Chapter 18

At the Police Station, Xu Yuntao introduced himself to Director Li, saying he was a badminton partner with Director Jiang, who was in charge of criminal investigations, and that they played together when free; Wang Chuan was his nephew.

Wang Chuan finished the written statement smoothly and learned that You Dabin had other cases and wouldn't get out for over ten years.

His seventeen-year-old brother, You Min, had escaped and not been caught. Was he really cross-dressing as a woman?! Now Xiao Rongyue would be utterly depressed.

Walking out of the Police Station to the Street, Wang Chuan received a call from his aunt Luo Xiaomei; his grandmother knew he hadn't slept all night and told him not to go to the Hospital today but to go back and sleep properly.

Wang Chuan could only agree, glancing at Xu Yuntao waiting for the car; it must have been the information Xu Yuntao and Director Li gathered that he told his grandmother.

"Xiao Chuan, come get in the car, I'll give you a ride," Xu Yuntao said.

Wang Chuan saw a Santana parked by the roadside; a person dressed as a Secretary stepped out of the passenger seat, "Director Xu."

Inside the car, Xu Yuntao spoke: "Xiao Chuan, go back and rest today; your grandmother knows your filial piety. Studying medicine requires a good body. By the way, have you decided whether to pursue a Postgraduate Entrance Exam after graduation or work first?"

"Director Li said you're a young man with a strong sense of justice, a smart mind, and good physical fitness; he truly hopes you'll become a Police Officer in the future."

Wang Chuan pretended to be embarrassed: "Director Li is just praising me a bit because of my uncle. I'll go straight to work after graduating next year; I'll consider things like the Postgraduate Entrance Exam while working."

After thinking for a while, he continued asking, "Uncle, are you still at the Sports Bureau?"

"Last year, the Sports Bureau, Culture Bureau, and Tourism Bureau merged and are now called the Culture and Sports Bureau."

In his past life, after his grandmother died, the two families had less contact.

Xu Yuntao was a university graduate from the late 1980s, majoring in Economics, and his position upon retirement was Director of the Xixian Culture and Sports Bureau.

"Uncle, I heard the Management Committee of the Xixian Industrial Park is publicly recruiting a Deputy Director; Deputy Section Chiefs can apply. Uncle, haven't you thought about participating?"

Wang Chuan recalled that the second economic takeoff of Xixian County began with the Industrial Park in 2004; with the highway connecting coastal provinces opening in 2007, it undertook many transferred industries from those coastal provinces.

Later, the high-speed rail passed through the Industrial Park; besides industry, the tourism industry also rose, and many scenic spots became weekend short-trip destinations for people in coastal cities.

"Oh~?" Clearly, Xu Yuntao hadn't expected Wang Chuan, a medical student, to make such a suggestion.

"I was thinking, Uncle, haven't you worked at the Planning Commission before? You'd have more room to make a difference at the Industrial Park. After 2007, when the highway opens, it will be even better for undertaking transferred industries from coastal provinces."

Wang Chuan's original intention was to give a kind suggestion to Xu Yuntao, who had cared for his grandmother for so many years, to see if his life trajectory would change, but ultimately it depended on Xu Yuntao himself.

"Xiao Chuan, how do you know about 2007?"

Xu Yuntao knew the highway section in the province where Jiangcheng is located opened in 2002, and the highway connecting Xinzhou hasn't even started construction yet.

"I don't remember; it seems I heard it at School during a lecture on national policies."

Xu Yuntao knew this highway started from Shanghai, crossed half the Country to Spring City, and the entire line would definitely be connected.

"In the future, there might even be high-speed rail, just like the Japanese Shinkansen, making our side much more convenient," Wang Chuan added.

The Santana turned into the Grain Bureau Community and stopped under Building No. 5; Wang Chuan opened the car door and hadn't taken a few steps before being called back.

Looking up, he saw a head sticking out from the back seat of a Mercedes S350.

"Brother Chuan, it's me!"

It was Xiao Rongyue, with a smiling face.

At that moment, a man in his thirties with the air of a wealthy person stepped out from the passenger seat and shook hands with Wang Chuan.

"You must be Wang Chuan; I am Xiao Zanzhi, the second uncle of Xiao Rongyue and his sister. Thank you very much for your help this time; heroes often emerge from youth. I will write a Praise Letter to your Jiangcheng University School of Medicine when I return."

"You are Wang Chuan; I am Xiao Zanzhi, the second uncle of the Xiao Rongyue siblings. Thank you for your help this time; heroes have emerged from youth since ancient times, and upon my return, I will write a Praise Letter to Jiangcheng University School of Medicine on your behalf."

"Who is this?"

"Uncle Xiao, this is my uncle."

Xiao Zanzhi's gaze fell on the Santana, then on the Secretary in the passenger seat, and seeing this was the Grain Bureau Community, he understood Wang Chuan's uncle must be at least a Deputy Section Chief cadre.

