Jiang Xuekun did more than just beat his chest.
Zou Weijun informed her son Xie Qian first about her resignation, and Jiang Xuekun second.
Jiang Xuekun could understand Zou Weijun’s choice rationally, but emotionally he could not accept it. He sighed to his wife Guo Xia with deep regret: “Zou Weijun is truly talented. Her leaving our unit is a major loss for the organisation. She has drive and ideas. I was even planning to give her more responsibilities after this year!”
Adding more responsibilities meant a promotion.
Guo Xia knew how well Zou Weijun’s career had developed in Rongcheng, and as a woman, she fully understood Zou Weijun’s decision.
A woman might marry for love, but after having children, most of the motivation to maintain the marriage is for the sake of the kids. No matter how successful her publishing career was in Rongcheng, it was too far from the capital to keep tabs on Xie Jinghu. Which woman could feel at ease with a man who cheated and had illegitimate children?
As long as she was not divorced for a single day, Zou Weijun was still Xie Jinghu’s wife. Why should she give up the corresponding rights just because she bore that title in vain!
Guo Xia urged Jiang Xuekun to think positively: “She may not feel great about making this decision. If you keep saying these things, it will only make her feel worse. Everyone has their own life. We might not be able to help, but we can wish her all the best!”
Jiang Xuekun sulked for two days.
If Jiang Xuekun was merely sulking, then the news of Zou Weijun’s resignation was a bolt from the blue for Wen Ying and Xiao Ning. Zou Weijun broke the news the day after Wen Ying’s Rongcheng book signing ended.
Wen Ying had held two signings in the capital, subdued Zhang Nan and the others, and returned to Rongcheng amid the reluctant farewells from several key members of the “Xie Qian Guard Team”.
Wen Ying still had one final signing to do in Rongcheng.
As a bestselling local author, Rongcheng was Wen Ying’s home base. This signing was larger in scale than any of the previous four cities!
With Wen Ying’s signing happening right on her home turf, Wen Dongrong felt proud and specially invited Old Li to meet in Rongcheng.
The two had bet a second time, and Old Li had carelessly lost two thousand yuan to Wen Dongrong. When he received Wen Dongrong’s call, he was highly vigilant and emphasised first that he would never gamble again.
Wen Dongrong feigned heartbreak: “Old Li, what do you take me for? Small bets are for fun, big ones are no good. I just miss you after so long. I am simply thinking of you, my old friend!”
Really?
Old Li thought that if Wen Dongrong truly missed him, he should drive back to their hometown to see him.
Wen Dongrong said there was nothing fun in the hometown and strongly invited Old Li to visit the provincial capital.
“Staying in a small place is boring. Do you not want to make a move to the provincial capital?”
Old Li dreamed of making such a move!
After Wen Dongrong was transferred, leaving Old Li alone in the original unit, with no one to compete against, Old Li found his daily work lacked much drive.
If he could transfer to the provincial capital like Wen Dongrong, it might be a fresh start.
But would that sly Wen Dongrong be kind enough to help him with a transfer?
With such suspicions, Old Li came to Rongcheng.
Then, he was driven by Wen Dongrong straight to the site of Wen Ying’s Rongcheng signing.
Outside the venue, many readers were already queuing, all holding Wen Ying’s books, with promotional posters of her hanging around, and even TV reporters carrying cameras for interviews. Old Li took one look and understood everything. Furious, he turned to leave, but Wen Dongrong pulled him back:
“Hey, it really is not a trick. Let us wait here. In a bit, I will introduce you to some friends!”
Old Li glared at Wen Dongrong with his eyes.
Wen Dongrong did indeed have his own little schemes, but he had not lied about this.
The two had not waited long on the roadside before they saw Deng Shangwei, Qin Xianming, Wang Jun, and the others.
These few had come to deliver flower baskets to Wen Ying’s signing, wishing her a complete success that day.
Such a small matter normally did not require the bosses to come personally; it was usually handled by subordinates. However, everyone treated Wen Ying as a close junior and was willing to show up in person to support her.
