Chapter 47 Nie Qingqing felt so gratified; she was truly happy…
Including today, Nie Qingqing can take ten days of annual leave. She has already made plans to rest at home for two days and spend time with Song Zhao and the children. Shumei's house has been renovated, but she was too busy to go see it before. This time, she can go to Shumei's house for a meal to kick things off.
Then, depending on Song Zhao's schedule, if he had time, they would go to Haishi together to see Xiaoyin; if he was busy, she would take Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan with her.
This summer vacation, Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan followed Song Zhao to the factory, supposedly to do their summer homework. Nie Qingqing was naturally happy, but worried that it would affect Song Zhao's work. The three of them repeatedly assured him that they wouldn't. Today was a good day for a surprise inspection.
She came to the electronics factory unexpectedly in the morning without prior notice, so she saw Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan, experiencing their most authentic daily life at the factory.
Tangyuan huddled next to Director Min to look at the ledger. There was only half of his summer homework piled up next to him. With only ten days left before school started, would he be able to finish it?
He'll be starting junior high next semester, and he's still acting so relaxed. How could Nie Qingqing not be angry?
She slapped Tangyuan's summer homework, startling Tangyuan, who was engrossed in her work, and Director Min, who was engrossed in calculating with his abacus.
"You can't even finish your summer homework, how can you possibly understand those ledgers that even adults find difficult to read?"
Mom's here? Why would Mom come to Dad's factory this morning? Unless Mom's off today.
Tangyuan was startled by the sudden attack and immediately jumped up, bowing to Nie Qingqing to apologize. She was almost as tall as her mother, yet she still had the nerve to cling to her arm and act cute.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't know you would be checking my homework at this time. Otherwise, I would have done my homework properly."
Nie Qingqing laughed in exasperation and said, "Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?"
Tangyuan chuckled: "Mom, I was just trying to make you laugh. I'll do my homework now."
Seeing that things were not going well, Director Min made an excuse to leave, saying before he left, "Tangyuan is very smart, she can read the ledgers, she is a talented child."
...
"If you're so talented, how come you can't even do your homework properly?" Nie Qingqing was truly exasperated. Having no other choice, she decided to scare him. "Alright, I won't argue with you anymore. If you don't finish your summer homework, I won't take you to see your sister."
Tangyuan immediately dropped her pen, unable to sit still with excitement, and stood up: "Mom, can you take a day off now? When are we leaving? I can do my homework on the train."
"When to go and how many tickets to buy, we need to discuss with Song Zhao," Nie Qingqing asked. "Where's your dad?"
Tangyuan said, "In the workshop."
"Where's Xiaoyuan? Why isn't he with you?"
"He followed his father to look at the mechanical structure. He could actually understand such complicated electrical knowledge, and he didn't want to go back to the office to sit in the fan."
Nie Qingqing is willing to use a fan. Tangyuan is similar to her in some ways. She enjoys herself when she can, and she will spend money even if it hurts her wallet.
She sat down, and Tangyuan immediately turned the fan's oscillator towards her.
Seeing how clever the child was, Nie Qingqing couldn't bring herself to scold him. She sighed and said, "Look at Xiaoyuan, if you can learn his ability to concentrate, I won't say anything more to you."
Tangyuan became confident and said, "Mom, Xiaoyuan and I should be taught according to our aptitudes. He has his strengths, and I have my own strengths. How about I go to a vocational school for accounting? I can remember numbers that represent money just by looking at them."
Given Tangyuan's personality, Nie Qingqing was afraid he would become even more unruly after entering vocational school. She wanted to try harder, so she didn't agree: "Don't try to fool me. You'll still get beaten up if you fail the exam."
...
Song Zhao came up from the workshop, with Xiao Yuan following behind him.
Nie Qingqing was watching Tangyuan finish her summer homework when she said, "You go ahead with your work. I'm here to have lunch with you guys. It's not lunchtime yet."
Tangyuan, distracted while writing, chimed in, "What's good to eat in the cafeteria? Mom, how many days off are you taking? When are you going to visit my sister?"
Judging from how leisurely Nie Qingqing came over, and how she was going to visit her daughter in Haishi, it must be a long holiday.
