CDJMM – Volume 2 – Chapter 22 The State Slaps and Teaches the Scum a Lesson (22)

At the end of 1994, Shenzhou 3 was launched. Once again, it was an unmanned experimental spacecraft, aimed at testing onboard instruments for Earth observation, life sciences, space science, as well as ground-based monitoring and control equipment.

In reality, launching this unmanned experimental spacecraft was mostly a procedural formality.

Although Le Jing had already submitted all the necessary data to the state, and the country already had the capability to develop manned spacecraft, when it came to spaceflight safety, caution could never be excessive.

Thus, the higher-ups issued directives: proceed steadily, follow the plan meticulously, and carry out manned space missions without rushing for glory. The space agency, therefore, continued along the historical path, developing and launching Shenzhou 1–4 according to plan. Only after a series of flawless experiments would they move on to the final manned spacecraft, Shenzhou 5.

Amid the joyous news of Shenzhou 3’s successful launch, Song Caiying, after going through several breakups and reconciliations with Li Yian, finally formally proposed a breakup.

Later, Song Caiying made a special visit to see Li Shuran, and Le Jing happened to be there as well.

The young girl bowed deeply to Li Shuran, her expression solemn as she said, “Thank you.”

Li Shuran looked at her calmly, her gaze full of understanding and kindness, as if she could see through everything: “Have you decided how to move forward from here?”

“I have,” Song Caiying replied, her eyes shining brilliantly, like a wildfire blazing within her. “I plan to take the postgraduate entrance exam and continue my studies. Happiness is something I create for myself, not something given to me by others.”

Li Shuran nodded with satisfaction, gazing tenderly at this newly awakened young girl. Though still a little naive, her future held infinite possibilities.

The elderly woman covered the girl’s soft, delicate hand with her own frail, aged one. Her eyes, having witnessed half a century of life’s trials and tribulations, remained bright and moving: “Girl, it’s good that you have such thoughts, but I can’t help giving you some advice. I hope you won’t find me nagging.”

Song Caiying looked at the kind elderly woman with admiration and said gently, “You worry too much. I’d love to hear more of your guidance.”

The elder paused, thought for a few seconds, her gaze long and reflective, as memories surfaced. Finally, she began with this statement: “This world is full of traps for women. If you can’t see through these schemes, your life will amount to nothing more than mediocrity.”

Song Caiying looked at her in surprise and answered honestly, “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Li Shuran smiled, her gaze carrying a cold, mocking edge: “Girl, let me ask you—why did you study the humanities in high school?”

“Because I wasn’t good at science.”

“Were you really not good at science, or was it because ‘girls aren’t as smart as boys, so they can’t handle science’?”

Song Caiying was stunned.

Li Shuran’s words awakened memories of her school days.

Her teachers said, “Boys are more playful, but they’re smart. With just a little effort, they’ll quickly surpass girls.”

Her parents said, “Why would a little girl study science? Can your brain even compete with the boys’? It’s better to focus on the humanities and become a teacher—it’s a good enough path.”

A female classmate said, “Next month’s exam, XX will definitely surpass me. After all, he’s a boy—smart and ambitious.”

Li Shuran had already gleaned all the information she wanted from Song Caiying’s expression. She sneered, “So you understand what I mean, don’t you?”

“Who says women are naturally bad at science?” Li Shuran raised her chin and smiled proudly. “I am a woman, yet my science grades are excellent. I outperform many men. I do not believe I am born with any intellectual disadvantage compared to men.”

Song Caiying pondered: “…So this is a trap.”

Li Shuran clapped her hands and laughed: “Exactly.” She sighed, her gaze cold and deep. “And this is just one of many inconspicuous traps.”

“‘It’s better to marry well than to study well’; ‘I take care of my beauty, you take care of earning money for the family’; marriage is a woman’s greatest career; a woman without a family is an incomplete woman… I was clear-headed enough to avoid these traps. But some of my female colleagues were blinded by these sugar-coated traps, willingly leaping into them, treating men and marriage as their life’s goal, abandoning the pursuit of science and truth, becoming ordinary, mediocre mortals.”

Recalling the past, Li Shuran closed her eyes sadly. She had once had many like-minded peers, all smarter and more talented than her, yet in the end, only a few of them remained steadfast in pursuing their ideals and careers.

They had all, without exception, chosen to return to family life, sacrificing and dedicating their dreams and careers to the household.

Song Caiying was stunned.

The words of the elder were things she had never considered. According to the elder’s account, when she carefully examined her past and present lives, she realized that precisely these ideas had been the main cause of the tragedies in her previous life.

Because of these beliefs, she had accepted as natural the “common sense” that girls are not good at studying. She had studied half-heartedly, and after junior high, had married early and become a full-time housewife, treating family as her career.

Even when her husband abused her and squandered money, she did not dare divorce him. Without money, she could not survive on her own.

