I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 232: Chapter 133: The Formal Talk

”Bestowed upon...”

As each award was announced, fervent and sustained applause erupted from below the stage. The clapping was not only to congratulate the recipients but also served as a cathartic release for those in the audience—an affirmation of their own part in the harrowing struggle.

Zhou Mu, Yang Wenqing, and all the officers who had worked on the case rose in unison. They walked to the front of the stage and accepted the weighty medals from Deputy Director Qi.

As they returned to their seats, Zhou Mu said to Yang Wenqing a little sheepishly, ”I owe you for this one, Director Yang.”

Yang Wenqing merely smiled. ’It was an awkward comment to acknowledge.’ To reply would be to confirm that Zhou Mu felt unworthy of his commendation, so he could only offer a polite, noncommittal smile.

The applause only began to subside after all the decorated colleagues had returned to their seats.

Deputy Director Qi delivered his closing remarks. ”Honor belongs to the past, but our work is never done. I hope that all our colleagues in the Qianjiao County branch will cherish this recognition, redouble your efforts, and throw yourselves into your future duties with renewed passion. Go forth and achieve new glories in safeguarding the peace and prosperity of Coral City...”

Down in the section for the East City Public Security Office, Sister Liu watched Yang Wenqing on the rostrum with a wistful expression, deeply regretting that she hadn’t tried to play matchmaker for him sooner.

Meanwhile, Song Yu, who was on duty at the auditorium entrance, felt an even sharper pang of regret as he stole a glance at Yang Wenqing. But he also felt a spark of hope. The City Defense Bureau for the Lingshan New District was about to be established, and every department was desperately short on people. He had already applied for a transfer there.

...

The last echoes of applause and processional music faded in the auditorium, but the crowd didn’t disperse right away. People gathered in small groups, congratulating one another.

Taking advantage of the momentary clamor, Liu Qin hurried through the crowd and slipped up beside Yang Wenqing. She lowered her voice and said, ”Yang Group Leader, we just got word from Rejuvenation Hall in East City. Your Third Grand-uncle is awake.”

Yang Wenqing’s heart leaped, but he maintained a calm expression. He nodded to the colleagues around him, then walked over to Gao Zhen, who was chatting with Zhou Mu, and murmured a few words in his ear.

Gao Zhen clapped him on the arm, gesturing for him to go. Yang Wenqing immediately turned and left, piloting his Flying Shuttle at top speed toward Rejuvenation Hall in East City.

He pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber. The scent of Spiritual Medicine was still heavy in the air.

His Third Grand-uncle was indeed awake, propped up against a pile of pillows. His face was still sallow, his eyes sunken. At his bedside, besides his younger cousin Yang Wenyuan, stood three of the clan’s most respected elders.

They rose to their feet the moment they saw Yang Wenqing enter.

”Third Grand-uncle,” Yang Wenqing said, walking to the bedside. He gently took the old man’s withered hand. It was still cold, but this time, he felt a faint pressure in response.

”Wenqing...” one of the elders, a man with a full head of white hair and a matching beard, said with a sigh. ”Now that our brother Dehou is awake, there are some things that must be clarified while he is still able to hear them.”

Sensing what was coming, Yang Wenqing released his grand-uncle’s hand and turned to the three elders. ”Esteemed Elder, please speak.”

”This business with Four Seas Trade, and your Third Grand-uncle being taken into custody... it gave the entire clan a terrible fright. But it also opened our eyes to many things,” another elder continued.

”In the past, here in Qianjiao County, the Yang family... to put it nicely, we kept to ourselves. To be blunt, we were rudderless, scattered like loose sand. When trouble arose, we were completely at the mercy of others...”

He didn’t finish, but his meaning was unmistakable.

”The few of us old men have discussed this,” said the first elder, his gaze burning as he looked at Yang Wenqing. ”The Yang family cannot continue like this. We need a pillar of strength. We need someone who can truly lead our people forward and shelter them when the storms come. In the past, we had no Patriarch because we felt it was unnecessary. Now, it has become necessary.”

He paused, his tone becoming ironclad. ”And we all agree. That Patriarch must be you.”

Yang Wenqing was taken aback. He turned to look at his grand-uncle on the bed...

The old man’s murky eyes seemed to clear for a moment, fixing on him. His gaze held hope, a plea, and the relief of one passing on a heavy burden.

He neither accepted nor refused, simply remaining silent as if weighing this sudden, immense responsibility.

”Wenqing...” His grand-uncle summoned all his strength, his voice faint but clear, each word seemingly wrung from the depths of his being. ”I leave the Yang Family Village... in your hands... Now... I can... rest easy...”

Watching the flame of life guttering in the old man’s eyes, Yang Wenqing’s last shred of hesitation vanished. He took a deep breath and, meeting the gazes of the three elders and his grand-uncle, gave a solemn nod.

”I am honored by the elders’ faith in me. Wenqing... will do my utmost.”

”Good! Good!”

