Liu Jun quietly went abroad alone and quietly returned, just like his previous business trips, carrying no more luggage than usual, still with his regular backpack. When entering the residential complex, Yang Li’s car caught up with him from behind. Both felt awkward seeing each other. Yang Li had moved back to her own home after avoiding difficulties and was meeting Liu Jun for the first time; Liu Jun had just dealt the Yang family a blow and was returning triumphant. Liu Jun took the initiative to ask, “Off work?”

“Yes. Hehe, my sister-in-law just returned from having her baby in America…” Yang Li said this, then didn’t know why she was saying these things, and quickly changed the subject. “Business trip? You’ve been quite busy recently.”

“Yes, handling follow-up technical issues.” Liu Jun was unwilling to lie but couldn’t tell Yang Li what he had done, so he could only vaguely muddle through.

The residential roads were narrow, and it was rush hour after work when cars began honking behind Yang Li. Yang Li felt relieved and quickly said goodbye to Liu Jun before slipping into the underground garage. Liu Jun also felt relieved, wondering why he felt nervous when he hadn’t done anything wrong. Could it be that the thief was justified? Similarly, Aunt Fu had stolen his technology, yet he was the one avoiding her while she brazenly stayed at his father’s house, making him reluctant to visit his father. This world was upside down.

The letter of credit was rejected, but the cargo ship couldn’t be controlled by Yang Xun, continuing to drift away from China second by second, making the return shipping costs increasingly expensive. What Yang Xun hated more was that the loans previously secured by letters of credit had matured and couldn’t be renewed. But the two rejected L/C deals had trapped large amounts of working capital motionless at sea. From the day Yang Xun learned of the rejections, he had been jumping around anxiously daily, but with the vast distance, his connections and schemes were useless in international trade. Even having the import-export department staff scolded bloody had no effect.

With several domestic trade deals breached due to other companies’ low-price competition, Yang Xun was certain these two foreign merchants were also rejecting payment for the same reason. He instructed the import-export department to negotiate with buyers, proposing reduced-price sales. But the other party’s response remained rejection due to document discrepancies. Yang Xun was frantic, and the import-export department arranged to seek help from professional foreign trade personnel.

Yang Li was equally anxious. She arranged to meet Qian Hongming to inquire about solutions. After Yang Li explained the whole situation, Qian Hongming somehow connected this to Liu Jun’s recent consultation about detailed export rules. Remembering how the class basketball team under Liu Jun’s leadership had cleverly played by the rules in middle school, occasionally holding their own against the school team without embarrassment, he believed Liu Jun’s habit of playing by the rules would carry into his work. But Qian Hongming calmly answered Yang Li’s questions, carefully analyzing various possibilities while deliberately avoiding discussion of patent infringement – foreigners’ biggest headache.

After seeing Yang Li off, Qian Hongming called Liu Jun, asking if Shi Yiji’s L/C rejection was his doing. As expected, Liu Jun’s answer was as he had anticipated: “I followed all rules, nothing more.”

“Although you followed the rules, your move was too vicious. You could have given mild punishment by having the buyer notify contract termination before shipping, giving Yang Xun a lesson. Given domestic conditions, why be so stubborn? Now, Yang Xun has suffered heavy losses. When he figures out where the problem lies, what do you think he’ll do to you?”

“But Yang Xun should also understand I’m not to be trifled with. I’m not afraid of him knowing – I already have defensive considerations. What else can he do to me? He only has those third-rate dirty tricks to intimidate people like my dad, who also don’t follow the rules. He doesn’t dare make it big. If he wants to escalate, others might not help him – that would be illegal.”

“Liu Jun, this thinking is very naive. I’d rather believe you’re just angry with Yang Xun. How do you know Yang Xun won’t dare escalate? Come find me when you’re free. I’ll tell you about how Yang Xun’s various enterprises deal with small-time thugs. He’s inherently a gray character – avoid provoking and approaching him when possible.”

“You mean he’ll use thug methods on me?”

“Yes. When pushed to desperation, he’ll try anything. This time, you’ve pushed him to desperation.”

“Am I the one pushing him to desperation, or is he reaping what he sowed?”

“Two people can only sit down to reason when their power is roughly equal. We’re still not enough to make Yang Xun treat us equally and reasonably. Think carefully about what to do – this secret will be discovered by Yang Xun sooner or later.”

“I’m deeply indignant.”

Liu Jun had spent so much on travel expenses to handle his infringement case, but received no rewards. He felt very angry when handling it, but after completion felt his methods were underhanded and felt somewhat guilty. Now he felt no guilt at all. He wasn’t facing a decent person at all. The only thing he needed to do now was protect himself.

