Chen Dewen was filled with complex emotions, "Brother Ye, I never knew, turns out you’ve been quietly working on something big. I saw Shangjiang Group on TV today, and I wondered, is this something Brother Ye built up?"

Jiang Xingye laughed and said, "After graduation back then, I didn’t get a job. I was just living off others, thinking of doing something, so I started this. Unexpectedly, I had a bit of luck."

As the years passed, Jiang Xingye became more composed and restrained, and outsiders couldn’t see or guess his inner thoughts. Only in front of Xu Qinghuan, was he still the young man he once was.

Chen Dewen listened to his modest words, feeling a mix of emotions.

Back when they graduated, they were the first batch after the reinstatement of the college entrance examination. The state assigned jobs, and Jiang Xingye was a top student from Yan University, meaning he could choose any position in the country.

But this guy was bold enough, he actually chose to stay unemployed.

"Brother Ye, it’s embarrassing to say, but let me ask. My situation here isn’t good either. To be honest, I’m not keen on continuing. I want to come to you and see if I can get something to eat."

He missed the freedom and glory of the days with the Shangjiang Team.

Jiang Xingye agreed readily.

But he also knew that those brothers who had once followed him had been in the system for nearly ten years, their thoughts固固化化, 已经落后太多了.

He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, standing on the seventeenth floor of this modern landmark building, overlooking the entire Yan City. Not far away in the square, many were watching the flag-lowering ceremony.

He stood and watched for a while.

The afterglow shone on his still youthful and handsome face.

The office door was silently opened, high heels stepping on the plush carpet.

Jiang Xingye abruptly turned around, his sharp gaze like a knife slicing towards the girl carrying a tea cup who barged in.

She was a new recruit in the president’s office, just past her probation period.

"Who let you in?"

"President Jiang, I... I... I saw you hadn’t left work yet, so I came to bring you a cup of tea!"

Jiang Xingye’s look of disgust was undisguised, and the girl in her early twenties was so aggrieved that tears came to her eyes. She was infatuated with her boss, who was young, wealthy, handsome, and extraordinarily skilled.

Her close friend secretly told her that bosses nowadays wouldn’t resist temptations, and many maintained someone on the side.

She thought she would have a chance, being a college student, young, and if she could give the boss a son...

Luo Jinhao tumbled in, quickly ushering the secretary out. "Brother Ye, I’m really sorry, I didn’t expect this, do you think..."

"Fire her, let her go!" Jiang Xingye said coldly.

It’s not easy to hire a college student nowadays, it’s truly unfortunate!

But Luo Jinhao didn’t say a word to plead and quickly agreed to go out, carefully closing the door.

As a boss, Jiang Xingye wasn’t one to not allow subordinates to make mistakes, but this was Jiang Xingye’s unbreakable red line.

Jiang Xingye took the dedicated elevator downstairs, naturally unable to hear the crying coming from the president’s office, a lesson inadvertently taught to all the young female employees at the company.

Isn’t it nice to have a high salary and behave?

Jiang Xingye returned home to find Xu Qinghuan leading the kids in planting vegetables in the yard. Seeing him return, she approached him and took his suit jacket from him, "Did Chen Dewen call you?"

"He did! We talked for a while."

Jiang Xingye embraced his wife by the waist, not minding the presence of the kids, and kissed her.

Chen Dewen’s call had transported him back seventeen years in an instant, to the first time he saw Xu Qinghuan in front of the commune’s supply and marketing cooperative. They had been together for seventeen years now!

"What’s wrong?" Xu Qinghuan noticed his unusual expression, "Did something happen?"

"Nothing, just missed you!" He held Xu Qinghuan tightly, leaving the kids outside as they went inside the room.

While changing clothes, Jiang Xingye felt a sudden desire, pressing her against the cabinet, it was a bit rough.

The sky wasn’t completely dark yet, and Xu Qinghuan could still barely hear the kids talking outside. She tried to suppress her voice, but couldn’t suppress the feelings that Jiang Xingye brought about, biting his arm and weeping softly.

After a long time, Jiang Xingye finally eased up and just held her in his arms, burying his face into her shoulder from behind. "I met you when you were seventeen, and this year, we’ve been together for seventeen years..."

Reflecting suddenly, Jiang Xingye felt a lingering fear, realizing how fast time flies!

Too fast!

He’s already in middle age, with only half his life left to love the person in his arms.

He couldn’t bear it!

Over the years, Jiang Xingye was like a constantly spinning top, never stopping for a moment.

The patriarch’s ninetieth birthday was held at a five-star hotel under the Shangjiang Group, with guests gathered in joy.

Jiang Xingye had early on sent invitations to the former educated youth who stayed at the Shangjiang Team, the team members, and the patriarch’s old friends in Yan City.

No gifts were accepted, it was purely to enjoy the festivity.

The Jiang family naturally couldn’t be absent.

After many years, Jiang Xingjun now had two stars and four stripes on his shoulders, becoming a colonel in the army, stepping into the ranks of senior officers.

While Jiang Xingwei had two stars and three stripes.

They specifically took leave to bring their wives and kids along.

The headquarters of the four sisters’ clothing group was in Yan City, and Jiang Xingmei served as executive president, becoming very capable over the years.

The patriarch was full of vigor, and with the matriarch, they wore traditional Chinese attire as they slowly descended the spiral staircase, accompanied by Jiang Xingye and Xu Qinghuan.

Jiang Xingye wore a custom-tailored suit, while Xu Qinghuan donned a satin embroidered cheongsam, her hair in a bun, adorned with emerald jewelry, making her complexion as clear as snow, graceful and noble.

Over the years, the patriarch and matriarch’s health had improved greatly, almost becoming Xu Qinghuan’s living advertisement.

Who would have thought, over a decade ago, the patriarch and matriarch’s health was failing.

After completing her Ph.D., Xu Qinghuan stayed at the university. She didn’t take a position in the hospital, but instead mentored students, mainly helping some state officials with their health.

Even senior officials from major Western Hemisphere countries would come here by name.

As a result, many important guests attended today, all arranged in the VIP lounge.

Xu Qinghuan and her husband escorted the two elders to the VIP lounge.

Huo Fuhai and his wife also attended this time, engaging in cheerful conversations inside. A group of elders was discussing wellness, and upon seeing Xu Qinghuan, they inquired, "Come, Huanhuan, tell these old folks, how can we maintain good health?"

Xu Qinghuan replied with a smile, "Eat well, drink well, play well, don’t stay up late, and do whatever you want! If there’s anything, just come to me!"

Causing a round of laughter among the crowd.

The couple went outside to greet guests.

"Comrade Xu, long time no see!" A group entered from outside the door, with the one in the front saying with a smile.

Xu Qinghuan took a closer look and immediately welcomed them with a smile, "Oh, it’s you!"

Qiao Xinyu and Comrade Xu embraced, along with Yu Xiaomin.

Back in the days when educated youth came and went in large numbers, now Xu Qinghuan kept in touch with just a few, like Qiao Xinyu and Yu Xiaomin, and also Jiang Xingmei. Their connection never broke over the years, meeting whenever there’s a chance.

Jiang Xingmei joined them, and they hugged.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xingye exchanged greetings with Chen Dewen and others.

"Brother Ye, we didn’t notify you in advance this time, just came so abruptly, hope you don’t mind?" Liu Zhijian said.

This time, Huang Dahai, Luo Zaisheng, and Song Anping all came.

"It’s strange to say such things. I wanted to invite you all, but you haven’t contacted me all these years, and I had no idea where in the world you were."