Before Song Danian could refuse, Xia Xiaolan had already helped Mao Kangshan leave.

As soon as they got into the taxi, the apartment building, which had seemed to hold its breath, suddenly came alive. Seven or eight people quickly gathered in front of Song Danian’s door.

“What distinguished relative visited your home?”

“We’ve never seen them before!”

“They brought so many packages and gifts.”

“After dinner, why did they take Teacher Mao away?”

Everyone bombarded Song Danian with questions, and she didn’t know how to respond. Talking about it would seem like bragging – this young Xia had made too much of a show!

Zheng Shuqin stood there wearing an apron, her hands still dripping with water. Being Mao’s daughter-in-law had truly brought her years of grief, and despite Mao Kangshan’s reputation, she had hardly benefited from it.

This rare opportunity to show off was something Zheng Shuqin wouldn’t let pass. She spoke in a shrill voice: “Oh, not a relative! It’s my father-in-law’s new personal disciple, apparently from Huaqing’s Architecture Department. I don’t know what her family does, but this new disciple is truly filial to Father. Not only did she bring gifts, but after dinner, she’s taking him for tea by West Lake, and even made dinner reservations on Yan’an Road…”

With each statement from Zheng Shuqin, others chimed in with flattery.

The home was small, and they hadn’t had time to store away the gifts in the living room.

Mao Kangshan, known for years for his solitary, difficult temperament, had accepted such a thoughtful disciple.

Huaqing’s Architecture Department was no small achievement.

With Huaqing’s high admission standards nowadays, it was extremely difficult to get in, and graduates had no trouble finding employment.

Even provincial design institutes didn’t set their bars too high for Huaqing architecture graduates. This meant that the disciple wasn’t trying to take advantage of Mao Kangshan’s position.

The special-supply Maotai and Zhonghua cigarettes in the living room were quite eye-catching.

How did the ill-tempered Mao Kangshan find such a disciple? It was enviable.

Mao Kangshan wasn’t lacking in ability; he was just stubborn before. Had he finally come around?

The gossip-seeking neighbors pondered this thoughtfully, showing great enthusiasm toward Song Danian while also flattering Zheng Shuqin.

After finally sending everyone away, Song Danian felt more exhausted from the brief conversation than from cooking and shopping.

When Zheng Shuqin closed the door and went to examine the carefully wrapped packages, Song Danian reacted as if stung:

“What are you doing?”

Zheng Shuqin smiled, “Mom, I just want to see what’s inside. My nose isn’t wrong – I smell fruit and some savory items. Young Xia brought lots of food! You and Dad can’t eat it all, wouldn’t it be wasteful to let it spoil?”

The reasoning made sense.

Even without Zheng Shuqin saying this, living upstairs as her son’s wife, Song Danian wouldn’t have kept everything for herself.

But Zheng Shuqin’s words made Song Danian uncomfortable.

Both smiled, but Young Xia’s smile brought warmth to the heart, her words showing genuine care for the elderly couple.

Her daughter-in-law Zheng Shuqin also smiled, but that smile was calculating, its falseness making Song Danian recoil.

Song Danian calmly stopped Zheng Shuqin:

“Don’t touch anything yet. Wait for your father to return and see everything. Young Xia brought these gifts, and your father will decide how to distribute them. Your family’s share won’t be forgotten.”

Zheng Shuqin’s face fell: “Dad is so stingy…”

Song Danian remained unmoved.

There was nothing wrong with being frugal.

When people grow old without savings, they invite the young ones’ disdain.

Even filial children may not remain so during long illnesses – Mao Kangshan had told her this before, saying he didn’t want to be too close to their children, fearing any mishap might burden them.

Mao Kangshan’s medical expenses were covered, and the provincial design institute handled his funeral expenses.

Why was he so frugal then?

The saved money was meant for Song Danian.

Song Danian had never worked, and her marriage to Mao Kangshan was arranged before liberation. Mao Kangshan often said that life’s ups and downs had caused her much hardship, and if he passed before her, he worried no one would care for her.

With money, there would be no fear.

Even if their children weren’t filial, they would treat Song Danian well for the sake of the savings.

Song Danian’s eyes grew sour and misty.

Living on plain noodles wasn’t suffering.

She just felt sorry that Mao Kangshan lived so frugally.

This sudden disciple, Young Xia, seemed to have broken something.

Was it the Mao family’s coldness and dullness?

Was it the elderly couple’s simple life of plain noodles?

Song Danian couldn’t quite say at the moment.

She just felt that when Mao Kangshan was reading the gift list, complaining about Xia Xiaolan bringing a whole grocery store to their home, his tone revealed happiness!

That’s good then – taking this disciple wasn’t in vain.

…

Mao Kangshan didn’t know his wife was thinking so much.

However, with Xia Xiaolan’s actions, probably everyone in the provincial design institute’s residential compound now knew he had taken a new disciple.

This was good too, leaving him no room for regret.

The Overseas Chinese Hotel was on Liberation Road, not far from West Lake – a pleasant environment for having tea and discussing business.

Xia Xiaolan felt there was no need to avoid Mao Guosheng, and Mao Kangshan didn’t stand on ceremony either, getting straight to the point:

“I won’t let you waste this trip. You said you want to start a construction company – I’ll help you get whatever qualifications you need. Just prepare the registration capital yourself; this old man can’t provide that money.”

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t expected Mao Kangshan to provide the money.

She valued Mao Kangshan’s ability, not his wealth.

“The registration capital is one million yuan – I’ll prepare that myself. Master, I hope to complete all preliminary procedures for this company before National Day. This is where I’ll need your help.”

Mao Guosheng listened in confusion.

Why were they discussing starting a company?

He had thought the “important matter” would be his father giving the new disciple some encouragement, or perhaps warnings about what not to do.

Who knew Mao Kangshan would be as gentle as a spring breeze toward Xia Xiaolan?

He nodded approvingly at everything Xia Xiaolan said.

He had never shown such patience even with Mao Guosheng, his son.

Mao Guosheng’s feelings grew more complicated.

Xia Xiaolan was also observing Mao Guosheng’s reactions.

Master Mao’s family atmosphere wasn’t very harmonious – the son and daughter-in-law lived on the third floor, while the elderly couple moved to a small apartment on the sixth floor. Despite Master Mao’s explosive temper, he endured this – clearly by his own choice.

Parents, no matter how fierce outside, always showed “weakness” before their flesh and blood.

But thinking of Ning Yanfan’s life, and looking at her teacher Mao Kangshan’s situation, Xia Xiaolan felt displeased.

The conversation circled back to housing:

“Master, you and Master’s wife are getting older. I know it’s hard to leave your hometown, but if you’re not comfortable in Hangzhou, you might consider staying in Beijing for a while. I can think of a way to exchange your apartment in the compound. I’ve noticed Master’s wife’s legs aren’t very good – climbing stairs every day must be tiring.”

Mao Kangshan wasn’t enthusiastic about changing apartments, but when Xia Xiaolan mentioned Song Danian, he had to consider it seriously.

Mao Guosheng looked up in surprise:

“Young Xia, do you have connections at the provincial design institute?”