Chapter 2: Journey to the Ancient City in Search of First Love

Understood, understood

It truly echoes the famous saying, "Ideals are abundant, while reality is stark." His adventurous life, woven in dreams since he became aware, has come to an end. Chen Yuxing plans to take a break for a while to recharge himself, intending to change his graduate studies to Economic Management next year, and to strive diligently in another sunny and hopeful field to cultivate a small space that belongs to him.

In fact, this old man Zhao is quite remarkable. Having worked in the party organization for over thirty years, he speaks candidly without holding back. He would never secretly scheme against others or embellish the truth. He is very sincere, keeps his promises, and approaches his work with seriousness and responsibility. His literary foundation is also solid, and the articles he writes are vibrant and colorful. For such a simple and kind-hearted old man, Chen Yuxing can only feel respect.

In the ancient city of Sifang, Chen Yuxing unexpectedly encountered the beautiful, gracious, lively, and cheerful Li Xiaoqing, embarking on a seven-day passionate and intense romance, culminating in the end of his virginity in this ancient city renowned for its romantic charm. This marks his first love, and it is simultaneously a beautiful yet painful experience.

During the more than four years that Chen Yuxing has worked under him, Old Zhao has introduced more than a dozen blind date candidates to him, including his own daughter, who is currently pursuing a graduate degree and has begun to gain weight

After returning to Fengjing from the ancient city of Sifang, Chen Yuxing, in a state of confusion, felt despondent. The pain of his heartbreak made him unaware that he had mentally tormented his parents for a period of time. Under the careful and patient care of his parents, Chen Yuxing gradually began to recover, but during this time, his belief in pursuing a graduate degree in economic management had completely vanished.

Chen Yuxing slowly sat down in the armchair and took a sip from the teacup

As a civil servant in the provincial party committee of a certain political party in Liaodong Province, Chen Yuxing has the opportunity to conduct field research every year during the National Two Sessions. This form of research activity has almost become a routine for the provincial party committees of various democratic parties. The democratic parties operate as a clean government, and this travel-oriented research has become one of the few benefits for civil servants in the agency. Chen Yuxing is looking forward to visiting a good place this year

"Haha, no, no, I won't do the work of climbing mountains and walking anymore. I should find a leisurely place to rest and recuperate." Minister Zhao did not see through Chen Yuxing's thoughts or intentionally give him the freedom he needed. It was because his physical strength truly could not handle long-distance travel; he had the desire but lacked the ability.

That afternoon, after finishing the office meeting, Minister Zhao walked into the office with a beaming smile. He addressed Chen Yuxing, who was dozing off with his eyes squinted while leaning back in his chair

Chen Yuxing set down the Fengjing Evening News and looked at Minister Zhao, who was intently browsing "Phoenix Network" on the computer, with an inquiring gaze, hoping that he would reveal some information

In June 2009, the plan for the public recruitment of civil servants by provincial government agencies was published in major newspapers. Encouraged and urged by his parents, Chen Yuxing decided to participate in this civil service examination. He carefully studied the job nature of the recruiting units and the registration requirements for candidates, seeking positions that matched his major. However, he sadly discovered that his field of study did not align with the registration requirements of ninety percent of the units.

The parents were very open-minded about Chen Yuxing's resignation, neither lecturing nor complaining. They simply advised him to formulate a practical and feasible life and work plan based on the realities of society and his personal capabilities. When Chen Yuxing expressed his desire to go out and clear his mind, they did not stop him; instead, they quoted an ancient saying, "Reading thousands of books is not as useful as traveling thousands of miles," reminding Chen Yuxing to observe society with his own eyes and to learn to analyze and reflect during his journey. This first solo trip away from his parents would be an unforgettable experience in his life. After repeatedly reminding Chen Yuxing to pay attention to travel safety, the parents resolutely sent him off to the plane.

Chen Yuxing's family belongs to the moderately prosperous class. His father, Chen Ning, works as a sales manager at a pharmaceutical company, earning over 3,000 yuan per month, with sales commissions adding another 2,000 to 3,000 yuan monthly. In Fengjing, a first-tier and a half city, while the income is not particularly high, it is still considered to be at a middle-income level (please do not, like some provincial social science academies, mistakenly categorize a city's middle-income level as belonging to the middle class). Managing his family of three is still quite manageable. As a junior manager, Chen Ning spends significantly more time working outside than in Fengjing, yet he provides ample paternal love to Chen Yuxing. He imparts lessons to Chen Yuxing through everyday examples. His frequently mentioned phrases are "Be kind to others" and "What is mine is mine; what is not mine, I do not contend for." Chen Yuxing has inherited his father's character of kindness and a non-contentious nature.

