Chapter 1, Returning Home

"Dad, Mom, I..." Zhang Yu quickly stood up, hesitated for a moment, and then gritted his teeth and said: "I have been expelled"

Zhang Yu's father is an accountant at a large state-owned enterprise, spending his days dealing with a multitude of numbers, which renders him taciturn, speaking hardly more than ten words a day. His mother is a primary school Chinese language teacher, always smiling and well-liked by her students. Throughout his life, Zhang Yu has rarely seen his mother lose her temper.

Zhang Yu's mother picked up the groceries she had just bought from the ground and walked towards the kitchen: "Since you have resigned, why not stay at home for a few days? There is no rush regarding work for the time being. Your father and I can manage to support one more mouth to feed for a while."

If the building collapses, it could cost countless lives! After much consideration, Zhang Yu still chose to report it to the authorities under his real name. However, to his surprise, after an investigation, his superior was not dismissed; instead, Zhang Yu himself was fired.

Zhang Yu's mother, after listening, revealed a kind smile on her face and held Zhang Yu's hand: "I thought it was something serious. Son, don't worry, you haven't done anything wrong, Mom supports you"

This made Zhang Yu's heart feel slightly relieved. Today is Thursday, and it is only 3 PM now. His parents will not be home until 6 PM, which means he still has three hours to carefully think about how to tell them that he has lost his job

The driver pressed the accelerator and drove forward, glancing at Zhang Yu's youthful face in the rearview mirror: "Young man, just returned from out of town? Are you studying or working abroad?"

"Hehe, not at all, really not at all." The driver chuckled and shook his head, saying, "So you are going home to visit relatives? By the way, today is neither the weekend nor a holiday, you don't have to work, do you?"

Every day, my father handles hundreds of millions of yuan, yet he has never kept a single cent for himself. My mother, despite teaching two classes, has never pressured or lured students to her home for paid tutoring like some teachers do. Their lives cannot be described as impoverished, but they are not wealthy either; however, they managed to support Zhang Yu and his younger brother Zhang Yan through university, which is quite an achievement in itself

Zhang mhetushu . comcom dragged his suitcase and got into a taxi at the taxi waiting area of the train station, speaking fluently in the local dialect to the driver: "Master, go all the way down Xibao Road and drop me off at the entrance of Changyang Apartment"

Zhang Yu's father remained silent throughout Zhang Yu's narration, only nodding at this moment and looking up at Zhang Yu: "You did the right thing"

Standing in front of me were my parents, each holding a plastic bag, with a few green onion tops sticking out. It seemed they had just returned from the market after work. Although their tone was one of surprise, the look in their eyes as they gazed at their son was filled with more joy than astonishment

The reasoning is quite simple—compared to cutting corners in the design drawings, the act of "exposing the corners cut in the design drawings" poses a greater danger to the institution. Zhang Yu is like the child who pointed out that the emperor has no clothes, becoming the source of embarrassment for everyone.

Xiao Yu? Why have you returned?

Zhang Yu lay down on the sofa, the familiar comfort and softness instantly relaxing his heart

Zhang Yu's father silently moved a chair and sat down opposite Zhang Yu before the incident. Zhang Yu glanced at his mother's expression, which was filled with worry, and let out a soft sigh. He recounted to his parents the events leading up to his dismissal from the design institute.

Zhang Yu felt a warmth in his heart. Although he had known that his parents would definitely agree with his thoughts, hearing it with his own ears made him even happier.

Zhang Yu has consistently excelled in both academics and character throughout his four years at university. After graduation, he smoothly entered an architectural design institute, where he has been for three years now. The company's compensation is considered quite generous, and the prospects for development are also very promising. Initially, everything seemed to be going smoothly, with promotions and salary increases, but...

This marks the third year since he graduated from university and entered the workforce, yet he typically dresses simply and refreshingly. In summer, he wears a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a pair of sneakers, without changing his attire throughout the year, which indeed gives him the appearance of a student.

This time when he returned home, he had not yet informed his parents

Zhang Yu carried the box up to the third floor, gently inserted the key, and carefully turned it twice—very well, the door was locked from the inside, and there was no one at home

Listening to his mother's words on https://www.hetushu.com, Zhang Yu suddenly felt a surge of emotion that made him want to cry

Zhang Yu smiled and said: "Do I still look like a student? I have been working for several years now"

The car drove for twenty minutes and stopped at the doorstep. Even though Zhang Yu had merely responded lightly throughout the journey, hardly saying a word, the driver continued to speak incessantly, overflowing with words. It was only after paying and getting out of the car that Zhang Yu let out a long sigh.

Zhang Yu pushed open the door to his home and saw that the furnishings inside were still the same as they had been six months ago when he last returned. The worn fabric sofa, although showing considerable signs of wear and fading, was nonetheless kept impeccably clean and spotless. On the coffee table lay a stack of newspapers, and the remote controls for the television and air conditioner were neatly arranged in a row

Upon realizing this, Zhang Yu let out a sigh. A few days ago, he discovered that his direct superior was abusing his power to embezzle funds while providing the owner with the design plans for a building. If his superior were merely motivated by money, Zhang Yu might have tolerated it; however, after carefully reviewing the modified plans, he found that the owner's bribery was aimed at reducing construction difficulty, leading his superior to eliminate many necessary reinforcements and structural integrity measures. If his superior were merely motivated by money, Zhang Yu might have tolerated it; however, after carefully reviewing the modified plans, he found that the owner's bribery was aimed at reducing construction difficulty, leading his superior to eliminate many necessary reinforcements and structural integrity measures

"Expelled? Xiaoyu, what happened to you?" Zhang Yu's mother was taken aback, her face showing some surprise, but her expression was mostly filled with concern. She quickly set down the vegetables in her hands and pulled Zhang Yu back to the sofa, saying, "Hurry and tell Mom what happened."

Zhang Yu is well aware that both of his parents are upright individuals, and his own choices will never be denied by them. ... However, the most critical issue is ... . ... His younger brother, Zhang Yan, is still in university. Without his monthly contribution to the family income, life will become a bit more difficult for his parents.

Moreover, I fear that I won't be able to find a job in this entire industry..." After finishing his account, Zhang Yu looked at his parents with a helpless expression: "The construction industry is all interconnected. When I was leaving, my previous supervisor told me that I would be completely driven out of this field..."

Zhang Yu lay back with his head tilted, his mind wandering aimlessly, and before he knew it, he had fallen into a deep sleep. It was not until he heard a surprised exclamation that he jolted awake, his eyes flying open.

It seems that taxi drivers around the world, no matter where they go, are the most eager to engage in conversation. However, Zhang Yu was simply not in the mood to chat with him, so he politely smiled, shook his head, and said nothing