Upon arriving at the site and seeing the huge crowd, with Wen Ying having no time to meet them, Qin Xianming was the first to laugh: “It is our oversight. We underestimated Wen Ying’s popularity.”
“Then we will not go in today?”
Wang Jun, with his big belly, looked every bit the big boss, just short of having “I am rich” carved on his forehead.
These few arrived in luxury cars, with drivers, and their mere appearance stunned Old Li.
Li Zhentao joked with Wen Dongrong: “We cannot compete with the young people in queuing, but we can still use the back door. Once Wen Ying finishes today, can she send us each a signed book?”
“No problem. I guarantee one signed book for each of you!”
Since Deng Shangwei first brought Wen Dongrong to a dinner the first time, Wen Dongrong had grown increasingly familiar with Qin Xianming and the others, and now their interactions were particularly easygoing.
This familiarity was not the superficial kind from drinking sessions, but mutual recognition between both sides. An old agency hand like Old Li could see it at a glance.
Wen Dongrong’s social circle had at least risen three levels overall!
Old Li, who had been making a fuss to leave earlier, now stayed silent.
Unable to squeeze into the venue, Wang Jun suggested they find a nearby teahouse to sit.
Wen Dongrong took the opportunity to introduce Old Li: “This is my former colleague. We worked together for many years. I trust his character completely. He came specially from our hometown to see me today…”
Wang Jun waved his hand grandly: “Your friend is our friend. Come on, come on. Let us go to the teahouse for a bit. I will book a place for lunch!”
Old Li was thus enthusiastically dragged into the car by Wang Jun.
To be fair, the ride in a luxury car was indeed quite comfortable. Wang Jun had a forthright personality and kept the conversation lively all the way, even praising Old Li, leaving him flattered.
Old Li had been completely fooled by Wen Dongrong, thinking these were all Wen Dongrong’s own connections, unaware that Wen Dongrong’s high-end social circle was entirely thanks to his capable daughter Wen Ying!
Wen Ying had no idea that Old Wen had borrowed her momentum to show off grandly. That day’s signing had worn her out.
Qin Xianming and the others had sent flower baskets, and Li Mengjiao and the rest had also made gestures.
If not for Yuan Fenghui holding her back, Li Mengjiao would have parachuted into the signing site to cheer for Wen Ying. Yuan Fenghui told Li Mengjiao not to cause chaos, and Li Mengjiao was a bit unwilling.
In the end, it was Wen Ying who spoke up and forbade Li Mengjiao from coming.
The signing site already had enough people. With Li Mengjiao’s current popularity, her appearance might cause chaos and even a stampede, a scenario no one wanted to see.
When the Rongcheng signing ended, Wen Ying let out a deep sigh of relief.
Apart from the first one in Modu, none of the four cities had any more disruptions.
Presumably, Zhao Qian, who had spent money to hire reporters to cause trouble, must be extremely disappointed?
After the signing, Wen Ying went home and slept for a full twelve hours. The next day, she received a call from Zou Weijun asking her to come to the publishing house.
She had barely sat down when Zou Weijun mentioned her resignation. Wen Ying was stunned.
“You are resigning?”
Was she unhappy working at the Literary Publishing House?
Wen Ying’s mind raced, unsure which link had gone wrong to make Zou Weijun resign so hastily.
Xiao Ning was even less able to accept it. From Shandong Province to Rongcheng, from “Aige” to “Xinghuo”, Zou Weijun had been the guiding light for Xiao Ning’s career!
“Sister Zou, if you leave, what will happen to the publishing house and the magazine?”
Wen Ying’s books needed Zou Weijun to handle them.
“Xinghuo” magazine could not do without Zou Weijun’s guidance.
The authors signed by the Literary Publishing House through the essay contest.
A pile of matters all relied on Zou Weijun to coordinate and direct. She was not only the chief editor of the Literary Publishing House but also the backbone for many people!
Zou Weijun smiled apologetically: “My resignation is not because I am unhappy with the work. It is for personal reasons. I am very sorry I cannot lead you all forward anymore. As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Partings always arrive, just a bit earlier in time. But I believe you are all strong at heart. With me, you developed well. Without me, you will still have even more brilliance!”
