Chapter 209 Return and Growth

One week later, Yangjiang, Guangdong.

Chen Xueming stood at the entrance of the construction site, looking at the familiar scene before him. The foundation pit had deepened, concrete pouring had begun, and a massive tower crane rotated slowly under the sunlight.

He took a deep breath and walked inside.

“President Chen is back!” someone shouted.

The construction site instantly became lively. The Project Manager ran over, the Chief Engineer ran over, and several core members surrounded him. They asked all at once:

“President Chen, how is the old man?”

“Was the surgery successful?”

“Why didn't you stay a few more days?”

Chen Xueming waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet:

“My father is fine now. The surgery was a success, and he's recovering well. Thank you all for your concern.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The Project Manager patted his shoulder. “That's good! It's good to have you back! We didn't dare call you these past few days for fear of disturbing you.”

Chen Xueming nodded. “Thank you for your hard work. Dinner is on me tonight; let's all get together.”

The crowd cheered and dispersed.

Chen Xueming stood in place, looking at the construction site. For four months, he had stood here almost every day, watching it transform from a wasteland into what it was now.

But now, looking at it again, the feeling was different.

Before, when he looked at it, he thought of progress, quality, and technical parameters.

Now, when he looked at it, he thought—

Among those who would use cheap electricity, there was his father.

That evening, Chen Xueming treated the project team to dinner.

Over a dozen people gathered around a table filled with dishes. Everyone took turns toasting, and Chen Xueming accepted them all, drinking quite a bit.

After several rounds of drinks, someone asked:

“President Chen, your father must have been overjoyed to see you back, right?”

Chen Xueming nodded. “He was happy.”

“What did he say?”

Chen Xueming was silent for two seconds, then said:

“He said, 'You are doing great things for the country; Dad is proud.'”

The table went quiet for a few seconds.

The Project Manager raised his glass. “President Chen, a toast to the old man! Wishing him a speedy recovery!”

Everyone chorused, “Wishing the old man a speedy recovery!”

Chen Xueming raised his glass and drained it in one gulp.

As he set the glass down, his eyes were a bit red, but he held back and didn't let the tears fall.

Early the next morning, Chen Xueming called Lin Mo.

“Old Lin, I'm back.”

Lin Mo's voice came from the other end. “Is your father better?”

“He's better, he's been discharged.”

“That's good,” Lin Mo said. “How is the progress over there?”

Chen Xueming gave a brief report and then fell silent for a moment.

Lin Mo waited for a few seconds. “What's wrong?”

Chen Xueming took a deep breath.

“Old Lin, I want to tell you something.”

“Go ahead.”

Chen Xueming weighed his words and said slowly:

“Going back this time, I thought about a lot of things.”

Lin Mo didn't speak, waiting for him to continue.

Chen Xueming continued, “In the past, I was arrogant and always felt like the whole world owed me. I thought I was the best and everyone else was inferior. After following you, I slowly changed a bit, but deep down, I still had that same attitude—being competitive and always wanting to prove I was better than others.”

He paused, his voice lowering:

“This time when I went back and saw my father lying in that hospital bed, so thin, I suddenly felt that all the things I used to fight for were meaningless.”

Lin Mo still didn't say anything.

Chen Xueming continued, “My father said, 'You are doing great things for the country; Dad is proud.' When he said that, I cried. In thirty-seven years, it was the first time I cried in front of my parents.”

He took a deep breath.

“Old Lin, from now on, I'm not going to fight or scramble for things anymore. I just want to do some solid work. To do that 'great thing' my father mentioned well.”

Silence lasted for a few seconds on the other end of the line.

Then Lin Mo spoke, his voice very calm:

“Xueming, you are already doing very well.”

Chen Xueming was stunned for a moment.

Lin Mo said, “Do you know what 'very well' means?”

Chen Xueming didn't speak.

Lin Mo continued, “It's not about how many awards you've won, how many papers you've published, or how high an official you've become. It's that the work you do is useful to others. It's that the people around you are willing to work with you. It's that when you go home, your father says, 'I'm proud.'”

