Chapter 52: Long Acclaimed

fter class, we were talking at their table about it. I thought since your company is also looking for projects to invest in, wouldn't it be great if you invested in Star Sea Square If they are short o...Volume 2: Sailing Towards a New Journey Chapter 52: Long-Awaited Meeting

Su Can saw Wang Bo receiving people in front and shaking hands with Su Licheng without much conversation. Instead, he looked at Su Can, who smiled at him warmly—after all this time, Wang Bo still appeared as sharp and efficient as ever.

As they got closer, Wang Bo was not hesitant to move away from the people fawning around him and greeted Su Can with a smile. "Look here, if you had set up your company earlier, today you might be sitting alongside your father on the stage. Don't worry about it; next year maybe. I see how hard you're working, so there should be some prospects for you next year."

Wang Bo was undoubtedly well-informed about many of Su Can's affairs. However, Su Can did not know exactly what else he knew. After all, Wang Bo was just an old fox himself; FaceBook China hadn't become particularly famous in the country at that time, but Wang Bo already knew about what Su Can had done in Shanghai this year. The Wang family probably discussed these matters privately. It's very likely that Wang Weiwei was the source of Wang Bo's information.

At this point, Su Can needed to clarify: "Uncle Wang, the headquarters of FaceBook China isn't even in Chengdu. Next year, or maybe the year after next, I probably won’t be involved in such events; I’ll just come with my father every year."

"You are a person who came out of our city and will eventually become a representative of Chengdu's entrepreneurs regardless of qualifications. Just take the Dunhuang Shopping Mall as an example—your achievements have certainly made you qualified." Wang Bo’s words at this point were rather ambiguous, his eyes gleaming with something that always gave Su Can the impression he was completely transparent to him.

In reality, in Wang Bo's eyes, he might already consider Su Can a unique outlier. Therefore, even if he knew that Su Can had laid out plans for Chengdu’s commerce at such a young age and made his career flourish overseas before returning home, it didn't surprise him.

They say one's fate comes first, followed by destiny and geomancy. In the past, Wang Bo was a typical atheist who believed that all superstitions would be relegated to history’s dustbin. However, after experiencing ups and downs in life, he gradually started believing in his fate. After reaching a certain stage in life, regardless of where one stood or what position they held, having enough power to face anything without fear remained true; but the unpredictable future still evoked fear and awe.

This was akin to Ji Xiaolan's state of mind when he returned home in disgrace riding in a carriage after his downfall.

And if life truly had its calculations, then Su Can could certainly be counted among the rare few who defy such fates. Reflecting on what he had accomplished over the years—actions that even touched national affairs—it was impossible for an ordinary student of his age to achieve any of them.

At this point in time, students like him would either be wasting their youth carousing outside a university pub or be typical young cynics full of righteous indignation. Some might still be clueless and trying hard to adapt to the world.

Not only did he accomplish things that shrewd old veterans could not achieve even after half a lifetime, but at the most appropriate time and place, he managed to save his family from their困境.

Wang Bo didn't know whether it could be considered as an abnormal obsession for an uncle-like figure—a term used in society—to feel gratitude towards a young man around the same age as his son. Or perhaps, being over forty and holding the position of Secretary of the Municipal Committee in the provincial capital, with access to resources that ordinary people, or even those in power, would covet, how could he possibly think of Su Chan, who was barely twenty years old, as someone "mysterious"

Wang Bo had already spoken enough with Su Chan and had pushed others aside. The crowd naturally saw this clearly. However, the people present were of a certain level to begin with, and they all seemed experienced. Despite their eagerness to use these brief yet valuable moments to discuss matters with Wang Bo in hopes of getting closer or leaving an impression, they maintained a casual demeanor, chatting amongst themselves but not engaging deeply.

"Uncle Wang, let's talk about the reality now. Is there any issue with my father's selection" Su Chan blinked and asked a question that might leave others staring in disbelief due to its straightforwardness.

Su Chan didn't want to beat around the bush regardless. Regardless of how he approached it, he had to think about his future plans. In this era,國企老總步入官場的趨勢逐漸形成，即便在2002年也能找到許多實例。誰都會為未來可能的方向進行一番設想。

Now Su Chan was making a long-term expectation for his father. In a few years, the domestic political landscape would no longer find it strange that businesspeople transitioned to politics; large group CEOs would frequently take on important roles in party and government positions, deviating from the old "scholarly path to officialdom." And some people with practical experience in commerce could offer unique insights and new ideas in economic development when they entered politics. Of course, such a shift also inevitably brought about drawbacks, but overall, political diversification was indeed an important trend of social development.

With his father at this stage, their family had no choice but to move forward; if he could progress even further, it would be even better. This was Su Chan's small ambition. And currently, obtaining the title of provincial outstanding entrepreneur and becoming a political advisor無疑邁出了第一步。

Wang Bo narrowed his eyes slightly, "The election has to go through recommendation, preliminary selection, evaluation, and other stages; I can't say anything definitive."

Su Chan sensed an issue from Wang Bo's words. After a moment of thought, he asked again, "What are the chances"

"Five and open. I'll do my best to protect." Wang Bo said this much, then walked into the venue with a middle-aged man.

