Liang Bing An knew that once a position was lost, the chance of getting it back was slim.
But people needed hope, something to hold onto. After much thought, he still believed Xia Xiao Lan’s partner had been behind his downfall. Someone powerful enough to bring him down might also be able to lift him.
Revenge was out of the question – Xia Xiao Lan was both venomous and shrewd, intelligent with powerful backing, and Liang Bing An greatly feared her.
Even if Xia Xiao Lan’s partner couldn’t help him up, she was now enrolled at Huaqing University with a bright future ahead. If she later married someone with a family background… the Liang family needed this connection. If Liang Bing An couldn’t benefit from it, Liang Huan and Liang Yu might still depend on it!
He had hoped to rely on Liang Huan, but she wasn’t living up to expectations. Liang Bing An had lost confidence in her university prospects.
If they had always been ordinary citizens, it would have been different, but falling from an official’s family to common urbanites was truly painful.
All their former privileges were gone, social status vanished, and others’ respect for Liang Bing An disappeared – the contrast left him feeling as if he were suffering in hell. He had to find a way to climb out of this hell, and having Liu Fang reconnect with her natal family was the only solution he could think of.
“With Xia Xiao Lan’s temper, can I afford to provoke her? I won’t go back!”
Xia Xiao Lan had warned her before not to show her face again.
Though Liu Fang complained, she understood that the Liang family couldn’t afford to offend Xia Xiao Lan now. Fearing further retaliation, she naturally wouldn’t appear to provoke her.
Alcohol on his breath, Liang Bing An said, “You’re returning to your own natal family, visiting with your brother’s family, paying respects at your parents’ graves – what’s wrong with that? This is called taking the roundabout path!”
Alcohol hadn’t addled Liang Bing An’s brain; manipulating situations like this was still his forte.
Liu Fang thought he made sense.
Her elder brother Liu Yong didn’t know about last year’s events, and her sister-in-law Li Feng Mei had never gotten along with her. If she just went to sweep the ancestral graves, surely her brother couldn’t refuse her entry to the house?
Seeing the moment was right, Liang Bing An added more fuel:
“Look at Liang Huan – she’ll take the college entrance exam next year. With her grades, what can she do without help? Are you willing to let her become a textile factory worker or a department store sales clerk?”
Though Liang Bing An had lost his position, the Liang elders’ connections could still arrange some work for Liang Huan with just a high school education.
But such jobs would be either exhausting or undignified. Liang Bing An’s words struck Liu Fang’s weak spot.
Liang Huan had been raised in comfort – how could she bear to let her daughter become a factory worker?
Liang Huan must attend university.
Liang Huan must live a dignified life in the future, not end up as a state store clerk like her mother. Liu Fang’s current submission was to help Liang Huan eventually surpass Xia Xiao Lan… yes, that was it.
“Fine, I’ll go back. I don’t believe my brother won’t acknowledge me!”
Liu Fang wanted Liang Bing An to come along, but he sneered: “You’re the ones with blood ties. I’m just an uncle by marriage, an outsider. Your sister and niece would be upset seeing me. Go by yourself and take Liang Huan and her brother.”
Liang Huan both feared and disliked Xia Xiao Lan, with a dose of jealousy.
Getting her to bow to Xia Xiao Lan was impossible, but thinking of the handsome and well-connected Zhou Cheng changed her mind.
…
On New Year’s Day, Xia Xiao Lan received a call from Chen Xi Liang at the village committee office in Beijing.
Chen Xi Liang naturally reported good news: “Sister Xia, did you see? Wang Ming Ming wore Luna’s clothes. I had many photos taken – the magazines will be interesting!”
“I saw. Thank you for your hard work, running around Beijing during New Year’s.”
Regardless of how Chen Xi Liang managed it, Luna’s sample had been worn by Wang Ming Ming on the Spring Festival Gala stage, making subsequent operations possible.
This winter break, Xia Xiao Lan couldn’t stay in Shangdu until school started; she needed to go to Beijing early to prepare.
What hardship was traveling during New Year’s compared to doing business? Chen Xi Liang was full of energy. Hearing Xia Xiao Lan would return to Beijing early, he was delighted: “When you come to Beijing, I’ll try to secure deals with magazines and newspapers.”
Wang Ming Ming wearing Luna’s clothes at the Gala gave Chen Xi Liang confidence. The clothes were indeed beautiful, though the dress Wang Ming Ming chose wasn’t suitable for daily wear – its style was exaggerated, with a strong stage presence. But this was like major brands’ runway shows; those styles weren’t for daily wear but deepened consumers’ brand impressions.
Having an impression made things easier – the next step was guiding them to consume!
Xia Xiao Lan thought having Wang Ming Ming wear Luna’s sample was a stroke of genius. She had always known Chen Xi Liang was capable but worried her involvement might hinder his experience accumulation… Reality proved that clever people were truly clever – Chen Xi Liang was born for this business!
Xia Xiao Lan also made New Year’s calls to Zhou’s family.
On New Year’s Day, Zhou Guo Bin, Guan Hui E, and other Zhou family members were at the Zhou elders’ home. Zhou Cheng couldn’t return home this Spring Festival either, and Grandmother Zhou missed him terribly. Xia Xiao Lan chatted with her at length, comforting the old lady, repeatedly promising to visit once she returned to Beijing, and finally cheering her up.
Grandmother Zhou, afraid Xia Xiao Lan wouldn’t come, said mysteriously:
“Come quickly, there’s a red envelope waiting.”
If anything, Xia Xiao Lan should give red envelopes to Zhou’s elders. Not only was she not short of money, but Zhou Cheng still had over a hundred thousand in the bank, with significant yearly interest. Joining the army meant starting work; Zhou Cheng could earn money now and should show filial respect to Zhou’s family elders. Grandmother Zhou doted on Zhou Cheng immensely, otherwise wouldn’t extend such love to Xia Xiao Lan. Zhou Cheng had entrusted his assets to Xia Xiao Lan – if she didn’t handle these matters, they could hardly expect Zhou Cheng to do it.
As for Liu Fen, needless to say, Xia Xiao Lan had always let her mother use her earnings freely, giving Liu Fen the building materials store’s dividends before New Year’s.
Over twenty thousand yuan was enough to fully furnish the Shichahai courtyard with appliances and furniture. Liu Yong had already arranged basic repairs, and Xia Xiao Lan said that the money was for appliances, separately giving Liu Fen another red envelope.
“Such good fortune, truly good fortune…”
Liu Fen’s fate of suffering before happiness was exactly opposite to Grandmother Yu’s, who couldn’t even muster the energy for jealousy.
How could it not be good fortune?
On New Year’s Day, Mayor Tang, who stayed at Liu’s house for the holiday, personally made dumplings.
Though Liu Fen thought she’d made things clear with Mayor Tang, everyone could see Tang Hong En’s intentions -, wherever Liu Fen went, Tang Hong En would soon appear.
Thinking of her boyfriend whom she didn’t know when she’d see him, Xia Xiao Lan refused to watch this display of affection.
New Year’s Day passed like this, with no troublemakers disturbing them. Tang Hong En might have given special instructions, as no strangers came to pay New Year’s visits to Xia Xiao Lan’s family.
On the second day of the New Year, more excitement arrived.
Liu Fang brought Liang Huan and Liang Yu to visit… next door at Liu Yong’s house.