Chapter 6

Zhong Wei took the item without asking a single word, not even a flicker of his gaze as he left

Fang Wenxiu looked at her expression and cautiously said, "Well, if, I mean if, there were still men in the Fang family, for example, if my brother had left a child outside..."

Fang Wenxiu said: "From now on, all the money I earn will be given to you. The family's finances will be managed by you in the future. Mom, you must manage it well. At least you should give me some pocket money every month. My dad gives me 100,000 every semester, so you can't be too strict. After all, when I go out in the future, I need to have some money in my pocket, right?"

Fang Wenxiu did not rush to speak; she turned around and rummaged through the drawer of the dressing table to find a pair of nail clippers, lifting Yan Lihua's foot onto her knee: "Mom, let me trim your nails." she said

Fang Wenxiu chuckled and said, "Ah, it's done."

Also, please give me your ID card. My father has some savings and stocks, and I will have someone transfer them to you tomorrow

Yan Lihua withdrew her foot from Fang Wenxiu's embrace, threw the pillow back to the head of the bed, and as she moved over, she said: "I do not wish to see them. Zhuang Jinrong has flaunted her power in front of me for half a lifetime. When I gave birth to your brother, your father was still spending the night with her. Your father has been with her for over twenty years, always protecting her. Zhao Zhengsheng has never regarded me highly. When your father's company just started to show promise, it was because he listened to Zhao and brought me back home. Old Sun is just a peacemaker. Even when your father and I ended up in such a situation, he never spoke a proper word to me. I have had over twenty years of friendship with them, but what can I do when they have made me feel suffocated for half a lifetime? Can I teach you to hate them and have you take revenge for me? No, I am already fifty, I can no longer do anything, and I do not wish to get involved with them anymore. You can do as you please."

Fang Wenxiu murmured, "Then I still have the surname Fang, don't I?"

Fang Wenxiu stood in the locality and solemnly bowed to Zhao Zhengsheng, saying, "Uncle Zhao, Wenxiu has learned from you."

After Zhong Wei left, Fang Wenxiu sat there in a daze for a while, and finally got up and walked out. Zhao Zhengsheng's office was separated by half a corridor, and there was also a secretary's room outside. As soon as Fang Wenxiu appeared, the secretary stood up to greet her and said: "Are you looking for General Manager Zhao, Ms. Fang? I will go in and inform him for you."

Uncle Zhao has been the only person who has sincerely helped me since the incident. Whether you think I am thanking you, trying to win you over, or trying to keep you around, in truth, what lies behind it is merely a token of appreciation from me and a gesture of goodwill from my father to you

Fang Wenxiu, having burned the midnight oil, developed dark circles under her eyes and her hair was disheveled. Finally, she felt a bit more confident. On Wednesday evening, Fang Wenxiu received a phone call from Fang Yuanshan's mistress, informing her that relatives from Fang Hengxin's mother's side had arrived. At the Sky Garden, there were two nannies: one to take care of the child and the other specifically for household chores. That day, Fang Wenxiu took the one who cared for the child, while the one responsible for household chores remained there. The call she received was from the nanny who handled the chores.

Fang Wenxiu chuckled as she entered the dining hall, grabbed a sandwich, and headed to the door to change her shoes. Yan Lihua, feeling uneasy, chased after her and said, "If you dare to bring that little bastard back, I will strangle you along with him"

Yan Lihua's tone was not very pleasant: "Why are you still not asleep at this late hour?"

Fang Wenxiu originally intended it as a joke, but Yan Lihua suddenly froze for a moment, and then a difficult-to-describe expression slowly appeared on her face, one that was both negative and tinged with a sense of inferiority. She said: "Is this how you see me as well? Do I not have the right to live a little more comfortably?"

