Colorful years

On the day of the farewell party, the venue was decorated in a grand and festive manner. Laughter and cheerful voices filled the air. Colleagues dressed up in their finest attire, offering their sincerest congratulations to Haitian.

Everyone shared their thoughts, reminiscing about their unforgettable experiences working with Haitian, expressing their high praise for his abilities and character, and wishing him great success in his new position.

As the farewell party drew to a close, Minister Tang, with a smile on his face, slowly walked to the front of the stage.

He solemnly handed two carefully prepared gifts to Haitian.

First, he handed Haitian a fine Parker pen and said earnestly, "This Parker pen represents our full affirmation of your talent. We hope it will become a powerful tool for you to write your brilliant chapters in life, accompanying you in creating one beautiful and moving piece of writing after another."

Then, Minister Tang picked up a soft and comfortable bed sheet and continued, "This bed sheet may seem ordinary, but it actually has a profound meaning. It is meant to remind you that in your busy work, you must not forget to take care of your body, ensure you get enough sleep, and have a good night's rest every day so that you can face every challenge with full energy."

At that moment, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall, and everyone was deeply moved by Minister Tang's profound sentiments.

Among the crowd, the happiest were Hai Tian's two teachers who had helped him grow.

Teachers Li and Man, who were invited to the farewell party, felt an indescribable joy and pride as they watched the students they had nurtured grow up and soar to great heights.

Recalling the moment when they first discovered Haitian, this unpolished gem, the two teachers were filled with emotion—it was precisely because of their discerning eye and ability to discover that such a dazzling new star was able to shine.

At the same time, they couldn't help but feel genuinely happy and relieved that Haitian had been promoted to a higher-level position at such an astonishing speed.

Keep in mind, Hai Tian has just turned 23! This is the prime of his life, a time of youthful vigor and high spirits. He is not only exceptionally talented but also young and promising, like a dazzling new star rising from the ashes.

Everyone firmly believes that for such a young man with unlimited potential, the road ahead will surely be paved with flowers and applause, and full of countless exciting possibilities.

Hai Tian undoubtedly possesses extremely broad development prospects, like an endless blue sky waiting for him to soar freely; at the same time, he is also presented with numerous precious opportunities to create a brilliant life, like shining pearls waiting for him to pick.

However, the crucial question remains: how many rare opportunities will fate generously bestow upon him? There are too many variables and unknowns involved.

Furthermore, even if opportunity knocks, does he truly possess enough strength and wisdom to seize it? After all, success is never easily achieved; it requires relentless effort and unwavering determination…

Holding those thin yet heavy documents—household registration transfer certificate, grain ration certificate, pay slip, and job transfer report—Zhang Cong felt a mix of emotions and countless feelings.

Looking back on all the ups and downs I've been through, the hardships and difficulties are truly something only I know how they are!

This transfer is of great significance to Zhang Cong. It not only means that he will be leaving his hometown to work in an unfamiliar environment; what puts even more pressure on him is that he also has to take his younger brother Zhang Liang, who is still in the second year of junior high school, with him on this unknown journey.

Speaking of his younger brother Zhang Liang, he is Zhang Cong's precious treasure.

Rewind to the spring of 1984, when the weather was still chilly. Zhang Liang, then a first-year junior high student, was brought from the countryside to Yonghong Middle School in the city by his older brother Zhang Cong.

Because Zhang Liang was born when his parents were 47 years old, he was frail and sickly from a young age. In order to treat his illness, his elderly parents tirelessly carried him around, visited famous doctors, and searched for the best remedies. They went through countless hardships and dangers before finally raising him little by little.

In terms of academics, although Zhang Liang's talent for reading is slightly inferior to that of his older brother Zhang Cong, if he can work hard and study diligently, his grades can still rank among the top in the class.

However, given his current mediocre academic performance, if he continues to study at the rural middle school until high school graduation, his chances of passing the college entrance examination and getting into his ideal university are probably slim.

From a young age, Zhang Cong displayed an extraordinary sense of the big picture. He believed that simply handing over the little money he painstakingly saved each month to his parents to supplement the family's income, while alleviating the family's immediate difficulties, was not a long-term solution.

After careful consideration, he thought it would be better to bring his younger brother Zhang Liang with him so that he could receive a good education in the city. Wouldn't it be even more meaningful to raise his brother to be successful?

When Zhang Cong eagerly shared his plan with his parents, the two elderly people's faces instantly lit up with smiles of relief. They sincerely appreciated and fully supported their son's idea; after all, who wouldn't want their child to be successful?

When young Zhang Liang learned that he would be going to study in a bustling city with his beloved older brother, he was overjoyed and danced with excitement. His little mind was already filled with dreams of making new friends and learning new things at his new school.

Fortunately, Zhang Cong hadn't been working for long and was still a happy bachelor. He didn't have much luggage, nor did he have any family to worry about. When he went to his new workplace in another city, all he needed to bring was a bedding.

My only slight worry is that my younger brother has been adapting well in the county town, consistently ranking in the top ten of his class. Now he's going to study and live in a completely unfamiliar environment. I wonder if he'll be able to adapt quickly, and how long it will take?