Chapter 656: Double Happiness?

After realizing the seriousness of the matter, Li Ye asked Wen Wen Leyu: "Little Yu, what did Mom say about this?"

Wen Wen Leyu said: "Mom wants me to talk to Big Brother and find out what he really thinks. If he's truly hurt, we can take our time to figure it out; if Ning Ning Pingping is just clinging stubbornly…"

Li Ye nodded slowly. Ke Sun Laoshi wasn't heartless, but if Ning Ning Pingping was being unreasonable and refusing to let go, her fate wouldn't be pleasant.

"Why not send Ning Ning Pingping abroad to study?" Li Ye finally offered his suggestion.

"Abroad to study?" Wen Wen Leyu frowned slightly: "Will she agree? Besides, my brother could've sent her abroad—he just didn't."

"Studying abroad and studying abroad are different."

Li Ye said confidently: "You saw the environment over in Lighthouse when we were there—it's still excellent. Lighthouse has world-renowned film schools, like the USC School of Cinematic Arts and UCLA."

"Since Ning Ning Pingping wants to make movies, I think she won't be able to resist this opportunity."

Wen Wen Leyu blinked, puzzled: "That sounds good, but can she even get in?"

"Why not? She's a university student from the Textile Institute, for heaven's sake!"

Li Ye smiled: "Even if she's not talented enough, we can hire well-known Hollywood filmmakers to tutor her. There are plenty of broke film people in Hollywood—it won't cost much."

In the year '86, when people believed "the moon is rounder abroad," having a foreign professor give you one-on-one lessons would be incredibly appealing—so Li Ye thought Ning Ning Pingping would likely be tempted.

But Wen Wen Leyu pouted, muttering: "Even if it doesn't cost much, it's still our money. Zhou Yi made this year's investment budget, and we've been spending like water—I'm already pained watching it. Why should we spend more on her?"

Zhou Yi was Wen Wen Leyu's section chief, an experienced old accountant who specifically monitored the accounts and investment plans of Wen Wen Leyu's several investment companies.

Li Ye took Wen Wen Leyu's hand and said gently: "Think of this money as spent for your brother. You can write it down in your little notebook—later, your nephew can pay you back with interest."

"Forget it, forget it—for the sake of our future nephew and niece, you, the uncle-in-law, just shell out!"

Wen Wen Leyu reluctantly conceded, then pondered: "How should we tell Big Brother? Why don't you go tell him?"

Li Ye slowly shook his head: "Neither of us should go. Let Ning Ning Pingping tell him herself."

"Huh?"

Wen Wen Leyu stared at Li Ye, eyes wide, completely baffled.

Li Ye explained: "Ning Ning Pingping has a long-term advertising contract with Fenghua Apparel. I'll have Pengcheng Factory No. 7 sponsor her to study in Lighthouse—even let her go first under the guise of an inspection tour."

Then, whether she leaves Big Brother without saying goodbye or says a tearful farewell—we won't interfere too much."

"."

Wen Wen Leyu stared at Li Ye for a long while before muttering: "Why are you so sneaky?"

"You think I'm sneaky?"

Li Ye suddenly stood up, shouting: "Fine, I'm done with this!"

Wen Wen Leyu quickly grabbed his arm and pleaded: "No, no, no—keep your voice down! You're the best, Li Ye—you're so clever!"

Li Ye took the opening: "Don't just make decisions among ourselves. Go ask Mom's opinion—she's the one who should have the final say. I'm not taking responsibility!"

Wen Wen Leyu turned and walked off: "Got it, I'm going right now."

Li Ye called after her: "Slow down! Don't run! Watch out for the baby!"

"."

No one knew how Wen Wen Leyu and Ke Sun Laoshi had discussed it, but by dinnertime, the Wen family banquet was in high spirits—even Wen Wen Guohua, who usually sat hunched and silent, looked bewildered.

I just pretended to nap for a bit—how did the wind shift so suddenly?

………………

The next day, Li Ye whistled a tune on his way to work; everyone he met felt this usually aloof "troublemaker" had become an entirely different person.

Just before reaching the Supply Section, his colleague Xia Yue Xia Yue Lingshan returned from the water room, carrying a thermos.

