Ryan Carter's hometown is called Muyang, under the jurisdiction of H Province in the northeast of Huaxia. It is the fourth largest city in H Province and has long been a region with relatively developed agriculture. Of course, in terms of overall urban development in Huaxia, this city would be considered third-tier or even lower. Not only Muyang, but the entire H Province's development level in Huaxia is only slightly higher than some impoverished provinces in the western regions, ranking in the lower-middle tier.

　　To work as a temp in such a place, and at the township government no less—no wonder his former self would rather fall out with his parents than go. But now, Ryan Carter doesn't think that way. He naturally knows what Muyang will become fifteen years later, not to mention his own family's Yanjiang Township. Fifteen years from now, the Muyang city government will relocate here, and with land prices skyrocketing, Yanjiang Township, where the per capita income was once less than two thousand yuan, will develop into a wealthy township with per capita income exceeding ten thousand. Just the land sold by each village will make these lifelong farmers a fortune; with a purchase price of 110,000 yuan per mu, and an average of two mu of farmland per person, Yanjiang Township will achieve complete poverty alleviation and prosperity. More importantly, Ryan Carter also knows that, due to work needs at the time, the Yanjiang Township civil service will expand, and all temporary workers will be converted into national civil servants.

　　Of course, that's all in the future. For now, Yanjiang Township is still a poor rural area in the eyes of outsiders, and Ryan Carter is about to become a temporary worker at the township government here.

Chapter 004: Small People You Can't Afford to Offend

　　Yanjiang Township is located in the Dongfeng District in the western part of Muyang City, belonging to the suburban-rural fringe. Among the five districts of Muyang, Dongfeng District is the most economically underdeveloped. Most of the farmers here have little land and mainly rely on small businesses or working in city malls as their main source of income.

　　Ryan Carter grew up here. His village shares the same name as the township—it's simply called Yanjiang Village. The township government is also located here, not far from his home. Stepping out the door and following the widest road in the village north for about half a mile, you'll reach the township government.

　　Although Yanjiang Township has the lowest economic income in all of Dongfeng District, the office location of the township government is actually quite decent. The wide, smooth concrete road beside it is said to have been built with funds allocated by the city government when a high-ranking official who had once worked here as a sent-down youth came to inspect. So, although the building looks a bit old, it still carries a certain dignity. Coupled with the rows of plaques at the entrance representing the authority of state institutions, a sense of awe suddenly welled up in Ryan Carter's heart.

　　The gatehouse was manned by an old man with a slightly balding head, over fifty years old. When he saw Ryan Carter walking in from outside, he frowned, knocked on the window, stuck his head out, and asked, "Hey, you, young man, wait a minute!" Seeing Ryan Carter stop and look at him, he sized him up for a moment before saying, "Who are you looking for?"

　　Ryan Carter smiled, reached into his pocket, took out a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes, and handed it to the old man without even unwrapping it, replying kindly, "Hello, I'm here to work. Please accept this as a small gift for our first meeting."

　　Before coming, Ryan Carter had a deep conversation with his parents. Although they were a bit surprised that their son had changed his mind and was willing to follow their arrangements, his father Mark Carter still shared some information he had gathered with Ryan Carter. What he emphasized most was to be careful with his words and not to offend anyone in the township government. After all, you never know who might have a leader backing them. As a newcomer and a temp, if someone wanted to make things difficult for you, it could happen in an instant.

　　Ryan Carter naturally agreed wholeheartedly. If it had been before his rebirth, he would have dismissed his father's advice as useless nagging. But after more than ten years of experience and change, he fully understood that his father's words were golden advice for his younger self.

　　Take the gatekeeper in front of him, for example. Although he's just an inconspicuous little figure, offending him might not seem like a big deal. But Ryan Carter feels that this old man is someone he absolutely cannot afford to offend. Why? Because in the township government, people come and go every day—anyone could be transferred, even the Party Secretary could be reassigned at any time. But the gatekeeper is usually there until he can't walk anymore. So, if you want to understand the situation in a place, you can start with the gatekeeper. Besides, who wants to walk in and be greeted by a sour face?

　　The old man's surname is Hu. Most people call him Old Harris, and the more polite ones call him Mr. Harris. Seeing this young man Ryan Carter so generously hand him a whole pack of good cigarettes, he couldn't help but be a little surprised, and his gaze toward Ryan Carter changed. When he was young, he had been a driver for leaders in the army, and apart from the kids who had studied at military academies, he had never seen such a kind smile on anyone else. In the past, even if someone wanted a favor or to ask for information, they'd at most give him one or two cigarettes, and usually just the local cheap brands—at best, Honghe or the like. But someone like Ryan Carter, handing over a whole pack of Hongtashan at once, that was a first.