"Impossible, I'm a government employee, how can I look like I'm one step away from begging on the street? Besides, if the government had money, would they live in such a rundown building? Didn't you see the situation in the office building?"

"Heh heh," the lady laughed, "If the government building was built to be magnificent, how would we get poverty alleviation funds? You're poor because your rank isn't high enough yet, and you lack experience."

I fell silent for a long time. "Understood. No need to press the bell anymore, I'm afraid my friend is getting anxious waiting."

Leaving the massage room, I looked around for Zhang Fengzhen. I thought he was still inside fooling around, but the lady who had massaged me gestured toward several transparent glass rooms not far ahead. Zhang Fengzhen was sitting inside, talking to a man. Although there was glass separating them, I used my extraordinary hearing and caught a few snippets of conversation.

The man said, "Director Zhang, you must put in a good word for your brother in front of County Head Zhao later. Whether this loan for the department store succeeds depends on everyone's effort. As long as your brother has money, no one will be shortchanged."

Zhang Fengzhen looked troubled. "I've already read your proposal. Don't think I'm trying to put you down, but your plan to request a two-million loan to renovate and expand the department store is impractical. Everyone knows this. Liangshan City has a narrow consumer base; blindly expanding the scale will only lead to wasted resources."

The man clapped Zhang Fengzhen on the shoulder. "You will understand my good intentions, brother. As long as everyone helps, I don't see any possibility of failure. The state's support for our Liangshan County isn't just for a year or two; they won't object to something that can create more job opportunities."

Zhang Fengzhen laughed. "I'm just voicing my concerns. As for what County Head Zhao and Secretary Ma think, I can't say. I certainly know what I should do, hehe."

As he finished speaking, Zhang Fengzhen noticed me coming out of the massage room. He waved me over, then said to the man, "This is my new colleague from the government—quite interesting, rather bold, and a bit crazy. He's planning to start a beverage factory."

The man smiled, but his words were sharp. "Dreaming in broad daylight. People around here don't have a habit of drinking beverages; besides, that kind of thing is a luxury. Don't expect to find a market for it locally."

Zhang Fengzhen was about to mention exporting the product, but I had already walked into the glass cubicle, so the two cut their conversation short. Zhang Fengzhen introduced us: "This is my colleague, Zhao Qian. This is Manager Hu from the Liangshan County Department Store."

Manager Hu scrutinized me carefully for a moment. "Brother Zhao, you're young and promising. I have another engagement, you two take your time and enjoy yourselves." With that, Manager Hu stood up, got dressed, and headed downstairs.

I said to Zhang Fengzhen, "I didn't expect Brother Zhang to have such wide connections. You know all these big shots."

Zhang Fengzhen scoffed. "Big shots? Relying on having a bit of money and forgetting who they are. I just have to humor them a little. Sometimes, people have to wear a hypocritical mask to live. If you give me face, I'll give you face. As long as things pass well enough, that's all that matters."

Saying that, Zhang Fengzhen beckoned to a lady outside. "Ice beer and grilled sausage!"

Sipping the ice-cold beer and eating the fragrant grilled sausage, I said to Zhang Fengzhen, "It feels like two different worlds, heaven and earth. Is this the real life in Liangshan County?"

Zhang Fengzhen replied, "You'll get used to it. In the government cafeteria, you can eat whatever; once we're out, we have to enjoy ourselves. Otherwise, what are we living for?"

I said, "I also advocate for hedonism, but I'm used to enjoying myself with my own money. Using other people's money always makes me feel uneasy."

"I didn't realize you were a paragon of incorruptibility. What we just consumed was only a few hundred yuan. With a monthly salary of one thousand, how many times could you afford this?"

I retorted, "If the salary is low, we can find ways to raise it. As long as the overall economic level of the county improves, I don't believe government employees' salaries will stay at one thousand. Raising it to five thousand wouldn't be exaggerated."

Zhang Fengzhen took a huge bite of the grilled sausage. "Good! You have ambition. Then I'll wait for you, brother, to help us get raises. Don't disappoint me."

It was nearly eleven when the two of us emerged from Dream-Seeking Garden. Looking at the dilapidated street before us, then recalling the meals at the government cafeteria and the moldy dorm, I felt a sense of being in another world. Was giving this hotel the name 'Dream-Seeking' meant to imply this very feeling?

My cell phone rang. I assumed it was my wives calling, but the number was unfamiliar. Zhang Fengzhen glanced at my phone. "I didn't realize—you even have one of these high-end models. Our Secretary Ma couldn't even get this model."

"Hello, is this Zhao Qian? This is Ning Shixuan," Ning Shixuan's voice was extremely rushed. "Someone smashed my uncle's food stall. My aunt called me saying they are still beating my uncle. Can you possibly help..."

I immediately cut her off. "Where is the location?!"

Ning Shixuan stammered, "It's at the east end of the street, near the Little City Department Store! They're still hitting him, they won't listen to reason..."

"What's going on?" Zhang Fengzhen asked me.

I was already sprinting out the door. "Xiao Ning's uncle's wonton stall was smashed, and they're still beating people! I'm going to help..."

Zhang Fengzhen chased after me. "Hey, I'm coming too! Don't go charging in alone!"

I didn't use my superhuman abilities; otherwise, I could have been there in the blink of an eye. But running solely on my own physical strength, by the time I reached the front of the Little City Department Store, Zhang Fengzhen had only covered a few hundred meters.

This street was the only main thoroughfare in Liangshan County with streetlights at night, and the Little City Department Store was located here. Thus, a not-so-bustling night market had gradually formed. Since it was the height of summer, in order to revitalize the nighttime economy and enrich the lives of the residents, the government decided to extend the streetlights, which usually turned off at eleven, until two in the morning. Many residents who couldn't sleep would come out for some refreshing summer snacks.

Before reaching the east end of the street, I saw a crowd gathered in the distance. In the center, a man in his forties was being beaten on the ground by four young men. A woman was desperately trying to pull them away nearby. Judging by her appearance, she bore some resemblance to Ning Shixuan; she was likely her aunt. The one being beaten must be Ning Shixuan's uncle.

I spotted a stone on the ground and instinctively picked it up, throwing it toward the head of a tattooed youth! With my aim, I certainly didn't miss. With a bang, the guy cursed and immediately fell to the ground, blood gushing out.

This sudden turn of events startled everyone present. The three remaining youths immediately let go of Ning Shixuan's uncle on the ground and began looking around for who threw the stone. I walked forward, grasping a small stool from the ground, and in two swift steps, I was in front of them, swinging the stool with a whomp and knocking another one down.

The last two spotted their target, reached for switchblades at their waists, and lunged at me. I grabbed both their hands, twisted their arms, and jammed the knives into their own thighs. Both let out a long cry and collapsed, clutching their legs.

As Zhu Da once said, I have learned ruthlessness. In gang fights, no one reasons with you; they only judge you by your strength. That whole routine of citing facts and debating logic when attacked is long outdated. Seeing the way these four were dressed, their hairstyles, and the tattoos on their arms and backs, I knew they weren't good birds. Seeing them kicking and punching a defenseless man in his forties, I certainly wasn't going to go easy on them.

"Oh my goodness, I'm exhausted!" Zhang Fengzhen gasped as he finally caught up. At that moment, the sound of a hurried bicycle bell came from behind. "Make way, make way!" It was Secretary Liu. It turned out he was pedaling furiously on his bike, carrying Ning Shixuan to the scene.