imposing authority of the director in the conference room, whose every word carried weight. Instead, he was more like a common clan disciple, trembling before an elder, trying desperately to prove his worth just to ensure his own survival.

”Fine. You have twenty more days,” the cold voice repeated, betraying no emotion. ”Remember your promise. The clan will be watching. We will provide some support if necessary, but only on the condition that you do not disappoint the clan again.”

”Yes! Thank you, Third Great-Uncle! I will not fail the clan’s trust!” Zhang Qiming hastily replied.

”Mm.” After the indifferent grunt, the screen of light flickered, and the runic symbol, like a deep-sea vortex, vanished.

The communication was over.

The office fell silent, the only sound being Zhang Qiming’s somewhat ragged breathing. The humiliation and terror from moments before had not yet completely faded, and the cold sweat from his forehead now trickled down his skin.

The clan’s pressure was a sword hanging over his head.

Behind the immense profits lay even more brutal competition and the clan’s harsh internal assessments. While Zhang Qiming had reached his current position through his own ability and maneuvering, it was only possible thanks to the clan’s backing and machinations behind the scenes.

If he botched this matter, or was too slow, causing the clan’s interests to suffer, he had no doubt they would replace him.

”Twenty days...”

He muttered to himself, his gaze turning sharp and grim again. His earlier satisfaction had long since been crushed by immense pressure.

He picked up the cigar again. This time, he lit it without hesitation and took a deep drag. Thick smoke billowed up, obscuring the complex expression on his face. The director’s office still felt imposing, but only he knew that in the face of the vast machinery of his clan, he was merely a pawn who had to constantly prove his worth.