Of course, if the Zhan Group ever faced a crisis bad enough to collapse, the entire Guancheng business world would suffer an earthquake. Countless small and medium enterprises would fall with it.
“You still have to keep transforming and move with the times, otherwise it’s easy to get eliminated,” Zhan Yue continued.
“The pressure on those at the top is enormous. In our generation the Zhan Group might be fine, but what about the next?”
“Grandma always says no flower blooms for a hundred days. If a real crisis comes, we must try to save ourselves, but we also have to be mentally prepared for the possibility that we fail, and face everything calmly.”
Zeng Xiaoya nodded. “I’ve heard so many stories about your grandmother. Whether in wealthy circles or among ordinary people like us, everyone speaks of her with praise.”
“The old saying goes that a good wife brings prosperity to three generations. Your grandmother is exactly that kind of wife.”
Zhan Yue smiled. “She really is wonderful. We all grew up at our grandparents’ side. When we were little our parents were busy with business, so Grandpa and Grandma took on the job of raising and teaching us.”
“Though it might also be that our parents were just lazy and pushed their responsibilities onto our grandparents.”
“As far back as I can remember, I’ve always felt my parents were the ones truly in love. The four of us brothers were accidents, like free gifts you get when you top up a phone.”
“It’s not just my parents. My uncle and aunt are the same. Their marriage is full of love, and their son was another happy surprise. Luckily Grandpa and Grandma doted on us the most.”
Zeng Xiaoya laughed at his words, her curiosity about the Zhan family growing even stronger.
“Mr Zhan, did you drive here yourself or take a taxi?”
They had strolled halfway down the street when Zeng Xiaoya turned back. Her electric scooter was still parked at the hospital.
“My driver brought me, but he’s already gone home. I’ll call a taxi in a bit. I need to go to Wansheng Gardens again. The ownership transfer for the flat is starting, so I want to check on things.”
Hearing that he was heading to Wansheng Gardens and planning to take a taxi, Zeng Xiaoya hesitated for only a second before saying generously, “Mr Zhan, if you don’t mind my humble electric scooter, I can give you a lift.”
“It’s on the way, and we’ll be upstairs-downstairs neighbours from now on. I’d quite like to have a look at your big flat.”
“There’s no decoration yet, nothing worth seeing. Actually, I’d love to see Dr Zeng’s place and check out your style.”
Zeng Xiaoya smiled. “My decoration is very ordinary.”
“I haven’t finished buying all the furniture yet. Whenever I have a bit of money and remember something I need, I buy it bit by bit. It’s liveable now though. I have all the basic daily necessities.”
“It’s close to my family home, so I usually still sleep there. My parents and brothers are hardly ever around. Living alone in Wansheng Gardens feels lonely, so I prefer the old house where I can keep my second uncle and aunt company.”
A house also needs airing out. Even though she had used good, environmentally friendly materials, furniture still releases some formaldehyde.
She planned to leave it empty a while longer before moving in properly.
“Yes, staying with your uncle and aunt means there’s company. How long ago did you finish the renovation? After a year of ventilation it should be fine, especially if you used decent materials. The smell won’t be strong.”
The two of them chatted about decorating as they walked back towards the hospital.
“When you renovated, Dr Zeng, did you buy all the materials yourself or hand everything over to a decoration company?”
“I didn’t use a company. It’s my own home, so my second uncle and I bought every material ourselves. We hired workers directly from the countryside instead of going through a company. Decoration firms are too dodgy.”
They can quote you prices for the most expensive materials, then use the cheapest ones and pocket the difference.
