Chapter Sixteen: The Virtuous Young Man

Zhao Zejun recalled that although Yu Jin hadn’t advanced much in rank, his position remained stable; it was said he retired smoothly from the post of bureau chief. No matter where his future ambitions might take him, Yijiang City would always be his hometown. It could do no harm to befriend an unshakable official with real influence ahead of time.

The dinner was set for a weekend evening. As Zhao Zejun entered, he saw the Yu couple seated in the living room. Yu Jin, in his fifties, was slightly balding but looked very energetic. Yu Zhe’s mother was a typical plump middle-aged woman, but her hair was done up in the latest fashionable curls, dyed a bright yellow.

“Zhao, you’re here! Come in, take a seat,” Yu Zhe’s mother greeted him warmly.

“Auntie, I wasn’t sure what you’d like.” Zhao Zejun handed over a beautifully wrapped gift bag with a cheerful smile. “This is something a classmate of mine recommended—a cream mask. You apply it before bed, and it works wonders in just ten minutes.”

Men love status and wealth, women cherish beauty—this truth holds everywhere. Zhao Zejun certainly couldn’t offer Yu Jin ‘status or wealth,’ so he took the family route instead. A high-quality cosmetic was a thoughtful gift for a middle-aged woman whose husband was successful in his career.

In 2000, facial masks were still a novelty in inland cities; most women were using classic creams, and anything fancier was considered premium. “You’re too polite, bringing a gift just for a meal,” Yu Jin’s wife said, but her smile betrayed her delight as she examined the bag repeatedly. The embossed gold foreign lettering on the packaging exuded luxury.

Even Yu Jin found himself sizing Zhao Zejun up with renewed interest. Cigarettes, liquor, even gift cards were common enough, but for a high school student not yet twenty to think of giving cosmetics to the hostess—this kind of thoughtful consideration far surpassed many adults.

Yu Jin’s curiosity deepened. Glancing at the packaging, he asked, “This is L’Oréal, right? French brand, I think it only entered the domestic market last year.”

“Yes, it’s L’Oréal. I don’t know the technical details, but the saleslady swore by it—said it’s especially good for women’s skin, moisturizing and nourishing,” Zhao Zejun replied with a smile.

“Take it, it’s a thoughtful gesture from Zhao,” Yu Jin nodded at his wife and then said to Zhao, “Thank you for your kindness.”

“It’s nothing, Uncle and Auntie have helped me so much; it’s only right that I do what I can in return.” Zhao Zejun smoothly steered the conversation toward his main purpose.

“My son Yu Zhe has never had many friends since he was young. That you two get along is fate. Friends should help each other,” Yu Jin remarked, his tone meaningful.

Yu Zhe’s mother set the cosmetics aside and called them to the table. “Let’s eat, Zhao, you must be hungry. We can chat while we eat.”

With such a well-chosen and tasteful gift as an icebreaker, any initial awkwardness was soon dispelled. The distance between Zhao Zejun and Yu Jin’s parents shrank considerably.

During the meal, the couple chatted with Zhao Zejun about everyday matters, all of which he handled with ease. As the meal was ending, Yu Jin casually asked, “Zhao, I hear from Yu Zhe that you have excellent grades. The college entrance exam is just around the corner—why are you suddenly interested in obtaining an internet café license?”

Throughout, Yu Jin presented himself as a kindly elder—smiling, genial, with the air of a benevolent Buddha. But Zhao Zejun never believed Yu Jin to be a simple man who could be easily fooled with a few casual remarks.

Yu Jin was no Yu Zhe. He had lived through ideological and physical struggles, through rural re-education, and had climbed from an ordinary clerk to a deputy bureau chief with real power. He had seen countless people in his life and had become shrewd and discerning. Even in his previous life, Zhao Zejun would have been on his guard with someone like this.

With such a person, even the most flawless lie could expose a crack, for perfection itself is suspicious. Even if Yu Jin didn’t spot an inconsistency at the time, he would still harbor doubts later. Zhao’s entire plan depended on Yu Jin’s ability to facilitate the license and on Yu Zhe’s status as a doted-on only child—not on an unassailable reason for applying for the license.

Zhao Zejun set down his chopsticks, paused for a few seconds, and mentally reviewed his prepared explanation before looking up and saying seriously, “Uncle, to be honest, I believe these internet café licenses are likely to appreciate significantly in value. My friends and I are applying for a few, and if their value increases, we’ll sell them off.”

Yu Jin was surprised by such candor. From what Yu Zhe had relayed, Yu Jin had already noticed several inconsistencies and suspected that Zhao’s real intent was to stockpile licenses before new regulations came in.

Had Zhao Zejun stuck to his previous pretexts, the entire affair would have been highly suspicious. But Zhao was far more forthright than Yu Jin had expected.

In psychology, sincerity is one of the most attractive traits. “That’s an interesting idea. Tell me, why do you think the licenses will appreciate?” Yu Jin inquired.

“I hadn’t thought about it before, but one day when I was at an internet café, a neighborhood police officer came to check IDs. He mentioned that the government would soon introduce a series of regulations to bring order to internet cafés. That’s what caught my attention.”

