Secretary Zhong was in Beijing when Xie Qian assigned him the task.
Zhong was thrilled to receive it.
Xie Qian had plenty of errand-runners to choose from, so picking Zhong to accompany Third Mrs. Xie to Shanghai showed trust—clearly, Zhong’s earlier trip to Chengdu had stuck with Xie Qian.
Zhong agreed instantly, “I’m definitely free, but should I mention this to the boss, or will you, Young Master Xie?”
Third Mrs. Xie was making a bold move, buying a house in Shanghai for each of the Xie family’s younger generation. Zhong, who’d waited years for a company-assigned apartment, was green with envy.
If he weren’t so disciplined, he might’ve asked if Third Mrs. Xie needed more help.
Resisting the urge, Zhong stayed professional.
Not just anyone could offer a house to Xie Yuping’s daughter and expect him to accept.
At Xie Yuping’s level, houses weren’t the issue—people would send ten or twenty if he allowed it. What he needed was caution.
Xie Jinghu’s business was big, but Xie Yuping avoided taking shares himself and forbade his wife and daughter from doing so.
Though Zhong saw Xie Yuping treat Xie Qian like a son, whether he’d accept a house from Third Mrs. Xie for Xie Tang was uncertain.
Even if Xie Yuping agreed, Zhong couldn’t decide for him—it needed Xie Yuping’s personal approval.
Xie Qian spared Zhong the trouble, saying, “I’ll talk to Uncle.”
“Then I’ll wait for your word before booking tickets,” Zhong replied smoothly, his response polished.
When Xie Qian called Xie Yuping, the latter snapped, “Nonsense.”
“Why is your mother buying a house for Xie Tang? Did Xie Tang say something to you, or was it someone else?”
—Xie Tang wouldn’t be so tactless.
Then who?
The second brother’s son, Xie Qi, was consumed by military dreams, thriving on gruelling school drills. He’d rather fire cannons than ask for a house.
The fourth brother’s daughter, still in middle school, was a spoiled, childish girl. If she asked Zou Weijun for anything, it’d be worth no more than 500 yuan.
Xie Yuping ran through suspects but came up empty. With Zou Weijun’s illness known, the younger Xies were told she needed rest and wouldn’t dare disturb her. Who’d ask for a house?
He couldn’t help suspecting his third brother, Xie Jinghu.
Xie Jinghu wasn’t as mature as the kids!
That immature troublemaker.
Last time, Xie Yuping forced Xie Jinghu to give 2% shares to Xie Qian, despite his reluctance.
Was this about clawing something back?
Xie Yuping’s mind spun with possibilities, but Xie Qian cut him off, “It’s not Big Sister or anyone else. Stop guessing, Uncle. My mum just wants to buy houses for Xie Tang and the others. It’s simple.”
Xie Qian echoed Wen Ying’s reasoning.
Shanghai’s housing market was rising, as was Beijing’s.
Buying now was an appreciating investment.
Even if Xie Tang and the others didn’t stay in Shanghai, selling the houses would fund a life anywhere in China.
“This is my mum’s choice, Uncle. We’re family, whether in Beijing or Chengdu. That’s how my mum sees it. Are you going to treat her like an outsider?”
Xie Yuping had countless counterarguments but was swayed by “family.”
“Just this once, no more,” he relented.
With approval, Xie Qian asked to borrow Zhong. Xie Yuping laughed, “You’re giving me a tough one. Zhong’s on a government salary… Fine, just this once, no more.”
Though he grumbled, Xie Yuping was pleased.
He’d feared Xie Qian drifting from the Xie family. Zou Weijun’s houses were one thing, but borrowing Zhong showed real trust.
With Xie Yuping’s go-ahead, Zhong coordinated with Zou Weijun for timing and booked Shanghai tickets.
Xie Yuping told his wife, who couldn’t find words to refuse.
Could she say girls didn’t need houses?
Hardly.
Company housing was increasingly scarce. Zhong had waited years, and future policies for Xie Tang were uncertain.
A million-yuan house—expecting Xie Tang to buy one on her salary pained her mother.
After a pause, she smiled, “Weijun’s Chengdu move was right. This money’s nothing to her, but for the kids, it’s Third Aunt’s deep care.”
