Year 2000, Scene of Jiang Yiming's Family Life

"Neither honor in gaining an official position, nor disgrace in losing it. Don't claim that an official post is useless, the entire locality leans on it. Eating the grains of the populace, wearing the clothes of the populace. Don't consider the populace easy to bully, you too are part of the populace."

This was the instructive advice Jiang Yunzhou, borrowed from the inner county's couplet, gave to his son Jiang Yiming when he took up the position at another county.

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Fast forward to the year 2000.

In a small farmyard in Xinping County, Dongjiang Province.

Smoky wisps from cooking rise in the air, punctuated by the sounds of crowing roosters and barking dogs.

In the house.

Jiang Yunzhou, wearing a serious expression, is discussing the future choices with his son, Jiang Yiming.

"Yiming, your father leans towards you giving up your public servant position and instead, follow your Grandfather Wei to heal and help people."

"Firstly, you're not adept enough at navigating social circles, making you ill-suited to be a public servant. Secondly, our Jiang family lacks background connections, meaning you could potentially spend your entire life without progressing beyond a rural post. Thirdly, your Grandfather Wei is a respected traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in the province, and he's extremely satisfied with your performance during your internship. He believes you possess a talent for medicine and hopes you will continue to study with him, predicting a brighter future for you."

"If you decide to give up your public servant position, give a phone call to the county organization department to explain your situation. I will find an appropriate time to take you to Master Wei."

"Of course, this is simply my suggestion. In life, you must forge your own path. Whatever you choose, you have to make the decision yourself."

Jiang Yunzhou's gentle gaze rests on his son, awaiting his response.

"Dad, I choose to enter politics!" Jiang Yiming declared resolutely.

Jiang Yunzhou was silent for a few seconds. He then patted Jiang Yiming's shoulder and said, "Since you've chosen your path, walk bravely forward. Whatever choices you make, your dad will always support you."

Jiang Yiming nodded, watching his father’s frail figure as he walked away. Clenching his fist, his eyes reflected a firm resolve as he said, "In this life, I will never let you die with grievances!"

Upon waking up one morning, he discovered that he had been reborn in the year 2000, the new millennium.

In his previous life, that year, he graduated with excellent results from the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and became the village's only college graduate.

During the civil service registration, influenced by his close friends, he signed up as well. As a surprise, his friends who studied every day didn't make it, but he, who had barely prepared at all, ranked first in the combined scores.

After his father found out the results, they had a serious talk about what to do next.

In his last life, he showed no interest in politics, therefore, declined the opportunity and pursued a career in medicine instead.

Under the guidance of Master Wei, he became a renowned traditional Chinese medicine doctor in both far and near places. He even opened several branch clinics, leading a prosperous and fulfilling life.

However, when he reached the age of 45, he witnessed the abrupt death of his two most beloved ones.

His high school sophomore daughter, "Tiantian", who was just returning from her evening self-study session, was picked up by his father, Jiang Yunzhou. Right as they reached the entrance of the clinic, a speeding Porsche 911 came flashing by and hit them, causing their immediate death.

Jiang Yiming, his eyes bloodshot, rushed out to the car demanding the driver to come out, but the driver refused to cooperate and arrogantly shouted out, "It's their own blind eyes! Look how they scraped my car! I should be asking you to compensate me!"

"You dare to sue me? My dad is Li Gang!"

Jiang Yiming wanted nothing more than to kill him, but was stopped by traffic police who quickly arrived on the scene.

After testing, it was confirmed that the other party was drunk driving.

A matter as clear as day, but the final verdict enraged Jiang Yiming to an extreme degree.

The judge unexpectedly acquitted the offender in court on the grounds that he had a mental illness certificate!

Someone informed him that the offender's father held great power and influence, urging him to let it go.

He often saw the figure of Li Gang in the news, but with the innocent tragic deaths of his closest kin, how could he possibly let it go?

Jiang Yiming made repeated appeals, continuously petitioning for justice. Instead of waiting for a fair retrial, his wife, a professor, was implicated and dismissed by the school.

What he didn't expect was that a major medical accident suddenly occurred in the hospital, all the wards were sealed, and he himself was sentenced to six months in jail.

At this moment, he truly understood the power of authority!

After being released from prison, while he was at home caressing his daughter's photograph and contemplating how to seek justice for his daughter and father in his own way, a sudden explosion sound rang out, he felt a massive shock wave that flung him away.

When he opened his eyes, he had returned to the year 2000.

Therefore, after his rebirth, he didn't hesitate to choose a political career.

He believes that with the experience of living an extra life and the foreknowledge of the future, he would certainly be successful in his official career!

Able to protect his family, and personally slay his enemies!

"Yiming, come out for a moment."

His father's call came from outside.

"He's here."

Jiang Yiming collected his thoughts and walked into the courtyard.

At this moment, Jiang Yunzhou, pushing a cart with two bottles of sesame oil and a basket full of free range chicken eggs at his feet.

"Take these items and come with me to the county town to pay a visit to your uncle."

"If you're interested in politics, I'll do my best to help you find connections and see if we can get you positioned in a better township to start at a higher level."

