Book Seventeen by Han Jiang Gu Ying Sou

Beijing in July was sweltering, the sun beating down mercilessly.

The air-conditioned auditorium at the elegant, old-fashioned Yanjing University offered no relief from the feverish atmosphere. The send-off ceremony for this year’s Central Government trainee officials was underway. Below the stage sat more than fifty young people in formal attire, their gazes bright and their backs straight. They were outstanding students from top universities, selected through round after round of written exams, interviews, and evaluations. Now, as the organization’s “seeds,” they were about to be sent across China to begin their careers in public service.

Jiang Chen sat near the middle of the first row, sitting ramrod straight, his handsome, refined face composed beyond his years. He wore a well-fitted white shirt, its cuffs crisply pressed and collar buttoned to the top. Every detail reflected his meticulous nature. Unlike his classmates, who could barely contain their excitement, his eyes held not only anticipation but also a hint of scrutiny and gravity.

It had not been easy for him to make it this far…