What Is Identity, What Is Status

"Hongfei, why were you back so late? Was your side busy with the higher-ups? If you're really that busy, you can head back now. Nothing's happening here—we're just having a family gathering because your cousin said he can get into an Academy. A little early celebration."

Jiang Yongren raised his wineglass, his face already carrying a trace of drunkenness.

His eyes were unfocused, and he had not noticed anything wrong with his son at all.

"Big Brother, were the social engagements too exhausting? Get some rest." Jiang Yinglei, sitting in the corner, was the one who noticed her brother was in poor shape. She immediately rose and went over to him.

Supported by Jiang Yinglei, Jiang Hongfei took the nearest seat.

He lowered his head and shot Jiang Shu a quick glance. His eyes were filled with an indescribable complexity.

"Hongfei, did something happen?"

By now, everyone could see that something was off about Jiang Hongfei.

After all, whenever Jiang Hongfei had come to the dinner table in the past, he would always talk at length about recent political changes and the state of the Xia Kingdom.

Yet today, he had not said a single word.

Seeing the once-lively atmosphere at the table freeze over, Grandfather Jiang Xiangrong, seated at the head of the table, spoke up.

"N-No, nothing."

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Hongfei shut his mouth and said nothing more.

The instant Jiang Shu had called out "Uncle Zheng," his mind had turned into a pot of mush.

He had no idea what happened afterward. All he knew was that everything he had done in front of his cousin before now felt like one enormous joke!

What successful landing? What being deeply valued by his leaders?

Before Jiang Shu, who could converse amicably with Director Zheng—

What did any of that amount to?

"Ah, he's probably just exhausted from all the social engagements. Hongfei's been very busy lately. Last time, he even told me that the Culture and Tourism Bureau might be assigning new tasks, and he might have to work overtime later on. There's no helping it—it's all for the Xia Kingdom, all in service to the people."

Seeing his son keep his head lowered without saying a word, Jiang Yongren hurriedly stood and tried to smooth things over.

"No matter how busy you are, you still need to rest properly. Health is the capital of revolution. Hongfei, you're the eldest grandson of the family. Among our Jiang Family, you're the one doing best. As long as you're healthy, this old man can rest easy."

"Enough. Since everyone's at the table, don't think about work anymore. Eat and drink. Today is a joyous occasion too. Yongyi said Xiao Shu can enter an Academy through his Martial Dao results. Your grandfather is old and doesn't understand this stuff."

"I only hope that after Xiao Shu enters the Academy, he studies hard and strives to become a civil servant after graduation, just like your eldest brother Hongfei. That way, our Jiang Family will have two iron rice bowls."

"Your grandfather's face will shine with glory too!"

Jiang Xiangrong looked from Jiang Hongfei to Jiang Shu as he offered his encouragement.

In his view, getting good grades while you were a student did not count for much. What truly mattered was what job you did afterward!

Wasn't his granddaughter Jiang Yinglei from a Key University? But she worked at a foreign company, and he did not like that!

So what if she made twenty or thirty thousand a month?

Was it stable?

His eldest son, Jiang Yongren, ran a business. In good years, he could make four or five hundred thousand annually.

But so what? Any random section chief could make him set up a banquet and invite them over for all sorts of entertaining.

He might be old, but he was not senile.

In the Xia Kingdom, having more money could not compare to having power in your hands.

His grandson Jiang Hongfei was still only an ordinary civil servant, with little power to speak of. But what about in a few years?

A low salary did not matter.

Once you had power, what could you not have?

"Dad, children have their own ideas. He can do whatever he wants when the time comes. As elders, all we need to do is support him."

The moment Jiang Xiangrong finished speaking, Xu Lizhi frowned and kicked her husband, Jiang Yongyi, under the table. Jiang Yongyi immediately caught on and, for once, talked back to his father.

After their son had laid everything out for them a few days ago, he had talked a great deal about his inner thoughts and his predictions for the future.

They knew perfectly well that their son had absolutely no intention of entering politics.

His heart held only Martial Dao.

"Yongyi, that's not right. For someone like Hongfei, with lofty aspirations, we parents only need to support him. Our vision may not be as good as his, after all. But Jiang Shu is still young. Getting into an Academy through martial arts is like those Go prodigies or esports prodigies—they can receive special approval to enter good universities."

