Ji Ya never dragged her feet on matters.
Though she and George hadn’t met Harold in person yet, Ji Ya made a trip back to the Ji family home.
An American billionaire deserved attention wherever they went.
Although Ji Lin was disappointed in Ji Yuan, after years of loving his nephew, he would still consider what was best for him. Moreover, this wasn’t just a private family matter. Ji Ya and George wanted to please Mr. Harold, who had come to invest in China – even if government officials served as guides, it wouldn’t be excessive.
It didn’t have to be an investment in Pengcheng!
The Foreign Affairs Department didn’t just handle diplomacy and receive foreign guests, and Ji Lin wouldn’t refuse.
Of course, while hosting foreign guests, attracting some investment would also count as an achievement – in any department, securing foreign exchange was praiseworthy!
This billionaire seemed difficult to handle, not caring for conventional reception – otherwise, Ji Ya and George wouldn’t have gone to the airport for anything.
Ji Yuan was young and energetic, and didn’t work for the government – Harold might actually lower his guard with him.
“Your thinking is correct this time. If you were always this clear-headed, I wouldn’t have to worry myself gray!”
In Ji Lin’s mind, his sister Ji Ya had originally been clever and quick to learn anything in her youth. Born into the Ji family, they had the means to cultivate her. The young Ji Ya had truly been the Ji family’s pearl!
Why had such a pearl become paranoid and irritable, recently making foolish decisions? Ji Lin was convinced Tang Hong En bore much responsibility!
Seeing Ji Ya thinking again made Ji Lin very happy. While complaining about her past thoughtlessness, as her brother he still had to consider her interests: “The relationship between mother and son is so tense, and Ji Yuan hasn’t settled down yet – why argue with him? Use this opportunity to host Mr. Harold to make amends. Don’t be so proud. Ji Yuan isn’t a small child anymore – communicate with him properly!”
The Ji family didn’t know why Ji Yuan had fallen out with Ji Ya.
Ji Lin said so much, but Ji Ya remained silent.
Ji Yuan had overheard her discussion with George about teaching Xia Xiao Lan a “lesson,” and left home in anger.
If Ji Lin knew she had moved her studio back to China to compete with Xia Xiao Lan, he would surely criticize her for not seeing the bigger picture. Ji Ya kept the reason for the mother-son conflict tightly sealed, only blaming others:
“Brother, Tang Hong En must be giving Ji Yuan money, that’s why he can last so long at school! He wants to take advantage of the situation and win Ji Yuan over. I won’t let him succeed.”
Ji Lin snorted: “Taking advantage? You gave Tang Hong En the opportunity. Let’s not discuss the past. I’ll go to Huaqing myself and talk to Ji Yuan.”
It would be best if mother and son could resolve their differences.
Even if his nephew was still angry, this matter wouldn’t harm Ji Yuan, and Ji Lin was confident he could convince him. Ji Lin had high hopes, but when he went to Huaqing to find Ji Yuan and explained everything, Ji Yuan didn’t object and agreed quite readily:
“As a tour companion? Of course! But in America, such services charge fees. My current rate is $100 per day. Since it’s not summer break yet, I’m only free on weekends. For summer vacation, Uncle, you can book time in advance.”
Ji Lin was dumbfounded.
$100 per day?
What kind of rate was this?
Wait, he was asking Ji Yuan to host Harold for Ji Yuan’s own benefit. Why wasn’t this child grateful? Asking for payment from family!
Ji Lin was heartbroken, but Ji Yuan remained casual:
“Uncle, if my mom can send me a nurturing bill, now that she needs me to sacrifice my time as a tour guide, it’s only reasonable that I charge a fee. You know I owe tens of thousands of dollars in bills, so naturally, I need to use every opportunity to make money.”
Ji Yuan’s words made Ji Lin feel somewhat bitter.
Why did Ji Ya have to send that bill? A perfectly good child, driven by Ji Ya to renounce all family ties!
Ji Lin had misunderstood this point. Ji Yuan accepted the ‘nurturing bill’ from Ji Ya. Ji Yuan had gone to America as a child, receiving Western education during his formative years. Ji Ya wanting to settle accounts with Ji Yuan, and Ji Yuan asking for part-time fees in return, was perfectly normal.
Ji Lin had no choice but to go back and discuss it with Ji Ya.
He couldn’t afford the $100 per day part-time fee.
Who knew how long Mr. Harold would stay in China?
If it was really as Ji Ya said, staying the entire summer vacation, that would be several thousand dollars!
To exchange that money on the black market would require tens of thousands in Chinese currency – Ji Lin didn’t have that kind of money.
Using the department’s account was even more impossible. Ji Yuan was his nephew – helping the department while charging such high fees – $100 per day was really too expensive. At $10 per day, young people in the Foreign Affairs Department would fight for this part-time job.
Unfortunately, while the young people in the Foreign Affairs Department could handle paperwork and dance at social functions,
They weren’t like Ji Yuan who could ride horses, and fence, and had won some shooting championships – someone who shared common interests with Mr. Harold!
…
Just after Ji Yuan saw off his uncle, he ran into Xia Xiao Lan looking for him.
In June, Liu Fen had gone to Yangcheng again to stock up on goods.
Thinking of how Tang Hong En had helped both mother and daughter multiple times, even if things didn’t work out with Liu Fen in the future, Xia Xiao Lan still had to acknowledge the favor. But to repay Tang Hong En – what could she, a mayor, possibly need from Xia Xiao Lan?
Even with the Nanhai Hotel situation, though it wasn’t clear why Tang Hong En insisted on Yuan Hui’s involvement, from the current situation, Tang Hong En seemed to be helping Xia Xiao Lan and Liu Yong more.
The only way to repay Tang Hong En was through his biggest concern – his biological son, Ji Yuan.
Ji Yuan had been estranged from the Ji family for quite some time, and his standard of living had visibly declined.
Xia Xiao Lan had heard that Ji Yuan was now doing part-time work privately, seemingly some translation work.
“Ji Yuan, last time Uncle Tang left a bankbook with me. You must be very short of money now. You’re studying economics – starting from nothing is very difficult, but money making money is easier. To repay your mother tens of thousands of dollars, you’ll need some capital, right? Compared to your huge foreign debt, you’re not afraid of taking on this small debt, are you?”
Tang Hong En hadn’t given much money – 2,000 yuan wasn’t much to either the current Xia Xiao Lan or the former Ji Yuan.
But this amount was enough for an ordinary Chinese university student to spend until graduation!
Xia Xiao Lan hoped Ji Yuan would accept this money.
Ji Yuan smiled, showing eight teeth:
“No need, I should have a high-paying part-time job soon… but thank you for your concern, Classmate Xia Xiao Lan.”
A high-paying part-time job?
What nonsense was this kid talking about? Male pride and arrogance weren’t unique to Zhou Cheng – Ji Yuan was also very concerned about saving face!