Chapter 169

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"What does 'expressway' mean?"

Wu Meng looked curious.

"You don't even know what an expressway is?"

Wang Fan turned his head from the passenger seat, looking at her in surprise: "Once you go out, don't say you're a student of Suzhou University; you'd embarrass your school."

"What's wrong with not knowing?"

Wu Meng bristled, about to snap back at him, but Lin Xiyu didn't want the driver to see a joke, so she quietly tugged at her sleeve.

"Expressway."

Guben explained to her with a good temper: "The Ji-Qing Expressway is SD Province's first expressway, fully enclosed with four lanes in both directions, from Jinan to Qingdao; driving takes only four hours."

"Oh, oh."

Wu Meng laughed awkwardly: "I thought it was a high-speed jet plane..."

"Pfft."

Lin Xiyu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Wu Meng, you really are a joy to be around."

Wang Fan laughed and teased: "On this whole trip back, you've provided all the jokes; from now on, don't call yourself Wu Meng, call yourself Mengmeng—I think that name suits you better."

"Get lost, you're the Mengmeng one..."

Wu Meng rolled her eyes at him and gave a huge internal retort.

"I think this name is quite vivid..."

Guben found it amusing, and was unusually black-bellied for once.

"Right?"

Wang Fan played along with him: "I'm just saying those two characters suit her—dumb cute, both silly and funny."

"Xiyu, they're bullying me."

Wu Meng was unhappy, pouting her cheeks and glaring at him.

"You two should stop..."

Lin Xiyu laughed and cried at the same time: "If you keep saying that about Mengmeng, aren't you afraid Li Liang will find out and be unwilling? He'll come back and teach you a lesson."

"Ouch, I'm so scared."

Wang Fan patted his chest and pretended to be afraid.

"Li Liang might be thinking the same thing in his heart..."

Guben hit the nail on the head: "He just doesn't say it because he's afraid of his fiancée's majesty..."

"Hahaha."

Wang Fan laughed happily, laughing freely and unrestrainedly.

—

From the airport back to the city center, taking the expressway took 40 minutes.

As soon as he got out of the car, Wang Fan went to the barbershop, cut his eye-catching yellow hair into a buzz cut, and dyed it back to black.

His parents lived in a villa in the southern suburbs; when he entered the door, the house was in an uproar.

His father's mistress had usurped the nest, thinking that since the old man was sick, she could be the master of the house; she wanted to drive out his biological mother and eldest sister, and transfer the real estate into her own name.

Since Wang Fan had returned, he naturally wouldn't grant her wish.

He had a secret talk with his sick old father for an entire afternoon; the final result was that his father repented, saw the mistress's true colors, and agreed to let him drop out of school and return to take over the business.

With his biological father's support, Wang Fan gained confidence and used thunderous methods to reorganize the company.

His other two half-sisters and younger brother, although one or two years older than him, had been spoiled since childhood and played petty tricks at home; they could manage household infighting, but when it came to doing business, they were still too immature.

Wang Fan had been out making his way in the world, running his own company; his methods and ruthlessness were not something the two of them could compare to.

The mistress and her son got no benefits at all and were kicked out of the house; the confidants she had planted in the company were also uprooted, and not a single one remained—they were all driven out of the company.

Before the bell of the Year of the Dog rang, the struggle within the great mansion's gates settled, Wang Fan took control of the company's power, and as the legitimate heir of the Building Materials Company, he leaped to become a hot figure in the Second Generation Circle.

—

How the Wang Family fought internally had nothing to do with Lin Xiyu.

After returning from the airport, shortly after entering the house, before she had a chance to have a heart-to-heart with her maternal grandmother, she was dragged out of the house by her female cousin in a hurry and taken to the East Gate Small Commodity Wholesale Market.

Lao East Gate was indeed as bustling as her female cousin described; people shopping for New Year goods were all beaming with joy, carrying big bundles and small bags, hauling them home as if money were no object.

Her female cousin had no one to watch the shop and had been closed for two days, missing the golden period for selling goods; it pained her terribly.

Now that her female cousin was back, she naturally couldn't delay any longer; the two sisters were of one mind, arrived at their own shop, and immediately got busy.

—

"Leilei, this is your sister who's been on TV, right?"

The shop's barricades had been removed; the female boss next door saw people coming and came over smiling to ask.

"Yes, Sister Wu, thank you for your trouble these past two days..."

Her female cousin warmly greeted the visitor: "If it weren't for you watching over things for me, this pile of goods would be left here with no one to guard them; it would be a big loss, I'd guess half would be stolen..."

"What trouble is that..."

Sister Wu smiled and sized up Lin Xiyu: "I'm idle anyway, just taking a look in passing; I didn't really put in any effort, no need to be so polite."

"Sister Wu, hello."

