“Alright, I understand. I’ll help arrange it.”

Zhou Guobin had no choice but to agree. Zhou Cheng was only “informing” him because he respected him as a father – if Zhou Guobin didn’t help, Zhou Cheng would find his way.

“What about the academy?”

It was supposed to be a two-year program, with barely a year and a half completed.

Zhou Guobin worried about this.

Zhou Cheng seemed confident: “I can take the final exam early and get a college-equivalent diploma.”

In 1986, having a college education was quite good for cadres in work units, especially for those like Zhou Cheng who had started working early.

Zhou Guobin, being a strict father who never let Zhou Cheng get too prideful, quickly poured some cold water: “That’s not bad, having a college diploma… though still a bit behind Xiaolan. She’s at Cornell University in America. I asked around – it ranks among the top in America and has worldwide recognition.”

“…!”

If this weren’t his father praising his wife, Zhou Cheng would have lost his temper!

At the end of their conversation, Zhou Guobin finally turned serious:

“Pan Baohua’s matter is settled. He has his path to follow – we can’t decide whether he will return to the unit. As for the Jiang family, Jiang Wu will soon face a secret trial in a special court. Making this public would be scandalous and damage our international image!

We can’t let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch. Removing him cleanses our unit of internal pests. Your previous achievements have been held back, and now with the Jiang Wu incident, you might receive a promotion after finishing at the academy.”

Zhou Cheng, born in 1963, was only 23 this year!

Another promotion would make him truly stand out.

Such rapid advancement wouldn’t happen in peacetime – Zhou Cheng had caught a special period.

These were achievements Zhou Cheng had earned with his life. Though Zhou Guobin worried, he couldn’t hold back Zhou Cheng’s promotion anymore… the unit wanted to make him an exemplary figure.

How could Zhou Guobin suppress that?

Should the Zhou family speak up and make Zhou Cheng wait a few more years?

Heh, the unit wasn’t owned by the Zhou family. If Zhou Cheng didn’t want to be an example, they’d find someone else – there were plenty of excellent young cadres besides him!

Falling slightly behind now wasn’t a problem. But in two years, if others advanced while Zhou Cheng stayed put, he’d fall far behind!

Though Zhou Guobin hadn’t mentioned Xia Xiaolan’s theory about “social circles,” he understood these basic principles.

Despite worrying about Zhou Cheng’s foundation, Zhou Guobin decided not to interfere. Opportunities always come with risks – should one miss opportunities for fear of risks?

“I understand your concerns. If the organization trusts me, I have confidence in myself!”

He was different from two years ago.

Zhou Cheng felt it was time for him to move up.

Xiaolan had her career, and he was in the unit. While she was advancing rapidly, he couldn’t remain stagnant. Even if she didn’t look down on him, he would look down on himself!

Young eagles must leave the nest and spread their wings. Seeing Zhou Cheng’s understanding, Zhou Guobin said no more: “Go handle your affairs. You’re grown now – you can’t expect family to clean up after you forever.”

With Jiang Wu facing a special court and the Jiang family of Jinling falling apart, Zhou Guobin would only be disappointed if Zhou Cheng couldn’t handle such a family!

Zhou Guobin never mentioned Jiang Yan – only women worried about such things. Men’s vision focused on bigger matters.

As long as Zhou Cheng remained steady, he would stand like a pine on a mountaintop, unmoved by Jiang Yan’s parents’ circus-like antics!

After talking with his father, Zhou Cheng went to Shichahai instead of the hospital.

After Xiaolan left for America, Liu Fen stayed in Pengcheng for half a month. Tang Hong’en was happy, but the Beijing business needed attention, so Liu Fen returned to Beijing.

His future father-in-law might disapprove of him, but his future mother-in-law treated him well.

He hadn’t told Xiaolan about Jiang Yan, fearing she’d worry in America, but he had to tell Liu Fen… otherwise, how could he explain when his wife returned?

Zhou Cheng visited now because Jiang Yan’s condition had stabilized and she would be discharged. He felt it was time to be honest.

Finding Liu Fen at Shichahai, Zhou Cheng adopted a humble attitude.

“Aunt Liu, I must tell you something. After hearing it, could you give me advice?”

What was this child saying?

Liu Fen was already delighted to see him, but Zhou Cheng’s words confused her.

What advice could she give Zhou Cheng? She didn’t understand unit matters or what good suggestions she could offer.

“Go ahead, I’m listening.”

Zhou Cheng started from the beginning, explaining his friendship with Pan Baohua and his relationship with Jiang Wu and Jiang Yan. Of course, he glossed over Jiang Wu’s specific misdeeds – Zhou Guobin wasn’t joking about keeping the trial secret.

“…That’s the situation. Today is Jiang Yan’s discharge day. Her burns were severe – to minimize lasting effects, she’ll need multiple reconstructive surgeries.”

Severely burned skin loses elasticity after healing. If her back affecting her arms couldn’t move freely, she couldn’t complete many unit training exercises.

However, since Jiang Yan was technically oriented and studying communications, she wouldn’t need to retire.

Considering Jiang Yan’s wishes, reconstructive surgery would be better.

Human skin has elasticity, and skin grafts could restore function. While completely hiding scars would be difficult, they could be greatly improved.

Liu Fen hadn’t expected this!

“Child, why didn’t you say earlier? When Xiaolan left for America, you’d been in a car explosion!”

She’d asked Tang Hong’en, who’d claimed to communicate openly with her, but he’d deceived her again.

“I had minor injuries that have mostly healed after this long recovery. Aunt Liu, my injuries aren’t important now – what matters is Jiang Yan’s parents. They’re telling everyone that Jiang Yan ended up like this because of me, insisting I must marry her.”

How could this be?!

Did they think country folk were uneducated? Liu Fen had heard of repaying life-saving debts through marriage.

But saving someone and then forcing them to repay… this was beyond Liu Fen’s understanding!

“So what do you want to do – follow Jiang Yan’s parents’ wishes and marry that young woman?”

Liu Fen’s mind was in knots. What about her daughter Xiaolan? She’d only been studying abroad for a month – how could she inexplicably lose her boyfriend?!