The Republic of China: I, Xiangzi, a Hero in a Chaotic Era

He smiled approvingly and nodded.

"Not bad, indeed a promising young man."

"Tiancheng has talked about you a lot, saying that you are experienced in handling affairs and are his right-hand man."

"Seeing you today, you are indeed impressive. Young man, keep up the good work, you will achieve great things in the future."

Liu Jiaxiang bowed slightly, his voice steady and clear.

"Thank you for your kind words, Deputy Minister. My humble efforts are entirely due to Director Zhang's meticulous guidance."

"In the future, I will need your guidance and support, Deputy Minister and Director. I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations."

Sun Wenlin smiled gently and waved his hand.

"Sit down, everyone, don't stand."

Zhang Tiancheng and Liu Jiaxiang then sat down in the armchairs opposite the desk, their posture respectful, only occupying the front half of the chairs.

Sun Wenlin picked up the celadon covered bowl beside him, took a sip of tea, put the bowl down, and spoke casually but with the implication of giving serious instructions.

"Tiancheng, Jiaxiang, I've called you here today because it's important."

"Minister Wang from the Ministry of the Interior and Vice Minister Bai from the Ministry of Finance will be coming later, along with their families."

"I'm hosting a small party here at noon. There are quite a few young people coming. It'll be lively, and it'll also allow these younger people to get to know each other better."

He looked at Liu Jiaxiang, his smile deepening.

"Jiaxiang, you're about the same age, so you can help me entertain the guests."

"I still have some things to discuss with Chief of Staff Wang, Deputy Chief of Staff Bai, and the others."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jiaxiang immediately understood.

The so-called party was just a pretext for a private meeting between high-ranking figures like Vice Minister Sun, using a gathering of family members and young people to cover up the real conversation.

Meetings of this level, involving the heads of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, are naturally beyond his purview.

Vice Minister Sun asked him to entertain the guests, which was both an opportunity for him to show his face and expand his network, and also a way to get rid of him indirectly.

He smiled knowingly and respectfully, and bowed slightly.

"Please rest assured, Vice Minister. It is my duty to entertain your guests. I will do my best to provide you with the best service and will never let any of you feel neglected."

Sun Wenlin nodded in satisfaction, then, as if remembering something, added:

"By the way, Miss Bai, Vice Minister Bai's sister, should also be coming today."

"She's young, and has the typical spoiled princess temperament. She might be a bit... straightforward."

"Be careful not to offend her and upset Vice Minister Bai, but don't just let her have her way either. If something unpleasant happens, the party will be in trouble. You need to find the right balance."

Miss Bai, the younger sister of Vice Minister Bai.

Upon hearing this description, Liu Jiaxiang's heart stirred slightly.

During his time in the capital, he did not just bury himself in his small plot of land in Xisi North.

Taking advantage of Zhang Tiancheng's position as head of the general affairs department and his frequent appearances at various events, he also carefully collected information on the personnel connections of the upper echelons of the capital.

The current Deputy Prime Minister of the National Government is named Jin Quan. He has already confirmed that this Jin Quan is the Prime Minister Jin from the Jin family in his memories of his previous life.

Now, combined with Vice Minister Sun's description of "Vice Minister Bai of the Ministry of Finance" and his "sister," a name almost instantly jumped into his mind.

Bai Xiongqi.

So this Miss Bai is naturally Bai Xiongqi's younger sister, the beautiful yet spoiled and willful eldest daughter of the Jin Powder Noble Family—Bai Xiuzhu.

This association stirred up ripples in Liu Jiaxiang's tranquil mind.

This is not just a pampered guest who needs to be handled with care, but also an unexpected opportunity.

In the story of the Golden Family, the one who ultimately had the last laugh and ascended to the premiership was none other than Bai Xiongqi.

If we can take advantage of today's opportunity to establish even a basic good relationship with Bai Xiuzhu, we may be able to board the Bai family's fast ship with great potential in the future.

This approach offers a much broader prospect than simply relying on the connections of Vice Minister Sun and Zhang Tiancheng.

As for how to deal with this Miss Bai, Liu Jiaxiang felt no apprehension, but rather a sense of confidence.

Bai Xiuzhu is a typical "easy-going" girl. She is not deep in thought and is essentially a well-protected, naive girl who craves attention.

Most of her temper stems from being spoiled.

Having lived two lives, Liu Jiaxiang was able to manipulate even a seasoned scoundrel like Master Liu, who had been in the underworld for decades and was as cunning as a devil, scheming step by step until he squeezed out the last drop of profit.

Dealing with Bai Xiuzhu, who is relatively simple-minded, is a piece of cake as long as you find the right method.

The key is to cater to their preferences while maintaining an appropriate distance, remaining neither arrogant nor servile.

These thoughts flashed through Liu Jiaxiang's mind like lightning, but he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he appeared even more solemn.

He bowed again, his tone calm and resolute.

"Please rest assured, Deputy Minister. Miss Bai is a distinguished guest, and I will handle her with utmost care, ensuring she is neither impolite nor lacking in manners. I will also guide her carefully to guarantee the smooth running of the party and will certainly not disappoint you."

Seeing that Liu Jiaxiang's response was appropriate, Zhang Tiancheng, who was standing to the side, quickly smiled and echoed:

"Deputy Minister, although Jiaxiang is young, he is very tactful in his work and also very meticulous."

"The area around Xisi North is a complex mix of all sorts of people, but he manages to keep it all in order and handles it with ease."

"You can rest assured that you'll leave the social niceties of entertaining guests to him."

Sun Wenlin looked at the two of them with a relieved smile on his face.

"Alright, Tiancheng, I naturally trust the people you've brought out."

He paused, then looked at Liu Jiaxiang.

"Jiaxiang, you can go with the butler outside to familiarize yourself with the surroundings and help me greet the guests. They should be arriving soon."

"Yes, Deputy Minister."

Liu Jiaxiang stood up and bowed slightly to Sun Wenlin and Zhang Tiancheng respectively.

"Then you two continue your conversation. I'll take my leave now."

Sun Wenlin nodded.

Liu Jiaxiang then turned around, walked steadily out of the study, and gently closed the door.

The study returned to silence, with only the soft crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace.

In the warm air, the scent of sandalwood and books quietly permeated the air.

Seeing Liu Jiaxiang leave, Zhang Tiancheng leaned forward slightly, his respectful expression unchanged, but now tinged with more inquiry.

"Deputy Minister, this is quite a scene today... even Chief of Staff Wang and Deputy Minister Bai have come in person, and they're having such a... private meeting. What major event has occurred, or is there some new development?"

Sun Wenlin suppressed his smile, leaned back in the large seat, and tapped his fingers lightly on the smooth mahogany armrest, his expression becoming serious and profound.

The winter mountain scenery outside the window became the backdrop for his words.

"In Europe, the war is raging fiercely, and the outcome is not yet clear."

Sun Wenlin spoke slowly, his voice low but clear.