Liu Yong arrived with cash in hand.

Like a scene from a Hong Kong film – a briefcase that opens to reveal stacks of money!

Especially in the early 1980s when Chinese currency had small denominations, with 10 yuan being the largest bill, 60,000 yuan could create the effect of 600,000 in modern times. It was truly a case packed full of money.

A case of money sitting there had far more impact than any wire transfer slip.

Liu Yong pulled out two stacks, leaving Xu Jing to count the rest. Liu Yong’s case contained exactly 60,000 yuan – the showmanship effect was impressive. Xu Jing’s hands trembled slightly; he was selling his ancestral property. If he couldn’t make it abroad, he’d be letting down his ancestors!

Xu Jing only hesitated briefly – he’d already accepted the deposit and had no money to pay compensation.

His resolve strengthened again, believing he would surely succeed abroad. Many people had such thoughts in the 1980s – going abroad was everyone’s dream. Xia Xiaolan actually felt that except for cutting-edge researchers, going abroad in the 1980s wasn’t necessarily better than developing in China.

But she couldn’t voice these insights – nobody would believe her anyway, they might even think her narrow-minded!

After counting the money and signing the agreement, Liu Yong shook hands with Xu Jing.

“Teacher Xu, would you like me to have someone escort you?”

Carrying a case of money, Liu Yong worried about safety.

Xu Jing shook his head, “I’ll deposit the money at Manager Wu’s sub-branch first.”

He needed to gradually exchange the money for dollars, and now that he had it, Xu Jing wasn’t in a rush. Liu Yong suggested everyone have a meal together, but Xu Jing wasn’t in the mood. In the end, Liu Yong had a meal with Manager Wu.

The meal was to thank Manager Wu, who took the opportunity to promote his government bonds again.

Liu Yong looked apologetic: “It’s not that I don’t want to support your work. You see, my funds are tied up in projects right now, I really can’t manage it. After paying for this house today, I’m even thinking of borrowing from my niece.”

Manager Wu didn’t care about such excuses.

Everyone he asked to buy government bonds would plead poverty, he was quite used to it:

“No funds? What business are you in, Mr. Liu?”

“Hehe, some building materials in Shenzhen, small renovation projects…”

“You have proper qualifications, right?”

Of course, they had proper qualifications – ‘Yuan Hui’ might be small, but their credentials were legitimate.

Manager Wu smiled, “Then there’s no need to worry about fund shortages. If you’re interested, our branch can arrange some loans for you… Don’t worry, the interest rates won’t be too high.”

Liu Yong nearly dropped his chopsticks, which were holding a slice of lamb, back into the pot.

He turned to his niece with a questioning look, wondering about Manager Wu’s background. This was the first time he’d heard of a bank actively offering loans. It was even more surreal than when he’d applied for loans with project contracts in Shenzhen.

He was doing business in Shenzhen, yet a Beijing bank wanted to offer him loans.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t explain – Manager Wu had become obsessed with “government bonds”!

Manager Wu could read their expressions and understand their thoughts. What could he do? Failing to meet targets affected the branch’s bonuses and employees’ chances for excellence awards. Salary increases depended on these “advanced” and “excellent” ratings. Last year, the sub-branch hadn’t taken government bond sales seriously. At year-end, Manager Wu’s sub-branch was criticized by name, all bonuses were withheld, and no one qualified as an advanced worker… Manager Wu had only lost some bonus money, but other branches were praised while he was criticized – didn’t he have a face to maintain?

Liu Yong hadn’t said yes or no to the loan – eye contact couldn’t convey everything clearly, he needed to discuss it with Xia Xiaolan.

Soon after, Liu Yong went to take possession of the house.

This was the Liu family’s first home in the city, and Liu Yong was quite excited.

But not a single tenant had moved out.

“This is too much!”

Manager Wu agreed it was excessive, worried that Liu Yong might resort to force.

This was Beijing territory – it might not be good for a southern businessman to be too aggressive. Manager Wu offered friendly advice, and Liu Yong humbly asked, “Then what would you suggest?”

Manager Wu pondered for a moment, “Let’s handle this through the street office.”

Xu Jing had tried the street office too, so why couldn’t they resolve it? Because Teacher Xu’s approach wasn’t right!

Both Xia Xiaolan and Liu Yong were curious about how an old hand like Manager Wu would handle things, so they eagerly followed along to learn.

…

The Wang household had been quite lively lately.

Their home had been trashed, new appliances hadn’t been replaced yet, and now they had to arrange an engagement celebration.

“The Wang Director’s family is different, even having a banquet for an engagement!”

“Of course, I heard that as returned urbanites, they received several years’ worth of back pay at once, they certainly aren’t short of money…”

If Wang Guangping heard these comments, he’d be furious.

What engagement celebration? The Wang family wasn’t in any condition for such things! But without a banquet, how could they just announce an engagement verbally? Xia Ziyu wouldn’t be so easily fooled. Wang Guangping had to invite relatives, friends, colleagues, and neighbors, booking seven or eight tables at a state-run restaurant to celebrate Xia Ziyu and Wang Jianhua’s engagement!

When people asked Wang Guangping why such a hurry, he could only say the young couple was in love and had planned to marry after graduation, so giving Xia Ziyu official status now would let her properly visit the family.

“Old Wang is quite open-minded!”

Xia Ziyu was also very gracious.

As long as her family background wasn’t mentioned, looking at external conditions, she and Wang Jianhua seemed well-matched.

Both were from Beijing Normal College – classmates turned lovers, it seemed like a beautiful story. At least the guests praised it as such, saying only pleasant things.

Privately, there was much gossip – Wang Jianhua’s face still showed injuries, Xia Ziyu’s stitches were visible – who knew what kind of trouble the Wang family was in?

Xia Ziyu didn’t care about any of this. She only knew that her relationship with Wang Jianhua was settled!

What did facial injuries matter?

Let them laugh now – we’ll see who laughs last!

Zhang Cui was also happy. Back in Dahe Village, who could have guessed that Wang Jianhua was actually from a fallen cadre family?

Only her daughter had the wisdom to choose Wang Jianhua as a boyfriend. Not only did Wang Jianhua get into university on his own, but his father had become an Education Department official. With such in-laws, how could they let Xia Xiaolan have him? They had to hold on tight!

As for whether suffering was required to enter the family, Zhang Cui didn’t care at all.

What woman doesn’t suffer some hardship in her husband’s family?

The higher you marry, the more you need to bow – after having children, your status will gradually improve.

Xia Changzheng was quite dissatisfied, privately complaining to his wife: “Some cadre family – not even a bride price.”

They’d managed to raise a university-educated daughter, only to completely benefit another family. In rural areas, there was still the tradition of “four major items” for marrying off daughters, but Xia Ziyu’s engagement didn’t come with a single penny.

Zhang Cui increasingly looked down on Xia Changzheng, “Once Ziyu establishes herself in the Wang family, what won’t she have? Her father-in-law is a leader in the Education Department. Just think about our Junbao’s schooling – he’ll have his pick of Beijing schools!”