Chapter 4

Thirty years ago, the Guan and Zheng families jointly founded Xicheng Steel. Initially, they took advantage of the booming real estate and construction industries. The two families quickly accumulated wealth, and Xicheng Steel gradually grew from small to large, and soon developed into Xicheng's leading enterprise.

Achieving such success for a private steel mill is no easy feat, and it would have been impossible without the collaborative efforts and meticulous management of its two founders over nearly three decades. Zheng Dongfang is a steady and practical man, diligently working at the factory from dawn to dusk, while Guan Xiong has traveled extensively throughout his life, spending years away from home to secure orders both domestically and internationally.

Guan Xiong was always filled with pride when he recalled the past, but his only regret was that he had failed his wife and daughter. In his later years, he often regretted not having a child, forcing him to place all his responsibilities on his daughter's shoulders, which only exacerbated his guilt towards her.

"Old Guan, from the way you walk, you seem to have recovered well. People who don't know you can't tell that you had a stroke." Guan Ying didn't know when it started, but stopped calling him dad and started calling him "Old Guan" like everyone else in the company.

Guan Xiong dragged a rocking chair over from the pool and sat down to watch his daughter swim: "Who am I, your father? How could I be defeated by a little problem?"

"You still have to keep taking the medicine. My mom said you kept throwing the medicine away behind her back. How can that be? The most important task for both of you now is to take good care of yourselves. Don't make me worry about you outside." In order to talk to her father, Guan Ying changed to a backstroke posture in the swimming pool.

His wife's words might not be effective, but when his daughter spoke, Guan Xiong obeyed. "I'll eat it. Oh, your mother made a mistake. How could I dare throw it away? I have to live a long life and stay with my daughter. She'll have to look after her grandchildren in the future. Hey, can this lawyer Xiao do it this time? I heard from Jiawei that you were able to get the Sabur money back thanks to his help. And he's Chinese. Great! As long as you're not Canadian like the last time, it's fine. If you marry someone as far away as Canada, wouldn't that be like draining your father's heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys?"

Guan Ying couldn't help laughing. She couldn't swim anymore and lay down on the edge of the pool and spit out a mouthful of water. "Hahaha, don't worry, Lao Guan. For your sake, I can just stay single for the rest of my life! Dating doesn't mean you have to get married, and Xiao Weiyan said he doesn't care."

Guan Xiong stood up and said, "You're stupid! If you don't marry for the rest of your life, you'll become a nun! Did he say it doesn't matter? How can it be so? He's a man, so casual. Isn't this just playing with feelings? This is not okay, this is not okay."

Guan Ying was still happy: "Old Guan, don't you understand your daughter? It's still uncertain who will play with whom!"

"Girls shouldn't always talk about having fun. You're 33 already, and if you keep on having fun like this, it won't work out. I'm worried. If you have someone you like, I'll go find your Uncle Zheng tomorrow to cancel your engagement with that kid Ju Yong. He's been avoiding me these past few days, being so awkward. Does he have to make the first move on my part? Ju Yong is already in a relationship, so how can I force my daughter into his? Your Uncle Zheng is such a taciturn person, always dithering!"

Guan Xiong had never said this before, but this time was different. Zheng's nephew had already proposed, which meant he really had his eye on another girl. So, Guan Xiong had no choice but to give his daughter a face. With so many suitors around her, how could she worry about not getting married? He wished Guan Ying would marry that lawyer surnamed Xiao right away!

Guan Ying took off her goggles and asked curiously, "Eh? Old Guan, something's wrong with you. You used to be afraid that I'd run away with someone else and make you feel bad for Uncle Zheng's family. Why did you suddenly come to your senses this time and even take the initiative to cancel the engagement?"

Guan Xiong picked up his daughter's swimming goggles and gently wiped the water stains off them with the corner of his clothes. "I'm old, but I'm not confused. The steel plant has been performing poorly in recent years, and business outside has been tough. Banks used to chase us for loans, but we didn't need them. But now that we do, they're being cautious. Everyone can see that the West City Steel Plant is on its last legs... Your Uncle Zheng and I have been guarding the steel plant for our entire lives, and it's supported our two families. It's been thirty years, and we're old now. How can it last forever? You and Ju Yong have no obligation to guard it, and Dad doesn't want to tie your lifelong happiness to the steel plant. It shouldn't be your responsibility in the first place."

"Old Guan, should I cry now? After all, what you said is quite touching." Guan Ying pretended to be moved to tears.

Guan Xiong was amused by her: "You naughty child, are you teasing your dad? Dad is speaking from the heart. It's a good thing that you're back this time. Your uncle Zheng and I will break up this marriage in front of you two children!"

