r at five feet nine inches, not shorter than people from this side but slimmer. In fact, many criminal investigators had heavy workloads and burdens which sometimes led to suboptimal health conditions...Chapter 41: Turmoil

The Datong Construction Engineering Group's Fourth Project Department in Xiahai City recently ended a period of unrest. The original head of the department, Zhao Chengrong, was relieved of his duties and retired early after a decision by the management office to approve his retirement request.

After returning from rushing around in Rongcheng, Zhao Chengrong looked much older. When he encountered his father Su Licheng on the road, he ignored him completely, clearly indicating that during his trip to Rongcheng, he received some unfavorable news which dampened his former arrogance. Occasionally recalling their days working together, Su Licheng felt a deep sense of melancholy.

Zhao Chengrong was an ambitious person, and now all his efforts had come to nothing as retirement loomed near. This sense of futility would be hard for him to bear. However, Su Cen understood that this situation brought about benefits for himself; if things had unfolded like in the future where Zhao Chengrong's serious issues were exposed later on, it wouldn't just mean simple retirement but possibly imprisonment.

The entire unit was eagerly anticipating the new head of the Fourth Project Department. Mao Nan stood as the most hopeful candidate. Recently, he seemed to have a fresh breeze blowing through his life, with many social engagements and interactions. It was rumored that small project leaders from supervision companies in Xiahai City were involved in these activities. If Mao Nan could ascend smoothly to power, establishing good relations and building networks of favors would yield benefits.

Mao Nan felt he had taken a significant step forward in life. Initially hesitant about submitting Su Licheng's information when he was about to do so, having been an associate director all his life, his ambition had waned out of fear that if Zhao Chengrong could not be brought down, his own position would also come to an end. Who knew that this last-ditch effort would result in such a situation.

Mao Nan was already considering how to build up his own power base, restructuring the power dynamics within the Engineering Department. Xiao Liu from the finance department has been approaching him closely lately; yes, he's a sharp individual. When his daughter had her one-month celebration, the old Jin from the engineering section gave 1000 yuan in gifts – interesting...

As for those who didn't give him favorable treatment during Zhao Chengrong’s dominance, although they are now smiling more often, Mao Nan has already planned how to exclude these people from his upcoming power layout.

As for the key figure Su Licheng, this person is honest and good at identifying problems, but he is not an ideal choice to be a trusted subordinate. In fact, there was no intention of grooming him into one, nor did he make any effort to get closer to himself. For now, let's put it on hold.

...

The appointment from the parent company of Dayong Construction Group for Xiahai Engineering Division Four came quickly. The internal personnel arrangements in the original company remained unchanged, and new leaders with qualifications were dispatched by the group to focus on improving the quality and safety standards, business expansion, construction planning, and establishing a corporate guiding principle of "rooted in this city while expanding outside."

"Compared to many brother enterprises within our group, we are still weak. My arrival is aimed at integrating all cooperative resources within the company, enhancing our hardware capabilities, strengthening the foundational work for bidding and tendering, expanding the market, reinforcing collaboration with other units in the province, supporting business development, and opening up Central and Western regions!"

Tong Jianjun's speech at the welcoming conference received thunderous applause. Many people were surprised to find out that the original head of the investigation team turned out to be the newly appointed division chief.

Ma Nan, who originally thought he would hold a lot of power, seemed to have the most displeased expression.

This was quite unexpected good news for Su Licheng's father.

The family prepared an elaborate meal. Tong Jianjun’s first dinner as the new division chief was hosted at the Su Cang residence.

Tong Jianjun mentioned that he came to Xiahai in 1986, when the place was still underdeveloped. He never expected to return here years later and take up a position, seeing how much it had changed, naturally stirring his emotions.

In Xiahai, Su Licheng is likely one of the people among all his subordinates that Tong Jianjun gets along with best. Not only because of their similar personalities but also due to their shared experience as former soldiers. When reminiscing about army anecdotes, both of them would get lost in nostalgic thoughts.

Su Cen observed his father's new superior silently during the meal. Although there were no obvious signs, he could tell Tong Jianjun was feeling down. It wasn't surprising; for the Engineering Department Director position in Xiahai City, countless people within his father’s organization would dream of it, some even pursuing it their entire lives. Even Su Licheng himself, who only became a section chief in another life, was worlds apart from this position.

However, placed within the large engineering group in Chengdu, such a directorship seemed much less significant. Tong Jianjun had been at least a department head in Dayong Construction Engineering Group before being moved to his current position elsewhere; clearly, he had been removed from that circle and was no longer part of it. This didn't necessarily mean he lost out in power struggles or offended someone; more likely, he hadn't achieved enough accomplishments nor impressed the high-level leadership, leading to an unfortunate transfer.

Arriving at this small city of Xiahai and seeing the current state of the Fourth Engineering Division, which had become a burden for the headquarters due to its sluggishness, Su Cen knew from his experiences in another life that it was bound to be abandoned like an orphan without parents. Hence, they were undergoing company restructuring, causing his father’s predicaments.

After drinking too much, when talking about the company, his father let out years of pent-up resentment. Combined with his mother's indignation, all past grievances were brought up one by one.

"When the old director was in charge, Su Licheng was his apprentice, but the old man was overly stubborn and strict. Of course, I'm not blaming him; he believed that being too nice to insiders would be a weakness. Even his own daughter knitting at her desk drew criticism. For someone like Su Licheng, it goes without saying. As a result, Zha Chengrong managed to climb up the ranks and proceeded to oppress all those connected with the old director. We can say for sure that our Su Licheng has never done anything wrong towards this company! All along, people called him brother or friend, but when it mattered most, did they actually help him out!"

His father, Su Licheng, repeatedly urged his mother not to speak so frankly: "Why are you bringing all this up now..."

Tong Jianjun fell silent, feeling rather down inside. He recalled the old man within the corporation and how he used to be one of his subordinates. Although their relationship wasn't explicitly defined as such, Tong had always regarded him as a mentor, much like Su Licheng before him. However, now that he was being transferred away, despite the old man's high status and power, he remained stubbornly silent through it all. The more tender care he showed to those around him, the stricter his standards were.

Was there resentment He dared not entertain such thoughts.

Was he feeling down inside A little bit.

Tong Jianjun felt even more that Su Licheng was someone who shared similar traits with him. Both of them found it difficult to make friends and were loyal to others, yet they received unequal returns in return for their sincerity. Nodding his head, he leaned on the alcohol's courage, “Brother Su, you can rest assured! I won’t resort to any old ways! I know what it means to have someone by your side, and how one should treat a brother! You are a capable person with talent that I could confidently say anywhere. Under my leadership, I wouldn't let anyone like you suffer unfairly! I never shortchange my brothers!”

The two grown men felt deeply moved as they reminisced about their shared hardships, their eyes brimming with tears. Even Su Can was nearly affected by the emotional moment.

This is life. Seeing his father's current state made Su Can feel that he hadn't lived in vain and that his parents were still young.

...

Tong Jianjun, with a domineering air, focused on supervising and rectifying past construction quality issues while also making some adjustments to personnel. He promoted Su Licheng to deputy director of the fourth engineering department based on his performance and ability and reported this to the headquarters.f he had gone on a date with a girlfriend, which left Su Cen speechless. After repeated assurances that he had merely helped out at a friend's place, the parents only half-believed him and stopped ask...