Chen Xiliang was filled with anticipation at Xia Xiaolan’s words.
If the 4 million wasn’t to be distributed, so be it.
From the 1.12 million dividend, he owned 55% of shares, receiving 616,000 yuan.
Zhou Cheng owned 45%, getting 504,000 yuan. In 1987, these weren’t small sums. Chen Xiliang had received 1.1 million last year, plus income from his wholesale stall. He had plenty of cash and wasn’t living hand to mouth.
How could a company grow stronger if every earned penny was immediately distributed?
Xia Xiaolan added:
“If Ms. Ji can’t repay the loan, we might have a chance to take over Elegance—”
Chen Xiliang beamed, “Then we really can’t touch that 4 million, we might even need to add more.”
Thinking this way, he couldn’t touch his own money either.
Chen Xiliang had always wanted to buy something for Zhang Xiao, and despite knowing he couldn’t spend much, this thought remained.
“Xiaolan, isn’t Qihang launching new properties after the New Year? I’d like to reserve two units, one under Zhang Xiao’s name and one under my son’s. Would that work?”
Xia Xiaolan nodded, “Why not? If you want them, I can give you a discount.”
Were there no good men in the world?
No, there were many good men.
Old Chen was truly satisfied with Zhang Xiao, and thinking about buying her property.
He hadn’t forgotten to buy one for his son either. Although the child lived with his ex-wife Lin Meijuan and wasn’t particularly close to Old Chen, he was still his biological son, and Old Chen still cared for him.
That child was probably the one mentioned in the news in her previous life – Chen Xiliang’s eldest son who insisted on paying ransom to save his father after the kidnapping.
Unfortunately, human nature could be dark. Chen Xiliang’s son didn’t know the kidnapping was planned by his stepmother and the driver. Chen Xiliang was ultimately killed.
After the poisonous wife and driver’s crimes were exposed and they were arrested, Chen Xiliang’s eldest son hurriedly took over the company. Lacking ability, he couldn’t adapt to the clothing industry’s transformation era and ran his father’s company into the ground.
The child was kind-hearted, just not very capable.
This wasn’t surprising – growing up away from his father, he hadn’t learned Old Chen’s skills.
Chen Xiliang hadn’t married that poisonous wife from the news, instead marrying Zhang Xiao early on. Xia Xiaolan figured the kidnapping tragedy had been altered.
But Chen Xiliang’s eldest son was still raised by Lin Meijuan.
Xia Xiaolan touched her chin, thinking she couldn’t actively suggest Chen Xiliang take back his child to raise, just because the child might not be very capable in the future—
Then she thought, must every child grow up to do great things?
What right did she have to decide others’ lives?
Chen Xiliang’s eldest son grew up to be decent, not refusing to pay ransom when his father was kidnapped, not just waiting for his inheritance.
Moreover, Old Chen had plans for his child – buying property for both Zhang Xiao and his son, not forgetting his son after remarrying.
Regardless of future capabilities, given Chen Xiliang’s development trajectory, his son wouldn’t lack money.
When Xia Xiaolan fell into thought, Chen Xiliang became very nervous:
“Auntie, don’t look at me like that. Did I do something wrong?”
Xia Xiaolan chuckled:
“It’s nothing, I was just thinking about other things… Old Chen, you’re a good comrade, a good husband, and a good father.”
Huh?!
Such sudden praise made him a bit scared!
When Xia Xiaolan returned to Beijing for New Year’s, she brought Zhou Cheng’s Luna dividend – by bank check, of course. Carrying 500,000 yuan in cash would be like carrying 5 million in her previous life.
Xia Xiaolan muttered:
“When in 1987 was the fourth series of yuan issued? The 100-yuan note should be coming out soon.”
In 1987, Xia Xiaolan personally experienced two major changes.
First, after trials in ’85 and promotion in ’86, by ’87, many places nationwide could apply for personal ID cards. Before the New Year, Xia Xiaolan had received her ID card.
This was China’s first-generation resident ID card.
A small card recording personal identity information.
Liu Fen, Liu Yong, and others had gotten theirs too. Liu Fen shared household registration with Tang Hongen, becoming an urban resident.
Liu Yong’s family of three, having bought the property in Jinsha Pool, enjoyed the policy of getting Peng City household registration with the house purchase, all becoming Peng City residents.
Now traveling with an ID card was enough for buying tickets and lodging. Since nationwide implementation wasn’t complete, introduction letters would continue to serve their purpose until the 1990s, when fewer people would need them.
The second change: in 1983, Shanghai opened the first paging station, introducing pagers to China.
After three years of promotion and development, Beijing and Peng City had paging stations, and within their service areas, pagers could finally be used normally.
Pagers weren’t expensive for Xia Xiaolan.
But she couldn’t relate to others’ pride in clipping pagers to their waists, waiting for the “beep beep beep.”
She got one this time back in China for others to reach her.
She just stuffed it in her pocket.
Liu Yong had a pager too, worn fashionably on his belt.
Needless to say, her uncle would surely be among the first to use “big brother” mobile phones… ahem, it would definitely add to Boss Liu’s nouveau riche style, though currently, Boss Liu was dark, thin, and not very tall, not looking much like a nouveau riche.
With many people returning to Beijing, the flight seemed like Xia Xiaolan had chartered it – looking around, half the passengers were her family.
Liu Fen was quietly asking Tang Hongen:
“Should we attend Sheng Xuan’s wedding?”
Tang Hongen smiled back, “It’s up to you. The wedding’s on New Year’s Eve, affecting our celebration.”
Attend Sheng Xuan’s wedding?
Tang Hongen would rather make dumplings at home with his wife.
He’d knead the dough, Ah Fen would prepare the filling – such a cozy life.
Leisurely working during the day, and watching the Spring Festival Gala together in front of the TV at night – much happier than attending Sheng Xuan’s wedding. Although Song Zhicheng’s wife had sent an invitation, Tang Hongen’s attendance depended entirely on his mood.
Why should he give Sheng Xuan a face?
Sheng Xuan wasn’t even part of the Song family.
Even if she were, no one could force Tang Hongen to attend.
Liu Fen didn’t particularly dislike Sheng Xuan. In their two interactions when Sheng Xuan came to buy clothes, she was quite polite.
Honestly, much more likable than Old Tang’s ex-wife, Ms. Ji.
But attending Sheng Xuan’s wedding still felt strange.
“Then I won’t go.”
Liu Fen followed her heart, and Tang Hongen didn’t say anything – they reached an agreement happily.
But Xia Xiaolan had received a separate invitation from Zhu Suizhou, so she couldn’t decline.
Xia Xiaolan was eager to go.
She turned to ask Xu Changle: “Will Ji Ya attend Sheng Xuan’s wedding?”