Chapter 391: Chapter 237: He Who Knows Me, Xiao Chen

Chen Cheng understood what Cao Yue meant; he wanted him to see tangible projects and witness the efforts he made during his tenure, instead of merely relying on nepotism.

Chen Cheng nodded sincerely, and Cao Yue smiled, patting Chen Cheng on the shoulder, “Where did you study?”

The two chatted as they walked towards the village community center.

Chen Cheng replied, “Denghua Middle School.”

Hearing “Denghua Middle School,” Cao Yue’s steps unconsciously paused, and he turned his head in surprise towards Chen Cheng, “Denghua Middle School?”

Chen Cheng noticed Cao Yue’s reaction, who seemed quite familiar with his alma mater, so he added, “I was in the 12th class; it’s been 12 years since I graduated.”

“12th class? I was from the 7th.”

A hint of unexpected joy appeared on Cao Yue’s face, and his tone became more enthusiastic, “Back then, I was part of our school’s basketball team! Given your height, you must have played basketball too, right?”

“Yes.”

Chen Cheng felt a bit more relaxed, “If it weren’t for spraining my ankle during the selection, I might have made the school team.”

Cao Yue laughed heartily, “What about afterwards? Did you go to Tsinghua or Beijing University?”

“Dong University.”

Chen Cheng did not hide his educational background, “I slacked off a bit in my second year of high school, worked hard in my third year, but ultimately I still fell short of Qingbei.”

Hearing Chen Cheng speak thus, Cao Yue couldn’t help but sigh, “Ever since the college entrance exam, I’ve realized that things you can succeed in just by working hard are already few.”

Indeed, the college entrance exam might be one of the few stages in life where you can see results solely through effort.

After stepping into society, the rules of the game became much more complicated; connections, opportunities, backgrounds, and even luck, all became factors that could not be ignored.

Chen Cheng thought of his experiences these days. Although with the system’s support, he achieved unimaginable results in accumulating wealth, he knew very well that without Jin Baogen’s connection, many opportunities would not have come his way.

“Going west, going to the grassroots, that was the lofty statement I made at the graduation ceremony,” Cao Yue continued:

“Do you know why I said that?”

Recalling what Jin Baogen casually mentioned and the statement just made by Cao Yue, Chen Cheng began his first speculation.

He knew that someone like Cao Yue, a favored son of heaven, could have had more affluent choices after graduation, whether staying in Beijing or going to developed cities and counties, all presented bright futures.

Yet, he chose to come to the remote Qianzhou to become a grassroots official; there must be deeper reasons for this choice.

And this reason must be related to Cao Yue’s family.

However, facing Cao Yue for the first time, Chen Cheng couldn’t appear too clever, so he shook his head.

Cao Yue seemed to notice Chen Cheng’s puzzlement, turned his head towards him with a slight smile, his eyes clear and resolute, “Many people don’t understand my choice, thinking that I gave up great prospects to waste time and life in this backwater.”

He paused, “Having followed the usual path for over thirty years, I want to see if I can accomplish what I want to do by my own efforts.”

Cao Yue stopped walking, “I knew Jin would come here, also thought of countless excuses to politely refuse the goodwill from my family and Jin.”

“I don’t want to accept, and I can’t accept,” he continued: “I don’t want to trade a seemingly perfect project for my future.”

He turned his head towards Chen Cheng, at that moment Cao Yue was no longer just a county official, but a man desperately trying to prove himself,

“Xiao Chen, you might not know, but the most frequent thing I’ve heard since I was young was, ‘You are meant to do great things,’ ‘You can’t just focus on yourself.'”

“Everyone told me, my path has already been paved, I just needed to follow it step by step.”

“Even though I came here against my family’s wishes, in the end, they still placed me in this position.”

“This time, I want to see if I can make it work my own way.”

“Do you understand?”

Chen Cheng, looking at that fervent gaze, felt conflicted at that moment.

On one hand, he already entered this circle of interest exchange, and on the other, he had no way to refuse Cao Yue’s request.

Fortunately, Chen Cheng had contacted Jin Baogen in advance and received a response; otherwise, he really couldn’t decide.

“I understand, Officer Cao.”

Cao Yue smiled, “Come on, let’s go have some tea ahead.”

The two again walked towards the community center.

The community center was built five years ago, also a welfare project left by the previous term.

Cao Yue was very familiar with this place, clearly not his first visit.

He led Chen Cheng directly to the conference room, called on Chen Cheng to sit down, and then walked towards the water dispenser to brew tea for Chen Cheng himself.

With no intricate tea sets, just two white porcelain cups, Cao Yue skillfully boiled water and made tea, moving with an ease and familiarity that didn’t seem to fit his status.

“Try this, it’s the selenium-rich tea I want to promote.”

Cao Yue placed a cup of hot tea in front of Chen Cheng, “Although it can’t compare with those expensive varieties, it’s superior in being natural and unpolluted, and has a refreshing fragrance.”

Chen Cheng took the tea cup with both hands, sitting down only after Cao Yue sat down.

He lightly sipped, not too impressive, but passable.

“I’m bad at taste, I can’t tell good from bad, but this tea indeed has a refreshing fragrance,” Chen Cheng said with a smile.

Cao Yue also smiled, “Xiao Chen, you are too slick.”