Chapter 70 - 69: Overpowering
Liang Chuan Mountain listened and his expression immediately relaxed as he laughed heartily and said, "I knew this opportunity was meant for you."
In fact, in his heart, he was also quite anxious for Song Changming.
Though it was said to be a competition among a few Patrol Captains, in reality, it was an inexplicable contest between the two daughters of the Governor.
Song Changming was caught in the midst of it, and even though Liang Chuan Mountain had great confidence in Song Changming’s personal abilities, he couldn’t help but worry that external factors might affect the final result.
Fortunately, it seemed his worries were unfounded.
"Tonight, we must call Lv Gang, and have a good drink at Chunfeng garden! In a few days, it might not be so easy for the three of us to gather at Chunfeng garden again." Liang Chuan Mountain sighed.
"Tomorrow, all right? The official orders from the General Department won’t be issued so quickly. Tonight, I want to go back and tell my parents about this first." Song Changming said to Liang Chuan Mountain.
"Alright then, tomorrow we won’t go home without being drunk." Liang Chuan Mountain nodded.
In the evening, Song Changming returned to the Song Residence.
"Changming, you’re back." Song’s Mother heard the big dog in the yard suddenly barking excitedly, and knew that Song Changming had returned home.
"Mother, what is making you so happy?" seeing Song’s Mother smiling, Song Changming couldn’t help but ask.
"Your sister came by during the day, she said she’s expecting! I have been worried sick about it before, it’s so wonderful she could conceive, just wonderful." Song’s Mother said joyfully.
She had lived on Baiyi Street for so many years, and had heard of many daughters being unable to conceive and being thrown out by their husbands’ families.
In recent years, she had also worried that such unfortunate events might happen to her own daughter, and now she could finally rest easy.
"Then today is truly a day of good news." Song Changming smiled and told Father Song and Song’s Mother about his transfer to the General Department.
"Haha, good, good! My son is truly going places!" Father Song was the happiest upon hearing this.
He had also struggled in the County City back in the day and knew the difference between working at the City Patrol Defense Bureau and working under the Governor’s Public Security Bureau.
This definitely was a crucial turning point in Song Changming’s official career path.
Things that Father Song didn’t even dare to dream about in the past suddenly seemed more possible tonight.
Advancement in official ranking, lavish pay, and even being summoned by the emperor, though still far away, stepping into the Public Security Bureau and being affiliated with the Governor’s Mansion had brought these dreams into the realm of possibility.
In Father Song’s heart, compared to his daughter being pregnant, Song Changming entering the General Department was definitely a more joyous thing.
As for Song’s Mother, not understanding it deeply and not daring to think too far ahead, only felt it was a double blessing, her happiness doubled.
That night, a sumptuous dinner was served, which Song Changming had prepared in advance, bringing out a jar of fine Baihua Wine to drink with his father.
Meanwhile, at the Zhao Family Mansion.
In the study, Zhao Huaimin was having a heated argument with his father Zhao Dezhi.
"Father, why is it not possible!" Zhao Huaimin said excitedly.
"You haven’t even listened to what you’re saying!" Zhao Dezhi said angrily, glaring at his son.
"Yu’Er is now pregnant, I want to make an official proposal and marry her as my wife!" Zhao Huaimin repeated, his tone extremely firm.
"Nonsense! A concubine is merely a concubine, how can she become a wife?" Zhao Dezhi said angrily, waving his sleeves.
"In the past, Da Han’s laws wouldn’t allow it, but now those laws are obsolete, why can’t it be done!" Zhao Huaimin said anxiously.
"I don’t agree, there’s no discussion. Knowing how stubborn you would be today, I wouldn’t have agreed to this marriage back then!" Zhao Dezhi said without any intention of backing down.
"Now the Song Family has Changming backing them, and they are thriving, they’re a match for our Zhao Family. I don’t understand why father is still obstructing me." Zhao Huaiming had no intention of giving up either and continued to argue with reason.
"It’s not the same!" Zhao Dezhi said, suddenly standing up.
"If Song Yu had never been a concubine, it wouldn’t be impossible to officially marry her as your wife, but having been a concubine before becomes your wife again, it is bringing disgrace to both you and the Zhao Family!
