Handong: Sha Li wants political achievements? I'll shut down the entire province.

The dilapidated Santana spewed black smoke from its exhaust pipe as it sped along the asphalt roads on the outskirts of Beijing.

The car's shock absorbers are almost worn out, and the chassis is making a creaking sound as it struggles to withstand the strain.

Sha Ruijin gripped the steering wheel tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

Li Dakang, sitting in the back, was jolted so much that he felt dizzy and his stomach was churning with acid.

Turning at the next intersection, a sprawling medieval-style manor rises from the ground.

The two large, six-meter-high brass doors with intricate carvings were tightly closed.

In the early winter sunlight, the door gleamed with a cold light, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.

"Screech—" Sha Ruijin slammed on the brakes, leaving two black marks on the ground as the tires dragged them.

The beat-up Santana was parked at the entrance of the manor, looking like a beggar standing in front of the Dragon King Temple.

Secretary Bai quickly pushed open the car door and scrambled towards the smart intercom next to the gate.

He straightened his crooked tie, took a deep breath, and pressed the call button.

"Hello? Is anyone there? This is Secretary Bai from the General Office of the Handong Provincial Party Committee!"

Secretary Bai cleared his throat, habitually adopting an official demeanor.

"Secretary Sha Ruijin and Secretary Li Dakang of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee are waiting outside the door."

He eagerly moved closer to the walkie-talkie.

"Please open the door, our leader has an extremely urgent matter to discuss with President Yan!"

He had assumed that as long as he mentioned those two names that could cause an earthquake in Handong, the door would immediately slide open.

All that came through the walkie-talkie was a buzzing sound of electricity.

Several seconds later, a slow, deliberate, aged voice rang out.

"I'm sorry, Secretary Bai."

The old butler, Afu, spoke in a calm tone, as if he were chatting casually, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

"President Yan is very busy right now and has no time to see guests. Please, all of you, leave."

Secretary Bai was stunned.

He picked at his ear, wondering if he had misheard because of the wind.

"No, didn't you hear me? It's Secretary Sha himself! Doesn't he understand what a high-ranking official in Handong is like?!"

Secretary Bai became completely enraged, slapping the metal casing of the walkie-talkie and shouting loudly.

"Excuse me."

Afu's voice remained calm and unhurried, even carrying a hint of mockery.

"Don't even mention the provincial party secretary, even if the Emperor himself came today, our General Manager Yan wouldn't have time."

"Beep—" The communication was abruptly cut off.

Secretary Bai was dumbfounded, standing frozen in place with her hands raised, like a wooden stake whose soul had been taken away.

The scene shifts to the backyard of the manor.

The sun is just right, the breeze is not dry.

The several-hundred-square-meter constant-temperature glass greenhouse is filled with top-quality black roses air-freighted from the Netherlands.

This flower is very delicate; its petals are as black and shiny as velvet.

The monthly maintenance cost of just one flower plant is equivalent to half a year's worth of food for an average person.

Yan Qingfeng was dressed in a pure white cotton and linen casual outfit, which made him look tall and slender.

He casually rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-defined forearms.

Holding a custom-made watering can made of pure silver, he was leisurely watering the roots of the flowers.

Fine water droplets fell on the black petals, refracting tiny glimmers of light.

Ah Fu stepped silently onto the soft soil and walked up behind him, bowing slightly.

"Young Master, Sha Ruijin and Li Dakang are ringing the doorbell outside, making a terrible racket."

Afu curled his lip, looking down on him.

"They said it was extremely urgent and they absolutely had to see you."

Yan Qingfeng flicked his wrist, and the water in the silver kettle flowed without stopping for a moment.

He didn't even lift his eyelids, his gaze fixed intently on the most beautifully blooming black rose in front of him.

"What's the rush?"

Yan Qingfeng's lips curled into a faint, cold smile.

He put down the kettle and picked up the small scissors from the tray next to him.

With a snap, a slightly yellowed rose leaf was cut off.

"These important figures sit in air-conditioned rooms for long periods of time, their bones become weak, and they are prone to getting sick."

Yan Qingfeng threw the scissors back onto the tray, making a crisp metallic clanging sound.

