Chu Shichen looked at Xiang Mingzhang: "You did it."
Xiang Mingzhang took two seconds to react, then admitted calmly, "You figured it out so quickly, you're very smart."
Chu Shichen was furious, but he tried his best to maintain his composure and said, "You bribed Zhai Feng behind his back. Isn't this too despicable?"
Xiang Mingzhang asked back: "Do you think I'm a gentleman?"
Chu Shichen had long seen that Xiang Mingzhang's "gentlemanliness" was just an appearance. He said, "At least to Yisi, I think you are a person worth entrusting."
Xiang Mingzhang pursed his lips imperceptibly. The broadcast reminded passengers to go through security checks. He let go of Chu Shichen's arm and said, "Whatever you want. I should go now."
Chu Shichen grabbed Xiang Mingzhang's wrist with his backhand, pinching his palm tightly. He bribed Yisi maliciously, causing him to lose the project and his troops, framing him and then firing him. There was no way he could let it go like this.
There were people coming and going around them. The two of them were tall and slender, and their tug-of-war was quite noticeable.
Xiang Mingzhang took advantage of the situation to move closer and lowered his head slightly: "This is the first time someone stopped me at the airport like this. Others thought you and I had some kind of relationship."
Chu Shichen felt as if he was struck by lightning. He immediately let go of his hand and stepped back half a step.
This posture seemed like he was hiding from the virus. Xiang Mingzhang frowned and said, "I'm leaving."
Chu Shichen said coldly: "You can hide on the first day, but you can't hide on the fifteenth day."
"Why should I hide from you?" Xiang Mingzhang agreed, "I'm away on a business trip for three days, and I'll give you an explanation when I come back."
Chu Shichen valued his dignity and did not want to argue in public, so he let Xiang Mingzhang leave.
After leaving the airport, Chu Shichen felt that there was no need to return to the company for the time being, so he went straight home.
Li Heng told Chu Shihui about the cancellation of the bid, and Mrs. Chu also knew about it. They agreed to play deaf and dumb and not mention it to avoid upsetting Chu Shichen.
Chu Shichen considered his words on the way home, and when he got home, facing his family who were forcing smiles and the carefully prepared afternoon tea, he really couldn't pretend that nothing had happened.
“The project was screwed,” he said.
Mrs. Chu hesitated: "Victory and defeat are common in the military, it doesn't matter..."
"It does matter." Chu Shichen explained calmly, "How can it not matter if the order that shouldn't have been lost is lost?"
Chu Shihui asked: "What should we do then?"
Chu Shichen replied: "I was fired."
"Is it that serious?" Mrs. Chu asked anxiously, "What did your uncle Li say? He works so hard, how can he be fired just for one mistake?"
Chu Shichen said: "Don't worry, I will take care of it."
Mrs. Chu felt very distressed: "You go out early and come back late every day. It's so hard. Why don't you just stop working? Use the money from selling the shares to invest—"
"Mom, don't give me any random advice." Chu Shihui objected. She felt that her elder brother had finally gotten on the right track and must not make the same mistakes again.
Chu Shichen had already thought about the money. In the old days, the Ningbo business community was prosperous, and a stone tablet was erected in the Qianye Guild Hall in his hometown. On it was a sentence that everyone regarded as a guiding principle - money is too heavy to be carried.
Chu Shichen planned to talk about it after he was done with this period of work. Now that things have come to this, he said, "For a merchant family, money must be used flexibly and circulated in order to continue to make money. It's also okay to invest part of it. You need to find a professional to manage it. I don't know how to use it."
Mrs. Chu asked, "You don't need it?"
Chu Shichen said: "Don't touch the remaining part. Yisi's future is worrying. If Xiaohui wants to start her own business after graduation, she will need start-up capital."
Chu Shihui was shocked and said, "Leave it to me? What about you?"
"I will work." Chu Shichen thought of a certain person named Xiang and gritted his teeth a little, "But we have to wait three days before we can talk about it."
After comforting his family, Chu Shichen went upstairs to his room, loosened his tie and finally breathed a sigh of relief. After his anger subsided, he felt a little tired.