Lin Xiyu saw her looking at herself and gave her a sweet smile.

"Your younger sister is prettier than she looks on television."

Sister Wu's eyes lit up, and she kept praising: "She looks so lively, her skin is also white, no wonder she was favored by the television station to film a documentary."

"Indeed, my younger sister is just pretty..."

The female cousin praised her own family without holding back: "Her figure is also good, a natural clothes hanger, she looks good in anything."

Lin Xiyu was wearing a tight-fitting sweater, straight-leg jeans, a slender waist and long legs, making people's eyes light up at first sight.

"Does your younger sister have a partner?"

Sister Wu, harboring her own little thoughts, quietly sidled up to the female cousin.

"The flower has an owner."

The female cousin decisively dismissed her idea: "Forget about introducing a partner, my brother-in-law is a handsome man, ordinary people can't compare."

"Ai ai, forget it then."

Sister Wu gave an awkward laugh: "I originally wanted to introduce someone to my younger brother, but he doesn't have that blessing."

"How much is this sweater?"

Lin Xiyu had a good eye for selection; the sweaters bought wholesale were all very popular. After the two sisters hung up samples, someone came to inquire not long after.

"Business is here, you go busy yourself."

Seeing a customer arrive, Sister Wu felt it was inappropriate to disturb further and left awkwardly.

"49 yuan each, buy two get ten percent off..."

"This is authentic Shanghai sweater, look at this workmanship, this pattern, how bright."

"I dare to guarantee, except here, you absolutely cannot buy such cheap, such authentic Shanghai sweater elsewhere..."

The female cousin immediately activated sales mode, her small mouth chattering away, confusing the customer, and very smoothly sold one piece.

Grand opening, both sisters were very happy, the female cousin counted money while continuing to happily solicit business.

"Sister, aren't you going to work?"

Lin Xiyu saw her staying in the shop without intention to leave, and felt puzzled.

"Not going."

The female cousin said as if sulking: "Anyway, the bonus will be deducted, I might as well make skipping work official, otherwise I feel sick just thinking about it and get angry."

"You're still angry with him?"

Lin Xiyu showed concern: "Always opposing him like this isn't the way, do you want me to help mediate..."

"No need."

The female cousin said something shocking: "I've decided, after New Year I'll apply to transfer to the Shanghai branch, I won't work in Jinan anymore."

"Ah?"

Lin Xiyu couldn't hide her shock: "You've already been promoted to Vice Store Manager, it's so good in Jinan, going to Shanghai means starting from scratch, unfamiliar with the place, you can't understand Shanghainese, and business will be hard to develop..."

"I understand all that you said..."

The female cousin was still unhappy: "But I just feel uncomfortable in my heart, I don't like Li Xiao, and can't get along with him."

"Isn't it just for cola?"

Lin Xiyu gave her an idea: "Bring it to the shop, I'll help you watch it."

"Can you do it?"

The female cousin hesitated a bit: "You're busy enough watching the shop alone, where would you have time to look after it?"

"I've already told Mengmeng, she'll come help me."

Lin Xiyu smiled and persuaded: "Rest assured, the two of us, can't we even watch one dog? Bring the leash too, just don't let it run around."

"Like that..."

The female cousin was somewhat tempted.

"Don't hesitate anymore."

Lin Xiyu gave her a strong dose of medicine: "Deducting the bonus is a small matter, delaying other business is a big matter, Wang Fan has also returned from Shanghai, if Li Xiao is quick-tongued and tells him, giving him a bad impression of you, then you'll have no chance to transfer to Shanghai."

"Aiya."

The female cousin slapped her forehead, her expression changed greatly: "How did I forget this..."

Lin Xiyu secretly rejoiced, thinking she finally understood and would go back to work, but then heard the female cousin say with great annoyance: "If he's back, I have nowhere to live, Mengmeng and I will be homeless, kicked out."

"Ai."

Lin Xiyu sighed helplessly: "You still live at his place?"

"If I don't live at his place, where can I live?"

The female cousin looked very unwilling: "If I want to live at Grandma's house, I'd have to throw away the dog, Mengmeng is so well-behaved, I can't bear to."

"Wang Fan didn't get off near No. 1 High School..."

Lin Xiyu gave the female cousin an idea: "Maybe he wants to go back to his parents' place for New Year, why don't you call him to confirm?"

"This is a big matter, I need to ask him quickly."

Hearing this, the female cousin was delighted, no longer caring about selling clothes, and rushed down the stairs like a gust of wind.

Lin Xiyu shouted behind her: "By the way, help me call Mengmeng, tell her to come quickly."

The female cousin didn't look back, facing away from her waved her hand, taking it as having heard.

—

Wu Meng came very quickly, hearing the female cousin say she would help sell goods, she was extremely excited.

Wu's mother also wanted to buy some New Year goods, and came to the Small Commodity Wholesale Market with her daughter.

