"Heh,"賀子豫 couldn't help but feel amused. "It's not like we're in class, and we're not that different in age. You don't need to be so formal."
Hearing his words, 徐宁 relaxed slightly.
賀子豫 himself probably didn't know that he was quite famous at school. He entered university in his teens and became a professor at a young age. His medical skills were renowned both domestically and internationally, and he was also very handsome. Every class he taught was packed.
"It's quite a coincidence that you know each other. You two chat, I'll go make some tea for you," 陈丽姝 said as she got up to prepare tea for them.
While waiting, 賀子豫 casually brought up a couple of academic topics. To his surprise, 徐宁 could answer all his questions fluently, which sparked a flicker of interest in the shy girl before him.
After a cup of tea, 徐宁 got up to leave.
"It's a good thing I'm heading back too. It must be difficult for you, a young lady, to carry such a large bag of things. Let me help you..."
"No, it's okay. I'm actually quite strong," 徐宁 said, effortlessly lifting the large bag.
She wasn't lying. Although the bag looked big, it didn't weigh much because it was filled with short-sleeved shirts. Moreover, she had done a lot of physical labor in the past and was already well-trained.
賀子豫 clicked his tongue, "With you like this, you leave no room for me, a gentleman, to show my strength."
徐宁 was momentarily stunned, then handed the bag in her hand to 賀子豫, frankly saying, "Oh, then you can carry it."
賀子豫: "..."
After they left, they boarded the bus back to school together.
"How did you and 陈丽姝 get to know each other?" 賀子豫 asked, feigning curiosity, as they sat in their seats. "Are you classmates?"
徐宁: "When I was a 'zhiqing' (educated youth sent to the countryside), I happened to go to 丽姝's village."
Professor 賀 was always a legendary figure, seemingly out of reach. Now, he was sitting right next to her, and she could even smell the faint fragrance on him.
She couldn't tell if it was floral or woody, but it was exceptionally pleasant.
賀子豫 nodded, "Chen Lishu doesn't look that old, I didn't expect her child to be so grown up already."
"Are you talking about Rui Rui?" 徐宁 turned her head and happened to see his pale jawline and prominent Adam's apple. She quickly averted her gaze again. "Actually, Rui Rui was adopted by 丽姝."
Upon hearing the word "adopted," 賀子豫's eyes narrowed abruptly. Although he had suspected it, the confirmation made his heart irrepressibly excited.
"Can you tell me more about it?"
徐宁: "丽姝 is a very good and kind person. Perhaps it was destiny that they are mother and son. Rui Rui was rescued by 丽姝 from human traffickers. Later, Rui Rui stayed in an orphanage for a while, but the conditions there were too poor, and Rui Rui went begging with the other children... When he was being bullied, 丽姝 happened to witness it and later adopted him."
Listening to her narration, 賀子豫 turned to look out the window. Although he showed no outward reaction, his fingers, resting on his knees, clenched into tight fists. Rui Rui had suffered so much.
Suddenly, a familiar figure caught his eye. 賀子豫 thought he was mistaken and quickly leaned out the car window to look back. Just then, the person turned around, revealing Gao Mingyuan's face.
"I have something to attend to. You can go back to school by yourself,"
賀子豫 said, getting up and walking towards the door of the bus.
Not long after, the bus arrived at the stop. 賀子豫 hurriedly got off and quickened his pace towards the direction where he had seen Gao Mingyuan.
Gao Mingyuan had made a mistake at the company previously and was fired by 賀子年. Initially, 賀子豫 wasn't concerned about this person, but as far as he knew, Gao Mingyuan was associated with Zhu Shasha, and his presence here now made him suspicious.
"What could have been solved with just a little more money has now escalated into such a large incident that it's being reported. I'm powerless. The leadership just had a meeting this morning, and the project in the west of the city is considering a personnel change," Du Runhai looked at Gao Mingyuan. He seemed like a sharp person, but he ended up doing something like this.
Indeed, greed knows no bounds.
Gao Mingyuan: "Director Du, please think of a solution. If the leadership can be persuaded, even if the methods used by the subordinates were a bit extreme, the person died because they couldn't cope. Besides, I've invested all my money in this project. Personnel, equipment, and materials are all prepared. Changing people now would be too unfair to us."
Du Runhai: "The emotions of that group of residents facing demolition have been incited, and they are adamantly refusing to relocate. Do you think we can go against the tide at this time? Why not just wait a bit, and discuss it in the next phase, the next project?"
If the situation could be postponed, Gao Mingyuan wouldn't be here begging.
"Is there really no room for maneuver?"
"Sigh," Du Runhai sighed, "See if you can get the understanding of the deceased's family. If the public opinion can be suppressed, things might be easier to handle."
After leaving Du Runhai's office, 'Coal Ball' who was waiting outside saw his grim expression and guessed that the matter hadn't gone smoothly.
"Take the money and go to the house of that surname Tian and ask them to issue a letter of understanding." Gao Mingyuan hesitated, "Forget it, I'll go myself."
"Mr. Gao, don't worry. I'll put in a word with all the companies later, and I guarantee no one will dare to take over this project." In this day and age, those who are stubborn fear those who are daring, and anyone who dares to compete with them for business is probably not even born yet.
Gao Mingyuan said nothing, and the two headed towards the Tian family's house in the west of the city.
However, things were destined to disappoint them.
Mother Tian was already seriously ill and had lost her son. Not only did they act with an air of condescending charity, but they also wanted her family to issue a letter of understanding. Mother Tian, overcome with anger and grief, vomited blood on the spot and passed away.
What was originally one life turned into two. The higher authorities directly ordered the cancellation of Pengcheng Construction Company's construction qualification.
Originally, there was supposed to be a re-bidding process, but the companies that had registered successively withdrew their applications. Yu Guofeng, who was harboring anger, immediately decided to directly assign the company.
"I won't beat around the bush. I'm giving you the urban west planning project. Can you do it well?"
Yu Guofeng asked the young man opposite him.
Gu Xingdong: "It's our honor that the leadership thought of our company at this time. However, our company has recently taken on another project, and it might be difficult to take on such a large project as the urban west."
It was difficult, not impossible.
Yu Guofeng: "Just tell me if there are any difficulties."
With his words, things became easier.
Gu Xingdong: "Since the leadership has said so, I will be direct. After this incident, the residents facing demolition in the urban west will certainly not trust us construction companies. What needs to be done now is to rebuild that trust."
Yu Guofeng: "Tell me."
"As far as I know, all the demolition households this time will only receive compensation and will not be relocated. However, after all, everyone has lived in their homes for decades and must have feelings for them. So, I was wondering if we could set up two plans, allowing everyone to choose between taking money or housing."