Chapter 35 Filter

This letter was tricky; it implicated the President's wife at the top and tied in the first major county in the city's poverty alleviation reform.
The investigation materials were well-written, detailing not only the Governor of State X's domestic violence against his wife and daughter but also his local dominance, abuse of power for personal gain, and clear signs of a "rural emperor" behavior.
Harold finished smoking against the back of his chair, his aura silent and eerie. Then he took the letter and went to the President's office on the third floor.
Ten minutes later, when he came back out, he was suppressed and unfathomable.
...
The Political Consultative Conference inspection team conducted a week-long survey of Radiant City's cultural, educational, and sports work. High-ranking officials from the government were treated with the highest level of hospitality at the city's reception center, located at the foot of Peach Blossom Mountain.
In March and April, peach blossoms bloomed in the north, dotting branches with red and pink, vibrant and enchanting.
The city theater and art troupe were all preparing for major performances at the Peach Garden Pavilion in Despond Lake. The play "A Nice Dream in Radiant City" was a highlight, touring from Southern China to Havenport, winning numerous awards, and now scheduled as the finale.
Harold was surrounded by people, meticulously overseeing the catering, security, and logistical support at the Peach Garden. Only after ensuring everything was in order did he take a seat at an empty table.
The play was halfway through, and his role was in cultural administration.
Jake belonged to the military administration, a staunch supporter of concrete power.
"Harold." A knowledgeable and gentle female voice sounded beside him. Heather poured a cup of Cappuccino and placed it beside him. "I remember, this is your favorite coffee."
Harold was surprised, standing up.
"Mrs. Murphy, please have a seat," Heather said with a smile, dressed in a turtleneck sweater and a brown pleated skirt, looking elegant and composed. "You've always been so polite to me."
He smiled back but didn't respond.
"You've watched this play countless times, haven't you?" Harold murmured.
"Not many, just the fourth time," Harold replied.
Heather glanced at the gazebo and hesitated before speaking. "It's getting boring to watch it again. Mayor of Williams, would you accompany me for a walk outside?"
After a morning rain, the fallen peach blossoms had turned into mud, covering the ground. Reflecting in the puddles were two long shadows, one tall and upright, the other delicate and poised.
Heather fixed her gaze on the first button below his Adam's apple and said, "I've been recommended by the school and have passed the review. If all goes well, I'll be able to work at the Radiant City Prosecutor's Office by the end of this month."
His tone calm. "That's great."
Harold remained as composed and distant as always, like a vast net casting a shadow over Heather, making her feel uneasy and lost.
She bravely spoke again after a while. "Harold, do you remember the first time we met?"
Harold pondered, furrowing his brows before responding, "I do."
Heather's expression brightened a bit. "My father sent you to pick me up that time. You were leaning against the jeep, wearing your military uniform and smoking. I thought, 'This young man looks handsome.' Later, I found out that you were Harold from the military academy, with a prominent figure like a tiger or a wolf."
Harold chuckled. "Mrs. Murphy, you do know how to flatter."
She looked at him with profound meaning in her words. "I have a favorable view of you, you understand that."
Harold's expression softened. He wasn't ignorant of romance. He and Heather were both born into influential families in the estate and knew each other inside out. But deep down, he resisted arranged marriages.
Love was a mysterious thing, and men were active hunters. The first meeting was just the beginning of understanding each other. There was no need to delve deeper unless there was a necessity for it.
The sound of carps shifting and slapping their tails echoed from the well.
Harold tapped a cigarette from his pack, placed it in his mouth, and changed the topic. "Does Mrs. Murphy like eating fish? The fat carps at Peach Garden Restaurant are famous in Radiant City."
She didn't find anything unusual and replied, "Did you arrange it? I'm fine with whatever you arrange for me."
He smiled and said it was a unanimous arrangement. Every would have fish for dinner tonight.
His hospitality work lasted for seven consecutive days, and Harold always returned to 2 Island Road in the early morning, the address he gave to Maggie.
Every time he opened the door, the house was empty, and she never moved in.
One morning, he heard some noise coming from the kitchen.
Harold approached and looked, his expression complex. The hired maid, who was 56 years old, was vigorously shaking her arms, stirring the pot.
She had never actively dialed that series of numbers.
Maggie had a stubbornness in her bones and was not clingy, secretly quite independent.
The incident at the gate had just settled down when Manager dealt with it in a professional manner, returning her self-recommendation letter and materials.
Ophelia heard that she was disappointed about the promotion, so she started contacting her more frequently.
Last time, at the Strip Club, Maggie had shined. So, now from small wedding celebrations to large corporate events, Maggie was running around, busy and overwhelmed. When she calculated the travel and car expenses, she realized that she had spent nearly a thousand dollars.