Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1197 - 581: Vitality as Mighty as a Dragon, Yet Only Wishing to Be a Doctor (Part 2)

"Understood! Teacher, rest assured, I shall handle the matter properly!"

Wei Zheng accepted his assignment with visible delight, casting an expectant gaze toward Fang Cheng. He seemed to be already envisioning a future where he worked closely alongside this junior associate.

Just then, the lively voice of Li Zhenhua echoed from outside the doorway: "The tea is prepared! I've been hoarding this for quite some time; Chengcheng and Ding Jian always wanted some, but I could never bring myself to share it until today."

"Squeak—"

The door swung open, and the elderly man entered, carefully balancing a purple sand tea tray. His keen eyes swept across the room, quickly detecting the relaxed composure of Shi Chengyi and the serene smile on Fang Cheng’s face. He instantly sensed that the atmosphere had shifted, replaced by the ease and harmony that follows the successful resolution of a task.

"So, how did it go? Has the chess match concluded?" Li Zhenhua set the tray aside and asked with a beaming smile.

"Indeed, it is finished," Shi Chengyi replied as he sat back down and reached for his cup, a satisfied grin on his face. "Not only is it over, but it was a masterful game. Old Li, your grandson helped me navigate a truly difficult endgame!"

"Haha, that is wonderful to hear!" While Li Zhenhua lacked the specific details, the news alone filled him with genuine happiness.

The four of them spent the next while sipping tea and chatting. Guided by Fang Cheng’s subtle encouragement, Li Zhenhua returned to the chessboard for one final match against Shi Chengyi. This time, the old man played with renewed inspiration, securing a narrow victory. He was as delighted as a child, unable to keep himself from boasting about the achievement.

Though Shi Chengyi had lost, he remained in high spirits. Once the tea was finished, he made no effort to linger, standing up with Wei Zheng to offer his farewells.

..................

The black executive sedan roared to life, its tires crunching against the cobblestone as it glided away from the old street. At the entrance to the Li family residence, Li Zhenhua, Li Biyun, Li Dingjian, and Fang Cheng stood on the steps, watching the vehicle vanish into the distance, each harboring their own inner thoughts.

"Ah Cheng," Li Zhenhua finally spoke once the car had completely disappeared, unable to restrain himself any longer. He turned to his grandson with a sense of urgency in his tone, "What exactly did Chief Shi say to you just now?"

Li Dingjian and Li Biyun gravitated closer, all three pairs of eyes fixed on Fang Cheng, waiting in breathless anticipation for an answer that could decide the family's future.

Fang Cheng observed their tense, hopeful expressions, feeling a flush of warmth in his chest. A relaxed smile graced his lips as he said, "Nothing too complex; Chief Shi simply felt my medical skills were commendable, so he invited me to participate in the second round of recruitment for the Special Search Team for a medical position."

"The second round?" Li Zhenhua’s eyes went wide, his breathing quickened, "Does that mean... you have accepted?"

Fang Cheng nodded, confirming, "Yes, I accepted."

"Excellent! Splendid! Wonderful!" Li Zhenhua exclaimed, repeating himself three times while clapping a heavy, energetic hand onto Fang Cheng’s shoulder. "I knew it! I always knew my grandson was no ordinary person!"

The elderly man looked a decade younger, his face glowing with pride as he shouted, "We are adding extra dishes tonight! Absolutely! Ding Jian, go invite Old Xu and Old Wu from next door, and fetch that bottle of wine I've been saving for a decade—we must celebrate this properly!"

"Father, don't celebrate too prematurely," Li Biyun cautioned, though her eyes betrayed her own happiness. "It is only the second round, and it doesn't guarantee he’s actually in. I heard from Chief Wei that the Special Search Team’s examinations are as difficult as ascending to the heavens—it's one in ten thousand..."

"What could you possibly know about it!" Li Zhenhua retorted, his brow arching defensively. "Minister Shi came to offer the invitation personally! In the classic stories, this is equivalent to visiting the cottage three times. My grandson is like the Wenqu Star descended to earth and the Wuqu Star reincarnated; what is a mere entrance exam to him?"

Li Dingjian laughed, adding, "That’s right, Sis. Ah Cheng is definitely on his way up. If he can secure a position with the government, perhaps even becoming a high-ranking leader, it would bring immense glory to our family!"

As he watched his family’s genuine joy and listened to their enthusiastic conversation, Fang Cheng stood in the warmth of the sunlight, his eyes narrowing slightly. This was the sincere expectation of his kin, a piece of his life he was sworn to protect. If preserving this peace and happiness meant navigating a path filled with thorns and blood, or wearing a fierce mask to travel among evil spirits, he would do so without a second thought.

"By the way..." Li Biyun suddenly paused as they prepared to head inside, looking hesitant. "Chengcheng, you applied for the graduate program at East Capital Law School, didn't you? The results aren't out yet; will this clash with the Special Search Team? If you are accepted to both, how will you choose?"

The lively mood dipped momentarily. Li Zhenhua and Li Dingjian froze, turning their gaze toward Fang Cheng, recalling how much the family had fretted over that application.

Fang Cheng kept his expression steady, replying calmly, "The interview for that fell through. I kept quiet because I didn't want you all to worry."

"Ah? It didn't pass?" The three looked at each other in surprise, torn between lingering regret and unexpected relief.

"It matters not!" Li Dingjian declared with a shrug. "That is actually for the best. Working in law means bowing to others constantly. The Special Search Team is a legitimate, powerful national enforcement agency! This is a classic case of losing a horse and finding a fortune!"

"Quite right, quite right," Li Zhenhua chimed in, though his face suddenly darkened with fresh worry. "But wait... if he failed the school interview, could the Special Search Team interview also...?"

The elderly are prone to anxiety when they care deeply. One moment praising his grandson as a genius, he now plunged back into doubt. "Dad!" Li Dingjian said, amused yet helpless. "Stop worrying over nothing. The Special Search Team personally scouted him; they aren't going to reject him in an interview! It’s just a formality."

He winked at Fang Cheng, "Rest assured, with Minister Shi backing you, there’s no way this fails."

"Right, of course, my old head was just confused," Li Zhenhua said, slapping his own forehead and standing taller. "Our Fang Cheng is a true scholar; schools were always too small to hold a dragon like him. The Special Search Team is exactly where he belongs! Come, let’s eat, we didn't get enough to eat earlier!"

As the family crowded into the house, Fang Cheng shook his head with a faint, knowing smile. He had told a harmless lie to shield them. In reality, Professor Dong Yunchuan hadn't reached out to him in weeks, likely because he had hit a wall during the background check process. His father’s case had far-reaching political consequences and was under the joint watch of the Special Search Team and the police; it was nearly impossible for an ordinary person to overturn. Only someone with the immense authority of a figure like Shi Chengyi could possibly exert enough pressure to force the political review to move forward.