Chapter 5: Hello, President Lin
Cheng Yuan lived in Huijing Garden, a complex of resettlement housing. All the residents were villagers who had been relocated due to demolitions.
A dozen or so women were cooling off in the shade of the trees.
Most of the women were dressed plainly, but one, surrounded by the others, sported a wavy perm, a soft silk jacket, and was dripping with jewelry. She held her head high like a proud old hen.
This woman’s name was Huang Yanzi. When she first moved to Huijing Garden, her family was very poor and looked down upon by their fellow villagers.
Ever since Huang Yanzi’s daughter graduated from college, got a job at a big company in the Provincial City, and started dating a department manager, Huang Yanzi had become insufferably arrogant.
"Sister Huang, you’re so blessed! Your daughter works at a publicly traded company, making over ten thousand a month, and your son-in-law is a department manager earning over twenty thousand. We’re all so envious!"
Huang Yanzi waved it off, saying, "Oh, it’s nothing," but inwardly, she was bursting with pride.
However, her good mood quickly vanished when she saw Wu Xiuli walk out of the building entrance carrying a grocery basket.
Before the demolitions and relocation, Huang Yanzi and Wu Xiuli had been on good terms.
Huang Yanzi had practically watched Cheng Yuan grow up. She was very fond of the handsome, studious boy and had mentioned to Wu Xiuli several times that she wanted to set their children up.
Unfortunately, Wu Xiuli wasn’t fond of the scheming Jiang Nuo, so she tactfully refused, using the excuse that Jiang Nuo’s and Cheng Yuan’s zodiac signs were incompatible.
After being rebuffed several times, a rift formed between the two women, and they became "enemies" who barely spoke when they saw each other.
This was especially true after Cheng Yuan went to prison; Huang Yanzi would often make passive-aggressive remarks to Wu Xiuli.
Seeing Wu Xiuli exit the building, Huang Yanzi deliberately raised her voice.
"They say you raise a son to provide for you in your old age, but isn’t raising a daughter better? Look at the ’good son’ Old Wu raised—she raised him right into prison! I must have been blind back then, wanting to set up Xiaonuo and Cheng Yuan. Thank goodness Old Wu refused. Otherwise, my poor Xiaonuo would have suffered."
Wu Xiuli trembled with rage, but her son really had gone to prison. If she stormed over to argue with Huang Yanzi, she would be the one to lose face.
Wu Xiuli took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. Pretending she hadn’t heard Huang Yanzi, she quickened her pace, hoping to get past the gossip as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, Huang Yanzi wasn’t about to let Wu Xiuli go so easily. "Old Wu, heading out to buy groceries so early? Are you expecting guests today?"
With the other woman heaping such humiliation on her, Wu Xiuli certainly wasn’t going to endure it any longer.
"My son is bringing his girlfriend home soon! I have to go buy groceries to give his girlfriend a proper welcome!!"
Wu Xiuli practically spat out the word "girlfriend," her tone as if to say, ’My son never wanted your daughter, so what can you do about it?’
Huang Yanzi pursed her lips in disdain. "Anyone who’d go for an ex-con is either ugly as sin or doesn’t have a decent job. Old Wu, I’m not trying to criticize you, but a girl like that isn’t worth you going to all this trouble."
Furious, Wu Xiuli shouted, "My son’s girlfriend is gorgeous, she was the belle of her class! And she’s a student at a top-tier university, a hundred times better than your daughter from some ordinary second-rate college!"
Huang Yanzi clicked her tongue. "TSK TSK TSK... What does being a student from a top university matter? What counts is being able to find a good job! As it happens, my daughter and son-in-law are coming home today, too. We can have the young people sit down and get to know each other."
"Who would want to get to know you?"
Wu Xiuli turned and walked away, a burst of mocking laughter echoing behind her.
An hour later, Wu Xiuli returned from the market. She subconsciously glanced toward the shade by the building entrance, and her expression turned ugly.
’Damn it, why hasn’t Huang Yanzi gone home yet?’
’She just loves to flaunt herself.’
’Now I’ll have to deal with her taunts again!’
Just as Wu Xiuli was lost in her troubled thoughts, the sharp honk of a car horn sounded from behind her.
The driver was a well-dressed young man with black-framed glasses. Huang Yanzi’s daughter, Jiang Nuo, was in the passenger seat.
Seeing Wu Xiuli, Huang Yanzi’s eyes lit up. ’Back then, Wu Xiuli looked down on me,’ she thought. ’Now, I’m so far above her she can’t even hope to reach me!’
