“Uncle Tang, I bear some responsibility for this. I’ll think carefully about what you’ve said.”

Tang Hong’en shook his head. “What nonsense are you talking about? The conflict between mother and son has been brewing for many years. Young eagles must eventually leave their nest – no one can control another person forever, not even their parents. You’re just the catalyst. I’m glad he showed such courage and responsibility. Though he might have been a bit impulsive and will face some hardships, he’s a young man – I’m not worried about him experiencing difficulties.”

Only through experiencing the bitterest of hardships can one rise above others – Tang Hong’en’s thinking was progressive in some ways but traditional in others. This reflected mainstream Chinese thinking: boys shouldn’t fear setbacks; only those who can endure hardship can truly enjoy success.

There were examples of those who easily succeeded by riding on their parents’ achievements, but they were few. Those who hadn’t been tested by adversity might never recover from a single fall… There were even cases of psychologically fragile top students jumping off buildings after their parents scolded them for one poor test score – not because they were temperamental, but because they were too fragile to accept a single failure.

Xia Xiaolan thought about Ji Jiangyuan’s previous living standards, then about the lives of impoverished students at school, and felt anxious for him.

How could someone who suddenly faces hardship compare to those who grew up experiencing it?

“Even the poorest students receiving living allowances don’t carry tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Uncle Tang, we’re not talking about a few dollars – scholarships and regular part-time work won’t cover it… I think Student Ji Jiangyuan will face more than just a little hardship.”

Tang Hong’en couldn’t produce tens of thousands of dollars either.

He could easily obtain such money – when foreign investors came, he could offer more favorable policies on behalf of the government, and they would gladly give Mayor Tang this small favor – but could he do that?

Yet Tang Hong’en didn’t seem worried at all:

“He still has five years; we need to give him time to grow. But let’s not talk about him – let’s discuss you. Ji Ya moving her studio back to China isn’t with good intentions. How do you plan to handle it?”

Xia Xiaolan wanted to ask whether he was concerned about her or her mother.

“We’ll cross each bridge as we come to it. Speaking purely from a business perspective, as long as she doesn’t use administrative power to strike at my family’s business, I naturally won’t ask for help from you or the Zhou family… Would that be acceptable?”

Xia Xiaolan spoke confidently about asking Tang Hong’en for help – after all, Ji Ya’s persistent harassment was partly due to him, and he couldn’t avoid this fact.

Xia Xiaolan added, “Uncle Tang, your relationship with my mother is your matter, and I originally didn’t want to interfere. However, Madam Ji Ya’s condition shows no signs of improvement – she even billed her son for child support. If you and my mother get together, I’m not sure what extreme actions Ji Ya might take… I’m not trying to interfere with your relationship, but I hope you’ll consider my mother’s safety.”

Ji Ya was the one who filed for divorce.

Now Ji Ya had a male companion.

Still, Xia Xiaolan wasn’t at ease.

A woman’s heart was unfathomable, and Madam Ji Ya thought more deeply than most women.

People of Tang Hong’en’s generation were very reserved about feelings, and it was awkward for him to discuss this with someone younger. However, he didn’t think Xia Xiaolan was talking nonsense:

“I’ve considered all these issues. Don’t worry. Wanting to develop a relationship with your mother is my own choice. If I’ve made any progress in all these years of life, it’s probably that I now can protect those around me.”

Tang Hong’en knew Liu Fen had gone to Yang City, and he didn’t stay long in the capital.

He gave that bankbook to Xia Xiaolan for safekeeping – if Ji Jiangyuan needed help, Tang Hong’en wouldn’t appear personally.

Xia Xiaolan suspected Tang Hong’en’s quick departure was related to her mother being in Yang City, but she didn’t point this out.

Xia Xiaolan looked at herself in the mirror – did she appear too reliable? Why did people keep asking her to manage their money?

The first was Zhou Cheng, the second was Chen Wangda, and the third was Tang Hong’en.

Thinking of Chen Qing, it had been a month since school started, and he hadn’t come to collect his living expenses. Xia Xiaolan couldn’t sit still any longer. Considering Chen Qing might not be at school on weekends, she chose a class day to visit the University of International Business and Economics.

Being beautiful and sweet-talking, it wasn’t difficult for her to obtain Chen Qing’s class schedule.

If one person didn’t know, someone among many would be willing to help.

Xia Xiaolan waited outside the classroom for over ten minutes until Chen Qing’s class ended.

Counting on her fingers, she hadn’t seen Chen Qing for almost half a year. He seemed to have grown taller, his face wasn’t as dark as in high school, and his clothes weren’t as rural-looking as before – he had developed a scholarly air. Chen Qing walked out of the classroom with a female classmate, saying something that made her smile broadly.

Student Chen Qing, were you dating?

“Chen Qing!”

Xia Xiaolan called twice before Chen Qing responded.

He hesitated for a moment, handed his books to the female classmate, and jogged over.

“Xiaolan, why are you here?”

Xia Xiaolan handed him the envelope, “You should ask yourself that. I couldn’t find you when I came to school before. This is the living expenses your family asked me to bring – it’s been sitting with me, and there’s no interest to give you.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve been too busy lately. I kept saying I’d go to Huaqing to get it from you. Sorry for making you come again.”

Xia Xiaolan waved her hand, “Hey, we don’t need to be so formal, right? Did you receive the things I brought at the start of school?”

Chen Qing nodded, “I did. I watched the TV station’s competition program – winners can become exchange students abroad. Xiaolan, congratulations!”

TV viewers didn’t know who won the championship, but Chen Qing knew – the Beijing regional semifinals were held at the University of International Business and Economics.

But Xia Xiaolan remembered she hadn’t mentioned the finals to Chen Qing – after all, they hadn’t seen each other for a long time and had no chance to discuss it.

Xia Xiaolan’s doubt flashed briefly:

“There’s no definite news about the exchange student program yet. I can’t go this semester; it might be during the sophomore year. Well, I’ve given you the money, and I need to get back to school – I still have classes today.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t tease Chen Qing about his female classmate. She might joke with others, but Chen Qing had confessed to her before, and it had only been a year – Xia Xiaolan felt it wouldn’t be appropriate to tease him about such matters!

After Xia Xiaolan left, the female classmate slowly walked over.

“Was that her?”

Chen Qing didn’t answer. The girl murmured, “Excellent and beautiful – no wonder you can’t forget her. Chen Qing, I can help you get the exchange student spot, but what will you exchange for it?”

Xiaolan was going to become an exchange student abroad.

Chen Qing clutched the envelope.

Without public funding, his family’s circumstances could never afford to study abroad. Everything in the world had its value – to obtain certain things, one always had to pay a price. This was the fairest principle.

“What do you want?”

The girl returned his books, giggling: “You know what I want!”