Jiang Xiaochuan’s thought as he closed his eyes was to put everything aside and sleep. However, when he woke up, it was still quite early. At that moment, he almost expected to see the familiar prison cell with its cold iron bars. But what greeted his eyes were the gray-green curtains, a computer, and a row of old bookshelves that seemed to have been in use for many years. Most of the books on the shelves were old and even appeared tattered.

The cold tile floor felt like a soldering iron beneath his bare feet—perhaps his sensation was off?

Jiang Xiaochuan retrieved his watch from the computer desk. It was a simple silver-white quartz watch, neither extravagant nor ostentatious, and he had been using it for a long time. He opened a drawer and discovered several broken watches inside.

For men who value watches, they also value time.

—Jiang Xiaochuan’s watch was never just an ornament.

Six o’clock in the morning. It was still quite early.

He sat at the computer desk, staring at the dark screen, lost in thought for a long time. Then, he suddenly raised his hands to cover his eyes.

It was late.

When he returned from his rebirth, it was already too late.

Opening the drawer, he found an exquisite gift box containing a very expensive watch.

It was a world-famous watch, but there were hidden ulterior motives behind it.

No wonder Rong Shaobai had been dropping hints yesterday that they had already reached some kind of agreement.

He pushed the drawer shut and didn’t want to dwell on it any longer.

It had only been a few days since he took office as deputy mayor. If he continued down the path of his previous life, he would be subject to double regulation within six years.

But what about this life?

Because upon his return yesterday, he had received a call from his secretary about inspecting the military area. The Armed Forces was one of the areas under his purview, and it was customary for new officials to conduct inspections after taking office.

However, this was merely a formality.

The city had four major groups—the Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal Government, the National People’s Congress, and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Among these, the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government held significant power, and nearly all work was handled by these two entities. The CPPCC had virtually no influence.

Nevertheless, Chengzhou City was a provincial capital, which meant it held a somewhat unique status. In addition to the Municipal Party Committee, there was also a Provincial Party Committee in the city. Conducting affairs under the watchful eye of the Provincial Party Committee, anyone needed to be more restrained.

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Domestic politics has always been divided into three branches: the party, the government, and the military. Yue Qingci belongs to the last category – the military. While he doesn’t hold a high military rank, Yue Qingci had an influential background, along with remarkable talents and courage.

So, it was quite common for him to advance steadily in his career. Without Yue Qingci’s help in his previous life, Jiang Xiaochuan would have been no more than an ordinary mayor.

However, Jiang Xiaochuan’s current position was actually much higher than that of Yue Qingci. Yue Qingci had only recently joined the military area, and his family intended for him to gain more experience without seeking special connections.

Nonetheless, the situation was different later on. As a senior officer, it would be challenging for Yue Qingci to instruct Jiang Xiaochuan, the deputy mayor, regarding inspection work.

People in the military region often exhibited arrogance. The conflicts between the party, government, and military weren’t uncommon. To make matters worse, Jiang Xiaochuan’s predecessor left a significant mess.

His predecessor was named Qian Qiming, a less-than-savory character who had engaged in self-enrichment and corruption. However, he was highly sociable. Currently, within the government, there were very few competent individuals under Jiang Xiaochuan’s management. And those who worked in the military region were almost entirely the ironclad supporters of Qian Qiming.

Qian Qiming had long maintained a collusion within the military region.

In his previous life, Jiang Xiaochuan had struggled even to manage matters in the military region, and at the time, Yue Qingci couldn’t bear to witness the problems he caused.

One can only imagine that today’s inspection would not be easy.

With these thoughts in mind, time passed quickly.

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Jiang Xiaochuan went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, setting aside a portion for Jiang Encheng, and then packed up before heading out.

Having just taken office, there was much work to be done. In about two weeks, personnel changes would begin again. He needed to grasp these matters quickly, which led to extensive research back then. Therefore, on this day, he left home with a briefcase.

After a few minutes of walking, he reached the bus stop, where he waited for the bus to arrive. Despite holding a driver’s license, the lack of a car forced him to rely on public transportation.

