Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

Downstairs, in the shadows of the corner of an old residential building.

Liu Ming leaned against the mottled wall, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and then slowly exhaled a long string of white smoke.

Amidst the swirling smoke, a hint of...disarray appeared on his usually calm face for the first time.

He felt as if he had just escaped death.

The pressure from those two women upstairs was even greater than when he faced an entire reinforced platoon of mercenaries all by himself back then!

One is like an iceberg, seemingly calm yet chilling, every glance like a scalpel, capable of dissecting you from the inside out.

The other is like a flame, passionate yet domineering, every word carrying an undeniable possessiveness that can burn you to ashes.

This feeling of being caught between ice and fire...

Gee tut.

Who can stand this!

"Hey Liu, why are you hiding here all alone, smoking in silence?"

An old, slightly mocking voice came from the side.

When Liu Ming turned around, he saw Fan Laogui, carrying his signature large enamel mug, wearing a white tank top and flip-flops, emerging from the darkness like a ghost.

"Brother Fan? What are you doing here?" Liu Ming was somewhat surprised.

"I live in the next building," Old Fan chuckled, pointing upstairs. "Just now, I saw two really nice cars parked downstairs at your place?"

"One is an Audi A6 with the license plate '001'. The other is even more remarkable, a Maybach with the license plate '88888'."

"One is the car of the top official of Qingyun County. The other is the car of the richest man in Jiangnan Province."

Fan Laogui looked at Liu Ming, his cloudy old eyes gleaming with a shrewd insight that seemed to know everything.

"Little Liu, you've made quite a commotion."

Liu Ming gave a wry smile, said nothing, and silently handed over a cigarette.

Fan Laogui took the cigarette, lit it, took a satisfying puff, and then patted Liu Ming on the shoulder with an air of "I know, I know all about this" from someone who's been there all along.

"One is an iceberg, the other is a flame."

"One is power, the other is money."

"Tsk tsk tsk, even heroes have found it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman."

"However," Old Fan changed the subject, his expression turning serious, "I have to remind you. Our County Magistrate Xi is the eldest daughter of the Xi family in the capital, with an unfathomable background; she's a true prodigy. And that Miss Nangong is an incredibly wealthy business tycoon."

"These two are no pushovers."

"You little brat, you're playing with fire right now."

"If things go wrong, it could backfire, and then... utter ruin."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ming fell silent.

He knew that Old Fan was telling the truth.

Whether it's Xi Wanqing or Nangong Yao, they represent not only themselves, but also the terrifying family power behind them, a power so vast that it shakes the entire Jiangnan Province.

As a powerless and demobilized cadre caught in the middle, it truly felt like walking a tightrope.

Can……

He recalled the stubbornness and idealism that occasionally shone through Xi Wanqing's clear, cold eyes.

Then I remembered the deep feelings that had been buried for many years hidden beneath Nangong Yao's burning gaze.

He stubbed out his cigarette, his gaze gradually hardening.

"Thanks, Brother Fan."

"However, I just love playing with fire."

……

Meanwhile, upstairs.

That rented room was filled with the smells of gunpowder and vinegar.

The atmosphere also underwent a subtle change.

After Liu Ming "fled in panic," Nangong Yao and Xi Wanqing stared at each other for a full half minute.

Finally, it was Nangong Yao who spoke first, breaking the suffocating silence.

She dropped her aggressive demeanor, sat back down in her chair, looked at the bowl of steaming chicken soup on the table, and her tone became somewhat complicated.

"Did you make this soup yourself?"

"No," Xi Wanqing replied coldly, "I had the cafeteria chef cook it."

"Oh." Nangong Yao nodded, seemingly relieved, then smiled. "That's true. A pampered young lady like you who never lifts a finger probably doesn't even know where the kitchen is, right?"

"You!" Xi Wanqing felt her fist harden again.

"Don't be angry." Nangong Yao waved her hand and poured herself a glass of water. "I just wanted to say that you can't tame his wild heart with this 'good wife and mother' approach."

"What do you mean?" Xi Wanqing frowned.

"The meaning is very simple." Nangong Yao looked at her, and for the first time, a serious look appeared in her beautiful eyes. "I can tell that you like him too."

