For some time afterward, rumors frequently circulated that a certain leader from a certain organization had been taken away.

However, this incident seems to be mainly targeting government officials, with little impact on ordinary people at the grassroots level.

In addition, the black markets in Beijing have been largely cracked down on recently, especially those peddlers who privately buy and sell various tickets.

Li Chu has been visiting his sister's house quite often lately, since both she and her husband are currently in leadership positions, and he is quite worried about them.

Today was my day off, and my sister's family came over this morning. After lunch, Li Qin and Ding Qiunan took the three children out for a walk in a stroller, and Xiao Hei went along too. It's almost inseparable from its two little owners now.

Li Chu, his brother-in-law, and Wang Jiadong were sitting in the courtyard.

"Is Jiadong taking the college entrance exam this year?" Li Chu suddenly remembered that his nephew was already 17 years old.

Wang Jiadong was sitting on the swing reading a book when he heard his uncle's question. He put down his book and came over: "Uncle, there are less than three months until the exam."

"So, are you confident?" Li Chu looked at Jia Dong with great interest.

Wang Ziwen glanced sideways at her son and said, "If he can pass the exam, then our Wang family's ancestral graves will truly be emitting auspicious smoke."

Although his father's words were full of sarcasm and disdain, Jia Dong still nodded and said with a wry smile, "Uncle, the chances are really not high. How did you pass the exam back then?"

“Me?” Li Chu shook his head and said, “It’s different. Back then, the college entrance examination had both regional and school recruitment, unlike yours now which has a nationwide unified enrollment.”

Wang Jiadong looked at Li Chu with envy after hearing his words: "Uncle, isn't that super easy?"

"To be honest, it was simpler than it is now, because there were fewer students back then. If it were too difficult, we probably wouldn't have been able to recruit anyone."

Wang Ziwen said with a smile, "When we found out you were accepted into medical school, your parents were overjoyed."

Li Chu laughed too: "I still remember it to this day. When my dad heard that it would take eight years, he was eating and he just stopped moving, like he had gone mad."

"What made you decide to study traditional Chinese medicine back then?"

“Brother-in-law, it’s not that I wanted to study traditional Chinese medicine. I originally wanted to study Western clinical medicine, but my score wasn’t high enough, so they transferred me here. When I received the notice, I was completely stunned. I was thinking, what is traditional Chinese medicine? It’s just a bunch of rotten roots and tree bark. What’s the use of studying that stuff?”

Wang Ziwen and Jia Dong both laughed when they heard Li Chu's words.

"When I got home, I was too embarrassed to say that my grades weren't good enough to transfer, so I had to bite the bullet and say that I got the major myself."

"Actually, this is for the best. Otherwise, you wouldn't have met your master and wouldn't have learned these skills," Wang Ziwen said with emotion.

Yes, every cloud has a silver lining. But he wouldn't be where he is today if he only relied on his master's teachings.

"Brother-in-law, what are you and my sister planning to do with Jia Dong? If he doesn't pass the exam, will he have to go to work?" Without mentioning himself, Li Chu started worrying about his nephew's future.

Wang Ziwen glanced at her son and asked, "Would you like to learn traditional Chinese medicine from your uncle?"

Li Chu looked at Wang Jiadong with hope, thinking that it would be best if his nephew was willing to learn.

Wang Jiadong hurriedly waved his hands: "Dad, Uncle, please spare me! I've seen it in the medical room, good heavens, it's so thick and there's so much stuff, I can't learn it."

Hearing his nephew's words, Li Chu was a little disappointed, but he didn't say anything. He knew that one had to be interested in medicine to learn it; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to learn it at all, and forcing him to learn it would be a waste of time.

"Then tell me what you want to do? We'll arrange a job for you after graduation."

"Dad, I'm fine with anything. I'll listen to you and Mom."

Li Chu thought for a moment and then said, "Brother-in-law, I have an idea. I'll tell you all and you can all consider it."

Wang Ziwen nodded: "You know, we don't have any good ideas right now. If all else fails, we can only arrange a job for him."

Wang Jiadong also looked at Li Chu, wanting to see what good ideas his uncle had.

“Let Jiadong join the army. He can get promoted in the army, and it will be easier to arrange things for him later, whether he stays in the army or comes back. Otherwise, if he goes to work now, he will only be a temporary worker and will have to wait for an opportunity to become a permanent employee. Even if he becomes a permanent employee, he will only be a worker.”

These kinds of things can only be said behind closed doors at home; if outsiders find out, it will cause trouble. What, do you look down on workers?

Li Chu's words made Wang Ziwen fall into deep thought, and Wang Jiadong was also moved upon hearing them.

Wang Ziwen's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and his face was full of smiles: "I was really blinded by my own limited perspective. How come I didn't think of letting him join the army?"

"Xiao Chu, that's a good idea." Then Wang Ziwen looked at her son and asked, "What do you think? Is what your uncle said okay?"

Wang Jiadong nodded hurriedly, appearing quite excited.

"Okay, we'll talk to your mother when she gets back." Seeing that her son was willing, Wang Ziwen didn't say anything more; after all, it was a better option.

When Li Qin and Ding Qiunan returned, Wang Ziwen immediately told Li Qin about it.

After listening, seeing her son's hopeful eyes, Li Qin reached out and pulled him into her arms, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"I don't think I've hugged Jia Dong like this since he started junior high school," Li Qin thought to herself.

At this point, Li Qin was no longer the brave and decisive women's team leader from before liberation, nor the efficient and decisive director of the street office.

She is now a mother, and her child has grown up and needs to spread his wings and fly on his own.

Although she was extremely reluctant, Li Qin knew that sending her son to join the army was the best option if he couldn't get into university.

Without much hesitation, Li Qin nodded.

As she nodded, Wang Jiayuan burst into tears, crying loudly, "No, I don't want my brother to leave! I want him to stay home with me!"

Wang Jiadong, who is already over 1.7 meters tall, walked to his sister's side and easily picked her up.

Wang Jiayuan hugged her brother's neck tightly and cried even louder.

Holding his younger sister, Wang Jiadong sat on the swing in the yard, whispering in her ear, trying to cheer her up.

Wang Jiayuan's crying made Li Qin's eyes redden as well.

Wang Ziwen sat to the side, lit another cigarette, and remained silent.

Infected by Wang Jiayuan's crying, the two little ones in the stroller also started crying, making Xiao Hei anxiously circle around outside the stroller.

Li Chu and Ding Qiunan walked over and each picked one up.

While patting Wen Hui in his arms, Li Chu said, "No, what are you all doing? It's not like you're leaving now. What if Jia Dong gets into university? Then he won't have to join the army. Even if he does join the army, we can just assign him to a unit near Beijing."