Finally hearing the sound of the door, Fang Wenxiu glanced at the bottom right corner of the computer screen, which showed exactly 2:30. She had been sitting there for about another twenty minutes, took the paper bag she had brought home, and stood up to pull the door open and go out

Zhao Zhengsheng lit a cigarette and drank some water, remaining silent as he waited for Fang Wenxiu to speak first. After drinking half a glass of water, Fang Wenxiu slowly began to speak: "Uncle Zhao, you are aware of our family's situation. I lost my father at a young age, and our family business is struggling. I have no other options, and I can only ask for your strong assistance, Uncle Zhao."

Yan Lihua looked at Fang Wenxiu and smiled, as she mentioned her grandmother, which reminded her of something. The smile carried a hint of warmth as she softly said: "Your grandmother is always right about everything."

Fang Wenxiu felt that he had been misunderstood, and thus said: "Uncle Zhao, although Wenxiu comes from a humble background, I believe my upbringing is quite good. Those who raised me have always taught me that a gentleman is open and magnanimous, and one should act in a way that is worthy of heaven and earth. I would never engage in schemes or plots."

Yan Lihua rummaged through those property certificates: "It is not surprising that he has built these houses over the years and accumulated them."

Yan Lihua's negative emotions caused her to retreat into a state of stillness. Fang Wenxiu felt very sad; she believed she understood her mother well. She had once resolved to love her with boundless tolerance, yet, like others, she had unconsciously defined her mother's image. She softly said: "Mom. I'm sorry"

Yan Lihua forcefully withdrew her hand from Fang Wenxiu's grasp, placing it firmly on her chest, and coldly stated: "Let me tell you, Fang Wenxiu, you should send that child back to where he came from as soon as possible. After all, he crawled out from someone else's womb, didn't he? Let him fend for himself; if he has the ability, he can make something of himself in twenty years. If he doesn't, he will just rot in the mud. Now that the Fang family has no men left, this household is now under the Yan surname, and it has nothing to do with the Fang surname, not even a penny's worth of relation."

Zhao Zhengsheng knocked on the table and said, "Then what is the purpose of you giving me this?"

Zhong Wei nodded from across the desk: "I understand"

Yan Lihua remained silent, yet she still gave her a glance. Fang Wenxiu took out the paper bag she had brought and emptied its contents onto the bed: "I took these from my dad's safe today. I glanced through them, and most of them are commercial properties. You should keep them; they will appreciate in value in the future."

Fang Wenxiu dared not say whether she had heard or not, turned around, opened the door, and fled in a panic. The door closed behind her, and Fang Wenxiu stood at the entrance for a moment, hearing that there was no movement inside the house. She quickly turned her face and swallowed the bread in her throat, straightened her posture, and slowly walked towards the courtyard gate.

Fang Wenxiu stood up to take her leave: "Uncle Zhao, you are busy, I will take my leave now"

Pushing the door open and stepping inside, the room was filled with swirling smoke. Fang Wenxiu glanced at his desk; it had been just over an hour since work began, yet the ashtray was already half full of cigarette butts.

Zhao Zhengsheng was unsure of what he was researching. He glanced up at her, not particularly surprised, but there was a hint of something different in his eyes. Fang Wenxiu did not wait for him to greet her and sat down opposite him. Zhao Zhengsheng cleared the items on the table and called for his secretary to come in and pour two cups of water.

Zhao Zhengsheng stood there in a daze, his eyes filled with shock. After a moment, he stood up, resting both hands on the table, and said to Fang Wenxiu: "Fang Wenxiu, the Huashan construction team was a group of laborers pulled out from the mountains twenty years ago. It has developed to a scale of over a thousand people today, which is no easy feat. As a leader, you must guide these thousand individuals in a clear and correct direction. You need to care for those who work tirelessly for you, and you must bear the responsibility that will always outweigh the rights you enjoy. I hope you can understand this."

Fang Wenxiu smiled and said, "Actually, I do not have the same deep affection and friendship with them as my father does."