Guan Ying tumbled out of the pool with a splash and threw on a towel, not caring at all: "Old Guan, why are you so impatient today, urging me to get married and then cancelling it? Uncle Zheng just avoided you for a day or two, and you're so uncomfortable?"

Lifelong friends suddenly became estranged over their children's marriages. Zheng Dongfang could tolerate it, but Guan Xiong couldn't. He couldn't eat or sleep. Guan Ying knew her father's weaknesses all too well. He had already suffered a minor stroke due to Sabur's betrayal, and now, because of Zheng Juyong's situation, he was likely to be angry again. Although he said these frank words, he knew he was in great pain inside. He couldn't let him suffer any more. That was why she finally compromised and hurried back.

"I'm not uncomfortable at all! It's your Uncle Zheng who is uncomfortable!" Guan Xiong was still being stubborn.

Guan Ying almost coaxed him: "Alright, Lao Guan, my dear father, the matter of breaking off the engagement must be brought up by Zheng Juyong, not you."

Guan Xiong's true feelings were exposed. He had long been dissatisfied with Zheng Juyong. "Why can't I bring it up? Your uncle Zheng and I arranged the marriage. It's not his turn to back out!"

Guan Ying poured him a glass of water and handed it to him. "Was Sabur's ten million a result of your insistence on loyalty? Did you avoid Uncle Zheng when you first met him? Later, Uncle Zheng took the initiative to tell you that the matter was over and that he would find a way to borrow money from the bank. When you heard that, didn't you feel even more upset? That's why he had a stroke later, right? The situation now is similar to that time. If you took the initiative to go to Uncle Zheng to cancel the engagement, would Uncle Zheng have been able to bear it? If Uncle Zheng wanted to cancel the engagement, why would he agree to Aunt Zheng calling me back? Uncle Zheng clearly didn't want to cancel the engagement. Ultimately, this is Uncle Zheng's family's business first, and then it's our family's business. Zheng Juyong and his father need to carve out a throne in their family first. If you get involved now, aren't you teaming up with that brat Zheng Juyong to bully Uncle Zheng? What if Uncle Zheng also has a minor stroke? Will you two brothers end up in a nursing home arm in arm?"

Guan Xiong took a sip of water, savoring the taste in his mouth. "Hiss, according to what you said, it's not even my turn to speak?"

Guan Ying raised her eyebrows: "Yes! Don't doubt it, that's it. Hey, Lao Guan, just listen to me!"

......

The next day, Zheng family.

Mrs. Zheng was so busy running in and out of the kitchen that even the babysitter couldn't help. "Leave it to yourselves, this vinegar fish is my specialty. Guan Guan loved it when she was little. Oh, I miss her so much! I have to show off my cooking skills!"

Zheng Juyong leaned against the kitchen door frame. "Mom, are you really that serious? I've told you eight hundred times that it's impossible for me and Sister Guanguan to do that. Also, Qiao Qi loves fish too. Make an extra one and I'll pack it up for her."

My mother's excitement was dampened by a cold shower. She was furious and her expression changed instantly: "You wish! Zheng Juyong, get out of the kitchen right now. I'm so annoyed by seeing you, my fool!"

Zheng Juyong pursed his lips and muttered, "You guys never believe what I say. You have to wait for Sister Guanguan to tell you. Isn't the result the same? Forget it, forget it. Anyway, from childhood to adulthood, I'm not as good as Sister Guanguan. I think she is your biological child..."

Mrs. Zheng grabbed a colander and threw it out: "Get out, get out! If you had half the ability to manage your sister Guan, I wouldn't have so many white hairs!"

Nanny Lin tried to mediate: "Madam, Ju Yong also wants to help you."

Mrs. Zheng was still annoyed: "What help? He's only thinking about giving him that red-haired fish in vinegar, and he only knows how to order me around! Oh, if only Guan Guan was really my daughter. Old Lin, you don't know, Guan Guan's temperament has been like mine since she was a child. She's so straightforward and decisive, just my style, hehe."

Zheng Juyong smiled: "Mom, you are not afraid that I will make Auntie angry if you say that."

"Your Aunt Guan has a good temper. She won't be mad at me. You're a little immature if you want to sow discord between us! Speaking of which, when Guan Guan was first born, your Uncle Guan wasn't home, so I went over to help take care of him during the confinement period. It's normal for the child I looked after to have adopted my temper. Hey, why are you still standing here? Get out!"

Nanny Auntie Lin patted Juyong with a loving touch. Zheng Juyong tactfully left the kitchen, his "important place." Just as he sat down at the table, his father shooed him out again: "Why are you sitting down? Guan Ying is almost here. She's finally back, and you're not going out to meet her!"

Every time Guan Ying came, it seemed as if there was no place for Zheng Juyong in the family.

