Chapter 452: Echoes of Ambition

Liu Shengnan wanted to learn more about Chen Lan’s endorsement for Sanlu, so she kept the chat going.

It turned out the Sanlu brand owner had always wanted to partner with the State Athletics Team and was scouting suitable athletes.

Before Bing Ge rose to fame, they had already eyed Chen Lan and made contact with the State Athletics Team.

It was all about her performance at the Asian Games.

That made perfect sense—before Bing Ge burst onto the scene, Chen Lan was the top contender for the women’s hurdles gold across Asia.

Apparently, they had nearly sealed the deal with Director Li Yue, but Bing Ge emerged as a dark horse in the ‘September 18 Anti-Japanese War’ event, shifting Sanlu’s interest.

Yet Bing Ge turned down the endorsement offer, even when they upped the fee.

After Bing Ge’s refusal, through Director Li Yue’s efforts, Sanlu finally signed Chen Lan.

Su Rong seemed puzzled and asked:

“Why did Bing Ge turn down that endorsement?”

Liu Shengnan glanced at Xie Bingran, curiosity in her eyes too.

The real reason was Xu Chen’s intervention.

But Bing Ge just said, “I don’t like it.”

Xu Chen stepped in to explain:

“The dairy industry keeps hitting scandals every few years—nothing major until it blows up into a food safety nightmare.”

“Teaming up with them needs caution.”

“I talked it over with Director Li Yue, and that’s why Bing Ge passed on the deal.”

Su Rong: “Is it really that serious?”

Liu Shengnan: “Oh, so that’s why…”

“But Sanlu’s a top-tier brand in the powdered milk world. Do they face those risks too?”

Xu Chen wasn’t sure how to elaborate, so he casually added:

“It’s all about Bing Ge’s image—better to play it safe.”

“Besides, Bing Ge already has a few endorsements lined up, so one more isn’t a big deal.”

Su Rong munched on her food and casually said:

“Chen Lan should thank Bing Ge!”

“If Bing Ge hadn’t passed, it wouldn’t have come her way.”

Liu Shengnan chuckled, a hint of awkwardness in her expression.

For Chen Lan, seeing Xie Bingran as her ‘junior’ was a mixed bag of emotions.

Without Xie Bingran’s sudden rise, that Asian Games gold would have been Chen Lan’s.

In fact, just over half a year ago, everyone—including Sanlu and other brands—thought the same.

Xie Bingran’s appearance snatched not just the gold, but the glory and commercial perks that came with it.

As an assistant coach for the State Athletics Team, Liu Shengnan knew all this well.

But being part of the Shanghai coaching team mainly supporting Xie Bingran, her loyalties leaned toward Bing Ge.

After breakfast, Bing Ge headed downstairs with Liu Shengnan.

From the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling window, Xu Chen and Su Rong watched Bing Ge and the coach board a minibus—arranged by the City Sports Bureau.

The large plot newly allocated to Chenfeng Technology sat just north of the original Bright Factory grounds.

Xu Chen drove Su Rong to the factory gate to pick up Fang Jun.

Following Fang Jun’s directions, Xu Chen drove through the western market and apartment area to reach the northern construction site.

The site was fenced off; Fang Jun checked in at the gate and led Xu Chen and Su Rong through a side door.

Since they were entering the production zone, they all put on yellow hard hats.

“Watch your step—it’s a real construction site, all mud roads.”

In moments, the three were inside the work area.

“It’s massive,” Xu Chen said.

“They say it’s 100,000 square meters, but it’s probably more. This is just phase one, mostly for new production lines and storage.”

“This area was mostly wasteland before. Further north was a village, but they relocated, so no big demolition issues.”

Xu Chen was surprised:

“I had no idea there was this much open space behind the old Bright Factory.”

Fang Jun: “When Bright Factory was up for sale, some companies competing with your dad eyed this land too, wanting to bundle it in.”

