Chapter 2

Time flew by, and 2014 arrived.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Liu Hao returned to work at the city transportation management office, but his mood was extremely low. He held a newspaper loosely in his hand, his head drooping.

Before the New Year, after attending a class reunion, he represented the city transportation management office's football team in the Yinzhou City 'Spring Welcome Cup' football tournament and won the championship. However, he was criticized by his superiors because the team they lost to was led by the secretary of the city committee.

Ironically, the decisive moment of the match was his deadly free kick.

The head of the driver training department, Pan Zhi, scolded him bluntly after the game: "We're not afraid of god-like opponents, but we are afraid of pig-like teammates!"

It was clear that Pan Zhi had no intention of letting the team win. Liu Hao, however, scored the goal at the last moment, turning a potential gift into a disaster...

During the morning meeting, Pan Zhi didn't even call him, indicating that his anger hadn't subsided.

Sighing deeply, Liu Hao felt some regret.

At the time, he hadn't thought much about it; he just wanted to score the goal and win the championship.

No wonder his teammates' faces turned the color of liver after he scored, as if they had lost their parents...

It seemed that his chance for a promotion was now gone. He wasn't really stupid; he just focused on the victory and ignored everything else. Now, with this mess, he felt his promotion was also ruined.

Why didn't they just say it outright, instead of making it so secretive! Damn...

The more he thought about it, the more upset he became.

At that moment, his phone rang.

Opening his eyes, he saw it was Cai Jin calling.

"Hey, you, did you really drive all the way from Guiyang for the New Year?"

"Damn, it's the New Year, and you didn't even wish me a happy New Year, but I've got a big gift for you!" Since discovering that Liu Hao had gained weight, Cai Jin started calling him "Little Fat."

"Go to hell, just say what you have to say. I'm in a bad mood!"

"Who's bothering Little Fat? Haven't had a drink with me for two months, are you itchy? Listen, I've signed you up, get ready and come to the competition. Don't forget about Wenfeng Road!"

"Signed up? Competition?" Liu Hao was stunned, not understanding what was happening. What did Cai Jin sign him up for?

"Hey, don't pretend you don't know. Didn't you want to join the professional league? I've signed you up! Get your ass to Beining! I'm going to Wenfeng Road!"

Liu Hao stood there, speechless. He couldn't believe it. Was this really happening?

He pinched his cheek hard, and it hurt!

"Okay..."

After hanging up, Liu Hao rarely smiled, his face as bright as the sun outside, feeling like he was on cloud nine.

He was now a player for the Xiguang Super Football Club!

My goodness, is this real?

He turned on his computer and immediately searched for the "Xiguang Super Football Club player list."

"Liu Hao, not there." He quickly scanned the list but didn't find his name, feeling quite disappointed!

"Damn Cai Jin, you're lying to me! Damn!" He cursed again.

But he didn't give up and carefully read through the list again.

Still nothing.

"Wait, Little Fat? Could it be..." He shivered with excitement.

To be safe, he called Cai Jin back, not wanting to make a fool of himself...

Cai Jin hadn't lied; he used "Little Fat" as the name, intentionally teasing Liu Hao.

But in Liu Hao's view, using a fake name was actually good, as no one would know it was him.

His chubby face bloomed with a brighter smile, so much so that he didn't notice Pan Zhi's stern face appearing in front of him.

"Still smiling? Have you finished your work?"

Liu Hao hadn't expected Pan Zhi to appear suddenly, and his smile froze, looking very awkward.

Weren't they in a meeting? How could it end so quickly! Usually, meetings lasted for two or three hours, but today it was over in half an hour. The sun must be rising from the west...

"Pan... I..."

"This weekend, we need to work overtime to conduct surprise inspections of the city's driving schools. You will lead the inspection team and must do a good job, with no mistakes." Pan Zhi said calmly, "There are eight driving schools in the city, and you need to inspect all of them on Saturday and Sunday."

Liu Hao finally understood why he wasn't included in the meeting earlier. They wanted him to lead the inspection team.

This was a job that would make him unpopular.

Yesterday, a post on the Yinzhou 360 website criticized the transportation management department for being too strict, using very harsh words. Today, Pan Zhi responded by scheduling more inspections over the weekend. This was a harsh move.

Liu Hao had never been part of the inspection team before, but now he was put in charge when the public was angry. This would only invite more criticism.

"According to the investigation, driving instructors often skip work on weekends. This time, we will enforce the law fairly, justly, and transparently." Pan Zhi added this calmly and then left.

Liu Hao was left at his desk, worrying.

This was like playing guerrilla warfare, making life difficult for people. It meant that there would definitely be instructors skipping work, and if they weren't caught, it would be because of an informant. The informant would likely be an insider...

