Chapter 236 - 138: The Judging Begins

"Run, run, run!"

Zhang Da and Zhang Er fled from the entrance of White Cloud Temple. They ran for what felt like an eternity before stopping, gasping for air. The icy air drilled down their throats and into their lungs, making them itch.

"Cough, cough!"

After a long while, the two finally caught their breath.

"We didn’t see Xu De. Do you think he moved again?"

Zhang Da pondered this, but it was Zhang Er beside him who spoke.

His face was pale. After coughing for a bit, he said weakly:

"I’m hungry..."

Hearing this, Zhang Da turned to him and offered some comfort.

"We’ll be fine once we get home and have some hot water. It’s almost the New Year, so there’s lots of stuff to scavenge. We won’t starve."

Zhang Er nodded. "Oh."

As they spoke, THWACK!

A crisp sound rang out.

They looked up and saw several children, even younger than them, having a snowball fight in the distance. The kids played without a care, their faces wreathed in smiles, while their parents watched from the side, their eyes full of affection.

The two boys, dressed in ragged clothes, stood in a corner and watched in silence.

After a long moment,

Zhang Da tugged on Zhang Er’s sleeve and started walking away.

"Don’t look."

"Let’s go find a place to gather some firewood. We can boil some water to fill our stomachs."

"Xu De gave us clothes. We won’t freeze to death in the snow this year."

"Oh, okay."

...

...

The snowfall covered a vast area.

The entirety of Qingwu Province was blanketed. Before long, the snow was deep enough to swallow a person’s ankles.

「January 22nd.」

With the Spring Festival approaching and New Year’s Eve just a few days away, everyone’s spirits were gradually rising. They were eager to do a good job on their last shifts before the holiday and take home a nice bonus.

Of course, the heavy snow also made travel difficult.

「In the hotel.」

Xu De silently watched the snowflakes drift down from the sky, quietly waiting for time to pass.

「At the reception center.」

Huang Shi and Zhang Bingxin were chain-smoking, one cigarette after another. The pressure they felt was greater than ever before.

Time waits for no one.

The gloomy sky gradually turned to black.

...

「January 23rd.」

「6:00 AM.」

Personnel from all over the province, staying at the reception center, gradually woke up. They ate breakfast together, preparing to attend today’s review meeting.

The 23rd was the final day of the provincial review.

It was also the final deadline for all cases to be processed!

Those who had already defended their cases breathed a sigh of relief.

Those who had not yet presented knew they couldn’t escape their turn today. They walked toward the Provincial Government Building with anxious hearts.

...

「7:00 AM.」

Xu De and Lin Yue left the hotel and headed for the administration building.

Before leaving, Xu De used his status as a guest to obtain copies of the hotel’s surveillance footage from multiple angles.

At the same time, he checked the ’evidence’ on his person several times to ensure everything was in order before leaving with her.

...

「8:00 AM.」

「Lanhua Law Firm.」

"Director, it’s all been taken care of."

As Feng Ji walked out of his office and into the main hall, Sun Qiao sidled up to him and whispered.

’Has it really been taken care of?’

Sun Qiao didn’t know if the job was actually done well, but the report he got from his subordinates was that it was done.

However, Sun Qiao felt there was a catch.

First, the timing. It was too fast. How could such a major issue be negotiated in just a day and a half?

After all, he suspected the person who actually did the job wasn’t one he had personally assigned. The task had likely been outsourced and passed down the line more times than he could imagine.

But it didn’t matter.

In the workplace, you can get by without being competent.

But you can’t go around telling the plain truth. As long as you pretend not to know, it’s as if it never happened. And if something goes wrong, you won’t have to take the fall!

Feng Ji paused for a moment, then nodded. "Mm."

"Is the follow-up press release ready?"

"It’s ready," Sun Qiao said.

"Good. I’m heading to the Provincial Government Building. Keep an eye on news from the provincial authorities, collect it, and give it to me when I get back," Feng Ji said.

With that, he turned and headed for the door.

However...

CREAK~

As his assistant pushed the door open,

Feng Ji, standing at the entrance of the office building, suddenly stopped. His brow furrowed as he glanced back at the words ’Lanhua Law Firm’.

’How did it get done so quickly?’

Feng Ji murmured, a sense of unease washing over him.

’Theoretically, someone like Xu De, who responds to persuasion but not to pressure... should have refused no matter what!’

’Why did things go so smoothly?’

Feng Ji mulled it over for a moment before finally shaking his head, deciding not to worry too much about it.

"Heh, it’s just a matter of convincing him to back down."

’If it’s done quickly, it’s done quickly. After all, no matter what happens...’

He chuckled.

Sun Qiao was in his forties and sharp as a tack.

With twenty years of professional experience, he’d lost count of how many times he’d had to persuade someone to stand down. He was extremely experienced, so...

’...even if there really is a trick to this,’

’Sun Qiao wouldn’t be so incompetent as to screw it up.’

Thinking of this, Feng Ji, impeccably dressed in his suit, straightened his clothes.

He stooped slightly and got into the business van waiting for him by the curb.

VROOOM~

...

...

「10:00 AM.」

Inside the government buildings of Lusen City and Wutong City.

Although it was still early, the cleaning work was done exceptionally well. Most of the night’s snow had already been cleared away, forming a stark contrast with the white blanket covering the surrounding areas.

The golden glint of the national emblem, shining down from above, inspired a sense of awe.

In front of one such building, countless people subconsciously lowered their heads as they walked silently inside.

"There’s ice on the ground, be careful."

Xu De stood on the steps, whispering a reminder to the three people beside him.

The three of them nodded.

The steps were very slippery; the slightest misstep could lead to a fall.

Fortunately, the four of them made it without incident, finally coming to a stop before the government building.

Xu De looked up at the national emblem hanging high above, then lowered his head and stepped into the building.

CLACK, CLACK, CLACK...

The sound of their footsteps echoed through the spacious and immaculate lobby.