Before she could finish her sentence, the door slammed shut with a bang in front of her. Yan Lihua inside was seething with rage, shouting: "Get lost! Get as far away as you can! You are no good either!"

Yan Lihua had just finished taking a shower and was applying skincare lotion to her body, draped in a bathrobe. Fang Wenxiu knocked twice on the door and directly pushed it open. Yan Lihua was startled for a moment, and upon seeing that it was her who entered, she placed her hand back over the collar of her robe.

Fang Wenxiu, seeing that the atmosphere had relaxed a bit, smiled and said: "I am definitely capable. My grandmother has read my fortune. Do you remember that scruffy Taoist priest on the mountain to the west of my father's village?"

Fang Wenxiu stood at the door for a while, then returned to the room with a dusty and disheveled appearance. She collapsed onto the bed, deeply feeling that today's conversation had been a complete failure. After tossing and turning for a while, she suddenly remembered that her mother should be entering menopause at this age, and immediately felt that the matter of bringing Fang Hengxin back home had become even more difficult.

Fang Wenxiu was half a head taller than her mother, but she did not dare to resist. She shrank her neck and was driven out. Once outside the door, she turned back and said, "Mom, let's talk again."

Child, what I want is that house; they can take everything inside it. I do not want to see any of them, nor can I allow them to cause a disturbance at the company, let alone at my home. I do not care what methods you use; they must not be allowed to take the money and the house and settle down in this city.

Yan Lihua glanced at her, feeling numb. Fang Wenxiu leaned over, sitting at the head of the bed, shamelessly taking her mother's hand and said, "Mom, I still have something to tell you"

Fang Wenxiu pressed her head down and said, "Mom, don't do this." Her voice was muffled, and Yan Lihua suddenly became still.

Yan Lihua fell silent for a moment and said, "When your uncle left, he told me not to fight for it. Your cousin also said that if it doesn't work out, we should give up some shares of the company, either to Zhao Zhengsheng or find a manager from outside to come back. At least we should wait until you finish university to discuss it. But I feel that if the company is handed over to someone else for a few years, how much will still belong to you by the time you graduate? I see you rushing to handle the funeral, and I know you must have your own thoughts about it. I am feeling quite confused and have not made up my mind."

Did you hear that!" Yan Lihua shouted at her in a loud voice

Yan Lihua, feeling awkward, kicked her and said: "You don't need to cut it, I am going to get my nails done tomorrow"

Fang Wenxiu was meticulously trimming the new growth of nails on Yan Lihua's feet. Yan Lihua, with her hands propped behind her, felt completely tense and uncomfortable. With her head lowered and unable to see her mother, Fang Wenxiu slowly said: "Mom, I went to Dad's company today. The stall is quite large. Do you want to come and pick it up?"

Fang Wenxiu knocked twice on the door and heard Zhao Zhengsheng say from inside: "Come in"

Fang Wenxiu was nestled in her office receiving research materials. In the morning, people began to come to her for matters. Fang Wenxiu called in Secretary Liu and instructed her to keep everyone outside, advising them to consult Zhao Zhengsheng for any issues.

Fang Wenxiu said: "I believe you should know about my father's mistress"

Yan Lihua smiled slightly, her heart softened. She looked up and said, "Can you do it? If not, let's do as your cousin suggested. Just honestly finish your studies; the Fang family has no men left anyway, so if we fail, we fail."

Fang Wenxiu's attitude slightly eased Yan Lihua's expression. She went back into the house to take out 10,000 yuan, but then reconsidered that the girl was not her husband and should not be too strict. Therefore, she took out another 10,000 yuan and handed it to Fang Wenxiu. Fang Wenxiu casually stuffed it into her bag and said, "I'm leaving now." She hurried down the stairs.

Fang Wenxiu could not continue speaking, and Yan Lihua's face turned as cold as ice, her gaze piercing like a knife directed at her. Fang Wenxiu felt that if she continued, her mother would surely rush over and strangle her.