But Liu Hao had good relations with the driving school staff. They had even had drinks together a few days ago, and he had always given them a heads-up about inspections. Now, he was leading the team, and Pan Zhi had explicitly forbidden him from tipping them off. This meant he would have to face the consequences, making him a very unpopular person!

This wasn't the most important issue, though.

The most important thing was that Cai Jin had asked Liu Hao to report on Saturday!

How could he report? Report on Saturday afternoon and play on Sunday?

But what about his work?

He couldn't refuse the task assigned by his superiors, so he hadn't said anything during the meeting.

Worried.

Not being able to refuse didn't mean he had no ideas. A light bulb went off in his head, and he came up with a plan.

Since it wasn't working hours, he could inspect all eight driving schools in the morning and then rush to Beining in the afternoon. Besides, it wasn't his idea; it was the leadership's decision, so any blame would fall on them...

Fortunately, Pan Zhi hadn't said he had to inspect again in the afternoon, or he wouldn't even be able to leave the training ground. He shuddered at the thought.

Cai Jin hadn't given detailed instructions on how to report, just telling him to go directly to the Xiguang Super Football Club in Beining and find him, without bringing anything else.

Although his work caused some difficulties, Liu Hao was still very happy. After work, he took out his long-stored Maotai and prepared to have a few drinks, even telling his wife to buy more food...

"Did you know?" His wife, Zhang Yu, answered the phone, somewhat surprised, glancing down at her slightly protruding belly.

"What do you mean?" Liu Hao was also stunned, not understanding, and worried that his wife had found out about his football plans.

He couldn't let her know; if his mother-in-law found out, he would be even more embarrassed and likely ridiculed.

During dinner, although Liu Hao couldn't contain his excitement, he didn't dare to say anything. Instead, Zhang Yu, with a bright smile, brought out the surprise.

"Hubby, I went to the hospital today."

"Uh, is Auntie's condition better?" Liu Hao nodded, thinking that her condition must have improved, given her happy expression.

"It's not about that. Of course, she's much better; it was just a common cold. What I want to say is something else!" Zhang Yu pulled a chair closer to him, her beautiful eyes darting over her slightly protruding belly.

Hmm? Liu Hao followed her gaze...

Oh... Could it be... Could it be...

"Another one?!" His mouth opened wide, rice grains falling out, his eyes shining brightly, his face beaming with joy, and his hands gently reaching for Zhang Yu's belly...

Liu Hao and Zhang Yu had been married for five years and had a son named Liu Bao, who was currently staying with his grandparents for the winter break. Four years later, Zhang Yu was pregnant again, coinciding with the national policy allowing a second child.

Liu Hao had always wanted a daughter, but he didn't know if Zhang Yu was carrying a boy or a girl.

"Uh, now you'll have to save more for baby formula, and I'll have to manage your salary card, right?" Zhang Yu smiled slyly, with a hint of mischief, "You'll have to take more walks with me, stay by my side more often, pick me up and drop me off on time, and buy me whatever I want, especially late-night snacks..."

"No more drinking with those pig friends! No more playing football... This weekend, we'll go to my parents' place."

Liu Hao was still in a state of joy, but the series of "musts" and "forbids" almost made him faint. When he heard they were going to her parents' place, he completely broke down...

He wasn't afraid of going anywhere but to his in-laws. The endless nagging and scolding were not to be taken lightly.

Sigh, this life!

Zhang Yu's father, Liu Hao's father-in-law Zhang Nan, was the head of the Yinzhou City Traffic Police, and her mother, Chen Pei, was the head of the Education Bureau. They had never looked favorably upon Liu Hao.

At thirty, he was still just a deputy section chief, with no prospects.

"You should have taken the traffic police exam, but you insisted on going to the transportation management office..."

"You should have joined the Education Bureau, but you insisted on going to the transportation management office!"

Thinking of these two, Liu Hao felt his head spinning.

"Wife, tomorrow... I have to work overtime and then go on a business trip to Beining in the afternoon..." Liu Hao withdrew his hand, lowered his head, and answered guiltily.

He had to go to Beining the next day, or he wouldn't be able to play football.

"Can I come back from Beining the day after tomorrow and then go home with you and the child? Hehe, you know, the transportation management office is always busy and dusty on the road, unlike your job as a teacher, which always has a nice weekend. Besides, I'm still a deputy section chief, you know..."

"Hmph! If you had listened to my parents and joined any other department, would you be in such a mess now!" Mentioning overtime, Zhang Yu's face darkened, her cheeks puffing up in anger.

Why did she have to bring up his work, even Zhang Yu was teasing him about it.

"Hey, even when you're angry, you're still beautiful, like Lin Daiyu. But if you stay angry, the baby in your belly will have a bad temper too..."

"Spit, you're the one who's like Jia Baoyu, I don't want to die so early!"

"Ah, I feel it coming again, let's do it..."

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