Chapter 92

Zhu Jianglin, Wang Meng'en, and several other high school classmates reached graduation season. Influenced by Lu Fan, they had invested their energy into preparing for the civil service exams several years in advance, and during this period, they were even more actively preparing.

Fresh graduates can seize their status as fresh graduates to participate in both provincial and national exams simultaneously, as well as recruitment exams for provincial and municipal career units. In short, they have to pass five levels and slay six generals, taking exams wherever they can.

The one that starts earliest every year is the National Civil Service Exam, with registration around October. The country attaches great importance to fresh graduates, and 80 percent of the positions are prepared for them.

Chen Liqiong is from a normal university. Because she didn't want to be far from home, and perhaps also because of Lu Fan, she chose to participate in the Ningyang County special post teacher exam. And Zhou Tianhui is said to be preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam. That "love rival" Wang Haibin, who had fought with him, is also said to be preparing for the civil service exam.

There isn't much contact with other high school classmates. People are like this; time changes, everyone grows, and everyone drifts apart as they walk. Some things fade as you watch them, quietly moving away, and in a daze, they become strangers.

It is said that a person will meet tens of millions of people in their lifetime, will greet forty thousand, will become familiar with three thousand, and will become close to three hundred. At every crossroads in life, you will always part ways with some people, forgetting each other in the world, and most will eventually be lost in the sea of people.

But so what? The important thing is that there are always a few people who will stay by your side.

There is no need to keep those who leave; they are just passersby in your life. Don't be too sentimental, and don't deliberately chase after them. Keep your eyes on those who can walk side by side with you.

Time will filter out for you who the people are who will walk with you to the end; those who remain are the ones truly precious.

On July 10th, the Ningyang County police made a major breakthrough in the Du Zhansheng disappearance case. Facing the police's powerful offensive, the criminal suspect's psychological defense line was broken, and he finally confessed, revealing the secret past. The detailed process of how Du Zhansheng was murdered was finally brought to light.

On July 11th, led by the criminal suspect, the Ningyang Public Security Bureau working group headed to the mountain behind Langcha Village in Chengguan Town. Lu Fan took leave to accompany Du Wenlong.

When the body was dug up, looking at the piles of white bones, Du Wenlong burst into tears. He could imagine the suffering his father had endured before his death, and at the same time, he let go of the obsession he had held for many years.

For so many years, no matter what rumors or malicious slander there were, Du Wenlong never believed his father would abandon his family. When he was a child, no matter what he wanted, even if the family wasn't well-off, his father always tried his best to satisfy his wishes. How could such a good father abandon him to enjoy wealth and glory alone?

Looking at that murderer, Du Wenlong's eyes could spit fire; he wished he could pounce on him, eat his flesh, and drink his blood to vent the hatred in his heart!

Lu Fan held Du Wenlong tightly, patted his shoulder, and said, "Chouchou, the law will punish him! If that's not enough to vent your hatred, we'll find a way later. Regardless, today the truth has finally come to light, and Uncle Lu won't have to die with such grievances."

Du Wenlong said, sobbing uncontrollably, "Brother Fan, my dad was beaten to death by them, beaten to death alive. If he had been sent to the hospital at the time, he might have been saved. These two insane bastards actually buried him. My dad was so wronged. I miss my dad, Brother Fan, I don't have a dad anymore!"

Lu Fan felt the same, his tears flowing uncontrollably, "Chouchou, people come into this world to suffer; a lifetime is not easy. With all the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, no matter how bitter, painful, or tired we are, we must win glory for our parents. We cannot let people look down on us. We must live well and live to be someone!"

"Brother Fan, I had thought about this day, but I was also afraid of it. This goddamn society, those scum and degenerates, just for that little bit of money, dared to treat human life like grass, causing my family to be broken and destroyed. In this life, I am at odds with them!"

"Brother, I'm here!"

Holding the pile of white bones, Du Wenlong seemed to return to his childhood. In a daze, he felt his father holding him, and an indescribable pain surged into his heart.

Returning to Langcha Village, Du Wenlong didn't disturb anyone. With a few brothers who had rushed over, he buried his father in the old grave.

A handful of yellow soil separates us forever, with infinite sorrow and helplessness!

Losing a kind father, unable to fulfill filial piety!

From today on, Du Wenlong became even more reticent, pouring all his energy into his work.

In late July, Chen Liqiong participated in the Ningyang special post teacher recruitment exam, successfully passed the written test and interview, and became a junior high school teacher.

On the day she was admitted, Chen Liqiong was the first to invite Lu Fan, calling the classmates she got along with to celebrate at the Ningyang Hotel.

Due to work, Lu Fan didn't arrive until 7 o'clock. After entering the door, he said with a smile, "I'm really sorry, I couldn't leave the unit for a moment. To express my apologies, I'll punish myself with a decanter of wine! Liqiong, congratulations!" After speaking, without another word, he picked up the decanter and drank it in one gulp!

He thought that because he was late, the classmates would say a few sarcastic words, but the scene cheered in unison, and a few classmates even smoothed things over, saying that Director Lu was busy with official business and could be understood.

Others said that Director Lu would have to take care of everyone in the future.

