Chapter 13

 

The greatest joy in life could be summed up in just four words — a turn for the better.

Neither Xinghai Foreign Trade nor Haiou Foreign Trade had truly suited her, so even though Ming Xi had leaned toward one of them, she hadn’t been fully convinced.

When Manager Li of Longmao Parkway asked her if she could start work next week, Ming Xi’s eyes were resolute and her tone was clear, and she almost blurted out her: “Yes, absolutely!”

…

The day before yesterday, Professor Liang called his ex-wife Gu Shuangyang. Gu Shuangyang was always busy; her assistant usually answered her calls. She only answered the phone because Professor Liang rarely called.

When she learned that her ex-husband wanted her help, and the person he was helping was a young girl who just graduated from a TVU, she couldn’t help but mock him:

“Old Liang, you’ve really gone downhill. How come you’re teaching TV University students?”

Professor Liang felt a wave of shame and anger. Even if he hadn’t been asking for a favor, the humiliation of hearing that still stung.

He held his tongue, but Gu Shuangyang pressed on: “I’m not mocking you, I just don’t understand why you’re being so kind. Don’t tell me you made some mistake and that girl got something on you?”

If earlier he’d only felt embarrassed, now — when his character was seriously slandered, Professor Liang was naturally furious. But he was used to it.

Gu Shuangyang’s sharpness wasn’t limited to her career; her tongue was just as lethal. A few words from her could trigger his heart condition!

Which was, of course, why she was his ex-wife.

Through the phone’s speaker came Professor Liang’s heavy, uneven.

Gu Shuangyang couldn’t stand it anymore and changed the subject and said: “Fine, fine, I’ll handle it. But Shuangyang is not recruiting interns this year, and we don’t need English majors from TVU. I have a good relationship with Longmao Parkway. Business is good now, and the work isn’t difficult. I’ll give Manager Li a call and have him take the people in. It’s not a big deal.”

Professor Liang gritted his teeth and said: “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.” Gu Shuangyang said nonchalantly. Taking advantage of the phone call, she brought up another matter that seems already been decided. “Jiancheng is getting engaged after the New Year. I’ll let you know when the time comes.”

Engaged? When did that happen?

He had always been the one with the lesser say in their marriage, and now — as her ex-husband — his opinion mattered even less.

With a deep sigh, Professor Liang lowered his voice and said, “Can’t we let Jiancheng make his own decision about marriage?”

A pedantic intellectual always speaks pedantic words. Gu Shuangyang was losing patience; what irritated her most about Liang Yuzhi was precisely that tone. He didn’t do anything, and still wouldn’t let her do anything as well.

“And what happens when he makes the decision himself? he might even bring back a man!” Gu Shuangyang snapped.

Professor Liang: “…”

Gu Shuangyang: “You and your son are just the same.”

Professor Liang wanted to defend himself: “I’m not like that.”

After a pause, he also defended his son: “Jiancheng is not like that either.”

“Hmph. Normal or not, he’s of age,” Gu Shuangyang shot back. She was efficient, capable, and naturally spoke quickly. A few words of reproach clattering like coins falling on tile, “I’m his mother, how could I harm him? I paved the way for him, yet he didn’t take it. Career or marriage, at least one need to follow my lead. He wants to struggle with the career of his own choice, then the matter of marriage naturally falls to me…”

“I’m not blaming you for harming our son, I just think you’re rushing things too much.”

“Rushing? He’s twenty-five! Think about what you were doing at twenty-five — studying for grad school with a baby in your arms. And him? He’s finished grad school and hasn’t even had a girlfriend!”

“He studied outside, you don’t know the situation, he may have had one.” Professor Liang said cautiously.

Professor Liang spoke so humbly, a rare sight. Gu Shuangyang laughed, teasing her ex-husband on the phone, countering, “True, we don’t know what he’s been up to outside. Maybe the one he dated was a man!”

Professor Liang: “…”

Gu Shuangyang’s laughter continued, her words brisk. “I admit you’re better than me at raising children, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand our son. You’ve admitted before that I’m better at getting things done and better at judging people. I turned a failing factory that couldn’t pay its employees into what it is today, Shuangyang Electronic. That wasn’t luck or government policy alone. It took strategy — and actions.”

Strategy again. Actions again.

Professor Liang, deciding there was no point in continuing the call, pondered how to end it—

Beep. Beep. Beep.

His ex-wife, Gu Shuangyang, hung up first, like a boss who puts down the conversation, waving off her sleeve without a trace of emotion.

