He gripped a jujube wood cane, polished to a glossy sheen from years of use. His knuckles were slightly white from the force of his grip, revealing an inner tension no less than Yang Jianmu’s. Yet, he still tried to maintain the steady composure of a clan elder.
On the other side of the sofa sat two young men, Yang Yong and Yang Tie. Both were in their early twenties and had a scholarly air, likely the educated members of the clan. They sat side-by-side, staring straight ahead at the polished surface of the coffee table, even making a conscious effort to breathe quietly.
A young female officer in the standard administrative uniform of the City Defense Bureau stood by the coffee table, her movements gentle and professional as she refilled the teacups in front of them. Her demeanor was impeccable, and she wore a smile that was neither overly warm nor cold.
"Please, have some tea. Vice Group Leader Yang is handling some urgent business and should be down shortly." The female officer’s voice was soft and clear, with a reassuring tone.
"Oh, yes, yes. Thank you, thank you. We’re sorry to be a bother."
Yang Jianmu nodded quickly, even bowing slightly. Yang Dehou also forced a smile and nodded, and the two young men nearly jumped to their feet to bow.
After refilling their cups, the female officer took half a step back and stood quietly in attendance nearby.
Her attitude was polite and considerate, utterly faultless. But that very politeness—along with her crisp uniform, the shining badge on her chest, and the vast, imposing institution she represented—only served to invisibly heighten the visitors’ anxiety.
Through the open doorway, other armed City Defense Bureau officers in uniform would occasionally hurry past in the corridor. Their gazes would unconsciously drift inside, and those sharp, business-like looks made the four people in the room sit up even straighter.
Time ticked by slowly, but they hadn’t taken a single sip of the tea on the coffee table. Suddenly, another set of footsteps sounded from outside the meeting room.
The female officer who had gone to make the announcement entered first, stepping sideways into the room. She then stood respectfully by the door and made an inviting gesture.
Immediately after, a figure strode in.
It was none other than Yang Wenqing.
He was dressed in a grey formal suit today, his stride steady and his expression calm. His eyes were bright and sharp, and he naturally exuded an aura of competence, composure, and subtle authority.
"Dad, Third Grand-uncle, Brother Yong, Brother Tiezi." Yang Wenqing’s gaze swept over the four people in the room as a natural smile appeared on his face. He greeted them in a calm tone, his composed and unhurried demeanor a stark contrast to the stiff, anxious state of everyone else.
His appearance instantly shattered the suffocating, official pressure that had filled the meeting room.
The female officer standing in attendance immediately straightened her back, lowered her head slightly, and said in a voice even more respectful and clear than before, "Yang Group Leader!"
In the corridor outside, two officers who happened to be passing by saw Yang Wenqing and immediately stopped in their tracks, snapped to attention, and gave a standard salute toward the doorway, announcing loudly, "Yang Group Leader!"
Seeing his son appear in such an impressive manner, Yang Jianmu was stunned for a moment. An indescribable wave of excitement and pride then surged through him, causing his dark, weathered face to flush red. He shot to his feet, his lips moving as if to say something, but for a moment, no sound came out.
The third clan elder, Yang Dehou, also followed suit, pushing himself up with his cane. His cloudy old eyes stared at Yang Wenqing, focusing especially on the badge at his waist, his gaze filled with gratification.
As for Yang Yong and Yang Tie, they shot up straight as if on springs. Their eyes, fixed on Yang Wenqing, were filled with reverence, envy, and a thrill of shared glory.
’Just moments ago, they had felt that this City Defense Bureau was so imposing it was suffocating. But in the blink of an eye, a brother from their own clan had turned out to be a ’big shot’ here—someone who could make even these formidable officials salute respectfully.’
At that moment, as Yang Wenqing looked at the four of them, he was once again struck by the impact of power.
He walked quickly to Yang Dehou’s side and took his arm, saying gently, "Please, sit. You don’t need to stand. Third Grand-uncle, you should sit too. It must have been a long journey."
His actions were natural. With his words and movements, the intangible pressure in the meeting room seemed to melt away like ice and snow. The atmosphere instantly relaxed, transforming into the warmth and proud joy of a family reunion.
After the two elders were seated, Yang Wenqing said casually to the female officers standing by, "You can go back to your work now."
The two female officers smiled, exited the meeting room, and closed the door behind them.
Yang Wenqing paid no mind to the departing officers. His attention was on the two elders. He lifted the still-steaming teapot and poured them fresh tea. As he did, he began to organize his thoughts. ’He knew his Third Grand-uncle’s visit was undoubtedly about the trading company they had discussed before.’
’His plan was for his father to hold the company in his name, while he would collect a portion of the profits each quarter to sustain his cultivation. It sounded simple enough, but there were many small details that needed to be clarified before they could actually do it.’