Song Zhao asked, "How many days off are you on?"
Nie Qingqing held up a number, looking very happy: "Ten days, until the start of school. I plan to visit Xiaoyin in a couple of days. Can you get leave?"
"Even if we can't get permission, we should still ask for it," Song Zhao said confidently. "Yes, I'll talk to Director Min and ask for ten days of leave as well."
Nie Qingqing quickly interrupted his plan: "No, let's go see Xiaoyin and stay for two nights. Including the travel time, four or five days should be enough for you."
The news that he could go to Haishi to see Xiaoyin was a great joy for Tangyuan. He couldn't concentrate on his homework at all and grabbed Song Zhao, saying, "Dad, I'll go with you to ask for leave. I have more influence with Uncle Min than you do, so I'm sure I can go."
...
Including today, Song Zhao took five days off. He ate lunch out and went to the station to buy tickets for tomorrow afternoon. There were four soft sleeper tickets, enough for one compartment. Nie Qingqing called He Shumei and made an appointment to have lunch together tomorrow.
She said, "I was originally planning to stay overnight at your new house before visiting Xiaoyin, but Song Zhao couldn't wait and bought tickets for tomorrow afternoon."
He Shumei cursed Song Zhao in her heart, then happily agreed, saying, "Come back when you return from Haishi. I've reserved a room for you, so you can come anytime and stay anytime."
That night, Tangyuan was too excited to sleep, counting down the time, eagerly awaiting the departure time the next afternoon.
Nie Qingqing urged him to do his homework: "You should catch up on some more, otherwise we'll play and you can stay at the hotel and do your homework."
Tangyuan: "Mom, I know what I'm doing. I'll definitely finish catching up before school starts."
Song Zhao chimed in, "The child has already made a promise; it's not too late to beat him if he fails to do so."
...
This trip to see Xiaoyin is only for two nights, so there's no need to bring too much stuff. Song Zhao arranged for toiletries to be packed in one bag, Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan's clothes in another, Nie Qingqing and his clothes in a separate bag, and Xiaoyin's things in a separate bag.
Each person carried a bag and set off, which was very convenient. They carried the bags to Shumei's house, ate a meal, and went directly to the station.
Nie Qingqing ordered a set of custom-made bowls and chopsticks with engraved characters on the bottom for Shumei, and was waiting to deliver them today.
Actually, the gift had already been given. Song Zhao had bought the refrigerator and washing machine for their new house. They were the latest models from the factory and bought them at factory price, which added up to quite a bit of money.
Shumei brought her parents to live with her. There was a puppy a few months old in the yard. Douding was playing with the puppy, while Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan couldn't wait to go over and adored the puppy.
Her house is beautifully decorated. The designer was introduced by Nie Qingqing. Judging from the level of decoration, it probably exceeded the budget.
Shumei Xian whispered to her, "The renovation did exceed the budget. My parents gave me some money to help out. I told them that I would pay them back once you get your principal and interest back."
Nie Qingqing said, "The sales went very well this time, and the profits will only increase, so don't worry."
He Shumei laughed and said, "I had already made mental preparations. Breaking even would be fine. I'm happy with whatever I can earn now. Let's have a good meal today."
...
He Tonggui was also there for the family gathering at the new house. Nie Qingqing didn't see Zhigao and asked, "What's Zhigao busy with? Isn't he coming today?"
He Shumei was just about to bring this up, but she got angry again as she started talking: "I scolded and beat him, and he was too embarrassed to come."
Nie Qingqing guessed that Shumei had probably discovered Zhigao's affair, and when she asked, it turned out to be true.
The two were whispering in the quiet backyard. When Zhigao was mentioned, He Shumei couldn't suppress her anger.
“Zhigao found someone and kept it a secret from me for more than half a year. That girl is also quite something. Seeing that Zhigao wouldn't get a divorce, she came directly to us. I was so angry that I immediately went to find Zhigao and asked him what he wanted. Guess what he said?”
Nie Qingqing shook her head: "It's hard to guess. Who knows what men are thinking?"
Aside from Song Zhao, Nie Qingqing couldn't judge those men. She didn't even understand Tangyuan's father, and she hadn't met Zhigao much, so how could she know?