He smiled, took out a pack of Soft Chunghwa, and offered one cigarette.

"Leader, Leader, thanks to your Wang Chuan..."

Seeing Xu Yuntao and Xiao Zanzhi exchanging pleasantries.

Wang Chuan said hello and prepared to go upstairs alone.

"Brother Chuan, my sister just went up to get some clothes. She said it was a pity she left without saying hello to you," Xiao Rongyue said from the back seat of the Mercedes.

"You are one year older than me, don't call me that randomly. Pay attention to the soles of your feet; remember to change the dressing on time, and don't walk before the Suture Removal." Wang Chuan didn't turn around and hurried upstairs.

"You are my savior, so you are my brother. I'll have my sister call you brother too."

Wang Chuan opened the door; no one was in the Living Room. Xiao Yuchu had already taken her clothes from the balcony. Walking into his parents' Bedroom, he saw Li Wei sleeping soundly.

Wang Chuan opened the door; no one was in the Living Room, and Xiao Yuchu's clothes had already been taken down from the balcony. He walked into his parents' Bedroom and saw Li Wei fast asleep, snoring loudly.

Creak, his own door opened, and Xiao Yuchu walked out, still wearing his white shirt.

Wang Chuan asked, "Xiao Yuchu, what's going on? Why haven't you changed clothes yet?"

"Oh, I just came up and was about to change."

After speaking, Xiao Yuchu used both hands to undo the buttons of the shirt.

"Xiao Yuchu, go into the room to change clothes!" Wang Chuan shouted urgently; he didn't want to commit a crime of molestation.

Xiao Yuchu looked up and said, "For you!"

With her left and right hands, she reached into the unbuttoned shirt and pulled out two stacks of hundred-yuan bills.

"You saved my brother; my second uncle disagreed with me giving you money, saying writing a Praise Letter for you was enough. So I secretly hid twenty thousand yuan on my person."

"Sorry, I have to stuff another ten thousand yuan in; if the shirt bulges, it will give me away."

Seeing this scene, Wang Chuan was torn between laughter and tears, looking at Xiao Yuchu's sincere eyes and pouting lips.

If he didn't take the twenty thousand, she would cry right there on the spot.

'Unexpectedly, my ex-wife Xiao Yuchu was quite cute when she was little.'

'I do indeed need my first pot of gold; shall I treat these twenty thousand as startup capital?'

Wang Chuan took the twenty thousand; the bottom bill was slightly wet with sweat; it was indeed too hot today.

Wang Chuan took the twenty thousand yuan; the bottommost bill was slightly damp with sweat, confirming that today was indeed far too hot.

"Alright, I'll take it."

Turned and returned to the Bedroom, putting it in his backpack.

When he came out again, Xiao Yuchu and Wang Chuan were already on the bus, just as before.

Wearing an MLB baseball cap, a Levi's denim jacket, a classic Burberry TB white T-shirt underneath, Diesel shorts, and Adidas sneakers.

"Brother Wang Chuan's clothes will have to be washed by Brother Wang Chuan himself—we need to hurry back to Jiangcheng."

"It's fine."

Wang Chuan stopped Xiao Yuchu and said seriously: "I've taken the money. We're even now."

Xiao Yuchu suddenly stopped walking and turned back to ask: "Will we never see each other again?"

"No need to meet. Focus on your studies. Go now."

Creak—the slightly ajar door was pushed open.

A young, beautiful girl walked in. "Wang Chuan, you're amazing!"

Wang Chuan froze for a moment: "Jiang Jinrou!"

The girl smiled sweetly, placed a finger to her lips, and said lightly: "Shh, listen—the Wind carries our story."

Xiao Yuchu's heart jolted—Jiang Jinrou was the name of the girl who wrote the top letter among Wang Chuan's pile of love letters.

The last line of that letter was: Shh, listen—the Wind carries our story.

The beautiful older sister before him was about one meter sixty-three or four tall.

Seeing Wang Chuan pull Jiang Jinrou to his side, he introduced: "Xiao Yuchu, this is Brother Wang Chuan's girlfriend, Jiang Jinrou. Go back now. Your second uncle is waiting downstairs in a hurry."

"Hello, little girl, I'm Jiang Jinrou, a Reporter."

Jiang Jinrou extended her hand gracefully.

Xiao Yuchu did not reach out to shake it; she pouted, took off the MLB baseball cap, leaped lightly, and placed it on Wang Chuan's head.

"It's a gift for you! Bye-bye, Brother Wang Chuan!"

She dashed off in a flash.

Jiang Jinrou laughed: "Wang Chuan, when did I become your girlfriend? Today I'm here as a Reporter for the City Daily's Xinzhou bureau, interviewing you about your brave act. You won't refuse me, right?"

"I'm going to sleep. Are you sleeping?"

Wang Chuan left Jiang Jinrou standing stunned in the Living Room.