Chapter 65: I’m Ready to Soar

On the way back to Pingyuan County Town, Cao Zhen sat in the passenger seat, glancing at his childhood friend Cao Shujie, who was driving. He spoke softly, “Shujie, I have to thank you for today.”

“Thank me for what?” Cao Shujie kept his eyes on the road. “You’ve helped me out plenty of times too.”

Cao Zhen shook his head. “That woman was trouble. If it weren’t for your quick thinking, today could have ended badly.”

“That’s not entirely true. After all, it was him who started with insults and provocation. We have witnesses and video evidence. Your cousin’s reaction was just a reflex. Even if the police got involved, they’d likely suggest you settle it privately. Then it would be in your favor,” Cao Shujie said, fully aware of the situation.

Cao Zhen glanced at him sideways. “Shujie, you’re joking, right? This is the city. My uncle is just a department head, not in charge here, so his influence is limited.”

“The other guy did get injured, though. If it escalates, it won’t be easy to handle,” Cao Zhen admitted, not naively believing his uncle was invincible.

Cao Shujie smiled, then asked curiously, “Cao Zhen, why did you mention your uncle and aunt’s ‘status’ when we first met Fang Junye?”

“No real reason, just to keep him from causing trouble. We’re strangers in Yiling City, and who knows what kind of person he is?” Cao Zhen leaned back, intertwining his fingers behind his head, looking completely relaxed.

He continued, “When you’re away from home, it’s best to assert yourself early to avoid unnecessary issues. If things get tangled up, that’s when it becomes a problem.”

“You sound like you know what you’re talking about,” Cao Shujie laughed heartily. “Cao Zhen, honestly, it’s a shame you’re not in politics.”

“There’s nothing to regret. I don’t have a strong background, and my age and education aren’t advantages. Even if I got in, I wouldn’t last long. I’d rather live freely now than waste my life in a dead-end job,” Cao Zhen said, seeing things clearly.

He then apologized, “Shujie, why didn’t you go see Fangfang earlier?”

“I texted her. She’s still in class, and anyway, she’ll be on summer break soon. It can wait.”

They weren’t in a hurry on their way back, driving at a normal pace. When they passed a restaurant, they stopped to have a meal, ordering four dishes and a soup, but no alcohol.

When it came time to pay, Cao Zhen beat Cao Shujie to it. “Shujie, are you silly? I can get reimbursed for this.”

As they continued on, Cao Zhen thought it was already past two in the afternoon. His uncle should have finished his meeting by now, right?

Thinking this, Cao Zhen dialed his uncle Lian Xuezhu’s number, but the phone immediately gave a ‘The number you dialed is currently switched off’ message.

“Still off. Looks like my uncle isn’t done yet. Shujie, why don’t you stay over tonight?” Cao Zhen suggested.

Cao Shujie hadn’t planned on staying; he wanted to return home to his wife and kids. But when Cao Zhen said, “It’s been almost two months since we all got together. Let’s have a little gathering tonight,” he readily agreed. “Alright, tonight it is. I’ll treat everyone to a drink.”

“Treat my foot. I told you I can get reimbursed. Besides, you saved my uncle a few thousand today. Consider this meal on him.”

As they neared Pingyuan County Town, Cao Zhen’s phone rang. After checking it, he quickly said, “It’s my uncle calling back.”

He answered, “Hello, Uncle.”

“Yes, yes, Qijian’s issue isn’t serious. It’s been resolved,” Cao Zhen explained. “Qijian hit the other guy’s face, and we paid a thousand yuan for medical expenses.”

“Only a thousand?” Cao Zhen quickly explained, “Uncle, it’s not a small amount. The other guy started it. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t give him a dime.”

He coughed and continued, “But today was a coincidence. My buddy came over to submit some documents to the Forestry Bureau, so I had him drive me to Yiling City. I figured if a fight broke out, the two of us could handle it together…”

Cao Shujie pulled over, listening to Cao Zhen ‘explain’ on the phone, feeling deeply moved. “Society really shapes a person, regardless of where you are.”

After the call, Cao Zhen chuckled, “Shujie, let’s head to the Forestry Bureau. My uncle just got back and wants to see what you’re applying for.”

“Thanks, Cao Zhen!” Cao Shujie restarted the car, following Cao Zhen’s directions.

Cao Zhen didn’t mind, reclining the passenger seat to its lowest and lounging comfortably. “No need to thank me. If you keep this up, I might just get out of the car.”

“Alright, let’s drop it,” Cao Shujie said seriously. “Cao Zhen, if you ever need anything, just say the word. I won’t hesitate.”

Some things are reciprocal. One-sided efforts rarely last; it’s the give-and-take that matters. This holds true even among siblings and parents, let alone friends.

Cao Zhen nodded, “I’ll remember you said that.”

…

At the Forestry Bureau, Cao Shujie met the head, Lian Xuezhu, who wore a white shirt. At just over forty, he was already a department head, in the prime of his career.

Especially in a small place like Pingyuan County Town, he was quite a notable ‘figure.’

With Cao Zhen’s introduction and his role as a mediator, Cao Shujie’s first ‘visit’ to Lian Xuezhu went exceptionally smoothly.

Moreover, since Cao Shujie had helped with his nephew’s issue, Lian Xuezhu was even more grateful.

He accepted Cao Shujie’s application without hesitation.

As Cao Zhen had mentioned earlier, this was all within policy, clearly outlined in official documents. It wasn’t even a matter of privilege; as long as the paperwork was in order, it was just a formality.

“Xiao Cao, are you planning to lease more land in the future?” Lian Xuezhu asked casually.

Cao Shujie wasn’t sure why Lian Xuezhu asked, but he nodded honestly, “Uncle, to be honest, I do have plans. If this batch yields good economic returns, I’ll consider leasing more land in the future.”

“You’re young and already have such ambition, very good!” Lian Xuezhu chuckled warmly. “If your total contracted area reaches over 200 mu, we have a project here for applying to create standardized fruit production. It comes with subsidies, a one-time grant of 500,000 to 1 million yuan, which you can apply for through the Agricultural Committee. When the time comes, come find me.”

…

After declining Lian Xuezhu’s invitation to dinner—understanding that someone like Lian Xuezhu must be quite busy—Cao Shujie finished his business, got what he needed, and left the Forestry Bureau with Cao Zhen. They first headed to Mingbo Textile Co., Ltd.

“My scale is still too small, just a minor operation,” Cao Shujie mused.

Cao Zhen rolled his eyes immediately upon hearing this. “If you keep talking like that, I’ll kill you tonight, believe it or not?”

He rambled on, “Among our group, you’re the only one doing something impressive. Quietly investing hundreds of thousands, contracting 80 mu of land to grow fruit. Meanwhile, the rest of us are just working regular jobs, earning a few thousand yuan. What more do you want?”

“Planning to fly to the sky?” Cao Zhen teased him.

Cao Shujie laughed heartily and said, “I’ve got plenty of ideas.”

“Cao Zhen, let me tell you, I want to contract that entire mountain range, plant fruit trees everywhere. Oh, and I need to set aside some land for farming. In the future, if we want meat, we’ll handle it ourselves.”

(End of chapter)