Xi Wanqing's body stiffened almost imperceptibly; she neither admitted nor denied it.

"And me," Nangong Yao pointed to herself, her tone filled with undeniable confidence, "I like him too. In fact, I've liked him for many years."

"So, Deputy County Head Xi."

"We are rivals in love."

Nangong Yao's words were direct and frank.

Instead of resorting to verbal sarcasm, she laid their relationship bare.

Xi Wanqing looked at her and remained silent.

After a long silence, she finally spoke slowly: "So, you've come here tonight to declare war on me?"

"You could say that," Nangong Yao nodded. "However, I prefer to call it... **fair competition**."

"We each rely on our own abilities."

"We won't resort to underhanded tactics or use our family's influence to force him to comply."

"Let's see whose heart he ultimately chooses."

"What do you think?"

Nan-Gong Yao looked at her, her eyes filled with provocation and a kind of... appreciation of a worthy opponent.

As Xi Wanqing looked at her, her heart, which had been in turmoil due to jealousy and anger, slowly calmed down.

She had to admit it.

Although this woman is annoying and domineering.

But her frankness and pride made it impossible for her to dislike her.

"it is good."

Xi Wanqing nodded, her cool eyes rekindling with fighting spirit.

"I accept your challenge."

"However," she changed the subject, "before a winner is decided, I hope we can reach a consensus for the time being."

"What consensus?"

"That is, we must not let our affairs affect his career or the development of Qingyun County." Xi Wanqing's tone was extremely serious.

Upon hearing this, Nangong Yao smiled.

"make a deal."

Two equally proud and powerful women, at this moment, for the sake of the same man, reached a gentleman's agreement filled with tension...

The atmosphere in the room was no longer so tense.

But it was still very awkward.

The two sat there, staring at each other, neither knowing what to say.

"Um..." Finally, Nangong Yao couldn't stand the oppressive atmosphere any longer and spoke up, "Before he comes back, we...we need to find something to do, right?"

"What are you doing?"

Nangong Yao's gaze swept around the room and finally landed on a dusty playing card box in the corner.

Her eyes lit up instantly.

……

Ten minutes later.

Liu Ming bought a bottle of mineral water at the convenience store downstairs and lingered for a long time. Feeling that the "battle" upstairs should have been extinguished, she finally mustered up the courage and tiptoed back to her front door.

He pressed his ear against the cold door and listened carefully.

It was very quiet inside.

There was no arguing or fighting.

Is it...

They've already left?

Liu Ming breathed a sigh of relief, took out her key, and gently opened the door.

However, the next second he froze at the doorway.

All that could be seen was the small room.

Nangong Yao and Xi Wanqing, those two "prodigies of heaven" who just moments ago wanted nothing more than to strangle each other, are now...

Surprisingly, one person was carrying a small stool and gathered around the rickety square table.

On the table, there was a crooked "Chu River and Han Border" drawn with chalk.

The two were engrossed in...

Dou Dizhu (a card game)?

Moreover, it included "penalty copying"!

On Nangong Yao's forehead were covered with white paper strips with words like "I am a pig" and "I was wrong" written in lipstick.

Although Xi Wan-Qing maintained an icy expression, the slight upturn of her lips and the mountain of "spoils" (sunflower seeds) in front of her revealed her joyful mood.

"A royal flush!"

Xi Wanqing coldly threw out two cards.

"Haha! It's gone! I won again! Quick! Stick it on, stick it on!"

She precisely stuck a note that read "Terrible Chess Player" onto Nangong Yao's smooth forehead.

Nangong Yao puffed out her cheeks in anger, looking like a Persian cat that had lost a fight.

"Again! I refuse to believe it! I'm going to beat you today!"

Looking at the scene before her, so full of magical realism, Liu Ming felt her brain was completely overwhelmed.

He rubbed his eyes and pinched his thigh.

hiss……

pain!

Not a dream!

He looked at the two women, their faces flushed from arguing over who would win, and then at the bowl of chicken soup on the table, which had gone cold.

He swallowed hard, and asked cautiously, tentatively:

"Um... are we... still playing? We're one short, how about... I join?"