He Shumei became increasingly angry as she spoke: "Zhigao said that he only dates divorced women and doesn't mess with unmarried girls. He also said that he had told her before that he wouldn't get a divorce. He didn't expect her to come to our house. He said he had already broken up with that girl, but I told him that this is unacceptable and immoral! I don't care how he and Xiaoqi get along, but we have children. If the parents find out what we're doing, what will the children think?"
Yes, if rumors spread back to our hometown, the children will feel terrible. But Zhigao's situation is really nothing.
Xiao Qi, too, is he thinking of not getting a divorce and waiting for the child to grow up and inherit the family property?
Nie Qingqing sighed, "Now that they've broken up, it won't be long before he finds someone else."
He Shumei didn't believe Zhigao's guarantee. She was foolish before, thinking that Zhigao could endure it. Such a young man, with a small business, and his wife not even by his side. Now she didn't believe it.
She said, "My parents are also worried. They discussed bringing Zhigao's child over to raise, but would Xiao Qi agree? I said that no matter what, taking a child away from his mother is immoral, right?"
Nie Qingqing hugged her: "I told you you're kind-hearted. As for Zhigao's matter, just express your opinion and let him and Xiao Qi discuss it themselves."
...
After having lunch at Shumei's house and chatting for a while, Song Zhao urged them to head to the station when it was almost time.
This time, the whole family shared a soft sleeper carriage. Nie Qingqing and Song Zhao could talk endlessly, or they could quietly enjoy the scenery and read books. They deliberately kept Tangyuan quiet during the journey, focusing on reading and sightseeing rather than talking.
Tangyuan, the chatterbox, finally quieted down and finished his homework along the way, working very efficiently. When he gets serious, he can really learn.
After a good night's sleep, she arrived at the station the next morning. Xiaoyin was already waiting to pick her up. She was overjoyed to see her family members there.
This trip was a last-minute decision, and Nie Qingqing was a little worried: "Xiaoyin, will our coming delay your original plans?"
Xiaoyin quickly said, "Aunt Qingqing, you're just overthinking things. We came back from sketching with our teacher during the summer vacation and were going to rest for a few days before going back to school."
...
Xiaoyin lives in a two-bedroom apartment, which is enough for the whole family. Nie Qingqing didn't want to disturb her little space, which she had decorated beautifully in her small studio. She turned it into a sleeping area, but she would have to clean it up again after she left. So she and Song Zhao booked a suite at a nearby hotel.
Xiaoyin stayed with them all afternoon. After dinner, she didn't want to go back and said she wanted to stay with her family.
That's great! Since you're coming all this way and staying for two days, of course I'd like to spend more time together and talk.
Nie Qingqing said, "Then let's get another room."
Xiaoyin pointed to the sofa in the suite: "Aunt Qingqing, it's summer, it's okay for me to sleep on the sofa. It's not about saving money, I just want to be closer to you."
Xiaoyin has grown up and is now more attached to them, which makes Nie Qingqing happy. She asked the waiter for a blanket and spread it on the sofa to make it softer and more comfortable.
...
The next day, Xiaoyin took them to Pudong New Area to see the Oriental Pearl Tower, which was under construction. The family took photos and agreed to come back to visit it together once it was completed and opened to the public.
Tangyuan wanted to visit Xiaoyin's school: "Sister, it's holiday now, can I come into your school?"
Less than ten days before the start of the semester, some students have already returned to school. Xiaoyin promised, "Yes, I'll take you on a tour so you can see the university environment. Study hard and get into a good university so you can experience university life for yourself in the future."
Tangyuan regretted talking too much. Whenever university was mentioned, everyone would urge him to study and immediately change the subject.
Nie Qingqing didn't go to school with Song Zhao. Instead, she strolled around the streets and shopping malls. Haishi was developing really well; every year there were different changes.
She sighed, "When I was a child, I heard the adults who had been to Huazhi Lane say that Shanghai was a bustling and prosperous metropolis, but when its economy stagnated and then started to develop again, Shanghai was always ahead of the curve."
