The sun had begun to set, and dusk was gradually replacing daylight, signaling the end of another day.
People who had been busy all day started heading home.
On the narrow county street, the ringing of bicycle bells mingled with the sounds of motorcycles, accompanied by bursts of laughter and conversation, filling the small town with a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
On the main street, atop a five-story building, a colorful neon sign glowed, making this structure stand out from the surrounding old and dilapidated buildings.
It was the tallest and most luxurious establishment in Yongnan County—the Yongnan Grand Hotel!
Such a name was common across the country. No matter where you went, you’d find similar names.
For instance, you might find many restaurants, hotels, or establishments named after the local area.
These names could be considered ordinary, yet also extraordinary, as they often represented a certain level of prestige.
The Yongnan Grand Hotel was no exception; it was the most luxurious and high-class place in Yongnan County. A meal there started at a hundred yuan, and many ordinary citizens considered it an honor to dine there.
It was already eight o'clock in the evening, and outside the Yongnan Grand Hotel, the colorful neon lights cast a captivating glow.
On the street outside, cyclists and pedestrians passed by, each instinctively glancing at the upscale hotel, their eyes filled with longing.
At this moment, two cars appeared almost simultaneously from opposite directions on the street and stopped outside the hotel.
As the car doors opened, two middle-aged men emerged. One was burly with dark skin, and the other was fair-skinned and slightly stout.
The two men exchanged a look, then smiled and greeted each other.
"Director Zhang, what a coincidence!"
"Indeed, Boss Ge!"
"Since we've met, shall we go in together?"
Zhang Bingshan, the director of the brick and tile factory, extended the invitation.
"Please!"
Boss Ge, from the lumber factory, nodded with a smile. The two then entered the hotel together.
This scene was witnessed by the passing townsfolk, who were accustomed to it. Beyond envy, they felt nothing else.
After all, both Zhang Bingshan and Boss Ge were prominent figures in the county, and it was perfectly normal for them to dine at the Yongnan Grand Hotel.
However, no one knew that tonight's dinner was different from the usual. The most immediate difference was the presence of more unfamiliar faces around the Yongnan Grand Hotel than usual.
These individuals, both men and women, young and old, almost all pulled out their mobile phones the moment Zhang Bingshan and Boss Ge entered the hotel.
Some sent text messages, while others walked to secluded spots to make hushed phone calls.
It was as if they were relaying information to the outside world!
Not long after, another person appeared at the entrance of the Yongnan Grand Hotel.
Unlike the two magnates before, this man arrived on a sturdy old bicycle and wore simple clothing. The only striking aspect was his excellent demeanor. Despite his hair showing streaks of gray at the temples, his complexion was ruddy, and he exuded an air of refinement.
"It's Director Shang from the Industrial and Commercial Bank!"
"He's here too!!"
The various individuals secretly observing the hotel's activity immediately began transmitting messages again upon seeing Shang Bingrong.
Yesterday, Qin Chuan, the owner of Yaoshi Real Estate, had suddenly visited many people. During their conversations, he had even mentioned County Magistrate Ye Qingping and Secretary Wang Ping'an, emphatically stating that tonight's dinner was a banquet held in his name.
Such unusual behavior immediately sent a tremor through the county's official circles.
Although Yongnan County was small, an eighteenth-tier city, where there were people, there was a Jianghu, especially in officialdom.
The newly arrived County Magistrate Ye and the Party Secretary were at odds, causing various undercurrents in the small county's officialdom, with many people unsure of which side to take.
Now, with Boss Qin of Yaoshi Real Estate making such a move, even openly invoking Ye Qingping's name, everyone who received an invitation was proceeding with extreme caution.
As a result, many unit leaders had sent their most capable and loyal subordinates in advance to "lie in wait" around the Yongnan Grand Hotel, gathering information to decide whether to attend tonight's event.
If they attended, they also needed to figure out how to act.
Time ticked by, and people came and went through the grand entrance of the Yongnan Grand Hotel, suggesting brisk business.
Just then, a Santana sedan slowly drove up and stopped at the hotel's entrance.
As the car door opened, two men stepped out.
The moment their faces were recognized, the "spies" pretending to be onlookers immediately sent messages.
"Deputy Director Zhou Congrong of the Police Bureau and Captain Xiao Guodong have arrived together!"
If the arrival of Zhang Bingshan and Boss Ge, and Shang Bingrong, had only made people hesitate, then the appearance of Zhou Congrong and Xiao Guodong forced those who were hesitant to make a decision.
It seemed that the new County Magistrate's influence was far greater than anticipated, having garnered so many key figures in just half a year.
They would either not go, or if they were to go, they needed to hurry!
They had to arrive as soon as possible before Ye Qingping and Secretary Wang arrived, otherwise, being late would be considered extremely impolite.
A few minutes later, the ordinary citizens who had been sitting opposite the main entrance of the Yongnan Grand Hotel, enjoying the cool evening air, noticed something unusual.
Many officials who were rarely seen, such as various bureau chiefs, directors, and section chiefs, had arrived, representing different units.
These officials greeted each other upon meeting, leading the townsfolk to speculate.
"What special occasion is it tonight? Are government leaders holding a meeting here?"
This speculation continued until... half-past eight, when a black sedan stopped at the hotel entrance, and two people emerged.
One was a refined man, around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, wearing black-rimmed glasses, exuding an intellectual aura.
The other was slightly younger, with a healthy tan complexion and a sturdy build, acting as a secretary.
Upon seeing these two enter the Yongnan Grand Hotel, the townsfolk sitting across the street, enjoying the breeze, widened their mouths in astonishment.
"My goodness, was that our new County Magistrate?"
An old man whispered in disbelief.
"It seems so. I saw the new County Magistrate's face from afar two months ago in front of the government building."
Someone else replied.
"I remember our new County Magistrate is named Ye, and the person beside him is his secretary, named Wang!"
The curious townsfolk chattered, each adding their own observations.
"Yes, yes, now that you mention it, I recall too. His name is Ye Qingping, and his secretary is Wang Ping'an!"
"What on earth is happening tonight? Even County Magistrate Ye and Secretary Wang have come!"
"Is something monumental happening in our county? So many high-ranking officials gathered, holding a meeting in the middle of the night?"