Though Wang Guangping maintained composure at work after being outmaneuvered by the wealthy, willful, and ruthless Du Zhaohui, he couldn’t keep up the act at home.
Du Zhaohui spent 3 million just to challenge Wang Guangping, and Wang Guangping had to swallow this bitter pill.
Although the average wage was only a few dozen yuan, 3 million wasn’t really that significant.
Which leader of a major organization hadn’t seen 3 million before? Take the State Cotton Mill No. 3 in Shangdu – it could generate twenty to thirty million in profits for the state annually. A 3-million production plan could be approved by just Vice Factory Director Yuan Honggang – what was so special about that!
But that was public money, only to be used for the factory’s production. If Yuan Honggang dared to divert it for personal use, Ding Aizhen and the former factory director served as bloody examples.
State Cotton Mill No. 3 couldn’t donate to any university either.
The factory belonged to the state, and the money was public funds – Yuan Honggang couldn’t just give money to whoever he liked.
A vice director couldn’t do it, and even the director didn’t have such authority!
Hong Kong merchants were different – their money was their own, to spend as they pleased. Wang Guangping had been slapped in the face by Du Zhaohui’s extra 3 million, and the sting followed him from work to home. Everything irritated him now.
Ran Shuyu took his briefcase – nowadays all leaders carried briefcases, as not having one while lacking car service was unseemly. Wang Guangping only had a briefcase without car service, but he usually acted like he didn’t mind, appearing very modest at work.
Today his temper was particularly bad, practically throwing the briefcase at Ran Shuyu.
“Guangping, today at work…”
Hadn’t he left for work in good spirits? Ran Shuyu was most attuned to Wang Guangping’s moods. These past few days, he’d been energetic, talking about organizing university donations from Hong Kong merchants, hoping to establish his authority in that area at work.
Now this inexplicable anger left Ran Shuyu confused.
Just as Wang Guangping’s anger hadn’t been directed at Ran Shuyu, someone else arrived to take the hit – Wang Jianhua brought Xia Ziyu home, almost right behind him.
“Mom, let’s make dumplings tonight. Let Ziyu mix the filling!”
Xia Ziyu was quite skilled at this, and Wang Jianhua hoped his parents would accept her, always trying to create opportunities for her to show her abilities. Xia Ziyu smiled sweetly, “Auntie, you mix the filling. Kneading and rolling the dough is tiring – let me do that.”
Her words were so skillful that even though Ran Shuyu looked down on Xia Ziyu, she had to admit other young women couldn’t match Xia Ziyu’s thoughtfulness.
Since the tutoring class incident, Wang Guangping never directly interacted with Xia Ziyu. When she was at the Wang household, he treated her like air.
Today, with Wang Guangping in such a foul mood, Xia Ziyu became collateral damage!
“Jianhua, why do you keep running home? Spend more time studying at school. If others can eat at the cafeteria, why can’t you? Don’t compare food, clothes, housing, and transportation – if you want to compare, compare studies, especially your foreign language. It’s always been your weak subject, put in more effort! The Ministry of Education is holding English competitions, proving that foreign languages will become increasingly important in both studies and work… The world has changed, you must seize opportunities. Even students from rural areas can participate in competitions. If you associate more with excellent classmates, you’ll surely become more excellent too!”
Wang Guangping was lecturing his son. Wang Jianhua was stunned, and Xia Ziyu was struck at a sore spot.
Could a father tell his son to come home less? That was meant to tell Xia Ziyu to come less!
The mention of rural students in English competitions referred to Xia Xiaolan.
While “associating with excellent classmates” might not have been specifically directed, it was an indirect criticism of Wang Jianhua’s poor judgment. If he had to bring back someone from the countryside, why not bring that excellent one? Between the Xia sisters, was Wang Jianhua blind? Why did it have to be Xia Ziyu?
What was so good about Xia Ziyu? If she were excellent enough, why wasn’t she in any competitions?
Not just English competitions – as a university student, there were many chances to shine, if one had the ability. Spending all her time trying to curry favor with the Wang family, her mind wasn’t on the right path – no wonder she was left far behind by her cousin!
Tears welled up in Xia Ziyu’s eyes. This was how officials spoke – staying silent usually but waiting for moments like this.
Even with thick skin, Xia Ziyu couldn’t bear it, especially when Wang Guangping compared her to Xia Xiaolan.
If only she could compare favorably – but when she couldn’t, wasn’t this just twisting the knife?
“Jianhua, I’m not feeling well. I should head back to school.”
Wang Jianhua tried to grab her, but Xia Ziyu broke free and rushed out.
“Ziyu…”
“Stop right there! If you walk out that door, don’t bother coming back!”
Wang Guangping wasn’t joking. Wang Jianhua hesitated for two seconds, giving Ran Shuyu the chance to grab his arm. She locked the door and pushed Wang Jianhua inside:
“Listen to your father! What’s she getting upset about? Your father’s scolding you, and she can’t take it?”
Wang Jianhua’s brows could crush a fly:
“Mom, Dad was making veiled criticisms!”
Ran Shuyu sneered, “So what if he was? If she doesn’t work hard, people can’t comment? Your father and I never approved of you being with Xia Ziyu. She’s not even as good as Professor Liu’s daughter. Wasn’t Liu Shan good to you? You’ve seen all sorts of girls, yet you’re infatuated with a country girl. If she were as excellent as her cousin, would your father and I stop you? Remember how it was when you brought her to the social gathering!”
Wang Jianhua had no response to his mother’s words.
The three family members had finally torn through the paper window today. Until now, Wang Guangping and Ran Shuyu had never accepted Xia Ziyu – only Wang Jianhua stubbornly persisted. He thought himself heroic, resisting pressure from his parents to do right by Xia Ziyu’s devotion.
Was Xia Ziyu not excellent enough?
No, when they first got together, Xia Ziyu was the most outstanding girl for miles around.
If Wang Jianhua hadn’t gotten into university, he’d just be a sent-down youth, completely unworthy of Xia Ziyu. But after coming to Beijing, Xia Ziyu’s excellence suddenly seemed less remarkable. With Xia Xiaolan as a comparison, he couldn’t honestly say Xia Ziyu was that outstanding.
The environment had changed, but Xia Ziyu’s abilities hadn’t grown with it – naturally, the Wang couple looked down on her.
Wang Jianhua held his head in his hands:
“If you two have opinions, direct them at me. Don’t use Ziyu’s sister to provoke her. Their relationship isn’t good – don’t rub salt in the wound!”
“I’ve always wondered why Xia Ziyu gets so evasive whenever her cousin is mentioned. I think there’s something hidden there. Your attitude is strange too – you better explain clearly today!”
Ran Shuyu pressed aggressively, leaving Wang Jianhua no room to retreat.
Finally, they’d reached this issue.
Wang Jianhua’s feelings were too complicated. Sometimes he wished he’d brought Xia Xiaolan home instead – his parents might have accepted her more easily. But such thoughts were too unfair to Ziyu, so he dared not dwell on them.
What was there to say now? Xia Xiaolan was dating Zhou Cheng!
“Mom, I’ll tell you everything, but please don’t trouble Ziyu anymore… I was with Xia Xiaolan at first but later found we weren’t compatible, and that’s when Ziyu and I got together. That’s why Xia Xiaolan hates us both, pursuing us relentlessly from Yunan to Beijing!”