Wen Ying was truly brilliant at grasping the key points!
Xie Qian was not surprised at all.
This was precisely why Xie Qian was unwilling to trust Zhang Hua.
Even if Zhang Hua truly harboured hatred towards Zhang Zhijun and was determined to seek revenge, his methods were immature. How could he possibly be a match for Zhang Zhijun?
“If Zhang Zhijun was really involved in smuggling, he would never let Zhang Hua get involved in his main business operations. Transferring the ‘Jinhu’ shares to Zhang Hua is the optimal choice. It can appease Zhang Hua while also silencing outside gossip.”
Xie Qian thought the same as Wen Ying.
“So we’re just letting Zhang Zhijun off easy like this?”
Wen Ying felt somewhat dissatisfied.
He did not have to pay Zhuo Yue’s upbringing costs, and Zhang Hua was placated with 3% shares. Once Zhang Zhijun was free of trouble, he would come after Xie Qian and the Xie family. Wen Ying felt they should keep Zhang Zhijun occupied!
On the other end of the phone, Xie Qian already understood Wen Ying’s intentions and laughed immediately. “Indeed, we need to find something for Uncle Zhijun to do. Regarding the inheritance left by Aunt Lu Meishu, it would be inconvenient for Zhang Hua to make a fuss himself. The Zhang family cannot remain indifferent. While Aunt Lu Meishu’s body is not yet cold and the Zhang family still feels guilt, someone should remind old Mr Zhang that having already wronged his daughter-in-law Lu Meishu, he cannot further chill his grandson Zhang Hua’s heart.”
Zhang Zhijun wanted to gloss over this matter. Xie Qian was determined to have someone remind the Zhang family.
The Zhang family’s daughter-in-law Lu Meishu had committed suicide over Zhang Zhijun’s extramarital affair. The Zhang family had to consider Zhang Hua’s future!
Zhang Zhijun was still young.
Even if he did not marry Sara Zhuo, in a few years he might marry another woman.
As the saying goes, a stepmother brings a stepfather. If the new wife bore Zhang Zhijun more children, Zhang Hua, the son from the original wife, would have even less standing.
But who should remind the Zhang family?
Xie Qian and Wen Ying blurted out almost simultaneously.
“My dad.”
“Your dad!”
Xie Jinghu had already shown concern for Zhang Hua at the court entrance. Continuing to visit the Zhang family to express concern would be perfectly normal.
Everyone knew Xie Jinghu’s concern was ill-intentioned, but what could they do? Xie Jinghu had every justification to care about Zhang Hua.
After all, Zhang Zhijun had shown such concern for Xie Qian for so very long!
Having Xie Jinghu tangle with Zhang Zhijun was the best solution for Xie Qian.
Xie Jinghu’s only remaining usefulness was this.
Just a few days after the first hearing, it was time for Wen Ying’s gathering with friends.
This time, Pang Jinglong brought his mother Zhang Liqun. Both Zhu Xiao and Dong Runfang attended. Li Mengjiao looked left and right. She was the only one without parents to boost her presence. Unable to help it, Li Mengjiao scooted her chair even closer to Wen Ying.
Yes, this gave her a great sense of security!
Li Mengjiao felt content.
Everyone ate and chatted, the atmosphere very relaxed.
Hearing that Zhang Liqun wanted to do something, both Peng Guoqing and Wang Shuang’s eyes lit up.
The divorced Zhang Liqun was no ordinary Aunt Zhang. She was a Zhang goddess of wealth with a fortune in hand!
“Aunt Zhang, are you interested in investing in film or TV drama production? I have a project here that’s truly promising. Have you heard of Shui Mingyue? This project is adapted from her novel…”
If Shui Mingyue were present today, seeing Peng Guoqing so vigorously soliciting investment would only make her more convinced of his recommendation that Jiang Youjia buy all adaptation rights to her works.
“Aunt Zhang, actually e-commerce projects have even better prospects. With the internet developing so rapidly, people are increasingly reliant on the web—”
Wang Shuang was unwilling to fall behind.
Peng Guoqing and Wang Shuang took turns, both eager to pitch their projects to Zhang Liqun.
Zhang Liqun was an honest person and knew nothing about film/TV production or e-commerce. These were fields she had never touched. Pang Jinglong and He Zhen were starting a medical aesthetics business, so Zhang Liqun understood a little at least. She had been to beauty salons.
But film/TV and e-commerce?
They were too far removed from her life!
Zhang Liqun had a good temperament. Even if she did not understand, she listened patiently without interrupting Peng Guoqing and Wang Shuang. She liked this group of young people led by Wen Ying and hoped Pang Jinglong would interact more with Wen Ying’s circle of friends. Wen Ying was kind, upright, and vibrant. Her friends were no less… So even in unfamiliar fields, if Peng Guoqing and Wang Shuang truly needed investment, Zhang Liqun was actually willing to contribute.
Zhu Xiao and Dong Runfang exchanged glances, both wanting to drag their embarrassing sons home.
Did their families lack money for you?
You actually start begging at the dinner table!
For proper entrepreneurial projects, the Peng and Wang families would support them!
