These materials were all summed up on a single printed sheet of paper. After reading the first sheet, Zhang Yang didn't immediately look down at the next, but instead lowered his head in thought.

Judging by the information, Zhang Keqin's luck had indeed been quite good. Rising from an ordinary peasant family to where he was now certainly required a measure of fortune.

The era Zhang Keqin lived in wasn't entirely peaceful, yet these circumstances hadn't hindered him; instead, they had allowed him to steadily ascend. After pondering for a moment, Zhang Yang picked up the second sheet and continued reading.

With Zhang Yang's arrival, Zhang Keqin entered a period of rapid career advancement, rising from a section chief to Deputy Department Head. During that time, he was extremely busy and held numerous posts, sometimes as the primary leader, sometimes in a deputy role.

The memories Zhang Yang possessed of that time were born then. In these memories, Zhang Keqin rarely returned home, and the time he did spend there was always brief.

As a child, 'Zhang Yang' had a very faint concept of a father. There wasn't much description on this page either, mainly detailing that Zhang Keqin had served as a Township Head, Deputy Secretary of the County Committee, Secretary of the Municipal Youth League Committee, and Deputy Commissioner of the District Committee, among other roles.

Zhang Yang had some recollection of this period. At that age, he only knew his father held an official position; he didn't know the rank, only retaining the single impression of being busy.

On this page, references to Zhang Yang and his mother were scarce. Zhang Yang calculated that it took Zhang Keqin over eight years to go from a regular clerk to a Section Chief-level Township Head, and similarly about eight years to advance from that Section Chief level to a Deputy Department Head-level Deputy Commissioner.

Two equal spans of time resulted in vastly different outcomes; the gap between Deputy Department Head and Section Chief was immense. Flipping further down, Zhang Yang turned to the third sheet of material.

On the third sheet, references to Zhang Yang's mother appeared noticeably more often. This section mainly introduced the work Zhang Yang's mother had done.

Zhang Keqin had changed posts frequently, but his wife had only followed him twice. Both times, she took up positions in research institutes.

Zhang Yang paid close attention. On both occasions, his mother only relocated about half a year after Zhang Keqin had settled into his new role, before another transfer would occur.

Generally, his mother would wait for Zhang Keqin to stabilize before joining him. This meant the time they spent together over these years was exceptionally short.

It was little wonder Zhang Yang had so few memories of his father as a child, almost lacking any concept of having one. After slowly finishing this page, Zhang Yang lowered his head to reflect again.

The descriptions on this sheet were notably more fragmented. Zhang Keqin hadn't served as Deputy Commissioner for long before being promoted to Commissioner, and subsequently served as Secretary in a different region.

His mother's second transfer coincided with the time he became Secretary. By then, Zhang Yang was old enough to remember some things.

He recalled being quite happy when they moved to the new residence, with many uncles and aunties giving him treats. Yan Zheng, the Police Chief of Jiaoyi, was someone Zhang Yang met during that period.

On the fourth sheet, the details concerning Zhang Yang's mother diminished further, while the records for Zhang Keqin focused almost entirely on his achievements. Zhang Keqin possessed not only luck but also formidable competence, bringing significant positive change to the areas he governed.

He had also rooted out several corrupt officials and punished them severely. During that time, among the common populace, Zhang Keqin was even hailed with the moniker Zhang Qingtian (an allusion to the famously just official Bao Zheng).

The fifth sheet documented Zhang Keqin’s next transfer. He was moved back to the capital city, and this time, Zhang Yang's mother followed suit, though not to the capital itself, but to another city.

Scrutinizing his previous recollections, Zhang Yang recalled an argument. It was a severe quarrel between his father and mother.

Because he had lived with his mother consistently, Zhang Yang’s impression of his father was thin. During that argument, being young, he dared not speak, but he secretly harbored resentment toward his father in his heart.

He felt his father was bullying his mother. Perhaps Zhang Yang's bias against his father was rooted from that moment onward.

Zhang Keqin went to the capital, while his mother moved to another city; they were separated once more. Zhang Yang stayed with his mother, living happily alongside her.

Alas, this period of contentment was short-lived. A year later, Zhang Keqin suddenly appeared and took Zhang Yang to the capital.

During this year, Zhang Keqin had flourished in Beijing. Upon his last transfer back, his work had allowed him to connect with a group of capable and well-connected individuals.

At that time, these people were largely frustrated with their unfulfilled potential, but now they had all achieved significant success. Among the people Zhang Keqin knew were some seniors who hadn't been valued then; those seniors were experiencing the lowest points of their lives, enduring disrespect from others, yet Zhang Keqin had always shown them the utmost reverence.

These acts of kindness laid a solid foundation for his future progress. Through Zhang Keqin’s records, Zhang Yang struggled to recall.

He seemed to have stayed in the capital for only a short time, constantly quarreling with Zhang Keqin, demanding to see his mother. After only about three months, Zhang Keqin found he couldn't manage him any longer and reluctantly sent him back.