Ningyang is only so big, and Lu Fan, the secretary to the County Party Committee Secretary, had long been widely rumored among the classmates. After graduation, many classmates would return to Ningyang to work, and they had already realized that Lu Fan, who had dropped out of school, was already high above, and the former classmate friendship naturally became no longer pure.

Actually, Lu Fan didn't mind classmates helping each other and making progress together; this was understandable. Society is composed of circles, and using the classmate platform to build a network is the most normal thing. But there's no need to make classmate relationships so secular and snobbish; it feels like the flavor has changed.

As soon as Lu Fan sat down, a classmate said, "Lu Fan, you and Chen Liqiong were desk mates. She's about to be assigned. You're such a big official, you have to say a word to get her assigned to a good school."

Lu Fan said with a smile, "What kind of leader am I? I'm just serving the leaders. And I heard that Liqiong and this batch of special post teachers are to be assigned to various townships; there's no way to get into the city."

"There's a big difference between townships. Chengguan Town is also a township; can they be the same? An old classmate serving the County Party Committee Secretary, it shouldn't be hard to handle this little thing, right?"

Lu Fan smiled without a word. Du Wenlong cursed, "Why so much nonsense? Is it you who wants something done? Today is to celebrate for Chen Liqiong, stop the nonsense, drink!"

The friendship of classmates and the affection of schoolmates is an emotion worth remembering, just like the camaraderie on the battlefield. It is the trust and longing between friends, and even more, a memory and attachment to the school days. Lu Fan patiently communicated with everyone, only to find that they were not on the same channel at all.

After finally waiting until the end, Lu Fan went to the front desk in advance to settle the bill.

Huang Xiaoyu whispered, "Brother Fan, we didn't have enough fun just now, should we get some more?"

Lu Fan laughed, "You ask Liqiong, I have no opinion."

Thus, the second round continued, with only Du Wenlong, Zhu Jianglin, Wang Meng'en, Huang Xiaoyu, Deng Junchi, and Chen Liqiong remaining.

After ordering some grilled meat and moving two cases of beer, it felt much more enjoyable than before.

"Lu Fan, why did you pay the bill just now?"

Lu Fan laughed, "You're about to start working, so consider it a gift. I didn't have time to buy anything."

"Alright, then thank you!"

"No need, you took care of Yaoyao in Chang'an for a few years, and I didn't say thank you."

Huang Xiaoyu laughed, "You two stop thanking each other. Sooner or later you'll be one family, what's there to thank? Brother Fan, you have to think of a way for Liqiong's work, so they don't have to live apart!"

Chen Liqiong blushed, her head almost lowered into her chest.

Others also started to tease, intending to match this pair of desk mates. It had been so many years, who didn't know Chen Liqiong's little thoughts? She hadn't even dated anyone during her four years of college.

Lu Fan laughed, "Xiaoyu, stop talking nonsense! Regarding the assignment, I'll try to find the Education Bureau. If she can be assigned to Chengguan Middle School, it's equivalent to getting into the city. Liqiong, if middle school is difficult, will you go to Chengguan Elementary School?"

Chen Liqiong said with a blushing face, "You decide, anywhere is fine."

At this, the classmates laughed again. Zhu Jianglin said, "The husband sings and the wife follows, I think you two should stop pretending. Brother Fan, don't you have to get married to be an official? You two are a perfect match, killing two birds with one stone!"

Du Wenlong said, "If a leader wants to promote you, they will promote you even if there are no conditions. If they don't want to promote you, they won't promote you even if you create problems. When they want to promote you, even problems can be called temporary confusion, curing the sickness to save the patient, and they can even pretend to be blind and turn a blind eye. Where are there any rules now? It's all a mess, damn it! Not getting married is nothing! Brother Fan, Liqiong, I'm just talking about the matter itself. If you two can get together, I'll support it with both hands and feet!"

Lu Fan whispered, "Chouchou, be careful what you say, beware of walls having ears!"

"Brother Fan, I know, I just can't stand it!"

After the two cases of beer were finished, Lu Fan still had to maintain his work state the next day, so the party broke up.

Chen Liqiong had also drunk quite a bit and naturally needed someone to send her home, but the others had long since disappeared, creating an opportunity for the two to be alone.

Under the streetlights, the two shadows, in the slightly cool early morning, looking at the stars all over the sky, Chen Liqiong's thoughts drifted, and she suddenly said, "Lu Fan, I admire you very much. You let me see a kind of effort called relying on yourself! Even after experiencing all the vicissitudes, you can still face life with a smile!"

Lu Fan sighed, "Those who are immune to all poisons have all been scarred; those who can smile at the wind and clouds have all been riddled with holes. If you don't work hard, who are you showing your pity to? If you aren't strong, who are you showing your cowardice to?"

"Do you have a girlfriend now?"

"I have had a girlfriend."

"Isn't that all in the past?"

"Leave the past to time to deal with; leave the future to time to prove. Finally back, I can eat home-cooked meals every day, and also, as long as I can see that person in my heart every day, I'm happy all day!"

Lu Fan is not a fool. What he wants is a firm relationship, not one where you come and go as you please. He cannot give a response to uncertain things.

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