In this county-level department, there are only Chen Yuxing and Minister Zhao. The old man Zhao gives Chen Yuxing a lot of care, allowing him to arrive a little late and leave a little early, turning a blind eye to it. When someone looks for Chen Yuxing, he would just roll his bloodshot eyes and say, "He went to the hospital"

Although Chen Yuxing was not one to argue, he was stubborn and lively. After being tormented in this vast and tranquil environment for several weeks, his young heart at the age of 23 was still captivated by the vibrant nightlife of the big city. He resolutely chose to resign, bidding farewell to the adventurous life of 'geological exploration' that had filled him with hope and longing.

Hey, what's wrong

"Minister, why don't you go to Nanyun with me?" Chen Yuxing asked sincerely this time. Old Zhao, nearing sixty, would indeed be concerning to travel alone without anyone accompanying him.

Mother Zhang Rongrong works as an accountant in a private enterprise, with a monthly salary not high, only a little over 2,000 yuan, but fortunately, it is close to home, just a two or three-minute walk. Chen Yuxing's high school is also very close to home; standing by the window in his room, he can see the national flag fluttering on the school flagpole. Therefore, during his high school years, Chen Yuxing never ate lunch at school; his mother would serve hot meals on the dining table, waiting for him to return home on time. As a result, Chen Yuxing's appetite became increasingly picky, making it difficult for him to swallow ordinary meals.

The positions he favored were both powerful and prestigious, yet none of them included geology as an eligible field of study for examination. In utter helplessness, he had no choice but to opt for the provincial party agency that did not have any specific professional requirements.

Minister, the National Two Sessions will be held in a few days. Has the leadership of the agency not yet confirmed our field research plans?

During the National Two Sessions, the provincial party committee secretaries of various parties traveled to the capital to participate in the sessions. The United Front Work Department of the ruling party's provincial committee also focused its efforts on maintaining stability during this period. Consequently, this time became the most leisurely for the offices of various parties, as the leadership was absent, the provincial United Front Work Department did not make inquiries, and field research was conducted with ease and comfort

Alright, today we can go borrow the research funds. Once the destination is confirmed, we can book the tickets. The first group must travel within this week

In the four years since he joined the party organization, he quickly became familiar with the work of various departments within the organization, thanks to his amiable personality and harmonious relationships with his colleagues. Chen Yuxing possesses a high level of writing skills and has accompanied all the comrades in the organization on research trips to places such as Xinjiang, Tibet, and various provinces along the eastern Yangtze River, where he served as the principal author of more than ten research reports, receiving positive feedback from the Provincial Political Consultative Conference and the United Front Work Department of the ruling party

Chen Yuxing was quite fortunate; despite only seven candidates applying, he ranked among the top three. He then discovered, to his further luck, that he was the only male among the three interview candidates. Subsequently, he was fortunate enough to become a proud civil servant in a party organization

This key university is the only university in the city, originally belonging to the Ministry of Coal, and was a key institution under the ministry. After the merger and dissolution of the Ministry of Coal, it was transferred to the Ministry of Education, and the word "Coal" in its name was removed and replaced with "Technology"

The focus of the school remains on disciplines related to coal, and the major that Chen Yuxing is studying is indeed related to coal, officially known as "Coalfield Geology"

It's nothing, it's nothing, I was just lost in thought, Minister, I will go borrow the research funds

Chen Yuxing nodded rapidly

Great, Minister, I will go to Nanyun now

I am part of the second batch; the department should at least keep someone, right? We cannot leave it empty. The old man pulled over a reclining chair and sat down heavily.

Minister Chen, at fifty-eight years of age, displayed an ambiguous smile on his wrinkled face

The old man lit a cigarette from the Great Hall of the People and then browsed his Phoenix News.

Chen Yuxing's drowsiness has vanished, and his mind is clearer than when he was taking notes at the Standing Committee meeting. He suppresses his excited emotions and smiles at Minister Zhao

His thoughts traversed nearly ten thousand miles through time and space, soaring above the romantic ancient city of Sifang. In that moment, his heart, which had been silent for nearly five years, began to beat fiercely once again

Minister Zhao took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke that momentarily obscured his face, making it appear hazy and indistinct, while his bloodshot eyes looked even redder.

After graduation, Chen Yuxing returned to the provincial capital, Fengjing, and applied for a position at a provincial state-owned enterprise that aligned with his major, engaging in coalfield geological exploration work

Xiao Chen, the arrangement for the research work has been finalized. Individuals are to select their own research topics and destinations. It is preferable to form groups of three, but this is not mandatory. The research period is set for ten days, and the research expenses must not exceed the allocated budget.

