Chapter 204

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

Fu Zheng's mind involuntarily conjured a bizarre thought: if his younger brother spoke up, he would lose his son, and little Ruirui would unreservedly abandon him and throw herself into the arms of the couple.

"Looks like I don't need to say anything more."

Guben rubbed little Ruirui's head, smiling especially kindly: "Ruirui has already given her answer."

"Hehe."

Little Ruirui giggled, shrank further into her father's embrace, and dodged his clutches.

Fu Zheng quietly sighed in relief; at least his son was still his now, not snatched away by anyone.

——

After the old man passed away, not only did Eldest Brother return, but also the father of the two brothers.

After five years apart, Gu Father was as spirited as ever, imposing in manner; seeing his youngest son again after a long separation, his usually stern face rarely showed a hint of tenderness.

"I've heard about what happened to you in Shanghai. Here is one hundred thousand yuan; take it first, and tell me if it's not enough. Xiyu works as a teacher with a low salary. As a husband, you can't do nothing and keep letting your wife support you."

"I can earn money myself; I don't need your help."

Guben looked at the kraft paper bag being handed over, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

The savings from before his parents' divorce had all been taken by him to the United States to treat his mother's illness.

A soldier couldn't earn much money; although his father was already a regimental cadre, it wasn't easy to produce one hundred thousand yuan at once.

This money was probably all the savings he had now.

Father's love is like a mountain, yet he still felt uncomfortable inside, harboring resentment toward his father's former heartlessness.

"What you earn is yours; this is our father's goodwill."

Fu Zheng intended to ease the relationship between father and son, so he took it on his behalf.

"I don't lack money..."

Guben wanted to decline, but before he finished a sentence, Fu Zheng had already stuffed the kraft paper bag into his hand.

"You two brothers chat; I'll go see your grandmother..."

Gu Father didn't give him another chance to refuse; he patted Fu Zheng's shoulder and strode into the memorial hall.

Guben had imagined many times what it would be like to see his father again, but never thought it would be like this.

The kraft paper bag containing one hundred thousand yuan weighed heavily on his heart, leaving him with much left unsaid.

"Where is Xiyu?"

Seeing his gloomy expression, Fu Zheng used the opening to change the subject: "Why haven't I seen her? Didn't she come back with you?"

"She went back to her maiden home."

Mentioning his beloved wife, Guben's eyes indeed deepened, with a gleam of brightness: "I had her go back first to say hello to her family. In a couple of days, after Grandfather's funeral is over, we'll go visit."

Fu Zheng looked worried: "Her family still doesn't know you're back?"

"I didn't say before; they probably know now."

Guben smiled bitterly: "I guess it's not going smoothly; otherwise, with her carefree personality, she would have already called to boast."

"What do you plan to do?"

Fu Zheng patted his shoulder reassuringly: "Do you need me to do something for you?"

"No need."

Guben didn't want to drag both families into it: "Let's talk after Grandfather's affairs are settled; I'm not in the mood to deal with them now."

"Tell me if you need anything..."

Fu Zheng smiled understandingly and said no more.

——

No. 1 Courtyard, Xi Gengdao Street.

Wu Meng racked her brains, using house buying to relieve her friend's depression: "Even if I don't buy in Jinan, my parents want to buy. Let's settle this as soon as possible. While you haven't started school yet, let's look around Jinan, choose a suitable property, and buy two adjacent houses. In the future, when we return to Lao Jia for holidays, it'll be more convenient for both of us. We can take a taxi together right after getting off the train, without even needing to detour..."

"You're going house hunting too?"

Lin Xiyu looked surprised: "Our school starts late. Aren't you going back to work? Taking too much leave will deduct your pay, right? Take it easy; be careful the boss fires you if he's unhappy."

"Let him fire me then."

Wu Meng didn't care: "His lousy company is full of filth and corruption; I didn't want to work there anyway."

"If not there, where do you want to work?"

Lin Xiyu helplessly rubbed her forehead: "Foreign companies have the best benefits and treatment nowadays. Many people squeeze their heads trying to get in but can't. You still want to quit?"

"Hey hey, Xiyu..."

Wu Meng rolled her eyes and tentatively asked: "Guben isn't practicing law anymore; is he going to start his own business?"

"What do you want to do?"

Lin Xiyu raised an eyebrow and glanced at her with some surprise.

"I'm an accountant."

Wu Meng volunteered: "If he opens a company, I can be of help. I've had enough of foreign companies; I might as well quit and work for him. With you as a connection, I bet he won't mistreat me..."