Since Old Ding was promoted to section chief and Wu Wu Qingyi lost power, Xia Yue Xia Yue Lingshan had stopped slacking off—she now arrived ten minutes early, scrubbing floors and fetching water with the diligence of a new hire.

Seeing Li Ye approach, Xia Yue Xia Yue Lingshan hurried over and whispered: "Did you know in advance? Why are you so happy?"

Li Ye blinked, confused: "Know what?"

Xia Yue Xia Yue Lingshan glanced at him, smiling knowingly: "You're pretending you don't know? Look at you—you're clearly glowing with good fortune!"

Li Ye, still puzzled, merely smiled faintly: "Thank you for the good wishes—I do have good news today, and I hope I have good news every day."

"Hehehehe~"

Xia Yue Xia Yue Lingshan laughed as she followed Li Ye into the Supply Section.

But once inside, Li Ye stopped smiling.

Because Liang, the factory director of Fenshan Auto Parts, was sitting in Li Ye's chair.

【The hell—does everyone think my chair's comfy?】

Yet before Li Ye could scowl, Liang quickly stood up, beaming.

"Comrade Li Ye, you're here! Hehehe, long time no see—you look even more spirited!"

"."

You don't hit someone smiling at you. Li Ye didn't act rudely—just glanced at him, then sat down in his own chair.

Liang's smile stiffened slightly, but he quickly placed a cardboard box on Li Ye's desk.

"Hehehe, our county's hawthorn harvest was late this year, but the canned hawthorns turned out especially tart and sweet. By tradition, we always send some to sister units for tasting—you haven't tried them, have you?"

Is this what Xia Yue Xia Yue Lingshan meant by "good news"? He's here to bribe me?

Li Ye understood: Liang had surrendered. He'd come to beg forgiveness.

From Xia Yue Xia Yue Lingshan's perspective, Li Ye and his master had clashed with Liang for half a month, and now it was ending in "total victory"—definitely good news.

But Li Ye didn't see it that way.

Fenshan Auto Parts' products were terrible, and they were too entangled with Light Auto Company. Better to cut ties now than waste more money.

So Li Ye calmly pushed the hawthorn cans back: "I don't like sour things. And I especially don't like forced wine."

"Comrade Li Ye, leave a little room for others."

Liang's face flushed with shame—he'd bowed so low already. Why must a lowly clerk drive him to utter ruin?

Li Ye looked up, coolly: "Director Liang, instead of wasting time here, you should focus on improving your products."

"If your quality is solid, we'll gladly cooperate. But if you can't even lift yourselves up, why should we leave you any room?"

"."

Liang's jaw twitched violently—furious, but unable to utter a single angry word.

"Oh, Director Liang, you've come to the wrong person! Little Li doesn't handle your factory's defective goods. Come, come—I'll take you to the right person."

Master Old Ding entered at the perfect moment, pulling Liang away.

Moments later, Old Ding returned and wrote a few words on paper, sliding it to Li Ye.

"Are you sure?"

Li Ye smiled and wrote back: "I'll sign a military guarantee!"

………………

Although Liang's visit had spoiled Li Ye's mood briefly, the moment Wen Wen Leyu called, his gloom vanished instantly.

"Mm-hmm, we'll eat together today—I'll come pick you up on time!"

Li Ye hung up the phone to find everyone in the office staring at him.

Xia Yue Xia Yue Lingshan suddenly asked: "Little Li, is your wife pregnant?"

Li Ye replied coolly: "What makes you say that?"

Xia Yue Xia Yue Lingshan grinned: "I noticed your bright smile this morning—and now? It's practically certain!"

"Hehehehe~"

Li Ye chuckled awkwardly, neither confirming nor denying.

Just then, the phone rang again.

"Hello, who's this?"

"It's me!"

"Oh, sis! What's up? Ah… oh oh…"

It was his sister Li Xia Yue—her tone was hostile. By the end, Li Ye dared not speak, only mumbling "mm-hmm" and "oh."

When he hung up, Xia Yue Xia Yue Lingshan had already stepped close.

"What's wrong, Li Ye? Do you need help?"

Li Ye pursed his lips and chuckled: "Nothing. Double happiness."