Bai Zhenzhu’s business was booming now.

Although the profit margin for running a brick factory was thin, the high volume made up for it. Construction was happening everywhere in Peng City, creating a huge demand for building materials. As long as the quality was good and prices reasonable, there was no worry about selling bricks once the market opened up.

After establishing the brick factory, Bai Zhenzhu settled many fellow apprentices, and she finally understood why Xia Xiaolan had told her to buy a brick factory.

In business, one shouldn’t go against the times but flow with them.

In a market economy, supply and demand have specific volumes. If you keep producing things that aren’t scarce, they’ll pile up.

But if you produce what the market lacks, demand will exceed supply!

When cities need development, don’t they need these building materials?

Therefore, any business related to “construction” had been doing very well these two years. Xia Xiaolan focused on real estate, Liu Yong did renovations, Bai Zhenzhu and others partnered to open building material stores, and she branched out to open a brick factory, while Kang Wei concentrated on furniture manufacturing… Bai Zhenzhu was considering expanding her business further, perhaps starting a cement factory.

She needed to discuss this with Xiaolan.

Bai Zhenzhu suppressed her emotions, after all, Xiaolan would return home soon.

This year, the building materials store had four branches, and the year-end profit sharing would surely be substantial.

Right now, Bai Zhenzhu had no time to think about business matters as she had to take care of a patient.

Just as she was thinking this, the patient stirred, and Bai Zhenzhu instinctively straightened her back: “Third Brother, you’re awake?”

Pan Bohua moved his stiff neck and discovered several parts of his body wrapped in bandages, looking like a giant rice dumpling.

“…Sister Zhenzhu, did I sleep for long?”

Bai Zhenzhu shook her head, “Not long, not long, just three days. Third Brother, you have a strong constitution!”

Bai Zhenzhu wasn’t being sarcastic.

Pan Bohua’s wounds had become infected, causing persistent high fever, and the doctor had issued a critical condition notice.

Pan Bohua’s three-day coma was mainly his body self-regulating.

“Where’s Zhou Cheng?”

As Pan Bohua tried to sit up, Bai Zhenzhu helped adjust the hospital bed. Before she could reply, Zhou Cheng had already arrived.

Zhou Cheng was in uniform, accompanied by several others.

One of them in uniform stopped Pan Bohua as he tried to get out of the hospital bed.

Pan Bohua could only sit on the bed and salute.

“Focus on recovery! Comrade Zhou Cheng has already explained the situation to us. After you’re discharged, submit a detailed written report! Comrade Pan Bohua, everything you’ve done won’t be forgotten, and merits and faults will be carefully weighed. Now, I need your personal opinion!”

Merit would be rewarded, and mistakes would be punished – these weren’t contradictory.

But Pan Bohua had completed the most important mission, and he had the right to choose his future path.

This was a recognition of all of Pan Bohua’s contributions and respect for him.

Pan Bohua had already shared his heart’s desire with Zhou Cheng, so there was no hesitation now.

“Sir, I’m willing to return to duty!”

Willing to return to duty!

Not wanting freedom, not wanting to transfer to civilian life, unable to take off that uniform.

Zhou Cheng smiled, and the leader was pleased.

It wasn’t easy for the unit to cultivate an excellent cadre. Pan Bohua was in his prime and could continue to shine. Choosing to transfer to civilian work at such a young age would waste his excellent personal qualities!

A neatly folded uniform was placed at Pan Bohua’s bedside.

“Focus on recovery, strive to leave the hospital soon, and then formally return to duty!”

Pan Bohua hadn’t worn this uniform for several years, and seeing it before him again filled him with emotion.

The leader spoke a few more words of encouragement to Pan Bohua before leaving with his entourage.

While Pan Bohua received both rewards and punishments, Zhou Cheng received only praise. Before leaving, the leader patted Zhou Cheng’s shoulder. Once only their people remained in the ward, Pan Bohua grimaced:

“You little guy looks like you’re going to be promoted to the same rank as me!”