But when Liu Jun returned home and told Liu Shitang, his father was stunned, his face turning blood red.

Seeing this wasn’t good and thinking of the minor stroke, Liu Jun anxiously shouted: “Dad, how are you? Dad, say something.”

Liu Shitang punched his son’s chest: “You’ve caused big trouble! Go back to Germany immediately. I’ll handle things here.”

“Dad, why are you so frightened? Yang Xun is human, not a ghost.”

“It’s precisely because he’s human that there’s trouble. Stop talking. Pack up and leave quickly. The sooner the better – don’t come home for three to five years.”

“If I leave, won’t Yang Xun target you completely? If we leave, we leave together. If we don’t leave, neither of us leaves. Dad, I have a solution.”

“You have no solution. You’re still green and understand nothing about national conditions. Your methods won’t work. Stop making trouble. Go pack – I’ll see you off tomorrow.”

“I have a solution!” Liu Jun was provoked by his father’s complete denial and shouted. The sound echoed in the small balcony, startling even himself. He saw Aunt Fu peeking out from the small room and glared at her until she shrank back.

“Speak then. Let you speak your fill – don’t think I’m wronging you.” Liu Shitang was very angry.

“Very simple. Dad sells Qianjin Factory, then uses my name to establish a foreign-invested enterprise in the development zone. Haven’t people been coveting our land all along? I’ve already researched the policies – foreign factories get many preferential treatments: two years tax-free, three years half-tax, imported equipment tax rebates, plus development zone tax and fee benefits. They only collect disability insurance and military service preferential funds. Dad could save considerable annual taxes and fees even just doing the original business…”

“So what? Do you think escaping to the development zone means escaping to the ends of the earth?”

“No, we’re not escaping, but shedding historical burdens. We sell Qianjin Factory, and any future tax audits would only relate to the new legal representative, not traceable to us. We start fresh, following all rules, understanding rules, and utilizing rules. This has been my plan all along.”

Seeing his son’s confidence, apparent deep consideration, and even long-term planning, Liu Shitang suddenly felt a chill. If they did everything as his son suggested, wouldn’t he lose even the metalworking workshop? Moreover, doing everything according to his son’s plan, what role could he play in the factory afterward? He would be nothing. Liu Shitang couldn’t speak. He kept consoling himself – usurping power was something only other families’ worthless sons would do. His son was pure-natured; even forcing him wouldn’t make him willing.

Liu Jun thought his father couldn’t decide: “Dad, think it over tonight, but time waits for no one. Tomorrow I’ll go to finance and prepare tax reduction figures based on last year’s tax payments. Another point – exchanging expensive city land for relatively cheap development zone land, the price difference could let us make major improvements in equipment updates and upgrades.”

“You seem to have considered this for a long time? Even gathered all the materials?”

“Yes, gradually considered and perfected since deciding to stay in China. I bring materials on business trips and read them when free – I have too much to catch up on. But Dad, I’m not completely ignorant or incapable. I have considerations completely different from yours.”

Liu Shitang looked at his son silently for a long time, but still couldn’t decide. He waved his son away to discuss tomorrow. He wanted to talk to someone, but except for his wife, he couldn’t speak about such things to anyone. Liu Shitang felt stifled.

After Liu Jun left, Aunt Fu came out to clean up. Seeing Aunt Fu made Liu Shitang even angrier. This woman had caused all the trouble – otherwise, his son’s research results wouldn’t have been so easily imitated. But he could endure. Unfortunately, his son was young and impatient and couldn’t endure, finding Yang Xun’s weakness and striking hard. But Yang Xun was too massive a snake – hitting it would only bring more cruel retaliation. Liu Shitang’s head ached terribly. But things had reached this point – would his son’s return to Germany help? No! He had no retreat. Only two paths lay before him: follow his son to Germany, or do as his son suggested.

Had his son cornered him?

Liu Shitang walked around the house with his cigarette, deeply troubled. But after thinking for a long time, he still called his son first to make up for his earlier impulsiveness.

“A Jun, home yet?”

“Dad, are you afraid I’d get lost? I’m here, taking a shower.”

“It’s autumn now – don’t take cold showers anymore.”

“I’ll stop when I can’t handle it. Dad, what do you want to say?”

“Qianjin Factory is Dad’s lifeline…”

“I’m sorry.”

“Mentioning Qianjin Factory makes Dad too emotional. You’ve done very well, much better than my friends’ sons. You only lack domestic experience. Dad shouldn’t have been so negative just now – don’t take it to heart.”