"Don't resist, whether or not he will help is his decision, but it’s up to us to seek it."

"If your uncle is willing to help, that would be fantastic. If he doesn't want to assist, at least we've tried."

Jiang Yiming knew in his heart that there was a slim chance his uncle would help, but if they don’t try, how would his father let it go?

He carried the sesame oil and the eggs, sat on the back seat of the bicycle, and headed towards the county town.

His uncle, Jiang Yunhai, was the deputy director of the county's Forestry Bureau. While he can't be considered even a low-grade official in the whole country, he was a significant official in Xinping County.

Every year when Jiang Yunhai came back to honor his ancestors, he was always surrounded by a massive crowd, which was quite impressive.

Although Jiang Yiming's father and his uncle were brothers, the relationship between the two families was not good.

Initially, his uncle was a primary school teacher. After marrying into a family with a government background through somebody's introduction, his wife's father used his connections to have his uncle transferred to a work unit directly under the county.

After several tumultuous events, he became the deputy director of the Forestry Bureau, an individual everyone fawned over.

Utilizing the power in his hands, the uncle forced his father to set up a nursery base to manipulate project funds.

My father gently declined the request, advising his elder brother to abide by the law.

This upset my uncle greatly and he scolded my father, calling him old-fashioned. This led to some tensions between the two families.

Coincidentally, during this period, someone reported that my uncle had been embezzling project funds. The County Discipline Inspection Commission began an investigation and my uncle narrowly avoided severe disciplinary action. In the end, thanks to the intervention of his father-in-law, he managed to dodge a bullet.

My uncle's family believed that my father was behind all this and eventually cut off all contact with us.

But my father is a proud man who would never solicit help from them, no matter what difficulties he encountered.

This time, for the sake of seeking a good future for his son, he had no choice but to swallow his pride.

My uncle lived in a high-end residential community in the county town. It took us a while to find the place.

The last time we came was five years ago.

That time, Cousin Jiang Tao had gotten into a fight and was injured. When we came to visit, my uncle's family had us leave the gifts at the door and sent us away.

Later, we came to know that Jiang Tao had seriously injured a gangster in a fight over a girl.

Since Jiang Tao was at fault, he was to be arrested and sentenced.

With much intervention, he was sentenced to only three years.

"What brings you here?"

Jiang Yunhai, dressed in a white shirt and an elegant leather belt, opened the door, frowning upon seeing my father and me.

"Brother, we've brought you some freshly laid eggs from our chickens," my father said, "I was hoping we could ask you about something too."

Jiang Yunzhou managed to squeeze out a smile and said, "Yiming got admitted as a township civil servant. We both don't understand how the system works. Can you give him some advice to avoid detours?"

"So he's become a civil servant?"

Jiang Yunhai was slightly surprised before he raised his head, "Working within the system isn't as breezy as you think. I advise you to give up this notion as soon as possible."

"We are aware it's not easy, but Yiming really wants to enter the system. Can you give some guidance?"

Jiang Yunzhou pleaded sincerely.

"If you want me to arrange a good township for him, it's not impossible. But as you know, a good position attracts many people, and not everyone can get there."

Jiang Yunhai raised five fingers, "Give me fifty thousand, and I can handle things."

"Fifty... fifty thousand?"

Jiang Yunzhou was startled.

Back in 2000, the monthly salary for a civil servant was only six to seven hundred. Fifty thousand was a substantial amount of money!

"That's... that's too much, I can't afford it."

Jiang Yunzhou's face flushed red.

"Wanting a good position with no money?"

Jiang Yunhai sneered, "Stop daydreaming!"

"Jiang Yunhai, have you forgotten the old times of our brotherhood?"

"Back then, my grades weren't worse than yours. However, I voluntarily dropped out of school and took up farming to support your education. After you established your own family and have been doing better than me, I never once troubled you, regardless of my difficulties."

Jiang Yunzhou tried to prompt his elder brother's conscience, "This matter is critical to Yiming's future. That's why I'm coming to you. Won't you even consider a little familial affection?"

"If I didn't care about family, do you think you'd be able to knock on my door?"

"You..."

Jiang Yunzhou was left at a loss for words.

"Dad, let's not ask him for help."

Jiang Yiming said in a deep voice, "We'd rather die poor than humble ourselves. No matter how hard times can get, we will not bow down. One day, we'll make something of ourselves!"

"Heh, you think you can actually do that?"

Jiang Yunhai disdainfully said, "You have no power, no influence. Do you honestly believe that just by being a college student you could get promoted?"

"I hate to break it to you, but you'd be lucky to reach associate level before retirement!"

"Take your trash away, and don't dirty my doorstep."

After finishing his declaration, Jiang Yunhai 'slammed' the door shut.

Left with a sour disappointment, Jiang Yunzhou rued, "It's all because I'm worthless. If we had money at home, this would have been easy to solve."

"Dad, don't say that. You've done more than enough by helping me get into college. The rest is up to me."

Jiang Yiming sincerely added, "Trust me, I can make a name for myself even without his help!"