Upon disembarking from the bus, the air was still misty, and the early spring weather remained chilly. Breath exhaled into the cold air left faint traces of mist. As he approached the entrance, he noticed a young man in his mid-twenties assisting an elderly man seated on a flower bed. His steps faltered, and the young man raised his gaze to meet Jiang Xiaochuan’s eyes.

In his previous life, Jiang Xiaochuan had become accustomed to ignoring such situations. But today, he felt a compelling need to halt.

The elderly man had gauze wrapped around his head, from which blood was seeping.

Perhaps you’re here for revenge again, aren’t you?

For some inexplicable reason, Jiang Xiaochuan smiled bitterly and addressed the young man, “The staff at the Petitions Office are not yet on duty. It might be more appropriate for you to return in an hour.”

The young man’s facial features were strong and somewhat angular, as though they had yet to be polished or softened by society.

Jiang Xiaochuan could sense that his words were pointed, but he had no authority over the petition office. He shook his head and left without saying another word.

As he passed the guardroom, he peered inside and inquired, “Is Old Wei here?”

The man in his forties, busy with a pile of newspapers, looked up with a degree of surprise. “Yes! Mayor Jiang, what can I do for you?”

Wei Bin was visibly perplexed.

Jiang Xiaochuan, being the deputy mayor, usually didn’t engage in personal interactions with him. So, it was unusual for Jiang Xiaochuan to visit him in person.

Wei Bin appeared somewhat tense and slightly embarrassed.

Worried he may have conveyed something incorrectly, Jiang Xiaochuan quickly waved his hand, offering a reassuring smile.

“No need to be nervous. I’m just coming over to ask for a favor. Take a look at the two individuals outside. They may end up waiting a long time. The elderly gentleman has a head injury. How about getting them a glass of water? We wouldn’t want anyone to think our government is too aloof… The petition office staff hasn’t arrived yet…”

Wei Bin hesitated for a moment before giving a swift nod. “Understood, I’ll take care of it right away.”

Wei Bin had been a government gate guard for over a decade and was a veteran in this role. However, his straightforward nature had prevented him from advancing, while those craftier and more cunning individuals had quickly climbed the ranks. Despite this, Wei Bin remained stationed at his post year after year.

Jiang Xiaochuan glanced back at the young man and the elderly man, feeling a pang of emotion. He was reminded of his father and the struggles they endured when they visited the government office to submit an application back then.

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“Hey, Mayor Jiang, good morning! You took the bus, right?”

An Audi A6 rolled up to the gate, and Zhang Jiuyu’s round face appeared through the open window. There was a twinkle of sarcasm and arrogance in his eyes.

Zhang Jiuyu was also a deputy mayor in charge of lucrative departments such as government agencies, foreign trade and economics, foreign affairs, and investment promotion. He had arranged several foreign companies to discuss cooperation projects in Chengzhou Business Hotel recently, especially with a world-renowned foreign company planning to invest in Chengzhou. However, this wily character preferred to make the companies wait, squeezing them for money before he proceeded with the discussions.

In simple terms, he acted as a vampire.

An Audi A6 for official business, costing over 400,000 yuan, was not overly extravagant. But for Jiang Xiaochuan, who had yet to secure an official car, Zhang Jiuyu’s snide comments stung.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn’t entertain the taunts and focused on his duties, handling the challenging issues left behind by his predecessor. Chengzhou had to focus on economic development and maintaining unity and stability, making Jiang Xiaochuan’s role as a deputy mayor relatively idle.

“Mayor Zhang arrived early. I haven’t received my official car yet, so I had no choice but to take the bus.” He replied with a smile, maintaining a humble demeanor.

Jiang Xiaochuan was certainly an elegant and handsome individual. He graduated from a prestigious university and subsequently passed the civil service examination, attaining a high-ranking position at a young age. Initially, no one suspected that he had connections, but closer scrutiny of his background unveiled the extent of his achievements at such a young age. His youth, elevated position, and good looks made him stand out among his colleagues.

Zhang Jiuyu, on the other hand, was a middle-aged man in his forties, already balding in some part of his head. When he saw that Jiang Xiaochuan didn’t react negatively to his jabs, he appeared to regard Jiang Xiaochuan with condescension.