Lin Xiyu realized: "Your little abacus is clicking so loudly it's almost hitting my face."

"If you don't object, that means you agree."

Wu Meng, fearing she would say a single word of refusal, hurriedly spoke up again.

"Guben did say he wanted to start a business, but I don't know exactly when he'd begin..."

Lin Xiyu helplessly rubbed her forehead: "You're waiting for him to open a company—how long would that take? You might wait until the yellow flowers are cold, and he'd still be lounging at home."

"No..."

Wu Meng said firmly: "Guben isn't the type to idle around. Even if he said he'd stay home with you, he's just moved his workplace from the office back home; being at home doesn't stop him from working..."

"You seem to know him better than I do?"

Lin Xiyu was stunned for a moment, then smiled faintly: "Seeing you like this, I can't help but reassess your relationship."

"Uh."

Wu Meng felt awkward and instinctively explained: "Don't misunderstand, I have no private dealings with him at all..."

"Why wouldn't I believe what you say?"

Lin Xiyu didn't believe her, eyeing her suspiciously.

"Cough, cough."

Wu Meng gave an embarrassed laugh, about to explain a few more words, when a call from her female cousin came and rescued her from the awkward situation.

Lalei Jie is really a good person!

Good people are rewarded.

Wishing you a happy New Year and abundant wealth.

She quietly breathed a sigh of relief and, by the way, sent her female cousin a Good Person Card.

"Xiyu, I heard from Grandma you're back from Shanghai? You're back and didn't even tell me? Aunt Da and Da Yifu both want to see you, and luckily my older brother and sister-in-law are home too, so let's have a meal together at noon. I've already booked a private room, at 11 a. m., at Lu Yuntang * Lunan Lu Cuisine Restaurant on County West Lane..."

Her female cousin was just as before, very concerned about this younger sister of hers, and called her the moment she heard the news.

"Okay."

Lin Xiyu didn't want to spurn her female cousin's kindness, looked up at the clock on the wall, estimated the time, and smilingly agreed.

"Lalei Jie is treating you to a meal? How happy..."

Seeing her hang up the phone, Wu Meng smiled with a thick face: "She's a rich woman now, right? Running her own company and making a killing."

"It's not easy for them either..."

Lin Xiyu knew the situation well: "Construction is all triangular debts, and there are plenty who withhold project payments. The closer it gets to New Year, the tighter the funds. Her company has dozens of people, all counting on her for meals. Before New Year, she went to collect payment, and her female cousin led people to block the other side's door. I heard the scene was quite something—workers gonged and shouted slogans demanding money, police cars came to maintain order, for fear a fight would break out and cost lives..."

"Lalei Jie is that fierce?"

Wu Meng was stunned hearing it.

"There's no other way!"

Lin Xiyu sighed faintly: "You think making money is easy? Those in construction fear non-payment most. They're doing renovations now, all advancing their own money. A single building costs at least one or two million to advance. If the money doesn't come back, can they not be anxious and angry?"

"Hiss?"

Wu Meng sucked in a breath of cold air, her small heart trembling in shock: "Advancing that much money? Do they have to renovate buildings? Can't they do home renovations?"

"They don't do home renovations anymore..."

Lin Xiyu smiled wryly helplessly: "Home renovation follow-up maintenance is very troublesome. Some people, years after renovation, still pick trouble if problems arise. Their own water pipe leaks and dampens the wall, yet they insist the renovation was done poorly and demand compensation. My female cousin endured it at first, sending workers to handle it for them, but over time she got annoyed. She simply quit the home renovation market and only takes big orders now—renovating buildings."

Wu Meng didn't understand the industry and was a bit confused: "Just renovating buildings, there can't be that much work, right?"

"Of course there isn't..."

Lin Xiyu smiled good-naturedly and patiently explained: "Haven't you heard the antique trade saying? 'No business for a year, one deal feeds you for a year.' Renovation is the same. Renovating one building a year can keep the company running normally."

"Xiyu, I find you know so much..."

Wu Meng realized: "You talk about business principles in a complete set. From now on, just quit your job and do business yourself. I'm optimistic about you."

"What good does it do that you're optimistic about me?"

Lin Xiyu laughed: "I don't even think I have that kind of guts myself—giving up a stable job for days of not knowing where the next meal comes from."

"Being a teacher is stable, but the salary is too low."

Wu Meng worked at a foreign company and was used to job-hopping, with her own views: "Especially in Shanghai, three thousand a month at the start isn't enough to spend. After deducting rent and utilities, there's not much left. Looking at it this way, foreign companies are more promising—at least they pay more, and life isn't so tight. Just for that, I can endure any amount of petty annoyances."

