Life Was Hard, but Research Went On

Old Cheng was called Cheng Haonan. He wasn't old, just a few years older than Shen Qi.

It was Cheng Haonan's first time in Dongguan in his thirties. That wasn't embarrassing.

What was embarrassing was getting caught in a police crackdown on prostitution.

Fortunately, Old Shen, the chairman, had connections in the southern coastal region, and Cheng Haonan was soon back in Nangang City.

"Director Shen, I've let you and Chairman Shen down..." Cheng Haonan was full of regret and shame. As an intellectual and a technical professional, he really shouldn't have done something so foolish.

"Old Cheng, I know you left home to come south, and you're under a lot of pressure at work. Your wife isn't here with you, either. It's understandable to need a little release. You don't have to apologize to me. Just be more careful next time." Shen Qi didn't berate him, choosing instead to reassure him.

"There won't be a next time. I swear!" Cheng Haonan thumped his chest. The Big Treasure Sword was trouble. From now on, he'd never go near one again.

Cheng Haonan's wife had originally worked around the capital's World Trade Center. Every day, she'd squeeze into office attire and commute up and down the more-than-twenty-story office buildings. She looked polished and fashionable, but didn't earn much, and the work was exhausting. It was a pretty miserable life.

Later, Shen Qi arranged for Mrs. Cheng to take a support staff position at a public institution. Her pay didn't increase much, but the job was stable and easy.

Mrs. Cheng was very grateful to Shen Qi. Every holiday, she sent him greeting texts and all kinds of festive stickers.

Shen Qi wasn't just Cheng Haonan's superior. He also knew Cheng Haonan's wife, and he had evidence that Cheng Haonan had been