Chapter 2: When Despair Reaches Its Peak, Serenity Follows

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Zhang Jun pedaled his bicycle forward like a man possessed. Suddenly, with a clatter, he fell heavily to the ground. He got up, pushed the bicycle upright, and discovered the chain had come off. Frustrated, Zhang Jun gave the bike a few hard kicks, venting his anger. When misfortune strikes, even a simple bicycle seems to conspire against you! Defeated, he sat down abruptly on the ground and looked up at the sky. A shooting star streaked across! Even in daylight, shooting stars appear, but only those bright enough can be seen with the naked eye.

“Sir, sir! Hey, I’m talking to you!” came a sly, aged voice. Zhang Jun turned his head to see a small fortune-telling stall set up under the shade of a tree by the street. A slender old Taoist waved at him. “Sir, want your fortune told? You’re about to have a stroke of good luck!”

Zhang Jun spat disdainfully. “Go trick someone else! Is there anyone more unlucky than me? My wife’s cheating, I just fell off my bike, and I’m nearly thirty with nothing to show for it! My parents worked hard, scrimping and saving to put me through graduate school, and I can’t even repay them! And you say I’m about to get lucky? Clearly, you don’t see well!”

The old Taoist approached, patted Zhang Jun’s shoulder, shaking his head with a knowing smile. “No, no! As the saying goes: after extreme misfortune comes peace; after small losses, great gains. Just stay calm. Within three days, good news will arrive from the East.”

Looking at the time, Zhang Jun realized he was nearly late for work. He stood up, fixed the bicycle chain, and as he mounted the bike, he said, “Thanks! If I do get promoted or make money, I’ll come back and pay you for the fortune.”

The old man called after him, “Remember, you owe me five yuan!”

Zhang Jun arrived at his office and sat down at his desk. He replayed the day’s events in his mind. He wasn’t sure if his wife really had an affair with Zhou Wenbin, but flies don’t land on a gapless egg. If Liu Yujie wasn’t trying to use Zhou Wenbin’s little bit of power, why would anyone be after her? That scoundrel even dared to come to their home asking for favors?

He wanted a virtuous wife, but Liu Yujie no longer suited him. This marriage—he had to end it.

Power! Damn this power!

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Zhang Jun was well-educated, talented, but utterly lacked power. His cold gaze swept to the tall phoenix trees outside the window. Oh, tall phoenix trees, when will you attract a phoenix to perch upon you?

“Cough!” The office director, Sun Quan, came over and rapped on Zhang Jun’s desk, adopting a patronizing tone. “Zhang Jun, have you finished the technical article on traditional Chinese medicine theory I asked you to write?”

Zhang Jun frowned. “Director, didn’t we agree on seven days to submit it?”

Sun Quan adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and said sternly, “Today is already the sixth day. You still haven’t finished? What have you been doing? You’re a graduate student, yet you can’t even handle this simple task!”

Zhang Jun, irritated, suddenly stood up and glared at Sun Quan. “So what if I’m a graduate student? Graduate students do scientific research, not write official-sounding articles in the office for you!”

His colleagues stared in shock. This normally gentle scholar, always refined and compliant, dared to defy the director today? Was the sun rising in the west?

“Ha!” Sun Quan trembled with anger, pointing at Zhang Jun’s nose. “How dare you talk back to me? I’m your superior. Do you believe I can send you to work night shifts in the pharmacy?”

Zhang Jun sneered defiantly, “Fine! I’d rather work in the traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy! The scent of herbs is far more pleasant than the stifling atmosphere in this office!”

His new apprentice, Xie Xiaoya, gently tugged his sleeve and whispered, “Master, that’s Director Sun.”

Zhang Jun brushed aside her slender arm, glared fiercely at Sun Quan, and said proudly, “A man born between heaven and earth should not languish beneath others for long! Today you have power and suppress me, but don’t fear my fortunes will turn!”

Sun Quan stroked his messy balding hair and laughed loudly. “You think you can? You’re a rustic from the countryside who just happened to study longer than others. What connections do you have in this provincial city? Without connections, how do you expect to rise? You’ll never turn your life around!”

Suddenly, a commanding voice came from the doorway: “What’s going on here?”

Everyone in the office turned toward the door and sat upright, greeting in unison, “Director!”

The visitor was Wu Guoquan, Director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute. He approached and asked sternly, “Comrade Sun Quan, what’s the matter?”

Sun Quan, like someone facing authority, anxiously complained, “Director, you came just in time. I told Zhang Jun to write an article, but he kept refusing! When I said a few words, he not only didn’t apologize, he even dared to talk back!”

Wu Guoquan said sternly, “Comrade Sun Quan, I heard everything you said just now. How could you talk like that? You say no connections means no promotion? Zhang Jun is from the countryside, yes, but whose family going back three generations isn’t rural? Don’t look down on your fellow farmers!”

Sun Quan was surprised; today the director’s attitude was unusual. Previously, Wu Guoquan hadn’t deliberately suppressed Zhang Jun, but neither had he promoted him, since Zhang Jun neither flattered anyone nor gave gifts—he only buried himself in work. No matter how learned or talented, someone like that has no path upward in this workplace.

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Today, Wu Guoquan clearly showed favoritism toward Zhang Jun.

What was going on?

After the director’s reprimand, Sun Quan nodded and kowtowed, not daring to utter a word of disagreement.

When Wu Guoquan turned to face Zhang Jun, his expression softened, his wrinkles blooming into a smile like a chrysanthemum.

Zhang Jun had never seen the director like this before and asked in confusion, “Director, is something wrong?”

Wu Guoquan chuckled, “Zhang Jun, come with me to my office.”

Zhang Jun agreed, thinking he was probably about to be scolded or even sent to work night shifts in the hospital pharmacy.

He followed Director Wu step by step.

By now, he was completely calm, his face serene, betraying no sign of the day’s setbacks and failures.

If death is a nail in the sky, then life must last forever!

What is there to fear?

What could be worse than today’s events?

He wasn’t asking for promotions anyway; a man without desires remains noble in character.

When they reached the director’s office, Wu Guoquan smiled warmly and invited Zhang Jun to sit. Folding his fingers and resting his arms on the desk, he asked kindly, “Comrade Zhang Jun, what is your relationship with Deputy Governor Ma, who oversees health affairs?”

Zhang Jun was surprised and unsettled. The usually stern, aloof Wu Guoquan was speaking to him with such a friendly smile.

He answered truthfully, “Director Wu, I don’t know Deputy Governor Ma.”

Wu Guoquan clearly didn’t believe him. After a moment’s thought, he smiled again, “Deputy Governor Ma called my office and asked me to notify you to visit his office. He has something to discuss with you.”

Zhang Jun wondered to himself, What possible connection do I have with Deputy Governor Ma? Why would he want to see me?