For a brief moment, Xia Ziyu wavered.

Wang Jianhua collapsed on the ground, was nothing but a drunkard, a man drowning his sorrows in alcohol – the most worthless kind of person.

This wasn’t unfamiliar to Xia Ziyu; her father was just like that, the mere sight of which infuriated her.

But she couldn’t waver now, even though she felt uncertain. She had invested too much in Wang Jianhua – time, money, and even her body. There was also that severe disciplinary action from the Capital Normal University, and her failed tutoring business!

Even Xia Changzheng’s disability, upon careful examination, was connected to Wang Jianhua.

This man was someone she had schemed to steal from Xia Xiaolan, if she gave up halfway, wouldn’t all her efforts become a joke?

Wang Jianhua would succeed.

Xia Ziyu thought of something, and her expression became resolute again:

“Jianhua, don’t give up on yourself like this. Have you forgotten about the aspirations you shared with me after the college entrance exam? I’ve always believed you could achieve them, with or without family support… Think positively, Uncle’s just being transferred, not demoted. Maybe there’s some new opportunity waiting! You managed to return from the farm to the city when it seemed impossible – you can handle this too!”

Xia Ziyu had a blind faith in Wang Jianhua. His throat tightened with emotion as he hugged his girlfriend.

“Ziyu, you’re right!”

He knew their relationship could withstand any test.

When Ziyu chose him, she didn’t know he could regain his status as a high-ranking cadre’s son. She hadn’t been after that then, so she wouldn’t despise his father’s transfer to an insignificant department now.

Returning from the farm and transferring from the Party History Office were completely different matters. The former followed the national trend, with relevant policies in place – success depended on seizing opportunities… But transferring out of an unimportant department had no policy support.

Wang Jianhua also didn’t want to believe there was no chance at all. After Xia Ziyu’s encouragement, he wanted to deceive himself a little.

People were strange that way – he had endured being a sent-down youth in the countryside before. Now Wang Guangping was just being transferred; the Wang family’s situation was much better than when they were all sent down. There must still be hope!

Seeing Wang Jianhua calmer, Xia Ziyu carefully asked:

“Is Uncle’s sudden transfer related to her?”

At some point, both Xia Ziyu and Wang Jianhua had stopped mentioning “Xia Xiaolan” by name, replacing it with “her.”

In this context, Wang Jianhua understood immediately.

“I don’t know.”

Wang Jianhua felt miserable again. If it was related to Xia Xiaolan, then Wang Guangping’s transfer was Wang Jianhua’s fault.

Unable to accept this fact, he had drunk himself into a stupor.

Since the transfer order came down, Wang Guangping hadn’t spoken a word to him, and Ran Shuyu spent all day crying. Wang Jianhua couldn’t stand staying in that house.

Xia Ziyu understood everything from his reaction.

It was related to Xia Xiaolan… Was the Zhou family that powerful?

The succession of blows had numbed Xia Ziyu. Though she outwardly comforted Wang Jianhua, she privately doubted her choices, though she suppressed these doubts forcefully.

If Xia Ziyu admitted now that she had chosen wrong, that competing with Xia Xiaolan for a man had gradually pushed Xia Xiaolan to her current position, everything she believed in would collapse!

No, she wasn’t wrong!

This was heaven’s test – Wang Jianhua needed to go through this to succeed later… Xia Ziyu just hoped Heaven’s test wouldn’t last too long. Wang Jianhua was born in 1958, and now it was February 1985. In a few months, he would turn 27.

The normal university’s undergraduate program was four years – he would be 29 at graduation.

This thought made Xia Ziyu incredibly anxious.

Though they knew Wang Guangping’s transfer was related to Xia Xiaolan, neither the Wang family nor Xia Ziyu dared mention “revenge.”

Wang Guangping’s transfer had terrified Xia Ziyu.

While Ran Shuyu cursed at home daily, she didn’t dare curse in front of the Zhou family.

Everyone had exaggerated the Zhou family’s influence in this transfer. Wang Guangping had alienated everyone at work; when misfortune struck, countless people emerged to step on him. The Organization Department wasn’t run by the Zhou family – could they specifically arrange for Director Wang to be transferred to the Party History Office?

It was simply a case of losing support, but the Wang family couldn’t understand this.

Xia Ziyu’s thoughts made her heart ache, tears flowing unconsciously – could they do nothing but endure Xia Xiaolan?

The Zhou family was so powerful; how many years would it take Jianhua to catch up, or should she try to steal another of Xia Xiaolan’s men?

Xia Ziyu knew this thought was too crazy. Xia Xiaolan was different now, and she wasn’t confident she could steal from her again. After all, successfully stealing Wang Jianhua had required perfect timing, location, and circumstances all favoring Xia Ziyu.

Away from Dahe Village, in the unfamiliar capital, Xia Ziyu couldn’t replicate those conditions.

Unless Zhou Cheng came to despise Xia Xiaolan himself.

Xia Ziyu’s heart pounded. She couldn’t act herself – getting caught would be disastrous.

Who else could act for her?

The Baiyun Airport remained unchanged; in the 80s, flying had become routine for Xia Xiaolan.

It was just that the airport was small, the planes were small, and there were few flights and passengers – but one gets used to it!

From Baiyun Airport, they still needed to get to Pengcheng. Kang Wei had left his small car in Pengcheng. With Liu Yong and Shao Guangrong both away from Pengcheng, Bai Zhenzhu came to pick them up.

Nobody would believe Bai Zhenzhu was a woman now.

She had become increasingly masculine; when she hugged Xia Xiaolan, male passengers from the same flight envied Bai Zhenzhu because of Xia Xiaolan’s youth and beauty.

“Xiaolan, you’re finally here. How long are you staying in Pengcheng this time?”

Xia Xiaolan truly didn’t know. “We’ll see.”

She needed to try finding her Zhou Cheng first. As soon as Xia Xiaolan and Kang Wei got in the car, Bai Zhenzhu excitedly started talking about the building materials store’s business.

“Xiaolan, I didn’t bring the account books, but you really should see them. Our business will surprise you.”

Bai Zhenzhu’s words made Xia Xiaolan curious. Her last visit to Pengcheng was mainly due to Uncle Liu Yong’s “lifestyle issues,” which then involved Liu Tianquan. Xia Xiaolan hadn’t had time to check the overall accounts.

These past two months, she had focused entirely on the English competition, paying little attention to Pengcheng.

“Sister Bai, from what you’re saying, business must be very good.”

But Bai Zhenzhu kept the suspense.

“You’ll see when you look for yourself.”

Xia Xiaolan’s curiosity was piqued. Comrade Bai Zhenzhu’s skill at building suspense had grown rapidly – she was no longer the straightforward woman manning a fruit stall from a year ago.

It was all learned from doing business.

Bai Zhenzhu now mainly ran the building materials store, though she still maintained the stall business by hiring others to manage it.

Even the previous Brother Wan had closed his stall to work for Bai Zhenzhu. Comrade Bai had suddenly become the stall queen of the People’s Bridge Small Commodities Market!