The legends of Manager Chen were everywhere in the rivers and lakes.
Relatives and friends who were willing to listen to Manager Chen’s advice all ate well, especially her own daughter Wen Ying, who directly handed her money over to Manager Chen for management and made the most profit.
Before Cold Jun sighed about reconnecting with “our second aunt”, and before Qin Yi dejectedly accepted Qin Xianming’s decision to choose Qin Jiao as the successor, the big winner Wen Ying had already taken the money earned by Manager Chen from the stock market and invested it in a more promising industry.
Qin Xianming and the others had previously given business to Chen Ru only because of Wen Ying’s face, not because they truly recognised her professional level.
Chen Ru herself was well aware of this, so in the more than three years since she transferred to work in Chengdu, she had been strict with herself, pushing herself to improve, and never relaxing for a moment.
She upgraded her education and obtained certifications.
She studied financial knowledge and delved deeply into her business.
Her judgement of the stock market was entirely her own.
Chen Ru became famous in one battle.
The label that Qin Xianming and the others used to give Chen Ru was “Wen Ying’s mum”. Now they regarded her as a truly capable financial professional. Chen Ru was not only “Wen Ying’s mum”, but also the impressive Manager Chen with outstanding business skills!
Chen Ru’s excellent performance at work, her upgraded qualifications, and the certifications she obtained in her spare time all gave her the confidence to leave Chengdu and work elsewhere.
Well, this confidence turned out to be a bit too solid by accident. Chen Ru originally only wanted to transfer within the same system, from Chengdu to Nanjing.
Before the procedures were even completed, Chen Ru actually received a call from a headhunter.
The other party offered her other options.
Chen Ru could not make up her mind and decided to discuss it with her family.
Before Wen Dongrong went to work in Nanjing, he had held a family meeting. Now it was Chen Ru’s turn.
She chose a weekend and deliberately flew from Chengdu to Nanjing. Wen Ying also came to Nanjing. Both mother and daughter were accommodating Wen Dongrong.
Wen Dongrong felt touched and inevitably a little smug.
This was the embodiment of family status!
Until Chen Ru mentioned the other job offer, Wen Dongrong was momentarily stunned.
Wen Ying was equally surprised: “HSBC Bank?”
Chen Ru nodded. “The salary and conditions are very good. The current work location is in Shanghai, but it may not be fixed in the future.”
The work location was not the reason for Chen Ru’s hesitation.
Shanghai was not far from Nanjing, at least much closer than Chengdu to Nanjing, making it more convenient for Chen Ru to visit Wen Dongrong in Nanjing, or for Wen Dongrong to visit her in Shanghai.
Chen Ru had a bigger reason for hesitating: jumping from a state-owned bank to HSBC would increase her income for now, but as long as she did not mess up in her current job, it was an iron rice bowl!
Her colleagues in Chengdu still had this concept. If colleagues from her hometown county heard about this, they would probably advise Chen Ru against it.
What good was a high salary for a short time? Could it guarantee a high salary for life?
What if she could not keep the job after two years?!
Of course, ignoring the risk of unemployment, working at HSBC was still very prestigious. Ordinary people had no way in even if they wanted to.
Chen Ru had no connections either.
Limited by her mindset, Chen Ru had never even thought about leaving her current employer.
She did not even know how she had caught the headhunter’s attention!
“Mum, it’s normal for headhunters to notice you. You did such excellent business in Chengdu. These headhunters have their own information networks. As soon as they knew you were considering a job change, they smelled the opportunity.”
Wen Ying was the first to react: “So how you caught their attention is not important. What matters is what you yourself think?”
Chen Ru glanced at Wen Dongrong.
Wen Dongrong straightened his back: “You don’t need to consider my feelings. I completely respect your decision.”
Wen Dongrong very much wanted to reunite with Chen Ru as husband and wife.
Back then, when he was unsure whether to come to Nanjing, Chen Ru respected his choice. Now that Chen Ru faced a similar choice, Wen Dongrong naturally had to show the magnanimity of the head of the family!
