Chapter 20: Did You Dig a Pit?

“I’ve already notified their parents.”

Chen Lie had great respect for the old man, who had survived countless battles. He nodded slightly and said, “If all goes well, they should be able to make it back by tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow?” The old man paused, a bit wistful. “You only told them today, didn’t you…”

For people like them, it was always hard to balance family and country. There was nothing to be done about it.

Chen Lie acknowledged, “Mm.”

Sensing the old man’s low spirits, as if he was lost in memories, Chen Lie added, “I didn’t tell them in advance about my return this time. By the time I got home, they were already on their way to the sanatorium.”

“As for what happened after, Liangzi should have filled you in.” First the divorce, then visiting the teacher, and then he and Su Qinghu got their marriage certificate.

They’d gone straight to the final approval officer to get the certificate so quickly.

He hadn’t informed his parents on purpose, and had also asked the officer not to disturb them during their recuperation, so naturally they didn’t know.

After they got the certificate, an emergency cropped up. He hadn’t even left the civil affairs bureau before he was urgently called away.

He only made it back today.

Sanatorium at this time?

Old Master Zhang thought back, then nodded. “This time, there’s a gathering of top doctors—some of the country’s most esteemed traditional medicine masters have been specially invited…”

It was a rare opportunity, not to be missed. Those old masters were national treasures, traveling from other provinces at great risk and effort.

To have this chance this year was already lucky; in the coming years, it would only get harder, and the difficulty would increase exponentially.

On this, the two were in complete agreement.

So, right in front of Zhang Dongsheng and Zhao Liangyan, the two of them started chatting away, oblivious to everyone else.

Chen Lie respected the old man, and the old man thought highly of Chen Lie. For a moment, their warmth was like that of father and son, making Zhang Dongsheng’s teeth ache with jealousy.

Even Zhao Liangyan felt something was off. Wasn’t the old man supposed to be storming in today to drag his own son Zhang Dongsheng home?

What was going on now?

The old man wasn’t in a hurry, and Dongsheng wasn’t taking the chance to run?

If it weren’t for the fact that it was nighttime and there was no sun, he’d have thought the sun was rising in the west…

“Whatever the case, since you’re married now, treat her well. Meet each other’s parents when it’s time, and hold a proper wedding banquet when it’s time.” Old Master Zhang exhorted earnestly, “Give her family all the respect they deserve.”

She’s a college graduate, after all.

“She only graduated less than a month ago,” Chen Lie said, pausing. “Marrying me was so sudden, there are many things I haven’t done properly yet, but from now on, I’ll make it up to her one by one.”

He spoke clearly and firmly; no one could miss his meaning.

Old Master Zhang couldn’t help glancing at his son, Zhang Dongsheng. He really wanted to know just how sudden this “sudden” was.

“What are you looking at me for?” Zhang Dongsheng bristled under his father’s gaze, chin slightly raised, both proud and guilty. “All I did was talk a little tough, I didn’t break any laws.”

At most, he’d violated some public order regulation—spend a few days in detention and that’s it.

“Just talked tough?” The old man repeated the words slowly, then, recalling what Zhao Liangyan had said earlier about not having had time to break the law, clenched his fists.

He was right at the edge of breaking the law—just a hair’s breadth away…

“Other than talking tough, you didn’t do anything else?”

“…” Zhang Dongsheng looked at his father. “I did, but I’m afraid if I tell you, you’ll get so angry it’ll affect your health.”

The old man fell silent.

After a long pause, Zhang Dongsheng gave up and blurted out, “You really want to know, right? Fine, I’ll tell you, but if you get mad and your chest hurts or your head aches, don’t blame me!”

Old Master: “Say it!”

“I had someone delay her job assignment,” Zhang Dongsheng said, then shot a challenging look at Chen Lie.

So what? He did it, and what could Chen Lie do about it?

The moment he said it, the old man wished he had a stick as thick as an arm to whack him with—maybe knock some sense into him.

“In 1985, the state announced reforms to the college graduate job assignment system—did you know that?” The old man was furious, shouting at him.

Zhang Dongsheng: “What’s that got to do with me?”

He was already a man of the world; why should he care about that stuff?

“What’s it got to do with you? Maybe nothing! But it has everything to do with her! The country said they’d gradually reform, but this year they’re speeding it up! For college graduates, job assignment is a huge deal. You used that to threaten her—are you trying to ruin her life?”

What if something went wrong?

These days, when you go to college, your household registration is moved out of your home. If you graduate and don’t have a job, or refuse the assigned job, you’re basically a vagrant.

“…I didn’t think it through at the time.” Zhang Dongsheng could stand tall in front of Chen Lie, but when it came to Su Qinghu, his bravado faded. “Besides, she’s a college grad who made it out of a small town—she can’t be that soft, right…”

Chen Lie, the old man, and even Zhao Liangyan all stared at him, making Zhang Dongsheng falter and his voice grow smaller and smaller.

Zhao Liangyan thought silently: …That’s all just your own assumptions! Just because she made it out of a small town doesn’t mean she’s tough as nails.

Maybe she was pampered at home, too?

The old man was silent for a long time after hearing his son’s words.

When he finally spoke, it was with clear resolve. “Enough. Today, I’m taking you to the police station and letting them handle you for violating public order.”

Zhang Dongsheng: …Did Chen Lie just dig a pit for him while talking to his dad earlier, without him noticing?

He looked at Chen Lie, who met his gaze.

Zhang Dongsheng was speechless—don’t act so innocent!

None of you are good people!

This wasn’t just his imagination, but deduction! Zhang Dongsheng could swear on his life—anyone who could go toe-to-toe with him for years and still come out on top was definitely no saint!

He glared at Chen Lie, thinking it over and over, convinced this guy had done something sneaky while he wasn’t paying attention.

“Whatever happens, let it happen. Fines, detention—you take it all!” Old Master Zhang’s voice was tinged with anger. “After you’ve served your time and paid your fine, you’ll apologize to her properly—with me.”

Zhang Dongsheng glanced at Chen Lie, enunciating each word with a hint of mischief, “Fine. Su Qinghu is hiding from me anyway, so you taking me there is just perfect.”

So what if he spent a few days at the police station? He’d own up to his mistakes."