“So you’ve got another 1% of the shares under your name…”
Over the phone, Wen Ying’s voice sounded dazed.
Xie Qian hadn’t laughed when he left Xie Jinghu speechless, nor when he received the share transfer agreement, but now he couldn’t help but chuckle. Even through the phone, he could picture Wen Ying’s expression: wide round eyes, slightly puffed cheeks, unfocused gaze, and mouth slightly agape.
“What, you think I shouldn’t take it?”
Xie Qian asked back, and Wen Ying hurriedly agreed, “Of course you should take it, it’s rightfully yours, why wouldn’t you want it!”
Whether you care for it or not, letting go of what’s yours is just foolish.
Being noble and giving it away won’t earn gratitude; it’ll only invite ridicule.
If Xie Qian didn’t fight for it, he’d be strengthening his enemies, who would use what he discarded as weapons against him and Zou Weijun—that would truly be infuriating!
A 20% annual return on investment—Xie Qian’s father really saw him as an investment genius.
If Xie Qian were a bit less lucky, that plot of land might actually end up a dud in two years.
Fortunately, heaven had been kind to Xie Qian… Wen Ying thought of the land Xie Qian bought, a silent smile curling her lips, her voice light and cheerful:
“But how did you know about your dad buying property abroad?”
A 20% annual return wasn’t something Xie Qian could guarantee with certainty.
What really made Xie Jinghu choke was the fact that he’d bought property abroad for his illegitimate daughter, something he could do secretly but couldn’t let the Xie family know, especially not during a family gathering.
Even if Xie Qian’s uncle didn’t genuinely dote on him, as the patriarch of the Xie family, Xie Yuping saw the family as a ship sailing forward, with himself as the captain.
If the captain said to head west and Xie Jinghu defied him once or twice, challenging his authority, how could the ship keep sailing?
As long as Xie Qian exposed this, either his uncle or grandmother would demand an explanation.
Xie Qian had outmaneuvered his scumbag father!
Wen Ying was curious about Xie Qian’s source of information. After the chance encounter with that woman in Macau, Xie Jinghu had already lost 2% of his shares, so he’d be even more secretive about buying property for his illegitimate daughter. Did Xie Qian have a spy by Xie Jinghu’s side?
Xie Qian laughed over the phone, and Wen Ying had a sudden realization, “Is it related to Zhao Dong?”
Wen Ying had asked Detective Luo to investigate Zhao Dong, but after all this time, Luo hadn’t reported back. With both Yu Wenhao and his son arrested, Luo should’ve had time to look into Zhao Dong… It seemed Luo wasn’t inactive; he’d just been reporting to someone else!
Wen Ying wasn’t upset. This was Xie Qian’s family matter, and he had more right to investigate Zhao Dong than she did.
Wen Ying was both surprised and delighted.
By her count, Xie Qian now held 5% of Jinhu Group’s shares.
In her past life, that Mr. Zhuo, though he was in charge of Jinhu Real Estate, likely didn’t have nearly as many shares!
Wen Ying wanted to chat more with Xie Qian, but a knock came at the door, and Chen Ru called from outside:
“Are you ready? We need to leave!”
“Alright, coming—”
Chen Ru’s voice was so loud Xie Qian could hear it over the phone.
“Your mum’s calling you. Are you heading back to your hometown for the New Year? Alright, let’s catch up when I’m back in Rongcheng.”
Wen Ying’s family of three was indeed rushing back to their hometown for a reunion dinner. The car Wen Ying bought for the family proved especially convenient at times like this.
Xie Qian also had to return to Rongcheng to spend the New Year with Zou Weijun; he couldn’t leave his mother alone. In fact, Xie Qian was already at the airport, and at this moment, every traveler lingering at the capital airport was eager to return home.
Xie Qian’s good news left Wen Ying in high spirits.
This Spring Festival, Wen Dongrong was in a great mood, as was Chen Ru, and with the whole family in high spirits, there were no conflicts.
Wen Dongrong was thrilled because he had a car and a daughter to show off, racing down the path of Versailles without looking back.
Chen Ru’s good mood came more from herself.
When she decided to start anew in Rongcheng, her old colleagues worried for her, but who could’ve guessed she’d make such quick progress? Within the same system, her old colleagues had heard of Manager Chen’s rising career.
When Chen Ru called friends and relatives to send New Year greetings, several old colleagues reached out to reconnect.
The sense of achievement in her career was different from that of being a wife or mother. Beyond those roles, Chen Ru was first and foremost herself.
This realization had come to Wu Chunqin in Modu long ago, which is why she focused on her career before considering marriage and children. Chen Ru was only just awakening to this, and even small successes already brought her immense satisfaction.
