I’ll just stay here for one night.

I’ll leave tomorrow morning.

...

That night, everyone was seated in the main hall of the Governor’s House.

The Governor sat in the host’s seat, and Lu Yuan in the guest’s.

The Lord Governor had changed into casual clothes after returning.

He was no longer in his crimson Official’s Robe, which made the evening meal feel much more intimate, like a family gathering.

"Lu Yuan, what’s the deal with that Underground Heating System in your house?

Ziheng’s mother visited your home and hasn’t stopped talking about how warm it is since she got back.

She said that even ten Spirit Stone Furnaces wouldn’t make a room as warm as your Underground Heating System."

Hearing the Lord Governor’s words, Lu Yuan naturally had no objections. He said he would take a look at the Governor’s house tomorrow before he left.

He would then draw up the design sketches and have the artisans from Taiping City handle the construction.

After several rounds of drinks and courses...

"Lu Yuan, do you feel that I’ve been a bit too harsh on you?"

The Governor’s sudden question, offered as they drank and chatted, stunned not only Lu Yuan but everyone else at the table.

Immediately, Song Meiqin stood up, looked at the little boy beside her, and said with a beaming smile:

"Ziheng, how about Auntie tells you a story?"

With that, Song Meiqin picked up the little boy and left.

The others at the table, being very perceptive, all made excuses to leave as well.

In less than half a minute, the dinner table that had seated more than a dozen people was left with only Lu Yuan and the Governor.

Lu Yuan, snapping back to his senses, thought it over.

He had originally intended to give a polite, superficial answer.

But on second thought, he decided against it.

They were alone now, and the Governor had started this conversation in such a direct, unpretentious way.

So, after some consideration, he decided to be honest.

After all, if he really said the wrong thing, he could just blame it on the wine.

So, after mulling it over, Lu Yuan grinned and said:

"I just feel that the Lord Governor is being a bit overly cautious.

I’ve already made it clear many times. Given our relationship, there’s no way I would ever use this thing to harm you.

This is just a means for my own self-preservation."

The Governor nodded slightly, took a sip of his wine, and said:

"Do you know, then, that by making you an official, I am also protecting you?"

Lu Yuan froze, blinking in surprise.

Then, the Governor said softly:

"You and I are relatives. Are you also related to the other officials in the province?

I may trust you, but will others trust you?

If every single one of them tries to trip you up, can you handle it?"

Lu Yuan fell silent.

The Governor continued in that same soft tone:

"Only by jumping into this great dye vat and letting everyone know you’re one of them...

...will they finally let their guard down around you.

Furthermore, you must understand that I won’t be in this position for long.

To prevent officials from becoming too deeply entrenched in one place,

the Court rotates the provincial Governors every few years.

I’ve been Governor for nearly six years now, so my term is almost up.

I can tolerate you, but will the next Governor do the same?

You are indeed very smart, but how many people in the Court aren’t smart?

Do you really want to go against so many intelligent people all by yourself?

Forget about whether you can succeed or not—at the very least, isn’t that exhausting?"

Perhaps the Lord Governor had had too much to drink.

Or maybe he was moved by something he’d heard today while interrogating the Liu Family.

The words he spoke were very sincere.

He had shed the pompous airs he wore when they first met.

’Sincerity is the ultimate weapon.’

’Most people, at this point, would probably be overcome with gratitude.’

’Seeing the other party bare their soul, they would rush to do the same.’

’But this is a cardinal sin in the professional world.’

’Absolutely not.’

’After all, Lu Yuan was from Shandong before he transmigrated.’

’When it comes to matters like this, you can’t go wrong listening to someone from Shandong.’

So, even though he was grateful for the Governor’s sincerity, he still held something back as he said:

"But you’ve seen the things I need to do.

I must have a trump card in my hand for self-preservation.

If I give up even this weapon, I’m afraid I’ll be at the mercy of others in the future."

’If I run into a situation like this again in the future without a sword in my hand, what am I supposed to do?’

’Wouldn’t that make me just like U-something-raine?!’

’Look at U-something-raine, aren’t they in a miserable state now?’

