Chapter 31: Qian Niang Comes to See Me

Qian Niang and Xiao Long came at noon, bringing me some chicken soup to nourish my body.

I dare not eat too much, because chicken soup easily causes internal heat, and these days I haven't been moving, making bowel movements very difficult.

When a person lives to this point, they have no dignity left.

Every bowel movement is a painful ordeal for me, and I have to trouble Nurse Lin for help.

A grown man being attended to like this feels very uncomfortable inside.

This Nurse Lin is just over twenty years old.

She doesn't have a formal position at the hospital yet, and to secure a steady job she eagerly takes on any dirty or tiring work.

Ru Meng is only a few years younger than Nurse Lin, but she falls far short of Nurse Lin's capabilities.

Seeing Nurse Lin's meticulous care of me, I have already told Dean Yang that I must secure her a formal position.

"Comparing people makes one angry; these days none of the children have lived up to expectations, especially Ru Meng, who almost made me furious. Look at Nurse Lin—she's only a few years older than Ru Meng, yet she cares for others with utmost attention."

I said to Qian Niang.

Qian Niang laughed,

"Er Hai, as the old saying goes, other people's children are always better; that's true. You shouldn't constantly compare others' strengths with your own child."

"Ru Meng, I went to the hotel to see her today. Sigh, mainly because we've been apart too long, I have no feelings for you. So young children shouldn't be separated."

I continued: "Mother is right. Back then, Zhou Wei believed his mother's some Western education notion, letting the child grow independent, and now he's independent to the point that nobody recognizes him. Xiao Long, go to the hotel and see what your sister is doing."

Xiao Long replied from the side: "She's playing games on a tablet in bed; my grandmother called her several times before she went to the restaurant to eat. Sir, I feel it's inappropriate to leave Ru Meng alone at the hotel."

I said: "Such a daughter makes me furious. Mother, you don't know—when she comes home, all she does is ask me for money or play on her computer."

Sometimes she doesn't sleep all night.

I really don't know what to do.

Qian Niang said: "A girl's family—no matter what hotel she's in, I'll take Xiao Long and bring Ru Meng back to my place for now."

"With someone watching over her, you can rest easy."

I said: "Mother, you're right—let's take them to your place. Help me straighten Ru Meng out. If this continues, she'll be completely ruined. Mother, if she doesn't listen, just hit her. This girl really needs discipline."

Qian Niang laughed again,

"I can't bring myself to hit her; if Zhou Wei ever wakes up and learns I hit his daughter, he'll hold a grudge against me forever. What era is this—who still hits children? Er Hai, don't worry about it. Educate Ru Meng gradually."

I nodded at Qian Niang,

I then asked Xiao Long: "Xiao Long, are you really planning to become a police officer? Your grandmother worries about you. Tell Dean Yang which unit you'd like in Zaocheng—just a word from him will do."

Xiao Long shook his head and said: "Sir, I've had this dream since childhood—I will definitely become a police officer when I grow up, as imposing as my father."

That's why I set my sights on the police academy.

Sir, after summer vacation I'll start an internship at the local police station.

Grandma, you don't need to worry; nowadays being a police officer involves basically no danger.

Qian Niang, however, said: "Xiao Long, I don't believe you. All the anti-crime campaigns these days are police work. When your father was a police officer, I was constantly worried—thank goodness Dean Yang got him into the Senior Management Bureau, which put my mind at ease."

And now you want to be a police officer again.

You could do something else—if you don't want to follow your father and Dean Yang, you could work in a government office, clock in and out, and have fewer worries.

I also said: "Xiao Long, your grandmother is right—go work in a government office; you can choose a position in the city, county, or town. If not, I'll just call Kong Shi to ask whether there's a vacancy, and you can fill it directly."

Xiao Long hurriedly stood up and said to me: "Sir, you can't hit me. Just let me fulfill this dream."

"If I find the work unpleasant, I'll definitely come back to find you."

It seems Xiao Long is determined to become a police officer.

I thought to myself, "Xiao Long, you're great; Dean Yang supports you."

Qian Niang could only sigh helplessly and say: "Do as you wish. Anyway, Xiao Long, as long as your job is stable, hurry up and find a wife. Grandma still wants to see a daughter-in-law and hold a great-grandson."

Qian Niang's words made Xiao Long's face turn red.

Xiao Long said: "Grandma, I'm still young; you don't need to rush."

"How old? In the past, at your age one would already have a child. How could I not be anxious?" Qian Niang said.

I also laughed from the side: "All right, Xiao Long—if you see someone suitable, just tell me whose daughter it is and I'll arrange the match. If they refuse, see if they dare to stay in Zaocheng. That'll spare your grandmother the worry."

Xiao Long furrowed his brow,

"Sir, what are you talking about? We're not a gangster group forcing marriages. My affairs, you don't need to worry about."

Qian Niang also laughed,

"My grandson said not to worry us, so we won't. Er Hai, eat some more chicken—this is free-range rural eggs."

"Let your body recover sooner so you can go back to work. I heard Li Ming say the company has run into trouble."

Qian Niang asked me about the company's situation.

I said: "Mother, that trouble has been resolved. It was mainly unpaid wages and bank loans; the money has all been repaid."

"As the old saying goes, debts must be repaid, and a life for a life. As long as it's paid back, it's fine. Whether private or public, we owe nothing, so we can stand tall and walk steadily."

Qian Niang, puzzled, said: "You've built so many houses—why do you still owe the bank and the workers? Where did all the money go?" She looked at me and asked.

I sighed,

"Mother, this is a long story—this money went into developing new projects. Land is extremely expensive now; buying a plot costs over a hundred million yuan, and then there's construction, so I can only borrow from the bank. There's no problem—don't worry about anything." I comforted Qian Niang.

Qian Niang said: "Nowadays everything is expensive; in the past buying a house cost tens of thousands, now it's hundreds of thousands."

Sigh, Mother, being older, I can't understand,

"Why are these houses so expensive, deliberately making them unaffordable for ordinary people."

After hearing Qian Niang's words, I truly didn't know how to respond to her.

"Why are they so expensive? First, land is costly; the city and county hope to sell some land to keep operating. Also labor is expensive—workers' average wages are over 300, and building materials are pricey, so all costs rise together."

"Developers and builders all want to make money, so these houses can only keep getting more expensive."

I could only explain to Qian Niang like this,

"Mother, selling the house for not much money isn't what we agreed on; it's stipulated from above. There's nothing we can do; if we sell cheap, we'll lose money."

"Alas, it's just hard on the penniless children; if they can't afford a house, they can't find a wife. A few days ago, your sister came to my place and told me, Xiao Hua's wife bought a car, costing several million. Er Hai, what kind of car is so expensive."

"You all owe so much money, how do they still have money to buy a car?" Qian Niang sighed and said.

After hearing Qian Niang's words, my heart immediately leapt up,

The company is in this terrible state, yet Xiao Hua's wife Hua Yan still has money to buy a car.

This is something I never expected.