Seventy-two

Chapter 13

Jin Biao was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing. “You sly kid, trying to play tactics with me, eh? I was wondering why you suddenly brought up Jingxiu—turns out I didn’t manage to tie you up in knots; you’ve turned the tables on me instead!”

With those words, the heavy mood in the room instantly lightened. Sha Zhouyin let out a breath of relief. “Sorry, Uncle Biao…”

Jin Biao patted him on the shoulder. “No need for apologies. These things can’t be forced; sometimes fate just isn’t on your side. Jingjing didn’t misjudge you—she simply didn’t have the fortune.”

“It’s me who lacks the fortune, really. I’ve let down your expectations,” Sha Zhouyin replied. “Actually, I was just about to talk to you about this. Last quarter, I poached a finance director from Dingxin. He’s been stuck in the finance department for over two months now, but since he’s already started to make a difference, it’s a good time to promote him—no one will question it. Then there’s that batch of fresh graduates we hired the year before last. They’ve been working at the grassroots level for two years, and their potential and shortcomings are starting to show. A few of them have real promise and could be promoted.”

He smiled. “They’re all outstanding young men from top universities and have real potential. If any of them catch your eye, Uncle Biao, it’s not too late to start grooming them now.”

Jin Biao shot him a look. “You make it sound like you’re settling your affairs before you go. What do you mean by this? Planning to throw in the towel? The company relies on you for so much—if you just let go, you’ll dump everything on this old man. Do you want to work me into a heart attack?”

“It’s not that I’m quitting right away,” Sha Zhouyin replied lightly. “I’m just laying some groundwork for the future.”

Jin Biao put on a stern face. “No way, I don’t agree. You and I have been in this together for years. We know each other inside and out, and we work well together. I don’t trust anyone else the way I trust you.”

“Uncle Biao, if I may speak frankly—don’t take it the wrong way.” Sha Zhouyin explained patiently, “We’re both self-made men who came up from the construction sites. Leading a crew of dozens is one thing, but managing a company this size is a different beast. There are thousands of employees now, and real estate isn’t as profitable as it used to be. We need to adapt and transform.”

“You can adapt without bringing in someone to replace you. I think you’re doing just fine—not a bit worse than those so-called professional managers. They talk a good game, but you don’t see them doing much in practice, and their results aren’t as good as ours.”

Sha Zhouyin chuckled. “That’s you giving me too much credit. The wave of resignations after New Year’s was my fault—I mishandled the situation because I don’t understand HR. Management is a discipline, the fruit of decades of collective wisdom. Why fumble around in the dark when others have already paved the way? Besides, you’ve worked hard for so many years; it’s time you took things a little easier. There’s no need to micromanage everything—delegate and let others handle the day-to-day. You just make the big decisions and enjoy life a bit. That’s what a real boss should do, right?”

“You’re not wrong, but I’m just not the type to sit idle. Unless I’m too old to work, I’ll always need to keep busy.” Jin Biao sighed. “Little Yin, I know what you’re thinking. Now that things didn’t work out with Jingjing, you don’t want to benefit from our family and have people call you a nepotism hire. But you and I both know—you’ve earned your place here. Your father did me a great favor, not just morally but financially. When he got into trouble, no one knew what would happen to his assets. He told me to move all the goods from his brick and cement factories, and the sand and stone at the docks, before the court stepped in. Those were his most profitable assets. When your relatives came to fight over the inheritance, there was nothing left but a shell. The value of the goods I took was over two or three hundred thousand—more than my own capital. That kind of money was worth ten times as much back then. So your father is like a major shareholder in my business. You don’t need to avoid this out of pride.”

“Uncle Biao, where you are today is because of your own hard work,” Sha Zhouyin replied. “My father did no more than lend you some money. Even if it was at high interest, you’ve already repaid me many times over these years. I’m not leaving because of Jingjing—it’s my own issue. Honestly, I don’t have much interest in pure management work…”

“I know. You wanted to study architecture when you were younger, and it’s a regret you didn’t get into university for it.” Jin Biao said, “We have a design department. I can transfer you there and put you in charge—just do what you love.”

Sha Zhouyin laughed. “There you go again, Uncle Biao. I just said we’re self-taught, and you want me running the design department? Architectural design is a technical profession. I’ve only read a few textbooks and have never drawn my own blueprints. How can I lead a team of experienced designers? It would make us look unprofessional.”

Jin Biao sighed again. “Little Yin, I really can’t bear to see you go. I refuse to believe a company this big can’t find a place for you. There must be a way.”

“I’m sorry, Uncle Biao. I have my own considerations… Just think of it as me letting you down after all your years of guidance. I’m sorry.”

He apologized twice in succession, bowing his head. Jin Biao seemed to understand. “Little Yin, I know you’re not someone who cares about others’ opinions. Is it that girl’s family that’s putting up obstacles? I heard she got into T University, right? Just got back after years of study?”

Sha Zhouyin said nothing, which was answer enough.

“It’s no wonder. Money can’t buy everything. I get mocked by the city’s cultured folk all the time—‘country tycoon,’ ‘upstart’ and the like,” Jin Biao said, a bit annoyed. “It’s not like I look down on them for being poor scholars. And your potential in-laws—what are they thinking? Such a good young man, and I, Jin Biao, would kill to have you as a son-in-law, while they nitpick and complain! If you have any backbone, just ignore them. Make a name for yourself and let them regret it!”

Sha Zhouyin smiled. “You’re trying to rile me up again, Uncle Biao. That won’t work on me.”

Both men laughed. Jin Biao asked, “So what are you planning to do after you leave? Is there anything I can help with?”