What will our relatives and surrounding people think of our Zhao Family once they find out? Where will my old face be placed?"
"Father!"
"In any case, it is impossible, get out!"
"..."
When Zhao Huaiming left the study, it was already late at night. He returned to his quarters in low spirits and, seeing the lights still on in the bedroom, guilt appeared on his face.
"Huaiming, why are you back so late?" Song Yu was not yet asleep and got up to ask.
"Yu’Er, I’m sorry." Zhao Huaiming hugged the one he loved and said softly.
Upon hearing this, Song Yu’s eyes reddened. She knew what Zhao Huaiming had gone to do and didn’t need to ask to understand the outcome.
She and Zhao Huaiming loved each other deeply and she could accept her identity as a concubine.
But being so deeply in love, just the thought that Zhao Huaiming would have a grand official wedding to another as the proper wife in the future also made her heartache inevitable.
She didn’t care about the title, she cared more about sharing half of Zhao Huaiming.
"Maybe, let’s just forget it." Song Yu closed her eyes, trying to adjust her emotions, but her voice still trembled a little as she spoke.
"No, I will ask my father again, if once doesn’t work, then twice, if twice doesn’t work, then thrice, four times, until he agrees! My wife can only be you!" Zhao Huaiming said emotionally.
He originally thought with Song Yu’s pregnancy as an opportunity, coupled with Song Changming’s rise, he could make his father relent.
But unfortunately, he still underestimated Zhao Dezhi’s obsession with face.
Simply put, Zhao Dezhi was a man of dignified bearing, extremely resistant to undignified matters.
...
A few days later, orders from the Public Security Bureau were finally issued.
Officially transferring the Patrol Captain of the Houli Street Patrol Armor Bureau, Song Changming, to take up a post at the General Department in three days.
The news spread quickly, causing quite a stir among the other Patrol Captains in the Patrol Armor Bureau.
Being transferred to the General Department as a Patrol Captain was something they had always dreamt of.
Now that they heard the news, they couldn’t help feeling envious from the bottom of their hearts.
However, they all understood that when it came to being favored by the General Department, it could only be Song Changming, who had achieved so much at such a young age, not them.
No matter how much they envied or were jealous, it was to no avail.
Instead, they might as well think about the impending change in the power structure of the Patrol Armor Bureau after Song Changming leaves.
At the same time, with Liang Chuan Mountain’s side lacking someone close, whoever among them gained Liang Chuan Mountain’s trust first would likely replace Song Changming, becoming the new right-hand man of the Director.
This was what truly concerned their interests the most!
Initially, Song Changming had intended to recommend his deputy, Jiang Chunzi, to Liang Chuan Mountain as his successor.
Unfortunately, Jiang Chunzi’s current abilities were somewhat lacking, and could only barely manage the role of a deputy. Since being the official Patrol Captain would find it hard to convince others, he had to give up.
The Patrol Guard team he originally led would be temporarily overseen by Liang Chuan Mountain himself until a suitable Patrol Captain was appointed.
During these days, besides dealing with the handover of tasks at the Patrol Armor Bureau, Song Changming was also busy looking for a new residence.
Since he would be working at the Public Security Bureau located on Brocade Street, it would be best for him to move to Brocade Street for convenience.
However, this time, Father Song and Song’s Mother didn’t plan to move with him.
Even though Brocade Street was more prosperous, the two elders felt that the Song Residence on Houli Street was comfortable and they were used to living there, so there was no need to move.
Since Song Changming was now grown and of age, it was a good thing to let the young one venture out on his own.
Song Changming also respected the elders’ decision and didn’t force them.
As for the money to buy a new house, that was not a concern for him.
The bounty of three thousand silver for catching the Night Traveler had already been received.
This sum was enough for him to splurge for quite some time, and even though the housing prices on Brocade Street were higher, buying a house for himself to live in wouldn’t be a problem.
In a couple of days, he would basically have his new place settled, ready to move to Brocade Street.
The day after he received the transfer order, his third sister, Song Yu, also rushed to see him when she heard the news.
...