Moreover, Zhang Liqun was an honest person. How could she have encountered such professional sob stories?
Wen Ying glared at Peng Guoqing and Wang Shuang, then turned with a beaming smile to Zhang Liqun. “Don’t mind those two clowns. Today we’re not talking about their affairs. We’re mainly talking about yours. Are you personally interested in film projects or e-commerce, Aunt Zhang? We’re all friends for the long haul. Our friendship doesn’t need your funding to sustain it. You must speak the truth.”
Wen Ying’s friendships with her circle did not require money to maintain.
Similarly, Zhang Liqun’s friendships with Zhu Xiao and Dong Runfang did not need her to unilaterally spend money to curry favour.
Zhang Liqun turned to look at Zhu Xiao and Dong Runfang. Their eyes were full of encouragement.
Zhang Liqun relaxed immediately and said embarrassedly, “I really don’t understand film/TV or e-commerce. If you need funds, I can invest some. But if you want me to manage things, I wouldn’t know where to start.”
Zhang Liqun was different from Dong Runfang.
Dong Runfang had started a business with her husband Wang Jun before returning to family life. Essentially a strong woman, she adapted quickly to the workplace at Tianjiao.
Zhang Liqun was just a housewife, confined at home by Pang Zhijun and missing her prime years for growth.
Of course, now Zhang Liqun was free. No one constrained her from learning and progressing. But film/TV and e-commerce projects? Even typical strong women might not handle them well, let alone someone who had been a housewife for over twenty years.
Divorce had liberated Zhang Liqun, not turned her into a business elite overnight!
Zhang Liqun so openly admitted her limitations. Peng Guoqing and Wang Shuang felt embarrassed to mention investment further. The two chimed in with suggestions for Zhang Liqun. Wang Shuang recalled seeing all sorts of clothing wholesalers at the wholesale market and thought that if Zhang Liqun did not aim to make money but just wanted something to do, opening a small shop would be nice.
Zhang Liqun was somewhat tempted.
Zhu Xiao held Zhang Liqun back. “Think it over yourself. This is Wang Shuang’s suggestion. It involves his entrepreneurial field. You need to truly want to do clothing business.”
Wen Ying interjected timely. “Yes. Since Aunt Zhang isn’t doing it for money, do something you’re truly good at. Something that realises your self-worth in the process.”
Something truly good at?
Zhang Liqun thought for a long while, hesitantly. “I seem to only be good at housework.”
Her ex-husband Pang Zhigang refused to hire a nanny. All household chores fell to Zhang Liqun.
After Pang Jinglong became sensible, he helped share chores, but most of the time he was at school. Housework was basically shouldered by Zhang Liqun.
Zhang Liqun not only had a demanding ex-husband Pang Zhigang but also a pair of picky former in-laws!
Under years of torment from these three, Zhang Liqun’s housework was done quickly and well.
She was skilled at housework and also at cooking everyday dishes. Even picky Pang Zhigang could no longer find fault with the taste of her food later on!
Thinking this way, Zhang Liqun’s hesitation gradually turned to confidence. “I’m indeed good at housework. My home cooking is pretty good too. One day when everyone has time, I’ll personally cook a table of dishes for you to try.”
But what kind of merit was that?
It seemed too ordinary.
Housework and cooking. What housewife couldn’t do them?
Zhu Xiao grasped Zhang Liqun’s hand. “You’re wrong. This is far from ordinary. Do you know how much money and effort I spent learning to cook? And housework. Even professional domestics paid that wage might not do it well. We’ve changed several housekeepers at home!”
Zhu Xiao lavished praise on Zhang Liqun, flattering her until she felt dizzy.
Wen Ying seized the moment to suggest. “Aunt Zhang, why not consider starting a domestic services company? With your years of experience training excellent housekeepers, it should be very popular with clients.”
Zhang Liqun said her home cooking was good, but Wen Ying did not suggest opening a restaurant. A small eatery would require her to work hands-on and be too tiring. A large restaurant might not compete with just home-style dishes. Better to start a domestic services company, letting Zhang Liqun do what she excelled at.
With societal and economic development, domestic services indeed had a vast market.
Especially in a place like Modu. Not just the wealthy. Even ordinary dual-income families, if the wife did not want to give up her career and finances allowed, were willing to hire a domestic auntie to help with chores.
Those who could not afford live-in could hire part-time or hourly workers who came every few days for cleaning.
Wen Ying had lived in Modu for six years in her previous life and had strong opinions on this.
Wu Chunqin had complained more than once about not finding a suitable domestic auntie.
The He Zhen family was wealthy enough, right? Young Master He was also troubled by the market’s lack of reliable domestics.
If Zhang Liqun focused on the domestic services market, she could achieve great things!
Pang Jinglong had been unusually quiet tonight, not interjecting. Now he could not hold back. “Mum, why not give it a try?”
No need for large scale at first. Set up the framework, train a few capable housekeepers, build reputation in a small circle, then expand gradually.
Zhang Liqun lacked confidence, but with everyone at the table saying she could do it… well, why not try?!