“Dad…”

“Don’t say it. We, father and son, don’t need to say sorry, and you won’t take Dad’s words to heart either. Go shower.”

This reminded Liu Shitang himself. He trusted his son so much – what had he been suspecting? Having seen too many father-son relationships ruined by money, anyone would become paranoid. But his son was completely different from the others. His son was talented – looking at photos Liu Jun brought from Germany, the car he drove, the house he lived in, everything he wore and used was better than here. And his son’s income in Germany – he hadn’t expected a technical person’s salary to be so good, not much different from his annual actual income. His son did not need to work so hard to scheme for his little wealth. Just returning to Germany would give his son boundless freedom – he was the one holding his son back.

So what was he still suspecting and hesitating about?

“A Jun, starting tomorrow, Dad sells the old factory, you build the new one. Move fast – aim to complete construction in half a year.”

“Tomorrow’s Sunday – nothing can be done.”

“Make plans!”

Although Dad shouted on the other end of the phone, Liu Jun relaxed his brow as he faced the phone. Dad seemed quite determined about forced escape, but Liu Jun felt this was the best choice. Otherwise, staying at Qianjin Factory’s original site, wanting to expand without land or funds, plus the constraints of all those Uncle Huangs and Uncle Xus.

But now Liu Jun also felt reluctant about Qianjin Factory. It had been almost his second home since childhood. Even after years away, returning to Qianjin Factory, he could still walk through the workshops with his eyes closed.

He looked at various development zone and industrial zone materials for a while, but Qianjin Factory’s shadow constantly weighed on his heart, with every brick and tile of Qianjin Factory flying through his mind. Unable to continue reading, he got up and went out.

Going to the garage to get his car, before seeing his vehicle, he saw bright headlights at the entrance as a Passat sped in. Liu Jun saw that this wasn’t good and quickly hid behind a pillar. The car sped past with a screech, stopping in the middle of the curve. Only then did Liu Jun see clearly – this was Yang Li’s car. Liu Jun wanted to leave – this family’s big brother was despicable, and he didn’t want to deal with Yang Li. But turning back, he saw Yang Li stumbling out unsteadily. Drunk, Liu Jun thought. He saw Yang Li swaying as she forcefully closed the door, then slumping against it, unable to move. Liu Jun couldn’t bear watching and had to go help. He saw Yang Li slightly raise her eyes, recognize him, and suddenly smile charmingly. He only felt half of Yang Li’s weight pressing against his chest, sliding down along his chest softly. Liu Jun was so startled he shouted for God’s help in German, forcefully lifting Yang Li to prevent her from trying to draw strength from the ground.

Carrying her into the elevator, when Liu Jun bent down to press the floor button, he suddenly felt something at his ear. He wasn’t some inexperienced innocent boy – half his face immediately burned hot. The warm, fragrant softness he was supporting also embraced him, restlessly wriggling and murmuring his name. Liu Jun continued calling to the German God for help like a young monk chanting, not daring to move at all, only staring at the jumping floor indicators, hoping to arrive quickly.

Finally carrying Yang Li out of the elevator, she mumbled about not wanting to go home, not wanting to be alone, hugging him tightly. Liu Jun dared not linger, taking the liberty to open Yang Li’s purse for keys and stuffing her inside the house. Although Yang Li was confused with drink, like her ability to precisely drive home, she accurately found Liu Jun’s lips while tightly hugging his neck.

When Liu Jun struggled out of Yang Li’s door, he stood foolishly for several minutes before his soul returned. Looking at the door he’d closed, he kept warning himself: no, no. He quickly fled while he still had breath left. Along the way, seeing those flirtatious neon lights, he had strong impulses to stop the car and go in. He kept admonishing himself: no, no. He drove straight toward Qianjin Factory and finally arrived victorious.

The gatekeeper’s words poured cold water over Liu Jun’s head – the gatekeeper told him his father had arrived first and was already alone in the metalworking workshop.

All romantic thoughts vanished instantly. Liu Jun tiptoed into the small door of the metalworking workshop.

He saw his father standing alone with his hands behind his back in the night, his silhouette so lonely, so small, looking quite desolate.

“Dad.” Liu Jun saw his father turn back, startled, clearly seeing tears in his father’s eyes. “Dad.” He strode over, but his father turned away, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “Dad, I’m also reluctant and couldn’t help coming to see.”

Liu Shitang hadn’t wanted his son to see his tears, but hearing his son say this, his tears uncontrollably rushed out again. Liu Jun’s heart ached as he reached out to grab his father’s hand, gripping it tightly. Yang Xun’s shadow filled his vision. Although withdrawing from Qianjin Factory was his choice, he hated Yang Xun.