ntless parents of students in Xihaikou City were, like Su Cen's family, watching TV and waiting impatiently for time to pass.Su Cen felt an oppressive atmosphere as he sat facing a wall clock. Memorie...Chapter 37 The Transfer Incident

"Come in, Su Can. This is Uncle Tong and this is Little Luo Uncle..."

When Su Can returned home, he saw a man around fifty sitting on the sofa, wearing a vest with a square-shaped face that exuded a certain air of dignity. Beside him on a smaller single-seater sofa was another man in his thirties who had an elegant demeanor, holding a pen and writing something on a black leather notebook.

Both parents were present; when they saw Su Can open the door to come home, his father sat beside the older man and said to him. It could be seen that both parents seemed somewhat reserved in front of these two people.

"Hello, Uncle Tong," Su Can nodded at the older man first, then greeted the man who appeared to be recording something with a pen, "Hello, Uncle Luo."

Tong Jianjun sitting on the sofa smiled and greeted him while sizing up this young lad entering the room. Although thin in build, his eyes were sharp and spirited; though one shouldn't judge by appearances alone, very few people could make an impression like that on Tong Jianjun's first sight.

"This is my son Su Can," Su Licheng interjected.

Tong Jianjun nodded. "This child looks quite talented and intelligent, isn’t he a handsome lad!"

Su Licheng felt proud, "Indeed, it's all for the children; fortunately, my son is somewhat responsible and hasn't caused me much trouble."

Tong Jianjun then asked where Su Can went to school. Upon hearing that he attended No. 1 High School in Xiahai City, Tong Jianjun nodded approvingly, "No. 1 High School of Xiahai City is quite good; it’s a national key high school with great fame across the province! Keep up your studies, I see you having a bright future."

From this conversation, Su Can deduced that these two Uncles in front of him were not originally from Xiahai City. Recently considering the rumors about internal conflicts within the company, Su Can had roughly figured out their identities and intentions.

Around pleasantries later, Tong Jianjun warmed his hands with a cup of hot tea on the table and said, "Don't be nervous; this is just my routine visit for detailed investigations. By the way, was it you who prepared that project's detailed report" Though Su Licheng wasn’t hesitant to let them stay in the living room together with Su Can, and didn’t make him avoid them out of suspicion, Tong Jianjun proceeded straight to the point.

Su Licheng's heart skipped a beat, thinking that the moment had finally arrived. However, he reminded himself to stay calm and nodded, saying, "I have previously worked on the rectification reports for those two projects and presented quality research reports. The materials I provided you contain copies of my original reports; the entire report is truthful."

Tong Jianjun scrutinized his father's gaze for a while before sighing, "Zhao Chengrong is an excellent comrade, but this does not mean that an excellent comrade will never make mistakes or be misled by various factors. We need to enhance our employees' vigilance and even more so the quality of our leaders. The group company is like one big family, symbolizing openness and democracy. If someone makes a mistake, other members of the family must speak up and criticize such errors... Little Su, you did well."

After reassuring his parents, Tong Jianjun then verified some issues within the report, to which his father provided answers one by one. Essentially, Zhao Chengrong's downfall was just a matter of time.

Su Can understood that Tong Jianjun and his team would definitely still conduct investigations at various places for more information; thus, even if they interviewed Su Can's family, it wouldn't raise Zhao Chengrong's suspicions or criticism. At present, the best Zhao Chengrong could hope for was for the investigation team to leave Xiahai City soon.

Unfortunately, history and time had already moved forward, such that in a later era, Zhao Chengrong might have escaped this fate. However, at present, it was impossible.

Tong Jianjun also secretly observed Su Licheng. According to the documents, after retiring from military service, he stayed with the construction company, diligently working and maintaining a low profile; his business capability was good. The reports Tong Jianjun submitted were generally considered highly professional by the investigation team; even at the headquarters, unless it involved professional engineers, they wouldn't have been able to identify so many shortcomings in the projects or propose constructive suggestions.

When saying goodbye, Tong Jianjun shook hands with Su Licheng and sighed. He had initially thought that Xiahai City's Fourth Engineering Division was just an ordinary unit but now realized there were hidden talents within it.

The parents naturally felt delighted. The report submitted to Mao Nan adhered to official principles and was forwarded to the Group Investigation Team for research; Zhao Chengrong’s long-kept secrets would ultimately be exposed, his downfall simply a matter of time.

