Chapter 140: Gradually Subduing Da Yizi's Body and Mind

"Blue Danube" is a very gentle dance piece.

"You feel it has healed your wounds, right?"

Xu Yuexin looked at Da Yizi's watery eyes and asked her.

"Hmm, I've been playing this piece these past days; each time I play it, I feel considerably more at ease inside."

"Until just now while dancing, I felt as if something in my heart was unblocked, and nothing can bother me anymore."

Da Yizi gradually wiped away her tears, her gaze calm as a lake.

"For example?"

"For example, I used to think that when I was so young, I could join the Cultural Troupe and support my parents."

"In the end, my mother still doesn't recognize me."

"Does this mean all the life I lived before was wasted? Or that I'm unworthy of my parents' love?"

"Now I understand that my life is clearly wonderful, there's no need to worry about this."

Da Yizi spoke slowly, presenting the deepest thoughts hidden in her heart before Xu Yuexin.

Xu Yuexin listened quietly and finally nodded.

"Your life hasn't been wasted; haven't you learned to sing and learned how to strive?"

"Besides, it's not your fault. Even if your mother no longer loves you, I still love you."

Xu Yuexin said earnestly.

He loves himself?

Regarding Xu Yuexin's previous words, Chen Yixue agreed, but she doubted the last part.

"Do you love me?"

She hesitantly looked at Xu Yuexin and said, "Why do I feel that you..."

"Just want to play."

"How could that be."

Xu Yuexin lightly brushed his finger across Da Yizi's delicate nose and said, "When the mountain peaks have no edges, when the river no longer flows."

"I wouldn't break up with you either."

Upon hearing Xu Yuexin's confession, Da Yizi's previously calm gaze trembled.

She was moved by those words.

However, after a brief breath pause, Da Yizi struggled to shake her head: "No, really no."

"After all, you and I are..."

"Um..."

Before Da Yizi could finish speaking, Xu Yuexin pressed his red lips to hers.

This time, Da Yizi still didn't push away, but after the kiss she sighed, "Alas, I didn't refuse on purpose."

"It's just that there is no wall in this world that is completely airtight."

"If one day it's discovered, I will be the one whose reputation is ruined."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Xu Yuexin nodded, indicating agreement with Da Yizi's words.

It's a very realistic reason, enough to make any woman tremble.

Especially for a woman like Da Yizi, whose sense of morality is extremely strong.

"I'll be more careful."

"I'll strive to protect you, so that our affair won't be discovered by the outside world."

Xu Yuexin looked into Da Yizi's eyes and solemnly promised, "Moreover, you truly can't leave me now."

Hearing his words, Da Yizi thought carefully, her gaze momentarily vacant.

On the surface, it appears that "Blue Danube" heals her, but thinking carefully, the one who truly heals her is Xu Yuexin.

He bought her a house, a Steinway piano, jewelry, and countless everyday clothes...

If Xu Yuexin hadn't provided such a good environment, she would probably have sunk into prolonged depression, unable to extricate herself.

Meeting such a brother-in-law, she doesn't know whether it's a blessing or a curse.

The air was quiet; Da Yizi thought for a long time, then finally leaned into Xu Yuexin's arms.

"Thank you... for being good to me."

Da Yizi's face bore an infinitely tangled expression as she said, "I've always kept it in my heart."

Upon saying that, she slipped out of Xu Yuexin's embrace, and after breaking physical contact, looked at him with a pleading gaze: "But I also hope you remember, you and Qiao Qiao are a pair."

"I'm destined to be only a passerby."

"Alright, stop daydreaming."

Xu Yuexin pulled Da Yizi back into his arms and said, "You and I are also a pair."

After speaking, he kissed Da Yizi's cheek and said, "If you ever want to buy any big items, tell me."

"I have the channels."

"No need, I've bought enough already."

Amid Da Yizi's uneasy voice, Xu Yuexin turned and left gracefully, feeling extremely elated.

Today, he took a big step on the road of subduing Da Yizi's body and mind.

After leaving Da Yizi's house, Xu Yuexin rode his bike to the street to purchase New Year goods.

This time, he's buying not only his own family's New Year goods, but also those for his parents, for Da Yizi, and for Shen Qingru.

Two days ago, Shen Qingru wrote him a Letter, saying she plans to return to the country for the New Year.

According to the schedule Shen Qingru mentioned in the Letter, arranging the New Year goods will definitely be too late.

Therefore, Xu Yuexin replied in his Letter that he would help her buy the New Year goods; she only needs the person to return, and need not worry about anything else.

Carp, pork, beef and mutton, as well as cabbage, potatoes, large radishes, tomatoes, celery and other out‑of‑season vegetables…

Xu Yuexin first bought all the dishes needed for the New Year and delivered them to each household.