Zhang Yang remembered clearly that he had nicknamed his father "Big Bad Guy" at that time. Recalling these submerged memories, a wry, helpless smile touched the corners of Zhang Yang's mouth.

It turned out the original owner of this body had a difficult relationship with his father from childhood. The sixth sheet finally presented what Zhang Yang most desired.

Not long after Zhang Yang was sent back, his mother suddenly fell gravely ill and was subsequently hospitalized. Zhang Keqin rushed back from the capital at that time and remained there for two full months.

It was during these two months that Zhang Yang’s mother passed away. The documentation offered little description regarding Zhang Yang’s mother’s death, only stating she died from a sudden, serious illness.

During this period, Zhang Keqin remained constantly by her side. Seeing this, Zhang Yang's brow furrowed involuntarily once more.

According to the records, Zhang Keqin and his wife had been deeply affectionate. They had a love marriage and lived happily together, only having a child many years after wedlock.

Such a relationship should have been resilient. Even if Zhang Keqin’s work became more demanding later, their bond should have persisted, at most evolving into a distant affection due to prolonged separation caused by work.

But if it was merely a fading affection, Zhang Yang should not harbor such resentment toward his father, a hatred ingrained deep in his core. Zhang Yang studied this page for a long time before finally casting it aside with a look of confusion.

The sheet provided detailed explanations: Zhang Keqin was deeply saddened by his wife's passing, personally oversaw the funeral, and remained by her resting place for several days before leaving. Based on these records, it was impossible to discern where Zhang Keqin had gone wrong.

But if there was no error, why would Zhang Yang harbor resentment toward him for so long? Feeling lost, Zhang Yang set the document aside and resumed searching his memories.

He focused primarily on the memories spanning from his mother’s severe illness to her death, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall that sequence. It seemed he only remembered his mother falling ill and Zhang Keqin rushing over after receiving the news.

After that, nothing; the next memory to surface was after Zhang Keqin departed, at which point Zhang Yang already harbored resentment toward him. Furthermore, Zhang Keqin stayed with Zhang Yang for a period, but the boy only thought of running away, refusing to be near him.

Eventually, Zhang Keqin reluctantly sent him to live with his paternal grandparents. After that, Zhang Yang's memories were dominated solely by hatred for Zhang Keqin—seeing him only intensified the hatred, and he refused any contact or proximity.

Over time, this resentment didn't dissipate; instead, it deepened. Zhang Yang picked up the seventh sheet of material with a bewildered expression and skimmed through it in a few glances.

These documents detailed Zhang Keqin’s subsequent career: his success in the capital, his later tenures as Secretary of the Disciplinary Inspection Commission in a local area, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Committee, and finally his arrival in Jiangdong Province to serve as the top leader of the Provincial Committee. From the data, Zhang Keqin’s path was undeniably smooth; one could even say it was flawless.

However, this was not the resolution Zhang Yang sought. His greatest confusion remained unanswered.

Zhang Yang frowned and picked up the sixth sheet again, rereading the section concerning his mother's death. Because of Zhang Yang’s specific instructions, this section was extensive, nearly filling the entire page, including the time his mother first fell ill and the reactions of various parties after her death.

“No!” A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Yang’s eyes, and he let out a sound of realization. After rereading the entire page, Zhang Yang immediately noticed an issue—a critical one.

These records were meticulous, yet they failed to mention the cause of Zhang Yang's mother’s death, nor what sickness she died from; in essence, her actual cause of demise was omitted. Regardless of the cause, it should have been documented.

Zhang Yang had explicitly instructed Long Feng on this, and he trusted Long Feng would convey those words clearly. No mention of an illness, no statement of the true cause of death; the process of her demise was glossed over, almost in passing, while the reactions of various parties when Zhang Yang fell ill and when she died were detailed extensively.

This meant either they forgot, or the individuals who compiled these materials were unaware. Zhang Yang surmised the latter was more likely.

He was well aware of the formidable capabilities of the Long family's inner disciples; Long Cheng’s reaction was proof enough. Since this was a direct instruction from Long Feng, such an oversight was impossible, especially for a topic receiving special attention.

Thus, the most probable conclusion was the second: the investigators from the Long family also did not know the cause of Zhang Yang's mother’s death. Not knowing the cause of death implied that no such records existed.

Zhang Yang’s brow furrowed tightly. What kind of illness leaves absolutely no documentation?

Such a disease seemed nonexistent in the world; even in cases of sudden death where the cause couldn't be pinpointed, there would still be a conclusion of "cause of death unknown." And Zhang Yang’s mother had been gravely ill for two months before dying; it could not possibly have been sudden death. Clutching the sixth sheet of material, Zhang Yang racked his brain, attempting to recall.

In his own memories, he couldn't recall what sickness his mother had suffered from either; no matter the effort, he couldn't bring it to mind. After a moment of thought, Zhang Yang stood up again and strode toward the exit.

The cause of death—his mother’s cause of death—must be extraordinary. This was a crucial clue.

Perhaps through this, he could uncover the reason for his hatred toward his father and finally resolve these negative emotions. ………… Chapter Hundred Bonus Update Forty-Three!

(To be continued)