Without Zou Weijun’s recovery, she wouldn’t have thought of buying houses for Xie Tang and the others. At her lowest, the Xie family, including Xie Qian, was invisible to her.
Xie Yuping sighed, a faint smile appearing, “I hope she recovers soon.”
The Xie family owed Zou Weijun, and he felt the guilt.
Property transfers required paperwork, so Zou Weijun’s purchases spread quickly among the Xies.
With Xie Yuping’s approval, Xie Qian’s second and youngest uncles accepted.
Old Mrs. Xie was overjoyed. Despite marital strife, Zou Weijun cared for the Xie kids—a truly sensible daughter-in-law.
After nearly twenty years with Xie Jinghu, Old Mrs. Xie knew Zou Weijun’s character.
Without love for Xie Jinghu, she wouldn’t have fallen ill.
Xie Jinghu, that failure, drove away his wife and son. Old Mrs. Xie hadn’t seen her beloved grandson Xie Qian in over four months, aching for him, wondering if he’d grown taller.
Though Xie Qian called, hearing him wasn’t the same as seeing him.
She could eat an extra bowl just looking at him.
Fuming, she summoned Xie Jinghu and tore into him.
She called him blind, mistaking fish eyes for pearls and missing jade.
“Only because Weijun is big-hearted does she care for the family’s kids despite your betrayal. That woman abroad—did you think she loved you? She left you for a richer man when you were nobody!”
Xie Jinghu hated this.
When the Zhuo family fell, he was powerless—that was his regret.
Now, with means, why not reclaim his old love?
A capable man deserved the most captivating woman…
He’d wronged Zou Weijun, but one mistake led to another. He couldn’t undo his children abroad.
Zou Weijun’s house purchases—Xie Jinghu was likely the last Xie to know.
He didn’t care about three houses. Even if Zou Weijun spent millions on luxury, he couldn’t stop her. Since it went to Xie kids, he had no issue.
But why did Zou Weijun suddenly buy houses?
He suspected it wasn’t her idea.
He could argue with Xie Yuping’s scolding.
But with Old Mrs. Xie, he listened quietly.
Widowed young, she raised four sons alone—a heroic feat in any era. Xie Jinghu deeply respected her, their bond strong.
She doted on him, so a scolding was nothing, and he stayed silent.
—He didn’t dare argue. He could bicker with Xie Yuping, who’d scold him, but with his mother? Xie Yuping would flatten him!
“Mum, I didn’t want this. Didn’t I do as you asked? Big Brother told me to give 2% shares to Xie Qian, and I didn’t refuse. I want to live well with Weijun, but she won’t forgive me.”
Xie Jinghu spoke half-truths.
Not wanting to divorce Zou Weijun was true.
Willingly giving 2% shares to Xie Qian was false.
Old Mrs. Xie didn’t probe, taking his words as truth.
Since Xie Jinghu didn’t want a divorce and Zou Weijun cared for the Xies, she saw reason to nudge.
As Xie Jinghu bared his heart, she cut in, “If she won’t forgive you, your sincerity’s lacking. I hold 5% shares. I’ll keep 3% and split 2% between Weijun and Xie Qian.”
Old Mrs. Xie hadn’t planned to divide shares so soon.
She feared Xie Qian, with shares, would stay away.
But Zou Weijun’s actions made her reflect, feeling her decades of life paled against her daughter-in-law’s generosity, so she acted early. The remaining 3% she’d save for the three younger Xies. She wasn’t using Xie Jinghu’s money for show—her four sons were full brothers, but Xie Qian’s generation was further removed. Shared ownership would unite them.
Selflessly devoted to the Xies, Old Mrs. Xie caught Xie Jinghu off guard.
He was speechless.
Zou Weijun bought three houses, and Old Mrs. Xie gave 2% shares?
Those shares could buy thirty houses and more!
“Mum, those shares were to honour you. Xie Qian’s a kid—too much money’s not right. Keep them!”
Xie Jinghu suspected Zou Weijun’s houses were a ploy for Xie Qian to grab shares.
A distant, scheming son—how could he not be wary?
And if Jinhu Group’s shares went to Xie Qian early, what about his other children?
Old Mrs. Xie, as if reading him, gave a knowing look, “At my age, I could go any day. These shares will be Xie Qian’s eventually. Early or late, what’s the difference? Or are you saying you’d stop being filial without my shares?”