Professor Liang’s face was sullen, and after a long moment, he sighed heavily. In the quiet living room, he adjusted his glasses with a finger under his eye, then began to type a text message carefully on his phone.

The message outlined Ming Xi’s strengths and talents, emphasizing her fluent English, positive attitude, and bright personality.

Finally, it concluded with the following:

“Thank you, Shuangyang, I’ll trouble you with this!

Trouble her — she hadn’t even bothered. Gu Shuangyang had already passed the trivial matter off to her current husband to handle.

…

At the Anteng Internet Cafe, Ming Xi’s call was indeed from Professor Liang, who asked if she was in Haigang. If so, he told her to rush to Longmao Parkway, as they were shortlisted for an office clerk.

Professor Liang had obtained Ming Xi’s cell phone number from his son.

Liang Jiancheng, on a business trip in Guangzhou, didn’t inquire about how his father had found a job for Ming Xi. On the contrary, Liang Jiancheng understood his father’s character; if he had decided to help, he would make sure it was done properly.

So Liang Jiancheng gave him her number.

As soon as Ming Xi’s matter was finished, the conversation shifted sharply to him—”I heard you’ve sacrificed your right to choose your own marriage?”

The word “sacrifice” was… painfully accurate.

Liang Jiancheng spoke calmly, “So you’ve contacted Boss Gu from Shuangyang.”

Professor Liang’s tone was mocking, but Liang Jiancheng didn’t hold back either, bluntly pointing out that Professor Liang had used his ex-wife’s connections to secure job for his student.

For a moment, both father and son sneered.

At least today, Professor Liang was in a better mood; he didn’t hang up after just a few words, as he sometimes did.

When had it started — this distance between father and son? Partly because Jiancheng had grown up and learned that some things shouldn’t be said, and others were pointless to say. Partly because, in recent years, his father’s life hadn’t gone well, and he had grown quieter and more withdrawn.

His deliberate nagging would only disturb his father’s peace.

“Getting engaged is no small matter. You can’t treat it so lightly. I’m not worried you’ll ruin yourself, but that you’ll ruin some poor girl. Marriage is tedious enough as it is — without true understanding, it simply can’t last!” Professor Liang spoke earnestly.

Liang Jiancheng listened seriously, though his own thoughts were firm. His father was right to tell him to be cautious — and he would treat his chosen partner responsibly. There was no disagreement there.

However, when it came to marriage, he no longer had any illusions. Marriage couldn’t withstand the weight of human imagination.

Interests were concrete, but love was fickle. To merge those two into one was a test of human nature.

He didn’t like being arranged into anything — but when it came to the concept of marriage, his views and his mother’s happened to align. Their understanding of it, in fact, was surprisingly alike.

“Her surname is Zhang, and her given name is Min,” Liang Jiancheng said, briefly introducing the woman he had chosen.

“I don’t need to know her before she truly becomes your wife.” A faint mocking voice echoed through the phone’s receiver.

Holding the phone, Liang Jiancheng smiled helplessly and asked, as calmly as he could: “How can you be sure I won’t like her? Or fall in love with her? She’s well-educated, from a good family, has a good temperament — she’s almost perfect. If I still looked down on such a woman, that would only prove I’m the ungrateful one.”

At this point, father and son were finding it difficult to convince each other.

“It’s good that you think that way… I hope you always think that way. Even if Miss Zhang or Miss Min no longer pleases you, you’ll still remember your first affection for her.”

A man should have not only affection but also loyalty to the woman he loves. Professor Liang’s upbringing for his son was traditional and weighty.

Under this upbringing, Liang Jiancheng had never been one for big talk and always remained a responsible person. From childhood, he was taught the importance of responsibility, not only to his family and himself, but also to his country.

Thus, accepting his mother’s arrangement and choosing Zhang Min was, in his mind, also a responsible decision.

When Liang Jiancheng was studying in the United States, his good friend Henry once said that his personal freedom was always based on responsibility. Even if he seemed casual in life or leisure, he held deeply traditional, almost classical, Chinese views toward work, family, and even his country.

Even a hint of personal emotion was like a mist of snow falling from the sky on a traveler, needing no shake-off upon arrival; the journey had already melted and dissolved into nothingness.

Liang Jiancheng didn’t see himself as quite so austere. In this world, people inevitably chase after fame and fortune. Not to lose one’s true self was already rare enough. But to demand great virtue and universal love as well — that’s the realm of saints. And that, he thought, was the real difference between him and his father.

Professor Liang, while picky, placed extreme importance on personal feelings.

He, on the other hand, believed that those who place too much emphasis on personal feelings were merely finding comfort in spiritual illusion.

