Chapter 517 Before the Net Closes

Jiang Zhizhi was surprised by Shang Xingzhou's shock.

Didn't Chu Fenghe and she talk about being colleagues?

Seeing Shang Xingzhou excitedly holding Chu Fenghe's hand and asking him all sorts of questions, he suddenly realized something.

Shang Xingzhou is covering for her, which means they haven't discussed this person privately.

Chu Fenghe was somewhat surprised to see Shang Xingzhou, but not surprised by his relationship with Jiang Zhizhi.

After all, it's no secret in the industry that Jiang Zhizhi is Shang Shiyi's daughter.

Smiling, she greeted Shang Xingzhou: "I never thought we'd meet again. It's probably been seven or eight years since we last saw each other."

Shang Xingzhou smiled sincerely: "Yes, Brother Chu, we haven't seen each other since you went to the countryside. But I heard you're very capable and do very well wherever you go."

Chu Fenghe smiled modestly: "It's not as good as you say. I'm not very bright, and I'm not good at school. I can only start early like a slow bird."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shang Xingzhou noticed there were other people around and quickly said, "Brother Chu, please go ahead and do your work. I need to talk to my sister for a bit."

Jiang Zhizhi slipped some money and food coupons to Xiao Zhang: "You can pay for the dumplings later. My brother and I won't be going."

He then greeted Chu Fenghe.

After the group left, Jiang Zhizhi asked Shang Xingzhou, "Why did you suddenly come?"

Shang Xingzhou was still staring at Chu Fenghe's back when he heard Jiang Zhizhi's words and came back to his senses: "It wasn't sudden, I just happened to be doing some business nearby and thought I'd drop by to see you."

"I didn't expect to run into Chu Fenghe again, but... Chu Fenghe has changed quite a bit. He used to be very thin, but it seems like he has not only gained weight but also grown taller. He looks quite like a leader."

Jiang Zhizhi smiled and patted his arm: "Let's go, let's eat first."

Shang Xingzhou spoke a lot, telling Jiang Zhizhi many things about the South, as well as some news he had heard from Shang Shiyi.

Finally, he assured her, "Sis, just wait. Once I make money, I'll invest in a lab for you."

Jiang Zhizhi chuckled: "Okay, I'll wait for you."

She had the same idea; she simply couldn't stand the current system.

Each application has to go through many hands and various meetings for discussion.

The materials submitted on Monday may not even yield a result by next Monday.

And often, no one can be found.

Whether it's funding or projects, there are all sorts of cumbersome approval processes.

It may eventually come to nothing.

It often makes her feel like she has energy but nowhere to use it.

Unfortunately, each department has a lot of people.

This is a very serious drawback now.

Having your own laboratory would be much more convenient. You could analyze the feasibility of the drug and then go all out to do it.

Shang Xingzhou was still very confident: "Sister, wait for me for two or three years, and I will definitely be able to build a laboratory for you, and then I can build a pharmaceutical factory."

Jiang Zhizhi chuckled: "If you keep talking, are you going to establish a herbal medicine base?"

Shang Xingzhou grinned: "That's not impossible!"

The siblings ate and chatted. After the meal, Shang Xingzhou even escorted Jiang Zhizhi to the school gate.

Before parting, Shang Xingzhou reminded Jiang Zhizhi, "Sister, be careful at work. If you think Chu Fenghe is bad, you should be on guard."

"This is what my instructor told me when I was a recruit: when you have doubts about someone, you must be vigilant."

Jiang Zhizhi patted Shang Xingzhou's shoulder hard: "Not bad, you've got some skills."

Shang Xingzhou chuckled: "I've been by my father's side since I was a child, so I've seen a lot. Besides, Old Shang himself is a shrewd old fox."

He's Shang Shiyi's son, how bad could he be?

After Shang Xingzhou left, Jiang Zhizhi turned around and went back to her office.

I ran into Chu Fenghe in the corridor.

Chu Fenghe seemed to be waiting for her on purpose.

As Jiang Zhizhi approached, Chu Fenghe smiled and said, "I had heard before that you and Shang Xingzhou were siblings, but I was too busy to remember. I only remembered when I saw Xingzhou just now."

“In the past, my family was poor, and my mother was also called a slut by people, so she was looked down upon.”

“I was always bullied, but later Xingzhou and the kids from the family compound helped me. Because of their help, the people who bullied me became much more obedient.”

"Therefore, I will never forget Xingzhou's kindness to me."

Jiang Zhizhi was surprised that Chu Fenghe could so easily reveal such shameful things about his family.

Especially given his current position, everyone would love to hide their past experiences.

He dared to expose it; he's a ruthless person!

Because of their connection in Shangxingzhou, Chu Fenghe took better care of Jiang Zhizhi.

They don't even need to fetch the newspapers from the office; Chu Fenghe will deliver them to them immediately.

They would occasionally send over some apple cookies.

Xiao Zhang was surprised: "Teacher Jiang, Team Leader Chu has been very nice to you lately, saying it's because your brother saved his life."

Jiang Zhizhi smiled, now accepting Chu Fenghe's overtures without question.

After chatting for a while, Xiao Zhang sniffed and said, "Teacher Xiao Jiang, what kind of soap are you using? I feel like the office smells really nice lately."

Jiang Zhizhi pointed to the windowsill: "Is it because we lit jasmine incense?"

Xiao Zhang shook his head: "No, it's not jasmine. It smells like grass and a bit like oranges. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it smells really nice."

Moreover, she felt that the scent would be stronger when she was close to Jiang Zhizhi.

I don’t know if it’s because she’s been doing experiments in the lab for a long time, but she could also smell the herbal scent.

May Day is a national holiday.

The streets are much more lively now.

Jiang Zhizhi and the others also took a day off.

Before leaving get off work, Jiang Zhizhi made a point of checking the duty roster for the May Day holiday.

There was Chu Fenghe and two other male colleagues.

Chu Fenghe was also on night duty, along with a female colleague.

Jiang Zhizhi glanced at it silently for a couple of seconds, then closed the duty roster.

Zhou Xiye did not rest on Labor Day.

Fang Hua and Zhou Chengyu prepared hot pot at home. While cooking the meat, they muttered to Jiang Zhizhi, "Your dad and Xiye aren't taking a break for Labor Day. Especially your dad, he seems to have been even busier in the last six months."

Zhou Chengyu laughed and said, "Isn't it good for my older brother to be busy? If he doesn't go to the grassroots level, he'll be facing retirement soon."

Fang Hua sighed, "He's getting old, it's time for him to retire. The future belongs to the young people. But he just won't accept that he's getting old."

Shangshang and Xiaozhouji were lying on the edge of the table, eagerly waiting for their grandma to cook hot pot for them.

Fang Hua smiled and fed the two children slices of cooked meat with a thick layer of sesame sauce.

The two little ones, their mouths smeared with sesame paste, happily coaxed Fang Hua, "Grandma's cooking is delicious, Grandma wants some too."

Jiang Zhizhi just watched with a smile.

A clap of thunder suddenly rang out outside the window, followed by a torrential downpour.

The raindrops, like beans, pounded on the glass.

Jiang Zhizhi turned her head to look out the window, a vague unease creeping into her heart...