Shi Yang patted his shoulder twice more: "Wenda, although in the company, I’m the boss and you’re the employee, in my heart, you’re my brother. I don’t consider you an outsider. If you keep being so polite, do you still want to maintain a good relationship in the future? Alright, this matter is settled. This is the task I’m giving you!"
Shi Yang’s tone was particularly determined, very manly, loyal, and quite persuasive.
Zhao Wendada was utterly moved. Initially a responsible and talented individual, now his heart was completely devoted to expanding the business of the mother and baby store.
Shi Yang returned ho on the night of the 29th of the lunar year. As soon as he entered, his dad dragged him to a gathering with old friends, so Shi Yang had no choice but to hand Zhao Wendada over to Qu Chaozong, telling them to hang out first and he’d pick them up in the morning.
Qu Chaozong had been busy taking care of his mom at ho. Seeing Zhao Wendada made him very happy, and the two went downstairs to have skewers and beers, hitting it off splendidly.
After eating and drinking their fill, they strolled back leisurely. Upon entering, they almost tripped over a big pile of gift boxes by the door.
Qu Chaozong asked, "Mom, who visited?"
Mrs. Qu, already able to walk by herself, ca out of the bedroom with a cane, smiling: "Xiao Xin brought them. It’s nearing the New Year, and she ca to pay respects."
Qu Chaozong, with a face flushed from drinking, but not drunk, asked surprisingly, "Zhang Xin ca? When was that?"
Mrs. Qu smiled and said, "She ca shortly after you left. She didn’t stay long after dropping off the stuff, said she had things to do, and quickly left."
Qu Chaozong and Zhao Wendada moved everything to the living room and opened each box to check.
A large box of air-freighted seafood, its ice pack just starting to lt, a few boxes of well-advertised luxury skincare products, two boxes of bright red cherries, and so nicely packaged bottles of red wine.
Zhao Wendada, evidently knowledgeable, clicked his tongue as he looked over everything and marveled, "These must’ve cost a lot, huh?"
Mrs. Qu paused at these words, asking, "Really? I didn’t even check what’s here."
Qu Chaozong wrapped an arm around Zhao Wendada’s neck and said, "Mom, don’t listen to his nonsense! Wenda’s been abroad all this ti, what would he know!"
Qu Chaozong tightened his grip and signaled Zhao Wendada with his eyes: "Don’t just stand there, help move everything to the kitchen. You’ve filled up on drinks, your head doesn’t hurt?"
Qu Chaozong dragged Zhao Wendada to the kitchen to sort things out, making sure to remove all external packaging and toss it by the door, planning to dispose of it tomorrow morning when they leave.
With Mrs. Qu not around, Zhao Wendada nudged Qu Chaozong: "Did your girlfriend send these?"
Qu Chaozong didn’t deny it and kicked him: "Why the idle talk! I’ll call Shi Yang later and get him and ii over, so we can steam that box of crabs and lobsters together."
Zhao Wendada asked casually, "Who is ii?"
Qu Chaozong, stuffing seafood into the fridge, said without turning his head, "The future boss lady of the company."
The future boss lady was currently hiding in her room, sweetly chatting on the phone: "Bro, you’re not ho yet? You must be tired? Had any drinks?"
Shi Yang sat in a hotel lobby, avoiding the noisy crowd, rubbing his nose in mild fatigue, straightening up slightly, his expression becoming gentle as water: "Shouldn’t be much longer, I didn’t drink a lot, just social drinking. And you? What are you up to?"
Zhao ii giggled: "I’m thinking of you."
Shi Yang’s lips curved into a smile: "Then I’ll make ti to see you tomorrow."
Zhao ii was delighted: "Great!" Then she started complaining: "Bro, don’t you think Robber Hao is a bit too harsh on us? We only get one day off for the Chinese New Year, and continue classes on the second day. How is that a winter break? It’s just like school!"
Shi Yang recalled his own school days and reassured her: "It was the sa back then. In the second half of the school year, it’s a sprint towards the college entrance exam. It’s tough on students and stressful for teachers too."
Zhao ii rembered sothing and said: "True, it’s nice for those studying abroad, not having to work as hard as we do, waking up early and working late every single day."
"Studying abroad?" Shi Yang asked, "Is there a classmate of yours going abroad?"
Zhao ii replied: "Yeah, Zhang Zhao is going abroad. He didn’t attend the holiday classes because Robber Hao said he’s already applied for it."
"Zhang Xin’s brother?" Shi Yang asked casually, not thinking much of it.
Zhao ii didn’t ntion all the trouble Zhang Zhao had caused, mainly to avoid making Shi Yang unhappy about the event involving Xu Xu’s confession.
Zhao ii regretted ntioning Zhang Zhao right after and quickly changed the subject to ask: "Bro, how long are you staying this ti?"
Shi Yang: "I’ll stay until the seventh day of the new lunar year to send Zhao Wendada back to the provincial city, then I should be able to co back for a while."
Zhao ii was thrilled and quickly said: "That’s wonderful! Bro, after the New Year’s Eve, co move back! Let my parents go back. I’ve missed you!"
Shi Yang was thoroughly amused.
Unaware that they were being plotted by their dear daughter to get kicked out, Zhao Dazhuang and Liu Xiue lay in bed having a pre-sleep chat.
Liu Xiue raised a hand and used the index finger of the other to trace out calculations on her palm: "We have thirty thousand yuan in cash right now, your big sister also handed over ten thousand, that’s forty thousand in total. ii’s first year in college will cost over twenty thousand, can we sell our old house for forty? If we save for another year, we might gather a total of seventy thousand... tsk, it’s not even enough for a down paynt for a house in the provincial city."
Zhao Dazhuang scratched his head: "You still dream about buying a house in the provincial city? Let’s be real! We should just go there and sensibly rent a place, stay until ii graduates from college, and see where she wants to develop in the future. We can think about the rest later."
Liu Xiue sighed: "It’s not like I don’t know that! Just thinking about four years of rent, it’s quite a sum, not worth it!"
Zhao Dazhuang rubbed his head against the pillow uneasily, then shifted to Liu Xiue’s pillow: "Wife, co, scratch my head for !"
Liu Xiue smacked him back: "Get off! I told you to wash your hair tonight, you refused, serves you right for being itchy!"
Zhao Dazhuang was slapped back, but cheerfully moved over again: "It’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow, I thought I’d bathe and wash it all at once!"
Liu Xiue grumbled resentfully: "If you were actually good at managing money, you’d have saved a lot over the years! All you ever think about is eating! Now you’re regretting having no money, aren’t you?"
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