Ordinary people certainly couldn’t produce 1 million yuan.

The Reform and Opening Up had made some people wealthy.

Especially among those running township enterprises, quite a few had wealth in the hundreds of thousands.

But someone who could produce 1 million in cash? Zheng Shuqin had never encountered such a person. One million yuan – the entire Provincial Design Institute’s payroll didn’t even amount to that much. Could one person’s wealth support the entire institute?

This number was beyond both husband and wife’s imagination.

Precisely because it seemed so unrealistic, Zheng Shuqin preferred to believe Xia Xiaolan was bragging rather than accept she had such wealth. Hmph, what a big boast – even fooling the old man. We’ll see how this plays out!

This matter of the 1 million yuan dampened Zheng Shuqin’s spirits.

She stopped discussing Xia Xiaolan’s company plans – such matters were too ethereal. Better to discuss something tangible, like the pile of gifts in the sixth-floor living room.

Zheng Shuqin gave Mao Guosheng a hard push:

“How can the old folks consume all those things Xia brought? They’re already so stingy – what a waste if things spoil before they eat them! And that Maotai liquor and Zhonghua cigarettes – Mao Guosheng, you’ve worked at the Provincial Institute all these years without ever getting such special supplies. You’re such an incompetent son-in-law, I can’t even face my family. I don’t care, you must get two bottles of liquor and two cartons of cigarettes to give to my children’s maternal grandfather… Why are you looking at me like that? If you want to drink and smoke, ask for more! If you don’t take them, others might benefit instead.”

Zheng Shuqin was referring to Mao Kangshan’s other children.

Why should she and Mao Guosheng care for the elderly up close while others get the benefits?

The in-laws’ usual stinginess played right into Zheng Shuqin’s hands.

What did old people need so much money for? They should save it – it would all be hers and Guosheng’s eventually.

After all, she and Guosheng lived downstairs – nobody could take even a needle from her in-laws’ home without Zheng Shuqin knowing!

But this time Mao Guosheng remained silent.

He was still thinking about Xia Xiaolan’s mention of changing houses for his parents.

Besides knowing that Xia was a student from Huaqing’s Architecture Department, Mao Guosheng knew nothing about her background.

Was she unfamiliar with the institute’s leadership, speaking so casually?

A young woman who could casually mention 1 million yuan couldn’t be simple!

Besides curiosity, Mao Guosheng felt some reverence.

Even some shame.

Despite Zheng Shuqin’s endless nagging, this time he didn’t agree to go upstairs to ask for things.

Xia Xiaolan’s words seemed magical, echoing in Mao Guosheng’s mind, making his face burn with embarrassment.

On the third floor, Zheng Shuqin failed to achieve her goal, creating discord between the couple.

Meanwhile, on the sixth floor.

Mao Kangshan and Madam Song were also discussing Xia Xiaolan.

Madam Song first examined her conscience:

“Old Mao, I was confused today. I shouldn’t have agreed to travel with Xia – did that put you in a difficult position?”

Madam Song felt quite uneasy.

Hers was an arranged marriage with Mao Kangshan. She was uneducated – the characters she knew were slowly taught by Mao Kangshan after marriage.

She’d raised five children and spent her whole life managing household affairs, never having worked outside.

However, Mao Kangshan was an authority figure in the architecture field. Besides architecture-related expertise, he knew Russian and English, leaving Madam Song in lifelong admiration.

Mao Kangshan had a quick temper.

In marriage, if both parties are stubborn, life becomes impossible. Since Mao Kangshan was hot-tempered, Madam Song remained gentle.

She was used to yielding to Mao Kangshan, looking up to her husband with admiration.

When Mao Kangshan wanted to scold someone, Madam Song dared not intervene.

When Mao Kangshan wanted to be frugal, Madam Song worried about him eating plain boiled noodles.

As for herself?

She felt she already had a good enough life.

Seeing Madam Song’s expression, even Mao Kangshan’s explosive temper couldn’t produce harsh words. How could he blame Madam Song for being confused and sweet-talked by Xia Xiaolan? Mao Kangshan still had a conscience – he couldn’t say it.

“It’s fine, we can go see what Xia is doing in Pengcheng. I agreed to help her find connections for her company, but we can’t let her misuse my name outside. Your agreement works out well – we can go to Pengcheng ourselves and put our minds at ease!”

Mao Kangshan tried to speak casually, and Madam Song indeed cheered up:

“So we’re going to Pengcheng? Tomorrow I’ll withdraw some money from our savings account – we can’t let Xia pay for everything.”

Madam Song had a very pleasant appearance – when happy, even her few wrinkles seemed to smooth out.

Seeing his wife’s happiness, Mao Kangshan felt quite remorseful.

Xia Xiaolan was right about one thing – while he and his wife could still move around, they should go out and travel.

He now doubted his saving strategy.

Eating plain boiled noodles to save money now, leaving money for his old lady – when her teeth were all gone, what good food could she eat?

Perhaps he had it wrong!

He should spend half his salary and save half… no, spend one-third and save two-thirds. Having been a miser for several years, Mao Kangshan couldn’t immediately break his frugal habits.

When Madam Song mentioned withdrawing money, Mao Kangshan didn’t object, but couldn’t admit defeat:

“What money? Wherever a master goes, naturally the disciple shows filial respect.”

Madam Song didn’t argue with Mao Kangshan, instead pointing at the pile of things in the room:

“Third son’s wife has been eyeing these things all day, you need to decide how to distribute them. The cigarettes and liquor are off-limits, but what about the fruit and other food? Shouldn’t we share some with the children?”

Mao Kangshan snorted:

“Guosheng’s wife is completely unsuitable, and Guosheng is too timid, only daring to ask you for things – if they have the courage, let them ask me directly. I’m telling you, nothing gets distributed. Xia said these are to nourish your health – you should indeed take better care of yourself. Those red dates and royal jelly – start taking them tomorrow!”

Madam Song was worried.

Following Mao Kangshan all her life, she never expected to worry about having too many good things in her old age.

Old Mao was just venting – even if they didn’t share other things, how long could fruit last?

A box of melons and a box of pears – even with just the two of them eating, it would take over two weeks to finish. Moreover, they were about to leave for Pengcheng, leaving even less time to eat everything. Never mind, the old man was still angry – after all, during lunch, Zheng Shuqin had dragged Guosheng over and showed no tact, angering Old Mao.

…

The Mao family’s discussion lasted half the night, and secrets couldn’t be kept in the Provincial Design Institute’s staff quarters.

Every household discussed the Mao family’s peculiar situation. The miser plucking his feathers wasn’t remarkable, but the stubborn and difficult Mao Kangshan had changed his mind, accepting gifts and taking on a closed-door disciple.

Most people discussed Xia Xiaolan’s background the most.

Including Vice Director Zhong of the Provincial Design Institute, who listened to his family talk at length without much concern:

“If Old Mao wants to take a disciple, what’s it to us? It’s good to have someone occupy his energy – prevents the old man from going around scolding people in his old age.”

Vice Director Zhong thought it wasn’t his business, but early the next morning, before he could leave for work, someone knocked on his door.

Opening it, he found a young man holding two boxes, calling out his name, trying to leave the boxes and go.

How could Director Zhong dare accept?

“Come back, what are you doing? You can’t just leave things like this.”

The young man offered Director Zhong a cigarette: “I’m not just leaving things – I have a favor to ask, brought you some modest local specialties. It’s about Comrade Mao Guosheng from the Provincial Institute – I need his help with something… might be ten days, might be half a month, hoping Director Zhong can help arrange it.”