Chapter 23 The person Jiang Zhenxiang is interested in, Qiao Zimu?
It was already evening, and Lan Jia was finishing up her work, while Meng Cenjun was still dealing with a mountain of important matters.
The assistant and the company's senior management were well aware that the person at the top had been in a bad mood all day. Outside, the sun shone brightly, but overcast skies hung over the office, and the cold air seeping through the cracks in the door was biting. Everyone passing by held their breath, and those reporting their work dared not make a single mistake.
It wasn't that she scolded people harshly. When Meng Cenjun was in a terrible mood, she rarely lost her temper and spoke even less. She simply transformed into a workaholic, constantly meeting people and signing documents, exceeding her work quota for nearly a week.
If it were just that, it would be fine. Unfortunately, the standards are a hundred times stricter than usual. His expression is as cold and hard as frozen soil, and his sharp eyes are like those of a torturer. He can easily find all the mistakes and omissions. Even the slightest slackness will be accurately pointed out by him.
The crowd, like pale ghosts before the Yama King's palace, trembled with fear as they stepped forward one after another to be judged. Those who were sentenced not to be reborn were so frightened that they lost their souls and floated out barely on their breath.
This move drew simmering discontent from many, and the company's veterans had long been indignant about this style of work. However, Meng Cenjun remained aloof and ignored the grievances of his subordinates.
As the sunset's light gradually dimmed, Meng Cenjun was still flipping through the last document. The marketing manager in front of her looked on nervously, lacking confidence, hoping to get the signature and leave work. Deep down, he still harbored a sliver of hope, deliberately choosing a time when Meng Cenjun was tired, thinking he could slip through her fingers.
Meng Cenjun didn't speak, but she read very quickly, scanning the text at a glance.
The supervisor watched him intently, and seeing that he had turned to the last page without saying a word, he couldn't help but feel secretly pleased that his speculation had been correct. He kept glancing at the pen on the table, wishing he could grab it and sign it for him with his eyes.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Meng Cenjun didn't stop what she was doing and let her in.
"The chairman is waiting for you in the tea room," said Assistant Zhou.
"knew."
Meng Cenjun prepared to leave and finally picked up the gold fountain pen beside her.
The supervisor swallowed hard, his neck craning slightly forward, a mixture of trepidation and delight on his face.
Unexpectedly, Meng Cenjun suddenly raised her eyelids, and the moment their eyes met, the supervisor felt as if he had been licked by a snake's tongue.
He expressionlessly capped his pen, stood up, buttoned his suit jacket, and walked out.
The supervisor was stunned, his gaze following the man's figure, only to hear a casual remark: "Rewrite this proposal." It was like a bolt from the blue, leaving him completely bewildered.
Meng Cenjun always does this, unexpectedly sentencing people to death.
Amidst his fear, a deep resentment gradually grew in the supervisor's heart.
The tea room lights were on. Meng Cenjun focused her attention, turned the handle, and went inside.
"You've arrived." The old man in front of the tea table looked up and gave a kind smile.
Meng Cenjun responded and sat down opposite her.
Grandma Yi doesn't come to the company often. Apart from attending necessary board meetings, she spends most of her time resting and recuperating at her old house. At this moment, Meng Cenjun is also secretly considering why she has come.
The old man had gray hair and seemed quite spry, but that was only on the surface. After looking at him for a while, the weariness unique to the elderly was clearly revealed in his eyes.
She was busy making incense by indirect burning. In front of her was a Song Dynasty celadon lamp, which was already filled with charcoal. She held a light metal incense stick to press down the ash. After pressing it down once, her hand was a little shaky.
"I'm old and useless now," Old Mrs. Yi said with a sigh, pushing the incense burner towards her with a meaningful look. "Burning incense is the best way to calm the mind and soothe the nerves. You should try it and calm your mind."
Meng Cenjun took it and compacted the previously fluffy incense ash into the shape of a small mountain.