Jiang Nuo quickly had her boyfriend stop the car. She rolled down the window, stuck her head out, and said with false sincerity, "Aunt Wu, what a coincidence! This is my boyfriend, Liu Kun, a department manager at Huanyu Group. Hop in, we’ll give you a ride."
Wu Xiuli shook her head coldly. "I’m almost home. No, thank you."
Jiang Nuo shrugged and told Liu Kun to drive on.
Soon, the BMW pulled up in front of the group of women.
Jiang Nuo and Liu Kun got out of the car, carrying bags of all sizes as they walked toward Huang Yanzi.
"Mom, Brother Kun and I are back to see you! These are health supplements we got for you! We bought them all from a big department store in the Provincial City! You can’t even buy them in Luocheng."
Huang Yanzi took the gifts, a grin stretching from ear to ear. She proudly showed them off to her friends. "Sisters, take a look! These are health supplements from a big department store in the Provincial City. You can’t even get them here in Luocheng!"
The crowd immediately began to flatter her.
"I know that brand! It’s imported from Australia. You really can’t buy it around here!"
"Sister Huang is so fortunate. Your daughter is so successful, and her boyfriend is so handsome and accomplished. He’s already driving a BMW at such a young age!"
"Sister Huang, how did you raise your daughter so well? You have to teach us your ways! My good-for-nothing daughter just wastes her time dating a bunch of poor losers."
Huang Yanzi held the health supplements high, showing them off to Wu Xiuli.
"Old Wu, these are the gifts my daughter and son-in-law brought. They’re all imported. Your son is coming home today too, right? What gifts is he bringing you?"
Wu Xiuli gritted her teeth so hard she could have shattered them. She really couldn’t stand the sight of Huang Yanzi’s smug face.
Wu Xiuli didn’t respond. She just quickened her pace, hoping to get home as soon as possible.
Just then, a taxi sped up and screeched to a halt right in front of Wu Xiuli, startling her.
CREAK. The car door opened.
Cheng Yuan and Lin Ruoxi got out, carrying two bags of fruit.
"Mom, I’m home!"
WHOOSH!
Wu Xiuli could no longer control her tears.
’Two years. Two whole years. My son is finally out!’
Wu Xiuli hugged Cheng Yuan tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. "SOB... Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyuan, you’re finally back!"
Cheng Yuan was a little embarrassed. "Mom, so many people are watching. Let’s talk more when we get home."
Only then did Wu Xiuli realize that a crowd had gathered to watch—and that her son’s girlfriend was standing right there!
Wu Xiuli turned to look at Lin Ruoxi and was instantly stunned.
’Oh my god!’
’How can such a beautiful girl exist in this world?’
’She looks like a Fairy who has stepped right out of a New Year’s painting!’
’No wonder Xiaoyuan was so set on her, did everything he could to raise money for her surgery, and was even willing to go to prison for her.’
"Hello, Auntie. I’m Lin Ruoxi, Cheng Yuan’s girlfriend."
"Good child. Auntie finally gets to meet you! Wonderful! This is truly wonderful!"
Not far away, the women were pointing and whispering.
"Wow, Xiaoyuan did well for himself. His girlfriend is gorgeous!"
"She’s more than a little pretty. You won’t find another one like her in our entire complex."
As she said this, the woman shot a deliberate glance at Jiang Nuo, her expression seeming to say, ’No wonder he wasn’t interested in Jiang Nuo. His girlfriend is on a completely different level.’
Huang Yanzi was provoked. She snorted coldly and said, "Coming to visit an elder and only bringing two bags of fruit? How insincere! What’s the use of being pretty? Having a good job is what really counts! My Xiaonuo is a full-time employee at Huanyu Group, and my son-in-law is a department manager there! I bet this girl doesn’t even know which way the doors to Huanyu Group open!"
Liu Kun and Jiang Nuo raised their heads proudly. Huanyu Group was a publicly traded company; working there was indeed something to be proud of!
’Huanyu Group?’
Hearing the familiar name, Lin Ruoxi subconsciously turned her head in their direction.
When they got a clear look at Lin Ruoxi’s face, the expressions on Liu Kun and Jiang Nuo’s faces froze.
In less than a microsecond, both of their expressions changed. Their arrogance vanished, replaced by fawning obsequiousness. You couldn’t imagine a more sycophantic look!
The two of them dropped their gifts and rushed over to Lin Ruoxi, bowing deeply.
"Greetings, President Lin!"