Chapter 91: Why Not Tell Mo Jizong Exactly What You Told Me

“We both work in the capital, so we’ll definitely need to buy a house here. Right now, the most important thing is to save up for the down payment, right?” Du Jinze sighed. “Every commission from each deal is crucial for me.”

Du Jinze put on a pitiful expression, attempting to sway Su Jinshi with his sob story. “Jinshi, could you… just do me a favor as an old classmate and meet with Mo Jizong, please?”

“Meet him, and then, as a favor to your old classmate, say a few nice things to him, make him happy, and make sure he helps you out?” Su Jinshi asked with a hint of sarcasm.

After a few seconds of silence, Du Jinze said, “I know this puts you in a difficult position, and it’s not entirely fair to you. If what you say is true, then Mo Jizong is also at fault, and there’s no reason for you to apologize.”

Su Jinshi almost wanted to retort, “So you do understand after all.”

Du Jinze continued, “But I’m really out of options. Jinshi, please help me out, will you?”

“Those of us working hard in the capital don’t have the same advantages as you. You’re a local, so you don’t have to worry about housing. As a woman, you don’t even need to buy a house when you get married. You’re renting a large apartment now, and while I don’t know your exact income, it must be substantial.”

“I can’t compare to you at all. My family is from a small third-tier city, and my parents can’t afford to buy me a house in the capital. I have to rely on myself. I work in sales, and only when I close deals do I get commissions that make my income decent. If I don’t close deals, I’ve wasted a month. I’m still renting a one-bedroom apartment outside the Fifth Ring Road…”

Su Jinshi pressed her lips tightly together. Why did she find everything Du Jinze was saying so irritating?

“First, although I’m a local, I’m from an ordinary dual-income family. My parents have regular jobs with average incomes, and our house was inherited from our elders.”

The neighborhood wasn’t new, but it was well-managed and located within the Third Ring Road. In today’s capital, the location could be considered excellent.

Su Jinshi’s current apartment was on the edge of the Fourth Ring Road. She wanted to find a better neighborhood for her parents.

However, given the current housing prices in the capital, even if they sold her parents’ current house, it would be impossible to get something better in the same area. They would have to move further out.

Her parents were more accustomed to their current living environment, with everything convenient and surrounded by familiar old neighbors. They felt that although the neighborhood wasn’t new, it was still well-managed and more than enough for the two of them.

“My current place is rented, but I can afford the rent entirely due to my own abilities, without relying on anyone else,” Su Jinshi said coldly. “With my parents’ income, they can’t afford my expenses in the capital, nor can they help me buy a house. If I want one, it will be entirely through my own efforts.”

“Secondly, what’s wrong with me being a woman? Whether I buy a house or not has nothing to do with marriage. I’ll buy one if I want to, and I won’t if I don’t. Don’t make it sound like women get a free ride when they get married. Do you think you have more pressure because you need to buy a house for marriage? Then will the child your girlfriend bears take your surname? If you pay the down payment and share the mortgage after marriage, will you put your girlfriend’s name on the deed?”

Or would he leave her name off, making her pay for a house while the child takes his surname?

“Women sacrifice far more in marriage than men do, so don’t bring up gender issues with me,” Su Jinshi said coldly.

Shen Shilang listened quietly on the other end.

In their world, women got married, supported their husbands, and educated their children, while men worked outside. It wasn’t necessarily wrong, as long as both parties fulfilled their roles.

But in Su Jinshi’s world, women were clearly expected to work and contribute financially while also raising children, which was evidently more unfair to women.

Although Du Jinze didn’t state it explicitly, he had inadvertently revealed that he indeed felt he had it harder somehow.

But Su Jinshi was right; it was clearly women who faced greater difficulties.

“That’s not what I meant!” Du Jinze, perhaps because Su Jinshi had hit a nerve, became a bit flustered, his tone growing anxious.

After realizing his tone was inappropriate, he quickly softened it. “I might have expressed myself poorly, causing you to misunderstand.”

Du Jinze smiled, “You’re in literary creation, so you’re more precise with language. Please try to understand where I’m coming from.”

Su Jinshi: “…”

“Jinshi, we’ve been classmates for so many years, and we’re both in the capital. You know my situation quite well. Can’t you just help me out this once?” Du Jinze said. “I’m under a lot of pressure right now, and I really need to close this deal with Mo Jizong’s company. Just help me this one time, okay? For old times’ sake.”

“Du Jinze,” Su Jinshi sighed, “If we really are old classmates, why are you putting me in such a difficult position? To help you, you want me to bow my head to Mo Jizong? So next time he provokes me, should I bow my head to him again for your sake? What did I do to deserve this?”

“You keep using our old classmate relationship to manipulate me, so why don’t you say the same to Mo Jizong?” Su Jinshi retorted sarcastically. “You’re all classmates, so why does his help for you come with conditions? He insists you meet his demands and satisfy his wishes before he’ll help you. If you don’t comply, he won’t help. Where’s the classmate sentiment in that?”

“In contrast, I have no demands of you, yet you turn around and ask me to compromise myself to help you.” Su Jinshi let out a derisive laugh. “Du Jinze, that’s not how it works. You ask me to think of you, but you should also think of me.”

“If your cooperation with Mo Jizong is based on mutual needs, then why am I expected to help you without any conditions or complaints?” Su Jinshi wasn’t falling into Du Jinze’s trap.

“If you can’t get me to meet with him and apologize, and he refuses to help you because of that, where’s the classmate sentiment then? You’re both striving in the capital, his family is also local, his job and income are better than yours—why can’t he consider your situation?”

“What you’ve told me would be better off said directly to Mo Jizong,” Su Jinshi concluded. “Don’t let him turn our friendship into a mere business transaction, and then act like he’s doing you a favor, making you run errands for him and become his little follower.”

Du Jinze: “…”

…