Song Zhao asked, "Has Yuanda Group considered developing real estate in Haishi?"
Nie Qingqing shook her head: "Yuanda's current strength is not enough to expand its territory. Taking too big a step may not be a good thing. Attorney He said we should be more cautious and wait two years."
Song Zhao nodded: "That's the same idea as Director Min. He always advises me not to be rash and to take it one step at a time. But the market now is all about speed. Various electrical appliance factories are springing up like mushrooms after rain. If we don't keep up, we'll be overtaken. But your real estate industry is different from our home appliance industry. Being more cautious is the right thing to do."
...
They had arranged to have dinner together that evening. Seeing that the sun had already set, she and Song Zhao went back to school. The school was so big that it was hard to find each other, so they agreed to meet at the school gate at five o'clock.
She and Song Zhao arrived early and were caught off guard by an unexpected person. Before she could say anything, Nie Qingqing grabbed Song Zhao and hid.
Song Zhao recognized Yun Li and was puzzled by her reaction: "Why are you hiding? It's okay if you see me, isn't it?"
Nie Qingqing peeked out and saw that Yun Li had already entered the school after telling the security guard.
Song Zhao didn't care what the other person was doing here. Nie Qingqing was actually happy. She used to be very generous, but now she's become a little petty.
The moment she saw Yun Li, her instinct was to avoid her. Now, following her initial feeling, she said, "Yun Li is here, but Ji Chengtian isn't with her. Don't you find that strange?"
Song Zhao didn't want to think about her family's affairs: "She came to the school to see Xiaoyin, but Ji Chengtian is probably taking care of Xiaoyuan's little brother and can't come over."
It's probably not that; Ji Chengtian might not have come this time.
Nie Qingqing stated logically: "Their family has a business, and I heard they are currently working on a project that requires someone to oversee it, so it's difficult for the two of them to go out together."
Song Zhao was blunt: "Ji Chengtian isn't even with Yun Li? Has the sun risen in the west? Or has Yun Li finally lost all interest in Ji Chengtian over the past few years?"
Is that so? Nie Qingqing was quite moved. How could two people who loved each other so much have such a big conflict?
...
About half an hour later, Yunli came out first. She walked very fast, hailed a taxi, and left.
Nie Qingqing: "We had a fight and parted on bad terms."
Song Zhao: "Let's go around in a circle so the children don't think we're squatting in the corner."
...
When they came back from their rounds, they ran into the three siblings laughing and chatting. Xiaoyin didn't mention Yunli. If they hadn't seen her by chance, they wouldn't have known that Yunli had been there.
Xiaoyin took them out for hot pot and continued talking about her studies at school and interesting things that happened while sketching. She was sunny and cheerful, and you couldn't tell if she had anything on her mind, so she probably wasn't affected by Yunli's visit.
It wasn't until the next day when they parted ways at the station, boarded the train, and waved goodbye as the train started moving that Tangyuan, who was bursting with excitement, immediately told them about Yunli going to school.
"Aunt Yunli came here to discuss business. She said she has a friend who knows the developers here. My sister advised her to be careful and not to be scammed, but Aunt Yunli was unhappy about it."
In the real estate business, drinking is indispensable. Unless you are like Nie Qingqing before, directly in charge of the project and the highest-ranking representative of the client, it is difficult to avoid drinking and socializing.
If Yunli is the contractor, why doesn't she let Ji Chengtian handle the negotiations?
Xiao Yuan answered the question: "Mom said that Uncle Ji is unambitious and only cares about his small plot of land in Pengcheng. He doesn't want to develop in Shanghai. She didn't want to give up this opportunity, so she came to see for herself. My sister rolled her eyes and said that it was clearly Uncle Ji who disagreed. Mom came with her friend in a fit of pique, without considering the feelings and situation of her family. She was afraid that she would end up getting divorced from Uncle Ji. So Mom left in a huff."
Xiaoyin is really great. She's the only one in the family who dares to speak her mind and act on her words. Nie Qingqing is truly happy.
...
When Tangyuan went to the dining car with her father to heat up dinner, she said, "Actually, Aunt Yunli took the initiative to talk to my sister because she wanted her to learn some landscape design on her own, take the postgraduate entrance exam for landscape architecture, and become a designer. That's why my sister got so angry."
