I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 281: Chapter 156: Pledging Loyalty (2)

”Chief.” She stopped in front of his desk, her tone respectful but not fawning. ”Chief Gao just mentioned that Assistant Liu is on leave for a few days. He was worried you might be short-handed. My own work has just reached a stopping point, so I thought I’d come see if there was anything I could do to help.”

A gentle smile appeared on Yang Wenqing’s face. ”Thank Chief Gao for me.”

He didn’t bother with formalities.

He immediately gave her something to do. ”Chief Chu is injured, and I haven’t had a chance to visit him. Arrange for someone to visit him on my behalf.”

”Understood. I’ll get right on it,” Liu Min said, quickly taking notes.

”Also...” Yang Wenqing continued, ”the site selection and design plans for the Warehouse District and Port District—you should probably ask the Civil Affairs Bureau when they’ll have a decision on that.”

Liu Min nodded in response as she jotted it down. ”Yes, Chief.”

She was about to turn and leave when Yang Wenqing seemed to remember something else. ”Oh, right,” he added. ”Have the Equipment Section draft a preliminary request report for purchasing more patrol Flying Shuttles and expanding the Operations Division. It doesn’t need to be too detailed. Just get the framework and budget down. I have a use for it.”

”Yes, sir.”

Liu Min acknowledged the order without another word. She gave a slight bow, then turned and left the office.

She had only been gone for a moment when there was another knock on the office door.

”Come in.”

Liu Min had returned. Standing in the doorway, she reported, ”Chief, Captain Liu is back. She says she has an urgent matter to report.”

Yang Wenqing paused. ”Liu Xin?”

”Yes!”

”Let her in.”

”Right away!”

The door was then pushed fully open, and Liu Xin, the travel-worn leader of the Major Case Team, appeared before Yang Wenqing. Her face showed a hint of fatigue, but her eyes were bright.

”Chief Yang.”

Liu Xin walked in, stood at attention, and saluted. ”I’m back.”

’Her gaze swept over the two silver stars on Yang Wenqing’s epaulets. Even though it was already announced in the first-floor lobby, seeing it in person is still a bit disorienting. Ten years ago, he was someone who needed me to look after him. Now, in the blink of an eye, he’s reached a position I have to look up to.’

Yang Wenqing acted casually, gesturing to the chair opposite him. ”Sit. How are things over at the City Bureau?”

As Liu Xin sat down, Liu Min brought her a cup of hot tea. Liu Xin quickly stood to thank her. After Liu Min had left the office, she took a diamond-shaped crystal glowing with a faint blue light and a file from her encrypted briefcase and placed them on the desk.

”Chief Yang, Director Zhao Yongchun of the City Bureau’s Reorganization Department personally heard my report. This,” she said, pointing to the crystal, ”is the key for the temporary communication channel issued by the city’s special task force.”

”Director Zhao has authorized us to contact the special task force directly. In addition, based on cross-referencing with other districts, twenty-seven suspicious individuals potentially connected to the bombing have come from other areas to our Lingshan New District. The task force wants us to secretly investigate these people first.”

She pushed the file toward Yang Wenqing. ”This is the list and their preliminary information. The task force’s instructions are for us to first determine where these people are staying in the New District, their social connections, and their recent activities—but without tipping them off.”

Yang Wenqing picked up the list and scanned it quickly. Then he set it down and looked at Liu Xin. ”Then you continue investigating this case. Report any developments to me immediately. I’ll have the local precincts in the jurisdiction keep an eye on the smuggling case. It’ll be a good test of their abilities.”

”Yes, Chief Yang!” Liu Xin stood and accepted her orders. She had barely left when there was another knock on the office door.

”Come in.”

”Chief Yang, Section Chief Su says she has an urgent matter to report in person,” Liu Min said from the doorway.

”Let her in.”

’Bureaucrats really are the most astute,’ he thought. ’I just finished talking with the city leadership, and now she’s rushing over to pledge her loyalty.’

A moment later, Su Jing, the head of the Archives Section, walked in, carrying a thick file box and a list.

”Chief Yang, I’m here to report on the Archives Section’s recent work. Also, this is the information you requested on the outstanding graduates from this year’s City Police Academy.” Su Jing gently placed the file box and list on Yang Wenqing’s desk.

”Thank you for your hard work, Section Chief Su.”

Yang Wenqing took the list and began to browse through it. The candidates were categorized by overall scores, family background, and academy performance. He immediately found the five disciples from the Yang Family Village who had been sent to the academy this term. Their scores weren’t particularly good; the only reason they were on this list of outstanding graduates was because of his name: Yang Wenqing.

Without any hesitation, he circled those five names. Then, he circled another name, ’Wu Xian’—the son of Wu Qianjun, who was also graduating this year. After that, he selected another fifty people based on their scores and family backgrounds.

”These fifty-six people...”

Yang Wenqing pushed the list back to Su Jing. ”On behalf of our precinct, send a formal request to the City Bureau’s Personnel Department and the academy. Apply for them to end their theoretical courses early and come to the Lingshan New District precinct for their pre-graduation internships. The reason is that the New District is expanding and we’re in urgent need of more officers at the grassroots level.”

Su Jing took the list and nodded. ”Yes, Chief Yang. I’ll handle it as soon as possible. I estimate the file transfers and internship arrangements can be completed within a week.”

”Mm,” Yang Wenqing acknowledged, then added, ”Also, Section Chief Su, besides these graduates, keep a close watch for any promising candidates within our precinct or among future recruits. If they have reasonable needs for cultivation resources, they can submit a report. We need to find a way to help these promising young people get through the Qi Guidance stage and step over the threshold into Qi Cultivation as quickly as possible.”