He replied with a mocking smile, “Mayor Jiang, it’s great to see you mingling with the public. Given that you’ve just taken office as mayor, building connection with the citizens is essential for us. You’re doing a splendid job. I need to leave now; I have an appointment with foreign companies today.”

“Mayor Zhang, take care, and I’ll handle Route 11 myself.” Jiang Xiaochuan responded with a smile, offering a lighthearted remark.

Zhang Jiuyu chuckled in return and waved to his driver before driving away, leaving behind the lingering odor of car waste.

A new security department member expressed his displeasure, “Ugh, he’s such a despicable guy who belittles others!”

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Without turning around, Jiang Xiaochuan entered the office building. The municipal building was tall and had an air of sophistication, with modern elevator technology. Jiang Xiaochuan’s office was situated on the 29th floor.

As he approached his office door, he overheard his secretary, Li Xiaoli, speaking on the phone. A quick glance at the clock confirmed that it wasn’t yet time for work. He ignored her and walked into the office.

“Oh, Mayor Zhou, you’re making unfounded accusations about me. I’ve never engaged in—”

She couldn’t continue her sentence as she turned around and saw that Jiang Xiaochuan had entered the office and shut the door. For some reason, she felt a sense of unease and anxiety.

She spoke quickly into the phone, “Mayor Jiang has arrived. He’s heading for the inspection today. I’ll provide him with the information. Mayor Zhou, please don’t be upset. We can discuss this another time. Bye!”

Jiang Xiaochuan had just taken his seat, activated his computer, and opened the desk drawer to examine some documents. His desk was orderly, with a small party flag and a small national flag displayed in front, adhering to government decorum.

A knocking sounds came from the door.

“Mayor Jiang, I’ve brought the information for today’s inspection.”

“Come in.”

Jiang Xiaochuan accepted the documents, thanked her, and offered a smile. In the office, it’s always advisable to smile more, make fewer enemies, and understand how to get things done efficiently.

Upon witnessing Jiang Xiaochuan’s smile, Li Xiaoli felt much relieved. “Mayor Jiang, if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me. I’ll be just outside.”

“Of course, thank you.” Li Xiaoli departed, and Jiang Xiaochuan finally had the opportunity to review the documents in peace.

Jiang Xiaochuan tried to maintain his composure, but deep down, he felt a sense of unease. He knew that this was just a routine inspection, which shouldn’t disrupt the military region’s plans. However, he couldn’t comprehend the motivations of the military officers he’d had conflicts with in his previous life.

In his past life, he had experienced significant challenges from individuals in the military region, notably Yue Qingci, who seemed to be a typical second-generation military figure. Yet, Jiang Xiaochuan understood that this demeanor was merely a facade.

It allowed Yue Qingci to blend seamlessly into the military environment. He began to feel uneasy, wondering how he would handle a reunion with Yue Qingci.

As the time for the inspection drew near, his official car finally arrived. While it wasn’t the most modern vehicle, it was serviceable. He had been assigned a driver who would take him to the military region. As they drove to the training grounds, he anticipated what awaited him. Little did he know that he would encounter a familiar face from his past, a figure who had haunted his nightmares.

There he stood, at the head of his battalion, tall and straight as a green pine. His lean figure was clad in military green camouflage, exuding a rugged aura. Yet, his handsome face remained unchanged. The moment their eyes met; he turned his gaze in Jiang Xiaochuan’s direction.

Jiang Xiaochuan found himself momentarily stunned in the car, but eventually, he opened the door and stepped out. They approached each other slowly until they came to a halt three steps apart, gazing at one another.

Yue Qingci broke the silence with a smile, revealing his white teeth. “Mayor Jiang?”

“Major Yue, hello,” Jiang Xiaochuan responded calmly.

They took a step forward and extended their hands for a handshake. A strange glint appeared in Yue Qingci’s narrow phoenix eyes. It was as if he found Jiang Xiaochuan nervous, detecting a hint of sweat on his palms.

Yue Qingci couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile. “Today, our military region has assigned me to welcome Mayor Jiang. I hope you don’t think my rank is too low.”