Chu Shichen, with three buttons of his white shirt undone, exposing his collarbone, leaned against the carved door frame of the terrace, lit a Partagas cigar, and puffed on it with his thin lips. He liked the slightly sweet and bitter caramel flavor.
He has dealt with many people, including high-ranking officials and wealthy people, ordinary people, paper tigers, smiling tigers, and he has seen countless people, but yet he was cheated by an honest man.
Chu Shichen didn't believe that he was shortsighted. Even if Zhai Feng was pretending, details revealed a person's character. It was impossible that all his virtues were fake.
The phone flashed, and Ling Qi sent a message asking him if he was really fired.
Chu Shichen was not sure and would wait for the mastermind to come back before asking for an explanation. Anyway, he didn't need to go to the company for the time being. As a temporary worker, he didn't have any procedures to go through.
Chu Shichen exhaled lightly, and white smoke spread out, diluting the rich orange-red of the sunset.
Three days later, Xiang Mingzhang returned from a business trip.
The driver drove out of the airport and couldn't help asking when he was about to reach the fork in the road: "Mr. Xiang, shall we go back to the apartment first?"
Xiang Mingzhang got in the car and replied to the email with his tablet computer without looking up: "Or?"
The driver reminded: "Today is the 30th."
Xiang Mingzhang was so busy that he forgot that he had to go home at the end of every month to have a meal with his family, so he changed his mind: "Let's go directly."
My cell phone rang on the way, and the caller ID showed "Chu Shichen".
Xiang Mingzhang answered: "Hello?"
Chu Shichen got straight to the point: "Are you back?"
"Have you been waiting for me for three days?" Xiang Mingzhang said, "I just got off the plane. I want to go home first."
Chu Shichen said: "How long will it continue to drag on?"
Xiang Mingzhang could hear the suppressed impatience: "I don't care. If you can't wait, you can come find me."
Chu Shichen asked: "The apartment last time?"
Xiang Mingzhang gave his address and then hung up.
Jingpu Villa District is the largest and most private residential area in the inner ring. Everyone in the local area knows it. Chu Zhe once brought his family to visit it. As soon as Chu Shichen heard it, he knew that he was talking about the "Xiang Family Mansion."
It would be inconvenient with so many people, so Chu Shichen naturally wouldn't come, so we could only wait a little longer.
The temperature in Jingpu is three or four degrees lower than in the city center. Six or seven mansions are hidden among the large green forests. The car drove into a gate. There were several cars parked on the main road of the garden. The rest of the family had already arrived.
Aunt Qian, the old nanny at home, came out to greet them: "Mingzhang is back."
Xiang Mingzhang stepped onto the steps and asked, "Is everyone here?"
"You are the only one missing." Aunt Qian took his bag, "Rugang brought his girlfriend here."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Want to get married?"
Aunt Qian whispered: "She's pregnant, man..."
Xiang Mingzhang smiled and said, "Don't complain to me. I didn't make anyone pregnant before marriage."
After entering the villa, there were a bunch of gifts in the huge living room and the activity room was buzzing with people. Aunt Qian said, "Your aunt and uncle are talking in the study, and others are chatting. Do you want to go over and say hello?"
"No need." Xiang Mingzhang didn't care, "I'm going to see grandpa."
In the activity room, the woman sitting on the sofa was dressed elegantly. She was Xiang Mingzhang's aunt. Next to her was her eldest son Xiang Ruguang and his girlfriend Miss Qin. Sitting on the single sofa was a well-mannered man. He was Xiang Mingzhang's uncle.
Aunt Qian came to inform that Xiang Mingzhang had arrived.
Although no one said anything, everyone knew in their hearts that, except for the old man, Xiang Mingzhang never took his elders seriously.
My uncle laughed and said, "Mingzhang is filial piety."
"Who in this house is not filial?" The eldest aunt said gently, "Mingzhang is capable, so the old man values him."
Aunt Qian fiddled with the dessert cart and left two plates empty. She took the opportunity to ask Miss Qin what she liked to eat and asked someone to bring some more. Everyone's attention returned to the new member.
The master bedroom suite on the west side of the first floor is equipped with a nursing room. Xiang Mingzhang opened the door and smelled a faint smell of medicine.
In the outer hall, a white-haired old man was half lying in a lounge chair. He was the head of the family, Xiang Xingzhao.
