Chapter 2576: Chapter 2350: I’m Your Mother-in-law! (Part 6)

"You wouldn’t guess it, but I know a lot of people, even officials higher than a General," Song Xiaodong said proudly.

"Higher than a General?" Qiao Yutong didn’t believe it.

"Of course, I dare not even say how high-ranking he truly is," Song Xiaodong was referring to Old Li whom he had met.

"You don’t dare to say? You’re just bluffing me."

"So this time when you go to Beijing, are they going to promote you?" Qiao Yutong asked.

"I suppose, but I don’t want it. I feel it might not be an official position, probably just a researcher or a field agent in some department, making it easier for them to use my help in the future," Song Xiaodong said.

"What kind of work?" Qiao Yutong asked.

"Stuff I can’t tell you," Song Xiaodong said mysteriously.

"You’re hopeless!"

At the airport, Qiao Yutong helped tidy up Song Xiaodong’s collar and scarf.

"You didn’t even bring luggage? Not even a change of clothes," Qiao Yutong worriedly told Song Xiaodong.

"I’ll just go and come back, I’m not staying overnight," Song Xiaodong said.

"But your clothes are too thin, you’ll arrive in Beijing at midnight, and it’s bound to be very cold, especially since the temperature is dropping and there’s cold air incoming," Qiao Yutong said.

"No worries, I’m not afraid of the cold," Song Xiaodong said.

"That won’t do, hold on," Qiao Yutong said as she ran back into the airport shopping center.

"Eh?"

After a while, Qiao Yutong returned carrying a pair of gloves, a hat, a cotton mask, and a neck pillow.

"Take these, use them at midnight. You can strap the neck pillow around your neck for sleeping on the plane to avoid a stiff neck," Qiao Yutong tucked the heap of items into Song Xiaodong’s arms.

"Be careful on the road, I’m off," Qiao Yutong turned and dashed away, stopping after a few steps to wave back at Song Xiaodong.

The plane indeed arrived in Beijing around midnight.

Outside the airport, the northern wind howled, chilling to the bone, making Song Xiaodong feel as if he wore nothing.

Zhao Ruonan had already sent someone to pick up Song Xiaodong, who saw two men in suits and sunglasses welcoming him into a black military vehicle as he exited the airport.

Zhao Ruonan personally came to greet Song Xiaodong, escorting him to a military compound.

"General Zhao, isn’t this a bit rushed for a promotion?" Song Xiaodong asked Zhao Ruonan.

"Promotions for others can wait, but not for you," Zhao Ruonan said.

"Why’s that?" Song Xiaodong was puzzled.

"The reason is simple, we’re afraid next time you clash with some retired Deputy Commander and we don’t get the news in time, you might end up executed," Zhao Ruonan said.

"Will a promotion save me from execution?" Song Xiaodong asked.

"Depends on your behavior."

"..."

"Stay here for now, I’ll come for you in the morning."

Song Xiaodong rested, and true to her word, Zhao Ruonan came to find him early the next morning.

"Follow me."

"Where to?"

"To see Old Li."

"Isn’t Old Li retired? Why is he still handling these matters?" Song Xiaodong asked Zhao Ruonan.

"Old Li retired just to handle these kinds of matters," Zhao Ruonan said.

"Oh..."

Song Xiaodong followed Zhao Ruonan into a car, which drove from the city outskirts to the entrance of a large compound, a typical agency compound with white plaques hanging on both sides. The left plaque read: "Office for the Prevention and Handling of Special Events," and the right plaque read: "Central Office 063."

"Special events?" Song Xiaodong muttered in confusion.

"What kind of special events?"

"Like last time when Lop Nur was buried with yellow sand," Zhao Ruonan said.

"Oh..."

It turns out Zhao Ruonan brought Song Xiaodong to her work unit, the Central Office 063, a confidential office dedicated to working with ancient Mysterious Gate traditions like Dragon Gate.

"General Zhao, isn’t this your workplace? Do you intend to promote me to your colleague?" Song Xiaodong asked Zhao Ruonan.

"Not my idea, Old Li insisted on it, he’s reluctant to let you roam, afraid you’ll cause trouble and get executed, so he thought of this plan. With the title of our Office 063, anyone wanting to go after you would have to reconsider," Zhao Ruonan said.

"Oh..."

In the meeting room, Old Li and several other staff members were already present, along with Song Xiaodong’s acquaintance, Zhang Ping, whom he had met at Master Futian’s ceremony.

"Senior Li," Song Xiaodong greeted Old Li politely.

"Yes, the journey was tough, please sit down," Old Li warmly invited Song Xiaodong to take a seat.

"Now that everyone’s here, I’ll brief you on the agenda of today’s meeting," Old Li addressed everyone.

"Today’s meeting is primarily to discuss Mr. Song Xiaodong’s role as an advisor to Group Six of our Central Office 063,"

"Advisor?" Song Xiaodong couldn’t help but repeat.

"Our Office 063 has six groups. Group One is Intelligence, Group Two is Operations, Group Three is Equipment, Group Four is Archives, Group Five is Specimens, and Group Six is the Advisory Group," Old Li introduced the structure of Office 063 to Song Xiaodong.

"Elder Mr. Li, I don’t want to join," Song Xiaodong outright refused.

"Hear me out first."

"The Sixth Group, as I mentioned, is the Advisory Group, usually unpopulated except for a group leader. The rest are advisors handling special affairs for our Office 063. Although we haven’t formally raised this issue before, Mr. Song, you’ve already cooperated with our Office 063 many times, so even if we didn’t bring it up, we’ve actually considered you an advisor for Group Six."

"The advisor role is cleverly designed; we pay per assignment. When we need your advisory services, we’ll contact you, and when there’s no work, we don’t interfere, granting you all the freedom you need."

"If Mr. Song is willing to be an advisor to Group Six of our Office 063, I can arrange for you a Deputy Leader position as equivalent to an external deputy provincial level."

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