The old lady hummed in agreement, "Very beautiful."
She looked up at him and said, "You do things beautifully too. It's made my life so much easier to hand over all the big and small tasks to you."
"If you're in a high position and your methods are a bit ruthless, your subordinates will inevitably have complaints, but as long as your decisions are correct, it doesn't matter." This statement is meant to comfort you. "With my instructions, the decision-making power is yours, so you can go ahead and do it."
The company's equity structure is complex. Seeing the decline of the Yi family, many veteran directors have placed their confidants in the senior management. There are some incompetent people, and even more who are just filling positions. It is only thanks to Meng Cenjun's iron-fisted suppression that the company has been able to resist the covetous eyes of all sides.
Meng Cenjun knew that although Old Madam Yi no longer seemed to care about anything, she was still sharp-witted and perceptive. Although she lived far away in the old house, she was still in control of everything.
He nodded without saying anything, and continued working with his hands, taking out a small piece of sandalwood and chopping it into fine pieces.
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Old Mrs. Yi smiled, played with a string of white agarwood beads, and tentatively asked, "How have things been between you and Lan Jia lately?"
Meng Cenjun lowered her eyelashes. "The same as always."
It's not uncommon for the brother and sister to quarrel every few days.
He also knew that Aunt Ming had been transferred from the old house to take care of Lan Jia, and that the old lady knew everything about the matter.
"She's getting older, you should try to let go."
"Kids are all like that; they're rebellious. The tighter you try to control them, the worse it gets."
These were Mrs. Yi's heartfelt words. Over the years, her relationship with Lan Jia had been neither close nor distant, always separated by a layer of estrangement.
After her parents passed away, Lan Jia was taken back to the old house for a period of time. Old Mrs. Yi, having just lost her beloved daughter, regarded Lan Jia, the only bloodline of the Yi family, as her lifeblood, keeping a close watch on her and being extremely suspicious of everything. At that time, she was under immense pressure from all sides, making it hard for her to breathe. She was also worried about the future of the company, so she extremely groomed Lan Jia as her heir, desperately instilling one theory after another in her and arranging courses for her, almost like brainwashing her, which made Lan Jia cry all the time.
When Meng Cenjun came to visit her, she tugged at his sleeve and hid behind him like a frightened rabbit. Later, she took the initiative to leave and decided to live with Meng Cenjun, which saddened and depressed Old Mrs. Yi for a long time.
It was only gradually that she realized she had been too hasty and had completely forgotten that Lan Jia was still so young.
She was the one who abruptly severed the bond between grandmother and granddaughter, and even now, she knows that Lan Jia still harbors a subtle resentment towards her. Unless absolutely necessary, she rarely returns to the old house to visit, and even gifts are only sent through intermediaries.
As I get older, my heart softens more than before. I long for her to come back to me, yet I regret not being a good grandmother at the right time.
Whenever they think back to the past, even the most shrewd and capable person in their youth can't help but feel sad.
Meng Cenjun's expression was also solemn. He said in a deep voice, "I know." He flicked the small pinch of incense powder onto the heat-insulating plate of the Ding kiln, and said in an even lower voice, "But I still can't help worrying about her."
His heart was too narrow; once the kite had flown far away, he couldn't spare much attention to watch over it, so he could only hold her tightly in his palm at all times. Even if she resented or hated him, it was still a hundred times better than letting her go unchecked. He had already experienced too many separations; with Yi Lanjia, he couldn't afford any more risks.
Grandma Yi stared at him, sighing inwardly. The relationship between the two was unsolvable, and they were completely isolated from outsiders. She couldn't persuade them, much less intervene. She had intended to mediate, but seeing that it wouldn't work, she had no choice but to leave the matter aside and change the subject.
"In the end, it is my Yi family who owes you too much, having gone to great lengths and wasted so many years of your time and energy."
“Xiao Cen, you’re thirty now, it’s time to think about marriage.”