"Ah? Dad, she's driving here and can drive directly to the gate. Where do you want me to pick her up?"

"Then go stand at the gate and pick it up! Guan Ying always comes with bags, are you planning to let her carry them out of the car by herself? You can't just sit here. You're such a grown-up, and you don't have good judgment. How can you be so disrespectful!"

"Oh, I'll go, I'll go." In order to avoid being scolded, Zheng Juyong stood at the gate twenty minutes in advance.

A Land Rover Defender rushed up from the bottom of the slope and parked neatly in the parking space at the door. Among the rich kids in Xicheng, a car of this level is already very low-key.

"Hey! Zheng Juyong?" Guan Ying leaned an arm over the car window, flipped up his sunglasses, and whistled at Zheng Juyong, who was squinting at the door. "Shh! How could you be so sensible to come pick me up? It's only been six months since we last met, and you've grown a lot!"

Zheng Juyong squinted his nearsighted eyes and came closer: "Sister Guanguan, have you changed your car again?"

Guan Ying got out of the car: "Why do you care about me?"

Zheng Juyong slurred his words, "Haha, I don't dare to control the West City Bully."

Guan Ying stuffed all the gifts in the trunk into him, and walked into the Zheng family's gate with a swagger and ease.

Zheng Juyong was like a hotel butler, and it took him two trips to finally move all the gift boxes, big and small, into his home.

"Guan Guan, why did you bring so many things? We have everything we need at home! Ju Yong, you are so stubborn, why don't you move them back to the car!" Mrs. Zheng ran out from the kitchen to take care of Guan Ying when she heard the sound. Seeing her son move all the things into the house honestly, she felt very disappointed with him.

Zheng Juyong didn't even have time to catch his breath: "Huh? Move back? That's not necessary. My dad asked me to go out and pick him up."

When Zheng Dongfang heard that he was implicated, he was so angry that he quickly said, "Tsk, I asked you to pick up someone, not to pick up anything, you silly boy!"

Zheng Juyong frowned. He was clearly asked to pick up the bags. It would be wrong for him to do it, and it would be wrong for him not to do it. In short, as soon as Guan Ying came, everything about him was wrong in the eyes of his parents.

"Eh? Uncle, aunt, I was the one who asked him to move in. Why don't you like it? I carefully prepared all of this. This box is the foreign liquor my uncle likes to drink, not too strong, and they're all collector's items. This box is a Persian carpet. Didn't you ask me to keep an eye out for it for you? I spent a long time searching in the Dubai market before I finally found the peacock blue one you like. And this box is spices for Aunt Lin. This one is for the driver, Lao Bai... Zheng Juyong, this is for you. These are chocolates I bought at the airport. Don't be disgusted."

Guan Ying even took good care of the Zheng family's driver and nanny, but she was casual about Zheng Juyong and only bought him a piece of chocolate at the Dubai airport.

Zheng Juyong pinched a piece of chocolate and forced a smile: "Thank you, it's so thoughtful of you to still remember me."

Guan Ying waved her hand and said, "Don't be polite with me. If it tastes good, I'll buy it for you!"

When Zheng's parents heard it was Guan Ying's order, they immediately spared Zheng Juyong: "Tsk, why don't you go get Guan Guan some slippers!"

Zheng Juyong sighed quietly, bending over to pick up a pair of pink bubble slippers from the shoe rack. On the shoe rack in the Zheng family's hallway, there was always a pair of pink slippers belonging to Guan Ying, a pair she had always had since she was little. He'd repeatedly reminded his parents that Guan Ying didn't like pink, but no one believed him! Perhaps because his slippers had always been blue, his parents deliberately made them match. Over time, he grew too lazy to object to these trivial matters.

But this time it was different. Qiao Qi liked pink, so the pink slippers at home should have someone who really liked them! Thinking of this, Zheng Juyong suddenly became bothered while holding the pair of pink slippers. He stuffed them back in, took out a new pair of slippers and threw them at Guan Ying's feet: "Those pink slippers are too small. You can wear mine. They're new."

But the mother kicked it away: "What do you mean by too small? I bought your size specifically. Who wants to wear those ugly blue slippers like you guys? Guanguan, I'll just wear your pink pair!"

Guan Ying looked at Zheng Juyong and understood a little. She pulled Mrs. Zheng and quickly changed into the blue slippers. She smiled and said, "Aunt, I don't mind that they are ugly, but they are troublesome. Let's leave it like this."

To Mrs. Zheng, it was as if Guan Ying was saying: She doesn't despise being mediocre.

Zheng Dongfang and his wife smiled at each other: Guan Ying has taken the initiative to wear Juyong's shoes, this is a good start!