“It’s all commercial zoning, and developers weren’t too interested. The city didn’t have other big players, so it went to Chenfeng Technology as the only real option.”

Soon, they reached the construction zone for the Chenfeng Technology headquarters building.

Xu Chen looked up and saw the foundation was nearly complete.

A bulletin board stood nearby, with safety notices, rules, and a few newspaper clippings and photos.

Xu Chen examined it closely; one ‘groundbreaking’ photo showed people with shovels, including his father Xu Zhiquan and leader Wu Yongming.

Other city officials were there too—ones Xu Chen had met at Bing Ge’s hometown celebration last year.

A safety-helmeted, smiling middle-aged man jogged over:

“Fang, what brings you here for a site visit today?”

Fang Jun introduced him as the project manager on site.

Hearing Xu Chen was ‘President Xu’s son,’ the manager became even more enthusiastic.

“We’re just here to take a look—don’t let us disrupt your work.”

“Nonsense, Young Xu. Your visit is an honor for the whole crew…”

“Too bad the conditions here are rough; we can’t host you properly.”

“How about I take you out for a soak tonight?”

Fang Jun quickly made an excuse and pulled Xu Chen away, as if afraid he’d get dragged off.

These project managers often entertained clients that way—nights out could get wild.

Xu Chen joked:

“What if I want to go?”

Fang Jun said flatly:

“Then I’ll tell Bing Ge.”

Xu Chen: “…”

Su Rong blinked, confused about why a bath would involve Bing Ge.

Once they left the site, Xu Chen mentioned going to the town to see his Maternal Uncle.

He thought about leaving Su Rong with Fang Jun, but she insisted on tagging along.

“I heard there are lots of cats and dogs—I want to see them!”

Xu Chen warned:

“Village strays aren’t like pets—they roam free and get dirty!”

Su Rong: “I don’t mind!”

She lifted her chin stubbornly.

Fang Jun: “Perfect, I could go for a big town feast anyway.”

Xu Chen smiled: “Alright, let’s head to town, order the food, then visit my uncle.”

Old Xu’s second-hand black Accord still drove smoothly.

They quickly hit the highway, heading toward the town.

In the back seat,

Fang Jun pointed out some seedling nurseries along the road to Su Rong:

“Those are all from Chenxin Nurseries.”

Xu Chen gripped the wheel silently, thinking of how his dad had to schmooze and drink to land those deals—it tugged at his heart.

Luckily, with Chenfeng Technology on track, sales and revenue would grow, and they wouldn’t need to rely on those connections forever.

Su Rong said: “Your family’s business is huge, Young Xu!”

Before Xu Chen could respond, Fang Jun jumped in:

“It’s nothing compared to your Su family’s material trade.”

Su Rong: “Dad told me your family’s doing great and will get even bigger!”

Soon, they arrived in the town.

As they neared his hometown, Xu Chen gazed around the place where he’d grown up, filled with nostalgia.

Fang Jun guided them to a restaurant.

She was clearly familiar with the spot, chatting with the owner and ordering a full lunch spread.

Xu Chen found it amusing.

He recalled when Fang Jun first joined East Morning Star and came to the old factory district with Yang Congxin—that was her first taste of a rural feast.

Back then, she was curious about every dish, asking what it was and how it was made.

As they pulled up to the old factory gate, barking erupted.

Su Rong clutched Fang Jun’s arm, a mix of excitement and nerves, but stayed in the car.

Xu Chen: “Wait here; I’ll check things out.”

He got out and called, “Maternal Uncle!”

Stepping inside, a few stray dogs darted out, barking wildly.

Zhang Yongqing heard the noise and came out, whistling. The dogs quieted instantly, wagging their tails and circling him.

“Ah, Xiao Chen! Heard you were back yesterday!”

Zhang Yongqing wiped his hands and grinned as he approached.

“Just here to hang out with you, Uncle!”

Fang Jun and Su Rong had gotten out by then.

Xu Chen introduced Su Rong to Zhang Yongqing.

