On the bench were several room-temperature drinks that weren’t there before; it appeared Yue Qingci had purchased them during Jiang Xiaochuan’s brief absence.

“Well, if there’s no need for official formalities, why don’t you and I sit down and have a calm conversation?” Yue Qingci sat with a slightly slouched posture, his hands hanging low, and the golden whistle swaying close to the ground.

He and Yue Qingci truly needed to have a thorough conversation.

Though Jiang Xiaochuan wasn’t sure what they would discuss or how to broach the topic, he trusted they could navigate the conversation. Unafraid, he sighed and settled where Jiang Encheng had been seated earlier.

Several drinks separated them.

Yue Qingci had bought a variety, perhaps uncertain of Jiang Xiaochuan’s preferences. In truth, he wasn’t particularly interested in these room-temperature beverages. He favored boiled water, occasionally enjoying tea for a drink. After ascending to the governorship, he refrained from drinking green tea alone. Despite developing a preference for mint-flavored drinks over the years, plain water remained his favorite. Yet, Yue Qingci hadn’t provided plain water.

Naturally, he reached for the mint water, inserted a straw, and took a sip.

Yue Qingci’s eyes flickered. He extended his hand, curled his fingers, and hesitated.

Thinking Yue Qingci was too far away, Jiang Xiaochuan handed him the can of black coffee nearby.

Yue Qingci accepted it, examined it for a moment, and actually smiled with an ambiguous meaning. “You just grabbed what I like. Brother Xiaochuan is really good.”

Jiang Xiaochuan didn’t mind; he knew that Yue Qingci taste was straightforward. In response, he casually remarked, “Just a stroke of luck, nothing more.”

Something felt truly different. Yue Qingci pulled the tab and took a sip, realizing the pleasantness of sitting here leisurely without pondering complicated matters. Two individuals of relatively modest status shared a bench with some distance between them, sipping inexpensive drinks. Though not exactly consistent, it felt like a normal occurrence that they could genuinely accept.

Regrettably, such moments were always fleeting.

Yet, even in the present, peace remained temporary.

.

“I find it hard to believe that you coincidentally encountered my dad. Approaching him as a soldier is indeed a clever strategy.” Though the tone was calm, the underlying meaning was far from simple.

Yue Qingci shook the coffee can in his hand and ran his fingers over the small bullet casing with the other hand. Jiang Xiaochuan suddenly sensed familiarity with the bullet casing; there seemed to be a mark on the back matching the medal presented to Jiang Encheng…

“You might think I’m playing the emotional card, but I genuinely admire people like your father.” When he mentioned the word ‘admire’ his eyes darkened slightly, as if he had recalled something unpleasant. Upon noticing Jiang Xiaochuan looking at him, Yue Qingci added, “Not every soldier is as upright as Uncle Jiang.”

The phrase ‘not every soldier’ implies that there were exceptions, right?

Who could it be? Was it Yue Fan, or a self-reflection?

Jiang Xiaochuan refrained from commenting on this statement and steered the conversation towards other matters, such as the discussed cooperation.

Yue Qingci addressing him as ‘Brother Xiaochuan’ was a traditional greeting in official circles, prevalent during the Republic of China. While less common in modern times, it remained prevalent in traditional families, revealing a person’s family background. Jiang Xiaochuan observed that he was becoming increasingly sensitive to such nuances.

Though many people felt uneasy when first addressed others as ‘brother’, Yue Qingci seemed accustomed to it.

“I’ve never doubted your abilities, but I truly don’t understand how someone like you could be ensnared by someone like Yue Fan, unable to act freely.” Finally, he expressed what had been troubling him for a while.

Puzzled, he never comprehended this issue in his previous life. Speaking of which, how much did he truly understand in his past life?

“They’re involved in some unsavory activities. The older generation in the family has always opposed such practices bordering on betrayal. Consequently, Yue Fan is discontented with certain family members.” Yue Qingci suddenly felt he might have divulged too much today, but he had to share more; he needed Jiang Xiaochuan’s assistance, knowing he possessed more knowledge than Jiang Xiaochuan.

All he could say was Jiang Xiaochuan’s current position was quite unique. As a deputy mayor, it was uncommon to oversee both public security and the economy simultaneously. Although Chengzhou was in disarray, various forces were intertwined, making it difficult to distinguish the head from the tail. However, everything was happening in the shadows, so it shouldn’t be exaggerated. In essence, many matters were connected to Jiang Xiaochuan’s current responsibilities. If something occurred, it likely passed through Jiang Xiaochuan’s hands.

Jiang Xiaochuan kept his gaze on the rusty bullet casing in Yue Qingci’s hand and suddenly said, “Can you show it to me?”

Yue Qingci hesitated for a moment but handed it to him, saying, “My parents gave it to me, saying it was a keepsake.”

Jiang Xiaochuan naturally wanted to know the story behind it but noticed that Yue Qingci didn’t want to share, so he refrained from asking. Although he wasn’t aware of bullet casings in his previous life, Yue Qingci seemed to treat it seriously.

He immersed himself in examining the cartridge case. It wasn’t very long, just a shell, lightweight to hold. The gunpowder inside was gone. It was an old-fashioned bullet, designed for a long-range combat heavy machine gun. Being repurposed as a whistle made it extraordinary.

Jiang Xiaochuan ran his fingers over the rust stains and returned the cartridge case, saying, “It seems like a very commemorative item.”

No wonder Jiang Encheng appeared to appreciate it too.

When Yue Qingci realized, before he could speak, Jiang Xiaochuan said, “Speaking of cooperation, it’s a matter of mutual use. Comrade Yue Qingci must offer a price that excites me before I can agree.”

“The Rong Family Club’s case. The details behind it.” Yue Qingci uttered this brief sentence and then scrutinized him with a deep look for a while. He opened his mouth to say something but ultimately chose to remain silent. Clearly, it was challenging to express the details. It depended on whether Jiang Xiaochuan found it compelling.

Frowning, Jiang Xiaochuan thought for a while, and then his heart skipped a beat. Why did Yue Qingci believe that the details behind Rong Family Club’s case could impress him?