As Bai Zhenzhu was about to reveal her financial situation, Chang Ying’s parents felt they shouldn’t continue listening.
This indeed proved the Chang family’s good character – after experiencing Gao Huabin’s persistence like a stubborn plaster, Chang Ying’s parents now better understood the importance of maintaining boundaries.
However, Bai Zhenzhu kept them there: “Since Sister-in-law married my brother, the Bai and Chang families have become one. We’re not outsiders – you both must listen!”
She reasoned that even if they left now, Sister-in-law would tell them when she visited her parents anyway. If Bai Zhenzhu were truly foolish, how could she have built such a successful business? She simply chose not to care about certain things!
“I’ll be brief. Besides having shares in the building materials store, my martial brothers and I jointly operate a brick factory and a cement plant. My martial brothers are very considerate of me as their junior sister and made me the nominal manager. That’s why I must be wary of enthusiastic men like Gao Huabin. I do look in the mirror occasionally – how could I possess such charm to make a university graduate fall in love at first sight? I believe he’s only after my money. Even if it were just about money, that wouldn’t be too terrible. What’s concerning is that such people tend to be greedy – they not only want to spend my money but eventually try to get their hands on the businesses under my name… That’s not just my enterprise. Since I’m the nominal manager, I must be responsible to my martial brothers!”
Grandmother Bai only understood two things:
First, young Gao seemed quite devious, deliberately letting others know Zhenzhu was single, which might lead to others taking advantage of her in the future!
Second, Zhenzhu’s business ventures included a building materials store, brick factory, and cement plant, all joint ventures with her martial brothers – how complicated!
The three Chang family members understood much more from her revelation.
The brick and cement factories were Bai Zhenzhu’s enterprises, with only some shares distributed to her capable martial brothers.
She was being modest in calling herself just a nominal manager. In Pan Baohua’s presence, boasting about her capabilities would seem like self-promotion…
But even this humble version of her confession was enough to shock the Chang family!
Beyond the building materials store shares, she had brick and cement factories.
Father Chang had originally estimated that Bai Zhenzhu must have an annual income of around a hundred thousand yuan for Gao Huabin to stick to her like a bee drawn to honey.
But now hearing this, it was an underestimate.
A hundred thousand per year?
It must be several hundred thousand annually.
Though uncertain of Bai Zhenzhu’s exact share percentage, the combined assets of the building materials store, brick factory, and cement plant must total over a million yuan!
Guangzhou was more developed than inland cities, and with the Reform and Opening Up policies of recent years, many had become individual entrepreneurs, with ten-thousand-yuan households becoming common.
There were even millionaires.
For instance, Chen Xiliang, the owner of Luna Fashion who had been featured in newspapers, was from Guangzhou. He wasn’t called an individual entrepreneur but a private enterprise owner!
Chen Xiliang wasn’t unique – Guangzhou had other private entrepreneurs, but Chen Xiliang was particularly good at promoting himself and the Luna brand, which was why Father Chang thought of him first.
While he never had the chance to meet celebrities like Chen Xiliang, he never imagined that his daughter’s sister-in-law, whose marriage they had all been worried about, doubting if this old maid could ever marry… was a private entrepreneur herself?!
Indeed, given Bai Zhenzhu’s achievements, she fully qualified as a private entrepreneur.
Although Bai Zhenzhu claimed she was only nominally managing the brick and cement factories, Father Chang knew better. Both factories were difficult to establish, producing critically needed construction materials. Could someone involved in such ventures be ordinary?
Father Chang’s face burned with embarrassment.
Bai Zhenzhu wasn’t just an individual entrepreneur but a private enterprise owner. How could they worry about marriage matters for such a capable young woman?
To be blunt, though young, Bai Zhenzhu surely possessed better judgment than most people.
She lacked neither discernment nor connections. Perhaps in her regular social circle, men like Gao Huabin wouldn’t even qualify as promising young talents!
While Chang Ying hadn’t thought as deeply as her father, she too realized her mistake.
After Bai Zhenzhu’s revelation, Chang Ying became aware of her error.
This wasn’t about Chang Ying being materialistic.
It was inevitable.
Parents always try to arrange everything for their children – studies, work, even marriage – nothing escapes their excessive concern! They view things through their own perspective, firmly believing their arrangements are for their children’s benefit. Only one situation makes them step back: when they discover their child has achieved something beyond their comprehension, making them realize they can no longer give direction… The current awkward silence in the Bai family living room stemmed from exactly this!
Despite Bai Zhenzhu’s repeated refusals, Chang Ying hadn’t listened, thinking that as a married woman, she could guide her unmarried sister-in-law.
But after Bai Zhenzhu’s candid explanation, even Father Chang felt embarrassed, and Chang Ying’s face burned hot.
They had completely misunderstood the scale of Bai Zhenzhu’s business.
The man they introduced wasn’t a quality match but a parasite who, upon learning of Bai Zhenzhu’s assets, wanted to live off her wealth.
“Zhenzhu, I’m sorry!” Chang Ying apologized sincerely.
Mother Chang, feeling sorry for her daughter, also repeatedly apologized: “We meant well but did wrong, Zhenzhu. Your sister-in-law won’t meddle with your marriage matters anymore.”
How could such an accomplished sister-in-law need marriage arrangements from her?
Fortunately, they hadn’t introduced someone from the Chang family’s relatives, or they’d never live it down – people might suspect Chang Ying was conspiring with her natal family to scheme for her sister-in-law’s money.
Oh my, this “Third Brother Pan” was still sitting silently in the living room listening – would he tell this to his son-in-law Zhiyong?
Mother Chang’s matchmaking heart instantly turned cold, filled with regret.
Why did she have to meddle?
If someone says they don’t want to marry, just leave it be.
Grandmother Bai, sensing the awkward atmosphere, had genuinely liked young Gao, unaware he was after money. Her granddaughter’s earnings had exceeded the old lady’s imagination.
“Zhenzhu, your sister-in-law didn’t mean harm. Now that everything’s clear, we won’t arrange any more matches for you…”
With her daughter-in-law’s parents present, what else could Grandmother Bai say? If she joined in criticizing Chang Ying, things might escalate into a serious conflict.
Seeing the expressions of the three Chang family members, Bai Zhenzhu knew this was genuine.
Neither her grandmother nor sister-in-law would carelessly arrange matches for her anymore, but they probably hadn’t given up on getting her married. After a year or two, when the impact of this incident faded, they would likely bring up marriage again indirectly… So, she should reinforce the effect now and make them fully accept the concept of “staying single”!
Just as this thought occurred to Bai Zhenzhu, Pan Baohua suddenly stood up. His presence had always been particularly eye-catching, and everyone turned to look at him.
Pan Baohua didn’t disappoint:
“Auntie, Sister Chang, you don’t need to arrange matches for Zhenzhu anymore. Zhenzhu and I have known each other for several years, we know each other well and share common interests. With everyone here as witnesses today, I want to ask Zhenzhu – would you be willing to elevate our friendship to something more?”