Before Sha Zhouyin could answer, the door to the lounge was flung open with a bang. Jin Jing stormed in. “Dad! Whose side are you on? We raised him all these years, and now that he’s got wings, he takes off without a second thought. Aren’t you afraid he’ll turn on you someday?”

She’d been eavesdropping in the next room, and when she heard that not only had Jin Biao failed to stop Sha Zhouyin from leaving, he even offered to help him start out on his own, she couldn’t help but barge in.

Jin Biao scolded her, “What do you know? Stop meddling.”

Seizing the moment, Sha Zhouyin quickly clarified, “Don’t worry, whatever I plan to do, Uncle Biao and I will only cooperate—never compete.”

Jin Jing retorted, “Sure, that’s what you say now. What are you even capable of? If you’re not in construction, are you going to sell sweet potatoes? Sha Zhouyin, don’t think you’re all that. Without my dad, you’re nothing. Go on, keep sifting your sand—oh wait, even that was my dad teaching you!”

Jin Biao snapped at her, “Enough out of you! Every time you open your mouth, you embarrass me. You think everyone is as worthless as you, unable to do anything but sell sweet potatoes or sift sand? Without me, you’d be nothing too.” Then to Sha Zhouyin, “Quick, just go. We’re not family anymore—you don’t get to laugh at our mess.”

Sha Zhouyin quickly and tactfully left the office, leaving Jin Biao to deal with his daughter.

That evening, Sha Zhouyin went to pick up Huang Qi from work as usual, and they debated where to have dinner. He put on a pitiful face. “Wife, I’m about to be unemployed. Can you treat me to dinner tonight?”

Huang Qi couldn’t help but laugh at his act. “What, you had a falling out with your sugar daddy and his daughter? They don’t want you anymore? No problem—just serve your Lady Mayor well, and I’ll keep you. Three meals a day, plus ten bucks pocket money!”

He played along. “Only ten? That’s so stingy. Lucky I don’t smoke, or I couldn’t even buy a pack of cigarettes. Make it twenty?”

“Already asking for a raise before you’re hired? We’ll see about that—if you can keep your Lady Mayor happy, thirty’s not out of the question!”

He sidled up to her, wrapping an arm around her waist, his voice turning syrupy. “And what exactly do I need to do to keep you happy?”

She smacked his hand away. “Hey! Watch it—we’re still at the office entrance, with all our coworkers around!”

He let go and opened the car door, but his eyes lingered on her playfully. “Fine, then. We’ll talk more when we get to my place.”

Just thinking about her last visit to his apartment made Huang Qi’s cheeks burn. She sat in the car, putting on a prim air. “What do you want for dinner?”

“I want to eat you.”

Lady Mayor blushed furiously and pinched his arm. “Behave while you’re driving! What are you thinking? Do you have a death wish? If you keep it up, I’m not riding with you anymore!”

“Ow, ow, ow!” he gasped, shaking his arm. “You must be an animal reincarnated—last time a wolfdog, today a crab. I’m covered in bruises. Do you have a thing for S&M or something?”

She spat, “You’re the one with an S&M kink.”

“I really don’t,” he replied with a smile. “But if you’re interested, I could give it a try.”

Her increasingly bold words left him a bit unsettled. Given she was now the household’s breadwinner and the real head of the family, he should be the one at her mercy. So why did it always feel like he was about to be thoroughly overpowered?

“So what do you actually want for dinner? Dinner, as in a meal!” she insisted.

Sha Zhouyin finally dropped his teasing. “I saw a place selling old duck vermicelli soup on the snack street yesterday. Looked good, but I’d already bought tofu soup and was too full. Want to try it?”

“I’m loyal—I just want tofu soup.”

“I’m loyal too, so I’ll have tofu soup with you.”

In the end, they bought one tofu soup and one old duck vermicelli soup, sharing both. While eating, they talked about Jin Jing, and Sha Zhouyin recounted his conversation with Jin Biao.

Huang Qi, chewing her spoon, mused, “When you think about it, you really are cut out to be their live-in son-in-law—capable, hardworking, patient with the young lady, and orphaned, no less. Like you were tailor-made for them. It’s their loss not to keep you.”

Sha Zhouyin tapped her on the head with his chopsticks. “Why are you feeling sorry for them? Are you going to hand over your boyfriend to their family?”

“I’m just stating facts—you and Jin Jing are a good match, that’s all.”

He wasn’t pleased to hear her say he’d be a good match for someone else. “Well, you and Director Zhang would make a good pair too. Are you going to dump me for him?”

She giggled, blocking his chopsticks. “So what? Who says good matches have to end up together? Marrying within your social class sounds nice, but it’s boring. I prefer mismatched couples—that’s where the fun is.” She finished with a mischievous grin, earning herself two pinches on the cheek.

After a few bites, she asked again, “But you really don’t feel any regret?”

“Regret about what?”

Lady Mayor replied sourly, “Such a good family, such a great opportunity. If you’d agreed, Jingxiu Group would basically be yours—billions at your fingertips. Don’t all men care about their careers?”

Her words finally cheered him up. “My career isn’t what I care about most—and money doesn’t equal a career, either.”

She was secretly delighted, but pretended to ask, “Then what do you care about the most?”

“What I care about most isn’t a thing.”

She arched her eyebrows. “Are you calling me a thing now?”

He retorted, “Did I say it was you? Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Sha Zhouyin, you’re asking for trouble. Just wait till I get my hands on you.”

“You’re the one who needs a lesson. We’ll see who gets the upper hand.”

The Lady Mayor and her consort, truly a family at odds—oh, the tragedy.

Author’s note: Why does it feel like… it could end here?