Du Zhaohui’s suggestion that Xia Xiaolan become an actress in Hong Kong disgusted her, knowing the darkness of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry in the 1980s!
“Xiaolan, where were you? Why do you look so angry?” Zhou Limin stopped her.
Xiaolan waved her hand, “Don’t even ask! Ran into that young Hong Kong businessman again. He asked if I wanted to act in Hong Kong!”
While others might not understand, Zhou Limin’s reaction was strong – being from Yangcheng, she knew about Hong Kong and Taiwan actresses from magazines and newspapers. Her face reddened, voice trembling with anger:
“Xiaolan, don’t believe him at all. Being an actress isn’t a good job.”
Today this actress was with a married tycoon, tomorrow another would steal him away – entertainment papers were full of such scandalous gossip. Zhou Limin felt it was the worst choice. Xiaolan had gotten into Huaqing University; she wasn’t struggling to survive, so why go act in Hong Kong… Bah, that Du Zhaohui from Chengrong Group looked decent but was no good!
“I definitely won’t go. He’s just really annoying.”
Xiaolan realized that wealthy, powerful people all liked to make unilateral decisions – whether it was Ding Aizhen, the Liang family, Ji Ya, or Du Zhaohui.
These privileged class members disregarded others’ feelings, always believing their decisions were right. Even with Xiaolan’s repeated refusals, they pushed ahead with their ideas.
Respect?
It didn’t exist.
These people only respected those stronger than or at least equal to them!
Like Aunt Liu Fang’s family, thinking they could freely scheme against Xiaolan because she had no backing. If Xiaolan were as she is now, the Liang family wouldn’t dare force her to marry Fan Zhenchuan.
Then there was Ji Ya – even with Xiaolan’s “backing,” it wasn’t her capability, so the Ji family’s attitude was perfunctory.
Though the Hong Kong Du family lacked power in China, they were dazzling investors. Young Master Du naturally didn’t need to respect a female college student.
Why should a young master respect a bodyguard’s daughter?
Du Zhaohui wasn’t as excessive as others in that he hadn’t pressured her through the school. After all, having just donated 5 million to the school, if Du Zhaohui had asked, having Xiaolan visit her birth father in Hong Kong wouldn’t seem an unreasonable request… Heh, others would easily sympathize with the weak, and Xia Dajun was now injured, making him the weak one!
One phrase about “no parents being wrong” would leave Xiaolan speechless.
Xiaolan’s displeasure stemmed from this lack of respect. Earning everyone’s respect was never easy. Xiaolan knew she had some ability and could do better than now. But time was too short to fully expand her career plans, and these people kept appearing one after another.
Xiaolan didn’t have a deep grudge against Du Zhaohui – his actions made her unhappy but hadn’t caused trouble like Ji Ya had.
This displeasure was directed not just at Du Zhaohui’s behavior, but more at herself.
She hadn’t achieved enough yet!
While Zhou Limin felt indignant on Xiaolan’s behalf, Xiaolan’s anger subsided.
“Forget it, I won’t bother with someone like him. If he can’t take no for an answer, I’ll report him to the school.”
Was donating money so great that it allowed harassment of female students?
Xiaolan never feared escalating issues. If Du Zhaohui persisted, she’d not only tell the school but also report to the police station, claiming he was trying to lure her to Hong Kong – possibly for human trafficking or to develop her as a spy. She’d say whatever would upset Du Zhaohui most.
Zhou Limin listened in astonishment before finally giving a thumbs-up:
“I worried for nothing! Nobody can easily bully our Little Six!”
Xiaolan’s direct approach enlightened Zhou Limin – to take unsolvable troubles to the police station. Young Master Du should be grateful it was January ’85; had he come half a year earlier, during the “Strike Hard” campaign, Xiaolan could have easily charged him with hooliganism!
What did being a Hong Kong businessman matter?
During “Strike Hard,” even officials’ children were strictly dealt with!
Zhou Limin walked proudly through campus with Xiaolan, their confidence coming from their status as spirited university students who wouldn’t bow to money. What was a wealthy Hong Kong heir? ’80s university students could look down on such people, not caring at all!
Young Master Du’s disrespect wasn’t unique.
He disregarded not only Xiaolan’s opinions but also Deputy Director Wang’s.
Wang promptly gave Young Master Du a taste of his own medicine, notifying him that the donation procedures were irregular.
This sticky greeting from Wang Guangping confused both Young Master Du and Huaqing.
How could a donation be wrong?
Du Zhaohui encountered this for the first time, smirking at his guide:
“This must be unprecedented – money being scorned.”
The guide felt both embarrassed and guilty.
It seemed like a good thing, but the Higher Education Department claimed it didn’t follow procedures, and lacked organization and discipline. Huaqing couldn’t argue.
If the Hong Kong businessman wanted to donate to Huaqing and not other schools, what could Huaqing do?
Would splitting the 5 million among all national universities work? Would both Huaqing and the businessman agree?
The guide felt they’d offended Deputy Director Wang.
Some people couldn’t help properly but excelled at causing trouble. Wang Guangping was famous for his meticulousness, especially after returning to the city dissatisfied with his work placement.
Those once at his level were now more powerful.
Fools he’d looked down on occupied his former position.
Idiots got important roles while capable people like him were suppressed. After returning to Beijing, Wang Guangping’s mindset was already unbalanced, and everything went poorly. Even a Hong Kong businessman’s son disrespected him – if young people didn’t know how to behave, Wang Guangping would teach them!
Du Zhaohui couldn’t stand provocation. Young and proud, how could he endure?
The two began fighting from afar. Du Zhaohui immediately donated another 3 million, giving 1 million each to Beijing University, People’s University, and Beijing Normal University, bypassing the Higher Education Department each time… Though lacking organization and discipline, Young Master Du had money!
He was truly malicious. After donating 5 million to Huaqing and 1 million each to the others, he acted troubled, saying Chengrong Group had sincere educational aspirations but hadn’t expected such strict mainland regulations. The 1 million donations didn’t need “Chengrong Scholarships” – the three schools could use it however they wished.
His words implied fear of the Higher Education Department’s nitpicking had led to abandoning the scholarship plan, reducing donations to 1 million.
Beijing University was the first to object.
Who was the stepchild?
Huaqing got 5 million while Beijing University only got 1 million. The Higher Education Department’s trouble-making seemed intentionally targeted – should Beijing University really rank behind Huaqing?