"Actually, when I heard Ning Gang mention Zhu City, I was elated and relieved. Itâs Zhu City close to Guangcheng, not somewhere else," Qi Taiguo said. "You have assets and business over there, and now youâre talking about opening another Seafood Shop. Isnât this heavenâs arrangement?"
Cheng Su remained silent.
With his words, she realized that it seemed like many threads could be connected. From returning to this era, later going to Guangcheng to search for herself, meeting the Cheng family, befriending the Cheng family, the Cheng family then befriending the Ning family, Qi Taiguo leaning on the Ning family, and now because of the Ning family, he would go to Zhu City, to Guangcheng. And as for herself, she already had several ventures in Guangcheng, laying the foundation for settling there.
Each thread ultimately leads to one place, converging to one pointâGuangcheng.
Itâs hard to say itâs not heavenâs arrangement.
Thinking about this stirred Cheng Su somewhat, her heart started to beat faster.
"Iâm going to Zhu City; actually, you can apply to accompany the army deployment too. But if I return to Guangcheng, applying again is meaningless. You still have your studies now, but youâll be in your senior year by next September; graduating the year after and returning to Guangcheng will be perfect timing. If all goes well, I should be established in Zhu City by then!" Qi Taiguo pinched her shoulder and said, "Even if we have to be apart, itâs only a year and a half."
"But I donât even want to be apart from you for a day!" Cheng Su buried herself in his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Qi Taiguo gently patted her back and said, "I know, but I really need this opportunity!"
This is a chance for him to move towards power. If he doesnât seize it, who knows how many years heâll have to wait for the next one. Heâs still young, and some things are better done sooner rather than later, because if something goes wrong, he still has the chance to start over.
But as one grows older, opportunities become fewer and fewer.
Cheng Su didnât speak. Although unwilling, she knew he was right.
She had almost no reason to argue or refuse.
A man with ambitionsâshe couldnât even bear to miss a business opportunity herself, so what right did she have to extinguish his desires?
Cheng Su sighed, wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand, and asked, "If you go, when will you leave?"
"Probably January or February. Once the official document arrives, Iâll go report," Qi Taiguo replied.
"So soon?" Cheng Su was taken aback and looked up at him.
"Itâs not so soon. If it were really quick, I wouldnât have to wait for the official document but report early."
Cheng Su felt even more reluctant and said, "This is so rushed. We havenât even moved into our new house." She thought for a moment and continued, "But itâs also fortunate that the house was just allocated, and youâre being reassigned; otherwise, it wouldnât be good. Even if youâre reassigned, the house wonât be taken back, right?"
"Are you silly? This is a welfare house allocation, no matter where I get reassigned, itâs obviously ours. How would there be logic in allocating you a house only to take it back now because youâre not here unless you commit a big mistake?" Qi Taiguo laughed.
Cheng Su blushed slightly and murmured, "If they really took it back, the government would be too petty."
Qi Taiguo looked at her like this and tentatively asked, "Then, should I really go?"
Cheng Su snorted and said, "Youâve already agreed, can you renege? Go ahead, leaving us mother and son."
Qi Taiguo hugged her tightly and said, "How could I bear leaving you and our son? But thereâs nothing we can do; the power we have is too weak. Sometimes weâre only passive, with no strength to fight back."
Cheng Su knew he was referring to past things and didnât have a reply. To avoid being suppressed, one can only be stronger than others.