Grandma Yi pushed the envelope in her hand to him and said gently, "I have picked a few people who are pleasing to the eye. They are all outstanding in character and appearance. Take a look. If there are any suitable ones that you like, I will arrange for you to meet."
Meng Cenjun glanced at it indifferently, did not take it, and only said, "I don't have any plans to get married at the moment."
The old lady glanced at the pinky ring on his hand, understood, and then smiled and said, "Marriage is determined by fate. I was too impatient. Bored at home, I've started to worry about these things. I really am getting old."
Meng Cenjun sensed the loneliness in her voice and comforted her, "Lan Jia is busy with work. When she has some free time, I'll come back with her for a short stay."
Grandma Yi knew it was an excuse; Lan Jia was stubborn, and if she didn't want to, no one could persuade her. But she still smiled and said, "I didn't expect her to come back anyway. You all go about your business." She glanced at Meng Cenjun intently and added, "Although life at the old house is leisurely, it's been quite good lately, not as boring as before."
"That boy from the Qiao family is quite nice. He often comes to keep me company and helps me pass the time. He knows how to behave appropriately and is sensible."
Meng Cenjun was placing a black tin sheet filled with incense powder on the incense ash when she heard this, her hand paused, and countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
When did it start? He hadn't even noticed.
Knowing that it wouldn't work with him, she turned to Lan Jia's grandmother instead.
He should have noticed earlier that a hawk that had been circling around Lanca for many years was determined to achieve its goal.
At this moment, Meng Cenjun was also unsure of how far he would go. Qiao Zimu was not a simple-minded person, and Lan Jia was always soft-hearted. He was afraid that she would be taken advantage of.
Fortunately, Lan Jia had no interest in him and was certain that he wouldn't cause any trouble.
Meng Cenjun straightened her posture and carefully placed the film behind her.
The food is slowly smoked over charcoal fires, filling the air with its aroma.
Grandma Yi stared at him and continued, "Judging from his appearance, he cares a lot about Lan Jia. After all, they grew up together, she comes from an outstanding family, is good-looking, and knows her well."
“I can’t find any fault with them. They look like a good match. I wonder if I’m just getting old and my eyes are failing me.” She smiled cautiously. “Why don’t you also give Lan Jia your opinion? After all, he’s your older brother, and she listens to you the most.”
Meng Cenjun listened in silence, feeling as if she had been pricked by a needle. At first, she didn't feel it, but when she realized it, it was a pain that pierced her bones.
The person she was referring to was actually Qiao Zimu?
His face darkened. Not wanting to offend her in front of his elders, he forced himself to say something against his will: "Lan Jia is still young, and her studies are her priority. She has told me that she has no plans in this regard for the time being."
"She's twenty now," Old Mrs. Yi pondered. "Time flies faster than I imagined. We can postpone the wedding, but at least we can settle things after she graduates. That way, I can finally put my mind at ease." Her words left no room for dissent.
"Xiao Cen, please talk to her if necessary. I beg you." She sighed, looking completely helpless.
Meng Cenjun pursed her lips tightly, her throat felt constricted, and she remained silent for a long time.
The incense table was in disarray. He lowered his head to tidy it up, but found it difficult to breathe.
The incense burned without smoke, but the subtle scent of sandalwood was everywhere, penetrating his nostrils and body, making him dizzy and nauseous.
Meng Cenjun's first thought was that after spending so much time with Lan Jia, he couldn't stand the smell of fragrance anymore.
The metal incense stick was dropped into the porcelain bottle with a clanging sound.
He struggled to his feet and looked at Old Mrs. Yi: "I will talk to her."
The old lady was finally satisfied and added, "You and Lan Jia can go to the Qiao family's old master's birthday banquet next month for me."
Meng Cenjun nodded in agreement, indicating that she would be leaving first.
Grandma Yi acquiesced, gazing at his retreating figure with a thoughtful expression.
Author's note: This time, I'm pierced by a thousand arrows! [laughing and crying emoji]
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