Next came snacks such as sunflower seeds, candy and biscuits.

Shen Qingru has not yet returned to the country; her share is temporarily stored by Xu Yuexin at Guogongfu.

When Xu Yuexin finished handling all the New Year goods and returned to Guogongfu, night had already fallen outside.

Qiao Qiao organized the New Year goods at home and, looking at the kitchen brimming with dishes, sighed.

"How nice, another year has passed."

"When next year comes, I should graduate."

"You're thinking about graduation placement, right?"

"Hmm…"

Qiao Qiao nodded hopeful.

When the College Entrance Exam was just reinstated, everyone was speculating how these "children of heaven" would be placed.

Now, rumors about the future destinations of Class 77 examinees have emerged, gradually unveiling the suspense for everyone.

Hmm, one cannot say the placement is good; one can only say it is very good.

This gave Qiao Qiao great encouragement, making her look forward to her own future.

"Our batch will be placed next year; we can start planning at the end of this year."

"My current rank is third in the whole major; the choices during placement shouldn't be too poor."

Qiao Qiao gave a confident smile and said, "When the time comes, you'll help me strategize, right?"

"Hmm, definitely."

Xu Yuexin nodded.

Compared with when the three of them were just together, Qiao Qiao's demeanor has clearly become more capable and more confident.

Just before the winter break, she also earned the sole school‑level Outstanding Class Officer award in the entire major, drawing considerable attention from classmates.

That's a school‑level Outstanding Class Officer of Yanda's Class 78, after all.

From his daughter‑in‑law, Xu Yuexin can already faintly see the shadow of a future female tycoon.

And her words just now also prompted Xu Yuexin to contemplate his own future.

Xu Yuexin will start the second semester of sophomore year this spring, still early relative to placement.

However, it never hurts to consider anything early.

Regarding his post‑graduation prospects, Xu Yuexin leans toward business, because he feels navigating the commercial world is freer.

Moreover, the state's policies on entrepreneurship will gradually loosen, giving Xu Yuexin ever‑greater room to act.

…In the blink of an eye, the New Year arrived.

Xu Yuexin handed the New Year goods he held to Shen Qingru and asked whether she was still lacking anything.

"I'm not missing anything; before I left last time I bought everything that was needed."

"How about you? Did your studies improve this semester, and how were your final exam results?"

Aunt Shen asked concernedly.

"It's okay, just middling."

"If Aunt Shen were here to give timely hints, the grades would surely improve a bit."

"Don't be ridiculous."

Shen Qingru understood Xu Yuexin's flamboyant meaning, smiled faintly and teased, "I'm already doing my PhD over there; how could I come back?"

"Congratulations, you'll be a scholar from now on."

Xu Yuexin said cheerfully, while actually pondering how to persuade Aunt Shen to return.

Although, given the current situation in the United States, even after earning a PhD it is hard to find a teaching position.

But one must consider that the higher the sunk cost Aunt Shen has invested in the United States, the less likely she will return later.

This is a question worth careful contemplation.

"I don't deserve it; one must graduate with a doctorate to be called a scholar."

"Graduating with a doctorate over there is very difficult."

Shen Qingru said, "How about you, after graduation do you want to pursue further study?"

"I have no such plan at the moment."

Xu Yuexin took Shen Qingru's hand and said, "By the way, in a couple of days I'll come to see you; will you be at home then?"

"Hmm, at home."

Shen Qingru averted her gaze and said, feeling a little embarrassed.

After Xu Yuexin left, she stayed in the room and let out a heavy sigh.

Human relations are as thin as paper; Shen Qingru found that after she sold Guogongfu, her ties with relatives and friends back home suddenly grew cold.

Those relatives and friends who used to gather often began to make excuses not to meet; occasional encounters were also very aloof.

Shen Qingru understood the reason, but she could not simply leave the estate unsold and go to the United States with an empty wallet.

At this point, only Xu Yuexin remains by her side.

Xiao Xu, Xiao Xu…

Thinking of Xu Yuexin's companionship, Aunt Shen feels both comforted and uneasy.

Intimacy aside, the two have an age gap of over ten years, and Xiao Xu is already a married man.

Originally, when Shen Qingru handed herself over to Xu Yuexin that day, she planned to never return to the country thereafter, treating it as a one‑time arrangement.

Little did she know that upon arriving at the airport that day, the prospect of separation instantly altered her thinking.

Therefore, the present situation is one that cannot be cut off and remains tangled.

But what should be done…

Shen Qingru thought wistfully, got up and walked toward the balcony, hoping to dissolve her inner turmoil with the vast scenery in the distance.