Before entering the venue, Wang Bo glanced back at Su Can one last time. He felt that he had already been clear enough; naturally, there were some internal factors that weren't easy to express. But overall, his confidence wasn't very high.

Su Licheng's restructuring and personnel adjustments within the group had already caused quite a stir. Moving around some old networks was secondary; such things wouldn't cause much trouble. More importantly, it involved factional issues. Dafeng Construction Engineering ranked among the top state-owned enterprises in the province, and these types of companies were heavyweights in the provincial area. Who would trust someone managing this asset who wasn’t from their own circle Su Licheng was considered part of Wang Bo's faction; Wang Bo trusted him, but what about others

When Dafeng Construction Engineering underwent leadership changes, Wang Bo had already intervened beyond his usual limits. Now that the backlash has appeared, he cannot underestimate Jiang Guotiao’s methods as the vice-governor in charge of this area. Political pressure is everywhere, and if Wang Bo persists stubbornly on his own path, it would be very disadvantageous for him. At the level of a provincial party committee member, the role that his faction can play has become merely auxiliary. In the past, when he was most likely to advance a step, he ended up in Xi Hai; now, having returned to this political arena, Wang Bo's experience had risen another layer, and there were more things for him to ponder.

Su Can naturally didn't expect that Wang Bo would lay out everything openly. From this, it can be inferred that at his level, there must be a lot of confrontations involved, which cannot be rushed.

The award hall was magnificent and spacious, with yellow-encased seats almost accommodating hundreds of people arranged in the center. The surroundings featured Chinese-style cloud-pattern lattice frames, with ancient paintings and calligraphy adorning them; since it was the hotel's spring welcome hall, there were "spring" characters at the centers of these lattice frames.

The stage had a red background screen exquisitely crafted with the words “Pioneers of Economic Construction - Chengdu Excellent Entrepreneurs Commendation Conference” inscribed on it. Those who came in had already seated themselves quite densely upfront, while those at the back were somewhat sparsely placed; however, as more people entered, the seating gradually filled up.

Su Licheng and some acquaintances walked to the front amidst a bustling crowd. Among them were also children of officials and entrepreneurs, including four men and two women who had met Su Can and Guo Xiaozhong when they entered the lobby. They might have been about eight or nine people before; perhaps due to accompanying their families, they dispersed.

Of these four men, only one initially looked down on Guo Xiaozhong with a bit of arrogance, but nothing else was apparent from them. The girls were naturally the targets of Su and Guo's attention.

The two girls had one single eyelid and one double eyelid. The girl with the single eyelid wasn't particularly pretty; her nose tip even drooped slightly, yet she exuded a pure and innocent charm. The girl with the double eyelids looked extremely ordinary but appeared more elegant due to high-end cosmetics on her face that enhanced her appearance after applying light makeup. Both girls were of medium build and about 158 to 162 centimeters tall; however, when put side by side, their overall aura became somewhat noticeable.

When Su Can and Guo Xiaozhong arrived, they found that the two people who had been observing them earlier were now staring at them intently.

Guo Xiaozhong felt somewhat shy, but Su Can was not modest in the least. He stared right back at them, thinking to himself that these two women before him were mere clouds; after all, he had endured a lot, including seeing Tang Wu and Lin Luoran completely naked. Of course, this latter thought was purely his imagination.

Su Licheng saw Su Can following him and turned around to pat the back of his head, smiling as he said, "This is my son, Su Can. This is Uncle Zhao and this is Uncle Zhang; they are both elders to you. You should still remember Uncle Zhang Qiao from before, right He was your father’s best friend in the military. Back when we were in Xiahai, around 1995 if I recall correctly, you probably met him at a gathering of my dad's comrades."

Su Can couldn’t actually remember; his combined memories from two lifetimes were extensive. However, he did seem to vaguely remember someone like that—a large gathering in Xiahai where people came from places such as Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chengdu for a reunion of his father’s comrades. The mayor personally presided over the event.

Su Can remembered an old photograph where his father was just one of many fathers whose children worked at Engineering Bureau Four. His father sat in the fifth row from the left on the eighteenth seat, quite inconspicuous. In the center of the photo was then-Mayor of Xiahai, with this man named Zhao Qiao, a middle-aged gentleman, positioned either fourth or fifth from the left.

At that time, his father had pointed at the photograph and reminisced about how they were close friends who shared an army dormitory room. He said he used to read under the light of a flashlight after lights-out in the barracks; he eventually went on to university and started off high in life. Now he seemed to be some important official in Chengdu. Su Can, you must study hard if you want to have a future.

Who knew that Zhao Qiao smiled warmly first and said, "Su Can, grown up into a fine young man, haven’t you I heard about you from your dad long ago." Then he joked, "I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for ages."

This statement, especially the last part, made all four men and two women around them exclaim inwardly. They found Zhao Qiao’s words rather strange; as an elder of Su Can’s, how could he say something like "looking forward to meeting" which implied equality

(To be continued)e sixth level is equivalent to the income level of a section-level official or middle management in successful companies, with the highest annual income reaching 300 thousand yuan. This structure cons...