It has not been finalized yet, but it is expected that there will be a statement during this afternoon's office meeting. However, the central government and the provincial committee are very strict regarding public-funded travel, especially overseas travel. The central government has issued multiple notices and has dealt with several units. Therefore, the likelihood of all cadres from the agency traveling collectively this year is low. According to the agency's leadership, it is more likely that travel will be organized in small teams or that individuals will arrange their own research routes.

Borrowing money, booking flight tickets, searching for travel routes online, and reserving hotels, after a flurry of activity, everything was finally accomplished. The flight was scheduled for the following afternoon, a direct flight to the ancient city of Sifang. He planned to retrace the route from his last visit, savoring once more the sweetness and heart-wrenching pain of the past. Then he would abandon it all, sincerely experiencing the next love, getting married, starting a family, with a wife and children by a warm kang bed, pots, bowls, and the essentials of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, living a simple and ordinary life.

If you are to arrange the research itinerary yourself, where would you like to go? Do you have any thoughts? Minister Zhao's words carry a meaning of casual conversation far beyond mere inquiry; he is a laid-back person with little interest in sightseeing.

However, how could his life be so ordinary? With this journey of nostalgia, his life, his country, and even the entire world underwent earth-shattering changes following in his footsteps

Minister Zhao shifted his bloodshot eyes away from the computer, reached for a hard box of People's Congress cigarettes on the table, and took one out. Chen Yuxing immediately took out a lighter and hurried a few steps to light the cigarette for Minister Zhao

This research is divided into two batches. I have reported the first batch to you. Discuss with your colleagues to see if anyone will accompany you to Nanyun, as having more people is safer. Old Zhao expressed a bit more concern for Chen Yuxing, akin to that of a relative.

Chen Yuxing's heart was in turmoil, fearing that the old man from m.hetushucom.com would nod in agreement, which would mean that his planned journey would come to nothing

Chen Yuxing graduated from a national key university located in a small city in Liaodong Province, known as the capital of coal.

The work of the geological team is arduous and lonely, with extremely poor living conditions. Each day, they are surrounded by cold drilling rigs and broken rock cores, and for days on end, they do not see a single woman, only the disheveled drilling workers for company. They live in military tents, which are damp and cold in winter and stuffy and humid in summer. Their meals consist of communal cooking, and Chen Yuxing, whose stomach has been spoiled by his mother, cannot adapt to this coarse food. After spending several weeks in the wilderness, although his height of 1.75 meters has not diminished, his weight has dropped from 80 kilograms to 70 kilograms. They live in military tents, which are damp and cold in winter and stuffy and humid in summer. Their meals consist of communal cooking, and Chen Yuxing, whose stomach has been spoiled by his mother, cannot adapt to this coarse food. After spending several weeks in the wilderness, although his height of 1.75 meters has not diminished, his weight has dropped from 80 kilograms to 70 kilograms

Lijiang is a wonderful place, ancient and romantic, very suitable for young people

The population of the city is over 1.2 million, and it is referred to as a small city in comparison to the nearly 10 million population of the provincial capital city, Fengtian, in Liaodong Province

"Remember, this is for the purpose of conducting research, do you understand?" the old man said solemnly

Chen Yuxing quickly stood up and ran off as if to escape to borrow the research funds

Old man Zhao knocked on the table with a "dong, dong," bringing Chen Yuxing, who was immersed in memories, back to reality

Chen Yuxing immediately displayed a respectful and flattering smile: "Indeed, indeed, if it were to arrange the itinerary myself, it would be better for me to accompany the Minister to the ancient city of Sifang."

The ancient city of Sifang holds Chen Yuxing's romantic first love, which, although not marked by a heart-stirring intensity, remains the most unforgettable memory in his 28 years of life. He is still ensnared in this web of love to this day.

Five years ago, the memories of the Seven Days in the Ancient City of Sifang surged into Chen Yuxing's mind like a flood unleashed from a dam, his face constantly shifting between expressions of happiness and pain. His vacant eyes merely stared blankly at the tilted teacup in his hand, the tea having soaked through the newspaper on the desk.

If I were to arrange the route myself, I would like to go to Nanyun, especially to the Ancient City of Sifang. Chen Yuxing does not need to consider that the place he most wants to go alone right now is Sifang City

Minister Zhao had a few strands of white hair lying on his bald forehead, coming in from the side. Every time Chen Yuxing lit a cigarette for Minister Zhao, he felt an impulse to set those strands of white hair ablaze