Chapter 120: Helping to Persuade

Qi Xiejun was startled. “Is it really that serious? What exactly did Director Wei say to make a young girl this angry?”

Li Tao repeated Jing Xi’s exact words to him.

Although Qi Xiejun didn’t quite understand why Jing Xi got so upset over just a couple of questions, he still focused on finding a solution first.

“No matter what, we need to calm Jing Xi down. She must attend this commendation ceremony. I’m putting you two in charge. Even if you have to carry her there, you get it done.”

Li Tao: “…”

Zhou Jiwen: “…”

“If she doesn’t go, then the three of us will hand in our resignations together.”

Li Tao and Zhou Jiwen exchanged helpless glances.

—

Nan Town.

Long Yuezhi’s eyelids twitched as he watched Wei Yun walk in with a large number of gifts.

“Director Wei, what’s all this? I haven’t even given you a gift, and here you are bringing me one instead?”

Wei Yun quickly explained, “Please, don’t give me a gift! If you do, that would count as bribery. That’s a matter of principle!”

“Besides, I’m not here to give you a gift. I came to ask for a favor—I can’t come empty-handed, can I?”

“This is just proper etiquette!”

Long Yuezhi sat on the sofa, sipping his water, sensing that this visit wasn’t a simple one.

“Just say what you came to say.”

Wei Yun blinked. “You’re aware of the coal mine situation, right? There’s a lot going on underground, and it’s all classified by the higher-ups. That day, when we went to Fucha Village, we asked Comrade Jing Xi a few extra questions. She got a little upset and refused to attend the commendation ceremony that the mayor specifically requested her to join. So…”

Long Yuezhi waited for him to continue.

“So, I did some digging and found out that Comrade Jing Xi seems to have some connection with you. I was hoping you might help put in a good word and persuade her to attend the ceremony.”

So that was the real reason for Wei Yun’s visit.

Long Yuezhi deliberately played along. “Director Wei, I’m not exactly influential. Do you really think she’d listen to me? And besides, she’s just an ordinary citizen. If she doesn’t want to go, then she doesn’t have to. Why is the city making such a big deal out of this?”

“Aiya, you’re being too modest! Don’t forget what I do for a living—I know exactly what kind of person you are. Mr. Long, you have to help with this.”

Wei Yun initially thought the same way as Long Yuezhi.

But then, the mayor personally called him.

They had always had a good relationship, even working together in the countryside in the past. After a lengthy conversation, Wei Yun finally understood why the city, and even the provincial government, were placing so much importance on Jing Xi.

This was a crucial period of reform.

It was also a key moment for implementing the one-child policy.

With fewer children to raise, women naturally had to step out of their homes and contribute to society through labor, supporting economic development.

And Jing Xi?

Not only was she a female comrade, but she had already accomplished two major achievements in a short time.

First, she had helped law enforcement crack down on illegal activities.

Then, she played a key role in the coal mine rescue efforts, providing crucial assistance in formulating a rescue plan.

What did this prove?

It proved that women were extraordinary.

It proved that women were valuable.

It proved that women truly could hold up half the sky!

After Jing Xi’s involvement in the anti-crime operation, many students had even discussed her heroic deeds in their classrooms.

Her actions had deeply influenced people across the province.

She had become a role model for outstanding women—someone who could inspire many other women to step out of their homes and join the workforce.

That’s why she had to attend the commendation ceremony!

Wei Yun shared everything the city and provincial authorities had conveyed to him with Long Yuezhi.

“Mr. Long, I also know that you have a special relationship with the Song family in Beijing.

“Since you can get along with the Song family, that means you’re a truly righteous person.

“That’s exactly why I came to you for this favor—because I trust you completely!”

Long Yuezhi listened as Wei Yun spoke.

He couldn’t help but marvel at how these old officials had a way with words.

Wei Yun had been in the bureaucracy for decades; he had to be in his forties or fifties by now. Did he really not know why Jing Xi was unhappy?

If he had come here to ask Long Yue for help in persuading Jing Xi, it was clear that he wasn’t clueless at all.

He was too sharp for his own good.

