Chapter 601: Even the Young Master of a Noble Family Has Worries

Zhou Tong then said, "Back then we carried out a mission together, and he took a bullet for me. If it weren't for him, the best outcome I could have now might be total paralysis, lying in bed waiting to die."

"On the way back after completing that mission, he was punished for violating discipline during the operation; he not only didn't receive a second-class merit, but was also disciplined and subsequently switched jobs."

"According to his rank, he should at least be able to command a battalion of the armed police when he returned, but now he's still just a company commander."

Su Yang's eyebrows twitched after hearing this, and he asked, "Just that? On the battlefield, comrades covering for each other is completely normal! Of course, it's also normal for you to want to give him a better future for that reason."

"But I always feel this isn't the fundamental reason. Given your connections, it would surely be easy to lean on your old man and pull some strings to get him a suitable position. Besides, you could also compensate him financially."

Zhou Tong said, "Brother-in-law, you really don't understand him—he's stubborn and obnoxious. I've offered to help arrange something for him before, but he refused. Moreover, my identity in the military is confidential; no one knows I'm from the Zhou family. He wouldn't take money either, believing that taking a bullet for a comrade is his duty."

After he finished speaking, seeing Su Yang still staring at him, he awkwardly said, "Um… he used to be my squad leader. Once, his sister came to the barracks to visit him, that… that…"

"Oh, after all this back-and-forth, I finally get it—you've taken a liking to that girl, right? You want to make an indirect approach, but you're afraid your family will find out and laugh at you, so you're having me handle it."

"Of course, for someone of Grandfather's stature to arrange a position like this would indeed be beneath his dignity—not to mention Grandfather, even the uncles and aunts would probably find it inappropriate. You coming to me is truly the most suitable option, but you're putting too much faith in me. I'd be going in blind over there, and I might even get blackmailed; can I really help?"

Zhou Tong pleaded pitifully, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, you mustn't talk nonsense about this. You absolutely must not let our family find out, or I'll be scolded to death."

"Grandfather despises this kind of quid‑pro‑quo arrangement. I really do like the old squad leader's sister, but helping him indirectly would be a benefit exchange. Besides, I usually don't associate with people in that circle; even if someone could pull strings in Jinzhou City, I wouldn't ask them for help."

"Brother-in-law, you have to keep this matter confidential. No matter what, you must find a way to help me, and I'll repay you, even if I have to toil like an ox or a horse."

Su Yang chuckled and said, "We're all family now, so don't be so polite. Although this matter is rather difficult, as long as the opportunity arises, I will definitely find a way to help your former squad leader."

"Besides, if you like that girl, you should just confess your feelings instead of scheming behind the scenes—what if she never finds out? Then you'd be wasting your effort. Oh, by the way, do you think your family would disagree?"

Su Yang said, then suddenly realized this problem: they are a top-tier aristocratic family; letting him marry an ordinary girl with no background seems unlikely. Since the Zhou family has already chosen him, a grassroots guy, as a son‑in‑law, they wouldn't let their son marry another grassroots woman.

Then he asked, "Has your marriage already been arranged? It must be to a princess from some Jingcheng family, right?"

Zhou Tong said, "Brother-in-law, you're really sharp—I haven't even had a chance to mention this, and you already guessed it."

"That's right, but I don't like it. However, you know the current situation—it's exactly like this. Although the current leadership has begun favoring grassroots talent, Jingcheng aristocratic families can never escape the tradition of using marriage alliances to preserve their strength."

"Furthermore, I'm nothing like my uncle; my uncle is highly capable and enlightened, and now he's a star figure in the eyes of all the youngsters from the great families."

"So he certainly wouldn't think of using my sister's happiness as a bargaining chip for a marriage alliance to boost his own power—he's already strong enough; if he got any stronger, everyone would gang up on him."

"But my father can't do that—he's just a deputy department head, and moreover the lowest‑ranked one. He's constantly scheming about which family to marry into, wanting to get things settled for me while my grandfather's old bones are still around. Do you think I'm being wronged?"

Su Yang couldn't help but laugh: "No, that shouldn't be the case—with Grandfather's standing, it wouldn't be that hard for our second uncle to rise."

Zhou Tong said, "Brother-in-law, you don't realize this—there are so many big families in Jingcheng now. If every member of those families occupied important posts, what would everyone else do? Others would have no room to advance, and what hope would ordinary grassroots people have?"

"Thus the great families have formed an unwritten rule: each family allows only one person to advance, and the whole family concentrates all its resources on cultivating that individual."

"As for the others, they just have to rely on their own abilities. Of course, if they are posted outward, they can also go to a lower‑level city to serve as a mayor or secretary, and if they stay in Jingcheng, the highest they can reach is a deputy department head in a ministry—but it may not be a particularly powerful or lucrative post, such as the Organization Department or Propaganda Department; generally speaking, they're more like the Ministry of Science and Technology or the Ministry of Transport."

"Of course, those super‑strong families, before their heir is fully cultivated, will also nurture a cadre rising from the grassroots. Take the old Liu family, for example: they promoted a cadre from Ganzhou Sheng—who is now the deputy head of the Organization Department. Once their family's core figure, Liu Zhengyang, officially enters the ministerial‑level ranks, they will concentrate all their resources on him."

"Our family, because my uncle emerged from nowhere, doesn't need to waste effort on anyone else."

"Sigh, my wording is a bit off—my uncle didn't come out of nowhere; he's always been excellent, especially in his performance over the past two years, which the higher-ups have been very pleased with."

"This year, especially his plan for economic development, which aligns perfectly with the higher‑ups' direction, he was originally slated to become governor of Ganzhou Sheng, but instead he was transferred directly to the governorship of Jiangnan Province. Otherwise he would have first developed in Ganzhou, then after two or three years moved to a more economically advanced province—but he's too outstanding, so he went straight to Jiangnan."

"I've heard that his proposal on economic development this time is quite novel and has won special approval from the senior leadership. Of course, our family still lacks a third‑generation leader, so brother‑in‑law, keep up the effort."

Su Yang then roughly understood the ways of those top‑tier aristocratic families, and it turned out to be far from what he had imagined.

"You're also overestimating your brother‑in‑law—your sister is already a division‑level official, and I've even heard there are bureau‑level officials under thirty."

"What am I, some insignificant weed? I still have to go to remote areas to risk life and limb. But I will definitely help you with your matter—though my help means assisting your former squad leader. As for the marriage you've arranged, you'll have to figure it out yourself; I'm unable to help."