Both Wen Ying and Wen Dongrong had stated their positions.
Wen Ying was in Shanghai, Wen Dongrong was in Nanjing.
Neither father nor daughter interfered with Chen Ru’s choice.
Chen Ru felt a little emotional: “HSBC. I never even dreamed of it before.”
More than three years ago, Chen Ru’s life centred on the family. She handled social relations for her husband Wen Dongrong, worried about his career advancement, and fretted over her daughter’s studies. Although she had a stable job, it was merely a stable income.
When did things start to change?
Work had become more than just a stable income for Chen Ru. It was now the platform where she proved her own value and shone brightly!
“My current employer would be very stable. No matter how badly I perform, there is a guaranteed income. Going to HSBC would be different…”
Chen Ru murmured to herself.
After many years as husband and wife, Wen Dongrong still understood Chen Ru quite well, just as Chen Ru understood him.
If she were not tempted, why would Chen Ru hesitate?
“Going to HSBC carries risks, but you still want to choose HSBC.”
Wen Dongrong suddenly smiled. “Then choose HSBC. If it does not work out and you are unhappy, you can switch to another job. If you do not try, you will regret it later!”
In Wen Dongrong’s mouth, “switching jobs” sounded as simple as changing breakfast shops tomorrow morning!
“If I choose HSBC, I will have to work in Shanghai.”
Chen Ru asked in return. Wen Dongrong was completely unconcerned: “Shanghai is very close to Nanjing. Besides, I am now working in Nanjing with my leader. In a couple of years, who knows where I will be. Then will you have to follow me again?”
In the past, Wen Dongrong would never have said this!
Wen Dongrong wanted career and status outside, but when he came home, he wanted his wife and child by the warm kang, wishing the whole family revolved around him and pampered him.
After being taught a lesson by his wife and daughter several times, Wen Dongrong’s thinking had progressed a lot: Wen Ying had her own life focus, and Chen Ru had her own career focus.
Wen Dongrong wanted to strive, and so did Wen Ying and Chen Ru. His striving was not nobler than Chen Ru’s striving.
Wen Dongrong’s position and rank did not matter. Even if he reached a higher position than now, could his wife Chen Ru not have her own career?
The old model of men working outside and women managing the home was outdated and no longer suited modern family life.
In the past, women did not need to work and could only manage the home.
Now women could not only work, but work exceptionally well. Making women responsible for all family affairs would be unfair.
Leaving aside these grand principles, purely from an economic perspective, Chen Ru going to HSBC was also the better choice. After all, Wen Dongrong’s job nature meant he could never earn big money.
If his wife could earn money and he stopped her, Wen Dongrong would be a complete fool!
As for his daughter Wen Ying being very capable of earning money, what did that have to do with him?
Husband and wife shared property. He had never heard of parents taking their children’s property to share… Well, some parents might do that, but with Wen Dongrong’s self-respect, he could never do such a thing!
Wen Dongrong spent half a day persuading Chen Ru. Seeing his sincere attitude and not pretending, Chen Ru’s remaining hesitation turned into determination.
Chen Ru turned to Wen Ying: “If I go to work in Shanghai, you won’t object, right?”
Wen Ying was puzzled: “Why would I object? I would be thrilled if you were closer to me! Our family has a house in Shanghai. If we take one back and do not rent it out, you will have a place to live when you go there. When you are not busy with work, I can even come home for a meal…”
Having been under high pressure and strict control every day, Wen Ying only wanted to stay as far away from her parents as possible.
Now that Chen Ru no longer controlled her, Wen Ying actually wanted to stick close to Chen Ru.
Wen Dongrong could not have his wife and child by the warm kang, but Wen Ying could occasionally enjoy two home-cooked meals made by Chen Ru. Just thinking about it made her feel happy.
Chen Ru raised an eyebrow and teased Wen Ying: “If I go there, I will be watching you right under my nose. It won’t be convenient for you to go on dates!”
“Uh?!”
Wen Ying’s cheeks felt hot. With both Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong staring at her, her voice became smaller: “…I thought you had already guessed it long ago.”