Reborn, she vowed to change her fate. She studied diligently, achieving excellent grades to convince her parents to let her attend high school and university, thereby avoiding an early marriage.

Yet deep down, she was still the naive, short-sighted country girl she had always been. Her main goal in striving for university was simply to improve her standing in the marriage market—to marry into a good family.

If it weren’t for Granny Li awakening her, she might have repeated the same tragedy as in her previous life.

Song Caiying stood there, like a lost child, casting a pleading look at the wise elder. “You said… how can I become someone like you?”

The elder before her embodied her dreams and aspirations; she had everything Song Caiying longed for.

“It’s simple,” the elder replied calmly. “Don’t see yourself as a woman. Forget all the so-called ‘privileges’ society gives women. Step out of your comfort zone and fight like a man.”

“I struggled for thirty years to become Ms. Li, not Mrs. Liu.”

【Missing: Ahhhhhhh, no wonder it’s Ms. Li Shuran!!!! Eeeek, I suddenly feel so jealous of Ms. Liu who married her!!】

【Hunter: This is true feminism!】

【Yun Mo Ni: It’s precisely because of the relentless efforts of generations of feminist pioneers that we have a society with equality today!】

【Mahjong Mahjong: Hahaha, I was originally a fan of the original story, but seeing the heroine ditch the male lead to pursue her career makes me so excited!!】

【Huaxi Mo: Go, heroine! Your future is the stars and the sea!】

Song Caiying left, deep in thought.

Le Jing, who had been quietly silent beside her, smiled and patted Li Shuran’s shoulder. With some relief, he said, “You’ve grown into an incredible adult.”

Li Shuran looked at Le Jing with a faint trace of sadness and melancholy in her eyes, but she finally smiled peacefully: “And yet, you’re still just a boy.”

Le Jing gently stroked her head and said warmly, “No matter how many years pass, in my eyes, you will always be a little girl.”

The handsome, refined young man touching the old woman’s white hair, and the old woman speaking with such gravity and sentiment—this scene naturally carried many meanings for any onlookers.

【Mozi Shu: I declare it—streamer is definitely Ms. Li Jingran!】

【Bu Shou: What a heart-touching, immortal sibling bond! Awsl!】

【Jin Huan: Hmph, even if the streamer doesn’t admit it, we’ve long seen that he is indeed Ms. Li Jingran! The public’s eyes are sharp, and even a psychologist’s aren’t blind!】

【Ideal Nation: Eeeek, Ms. Li Shuran has grown old, but the streamer is still so young. Is this a case of the young burying the old? QWQ】

【Ci Yu: Even if locked in a coffin, I will use my last emotionless voice to shout: Please continue The Rise of the Dynasty!】

Le Jing happily ignored the flood of fan messages urging updates in the livestream chat. To him, The Rise of the Dynasty had already been a completed work once he handed the sequel outline to Nakamura Ryota. Why the outline never resurfaced? Maybe it was destroyed along the way, maybe due to politics.

Besides, what did the plot holes left by Li Jingran have to do with Chang Jingchen?

Speaking of Nakamura Ryota, Le Jing had met him a few days ago.

He had also become a white-haired old man, speaking fluent Chinese without a trace of Japanese accent. He had betrayed everything he once had, ultimately earning peace for his soul.

Le Jing didn’t know what pain or struggles he had endured—and he didn’t need to. Because in this life, he was Chang Jingchen.

…

And so time passed, elegant and calm, flowing gently.

On January 1, 1995, the World Trade Organization was established. That September, Shenzhou 4 launched.

In May 1996, Shenzhou 5 launched.

1997, Hong Kong returned to China.

On May 7, 1999, a mysterious Yugoslav aircraft stopped a U.S. missile aimed at the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia. That same year, Macau returned to China.

Then the clock struck the 21st century, and China finally stepped fully into its 21st century.

Time flew. In the blink of an eye, it was 2007.

Le Jing was 35, Li Shuran 95.

The name Chang Jingchen had been buried for nearly 20 years.

In those years, a storm of changes swept across China. The sleeping lion awoke from its long slumber, roaring thunderously. The domestic transformations were revolutionary and rapid. The country’s development had entered the fast lane; the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation was unstoppable.

During all these years, his past was classified, his identity was classified, and even his face was classified.

Now, finally, it was time for him to appear.

At the 2007 National Supreme Science and Technology Awards, he and his elderly sister would step onto the stage to receive the long-delayed honor that belonged to them.

Le Jing sat beneath the award stage, holding his sister’s hand, offering her a calm smile: “Shuran, are you ready?”

Li Shuran gripped the young man’s hand and smiled: “I’ve waited a lifetime for this moment.”

【Tsubaki: I’m crying so loudly!】

【Duke: This time, Ms. Li Shuran is finally not alone QWQ】

【Kakashi: Just thinking that Grandma Li will pass away next year makes me so sad.】

【Midnight Rain: This prosperous era, it has finally gone as he and she wished.】