Just then, a gust of cold wind blew outside, the whistling wind lifting a few blackened leaves soaked in meltwater, passing before her.

Seeing the fallen leaves, Shen Qingru felt a touch of melancholy, so she shifted her gaze toward the distant trees.

In the distance, a lone light pole tree stood solitary in the cold wind, appearing isolated.

Better not to look…

Shen Qingru, feeling depressed, left the balcony, returned home and turned on the heating radiator.

At that moment, a deep sense of loneliness surged into Shen Qingru's heart.

If Xiao Xu were still here… it would be nice to have him keep me company.

A thought floated into her mind.

Wait, how could she think like that?

Xiao Xu, however, is a married man; she shouldn't have such excessive thoughts about him.

Shen Qingru hurriedly interrupted the thought, warning herself internally.

She understood that excessive attachment often leads to future loss of control…

At this moment, Keyuan Community.

Xu Yuexin, after delivering New Year goods to Aunt Shen, had returned to his own home to celebrate the Little New Year with his parents.

Xu Qiang returned this year much earlier than last year, because they had already resolved the historical leftover issues from the special period, reducing the workload by a large margin.

Currently, large‑scale infrastructure projects are underway nationwide, and with no private enterprise competition, the city's Coking Group business is very easy, requiring Xu Qiang to worry little.

With the pressure sharply reduced, Xu Qiang has put on some weight compared to last year, and when talking about work he is cheerful, unlike his previously solemn demeanor.

"The group's current performance is excellent; the profit tax paid to the city exceeds the early‑year forecast by 60%, and the municipal leaders are very satisfied with our work."

Xu Qiang sat on the sofa, gesturing the figures with satisfaction, "With a solid capital base, the group can commence technological renovation next year."

"Renovation aside, one must also watch one's own health."

Wu Yan, beside him, reminded.

"Exactly."

Xu Yuexin agreed, "Good health is necessary to devote more energy to work."

"Hmm, I understand. The main point is that this technological renovation is quite important."

"If we can introduce advanced production lines, the next ten years will be hassle‑free."

Xu Qiang said slowly.

However, at that moment, he noticed his son smile faintly without speaking, as if he had something on his mind.

"Xiao Xin, if you have an opinion, speak it out."

Xu Qiang smiled, looking at Xu Yuexin; in his heart he has always held this son in high regard.

"Dad, what you say makes sense; advanced technology will certainly boost the group's performance."

"However, I think the corresponding institutional construction must keep pace."

"Otherwise, having only technology without systems will likely still cause a series of problems."

Xu Yuexin said earnestly.

In the early period of reform and opening, many state‑owned enterprises introduced advanced technology and production lines to remodel their own production.

However, not all enterprises that pursued technological upgrades ultimately withstood the test of time.

The reason is simple: technology advanced, but management systems remained stagnant.

Big‑pot meals, mutual shirking, unclear responsibilities…

Many once‑excellent state enterprises eventually declined because of this.

Only those whose management systems kept pace can endure the upcoming wave of marketization.

"Oh? What kind of institutional construction do you think should be carried out?"

Xu Qiang likewise asked earnestly.

At this moment, Xu Qiang no longer treated Xu Yuexin as a child, but regarded him as an adult.

"Speaking of big‑pot meals, currently many enterprises have a reverse compensation phenomenon: officials earn more than frontline production technicians."

"This greatly harms frontline workers' motivation."

"Currently everyone's income is rising, so this contradiction is not obvious, but as income growth slows, the problem will inevitably surface."

According to the current salary system, nominally technicians and workers are favored, earning more than officials.

In practice, however, everyone still rushes to become officials, sitting in offices, unwilling to do technical work.

Besides the work environment and the power officials hold, there is also the issue of actual compensation between the two.

Officials have more ranks and climb quickly, while technicians have fewer ranks and often cannot be promoted for a long time.

For the same secondary‑technical graduate, the administrative path starts at grade‑7 clerk with 37.5 yuan per month, whereas the technical path starts at grade‑15 technician with 42.5 yuan per month.

The issue is that the administrative hierarchy has 30 grades; a secondary‑technical graduate, as a highly educated talent of this era, can become a deputy section chief within five years, at which point he can earn over seventy yuan.

Conversely, the technical hierarchy has only 18 grades; a technical path can reach grade‑12 within five years, earning about 60 yuan a month, which is decent.

Considering the power officials wield, the two cannot be compared at all.

The reverse compensation chilled technicians, so after private enterprises rose in the south, they began jumping ship, moving elsewhere; many units thus declined step by step.

This year, Xu Yuexin raised his concerns to his father, hoping he could resolve this issue in the unit he governs.

(End of chapter)