Chapter 44: Others Gnaw on Their Parents; I Gnaw on My Son

Zhao Yutong also walked over, smiling as she extended her hand:

"Qin Ze, long time no see."

"Sister Yutong, long time no see." Qin Ze shook her hand. "I heard you've returned after completing your doctorate abroad?"

"Mm, I just got back a few days ago," Zhao Yutong said, her gaze falling on Jiang Wan. "And this is..."

"Jiang Wan, my colleague," Qin Ze introduced.

"Hello." Zhao Yutong nodded, her smile polite but distant.

The group sat down again. Qin's mother went to the kitchen to continue cooking, while Qin's father pulled Qin Ze down onto the sofa; Uncle Zhao and Zhao Yutong sat opposite them, and Jiang Wan took the single-seat sofa on the side.

The atmosphere was somewhat delicate.

Qin's father was the first to break the silence:

"Xiao Ze, your Uncle Zhao and Yutong heard you were back and came specifically to see you."

"Yutong is quite accomplished now; she earned her doctorate abroad, studying... what was it again?"

"Biomedicine!" Zhao Yutong chimed in.

"Right, right, biomedicine!" Qin's father nodded repeatedly. "Yutong is surely destined for great things!"

"Uncle overpraises me," Zhao Yutong said with a laugh.

Qin's father looked at Qin Ze, then at Jiang Wan:

"Son, didn't you win the lottery? Why are you starting a company now?"

"And you even brought an employee back!"

As soon as this question was asked, everyone's gaze focused on Qin Ze.

Jiang Wan clenched her hands. Uncle Zhao and Zhao Yutong also displayed expressions of curiosity.

Qin Ze was well prepared; he chuckled:

"Dad, isn't it normal to start a company and venture into business when you have money? Surely I can't just leave the money in the bank earning interest?"

"You starting a business? Is the business really yours to start?" Qin Shougang's expression turned serious.

"So many wealthy people have ruined themselves by starting businesses!"

"Winning the lottery is unexpected wealth; you need to be careful, steady, and conservative, not messing around blindly."

"If you start a business and lose money, all those lottery winnings could go down the drain, and you might even end up in debt!"

"Dad, I know what I'm doing."

"I started this company before I won the lottery; it's just a small firm handling minor operations, so don't worry."

"Old Qin!" Uncle Zhao interrupted Qin Shougang.

"Xiao Ze has accomplished something now and has his own ideas. Don't keep lecturing him with your old ways."

Qin's father was choked up for a moment and said sheepishly:

"I'm just worried about him."

"Worry is one thing, but we shouldn't dampen the child's enthusiasm."

Uncle Zhao turned to look at Qin Ze, smiling kindly. "Xiao Ze, what does your company mainly do?"

"It's just a small company, a shell company."

"We're just getting started; the scale isn't large yet."

Naturally, Qin Ze was unwilling to exaggerate, let alone tell the truth.

After all, just a few days ago, he couldn't even scrape together a few thousand in his bank card!

So it was better to keep a low profile.

"A shell company is good; it doesn't require much investment!" Uncle Zhao affirmed with a nod.

"But just as your father said, one must be cautious. Your father and I have lived half our lives; we've seen too many people capsize in shallow ditches and fall from glory to shatter into pieces!"

"Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Zhao; I will be careful."

At this moment, Qin Ze's mother walked out and, pointing at Zhao Yutong, said to Qin Ze:

"Son, do you remember playing with Yutong when you were little?"

"You even said you wanted to marry Yutong when you grew up!"

Qin Ze nearly spat out his water.

Zhao Yutong's face flushed slightly:

"Those were just childish jokes."

"Even if it was a joke, it shows you have fate," Qin's father said with a chuckle.

"Yutong is single now, and I heard she plans to develop her career in Jiangcheng. Since you're both in Jiangcheng, you should take care of each other."

The meaning of these words was too obvious.

Qin Ze smiled awkwardly and did not respond.

Uncle Zhao's expression became somewhat subtle. He picked up his teacup, drank one sip, and said leisurely:

"Old Qin, you're joking. Xiao Ze has won the lottery now; his status is different. Our Yutong is just an ordinary doctorate holder; how could she be worthy?"

