Xie Qian would never know the details of Wen Ying’s first meeting with Zou Weijun, because Wen Ying would rather die than admit it happened.
On Tuesday, Zou Weijun officially started working at the publishing group where Jiang Xuekun was employed, joining the editorial department. Her qualifications were sufficient, but her career history over the years was a blank slate—she couldn’t exactly list “Mrs. Xie the Third” on her CV.
Zou Weijun’s willingness to step out and work wasn’t just due to the combined pressure from Xie Qian and Wen Ying. Another factor was that in Rongcheng, no one knew her, so no one would gossip behind her back.
The title “Mrs. Xie the Third” was something Zou Weijun wanted to escape, and to that end, she specifically asked Jiang Xuekun not to give her special treatment.
Zou Weijun’s depression was kept under wraps by Lin Lin, who only told the Jiang family that Zou Weijun was in Rongcheng to accompany Xie Qian with his studies and to take a break.
Someone as astute as Jiang Xuekun wouldn’t pry, and he genuinely thought Zou Weijun was just bored and wanted to work in Rongcheng.
As for whether Zou Weijun would stick with the job long-term, Jiang Xuekun didn’t concern himself much.
The salary the company offered Zou Weijun wouldn’t even cover one of her handbags—this job was truly just a way to pass the time.
However, Zou Weijun’s attitude was completely different from what Jiang Xuekun assumed.
Zou Weijun and those truly close to her knew that the salary wasn’t the point. This job was a manifestation of her fight against her illness.
If she just muddled through her days aimlessly, how could she be the “role model” her son Xie Qian needed?
That wasn’t the kind of example Xie Qian wanted.
The housekeeper, with Xie Qian’s permission, informed Xie Yuping about Zou Weijun’s new job.
“It seems sending the mother and son to Rongcheng was the right move.”
Xie Yuping deeply understood the significance of work for a person.
To him, every adult—man or woman, young or old—needed a job!
The sense of accomplishment derived from work was irreplaceable by any person or thing. Being a full-time housewife was a job too, but it lacked societal recognition. Outsiders’ opinions aside, the real fear was that over time, even family members might stop appreciating the housewife’s efforts.
Zou Weijun’s path as a full-time housewife had reached a dead end. She couldn’t earn Xie Jinghu’s recognition and felt her life lacked value. Taking a job could be a good way to shift her focus and improve her mood.
…Zou Weijun still didn’t know about the Macau incident.
At this thought, Xie Yuping felt a pang of guilt.
Zou Weijun wasn’t at fault in that matter. The blame lay with Xie Jinghu, that scoundrel. Ultimately, the Xie family had wronged Zou Weijun and Xie Qian.
Xie Yuping recalled that Xie Qian had encountered Xie Jinghu’s mistress in Macau. This wasn’t something that could be brushed off with a simple scolding.
At its smallest, it was the woman acting on her own.
At its largest, her actions were enabled by Xie Jinghu’s indulgence.
The mistress was certainly restless, but the root of the issue was Xie Jinghu!
Xie Yuping had yet to meet the son and daughter Xie Jinghu kept outside, nor did he acknowledge them as part of the Xie family. No matter how outstanding they were, they didn’t bring honour to the Xie family—they tarnished its name.
Xie Yuping only cared about protecting Xie Qian.
He had some documents prepared and summoned Xie Jinghu.
Xie Jinghu dragged his feet, reluctant to come, claiming he was swamped with company matters. This amused Xie Yuping, who retorted, “You, the big boss, can’t find a moment? Are all those people you employ just collecting salaries without working? If they’re that useless, fire them and hire a new batch!”
Xie Jinghu’s excuses were shut down, and he grudgingly showed up at Xie Yuping’s house that evening.
Xie Yuping met him in the study and handed him a stack of documents.
Xie Jinghu’s eyelids twitched when he saw the words “Share Transfer Agreement.”
“Big Brother, what’s this about?”
Xie Yuping frowned, “Exactly what it says. Xie Qian is sixteen now, and I see he speaks and acts with maturity, like a young adult. You’ve built a big business, and it’ll all be passed to Xie Qian eventually. Why not transfer some shares to his name now?”
Xie Jinghu flipped through the share transfer agreement without responding immediately.
The shares Xie Yuping asked him to transfer were only 2%, not a crippling blow to Xie Jinghu.
But willingly giving them was one thing; being forced to was another. The 2% might be small, but it was Xie Yuping’s warning to him and compensation for Xie Qian… Compensation for what? Xie Qian hadn’t suffered any real harm in Macau, yet they wanted to take 2% of his shares!
Xie Jinghu found it absurd.
Xie Yuping was so protective of Xie Qian, so fond of him. If Xie Qian didn’t look so much like Xie Jinghu, he might’ve suspected Xie Qian was the result of an affair between Zou Weijun and Xie Yuping!
Xie Jinghu tried to push back, “Big Brother, times have changed. Back in your day, you were working before twenty. Now, twenty-year-olds are still in university, and Xie Qian’s only in his first year of high school. If I transfer shares to him, can he exercise shareholder rights properly?”
Xie Yuping raised an eyebrow.
“Does every shareholder in your company have to punch a clock at the office? If that’s the case, like I said, fire those freeloaders and get a new team. Xie Qian’s still in school, and with his grades, not pursuing a master’s or doctorate would be a waste. Should he wait until he’s got a PhD to get involved in your company?”
Xie Qian likely had no objections, but Xie Yuping suspected he didn’t care about Xie Jinghu’s business at all. Xie Jinghu’s heart was elsewhere, and he might not even want to leave the company to Xie Qian.
Xie Yuping was deeply displeased.
He didn’t want Xie Qian to grow distant from the Xie family. He wanted Xie Qian to stay, and what belonged to Xie Qian shouldn’t be touched by anyone else.
Xie Yuping looked directly at Xie Jinghu, “The company is yours, and so is your son. You can be mad at me for meddling, but think carefully: how did your relationship with Xie Qian get to this point? Do you still want this son? If not, we don’t need to bother maintaining your family. We might as well let Xie Qian go.”
Letting Xie Qian go meant agreeing to a divorce between Zou Weijun and Xie Jinghu.
A divorce would involve property division far exceeding the 2% share transfer Xie Yuping was demanding.
Xie Jinghu picked up a pen, signed the share transfer agreement, pressed his thumbprint, and left Xie Yuping’s house without a word. Xie’s wife called him to stay for a late-night snack, but Xie Jinghu didn’t even crack a smile.
Xie’s wife brought the snack upstairs, exasperated, “You’re always the bad guy. If those two reconcile later, the only one Old Third will resent is you.”
Xie Yuping gathered the documents, preparing to have them sent to Rongcheng for Xie Qian to keep. As he’d said, Xie Qian was sixteen, a young adult, and needed to start handling such matters.
“Let him resent me. He’s lost his way. If I don’t play the villain, should I just watch his family fall apart?”