Oh, how envious – was it really because he was getting old that his body didn’t recover as quickly as young people’s? With similar injuries, Zhou Cheng could get out of bed in three days, while he was still lying in the hospital bed.

“Third Brother, let’s compete after you’ve recovered!”

Zhou Cheng knew Pan Bohua was joking.

Being promoted to the same rank as Pan Bohua was impossible.

Pan Bohua had made impulsive mistakes. If not for seriously injuring Jiang Wu, he might have been promoted to another rank by now, being called “leader” instead of calling others leaders.

However, Pan Bohua had completed many missions these past few years, and with merits balancing out faults, letting him return to duty meant the Jiang Wu incident wouldn’t be pursued.

Zhou Cheng thought that with Pan Bohua back in the unit, while a major promotion might not happen, a small promotion was possible.

So, he and Pan Bohua would still be in different ranks… Zhou Cheng wasn’t in a hurry. Even if he got promoted faster than Pan Bohua in the future, Third Brother would always be Third Brother. They were master and apprentice, friends, brothers who would die for each other!

Pan Bohua grinned:

“Once I’m back in the unit, the Jiang family in Jinling will probably be too scared to sleep at night!”

That was true.

The Jiang family probably never thought Pan Third Brother could return to the unit.

Jiang Wu’s old case had been reopened, and after his arrest and trial, the Jiang family had been implicated in covering up, already suffering a major shock. As one side fell and the other rose, with Pan Bohua officially returning to duty and Zhou Cheng’s rocket-like promotion, the Jiang family naturally couldn’t eat or sleep well.

Zhou Cheng calmly said:

“They should be grateful that although they raised a beast like Jiang Wu, they also produced Jiang Yan, who refused to follow their corrupt ways.”

That was true – if not for Jiang Yan’s sake, Pan Bohua would have been even less tolerant of the Jiang family.

That family of complete idiots still didn’t understand, actually driving Jiang Yan out and leaving her alone to seek treatment in America, seemingly completely abandoning this daughter.

Was a daughter worth less than a son?

Pan Bohua snorted, “When I last visited Jiang Yan in America, the doctor said she was recovering well… The Jiang family will regret it sooner or later. While Jiang Wu brought shame to the family, Jiang Yan will bring them glory!”

Pan Bohua spoke, then suddenly turned his head:

“Sister Zhenzhu, I really must thank you this time.”

Bai Zhenzhu had stayed in the ward the whole time, witnessing what seemed like a scene from TV where the leader brought the uniform to Pan Bohua. She was very moved.

When Pan Bohua suddenly thanked her, Bai Zhenzhu’s emotions burst forth:

“Third Brother, I’ve always admired heroes like you. Being able to do something small for you makes me happy. Saying thank you is too formal – don’t you consider me a friend!”

Hmm?

Very admiring of Third Brother?

Zhou Cheng’s heart stirred, and he couldn’t help but look at Bai Zhenzhu.

Her hair was cut very short, her skin tanned, and she dressed in a masculine way.

Those who didn’t know better might think she was a man.

But looking closely, Bai Zhenzhu’s features were quite delicate.

Pan Bohua, being completely single, didn’t have Zhou Cheng’s subtle sensitivity. If he had even one-tenth of Zhou Cheng’s initiative in pursuing Xiaolan, he would have found someone long ago!

While Zhou Cheng read too much into one sentence, Pan Bohua didn’t catch anything. He laughed heartily and even slapped the bed rail forcefully:

“You’re right! Friends don’t need such fake politeness. Sister Zhenzhu, I not only consider you a friend, I think with our personalities, we can be opposite-sex brothers!”

Zhou Cheng looked at Bai Zhenzhu, and then at Pan Bohua, both smiling happily.

So, was he overthinking it?

— But Third Brother, she’s a female comrade… What the hell do you mean by “opposite-sex brothers”?