Zhao Zejun spoke at a measured pace, calmly presenting the facts. In Yijiang City, internet cafés had sprung up like mushrooms, many lacking proper licenses or operating illegally. Though this seemed to boost the economy, it carried serious risks—public safety, minors frequenting cafés, rampant circulation of inappropriate content, tax evasion by illegal operators, and so on.

He concluded with a phrase that, in later years, would become a classic: “In short, while the internet is a new phenomenon, under the rule of law, it is certainly not a place beyond the reach of the law.”

Yu Jin’s eyes lit up. “The internet is not beyond the reach of the law—well said!”

That simple, forceful statement was a perfect government slogan, embodying the commitment to rule by law. Yu Jin even thought that, should the authorities really halt the issuance of licenses, he could be the first in the city to propose this phrase at a meeting, showing his full support for the new mayor.

Seeing Yu Jin momentarily lost in thought, Zhao Zejun paused. When Yu Jin’s attention returned, he continued, “So I believe that the government will definitely strengthen regulation of internet cafés. When that happens, licenses will become far more valuable or, at the very least, much harder to obtain—just like taxi operating permits now, whose prices have skyrocketed. Even if they don’t appreciate, opening a café is highly profitable these days. My friends and I just didn’t realize how difficult it already is to get a license—that’s why we asked for your help. I didn’t explain the details to Yu Zhe earlier because I was afraid he wouldn’t understand.”

The conversation wasn’t long. By eight-thirty, Zhao Zejun stood up to take his leave.

Yu Jin walked him to the stairwell and, before he left, handed him a business card with a genial smile. “Zhao, come visit us whenever you have the time. My son hasn’t been through much and his mother and I have spoiled him. If you can, talk with him more.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle. We’re friends—of course we help each other,” Zhao Zejun replied, returning Yu Jin’s earlier words verbatim.

Yu Jin’s eyes brightened as he laughed, “Exactly, mutual support—that’s well said.”

After Zhao Zejun left, Yu Jin returned home to find his wife coming out of the bathroom. “Lao Yu, you know, this mask really works. Look at my face—doesn’t it look fairer than before?”

Yu Jin scrutinized her face for a moment, “Yes, it does look fairer, and even more supple.”

“You old rascal, always looking for younger women!” she scolded him playfully, clearly in a good mood. She then pulled him into the bedroom, closed the door, and asked quietly, “What do you think of that Zhao boy?”

Yu Jin pondered for a moment. “He’s capable, sharp, and perceptive. If he weren’t your son’s classmate, I’d suspect he was someone with a decade of social experience.”

It was rare for Yu Jin to praise a young man so highly, which made his wife uneasy. “Do you think he’s deliberately befriending our son just to ask us for help?”

“I doubt it. I asked Yu Zhe about their friendship, and there’s nothing suspicious. You women worry too much. Zhao is more mature than most his age, but he’s only eighteen. No one, not even a prodigy, could have such deep scheming at his age. If you think he’s been plotting this for months just to get close to our son—what do you take him for, a con artist?”

‘Bureau chief’ was a tongue-in-cheek term for those who set elaborate traps for the powerful and wealthy—masters of deception. Yu Jin would never imagine that Zhao Zejun had not only been savvy since birth, but had brought the experience of an entire previous lifetime with him. As for real con artists, Zhao Zejun knew a few himself.

Yu Jin smiled faintly and countered, “Besides, even if he approached our son with an ulterior motive, so what? All my friends want something from me.”

“Oh, I see—you’re thinking about paving the way for our son’s future,” his wife said.

Yu Jin chuckled. “It’s too early to talk about paving the way, since I’m still in office. I think it’s not a problem to be used, as long as the person is exceptional—they’re worth befriending. Today I help you, tomorrow you may help me. That’s how social networks are built. Zhao has potential, and our son is introverted with few friends. If he can make a friend like this in high school, who knows? It might open a new path for him later. Besides, Zhao’s analysis of the internet café issue today was incisive. With that ‘the internet is not beyond the reach of the law’ slogan as a title, I could polish it up and publish an article in the internal journal. With some luck, I might even get noticed by the mayor.”

“That’s wonderful. Isn’t your bureau chief about to retire? You should make sure to show your best side,” his wife agreed.

“Of course. Oh, tell our son tomorrow to learn from Zhao about how to conduct himself, instead of just fooling around all day.”

Having set her worries aside, Yu Zhe’s mother changed the topic, “What should we do if our son’s novel writing affects his grades?”

“His grades can’t get any worse! Whether he writes or not, he won’t get into a top university. After he graduates, if he wants to study abroad, fine; if not, I’ll pull some strings to get him into a junior college. As long as he gets a diploma, that’s enough. Now, let’s sleep. Oh, and tomorrow, bring me your and your brothers’ ID cards.”

“Why?”

“I can’t believe a grown woman like you is less savvy than a high schooler. We’ll apply for a few internet café licenses ourselves. After New Year’s, they’ll be as good as cash!”