Chapter 212: Runtu
Song Tiantian comforted Jiang Su a little.
Song Tiantian also understood why Jiang Su had become this way.
Back then, she had known quite a few friends. Song Tiantian hoped they had sensed the danger in advance and gone to other towns, rather than staying in Qingshan City forever.
“City Lord, I have an idea! I don’t know if you’re willing to listen. This idea comes from the Jiang family. If you can’t accept it, I also hope we can still be friends in the future.”
Jiang Su’s expression was very serious. At this moment, he no longer called Song Tiantian by her name.
Instead, he solemnly called her City Lord.
Jiang Su knew very well that after he uttered the two words “City Lord,” he and Song Tiantian were no longer purely friends.
In the past, people only approached him for their own benefit.
But he never expected that one day, he would have to ask Song Tiantian for help due to his own benefit.
Actually, Jiang Su cherished his friendship with Song Tiantian very much; it was a pure friendship, not mixed with other things.
But life is unpredictable, and he too would change. People inevitably grow up. When they grow up, they become less lovable and might turn into the kind of person they despise.
Song Tiantian looked at Jiang Su’s serious expression, and her own expression also became serious. Song Tiantian sat up straight and said to Jiang Su, “Tell me! You don’t need to be so serious. If it’s a good idea, I’ll adopt it. You just need to understand that although the Pet Beast Center has become Qingshan City, the person behind it is still Dr. Bai.”
“City Lord, it’s like this. Our Qingshan City is developing at a high speed. I’ve observed that although we can barely achieve self-sufficiency now, if we want Qingshan City to become better, its current size is far from enough.”
“We need to expand. I know you’re concerned about the safety of the Pet Beast Center, but we can build a road and expand outwards. Then, we can let a group of people develop the new district. My Jiang family is very willing to cooperate with you, City Lord, in developing the new district…”
“Developing a new district carries certain risks. Are you sure?”
Song Tiantian actually had the idea of developing a new district, but she didn’t plan to do it so soon.
Because the Pet Beast Center is actually doing alright now. There’s a bar, two bars in fact, and an entertainment venue. The Pet Beast Arena is crowded with people every day.
Jiang Su wanting to develop a new district proves that Jiang Su is willing to stay at the Pet Beast Center. As long as there are industries in the Pet Beast Center, there’s no fear of people not staying.
“In this day and age, if you want to make money, how can you just lie around? Moreover, my family members are used to a life of wealth. Lying around in a small house every day will only make people more decadent.”
“The main thing is not seeing hope for the future. Actually, it’s okay if the house is a bit small, as long as there’s work to do and a future to strive for, a person’s entire demeanor will change.”
Jiang Su watched his father’s decadent appearance every day, and it made him feel very distressed.
He knew his father was capable.
He just lacked a job position.
“I’ll need to discuss this with Dr. Bai, but I really recognize your strength. Our Pet Beast Center’s Law Enforcement Department needs to be rebuilt, and it will be jointly managed by my father and Huang Xiaohua. I have high hopes for you; I hope three people will jointly manage this Law Enforcement Department, and they can take turns enforcing the law.”
Song Ruyu will only be stationed in Qingshan City and will only act in case of danger. She won’t manage affairs normally; she just wants to earn points.
My father is old and easily swayed, and Huang Xiaohua doesn’t know how to be flexible. My older sister has to manage the City Guard outside the city, and she doesn’t have that much energy to manage the inner city.
Primarily, as you know, Qingshan City’s supplies cannot be entirely self-sufficient. Because of this, I need someone to go to Linhai City to procure goods. I’m also worried about my older sister alone, so I hope someone trustworthy can accompany her.”
“I can give you a piece of land here at the Pet Beast Center, and I can grant you a business license. See what your family wants to do then. We’ll have a three-seven split, with me taking thirty percent.”
“City Lord, don’t worry, I will definitely protect your older sister.”
Jiang Su was so happy that he almost blurted out Song Tiantian’s name for a moment.
But he still held back.
Jiang Su remembered reading the essay “Runtu” written by Mr. Lu Xun.
He thought he and his friends would become like that master.
In the end, he became Runtu.
But he had no regrets, because people grow up.
Because he had to abide by the rules of society.
Song Tiantian looked at Jiang Su’s retreating figure and sighed in her heart, “If life were only like the first meeting, why would the autumn wind bring sorrow to the painted fan?”
She and Jiang Su might never go back to how they were.
But this friendship remained a beautiful memory.
Song Tiantian felt unaccustomed and uncomfortable with the title “City Lord,” but she didn’t ask Jiang Su to change his address.
“What, you’re not going to discuss your decisions with me? You’ve been fooling people with my name all this time, and you’ve never told me about your decisions.”
Dr. Bai teased Song Tiantian after Jiang Su left.
“I just didn’t want to tire you out. I sent you the data files, but you didn’t look at them, did you?”
“That’s true. I have too many things to be busy with every day. My Cold Fragrance No. 5 is a great success, and I’ve already got inspiration for Cold Fragrance No. 6.”
“I think you’re busy eating! Look at you, you’ve gained weight, and you’ve even got a double chin.”
Actually, most people have a double chin. Dr. Bai wasn’t fat, but his complexion was much better than before, and he had gained a little weight.
Normally, you wouldn’t see a double chin; it only appears faintly when deliberately making certain facial expressions.
The main reason is that Dr. Bai eats too much, and his two pet beasts also eat a lot.
Dr. Bai has a lot of points.
Once he’s redeemed everything and there’s nothing left to eat, Dr. Bai will urge Song Tiantian to get to work.
Upon hearing Song Tiantian’s words, Dr. Bai uncontrollably touched his chin with his hand. He felt he didn’t have a double chin, but his face seemed to have gained a little flesh.
Seeing this, Song Tiantian patted Dr. Bai’s shoulder reassuringly and said to him, “It’s okay. It’s normal for men to gain weight in middle age. They say many men start going bald and get beer bellies after thirty. Looking at you, you might just have a slight beer belly, but you won’t go bald.”
Dr. Bai looked at Song Tiantian with a doubtful gaze. He couldn’t believe these words were coming from Song Tiantian.
It seemed he hadn’t looked in a mirror for a while.
He looked down at his abdomen. His stomach seemed to have gained a little bit of flesh, but this little bit of flesh couldn’t possibly be considered a beer belly!
Dr. Bai wished he could lift his shirt and let Song Tiantian see clearly that these were abs, not a beer belly.