Keeping tabs on her husband to push him in his career was no longer her focus.
She still cared about urging her daughter to study.
But relying on herself was the most direct path to results, and developing her career was proving the most effective!
Before the New Year’s bell rang, Wen Ying sent group texts to friends, soon receiving a flood of replies. Xie Qian’s message, tucked among them, was concise and powerful:
“Happy New Year.”
—Happy New Year, Xie Qian.
—Happy New Year to all of you I care about. I’m glad to reconnect with everyone.
…
On New Year’s Eve, Xie Qian wasn’t at home. Spending it alone with Zou Weijun would’ve been too quiet, and with the Jiang family’s repeated invitations, the mother and son went to the Jiangs’ to celebrate.
In the past, Xie Qian’s personality would’ve kept him from doing this, fearing he’d disturb the Jiang family.
Now, he had no such reservations. Relationships grow closer through interaction, and the Jiangs had always been good to him; he shouldn’t keep them at arm’s length.
Zou Weijun was delighted, knowing the land deal was settled and that her son had flown back to Rongcheng to spend the New Year with her.
During dinner, chatting with Jiang Xuekun about work, even Jiang Xuekun laughed.
He’d initially thought Zou Weijun was just coasting at her job, but she was taking it seriously. Though she stumbled at first, she was now doing quite well.
The popular science book Zou Weijun helped plan was set to launch after the Spring Festival, and her abilities would be judged by sales data and market feedback.
The Jiang family, including Lin Lin, didn’t know about Xie Qian’s land purchase.
As the New Year’s bell rang, Xie Qian and Jiang Youjia set off fireworks in an open area. Xie Qian asked Jiang Youjia if he’d seen Zhao Dong recently, surprising Jiang Youjia that Xie Qian would mention him.
“I cut ties with him long ago!”
Xie Qian said seriously, “You may have forgotten him, but he might not have forgotten you. Better to stay cautious.”
Zhao Dong had been seeking Xie Jinghu’s investment, but the news of him buying property abroad for his illegitimate daughter had leaked. Unable to get what he wanted, Zhao Dong might lose it.
Jiang Youjia was creeped out by Xie Qian’s words.
—Good heavens, why did he ever know Zhao Dong!
…
The Spring Festival meant visiting relatives and friends, a repetitive routine that felt somewhat mundane.
Since Wen Ying was still in high school, she could shamelessly collect red envelopes from elders.
No matter how capable she was, in the eyes of elders, she was still a child. Even though Wen Dongrong claimed Wen Ying bought him a car with her “manuscript fees,” the Wen family wouldn’t skimp on her New Year red envelopes.
This year was different, though—Chen Ru let Wen Ying keep her own red envelopes.
Once the Spring Festival holiday ended and work resumed, Wen Ying got busy too, registering the Shrimp King Catering Company. Thankfully, she had friends helping out, so it wasn’t just her toiling alone.
The fledgling company couldn’t afford a fancy office, renting a small one near the night market street, looking rather shabby. Such a small company naturally couldn’t attract top talent, so Wen Ying kept persuading Yang Xi, painting a bright future for her.
Sister Xi was practical. She didn’t care for the grand promises Wen Ying made; as long as her salary wasn’t lower than when she was a store manager, she’d do any job Wen Ying assigned.
“You’re going from managing one store to overseeing several franchises— that’s a promotion, got it?”
Wen Ying was still thinking about where to scam—er, recruit—cost-effective employees to assist Yang Xi when Deng Yaomei volunteered herself.
Deng Yaomei had talked with Chen Li and her husband. She didn’t want to be a nanny anymore and wanted to try something else, but she was reluctant to leave Chen Li’s family. Working for Wen Ying seemed like the best option, still tied to Chen Li’s household.
“I know how to use a computer!”
Over the past six months, Deng Yaomei had learned to use a computer.
The computer at Chen Li’s house was her learning tool. From fearing she’d break it to now handling documents, Deng Yaomei’s growth owed much to Wen Ying’s encouragement and Chen Li’s care.
Her only shortcoming was her lack of formal education.
She wanted to enroll in an adult self-study exam, but with her level, it might take years to pass.
Other employers would likely scrutinize her lack of credentials, but working for Wen Ying’s company, Wen Ying knew Deng Yaomei was diligent and capable, and now eager to learn—her lack of a degree was less important, especially in the company’s early days.
A newly established small company couldn’t attract highly educated talent anyway. Deng Yaomei had dropped out of junior high, and Yang Xi hadn’t finished high school; neither could look down on the other.
Learning that Yang Xi had made it to her senior year, Deng Yaomei even admired her.
“Sister Yang, if I don’t understand something, I’ll ask you, okay?”
Yang Xi, the academic underachiever: “…!”
