Walking along the quiet, tree-lined path in the county committee compound, Henry Foster felt quite emotional.

At the very least, the air here was still very fresh.

There were several dormitory buildings in the Yuyang County Committee compound. Most were old-style corridor buildings, with only two new apartment buildings constructed last year, allocated to cadres at the division chief level and above.

As a member of the county committee standing committee and the executive deputy county head, William Foster lived in Unit 3 on the third floor of Building 1—the best floor, the best suite.

“Hongyu?”

Henry Foster pressed the doorbell, and the door immediately opened. A woman in her forties called out in surprise.

“Mom…”

Henry Foster suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

The mother before him was so young, her hair black and shiny, her back straight—completely different from the aged image of her in Henry Foster’s memory. For a moment, Henry Foster was overwhelmed with emotion.

“Hongyu, why are you back? Isn’t today Saturday?”

Lily Grant didn’t notice anything unusual about her son. She hurriedly let him in, happily chattering away. Of her two sons and one daughter, it was Henry Foster who worried Lily Grant the most. Before college, Henry Foster was anything but well-behaved—he was infamous at Yuyang No. 1 High School as a “troublemaker,” always fighting and causing mischief. Almost every few days, Lily Grant or William Foster would get a complaint call from the school.

Back then, William Foster wasn’t yet a county leader, just the deputy director of the county agricultural bureau. Still, he was a leader of sorts, and because of Henry Foster, William Foster often had to go to the school to apologize and smooth things over, his dignity worn thin.

Fortunately, though Henry Foster was a troublemaker, he was smart. He coasted through three years of high school and still managed to get into a junior college, finally allowing William Foster and his wife to breathe a sigh of relief.

At least they wouldn’t have to worry about his livelihood in the future.

Later, Henry Foster was personally named by Mason Parker to work at the prefectural committee office, which made William Foster and Lily Grant even more pleased.

He could finally have a proper career.

Henry Foster smiled and replied, “It’s not Saturday, but I missed home.”

Mothers are always easily swayed by such “sweet talk.” Lily Grant didn’t ask further, just beamed and busied herself with cooking. Because Henry Foster came home unexpectedly, Lily Grant decided to make an extra dish.

Her son was in the prime of his youth and had a big appetite.

Henry Foster didn’t sit down, but squeezed in by the kitchen door, chatting and laughing with his mother.

Seeing her son suddenly so mature, Lily Grant was even happier.

But this warm atmosphere was soon broken.

About twenty minutes later, William Foster returned home.

“Old Fan, you’re back… Sit for a bit, dinner will be ready soon.”

Lily Grant called from the kitchen, in a very good mood.

“Dad!”

Henry Foster hurried to greet him, reaching to take the briefcase from William Foster’s hand.

Unexpectedly, as soon as William Foster saw Henry Foster, his face darkened. He gave a heavy “hmph” and shouted angrily, “Henry Foster, what’s wrong with you? How dare you!”

Henry Foster shook his head helplessly.

It seemed that, in the end, the matter had spread.

This wasn’t surprising—there were never any real secrets in government offices.

“What’s going on, what’s going on?”

Hearing this, Lily Grant immediately came out of the kitchen, asking repeatedly, her face full of astonishment and a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

Could it be that Hongyu had gotten into trouble again?

“Ask him yourself! He’s completely out of control!”

William Foster fumed, striding over to the sofa and plopping down, breathing heavily.

“Hongyu, did you… did you get into trouble again?”

Looking at her son, Lily Grant asked anxiously.

“Mom, it’s not really trouble. I just expressed some of my own opinions.”

“You’re still making excuses!”

William Foster slammed his hand on the table and roared.

“Old Fan, keep your voice down…”

After all, Lily Grant was a careful woman. She quickly reminded her husband and hurried to close the door.

Family scandals shouldn’t be aired in public.

Henry Foster slowly walked over to the sofa and sat down, looking at William Foster with a calm expression.

“Hongyu, what trouble did you get into this time?”

Lily Grant sat down next to William Foster, asking urgently.

“Hmph, he’s got some nerve! He actually dared to alter the article written by Secretary Parker without permission and published it in the provincial newspaper. Now the whole region is talking about it. I heard Secretary Parker was severely criticized by Governor Ray.”

William Foster said angrily.

Henry Foster asked, “Dad, was Secretary Parker really criticized by Governor Ray?”

William Foster glared, “What, you don’t believe it? You think this is a joke?”

“Then, what does Secretary Rowe think?”

Henry Foster pressed on.

William Foster was both angry and amused. At a time like this, he was still concerned about “national affairs”? Did he really think he was someone important?

Henry Foster said seriously, “Dad, this is very important!”

“What opinion could Secretary Rowe have? Of course he said it was good. The provincial propaganda department has already recommended that article to ‘Masses Daily’ and ‘Horn’ magazine…”