Chapter 1: Please Go Home

  In the summer of 2002, Hangzhou was as hot as in previous years.

  Cicadas are crying non-stop on the willow trees by Huajia Pond in Dongfang University, which is particularly annoying.

  It's another season of farewell in the campus, and the sorrow of parting is echoing with the graduation song on the radio in the sky above the campus.

  Students on summer vacation smiled and packed their bags, either returning home or traveling in groups of three to five. Only graduates at this moment had confusion and reluctance in their hearts.

  It suddenly dawned on me that four years have passed in the blink of an eye. It seems like just a moment ago I stepped into university, how did it come to the time to leave already?

  There is regret, regret for wasting time, and the grand ambitions of those years were thrown far behind.

  There is confusion and uncertainty about what kind of life awaits oneself.

  Excited, I will finally use my own hands to create a life of my own, no longer having to ask my parents for money, everything is full of novelty and unknown.

  ……

  Graduation really means a lot, but for Li Peicheng, graduation only means parting with classmates who have been together for four years.

  He doesn't need to regret because during his four years in college, he studied hard every moment and got first-class scholarship and three-good student award every year.

  He also doesn't need to be confused because he still has to continue his student life, not as an undergraduate but as a graduate student.

  He wasn't excited either. Although his graduate life hadn't started yet, during the summer vacation of his freshman year, he took the initiative to ask his teacher for permission to be a research assistant, so he was not unfamiliar with his future life.

  Li Peicheng likes school life, plain and fulfilling, simple and regular, full of youth and laughter, full of book fragrance.

  By the side of Hua's pool, there is a three-story modern building, which is the school library. A student with a height of about 1.75 meters, a strong body, a straight nose, and a broad forehead sits at a desk by the window. He has a thick book in front of him, but his eyes are somewhat distracted, occasionally looking out the window.

  Li Peicheng found it hard to calm down and read today because just at noon, the last roommate also left school.

  "Bless you! My dear fellow students!" Li Peicheng silently blessed in his heart.

  "Director Sun, what wind blew you here!"

  Professor He smiled and welcomed a slightly stout middle-aged man, who was Sun Xinpin, the director of the Gardening Bureau of West Lake District in Hangzhou.

  Professor He is a middle-aged man with a scholarly demeanor, who is Li Peicheng's supervisor, the leader of the Resource Science Department, a returned professor from the United States and a doctoral supervisor. He and Director Sun were university classmates.

  "This official of mine is as small as a fart, how can I be worthy of being called Professor He?" Director Sun self-deprecatingly shook his head.

  "This year, the money for our research is all in the hands of you officials. If we don't flatter you, I'm afraid this year's project funding will have nowhere to go!" Professor He said with a half-joking tone as he personally poured a cup of tea for Director Sun.

  Professor He nodded in agreement with Director Sun. These days, doing research is also linked to the economy. If you don't know a few officials and big shots, it's really hard to get funding for research projects. Although Director Sun Xinpeng is only a small district gardening bureau chief, this year the gardening bureau has ample funds, especially in Hangzhou, which is a tourist city, so these funds are not a small amount. If you really want to squeeze out some money and cooperate with top domestic universities and professors on research projects, create some buzz, and get some political achievements, it's not impossible.

  "Our department has some research funding every year, as long as Professor He doesn't mind the small amount of money and our topic is not too trivial, I'd be happy to collaborate with you and bask in your greatness." Director Sun said with a smile after taking a sip of tea.

  Professor He smiled and said: "This is great, it seems that today the God of Wealth has arrived. This thing can be done, when I let my students discuss with your bureau's people, set up an item."

  "It's possible, but when the time comes, it's best if the project leader writes your name down. That way, I'll also gain some face, and who knows, maybe by using your name, we can even get some money from the provincial bureau and get some rewards." Director Sun said.

  Professor He smiled and said: "You're still as clever as you were back then!"

  "It's not easy being a leader, don't look at my small position, there are many people eyeing the seat under me! You guys doing research and being professors is great, you're respected by others and earn a lot of money." Director Sun said.

  "Haha, look at that, here we go again! Speak up, old classmate, what exactly brings you to me today?" Professor He asked with a smile, then turned serious.

  "Not for my precious daughter!" Director Sun said with a troubled face.

  "Xuan Xuan?" Professor He asked in surprise.

  Director Sun nodded, "Who else if not her?"

  "Oh, right, come to think of it, she should be taking the high school entrance exam this year. How did she do?" Professor He asked.

  Although both were in Hangzhou and busy with work, they didn't meet often, but still had some interactions, so Professor He was somewhat aware of Sun Xiaoyu's situation.

  "Alas, this little girl, her grades were always good in the first and second year of junior high school, but starting from the third year, she's been going downhill all the way, and didn't do well on the exams." Director Sun sighed.

  "Oh, do I need to help with the school arrangements?" Professor He knew many people in the education circle, and as long as Sun Xiaoyan's grades weren't too bad, it was still possible to get her into a key high school.

  Professor He's words moved Director Sun slightly. In this age, after being in the officialdom for a long time, it's either you scheme against me or I scheme against you. Who would wholeheartedly do things for you? Only the friendship between classmates will never change with the passage of time, still so deep and pure.

  "Old classmate has a kind heart, no need to trouble you with this, I've already helped her get into Xuejun Middle School," said Director Sun gratefully.

  Xuejun Middle School, one of the top high schools in Hangzhou.

  "Is that so? Is there anything else I can help you with?" asked Professor He.

  "Hey, Old He, you know I'm busy and Xiaohan is too. We can't even find time at night or on weekends. Now it's summer vacation, this kid is playing crazy, but we can't supervise her at home. Her foundation is poor, she's in a key high school, I'm afraid she'll fall behind and lose confidence. This high school is still manageable for me, but university is beyond my ability, so I want to find her a tutor. There are too many tutors these days, good and bad mixed together. We've hired a few before, but they weren't suitable. Thinking about it, I'm bothering you again, you're a teacher with many students, see if you can help me find one, help me take care of this kid, and also help her catch up on some lessons in advance." Director Sun said somewhat embarrassedly.

  It's such a trivial matter, but it's indeed a bit of an overkill to ask a renowned professor for help. However, for the sake of his precious daughter, Director Sun had no choice but to swallow his pride. Fortunately, they were old classmates, so there was no need to feel embarrassed.

  "One is an official, and the other is a doctor. They really don't have time to take care of the child. No problem, no problem! I happen to have a good student here. His family is poor, so he has been tutoring while studying for his undergraduate degree to earn money for school. This year, he was admitted to graduate school by the university and is pursuing a master's degree directly after completing his undergraduate studies. I specifically asked him to come. Although he is a boy, I can guarantee that his character and knowledge are excellent, and he is reliable and responsible." Professor He said.

  Director Sun was very surprised to hear this, as an old classmate he knew that Professor He did things with great care and strictness, and it was rare for someone to be so highly valued and praised by him.

  "It doesn't matter if it's a boy, my daughter is quite wild now and only boys can tame her! Besides, someone who can be praised by you must be a talented person," said Director Sun.

  Professor He nodded in agreement and asked: "Do you want me to call him now so that you two can meet? You can also have a chat and see if it's suitable?"

  Director Sun certainly trusted Professor He's vision, but Professor He's praise for that student made Director Sun very curious, so he agreed to Professor He's proposal.