"He's caught the tailwind of the times, but what about later? Dad isn't wrong at all. These days, every industry only feeds you for a while. Only being a civil servant is the most stable!"

Before Grandfather Jiang Xiangrong could speak, Eldest Uncle Jiang Yongren shook his head as he spoke.

"Big Brother, are you saying that in the Xia Kingdom, only becoming a civil servant counts as having lofty aspirations?"

"What else? Like you, getting laid off and driving Didi? Or like your sister-in-law, getting fired and opening a clothing store? Do you know that degrees are losing value? If you can't go on to graduate school or earn a doctorate, then once you come out with just a bachelor's degree, no matter how good your university was, you still won't find a good job! Without a good job, there's no stability. The two of you today are what Xiao Shu and Xiao Yan will be tomorrow."

"You—"

"Enough! Stop arguing! Eat!"

Jiang Xiangrong slapped the table hard.

Within the Jiang Family, Jiang Xiangrong held absolute authority.

After all, he had personally arranged all three of his sons' marriages back then. If a house needed to be built, he built it; whatever needed preparing, he prepared it. Now that his three sons had families of their own, they still could not stir up much of a storm before him.

The dining table immediately fell silent.

Everyone ate quietly.

"Dad, Mom, let's go. I'm full."

Seeing that Jiang Yan Yue had stopped picking up food altogether, Jiang Shu suddenly stood and spoke.

His parents were his parents.

His little sister was his little sister.

But as for the other relatives, he did not necessarily acknowledge them.

Even if, by blood, they were his closest kin.

The fact that he had not exploded on the spot was already giving them plenty of face.

"It's rare for us all to get together. Sit a little longer."

Seeing Jiang Xiangrong's face tighten, Jiang Yongyi hurriedly pressed Jiang Shu back into his seat.

The group remained at the table for another half hour.

The entire gathering ended in an utterly ridiculous, anticlimactic fashion.

Because of the argument during the gathering, when they left the private room, they split up on their own.

Each little family gathered amongst themselves.

"Eh? Hongfei, isn't that your leader, Section Chief Guo?" Jiang Yongren, walking down the stairs, suddenly brightened and pointed at a plump middle-aged man by the lobby entrance.

"Dad, stop talking. Let's go home." Jiang Hongfei tugged at Jiang Yongren's sleeve.

If it had been the old him, he would have made sure to stand out in the crowd, striding over to Section Chief Guo to strike up a conversation.

But now...

All he wanted was to go home and get a good night's sleep.

Yet even Jiang Hongfei himself had not expected that the instant his words fell, Section Chief Guo would look up, wave at them, and greet them.

"See? Even if you don't go over, Section Chief Guo spotted you and is coming to find you."

Jiang Yongren looked smug as he said to the people around him, "Hongfei is just too low-key. But in the office, he's actually very highly valued by his leaders."

Jiang Xiangrong nodded at this, then looked toward Jiang Yongyi's family. "Stay here and watch. You don't listen when I say a few words to you—look at Hongfei. He entered the office at such a young age and built a good relationship with the section chief. Even a section chief comes over to greet him when he sees him."

"Xiao Shu, even if you get into an Academy, even if you graduate from one, will a section chief come shake your hand?"

"That is the difference."

"Watch carefully, and learn carefully. University is only the first step. Once you enter society, you'll understand what identity is, and what status is."

Jiang Xiangrong and Jiang Yongren both adjusted their collars. Only Jiang Hongfei stood there blankly. He knew that there was a very high chance Section Chief Guo was not coming for him.

Sure enough, in the next second, Section Chief Guo's voice rang out:

"Brother Jiang, what a coincidence. We meet again. Whenever you have time, you're welcome to visit our Culture and Tourism Bureau. Just give me a call. I'm always there on weekdays."

Taking three steps as two, Section Chief Guo did not look at Jiang Xiangrong, Jiang Yongren, or Jiang Hongfei.

Instead, he headed straight for Jiang Shu in the corner by the stairwell, his fat face piled high with the broadest smile.

He extended both hands, tightly clasped Jiang Shu's right hand, and shook it vigorously!