Chapter 304: Giving Gifts, Filters (5k)
Chapter 304 of "I Am Your Natural Enemy" introduces the scene: Looks like the relationship between the two Scorching Sun Departments really isnât all that harmonious."And... Keep going!
Looks like the relationship between the two Scorching Sun Departments really isnât all that harmonious.
"And then? This is official business, right? Even if the relationship isnât great, people shouldnât be throwing tantrums over work like this, should they?"
"Iâm not done yet. My relationship with the new minister of Guanzhong Countyâs Scorching Sun Department is also just so-so."
"If itâs just so-so, then send an official communication, coordinate the investigation of some files, maybe interview some ghosts from back in the day, shouldnât be a big deal, right? After all, itâs the folks below doing the work, itâs not like the minister himself is handling it."
"I once broke five of his ribs."
Wen Yan was pretty shocked.
"Minister, exactly how many people have you pissed off? With this many enemies, how did you even make it this far up?"
"Well, in the first several decades, I was a bit stiff-necked, my back wasnât good, couldnât bend, plus I couldnât help cursing at people all the time, so, yeah, ended up rubbing a few people the wrong way.
Besides, I think asking Lord Zhu about this might work out better.
But that guy, heâs got a bad temper, and weâve got basically zero overlap.
Iâm worried we wonât get through a few sentences before I offend him too.
Why donât you go ask him instead."
"Is this urgent?"
"Not exactly urgent, just need to be prepared. According to our calculations, people at that level usually arenât in a rush to jump into the spotlight.
Just like that Dragon God, his biggest goal is just recovery.
As long as things stay peaceful, everyoneâs fine with it.
The Scorching Sun Department wants harmony too."
"Alright then, Iâm going to Lord Zhuâs birthday next month anyway, so Iâll ask him in person when I see him. Suddenly calling up to ask about family matters isnât really appropriate.
Since you said it yourself, odds are, this is totally tied up with Old Zhuâs family.
Even asking face to face feels awkward, and calling would be even weirder.
Itâs not like Lord Zhu is Old Meng, that sly businessman."
Cai Qidong thought it over and agreed, then thought for another moment.
"Tell you what, Iâll give you something. If you think it works, use it as a birthday present. If not, just do whatever you want with it."
After the chat, Wen Yan hung up, clicking his tongue in amazement.
He thought, Cai Heizi actually offering a gift proactivelyâfor sure, the relationship between him and the new minister of Guanzhong Countyâs Scorching Sun Department must be really bad.
If he says he only broke five of the guyâs ribs, heâs probably understating it.
And with the already not-great relationship between Guanzhong County and Nanwu Countyâs Scorching Sun Departments...
If heâs unlucky, when he goes to Guanzhong County, he might get caught up in the crossfire because of all this.
If that Stone Mountain wasnât so close to his home, and if Wen Yan werenât also worried about the Dragon God in the West River and that yet-to-appear Mountain Lord getting into a fight, he honestly wouldnât want to take on any of Minister Caiâs jobs.
Plus, as things stand, that Stone Mountain apparently once had a passage to the Nether Soul Realm, so this is tangled up with the Nether Soul Realm too.
Thereâs no way to ignore it.
The next couple of days were surprisingly peacefulâWen Yan just stayed home, goofed around with his silly son, and watched the kid get noticeably chubbier, the rolls on his arms looking like little fat swim rings.
After temporarily sealing his Spirit Platform Dao Foundation, just one day later, the silly kid had already forgotten about yesterdayâs toys and was happily playing with the new ones.
When he was bored, Wen Yan would check on Xiao WuâXiao Wu always seemed cheerful, even the Little Zombie liked to play with him.
All the little onesâincluding his silly sonâliked to watch Xiao Wu draw, though who knows if they actually understood what Xiao Wu was painting.
On checking, he found that Xiao Wuâs soul really had recovered a bit. Who knows what he experienced during that time, or what soulful paintings he made.
But judging by the state of things, those paintings must have already been used up, spent on repairing his soul.
Wu Tingsheng had also been in a good mood lately, didnât care about anything else, just stayed home with his son. Life was getting more pleasant by the day, even his wife was willing to stay in Virtue City now, going out shopping or to the salon with friends in Yu State on weekends.
The weekend came, and he got a call saying the furniture heâd ordered was ready. They asked if he wanted to come check it out and see if there were any changes needed before delivery.
Worked out perfectly; he also needed to visit his Seventh Great-Uncle Master anywayâhis old man had pretty much finished picking people, and the details heâd been discussing with Nanwu Countyâs Scorching Sun Department were more or less settledâit was about time to take the folks back.
And, he needed to visit Minister Cai to pick up the gift that old stingy iron rooster was giving him.
Minister Cai had said that this gift wasnât really suitable for courier delivery.
Anything sent via the Scorching Sun Departmentâs logistics had to be registered, and this item, well, it wasnât exactly obtained by, letâs say, the straightest path.
Wen Yan took the high-speed rail to Yu State, checked out the furnitureâall crafted in a thousand-year-old aesthetic, the workmanship stunning, luxurious yet understated.
This was for Aunt Ganâno way could he show up with something shabby.
Wen Yan looked everything over. Besides the obviously hefty labor costs and the imposing, tasteful look, the best part was the amazing attention to detailâthe craftsmen had clearly been painstakingly careful.
He paid the bill, gave them a shipping address, and left.
He called up the Scorching Sun Department, got an address, and set off to another orphanageâthe last stop for his Seventh Great-Uncle Masterâs trip this time.
The place was small, on the edge of town, and the kids there werenât actually that young. Looked like at least half were over ten years old.