"It's good for them to come out for some fresh air now."

He picked up a warm white towel and slowly wiped his slender fingers.

"The sun is shining brightly today. Let our Secretary Sha get some more sun and get some calcium."

A few smile lines appeared at the corners of Afu's eyes as he respectfully lowered his head.

"Understood, young master. Then I'll lock this gate tightly for them."

Yan Qingfeng didn't answer, and casually tossed the towel he had used to wipe his hands into the basket next to him.

This is exactly the effect he wanted.

Unless we shatter the arrogance of these officials inch by inch, they will never learn how to talk to capital.

Outside the manor gate.

A cold wind swept away the fallen leaves, stirring up a cloud of choking dust.

Like a defeated rooster, Secretary Bai slunk back to his Santana car.

He bent down, and through the car window, his voice trembled like a leaf.

"Secretary Sha... The gatekeeper said President Yan is busy and refuses to see any visitors, so he told us to go back."

The carriage was deathly silent.

Sha Ruijin tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

His joints were a ghastly white, and his teeth were grinding together.

He, the top official of Handong, personally came to pay a visit, but he couldn't even get close enough to touch the threshold!

If this gets out, where will Sha Ruijin put his face? What about the dignity of the Provincial Party Committee?!

Li Dakang, sitting in the back row, immediately lost his temper.

He kicked the car door open and climbed out, cursing all the while.

"He's gone too far! Is Yan Qingfeng trying to become a local tyrant?!"

Li Dakang's eyes widened as he pointed at the brass door and began to curse.

"What are you putting on airs for! I'm going to kick this damn door down today!"

"Let's see if he dares to unleash his dogs on me!"

Li Dakang rolled up his suit sleeves, lowered his head, and rushed towards the front door, looking ready to fight to the death.

He felt incredibly frustrated. The lightning at Guangming Peak had exploded, and he was the one bearing all the online criticism.

Now even a businessman dares to piss and shit on his head, how can he stand this provocation?

"Shut up! Get back here!"

Sha Ruijin pushed open the car door and shouted angrily, pinning Li Dakang to the spot.

He strode up to Li Dakang, his face ashen, but his eyes revealed a deep despair.

"Kick down the door? What are you going to use to kick it down? Your shattered political achievements?"

Sha Ruijin's voice wasn't loud, but it felt like a knife scraping across Li Dakang's face.

"You still can't face reality?"

Sha Ruijin grabbed Li Dakang's tie and forced him to look at him.

"The banks were about to go bankrupt due to a run, hundreds of thousands of people were starving, and even the municipal government compound didn't have enough money to buy cabbage."

"Yan Qingfeng didn't hold a knife to your throat. He's just legally withdrawing his investment and legally growing flowers in his backyard!"

Sha Ruijin shoved him away, pointed at the tightly closed brass door, his fingers trembling slightly.

"We've long since run out of bargaining chips to use in negotiations."

"If they won't let you in, you'll just have to stay here and put up with it!"

Li Dakang, like a punctured ball, lost his balance and leaned against the hood of the Santana.

His proud title of municipal party secretary is less than a piece of waste paper in front of this brass gate.

Sha Ruijin ignored him.

He turned around and straightened the collar of his trench coat, which had been wrinkled by the wind.

Then, this nominally highest-ranking official in Handong Province did something that made Secretary Bai's jaw drop.

Sha Ruijin walked to the surveillance camera in the center of the gate.

He stood with his feet together, back straight, like a security guard on duty.

The early winter sun slanted across his face, highlighting the deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

Secretary Bai was terrified and frantically waved her hands.

"Secretary Sha! What are you doing! You just stayed up all night yesterday, this cold wind won't be good for your health!"

Li Dakang stared wide-eyed, then stammered as he stepped forward.

"Secretary Sha... are you really planning to wait here outside this big iron gate forever?"

Sha Ruijin stared intently at the camera, his face expressionless.

"Wait? I'll be the watchdog of Lingxiao Manor today."

He gritted his teeth and forced out a sentence, "Go tell the gatekeeper that Sha Ruijin is standing here, and I'll go in and serve him tea whenever Yan Qingfeng finishes watering the flowers!"