Two years ago, Xiang Xingzhao suffered a stroke. Although he was not seriously injured after rescue, he showed symptoms of brain degeneration and was confused. He was usually taken care of by his family doctor and his confidant Uncle Qi.
Xiang Mingzhang first asked about his recent physical condition, then talked with Xiang Xingzhao. When lunch was ready, he helped Xiang Xingzhao into the wheelchair and pushed him to the restaurant.
The whole family was standing by the table waiting. In front was Xiang Mingzhang's aunt, Xiang Huan, who was tall and thin, and had a majestic air without even getting angry. Next to her was his uncle, Xiang Kun, who was calm, steady and capable. They both called out "Dad" one after another.
Xiang Xingzhao was very strict in managing his household, but he particularly doted on Xiang Mingzhang. Now he has become confused and only responds to what Xiang Mingzhang says.
"Grandpa, it's time for dinner."
Xiang Mingzhang leaned over and helped Xiang Xingzhao to sit in the main seat. He sat down in the seat next to him. The others pulled out their chairs, and the long dining table for twelve people was almost full.
Xiang Mingzhang wiped Xiang Xingzhao's hands with a hot towel and said, "Serve the food."
After wiping, he raised his head and finally greeted the elders across the vase and candlesticks pressed on the table runner: "Aunt, uncle, uncle, aunt, do you want to drink?"
Xiang Kun said: "You can open a bottle of red wine."
Xiang Huan agreed, "Of course, to celebrate Rugang and Miss Qin's wedding."
The dishes were all served, extremely sumptuous, and the aged red wine had a mellow and long-lasting aroma. Miss Qin said that it was not convenient for her to drink, and everyone smiled knowingly.
Xiang Mingzhang shook his wine glass and congratulated his cousin: "Brother, I really envy you. Congratulations."
Xiang Rugang said: "Thank you."
The eldest aunt smiled and said, "If you are envious, just act faster."
Xiang Mingzhang evaded the question: "I'm not suitable for starting a family."
Xiang Kun asked: "What do you mean by unsuitable?"
Xiang Mingzhang replied: "I have a bad personality, unlike my elder brother who loves his wife."
They got married because of pregnancy, but the wedding hasn't even taken place yet. This is obviously a sarcasm.
Xiang Rugang said: "At least make up your mind first. Are you overwhelmed by the choices and don't want to settle down?"
"You make me sound like a playboy." Xiang Mingzhang turned his head away, "Ruxu, you testify."
Xiang Ruxu is Xiang Kun's second son, the same age as Xiang Mingzhang. He works as an engineer at Xiang Yue Communications and is an IT elite. He is the only one in the family who is not good at polite talk. He is most afraid of chatting at every party and would like to stay in the audio-visual room playing with his mobile phone.
Hearing this, Xiang Ruxu could neither go against his boss nor betray his elder brother, and said, "Anyway, in the company... Mingzhang has never lacked admirers."
Xiang Rugang said: "See, no wonder he can't make up his mind."
My aunt said, "This kind of thing depends on fate. Maybe one day I will bring it home."
Xiang Mingzhang began to perfunctorily say: "Maybe."
In Xiang Huan's eyes, this nephew was really hard to touch. He could even play tricks on his family, let alone in the outside world. He said, "Well, we are all adults and know what to do. Don't abandon him outside. Just let him come to you."
"Yes." The eldest aunt chimed in, "Men must be responsible."
Xiang Kun agreed: "You all listen and remember, after all, the Xiang family is well-known."
Xiang Mingzhang smiled suddenly: "Of course, my last name is Xiang too."
Just as he finished speaking, Aunt Qian came in: "Mingzhang, the guard said someone is looking for you."
Xiang Mingzhang: “…”
"It's a prophecy that has come true." Xiang Rugang gloated, "Who do you owe to outside?"
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "Who is looking for me?"
Aunt Qian said: "The last name is Chu, and his name is Chu Shichen."
The author has something to say:
"The money is too heavy to carry" comes from the "Ningbo Money Exchange Guild Hall Inscription", which is included in the "Zhejiang Province Financial Chronicle" and other books and periodicals.
(End of this chapter)