「Auntie, you're here too. 」

Lin Xiyu was pitching clothes to a customer; seeing the mother and daughter's eyes light up, she hurried over to them.

「You go do your thing...... 」

Wu Ma squeezed up from downstairs, a bit out of breath from climbing the stairs, found a stool to sit on, and smiled as she sized her up.

「It's fine, it's not too busy right now. 」

The shop had just opened; many looked but few bought. Lin Xiyu didn't have her cousin's knack for persuading people—if someone asked, she answered a couple of sentences; if not, she let them choose on their own.

「I want to buy a new outfit for New Year too...... 」

Wu Ma wanted to support her: 「Your family's sweaters are good; help Auntie pick out a suitable one. 」

「Sure. 」

Lin Xiyu smiled gratefully, and from the hanging samples picked out an orange-red cardigan sweater with a style and color that were very eye-catching.

「This one? 」

Wu Ma hesitated a bit: 「At my age, wearing it—wouldn't it be too bright? 」

「Mom, just try it on. 」

Wu Meng, as a best friend should, gave strong support: 「Xiyu picked it for you, it's definitely right. 」

「Fine. 」

Unable to resist her daughter's urging, Wu Ma, with the mindset of trying it on and not buying if it didn't look good, took off her own coat and put on the sweater.

「It looks good. 」

The sweater looked great on her; as soon as Wu Ma put it on, Wu Meng's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward happily, very considerately helping her button it up.

「Auntie, look in the mirror yourself and see if you like it. 」

Lin Xiyu moved the floor-length mirror in front of Wu Ma.

「Tsk tsk. 」

Wu Ma clicked her tongue twice, very surprised: 「I've made clothes for so many years and never noticed that orange-red actually flatters the complexion so much—not tacky at all, but rather very eye-catching. 」

「Believe it now. 」

Wu Meng laughed cheerfully: 「Xiyu's eye is exceptionally good; even the dormitory auntie at her school lets her help with stocking goods. No matter what age group, as long as she helps you match things, I guarantee you'll be satisfied. 」

These words unintentionally gave Lin Xiyu some advertising, and the customers choosing sweaters looked at her with increasingly fiery gazes.

「I'll take this one, how much? 」

Wu Ma was happy to hear it, decisively made up her mind, and bought the sweater.

「What talk of money...... 」

Lin Xiyu felt embarrassed taking her money, leaned close to the mother and daughter and said softly: 「If you like it, just take it; consider it a gift from me. 」

「That won't do. 」

Wu Ma refused: 「You run a business and work hard too, and you even have to ship it back from Shanghai—just the shipping costs a lot of money. I'm an elder; how could I take advantage of you...... 」

「You're not an outsider; it's just one piece of clothing. 」

Lin Xiyu's eyes flickered slightly; she didn't feel comfortable admitting that this sweater was something she'd found in the one-fold section, costing only a dozen or so yuan.

「Mom, stop declining. 」

Wu Meng saw the situation and helped persuade: 「I help Xiyu sell clothes and make money from it; consider this sweater my filial gift to you. Today I'm helping her for free...... 」

「You help Xiyu sell clothes and still feel okay taking money? 」

Wu Ma glared at her, pretending to be displeased.

「I'm not doing it to earn some living expenses for myself, so that you and Dad don't have to work so hard. 」

Wu Meng's mouth was also very sweet; she knew how to coax her parents into happiness.

「Mengmeng is so filial, Auntie, you're truly blessed. 」

Lin Xiyu smiled and agreed, put the sweater in a plastic bag, and stuffed it into Wu Ma's hand.

「I'll watch the shop for you two for a while. 」

Wu Ma felt bad taking it for nothing, and seeing people coming in one after another, she also wanted to help out.

「No need, Auntie. 」

Lin Xiyu smiled and declined: 「Mengmeng and I are enough; the shop isn't big, and too many people would get in the way. 」

「Mom, you still want to buy Dad a hat, right. 」

Wu Meng also smiled and chimed in: 「There's a hat seller downstairs; you go browse on your own, no need to worry about us. 」

「Will you be busy until what time? 」

Wu Ma still wasn't reassured: 「What about dinner in the evening? Should I make it at home and bring it over for you? 」

「The Small Commodities Market closes at 9 PM. 」

Lin Xiyu smiled somewhat apologetically: 「Grandma's place is nearby, and my maternal aunt is bringing food, so you don't need to bring dinner. When you close up in the evening, please trouble yourself to make one more trip to pick up Mengmeng; she shouldn't go home alone too late, and I'm not reassured. 」

「Fine. 」

Wu Ma saw that her words, inside and out, were all thinking of her own daughter, and felt warm and comfortable in her heart: 「Then I'll go back first, and come again when you close up in the evening. 」