’How were they tricked before?’

’Oh, just give up your nukes, and we’ll protect you~’

’Oh, just don’t develop nukes, and we’ll be your friends~’

’Sound familiar?’

’So, this thing, whatever it is, can never be given up.’

The Governor, however, simply nodded and said:

"That’s why I want you to come in.

Don’t blame me for this. I’m truly doing this to help you.

The tree wishes for stillness, but the wind will not cease. I think you can understand that principle."

Before this, Lu Yuan had truly been a bit put off by the Governor over this matter.

’We’re family. I tried every way to persuade you, and you still insisted on pushing this. How annoying can you be?’

But with the Governor being so sincere, Lu Yuan’s anger began to subside.

Of course, the main reason was that Lu Yuan himself had come to terms with it.

Then, Lu Yuan raised his cup and said:

"My toast to you, then."

The Governor was very gracious and raised his cup as well.

As for Lu Yuan...

The Governor truly thought highly of him.

One could even say he cherished his talent.

The official world was complex, full of intrigue and backstabbing.

But that didn’t mean it was *only* about intrigue.

As the Governor of a province, he too possessed the pure heart of a patriot who wanted to serve his country and its people.

What Lu Yuan had accomplished in Taiping City was simply astounding.

In just one short month.

Look at how many people that factory has fed!

That single factory benefited not only Taiping City but also seven or eight surrounding counties.

It provided countless jobs that allowed people to put food on the table.

Seeing such ability with his own eyes, how could he, the Governor, not feel a desire to cherish such talent?

Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be stationed here as Governor for many more years.

If he had discovered him earlier, perhaps with his support,

these few years would have been enough to completely transform the entire province.

However, it wasn’t too late now.

He still had a few years left here to give his full support.

He believed that with Lu Yuan’s intelligence and ingenuity, a few years would be enough to turn the province upside down.

After they both took a drink,

the Governor said slowly:

"There’s one other thing. I don’t understand why you don’t want to be an official.

Of course, you must have your reasons.

But with your abilities, wouldn’t it be a good thing to benefit the common people and leave your name in the annals of history?"

This was something the Governor had pondered all day without figuring it out.

When he had told Lu Yuan today that he would replace the County Magistrate of Taiping City,

the Governor had thought Lu Yuan would be overjoyed.

After all, this was an official position!

You, Lu Yuan, didn’t need to pass the imperial exams. I was recommending you, and you’d get the post directly.

Besides, you’re in your twenties, an age full of vigor and ambition.

Why wouldn’t you jump at the chance to be an official?

It was truly strange.

Hearing the Governor’s words, Lu Yuan felt a wave of helplessness.

’If the current Emperor were Li Shimin...’

’Ah, no.’

’Forget someone that good, I’d even take a Liu Chan.’

’If that were the case, I would genuinely want to be an official!’

’But the current Emperor is Old Zhu!’

It wasn’t that Lu Yuan thought Old Zhu was a bad emperor.

For the common people, Old Zhu was very good.

One could even say that if Empress Ma and Zhu Biao hadn’t died early,

serving as an official under Old Zhu wouldn’t have been a bad gig.

After all, the next Emperor was supposed to be Zhu Biao!

’But what a pity.’

’It’s such a tragedy!’

’Nothing to be done!’

’Who could we blame for our dear Biao being gone?’

’Cruel, cruel fate!’

So, in response to the Governor’s half-confused, half-persuasive words,

Lu Yuan was direct:

"Since you’ve brought it up, I’ll be honest with you.

I really don’t want to be an official.

But what you said earlier makes sense, so I’ll take the position.

However, there’s one thing I need to make clear beforehand.

I’m not a man with grand ambitions. All I want is a wife, kids, a warm bed, and to look after my own little corner of the world.

If I leave Taiping City, I can’t even sleep well at night.

So in the future, please don’t think about helping me or promoting me. I truly don’t need it."

Hearing Lu Yuan’s words, the Governor sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.

He stared at Lu Yuan, completely stunned.

’Is this kid brilliant, or just plain stupid?’