The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Chapter 150 It's Just a Matter of Course

Jian Zheng packed some things he'd forgotten to take when he went to Hong Kong Island last week, figuring he wouldn't be home until the Christmas holidays. However, he had an idea: since it was the new millennium, it would be meaningful for the whole family to spend New Year's Eve in Hong Kong. His father should be fine coming; he was in Southeast Asia on a business trip, so it was convenient for him to come to Hong Kong. The only problem was his mother, the mayor; he wasn't sure if she could come, or if organizational rules would allow it. Until everything was confirmed, he didn't tell his parents his idea, lest the trip fall through and he be disappointed again.

He hadn't expected Hong Kong Island to be cold, so he brought a bunch of summer clothes and only two spare jackets. On his first day on Hong Kong Island, a typhoon hit, hoisting Typhoon Signal No. 8. Work, classes, and some businesses were shut down throughout Hong Kong, and public transportation, minibuses, and some railway lines ceased operation. Having grown up on the mainland, Jian Zheng witnessed firsthand the power of nature. A classmate told him that Hong Kong Island also has winters, with temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius at its coldest.

He planned to pack a few sweaters and a leather jacket for his upcoming trip home, which would be about all he needed. He also wanted to take a few of his favorite books with him, since he couldn't understand the locals at all, and going out felt like being trapped in a birdcage, unable to communicate with them. If a typhoon signal was in effect and he couldn't go out, reading would at least help him pass the time.

After sorting through a pile of things, Jian Zheng realized that he had only brought a backpack with him when he decided to go home on short notice. Looking at the clothes and books piled on the bed and desk, he felt a little worried. He muttered to himself, "Damn! How come I have so much stuff? I need to find a suitcase to pack it all." He remembered that there was an old suitcase his father used in the storage room, which he didn't think he had thrown away yet.

Jian Zheng went to the storage room to find his suitcase and found that the living room light was still on. He could vaguely hear his mother talking on the phone. He quietly went around to the side of the corridor and quickly found the old suitcase in the storage room. He then returned to his room and packed his luggage.

After getting ready for bed, he felt thirsty. The soy sauce noodles he had for dinner were a bit too salty, so he got up to go to the kitchen to get some water. Passing through the living room, he noticed his mother was still on the phone. He was about to go over and remind her to get some rest when he heard her call out, "Old Jian." It turned out she was talking to his father. Jian Zheng couldn't help but smile, thinking to himself, "We've been married for so long, yet we're still so affectionate, having long phone conversations."

Still harboring a childlike heart, he wanted to play a prank. He tiptoed behind the sofa and eavesdropped on his parents' conversation. He planned that if he heard a single affectionate word, he would suddenly appear and give his mother a "scare."

However, what he heard next shocked him. Chang Xidi mentioned that Cheng Agen had helped Jian Zheng obtain an admission letter for the Hong Kong Island Quality Migrant Admission Scheme. This sudden news left him at a loss, and in his panic, the water glass slipped from his hand and shattered with a crisp sound.

Chang Xidi turned around upon hearing the sound and saw Jian Zheng. She quickly said into the phone, "Old Jian, our son is out. I'll hang up now." Before the other party could respond, she hung up.

Jian Zheng walked around to the sofa, intending to question Chang Xidi, but seeing her slightly red eyes, as if she had just cried, his tone softened involuntarily: "Mom, you cried? Did something happen?"

Chang Xidi sniffed gently, and after a moment, her emotions calmed down. She looked at Jian Zheng seriously and said, "Don't worry about the adults' affairs. We'll handle it ourselves. Just do your own thing and don't cause us any trouble."

Jian Zheng gently sat down next to his mother and said earnestly, "Mom, stop treating me like a child. I've graduated from university now, and I should be able to face and solve any problems at home with you. I don't feel at ease leaving home because you're keeping things to yourself like this."

Seeing her mother remain silent, Jian Zheng frowned slightly, her tone tinged with urgency: "Actually, at school, I overheard some rumors that there might have been some inside story involved in my admission process. I carefully compared my grades, and although I'm at the bottom of the admission list, my score is indeed much higher than those ranked after me, fully meeting the admission requirements. I really don't understand why such rumors are circulating. Mom, tell me the truth, did you pull strings or do anything to get me admitted? If this matter is truly unclear, I won't be able to hold my head up at school, let alone concentrate on my studies."

After saying this, Jian Zheng's eyes reddened slightly. He knew his mother liked to arrange everything for him, but it depended on the situation. For things like this, no matter how much effort or difficulty she put in, it wouldn't work. Judging from the situation, his mother seemed to have encountered something, so he hoped to be treated as an adult and share the responsibilities of the family.

Chang Xidi's eyes reddened again. She was both gratified by her son's understanding and very saddened that she had dragged him down. She pondered for a moment and said, "Son, you are very good. It is your mother who is bad."

She paused, then continued, "You were admitted to the Hong Kong Island Quality Migrant Admission Scheme entirely because of your hard work and your grades. There's no doubt about that; it's a fact. But Cheng Agen insisted on meddling and interfering, taking all the credit for himself."

Jian Zheng became more and more confused. If he was admitted through normal examination, how could there be rumors that he was pre-selected through back channels? "There can't be no smoke without fire. If Uncle Cheng didn't do anything, why would he take credit for it in front of you? Aren't you and Uncle Cheng good friends? Mom, what's going on? Just tell me directly."

Looking at her son's eager eyes, Chang Xidi sighed softly and said, "The University of Hong Kong only has three places for mainland students in this program, and you ranked fourth, just short of the quota. Coincidentally, a student ahead of you, surnamed Jiang, experienced a major family crisis and couldn't afford the tuition. This program is a special program outside the regular enrollment plan, so it can't use up scholarship slots within the regular enrollment plan, and there's no budget for subsidies for students in need. Therefore, this student surnamed Jiang has already decided to give up his place and has submitted an application to the university to withdraw. Logically, the admission spot should be given to you based on your ranking, which is a natural thing to do, and in fact, that's how the university operates."

Jian Zheng understood perfectly. His admission was legitimate, so why was it being said that it was pre-arranged and obtained through connections? He asked, "And what about Uncle Cheng? How did it become that he was the one who got it?"

A sharp glint flashed in Chang Xidi's eyes as she said with dissatisfaction, "Cheng Agen found a classmate surnamed Jiang and gave him a sum of money for no reason, telling him it was to help him and his family out of their predicament. But when he came back, he told me that he applied to give up his enrollment spot because he took his money."

Upon hearing this, Jian Zheng jumped up and said angrily, "How could Uncle Cheng do this! He's putting everyone in there! Why would he do that?"