He paused:

“All of these, you have achieved.”

Chen Xueming opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.

Lin Mo said, “Xueming, you stopped being that troublemaker long ago. You are Chen Xueming, the person in charge of the Guangdong Power Station, and one of the people I trust most. You don't need to prove anything anymore.”

Chen Xueming's eyes grew hot.

He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady:

“Old Lin, thank you.”

Lin Mo laughed. “What are you thanking me for? Just work hard. When the power station is completed, I'll come to see you.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Chen Xueming stood by the window, looking at the construction site outside.

Sunlight spilled into the foundation pit, reflecting a golden light.

He thought of his father's words and Lin Mo's words.

In the past, he always wanted to prove he was better than others.

Now, he just wanted to do the task at hand well.

To let more people live a better life.

To let ordinary people like his father use cheap electricity and have a slightly better life.

That was enough.

A week later, Li Xiao called.

“Engineer Chen, I heard you're back?” Li Xiao's voice was as lively as ever.

Chen Xueming smiled. “I'm back. How did you know?”

“Senior Brother told me,” Li Xiao said. “He said you've changed and told me to call and check in on you.”

Chen Xueming was taken aback. “I've changed?”

“You have,” Li Xiao said. “Before, you spoke like you'd eaten gunpowder, but now you're much gentler.”

Chen Xueming didn't know whether to laugh or cry. “Was I really that bad before?”

“Yes!” Li Xiao said decisively. “When you first arrived, I didn't even dare speak to you. If I even looked at you, you'd glare back.”

Chen Xueming thought about it; it seemed that was indeed the case.

He smiled. “That was then. What about now?”

“Now?” Li Xiao thought for a moment. “Now you're one of our own.”

Chen Xueming felt a warmth in his heart.

“Xiaoer,” he said, “thank you.”

“Thank me for what?”

“Thank you for never looking down on me.”

Li Xiao laughed. “Engineer Chen, what are you saying? We're on the same team; why would I look down on you?”

Chen Xueming laughed too.

After hanging up, he stood by the window, looking outside.

The winter sun in Guangdong was still so warm.

He remembered what he was like when he first went to the Gobi Desert—arrogant, aloof, and finding fault with everyone.

What about now?

Now there was Old Lin, Xiaoer, Brother Zhao, and this group of people from the project team.

There was a home.

That night, Chen Xueming called his father.

“Dad, how are you today?”

His father's voice was much stronger than it had been a week ago. “Much better! I'll be able to get out of bed and walk around tomorrow.”

Chen Xueming smiled. “Don't rush, take it slow.”

“I know,” his father said. “How are things over there?”

“Pretty good,” Chen Xueming said. “Everything at the site is normal.”

His father was silent for a moment and then asked:

“Xueming, you said last time, how many people can that power station provide electricity for once it's built?”

Chen Xueming thought for a bit. “Phase one is enough for a whole city. Once fully completed, it'll be enough for half a province.”

His father let out a “Whoa!” “That big?”

“Yeah, it's Nuclear Fusion; the energy is massive.”

His father was silent for a few seconds and then said:

“Then when the time comes, will our home be able to use it too?”

Chen Xueming was stunned.

He had never thought about that question.

The power station in Guangdong would send electricity to East and South China. His father was in their northern hometown, far away; he wouldn't be able to use it.

But what about the future?

As more power stations were built, the day would come when they would reach the north, reach his hometown.

He smiled and said:

“Yes. Dad, our home will be able to use it too in the future.”

His father was delighted. “That's wonderful! When the electricity bill gets cheaper, your mother won't have to keep nagging about saving power.”

Chen Xueming laughed.

As he laughed, his eyes grew a bit moist.

He thought of what Lin Mo had said:

“The work you do is useful to others.”

Yes.

Useful to his father.

Useful to his mother.

Useful to millions of ordinary people just like his parents.

That was enough.