Chapter 103: Wen Xiaowan

Chapter 103: Wen Xiaowan

To be honest, Bai Zeshao truly didn’t understand how he had offended the Wen family. After all, he was just a small agent in the intelligence department, whereas the Wen family was such a formidable force that even a mere stomp from them could shake the entire Shan Ning region.

In the eyes of the Wen family, Bai Zeshao was nothing more than a trivial figure who could be crushed at any moment—so insignificant that they didn’t even deem it worthy to deal with him personally.

How could he have possibly offended them?

It wasn’t false modesty; even if Bai Zeshao wanted to offend them, he probably wouldn’t have the chance—or the standing—to do so.

Yet now, the Wen family clearly wanted him dead. This inexplicable situation left Bai Zeshao feeling cornered and deeply unsettled.

On the other end of the phone, Sun Yanjie was momentarily stunned upon hearing Bai Zeshao’s words. With some surprise, he said, “Xiao Bai, your intelligence department should have some files on the Wen family, right? You must have some understanding of their influence. How could you not know where you offended them?”

“Brother Sun, I really don’t know. Since I joined the military academy and started working, I’ve never come into contact with anyone named Wen. How could I have offended such a giant? I’m not a fool,” Bai Zeshao replied somewhat irritably.

The Wen family was, to Bai Zeshao, truly a colossal and weighty presence. Though he didn’t understand the cause of the conflict, the family now seemed intent on eliminating him.

A surge of crisis swept through Bai Zeshao’s heart.

As Sun Yanjie explained, Wen Zongwei—the patriarch of the Wen family—was not only the richest man in Shan Ning but also the head of the Chamber of Commerce. A single word from him could influence market prices and the livelihood of the entire region.

Wen Zongwei was also a shrewd man, knowing well that the people should not challenge the government. So, while some of his descendants entered politics, he heavily cultivated relationships with government officials throughout Shan Ning.

Friends and relatives of the Wen family held high-ranking positions across the party, government, and military sectors. Wen Zongwei was generous in his dealings, ensuring that nearly everyone involved in the Wen family’s businesses received a share of the profits.

The more one invested, the greater the return. Over the years, the Wen family’s empire only grew larger, attracting more envy, yet no one dared to provoke such a behemoth.

To put it bluntly, the Wen family was like a money-printing machine, a testament to the terrifying and vast accumulation of their wealth.

Now that Bai Zeshao had somehow offended them, Sun Yanjie hesitated for a moment. “Xiao Bai, what do you plan to do next?”

“What else? Keep monitoring, of course. I refuse to believe the Wen family’s influence can surpass the law. If we find any illegal activities on their part, the intelligence department won’t care whether it’s Wen or Li—we’ll take them down directly,” Bai Zeshao said with steely resolve.

“Xiao Bai, you’re still young. There’s no need to go head-to-head with them like this. Why not find someone who can talk to the Wen family? Maybe there’s some misunderstanding that can be cleared up,” Sun Yanjie advised over the phone.

“Brother Sun, you’re overestimating me. Where on earth would I find someone who can even get a word in with the Wen family?” Bai Zeshao smiled bitterly, mocking himself.

“Section Chief Qian Huiwen should have that kind of influence. I know a thing or two about your relationship with her. Why not ask her for help?” Sun Yanjie probed.

“Do you think she’d risk offending the Wen family for a poor nobody like me? What’s in it for her?” Bai Zeshao scoffed.

“Fair point,” Sun Yanjie acknowledged, but he continued, “Still, think seriously about what the conflict might be. If there’s a chance to resolve it, it’s better to do so.”

“Impossible,” Bai Zeshao’s voice grew harsh. Since they wanted him dead, reconciliation was out of the question. Though he was a small figure, he wasn’t willing to surrender quietly.

“Xiao Bai, I don’t know what to say… If I’d known, I wouldn’t have told you this,” Sun Yanjie suddenly regretted making the call upon hearing Bai Zeshao’s firm tone.

“Ha, no matter what, I still owe you thanks, Brother Sun,” Bai Zeshao chuckled before falling silent. Then, his voice deepened, “Actually, Brother Sun, this might not be as complicated as we think.”

“Oh? How so?” Sun Yanjie asked, intrigued.

“If the Wen family really wanted me gone, one phone call would be enough. I wouldn’t have any choice but to surrender and be thrown into prison. If they wanted me dead, just their name alone would summon many willing to do the deed. But so far? Nothing like that has happened.”

After the initial panic and confusion, Bai Zeshao had begun to unravel clues from this incident.

“Exactly. Judging by their methods, if they really were from the Wen family, they probably wouldn’t be so low-ranking. Maybe they aren’t even Wen family at all. A truly powerful opponent wouldn’t operate in the shadows or hire assassins without revealing their true identity,” Sun Yanjie analyzed.

“That’s right. There’s no need to scare ourselves,” Bai Zeshao said with a slight smile, feeling a wave of relief.

As long as it wasn’t Wen Zongwei himself or the core Wen family members acting directly against him, he had a chance to prevail. Given his experience and the current circumstances, he was certain he had committed no offense against the Wen family.

Therefore, whoever was targeting him—even if connected to the Wen family—was likely not a major figure.

“Xiao Bai, your mind is sharp, just as expected from an intelligence operative. You really know how to think,” Sun Yanjie praised with a laugh.

“Then I’ll have to trouble you with the surveillance,” Bai Zeshao seized the opportunity.

“No problem, leave it to me,” Sun Yanjie readily agreed.

Though Sun Yanjie was an opportunist who befriended Bai Zeshao mainly for profit, he wouldn’t risk offending the Wen family on Bai’s behalf. But targeting a nobody like this? That he could manage.

Sun Yanjie was no coward and had risen to his position by being bold. So he accepted the request without hesitation.

“Just remind the guys on surveillance to be careful. Even if they find nothing, the Wen family must never discover we’re watching them. If the Wen family makes a fuss, it won’t be something we can handle. Losing a job is minor; we could even lose our heads,” Bai Zeshao warned earnestly.

“Don’t worry, I value my head and my rank far more than you do,” Sun Yanjie joked.

“That’s good.”

“All right, that’s enough for now. This matter is serious—I need to personally make arrangements. No more chatting,” Sun Yanjie said before hanging up.

After putting down the phone, Bai Zeshao called Monkey into his office. “Monkey, we should have some files on the Wen family here. Get me a copy.”

“No problem, I’ll get it right away,” Monkey said, but instead of leaving, he winked at Bai Zeshao. “Boss, don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to the Wen family’s eldest daughter, Wen Xiaowan?”

“What? The Wen family’s eldest daughter, Wen Xiaowan? I don’t even know her. I’m looking into their files for work, not for that,” Bai Zeshao gave Monkey a baffled look. “Now go get it quickly.”

“Got it, boss,” Monkey grinned mischievously and darted out.