Wasn’t this just shifting the contradiction elsewhere?

“Director Wei, my relationship with Jing Xi isn’t as close as you think. We’re nothing more than acquaintances who happened to cross paths.”

Long Yue’s words were a polite but firm rejection, and Wei Yun could hear it.

But Wei Yun wasn’t a fool either—he had done his homework.

“I heard that last time, in the Taihang Mountains, she was the one who called your people for help. And after she came down from the mountains, you personally took her to Xi’an, didn’t you?”

Long Si, who had been listening, adjusted his sitting position slightly, a faint smirk appearing on his lips. “Director Wei, you came well-prepared.”

“In that case, why don’t you just tell me everything you’ve found out? Let’s see if there’s anything that might make me agree to help you.”

Wei Yun burst into laughter and signaled to the young officer beside him. “Step outside for a moment.”

Long Yue glanced at Yu Er and the others. “You all leave too. I need to have a word with Director Wei.”

Once the room was empty except for the two of them, Wei Yun finally spoke.

“Mr. Long, just consider this a favor for me. And I can promise you this: as long as it doesn’t cross my bottom line, doesn’t violate my principles, and stays within the bounds of law and morality, if you ever need my help in the future, I will do my best to assist you.”

“You know very well that there are still… things beneath your mine. The reason we’re keeping this quiet is to make sure fewer people find out. If not for this, do you think we would have gone to such lengths to scare a young girl?”

“I’m being completely honest with you. To put it bluntly, as the head of the Public Security Bureau, I rarely have to ask anyone for favors.”

Long Yue took three seconds to consider.

“Alright.”

A man of Wei Yun’s rank had come to him personally for this. He couldn’t just turn him away.

But at the same time, he needed to make sure Wei Yun understood—he, Long Yue, might be fair, but that didn’t mean he was easy to manipulate.

Afterward, Wei Yun provided Long Yue with a reliable piece of information to show his sincerity.

Before leaving, Long Yue made sure Wei Yun took back the gifts he had brought.

“My health isn’t great. I can’t eat all these supplements. Keep them for yourself. Thanks anyway!”

Wei Yun understood and left with everything he had brought.

“There are three days left before the commendation ceremony, Mr. Long. I hope you’ll bring me some good news.”

After sending Wei Yun off, Long Yue didn’t act immediately, but the issue remained like a thorn in his mind.

That day, she had kindly brought him dumplings, yet he had managed to make her angry with just a few words.

That matter was still unresolved.

He had to do something about it.

“Yu Er, call Jin Fu. Ask him what Jing Xi has been up to lately.”

Yu Er quickly made the call and learned that Jing Xi had been busy working in the fields these past few days.

However, those two young officers from the town’s police station had been visiting her every day to try and persuade her.

Today, Jing Xi hadn’t left the house at all, and the officers had come up empty-handed. No one knew what she was up to.

Long Yue thought for a moment. “Tell Xiao Ling to keep an eye on the mine. Chen Gang and Chen Zhi, you two keep watch on the Quan family and the Xu family. Yu Er, take two men and come with me to Beizhen.”

“Fourth Master, why don’t I just bring Miss Jing Xi here instead? No need for you to go through the trouble. If we go over there, we won’t be able to bring the medicine along.”

Long Yue chuckled, and if one looked closely, there was even a hint of mischief in his smile. “Bring the medicine. Someone will make it for me.”

Yu Er: “…Who’s going to make it for us?”

“Just bring it, no need for so many questions.”

Yu Er pouted slightly. “Fourth Master, if you don’t take your medicine properly, what do we do when Miss Ling calls to check on you? Even Doctor Li said you mustn’t miss a single dose. This is a critical period—”

Long Yue was getting annoyed. “Stop calling me Fourth Master. How about I start calling you Second Master instead?”

Yu Er: “…Fine, I’ll go prepare everything right away. Just stop teasing me…”

“Hurry up and scram!”

Yu Er dashed out like a gust of wind.

Chen Gang and Chen Zhi, struggling to hold back their laughter, were also chased out with a sharp glance from Long Yue.