After hanging up the phone, Liang Jiancheng’s mouth curved slightly. Sometimes he felt helpless at his father’s stubbornness. Last year, when Ming Xi had come with gifts to visit, he’d driven her away. Now, his father was asking for her phone number.

No need to guess — he must have found her a job that suited her better.

A big company? It probably wouldn’t be Shuangyang Electronic.

If not Shuangyang Electronic, which one would it be?

Liang Jiancheng’s mind was usually clear, rarely tinged with regret. But a genuine pity welled up in his heart. He’d offered her a good position and good pay, so why hadn’t she chosen him?

Did she truly look down on his company as too small?

Liang Jiancheng self-mockingly said that Xinghai couldn’t hold anyone, but then, her bright, determined eyes resurfaced in his mind.

The sky is vast for birds to fly; the sea is wide for fish to leap. Those who dare to dream and act, and are clever enough to do so, might just carve out a road straight to the heavens.

–

“Cai Ni, I’ve got great news! I’ve been hired at Longmao Parkway!”

In the small inn, Ming Xi called Cai Ni to share the good news.

Cai Ni didn’t know what “Longmao Parkway” was, but from the Ming Xi’s tone, it sounded like it was a very large company. When Ming Xi told her the details — the salary and the benefits — Cai Ni almost jumped up from the sofa holding the phone.

“An internship gets 1,500 yuan! Plus quarterly bonuses! And a dormitory!”

Cai Ni’s heart nearly leaped. The job her parents had used all their connections to find her only paid a third of Ming Xi’s base monthly salary, not to mention there were no bonus.

“And the uniform isn’t ugly at all. It’s one of those beautiful, fashionable styles: a suit with a black coat… and it’s made of wool,” Ming Xi continued.

A good job could turn even the calmest, most self-contained person into someone who just had to brag a little…

Cai Ni felt like fireworks were exploding in her ears, pulsing with excitement and joy.

“Oh, and we even get a lunch allowance! The woman who interviewed me told me that after I’m three months in, the company will even provide me with insurance!”

“Is it the five social insurances and one housing fund? My mom said that only public institutions have them, and they’ve only been around for the past two years.”

“That should be it, it’s not bad at all!” Ming Xi tried to control her tone, but her voice still lifted with pride at the end.

Cai Ni felt that Ming Xi had fallen into a nest of fortune — she was both happy for her and deeply envious. “Companies in big cities really are better.”

For girls, their sense of security about the future usually came from family. If family couldn’t provide it, only a job could. Cai Ni could tell that Ming Xi, for the first time, had found a deep, contented sense of security.

“What should I do? I really want to come to Haigang too!” Cai Ni whimpered.

Ming Xi laughed softly, “…wait a bit first.”

Cai Ni’s parents were both in Yicheng, and the family of three had stable jobs and a peaceful, happy life. Ming Xi really couldn’t encourage her to leave all that to come to Haigang. After thinking for a moment, she said gently, “Wait until I’ve really settled in. Once things are steady, you can decide then.”

Cai Ni answered with a heavy “Mm.”

They chatted for a bit longer, but when the call passed the two-minute mark, Ming Xi kept her eyes on the call timer. She dragged out the conversation with a few more lines of idle chatter, and the moment it hit 2:58, she hung up without hesitation.

Yicheng and Haigang were in different provinces, so even though the distance wasn’t too far, it was still considered a long-distance call, charged by the minute.

Ming Xi planned to buy a long-distance calling card specifically for long-distance calls; the rates were much more affordable than using a cell phone.

Ming Xi stayed in the inn for two more days.

She then moved into the dormitory Longmao had provided specifically for non-local employees. The conditions were quite decent, at least better than the shacks in Yicheng. Although it was not a high-end residence, but it was a clean, bright, shared corridor-style apartment.

Ming Xi was assigned to a double room but was living alone for now. Middle management and above had single rooms — same hallway, different doors.

This was the first time Ming Xi had seen a corridor without piles of junk cluttering it. In the three days she’d been in Haigang, she had already heard the innkeeper mutter the same line several times: “These outsiders have no manners!”

In order to show that she did have manners, and hope to make a good impression with others, Ming Xi bought a mop and a broom after moving her things, and took the initiative to clean the corridor.

The corridor, which was originally tidy, became bright and gleaming after she cleaned it.

Ming Xi felt brimming with energy, as if she had endless strength. Whatever she did, she didn’t feel tired. Walking down the street, she even found herself speeding up to keep pace with passersby.

It was as if some mysterious force was pushing her forward…

Ah yes — it was her hunger for money!

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