Song Zhao was secretly pleased: "Your sister wasn't affected at all, and your mother and I are happy about that."
...
Song Zhao and Tangyuan went to heat up their food, and Xiao Yuan whispered to Nie Qingqing, "Aunt Qingqing, my sister knows that Tangyuan will definitely talk about Mom coming, so she asked me to tell you that we are also your children. You don't need to feel that you should give in to Mom just because of us. You shouldn't do this."
Nie Qingqing was so gratified. What a wonderful child! She was truly blessed.
Xiao Yuan's feelings for Nie Qingqing were deeper, and Xiao Yin's teachings to him were all reasonable.
He continued speaking to Nie Qingqing: "My sister also said that Mom has gained a lot, but also lost a lot. First, it was Dad's patience, then my sister's respect, and now it's Uncle Ji's love. She has never thought of making amends. Whatever happens to her in the future is not our fault. She told us not to pity Mom."
Nie Qingqing nodded: "What your sister said makes a lot of sense, I understand."
...
I also bought a soft sleeper ticket when I returned from Haishi. The round trip wasn't tiring at all.
With four days left of the ten-day holiday, she stayed at Shumei's house for a day, rested at home until the start of the new semester, and then went back to work.
Upon arriving at the office, Supervisor Lu said "Amitabha" and then said, "Manager Nie, you're finally back. Attorney He told us not to disturb your vacation, but there's a tricky matter that we need your advice on."
The matter that both Attorney He and Mr. Zhong found difficult must be special.
Nie Qingqing hurriedly asked, "What's so serious?"
Supervisor Lu said that it happened a few days ago. Zhuoyue originally had great ambitions and wanted to establish its brand through the Guanhaiyuan project. The project plan was well done, but the subordinates operated haphazardly and demanded large kickbacks. The contractors could only cut corners to maintain profits. After being reported by name, sales plummeted.
The Lishui Garden project in Yuanda's area had a great start in the first round of sales. Customers who didn't get their preferred apartment type were willing to wait for the second phase to open, indicating that there are many potential customers.
Excellence came up with an idea: to announce to the public that it had partnered with Yuanda Group, with Yuanda providing a guarantee for Guanhaiyuan and ensuring quality and quantity after taking over.
Nie Qingqing clicked her tongue in amazement: "This is fraud, and consumers have the right to sue. Attorney He will not allow Zhuoyue to use Yuanda's name to deceive people."
Supervisor Lu: "That's right. The day before they were scheduled to reopen for sale, Attorney He heard the news and immediately filed a lawsuit against Excellence."
It's good that they filed a lawsuit. It stopped the situation in time. Once they win the case, they can publish a clarification in the newspaper so that Yuanda won't be affected.
Nie Qingqing asked, "You're in such a hurry to see me, is there a problem with the lawsuit process?"
Supervisor Lu admired Manager Nie; he knew exactly what was going on at every step.
He said, "If Attorney He wants to sue, Chung Sau-kwan will be so angry that she will fall ill. Attorney He and Mr. Chung are afraid of being accused of causing the death of their elders, and they are worried that if they do, they will be blackmailed by Zhuo Yue. So they are at an impasse."
Nie Qingqing became suspicious: "Is Zhong Xiujun really sick or faking it?"
Supervisor Lu: "It's a real illness. She kept it a secret before, but this matter concerns her eldest son, so she finally revealed it. It's late-stage cancer. You had an elder named Ling Hongmian, who was also a good friend of Mr. Zhong. She was also in the late stage, but she didn't last more than a few months. Lawyer He is really worried this time."
Nie Qingqing was still suspicious. She had met Zhong Xiujun face to face several times, and her body, complexion, and voice didn't seem to indicate that she was sick.
"Does Zhong Xiujun mean that she wants Yuanda not to pursue the matter?"
Manager Lu was furious: "If it were just this request, we could still talk about it, but Zhong Xiujun, relying on her status as an elder and the fact that she is about to die, has made excessive demands, wanting Yuanda to really back up Zhuoyue and take over Guanhaiyuan for continued development."
