Xia Xiaolan had returned to Beijing.

It was a sudden decision.

She laughed on the phone:

“How complicated do you think it is? This is a permanent solution, enhancing Aunt’s sense of ownership. We can’t let her feel the company belongs to you alone – that would be excluding her. If someone tries to manipulate her from the side, Aunt might become insecure. Though this method is simple, it does have future implications… Anyway, since you’ve made your decision, you can’t regret it now.”

What was there to regret? Liu Yong understood Xia Xiaolan’s meaning.

The company’s shares were previously ambiguous, with 100% under Liu Yong’s name.

Now that he’s allocated half to Li Fengmei if their marriage encounters problems in the future, Li Fengmei could legally claim half.

Even without divorce, if their relationship sours, or if Li Fengmei gains experience after joining the company, she might challenge Liu Yong with her half of the shares – that would be quite a headache!

This simple yet effective method demonstrated Liu Yong’s current trust in Li Fengmei.

But would Li Fengmei prove worthy of this trust?

In the next 30 years, society itself would undergo major changes, let alone people’s hearts.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t predict that.

However, Liu Yong could anticipate some negative outcomes.

So what?

Should they stop living in the present because of future worries?

Liu Yong was quite carefree: “If that day comes, let her have it. If she doesn’t want to stay together, she can take half!”

Just give her half then.

His words were incredibly dominant, and Xia Xiaolan felt proud to have such an uncle.

Liu Yong, however, turned to congratulate her:

“Zhou Cheng has risen so quickly, it’s unexpected!”

Xia Xiaolan smiled.

No, unlike her uncle, she had known Zhou Cheng would be promoted to another level, though it finally happened before the year’s end. He was promoted alongside the academy’s advanced studies cohort – others had studied for a full two years, graduating in December.

Zhou Cheng graduated early and even joined a delegation to the United States.

Xia Xiaolan’s return to Beijing was also to congratulate Zhou Cheng.

When Zhou Cheng shared this good news with her, he was both sharing his joy and letting her know she could now visit him at work – he had been waiting for this to be finalized. Earlier, when the leader’s wife suggested Xia Xiaolan and Gao Fei should “reconcile,” Zhou Cheng had refused.

He was waiting for today.

He wouldn’t let his wife suffer any grievances.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t feel wrong, but Zhou Cheng thought she was, so he disagreed.

Oh, what could she do? When Zhou Cheng opposed her, she felt happy about it.

“Sometimes, well-placed dominance shows masculinity… no wonder dominant CEO novels are so popular.”

Xia Xiaolan mused to herself.

Her uncle had just played the role of a willful CEO, transferring half the company shares to his wife.

Zhou Cheng had also acted as a dominant CEO… from two years ago until now, refusing to let Xia Xiaolan bow her head to others because of him.

Zhou Cheng’s promotion this time startled many people.

Not because the position was too high, but because he became a battalion commander at such a young age.

Born in 1963, by April 1987, Zhou Cheng was just 24 years old.

If previously the situation was unclear, now it is crystal clear.

A 24-year-old full battalion commander

While not unprecedented – such things weren’t rare during wartime – looking forward to 30 years, China’s environment would be quite peaceful, without major conflicts, making it difficult to replicate Zhou Cheng’s success.

Though Zhou Cheng was young, he had started working early and caught good opportunities for merit.

Step by step, he had reached his current position.

He was ahead of his peers, and this promotion further widened the gap… Even Tong Lili’s husband considered a young talent and several years older than Zhou Cheng, had been on par with him career-wise.

Now Zhou Cheng had surpassed him!

When Xia Xiaolan returned to Beijing before she could visit the unit, Zhou Guobin specifically called her over and spoke diplomatically but clearly, saying that Zhou Cheng’s promotion was too eye-catching, so when visiting the unit, she should keep a low profile.

“Uncle knows you’re sensible, just consider me an old worry-wart.”

“Uncle Zhou, I understand, you’re concerned about us!”

Xia Xiaolan was much more composed now.

She understood Zhou Guobin’s meaning – the more Zhou Cheng shined, the more modest his partner should be. Not everyone might wholeheartedly accept Zhou Cheng’s promotion; some might be waiting to catch his mistakes.

At this point, if something like two years ago happened again, they couldn’t just send Zhou Cheng away for another two years of studies, could they?

How much studying could one do? Zhou Cheng needed to solidify his foundation, establish himself as battalion commander, prove himself, and earn everyone’s respect!

While Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help with Zhou Cheng’s work, she could avoid becoming a burden.

Zhou Guobin, usually stern-faced, tried to show kindness to his future daughter-in-law by softening his voice: “Mm, you’ve never given us cause to worry, stay at the unit for a couple of days.”

The Zhou family was very happy.

But as Zhou Guobin said, at such times, everyone became more cautious, so they couldn’t make a big show of visiting Zhou Cheng at the unit, nor could they immediately call him home.

But Xia Xiaolan could visit openly.

Being a family member wasn’t easy, but whether one was an officer’s or ordinary soldier’s partner, visits were generally allowed.

Not allowing visitors in?

That would leave everyone single – who could take that responsibility?

These men bled and sweated for the country and people; they couldn’t be denied the chance to find wives.

While Xia Xiaolan happily went to visit her man at the unit, she didn’t know that Gao Fei and Fang Shizhong were both gloomy there.

“Old Fang, what do we do now?”

Gao Fei was troubled, and so was Fang Shizhong, chain-smoking with many cigarette butts in the ashtray.

When Gao Fei got no answer, she angrily snatched away his cigarette and threw it away.

“Why are you smoking? Want your daughter to smell it?”

Fang Shizhong’s newly assigned housing was different from the bachelor quarters, with separate rooms and a small living room.

The couple was in the living room while their child slept in the bedroom. Such a small child only ate and slept, unaware of adult worries!

So what were Gao Fei and Fang Shizhong worried about?

It was Zhou Cheng’s rapid rise.

In two years, Zhou Cheng had been promoted twice, while Fang Shizhong remained stagnant.

Adding the age factor, his gap with Zhou Cheng had widened!

Were they resentful?

Even if they were, there seemed to be nothing they could do.

Fang Shizhong had always compared himself to Zhou Cheng as equals, feeling it was unfair when Zhou Cheng became squad leader at a younger age, thinking Zhou Cheng had taken advantage.

Two years later, Zhou Cheng was two ranks above him… though feelings of unfairness and resentment remained, Fang Shizhong now dared not voice them.

Gao Fei was bewildered – earlier, when the leader’s wife had asked her to reconcile with Xia Xiaolan, it was to put past conflicts behind them.

Gao Fei had agreed.

Though Xia Xiaolan had also agreed, before Gao Fei could visit the unit, she had left.

What now? Did she need to apologize to Xia Xiaolan, rather than their mutual “reconciliation” where both saved face?!