There was no need for bodyguards at the university.

From late April to mid-August, Li Dongliang and Ge Jian had followed Xia Xiaolan for four months.

Later in Pengcheng, the two weren’t strictly working as bodyguards anymore. They ran errands for Anxin Building Materials and helped Liu Yong with renovation troubles. Without specific titles, they were more like ‘assistants’ shared between Liu Yong and Xia Xiaolan. Xia Xiaolan couldn’t bring bodyguards to university – at Huaqing University, the worst that might happen would be conflicts with classmates. What would be the point of bringing bodyguards? Would they pin down classmates during arguments?

After settling their payment, Xia Xiaolan seriously asked about their plans.

Liu Yong could hire them both, still working as half-bodyguard, half-assistant, basically handling everything.

Though Liu Yong couldn’t match Xia Xiaolan’s high salary, he needed year-round assistants while Xia Xiaolan didn’t need full-time bodyguards. The salary was lower but stable. Foreign factories in Pengcheng were offering 400 yuan monthly, and Liu Yong could match that. His point was clear – as long as he had work, these two wouldn’t be unemployed!

This was just the base salary; there would be bonuses for good performance at year-end.

Senior Wan, who ran a stall at the small commodities market, actually envied this arrangement. Yuanhui was a decoration company handling projects worth over a million yuan, and Liu Yong was a proper boss. Working for Liu Yong certainly sounded better than running a market stall.

Senior Wan’s stall business was mediocre, earning dozens of yuan daily, actually reaching over a thousand monthly, but he felt it lacked prestige.

Moreover, his wealth accumulation was far slower compared to Xia Xiaolan and Bai Zhenzhu!

Why couldn’t he match these two women in business?

Senior Wan looked at the nearly completed Anxin Building Materials, a joint venture between Xia Xiaolan, Bai Zhenzhu, and Kang Wei. For this store, Bai Zhenzhu had stopped running her stall personally, recently hiring two people to manage it while she focused elsewhere.

Though Anxin Building Materials could add Liu Yong and Shao Guangrong as shareholders, they clearly couldn’t include Senior Wan. Liu Yong could bring orders, and Shao Guangrong could handle some manufacturers, but what could Senior Wan offer? He lacked capital, ability, and resources.

Running such a large store – that was real business.

Senior Wan didn’t dare push himself forward. Xia Xiaolan hadn’t hired him since coming to Yangcheng – wasn’t that message clear enough?

Ge Jian had quietly taken his position.

Some opportunities, once lost, never return. Trust is hard to build but easy to destroy!

Click-clack, click-clack.

The rhythmic sound continued along the journey.

The sound of the train running on tracks.

Chen Qing stared out the window, mesmerized. At twenty years old, this was his first time leaving Yunan Province, his first time on a train, first time leaving home. His admission notice was wrapped in layers of cloth against his body – blankets, washbasins, and clothes could be lost, but not the notice.

That thin piece of paper held his future.

The late August heat was fierce, and the packed carriage was stifling. Since traveling with Chen Qing and his grandfather, Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t suggest taking sleeper cars while leaving them in hard seats. Traveling together wasn’t about showing off wealth; they had to be considerate and not burden others with extra expenses. Fortunately, the journey from Shangdu to Beijing only took about ten hours, and the conversation made the time pass quickly.

The train moved slowly, and the windows weren’t completely sealed. They had to keep them open for ventilation.

Liu Zitao leaned against the window, exclaiming at every city they passed. At first, Li Fengmei worried he might fall out, but later found a rope to tie him to the seat and let him be.

Chen Wangda was talking about when he joined the army, also traveling by train.

“…Never thought I’d ride a train again, thanks to my grandson.”

Someone nearby, noticing their bedding and the student-like appearance of Chen Qing and Xia Xiaolan, asked if they were taking children to school.

Chen Wangda’s beard bristled with pride: “Indeed! Both got into key universities, and this girl did even better than my grandson – she got into Huaqing University!”

This naturally drew gasps of amazement.

It was rare for a village to produce two key university students simultaneously, let alone one attending Huaqing University.

Liu Fen had grown accustomed to such reactions. When Xia Xiaolan went to Pengcheng, Liu Fen collected the provincial education department’s reward for the top scorer. Initially modest about her child-rearing skills, Liu Fen had grown used to the praise!

“Xiaolan, are you hot? Should Mother get you some water?”

Xia Xiaolan seemed listless since boarding, mainly due to the heat and stuffiness. Li Fengmei pulled Liu Zitao back, “Switch places with your Sister Xiaolan, let her get some wind by the window!”

Xia Xiaolan was indeed unwell and didn’t refuse Li Fengmei’s kindness.

Liu Zitao reluctantly withdrew his gaze and obediently switched places with Xia Xiaolan.

Safety in numbers proved beneficial – throughout the 10-plus hour journey, they encountered no kidnappers or thieves. Apart from the stuffiness, they arrived smoothly at Beijing Railway Station.

Zhou Cheng had planned to meet them today, but his leave request was rejected by his superior, so he had to ask Shao Guangrong instead. Knowing Xia Xiaolan’s group numbered six, including men, women, and children, Shao Guangrong borrowed a large jeep from his work unit.

There were no traffic police checking for overloading then, and the back seat could squeeze a few more people.

Shao Guangrong was desperately poor recently, unable to repay the 12,000 yuan he owed Kang Wei, and now owing an additional 20,000 yuan for shares in the building materials store.

As a man with 30,000 yuan in debt, if the store didn’t make money, it would take years to clear his debts on salary alone. To achieve wealth quickly, Shao Guangrong was very invested in the store’s affairs, eagerly pulling strings for permits and such.

Of course, to rely on Sister-in-law’s support and make money together, he was even more eager to pick them up!

Zhou Cheng and Kang Wei were pitiful novices, while young Shao had gone through many relationships since his teens, and his appearance certainly didn’t hurt. He boldly drove the jeep onto the platform. Chen Qing, carrying his bags and looking dusty, got off the train to see Shao Guangrong lounging stylishly against the car, looking around.

“Over here!”

Xia Xiaolan called out to Shao Guangrong, who flashed a bright smile with his white teeth. His smile was so warm that Chen Qing nearly dropped his washbasin. Could this be Xiaolan’s boyfriend?

Was this Xiaolan’s type?

Chen Qing wouldn’t say he felt inferior, but he knew the gap between himself and the other man.

The car behind Shao Guangrong was too tall for Chen Qing to reach even on tiptoes. The Chen family couldn’t afford a car, not even with Chen Wangda as village chief. Shao Guangrong had a fair complexion, while Chen Qing worried about his dark face.

Then Shao Guangrong spoke, and Chen Qing’s heart sank further.

“Sister-in-law, Brother Cheng asked me to pick you up. Aunt Liu, was your journey smooth?”

Such an impressive man was just running errands?

Then what kind of person was Xiaolan’s actual partner?