Nie Qingqing: "She's dreaming! Guanhaiyuan has already gone on sale, and with its internal management in such a terrible state, how can it possibly be salvaged?"
"Yes, Yuanda has worked hard to build up its reputation. Why would we use our credibility to save our competitors? It doesn't make sense."
Supervisor Lu has been promoted again, and he hopes Yuanda will continue to improve. He's really anxious and is counting on Nie Qingqing to come up with a solution.
Nie Qingqing needs to first determine whether Zhong Xiujun's illness is real or feigned.
She said, "I understand, I'll go to the hospital to get checked out."
...
Zhong Xiujun's private hospital room was empty at the door. Nie Qingqing was about to knock when she suddenly heard Mr. Zhong's voice inside.
Mr. Zhong said, "You lied to Zhuo Fan by saying you had terminal cancer. Even if you save Zhuo Yue this time, Zhuo Fan will never forgive you."
Nie Qingqing was shocked. Mr. Zhong's doubts were correct; he was faking it. She had actually guessed right. Aunt Zhong's favoritism was unbelievable; how could she have come up with such a terrible idea?
Logically, with Mr. Zhong inside, there should have been his assistant at the door, so she wouldn't have had the chance to overhear these secrets.
But now I hear that the door was deliberately left empty?
Could it be that after seeing her enter the hospital, Mr. Zhong instructed his assistant to leave, leaving her at the door to eavesdrop?
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that she arrived just as Mr. Zhong was talking about faking illness? It seems that Mr. Zhong also disapproved and did not want Yuanda to cover for Zhuoyue.
...
Nie Qingqing turned and ran, wanting to tell Attorney He and Mr. Zhong about Aunt Zhong's pretense of illness.
He had only run two steps when Gao Zhuoyue, who had arrived shortly after, saw him.
He shouted, "Hey you, stop right there!"
It seems Gao Zhuoyue knew that his mother was faking illness and that they were lying to his younger brother. How shameless! Why should honest and filial children be deceived like this?
Stop if you want, she'll talk eventually!
...
Nie Qingqing was invited into the ward, where Gao Zhuoyue glared at her coldly, but Zhong Xiujun was willing to see her.
The oranges on the bedside table looked beautiful. Zhong Xiujun politely said something, and Nie Qingqing took one. She peeled the orange, revealing bright red orange flesh, and put it into her mouth segment by segment. It was very sweet.
Zhong Xiujun said, "I thought you peeled it for me to eat."
Nie Qingqing: "If you don't like me, why should I try to please you?"
Zhong Xiujun knew she had to persuade Nie Qingqing, otherwise her plan would be ruined before it even began.
She said, "Actually, I love my youngest son too."
Nie Qingqing scoffed and continued eating the oranges, finishing them all: "Your actions are biased, so your words have no credibility."
"Yes, even if I'm biased, it's not your place to lecture me."
Zhong Xiujun's voice grew louder, and she certainly didn't sound like someone who was sick.
Nie Qingqing: "Yes, it's not my turn. Yuanda won't save Zhuoyue, and it's not your place to force them. Yuanda belongs to Mr. Zhong and Attorney He, not yours."
Zhong Xiujun was furious with an outsider: "But what does this have to do with you? Can't you just pretend you were never here today?"
Nie Qingqing: "How could that be? I've already heard it."
...
Nie Qingqing thought it best to say a few more words, lest Zhong Xiujun think she was not smart enough.
"Let me tell you about the things that happen in our ordinary family. I have a good relationship with my mom, my brother, and my sister-in-law. After my divorce, I took my child with me, and they took the initiative to bring me back to my parents' home without saying anything unpleasant. Under such circumstances, I was thinking that as long as I found a decent man, I would marry him and move out. I knew my place, and that staying there long-term would be unfair to my brother and sister-in-law's family and would put my mom in a difficult position. Later, when my situation improved, I was willing to help my brother and sister-in-law because I had received mostly fair treatment from childhood to adulthood. I didn't feel resentful, so I was willing to help them."
Zhong Xiujun didn't seem to understand, so let me explain a little more.