Zhong Wei said little, took the items, and left. He has gradually begun to serve Fang Wenxiu in the same manner as he does Fang Yuanshan

Yan Lihua nodded: "I remember, that person was especially respected by your grandmother"

Fang Wenxiu took an envelope out of her pocket and pushed it over. Zhao Zhengsheng, holding a cigarette, took it and shook it open to take a look. He let out a sneer and asked Fang Wenxiu, "What is this for? To win me over or to bribe me?"

Fang Wenxiu said, "He has divined for me and said that my fate is abundant in wealth, and I can earn as much money as I want"

Zhao Zhengsheng nodded slightly, and Fang Wenxiu turned to walk outside. "Fang Wenxiu," Zhao Zhengsheng called out to her from behind, and Fang Wenxiu turned back.

Fang Wenxiu was taken aback; to be honest, she really did not think that Yan Lihua was living comfortably, but she could not express that.

Zhao Zhengsheng said: "Fang Wenxiu, your generation does not understand the environment of our generation. When one is young, there is a time when one knows nothing. Some matters, once passed, cannot be scrutinized to determine who is right or wrong. Time flies too quickly; it has been over twenty years. The more you let it go, the less courage you have to confront it. Everyone has moments of helplessness, and you should keep this in mind; it does not benefit you in any way." Zhao Zhengsheng spoke these words in a tone of advice.

Zhao Zhengsheng gazed at the equity transfer document on the table, lost in thought, the half-burnt cigarette reaching its end without him noticing. Eventually, he spoke up: "You are giving me fifteen percent; are you planning to offer the same to Lao Sun and Zhuang Jinrong? Do you intend to hand over half of your father's empire just like that?"

Yan Lihua spoke harshly, while Fang Wenxiu had a piece of bread stuck in her throat, twisting her face as she looked at her mother

Zhao Zhengsheng remained silent, hiding behind the smoke and staring at her intently; he was not someone who enjoyed making small talk.

Fang Wenxiu felt that the company should have been in disarray, but no one came in the afternoon. She estimated that Zhao Zhengsheng must have taken care of everything, yet none of the three major leaders showed up in front of her. It seemed that some matters still required her personal attention.

Fang Wenxiu knew that her mother had great faith in her grandmother's words. Her grandmother, a lay Buddhist during her lifetime, lived to the age of eighty and passed away naturally, having never held a grudge against anyone, and was highly respected. However, what she did not mention was that the old Taoist priest had once divined for her. Upon hearing the prediction, her grandmother was not pleased and simply told her: "Do not be deceived by fame and fortune; being true to oneself is of utmost importance." Moreover, the divination had a latter part: "In her lifetime, she would have no worries about wealth but would find it difficult to repay her emotional debts, facing many hardships." What she did not mention was that the old Taoist priest had once divined for her. Upon hearing the prediction, her grandmother was not pleased and simply told her: "Do not be deceived by fame and fortune; being true to oneself is of utmost importance." Moreover, the divination had a latter part: "In her lifetime, she would have no worries about wealth but would find it difficult to repay her emotional debts, facing many hardships."

Fang Wenxiu opened her mouth, feeling stifled, realizing that the couple who love and fight with each other are indeed the ones who understand each other the best

Yan Lihua sat awkwardly, and Fang Wenxiu changed one of her feet and then said, "Mom, has the company been entrusted to me?"

Fang Wenxiu estimated that her mother probably did not sleep well last night, stirred by her actions, feeling a bit guilty. Yan Lihua walked over and handed her the ID card, saying, "Go handle the transfer." She spoke as if it were a matter of course, and Fang Wenxiu had no objections; those things originally belonged to her mother. She felt quite happy that her mother could come directly to find her, as in the past, when they lived under the same roof, her mother could go for half a month without saying a word to her.