"Guben wants to start a business; I can't keep tossing around."

Lin Xiyu had her calculations: "The two of us, at least one needs a stable job, so there's some security."

Wu Meng didn't care: "Now property values appreciate so fast. You two buy a few more places, and just living off the rent is enough for a lifetime."

"You're thinking too beautifully."

Lin Xiyu shook her head: "A lifetime is long; who knows what will happen? Besides, starting a business needs capital. Before there are results, the initial investment isn't small either..."

"Aren't you still partnering with your maternal aunt to sell clothes?"

Wu Meng added: "Selling clothes can earn ten thousand or eight thousand a year. Why worry about money?"

"The little money we earn is just small-time stuff..."

Lin Xiyu self-mocked: "In the eyes of the Big Boss, it's not even enough to fill a tooth gap."

Wu Meng didn't think, just blurted out: "The Big Boss you're talking about must be at Wang Fan's level, right?"

Lin Xiyu's pretty face sank, and she stopped smiling.

"Ai, look at this mouth of mine..."

Wu Meng regretted it as soon as she spoke: "Why bring him up when things are fine? He's just a calamity, disliked wherever he goes."

"Is your male cousin still in contact with him?"

Lin Xiyu's eyes showed displeasure, making Wu Meng's heart tremble again.

"Ah? You know?"

"You think Guben would hide it from me?"

"Uh..."

Wu Meng felt awkward, her small heart trembling as it jumped.

Afraid she might say it next, she already knew about her private dealings with Guben; the brother and sister had impure motives and had done many things behind her back.

"Forget it, Wang Fan was in the wrong; I won't blame him."

Fortunately, Lin Xiyu did not expose her little scheme; seeing her frightened face turn pale and her expression flustered, she could not bear it and did not scold her further.

"Xiyu, I..."

Wu Meng's eyes showed conflict, hesitating whether to confess.

Relying on a woman's sixth sense, she always felt Lin Xiyu seemed to know something, looking at her with eyes full of deep meaning.

"It's getting late, I'm leaving."

Lin Xiyu did not pursue it further, and let her off again.

As smart as she was, how could she fail to notice her friend's strangeness?

Wu Meng having dealings with Guben needed no guessing; she could also figure out the deep meaning behind it.

One test after another was nothing more than giving her a way out.

As for the deal between Zhao Yuncheng and Wang Fan, Guben actually had not said.

She would know because on New Year's Eve night she slept uneasily and heard a few words in a daze.

Guben did not want her to know, so she did not ask.

Pretending to understand while acting confused was just not wanting to affect their relationship over an unrelated person.

—

"You're wearing too little, not even a coat; put on my overcoat."

Seeing she really wanted to leave, Wu Meng hurriedly fawned, taking her own overcoat from the closet.

Her overcoat was vermilion, a bit gaudy.

Lin Xiyu glanced at it, lightly furrowing her eyebrows.

Fu Yeye had just passed away; wearing something so gaudy was not suitable.

"Do you have a black one? I have to return to the Military District Compound this afternoon to accompany Guben in keeping vigil."

"I don't have one, my mom does, but the style is a bit old-fashioned..."

Wu Meng realized too late, annoyed, and slapped her own forehead.

"It's fine."

Lin Xiyu could not afford to be picky: "Having one is good enough; can you lend it to me for two days?"

"Alright, I'll go find you a more suitable one..."

Wu Meng lifted the curtain and went to the outer room; in a moment she brought in a pure black, short down jacket similar to a bomber jacket: "This is my mom's newly bought one, worn only a few times; try it on."

"Okay."

Lin Xiyu did not act affected; she took it and put it on.

The 1990s short down jacket was fluffy and oversized, with the hem tightened at the waist, making the person look very bulky, like a loaf of bread.

Therefore, common people also jokingly called it bread jacket.

Lin Xiyu looked in the mirror and felt she looked a bit ridiculous after putting it on.

"Ai ai..."

Wu Meng gave an awkward laugh: "I just said my mom's clothes are a bit old-fashioned; why don't you still wear my overcoat."

"No need, this one is fine..."

Lin Xiyu stood up the hood of the down jacket, put it over her head, and zipped the front zipper to the very top, revealing only a fair and delicate small face.

"Do you need a scarf?"

Wu Meng very eagerly handed her own scarf over: "Cover your face too, then no one will be able to recognize you."

"I'm not a thief."

Lin Xiyu smiled and scolded: "What's the point of covering up so tightly?"