“Song Zhao’s family is different from mine. He is the older brother, and his younger brother is much younger than him. After his parents divorced, he suffered a lot with his father who went to the countryside. He didn’t get along well with his mother and younger brother and wouldn’t let them have any advantage. It took several years for their relationship to slowly recover to what it is now. But in the old house, there is still a flower bed in the middle, and the two brothers each have half of it. Even when relatives come to visit, his younger brother doesn’t dare to stay in Song Zhao’s half of the house.”
Zhong Xiujun finally understood: "I understand. You mean fairness is important. That's because your family doesn't have many resources, so you care about fairness. The money I left for Zhuo Fan is more than you can earn in your entire life."
Nie Qingqing: "You old woman, you think you're very smart, but you're actually quite stupid. At your age, to put it bluntly, you won't outlive your two brothers, let alone their children. How many generations can a family like yours prosper?"
Zhong Xiujun knew she was telling the truth, but she still said, "I can't control what happens after death, but I can still control what happens now, right?"
Nie Qingqing: "Sure, go ahead and do what you want. You'll only die with regrets and won't achieve your goal. Also, Mr. Zhong and Attorney He, you didn't give birth to them or raise them, yet you're forcing them to be filial to you. That's so unfair."
...
Aunt Zhong looked at Mr. Zhong, hoping he could say a word for her.
Mr. Zhong said, "Nie Qingqing's words are unpleasant, but undeniable. I've thought and thought, but I can't find anything to say to her. What can I say?"
Zhong Xiujun was dejected: "What do we do now? Zhuoyue's matter needs to be resolved."
Mr. Zhong: "You're my sister, so I can give you a suggestion: let Excellence Group sell its mainland companies, along with the Guanhaiyuan development they're currently developing, all together."
Zhong Xiujun was surprised by her brother's suggestion: "Sell it? That would mean losing a lot of money. Xu Guanhai's investment was supported by Xianzu. Zhuoyue suffered heavy losses, and Xianzu's investment was also completely lost."
How could Mr. Zhong not know?
"You can't beat your brother in business, yet you have the nerve to ask him for help? Consider the loss a lesson learned."
...
After leaving the ward, Nie Qingqing immediately found a phone booth and called Lawyer He, telling her that Aunt Zhong's illness was faked. Lawyer He then told her to return to the company.
After a day of discussion, it was agreed that an out-of-court settlement was possible between Yuanda and Excellence, but Excellence would have to publish a clarification in the newspaper.
With morale low at Excellence Group and Mr. Zhong's suggestion, it's likely that the company will undergo asset restructuring and be sold off as a package deal.
Aunt Zhong pretended to be dying to deceive people, but she didn't succeed in the end. Gao Zhuofan was still so angry that he almost gave in. He was so angry that he said he would never acknowledge Zhong Xiujun as his mother again.
Before it got dark, Gao Zhuofan received the news that Aunt Zhong was going to make a will. He immediately ran home and even made arrangements with Attorney He in advance, asking him to help him with the inheritance lawsuit after Zhong Xiujun's death if the will was unfair.
...
On her first day at work, Nie Qingqing was so busy she barely had time to breathe. Tangyuan Xiaoyuan was away at school and living at home, but Song Zhao had the lights on and was waiting for her.
Nie Qingqing collapsed onto the sofa to rest and told Song Zhao about Aunt Zhong's pretense of illness.
"Mr. Zhong is amazing. He decided to refuse Yuanda's help to Zhuoyue, but when I went there, he actually came up with such a way to let me hear about his faking illness outside the door."
Song Zhao came over and massaged her legs, then chuckled, "Why are you all using the same tricks? Xu Cuilan is faking illness too."
Nie Qingqing, who had been tired, suddenly perked up: "She's faking illness too? What's going on?"
It couldn't be explained in a sentence or two, so Song Zhao said, "You're so capable, you solved other people's headaches as soon as you got to work. Why don't you go see Xu Cuilan tomorrow?"
Go ahead, she'll go if needed.
She said, "I'll go during lunch break, around noon."
Song Zhao was delighted: "Okay, I'll wait for you to have dinner tomorrow. You'll have energy when you're full."
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