True to form, Zhang Yongqing was shy, even around Xu Chen’s friends.

This made Su Rong, who was a bit timid herself, feel bolder and more outgoing.

The dogs seemed to sense they were guests, wagging their tails and panting as they came over to greet them.

Su Rong lit up and knelt down to play with them, not caring about the dirt.

Xu Chen: “She heard this was like a pet zoo and had to see it.”

Zhang Yongqing chuckled awkwardly:

“I only took in a couple of strays at first, but then it snowballed.”

“There are a few smaller pups back there, and some cats I just let roam.”

“I feed them when they’re around; otherwise, I don’t mind.”

Xu Chen: “You’re a real kind soul, Uncle.”

The old factory usually had workers helping Zhang Yongqing—local villagers—but since it was the weekend, he was alone.

The place was fun, with cats and dogs everywhere, plus Zhang Yongqing’s ongoing plant projects.

With winter in full swing, the yard had several small pine and cypress saplings planted.

There was a makeshift greenhouse out back with some colorful potted plants.

Su Rong had never seen anything like it and was thrilled, even joining Zhang Yongqing in the soil.

She showed no trace of her city-girl pampering, getting right into the hands-on work.

As noon approached, the meal was brought into the yard.

They set up a big round table, plates everywhere.

Su Rong had never witnessed anything like this; she pulled out her phone and snapped away.

The cats and dogs trailed her, circling the table.

It was just the four of them eating, but Fang Jun had ordered plenty.

Zhang Yongqing could have leftovers for days, plus there were all the animals.

Su Rong ate while still fussing over the pets at her feet, loving every minute.

Xu Chen poured hot tea and raised a cup to his uncle in place of alcohol.

Chenfeng Technology’s success owed a lot to the cash flow from Chenxin Nurseries.

Especially when acquiring Bright Factory, the initial funds came from those projects.

Though the deals were mostly from Xu Zhiquan’s connections, without Zhang Yongqing’s expertise as the nurseries’ director, they wouldn’t have taken off.

Zhang Yongqing was easygoing, content puttering around the nurseries and old factory.

Xu Zhiquan paid him and Xu Zhilin well, so Zhang Yongqing could afford a house and car in Tiancheng if he wanted.

But he stuck to his roots, upgrading his parents’ home in the village but preferring to stay at the nurseries.

Over the meal, Zhang Yongqing mentioned the Eldest Uncle and Paternal Aunt’s situations.

Both families were still working at Xu Zhiquan’s friend’s factory.

The boss treated them well because of the connection to Xu Zhiquan, so they were comfortable.

They’d once asked to join the nurseries but were turned down, so they didn’t bring it up again.

Now, with the electric vehicle factory thriving, they just felt envious.

The Third Uncle and Third Aunt were still running their noodle shop in the south; they came back last month for their son’s schooling paperwork.

They brought gifts for Xu Zhiquan and formally apologized—that counted as making amends.

Back when the Third Uncle’s debts piled up, Xu Zhiquan pulled strings to delay payments, giving him breathing room.

As the holidays neared, Xu Zhiquan even sent a big red envelope to their kid as support.

After lunch, they cleared the table together.

Su Rong played with the cats and dogs some more, even naming each one.

Zhang Yongqing walked them to the gate, and Xu Chen remembered the box of treats from Beijing in the trunk, so he gave it to him.

Saying goodbye to his uncle, Xu Chen drove straight to the Sports University.

“We’ll catch Bing Ge’s afternoon event!”

Su Rong: “Awesome!”

She might have been thinking of the animals, as she pouted and added:

“Your town is so fun…”

Forty minutes later, at the Sports University indoor arena.

Xie Bingran, in her State Team uniform, was chatting with coaches, teachers, and student reps.

Local media reporters hovered around, gathering footage.

Su Rong linked arms with Fang Jun, tilting her head to listen in.

She didn’t get the training talk, but it sounded impressive.

From afar, Xu Chen watched Xie Bingran, itching to rush over and hug her.