Looks of gratification spread across the three elders’ faces.

Upon hearing this, the last ounce of strength keeping his grand-uncle conscious seemed to vanish. The final spark of light in his eyes swiftly dimmed, the corners of his mouth twitched upward into what might have been a smile, and then the shallow, labored breaths he had been taking... stopped.

”Grand-uncle!”

Yang Wenyuan, who had been monitoring his grand-uncle’s breathing, was the first to lunge toward the bed, calling out to him in a choked whisper.

The three elders’ faces fell, though they seemed to have expected it. One of them stepped forward and gently closed the old man’s eyes.

Yang Wenqing stood by the bed, gazing at his grand-uncle’s peaceful but lifeless face, a whirlwind of complex emotions in his heart.

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door of the Quiet Chamber.

Liu Qin appeared in the doorway. Her face was apologetic as she hurried to Yang Wenqing’s side and whispered, ”Yang Group Leader, the joint case summary meeting for the Lingshan New District, co-hosted by the city and the County Civil Affairs Bureau, is in half an hour at the County Civil Affairs Bureau’s main auditorium. Director Gao instructed me to inform you that your attendance is mandatory.”

One of the elders said to Yang Wenqing, ”Brother Dehou’s final wish has been fulfilled. He passed peacefully. Wenqing, don’t worry about clan affairs or your grand-uncle’s funeral. We old men will take care of it. We can discuss the specific details of clan business after you’ve tended to your official duties.”

Yang Wenqing said nothing. He took one last, long look at his grand-uncle’s face, then turned and strode out of Rejuvenation Hall. Outside, he turned to Liu Qin and instructed, ”Have Wenjian see my grand-uncle off for me.”

”I’ll arrange it immediately.”

Liu Qin nodded.

...

The main auditorium of the County Civil Affairs Bureau was even more grand and solemn than the one at the City Defense Bureau branch. Its ceilings were high and vaulted, the space brightly illuminated.

When Yang Wenqing arrived, the hall was already mostly full. The front rows were occupied by the leadership from the city’s bureaus, the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, and the Inspectorate. Behind them sat representatives from various departments, towns, and other relevant organizations.

Guided by a staff member, Yang Wenqing walked toward the main dais. His seat was at the very end, on the far right. Even so, as he sat down, countless eyes from the audience converged on him—some curious, some probing, some envious, and some openly scrutinizing.

He simply sat straight, his gaze fixed ahead, his expression as placid as still water.

Deputy Director Qi Yue, County Magistrate Wang, and the other key leaders were already seated. The meeting was about to begin.

Once the meeting started, Deputy Director Qi delivered the keynote address on behalf of the city’s leadership, and County Magistrate Wang followed with a statement on behalf of the County Civil Affairs Bureau. Their speeches were grand in scope, and the audience responded accordingly—some listened with rapt attention, some bowed their heads to take notes, and others seemed lost in thought.

Seated at the end of the dais, Yang Wenqing appeared to be focused on the leaders speaking up front, but in his periphery, he was taking in the subtle reactions of many people in the audience.

After what felt like an eternity, the meeting finally concluded. People rose to their feet, chatting in low voices as they filed out. Yang Wenqing was about to leave as well when Deputy Director Zhou impassively ambled over to him.

”Wenqing,” Deputy Director Zhou said, stopping him.

”Director Zhou.” Yang Wenqing stopped in his tracks.

”I’ll probably be transferred to the city office soon,” Deputy Director Zhou said, getting straight to the point. His expression was neutral, as if he were mentioning some trivial matter.

Yang Wenqing’s mind stirred. Given Deputy Director Zhou’s critical role in the Zhang Qiming case and his background with Internal Affairs Inspection, a transfer to the city bureau was only logical. It was likely a reward, or a sign of being entrusted with greater responsibility. He immediately replied, ”Congratulations, Director Zhou.”

Deputy Director Zhou waved a dismissive hand, his gaze fixed on the bustling crowd ahead. ”Director He prefers working with young people. He feels they have more drive, fresh ideas, and aren’t as easily assimilated into the tangled web of local politics.”

He paused, giving Yang Wenqing a meaningful look. ”The person in charge of Internal Affairs Inspection over in the Lingshan New District will very likely be a young person, too. You should be mentally prepared.”

”Thank you for the heads-up, Director Zhou,” Yang Wenqing said with a nod.

Deputy Director Zhou said no more. He clapped Yang Wenqing on the shoulder and strode quickly toward the main entrance. Just then, Vice Director Gao hurried over.

”Wenqing, I was just looking for you!” Gao Zhen said. ”Director Qi’s Flying Shuttle is waiting outside. Come with me. We’re taking it to the City Bureau.”

Yang Wenqing’s heart skipped a beat. ”Right now? To the City Bureau?”

Gao Zhen grinned. ”That’s right. The heads of the personnel department want to have a formal talk with us.”

’A formal talk.’ This meant his appointment as the Deputy Director for the Lingshan New District was about to go from paper to reality.