official career

Qin Feng also let out a long sigh.

"How is Li Jing doing?" Qin Feng asked.

"Oh no, she looks so haggard, I feel like she's about to give up. Putting myself in her shoes, I'm not sure I could have kept going either."

Qin Feng held Zhou Qian tightly, and neither of them spoke again.

……

Qin Feng didn't want to trouble others, so he drove to Dongyang alone, choosing the most low-key car in the family, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan.

It's not far from Zhongjiang to Dongyang, but it still took more than two hours to drive there.

The reason I chose to drive was firstly because it was convenient and I didn't want to bother others, and secondly because I wanted to see the development of the area from Zhongjiang to Dongyang.

Qin Feng drove to Dongyang. Although he had been away from Dongyang for some years, he still knew the way around Dongyang very well. Qin Feng first went to the cemetery to pay his respects to Zhou Qiming.

Qin Feng offered flowers in the Western style, and then, according to local custom, squatted in front of the tombstone to light incense and burn some paper money for Zhou Qiming.

Qin Feng didn't know whether the Chinese or Western method of worship was more effective, but he did both to seek psychological comfort.

As usual, after paying his respects, Qin Feng sat in front of the grave and chatted with Zhou Qiming, talking about his experiences in Shazhou over the past year and sharing some of his difficulties and confusions.

In Qin Feng's heart, Zhou Qiming is his father-in-law, his mentor, and his life guide. After working together for so many years, Zhou Qiming will always be the person he feels the deepest affection for.

Qin Feng drove to Wang Jun's house around noon, where Wang Jun was waiting downstairs.

Knowing that Qin Feng was coming today, Wang Jun and his wife started preparing well in advance.

Upon meeting Li Li, Qin Feng could sense a change in her, primarily in her demeanor. Li Li now resembled a sophisticated lady and a powerful businesswoman, her capable and efficient aura becoming increasingly pronounced.

From the home's decor and the couple's clothing, Qin Feng could tell that their living conditions were getting better and better. After all, Li Li and Li Jing's company was doing very well. After Li Jing's accident, the company was basically handed over to Li Li to manage. Li Li usually spent most of her time in Zhongjiang and only returned to Dongyang for the Chinese New Year.

Zhou Qian told Qin Feng that Li Li had made a special trip to visit Zhou Qian, and each time she brought a lot of gifts for Qin Feng's daughter. However, because Qin Feng was not at home, and Li Li felt that there was too much of a difference in status between herself and Zhou Qian, she was too embarrassed to visit her more often.

However, Qin Feng knew in his heart that Li Li had never forgotten the kindness he had shown her.

Not only Li Li, but Wang Jun as well, the couple owes their success entirely to Qin Feng.

Li Li used to cook for Qin Feng, but today Wang Jun cooked for him instead. Li Li sat there chatting with Qin Feng.

Li Li told Qin Feng that she had been working outside for the past few years while Wang Jun took care of the children at home. Now, her cooking skills had become rusty, but Wang Jun's cooking was superb, and he did all the cooking at home.

The three of them had lunch that day. Since Qin Feng drove, they didn't drink alcohol this time. During the meal, Li Li and Wang Jun told Qin Feng about their family situations.

Last year, Wang Jun spent over a million yuan to rebuild his old home in Niujiaoshan Village. It's basically a villa, mainly to make his parents more comfortable.

Seeing that the couple's life was getting better and better, Qin Feng was very happy.

After discussing this matter, the topic inevitably turned back to Li Jing. Li Li and Li Jing had an extraordinary relationship; they were not only friends but also colleagues and business partners, so Li Li knew even more about them.

Li Li had made a special trip to Shanghai to see Li Jing before the Lunar New Year. When she talked about Li Jing and her son, Li Li's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Because he hadn't drunk any alcohol, he didn't eat much at the meal. Qin Feng asked Wang Jun to give his regards to his father, Wang Manzi, and the villagers of Niujiaoshan Village before leaving.

Qin Feng didn't tell Wang Jun where he was going. Wang Jun and Li Li escorted Qin Feng downstairs.

Qin Feng drove directly to Hong Yue's house.

Qin Feng has many acquaintances in Dongyang, but there is no need to make a special trip to see most of them anymore. As he has been away from Dongyang for so many years, many relationships have faded or been severed.

Niujiaoshan and Bishan Township still have some old ties, and those ties are genuine. However, as his official position has risen higher and higher, the friendship between them has long since lost its original purity. So, gradually, Qin Feng stopped seeing them as often.

Qin Feng parked his car downstairs at Hong Yue's house, the one he had bought for her.

As before, Qin Feng did not tell Hong Yue before he came. Firstly, he did not know how to tell Hong Yue, and secondly, he did not want Hong Yue to know. He wanted to see Hong Yue's true condition.

Over the past year, Qin Feng and Hong Yue have only been in contact a handful of times.

It wasn't that Qin Feng didn't contact Hong Yue, but rather that Hong Yue deliberately kept her distance from him. Sometimes when Qin Feng called her, Hong Yue's response wasn't very positive; she was very indifferent and would hang up after only a few words. This led to Qin Feng gradually stopping calling Hong Yue altogether.

Previously, Qin Feng could still learn about Hong Yue's life from Li Jing, but after Li Jing's son got into trouble, Qin Feng naturally couldn't ask Li Jing about Hong Yue's situation anymore. As a result, Qin Feng had almost completely lost contact with Hong Yue for the past six months, as if he had lost all contact with her.

This is also why Qin Feng insisted on coming to Dongyang to see Hong Yue this time.

Qin Feng went upstairs and knocked on the door, but no one answered after a long time, so no one was home.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, no one was home. Where had Hong Yue gone? Moreover, Qin Feng remembered that Hong Yue's sister-in-law lived with her, so why was she nowhere to be seen?

Qin Feng figured he was probably still working at the school for disabled people, since that school didn't have holidays.

The school was nearby, so Qin Feng walked there, but was stopped by the security guard at the gate.

Previously, the school's security was handled by people sent by Xiao Jian'an, who was also the largest donor to this school for disabled people.

But today, the gatekeeper was an old man, and he was very arrogant, refusing to let Qin Feng in no matter what he said.

Qin Feng couldn't possibly argue with an old man, so he took out a cigarette and offered it to the old man, praising him to the skies. The old man immediately beamed with joy, but still wouldn't let Qin Feng in, saying it was the new principal's rule.

The old man's casual remark about the new building caught Qin Feng's attention, and he quickly asked the old man what the new courtyard was all about. Wasn't their principal Hong Yue?

The old man told Qin Feng that those were things of the past. Last month, Hong Yue's principal was removed from his post and dismissed from public office for serious violations. The current principal is a new one.