Fang Wenxiu said: "Uncle Zhao, you have fought alongside my father for over twenty years, sharing both glory and shame. You have a deep bond with him, but I do not have the same with you. The only thing I can offer is this fifteen percent equity, which is what you deserve."

Yan Lihua opened her mouth and called out to her: "Fang Wenxiu, what I told you last night, don't take it as a mere outburst; that is my stance. If another person with the surname Fang comes into this house, don't even think about it."

Fang Wenxiu glanced at her, got up to take two pillows and placed them behind her waist, then sat back down and adjusted her position by holding her legs: "Sit properly"

In the morning, Fang Wenxiu got up a bit late and did not have time to go for a morning run. After finishing her washing and changing her clothes, she had just slammed the door when Yan Lihua's door also opened. Yan Lihua looked a bit unwell, with disheveled hair and red eyes, and it was unclear whether she had slept at all last night.

Fang Wenxiu looked up and smiled at her mother: "Mom, I thought you had been foolish all these years"

Fang Wenxiu walked over, pulled the low stool from under the dressing table, and sat down opposite her. The two were very close, their knees touching. Yan Lihua shifted uncomfortably to the side. Fang Wenxiu reached out to pull her open bathrobe together, casually tied the belt for her, and then said slowly: "Mom, we need to talk."

Yan Lihua's forehead was sweating, a strand of hair stuck to her face. She used one hand to push her hair aside and said irritably, "Did you not say you would support me?"

Upon arriving at the company, Fang Wenxiu called over Zhong Wei and handed him Yan Lihua's identification card along with Fang Yuanshan's death certificate and identification card, instructing him to handle the transfer of ownership.

Fang Wenxiu initially thought this matter was somewhat difficult to handle, but a few days later, she suddenly felt that it might not be as complicated as she had imagined. If she were just Fang Wenxiu, it would be challenging to deal with this issue, but if she were the owner of Huashan Construction, then it would be quite simple. On Thursday morning, she called Zhong Wei and handed him a property certificate

It doesn't matter if the chickens fly and the dogs jump when the door is closed; those are family members. Once outside, it is different; one must maintain composure. The driver opened the car door for her, and Fang Wenxiu sat in without showing any expression

Yan Lihua threw the skincare lotion on the bed and said, "What is it?" looking quite irritated

In the middle of the night, the mother and daughter chatted for a while about the trivial matters of their hometown. As the night grew deeper, Fang Wenxiu lingered on Yan Lihua's bed, shifting from side to side, unwilling to leave. Yan Lihua noticed that she had more to say and finally, in impatience, asked: "Is there anything else you want to say?"

Fang Wenxiu stopped her, saying: "No need, I will go in by myself."

Yan Lihua paused for a moment and said: "Give it all to me, aren't you keeping a little for yourself?"

Yan Lihua's voice was like ice shards: "That shameless Fang Yuanshan, all these years he has been trying to mess around and have another son, what? Did he manage to get one out?"

The two daggers in Yan Lihua's eyes shot over, and without saying a word, she sprang out of bed, grabbed Fang Wenxiu by the neck, and shoved her outside the door

Fang Wenxiu isolated herself in the office for three days, leading to rampant speculation and curiosity among several departments on the seventh floor of the company. After all, with over two hundred people at headquarters, everyone has a penchant for gossip and intrigue. Fang Wenxiu commuted daily via the stairwell, failing to satisfy even a modicum of the public's curiosity. Meanwhile, the entire upper management on the eighth floor remained behind closed doors, effectively putting an end to all rumors. All work processes continued to operate normally, ultimately granting Fang Wenxiu the respect needed to maintain order.

Fang Wenxiu confidently said, "Give me some money." She truly is now in a dire situation, with not a single cent in her pocket

Zhao Zhengsheng furrowed his brows into a frown, tapping his fingers on the table, his face showing signs of impatience. After a moment, he slid the envelope into the drawer and said, "Alright, I understand."