8: Chapter 8 The Beginning of Building a Network of Connections

Half an hour later, a knock sounded on the door right on time.

Li Dakang opened the door to find a young man with slicked-back, oily hair standing there—it was Cao Yong.

His face still bore traces of sleepy fatigue, but upon seeing Li Dakang, he instantly put on a fawning, respectful smile, his body leaning forward like a dog wagging its tail: "Oh, Third Young Master! I've kept you waiting; I am truly sorry!"

"I was out having too much fun with friends last night and accidentally stayed up until the early hours. I just crawled out of bed, so please don't take offense for keeping you waiting!"

As he spoke, Cao Yong secretly observed Li Dakang's expression. Although he was a few years older, he kept his posture extremely humble.

Li Dakang stepped aside to let him in, a casual smile on his face: "Cao Yong, no need to be so restrained. You and Mingyuan have a good relationship, and since I'm his cousin, we can be considered part of the same circle."

This made Cao Yong's eyes light up, and he nodded hurriedly: "Yes, yes, yes! Third Young Master is right! To hear you say that is my good fortune, Cao Yong!"

He patted his chest in assurance: "Now that you're in Jiang Province, if you have any instructions, I guarantee to handle them perfectly—no hesitation!"

Li Dakang nodded slightly, his deep gaze sweeping over Cao Yong's face, and said calmly: "Let's find a quiet place to chat."

"Yes, yes!" Cao Yong nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, quickly stepped aside to clear the path, and made a standard "please" gesture with his right hand: "Third Young Master, please go first!"

When the two went downstairs, a brand-new black Toyota Crown was already parked at the hotel entrance, its polished body reflecting their images.

Seeing them approach, the driver trotted over to open the car door, his waist bent like a shrimp.

"Go to Qingfeng Teahouse," President Cao instructed.

"You got it, boss!"

The engine let out a low roar, and the car smoothly merged into the traffic.

The driver was clearly familiar with the road conditions in Mingzhou, choosing quiet backroads. After many twists and turns, the car stopped in front of a three-story building nestled under the dense shade of plane trees.

The four characters "Qingfeng Teahouse" on the plaque were written in a flamboyant, calligraphic style, and the signature belonged to a late master of calligraphy, exuding a sense of understated luxury.

"Third Young Master, please!" President Cao got out first and personally opened the car door for Li Dakang, his movements impeccably respectful.

The inside of the teahouse was a world of its own. It featured antique-style carved wooden windows and hanging red lanterns, with the faint scent of sandalwood drifting through the air.

The yellow rosewood tea table glowed with a warm luster, and the tea set was clearly a masterpiece from an imperial kiln. Even the qipaos worn by the waitstaff were made of hand-embroidered silk with fine, delicate stitching.

Li Dakang, having a sharp eye, caught a glimpse of two burly men in black suits standing at the end of the corridor. Their waists were bulging, clearly indicating they were bodyguards.

"President Cao, you're here? We've been keeping the Longjing Pavilion reserved for you."

A woman in a red qipao approached them with a graceful figure, though the corner of her eye darted toward Li Dakang with curiosity.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you bring a new friend."

President Cao's face stiffened, and his tone deepened: "Manager He, this is a distinguished guest from the capital."

He gave her a look: "The old rules: no one is allowed to approach."

"Yes, of course!" Manager He immediately shed her frivolous demeanor and respectfully guided them inside: "Please, come in."

The private room was elegantly and exquisitely decorated. The mahogany tables and chairs were polished until they shone, several ink landscape paintings hung on the walls, and a burner of agarwood in the corner sent plumes of smoke curling into the air.

Just as Li Dakang and President Cao sat down, Manager He personally brought in a teapot, placed it carefully on the table, and began to pour tea for them with fluid, graceful movements.

"President Cao, please enjoy," she said, her voice soft as water. "This is this year's freshly picked Mingqian Longjing; the flavor is excellent. If you need anything, please call me at any time."

With that, she tactfully retreated and gently closed the door.

From start to finish, Li Dakang hadn't said much, simply sitting there quietly.

"Third Young Master, this is the information you asked me to collect." President Cao took a kraft paper envelope from his briefcase and handed it over with both hands, his eyes filled with the expectation of earning some credit.

Li Dakang took the envelope and slowly opened it.

Inside was the basic information on the current provincial leaders of Jiang Province, including photos, resumes, and areas of responsibility—all clear at a glance.

He flipped through the pages, his brow slightly furrowed in thought.

Jiang Province was not a traditional sphere of influence for the Li family, so he had to do his homework before arriving.

Although this information was merely scratching the surface, it allowed Li Dakang to get a rough understanding of the power structure in Jiang Province so he wouldn't be going in blind.

"I'll be working in Jiang Province this time, and I expect to be here for quite a while," Li Dakang said, setting the documents down and looking up at President Cao.

President Cao immediately perked up and asked cautiously, "May I ask which unit you'll be going to, Third Young Master? Do you need me to make any arrangements in advance?"

"Anjiang County, Xinying City. A township under its jurisdiction—I'll be serving as the township head."

Li Dakang picked up his teacup and gently blew away the foam. "Do you have any acquaintances there?"

"I actually do!" President Cao's eyes lit up.

"The son of the Deputy Secretary of Xinying City and I are on good terms."

As he spoke, his expression turned to one of concern: "But Third Young Master, townships are tough places to be; the conditions are quite poor."

"Why don't I have a word with my old man and see if we can get you transferred to a better unit? Something like the Provincial Government Office?"