At the same time, they might consider that Mao Nan had personal motives for this action. After the division chief was disciplined for misconduct, Mao Nan as vice-chief could gain significant benefits.

The Dayang Construction Group, before its transformation, was a state-owned enterprise at bureau level and is now one of the most competitive companies in southwestern China. Even though the Fourth Engineering Division seemed close to collapse, it still fiercely competed for resources within Xiahai City.

...

On the first day of the new week, Xiao Yunchun appeared at the classroom door and, as expected, someone joked by rushing into the classroom and shouting at the top of their voice, "Su Can, a beauty is looking for you!"

Chen Lingshan happened to come in from the door at this moment, exchanged a glance with Xiao Yunchun. Both women sized each other up head-to-toe and smiled before moving past one another without speaking.

To know that they used to be very good friends, yet now there’s such an unfamiliarity between them, it really shows the complexity of life.

Su Can came onto the balcony. Today, Xiao Yunchun was dressed rather gracefully and attracted quite a few male students enjoying autumn sunlight on the balcony.

"My dad has been reassigned as the director of the county planning bureau in Linchuan County; our house is very empty now."

Su Can was stunned. Xiao Fei being reassigned to be the director of a county-level position meant he held real power, more glamorous than just being an assistant in charge of a small department in the city. The construction issues in Linchuan County had long been a problem for Uncle Zeng Quanming. There were many backward ethnic minority settlements there, and improving these settlements was a far-reaching major challenge, also one of the most severe areas concerning poverty alleviation and road construction under Xiahai City's affiliated counties.

Xiao Fei having taken on this significant responsibility meant that all the past conflicts between Uncle Zeng Quanming and Xiao Fei had been resolved. And now, Xiao Fei officially became a key member of Uncle Zeng’s team.

Su Can guessed at this point in time, Xiao Yunchun coming to find him might also have some family intentions behind it.

Sometimes Su Can thought the children from families with official backgrounds were quite pitiful.

"All of this has to do with you," said Xiao Yunchun looking at Su Can. She suddenly felt that in Su Can’s brief moment of distraction, he seemed very distant from her.

"I couldn’t have made much difference. This is the result of my uncle and your dad working together; your dad isn't often around home now. If you need any help, just come to me—I frequently visit my uncle's place."

Su Can smiled. Actually, with her family background, it would be easy for Xiao Yunchun to find someone else to help her. However, as Xiao Fei had been reassigned and Xiao Yunchun was only in high school, Su Can naturally wanted to ease some of the disappointment she must have felt; he tried his best to make her feel more at home.

"No need…," for a moment, Xiao Yunchun’s expression darkened, then she quickly looked up and smiled. "I might be transferring schools."

"Transferring schools" Su Can wasn't sure if he had heard correctly.

"Hmm," Xiao Yunyun nodded, "Dad thinks I should be more independent. While Xiahai No.1 High School is great, he hopes that I'll go further and wants me to study in Fuzhou at the nation's key secondary school number twenty-seven."

"Does your mom agree with this" Su Can was leaning on the railing.

"Mom thinks I will eventually be independent anyway, so why not take advantage of this opportunity to start being more self-reliant and live well. But it's still uncertain; maybe I won't leave after all..."

Xiao Yunyun looked blankly at Su Can.

"Big cities are good... They offer greater perspectives, wider spaces, and a broader world..." Su Can gazed towards the teaching building in front of him, where sunlight was streaming down like columns from the cloudy sky.

"In this small city of Xiahai... Perhaps you might never experience such splendor."

Seeing Su Can's smile that didn't seem sad or regretful, a pang hit Xiao Yunyun's heart. It was as if she had recalled her childhood, admiring this boy in the courtyard of the administrative office.

The bell for class rang out.

Xiao Yunyun waved her hand, "I'll go down now, see you later."

On that autumn day, under those clouds, with that sunlight, there was a girl who smiled but had a somewhat sad expression carved by her lips.

This was the feeling of changing someone else's fate. As Su Can turned around and walked back, he didn't know what his heart felt like.

Perhaps parting and reunion were meant to strengthen the bird's robust wings even more for a day when they would become stronger still. listen to Maohou’s score after her own, only staring blankly at her 604 points ranking 25th in class. She was dazed—would 645 points put one among the top tenWas it one of those ten powerhouse studen...