As Xiao Wei said, she wrote down everything she knew. There were a few questions she couldn't answer, so she left them blank and returned them to Cheng Ran after she finished writing.
"Your questions are quite detailed. You know so much. Comrade Cheng, do you have any big plans coming up?"
After collecting the written papers, Cheng Ran smiled and shook his head.
"No, it's just that it's never a bad thing to know more."
“Indeed, um…” Xiao Wei’s eyes flickered. “There are some things I can’t write down, so I’ll just say a few words to you. Just let these words go in one ear and out the other, don’t take them to heart.”
"Oh? Go ahead and tell me, I won't spread it around."
Cheng Ran is straightforward and honest, but that doesn't mean he's stupid. Usually, these kinds of words are the most useful, and since the other person is willing to say them, he certainly can't let his mouth fall open.
"You come from the military, you're all straightforward, one is one, two is two, do you think most of the people in our institute are researchers and must be simple-minded?"
He raised an eyebrow, indicating that he hadn't thought that way, but he also didn't overcomplicate things. So, he remained noncommittal and simply smiled.
The next second, Xiao Wei waved her hand: "Actually, it's not like that. The simpler the place, the deeper the water often is. Take the year before last and last year for example, many good talents were rejected. Those who came in all had connections. But what could we do? We could only turn a blind eye. The lack of progress in scientific research is also largely related to this."
After hearing these words, Cheng Ran, who had experienced many things, was also shocked. Although the army sometimes had people recommended through connections, the real training could also weed out some people. Those who remained, if not elites, were at least not pushovers.
I never imagined that there were so many things going on at the research institute.
"What did those who were turned away do in the end?"
"Hey, who can say for sure? Some people do favors for people with powerful connections in private to try and get in, while others climb up from the bottom and aren't smooth, so they can only go back to where they came from. The most pitiful are the idealists, sigh... They have talent but nowhere to use it, and it's normal for them to end up depressed."
It was clear that Xiao Wei was speaking from the bottom of her heart. Her face was filled with sorrow, perhaps because she had touched on a painful memory. She shook her head.
"You don't know, if it weren't for my wife back then, I probably would have been squeezed out too. Fortunately, my wife has been rising in rank over the years, and I have benefited from it. But because of the grudges from the past, I now have a position but no access to core research or funding. I just get a fixed salary and do a job that anyone can do, and occasionally I take the blame for them."
"So that's how it is..."
Cheng Ran narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. Sure enough, his understanding was not deep enough. After hearing Xiao Wei's words, he felt terrible.
"Comrade Cheng, you must not tell anyone what I'm telling you, or I'll definitely be in trouble."
"Don't worry, I won't tell."
"That's good. I trust you. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
"Yes, thank you for today."
"It's nothing, as long as it helps you." Xiao Wei waved her hand, got up and left.
As soon as I opened the door, I saw Wang Yan standing there. It looked like she had just passed by, or perhaps she had been standing there for a while, which made me feel uneasy.
"Woof... Comrade Woof, what are you doing here?"
"What were you doing in Comrade Cheng's office for so long? Did you say anything you shouldn't have?" Wang Yan's tone was probing and warning. "You're a senior member of the institute, you should know what you should and shouldn't say, otherwise, if you cause trouble, no one can protect you!"
You've misunderstood.
"Hmph, that would be best!"
Wang Yan glared at her, straightened her new dress, and swayed her hips as she pushed open the door and went inside.
Thinking it was Xiao Wei returning, Cheng Ran looked up, saw Wang Yan, and frowned in disgust.
"Why is it you?"
"I've come to see if there's anything I can help you with. I know everyone and everything in the institute well."
"No need, I'll report to my superiors and request detailed documents if I want to know."
He was cautious and said that on purpose.
She chuckled twice, continued walking forward, and placed a metal box on his table, pushing it towards him.
"Comrade Cheng, this is a new tin of tea I just acquired, top-grade Da Hong Pao. I'd like you to try it." She said this with a flattering tone.
Cheng Ran didn't even look at it: "No need!"
"Don't rush to refuse. This kind of good thing doesn't come around all the time. Just take it."
This woman is a persistent ghost and doesn't understand human speech. Cheng Ran's expression grew impatient, and he pointed to the door.
"Take your things and get out. I don't like tea, and don't send me anything again!"
"you……"
"Hahaha...Young man, don't get so hot-tempered."
At this moment, a middle-aged man with half-gray hair walked in from outside the door. He looked somewhat like Wang Yan.
She quickly went over and called out, "Dad."
Upon hearing this address, Cheng Ran couldn't help but look over.
"Who are you……"
"I used to hold you when you were little. I'm your Uncle Wang. Don't you remember? Or did your dad never mention me to you?"
He sounds very kind, but he's actually a cunning old fox. It's as if if Cheng Ran answers "no" even once, he'll be labeled as disrespectful to his elders.
Cheng Ran smirked, "I've mentioned it before. I wonder what brings you here at this hour?"
"Don't act all businesslike. I'm your elder, after all. Can't I come over and show you some concern when it's not work-related?"
Wang Duo, this smiling tiger, sat down directly, subtly putting pressure on Cheng Ran.
“My daughter Wang Yan said that you don’t talk to anyone at the police station. I understand. You’re married now, so you should be more mindful of boundaries. But our two families are also a trial period. Wang Yan is supposed to call you brother. It’s not very humane to do this.”
"Oh? What brings you to say that, Comrade Wang?"
"Take this can of tea for example."
Wang Duo pushed the tea leaves toward Cheng Ran, looked into his eyes, and chuckled.
"Accept what you should accept, so we can help each other out in the future. If you don't accept anything, what kind of people are we?"
So that's what they wanted—to drag him into their schemes. Xiao Wei had only just spoken to him, and this kind of thing came knocking on her door. How interesting.
He placed his hands on the edge of the table, not touching the tea canister.
"The office has a strict set of procedures. As long as it is compliant, reasonable and legal, you can do whatever you want. There is really no need for mutual help or anything like that."
A hint of dissatisfaction flashed in Wang Duo's eyes. What a fool who won't listen to reason!
His face darkened: "Cheng Ran, don't pretend in front of me. I'll be blunt. My cousin Ayan is graduating this year and wants to work at the institute. She needs your signature."
"Signing is no problem..."
The father and daughter were overjoyed, but before they could even open their mouths, Cheng Ran stopped them.
"Did you pass the assessment?"
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