These words sounded humble, but Qin Ze detected the hidden meaning.

Uncle Zhao did not think highly of Qin Ze, or rather, he didn't believe this nouveau riche was worthy of his daughter.

Qin's father also caught the implication, but he pretended not to understand and continued smiling:

"Old Zhao, what are you saying? Yutong is so outstanding; who wouldn't be unworthy of her?"

"Xiao Ze was just lucky to win a prize; if we're talking about real ability, it still comes down to someone like Yutong who made it through studying."

This was beautifully said, praising Zhao Yutong without belittling Qin Ze.

This was beautifully said, praising Zhao Yutong without belittling Qin Ze.

But Uncle Zhao just smiled and didn't reply.

The atmosphere became subtle once again.

Jiang Wan sat nearby, having said nothing the whole time.

Suddenly, she spoke up:

"Uncle, Auntie, you two chat; I'll go to the kitchen to help Auntie cook."

Saying this, she moved to stand up.

"No need, no need!" Qin's mother poked her head out from the kitchen. "You're a guest; how could we let you do work? Just sit and drink tea."

"It's fine, Auntie; I'm idle anyway." Jiang Wan had already walked into the kitchen.

In the living room, only four men and Zhao Yutong remained.

Qin's father looked at Qin Ze and lowered his voice:

"Son, this Jiang Wan... is she really your employee?"

"What else would she be?" Qin Ze countered.

"I think she has feelings for you..." Qin's father hesitated, leaving the thought unfinished.

"Dad, don't imagine things," Qin Ze said. "We're just ordinary colleagues."

"Would an ordinary colleague come back to your hometown with you?" Qin's father didn't believe him.

"She's also from Qingshui County; since she was heading the same way, I just gave her a ride," Qin Ze explained. "Besides, isn't it normal for an employee to go on a business trip with the Boss?"

Qin's father wanted to say more, but Uncle Zhao interrupted him.

"Old Qin, let the children handle their own affairs. We shouldn't worry about it."

Only then did Qin's father drop the matter.

For the next half hour, the conversation shifted to family gossip and daily trifles.

Qin's father talked about gossip concerning relatives back home, while Uncle Zhao spoke about the recent conditions of retired old colleagues from his unit.

Qin Ze and Zhao Yutong occasionally interjected a few words, but for the most part, they just listened.

In the kitchen, Jiang Wan was helping Qin's mother pick vegetables.

"Auntie, should these celery leaves be plucked off?"

"Yes, pluck them off; just keep the stalks," Qin's mother said while stir-frying. "Little Jiang, how long have you known our Xiao Ze?"

"We were university classmates," Jiang Wan said. "We stayed in touch after graduation, and only recently did I start working at his company."

"Oh, oh, classmates are good; you know each other's roots," Qin's mother nodded. "Then, what do you think of Xiao Ze as a person?"

Jiang Wan's movements paused for a moment:

"Senior Brother Qin Ze is a very good person. He is capable, responsible, and generous to his employees."

"Is that so?" Qin's mother laughed. "That child has had his own ideas since he was small, though his temper is stubborn. But his heart isn't bad; he values relationships."

"Mm, I can tell," Jiang Wan said.

"Then you..." Qin's mother hesitated, but ultimately didn't ask the question aloud.

Jiang Wan knew what she wanted to ask, but she didn't respond.

Some things are best left unspoken.

The meal was ready. Six dishes and one soup filled the dining table.

"Come, come, let's eat, let's eat!" Qin's father called for everyone to take their seats.

The seating arrangement was quite interesting.

Qin's father and mother took the Main Seat, Uncle Zhao sat beside Qin's father, Zhao Yutong beside Uncle Zhao, Qin Ze beside Qin's mother, and Jiang Wan beside Qin Ze.

Seated this way, Jiang Wan and Zhao Yutong faced each other directly.

As dinner began, Qin Shougang started boasting incessantly.

"Old Zhao, you don't know it, but I'm now enjoying my son's blessings."

"Other people's sons gnaw on their parents, but in our family, it's the opposite—my son lets me gnaw on him!"