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Realizing she had misjudged the elderly man, Wang Qian saw through his facade despite his friendly appearance, recognizing his unscrupulous business tactics.
Without a word, she turned to leave, prompting the old man to urge, “Hey, don’t go. Let’s discuss if you’re not satisfied.”
Turning back, Wang Qian fixed her gaze on him, “Sir, I thought you were an honest elder, but it seems you lack integrity. You thought you could take advantage of my young age, but I won’t stand for it. Give me your final price. If it’s not acceptable, I’ll walk away, and we’ll pretend this encounter never happened.”
The surrounding traders were drawn to their conversation. The old man, feeling pressured by Wang Qian’s firm stance, found himself in a dilemma. “Young lady, consider this price. It’s the best I can offer, reserved for loyal customers. If it works for you, we can make the deal. If not, I can’t do more. I can’t afford to make losses.”
Reviewing the offered price, Wang Qian finally agreed, “Alright, deal at this price.” Taking out a gold ingot, she estimated it to be around five taels. After weighing it, confirming the weight matched, the old man had a bundle of money brought in. Seeing Wang Qian stash the money in her backpack, he was astonished. “Young lady, be careful with all that money. It’s a substantial amount.”
Although the old man was cunning in business, he couldn’t help but worry as Wang Qian casually placed the large sum of money in her bag. With many eyes around, he feared something might go wrong.
“It’s fine, thank you for the warning. I’ll take my leave now,” Wang Qian responded politely before departing.
Wang Qian decided not to sell anything else to the old man, preferring to keep a low profile. She planned to seek out another vendor the next day.
Quickly disappearing into the crowd, she took precautions to ensure she wasn’t being followed, checking her surroundings discreetly. After confirming she wasn’t being trailed, she spent some time in the space before returning to the hotel. While the money wasn’t a significant sum for her, in the current circumstances, it amounted to a considerable sum.
Entering the room, she found her father still lying on the bed. Wang Zhenhe had dozed off briefly and was groggily awakened by his daughter. “Dad, look at this.”
With nothing to hide from her family, Wang Qian pulled her father into the space and showed him the bundle of money. Wang Zhenhe’s eyes widened at the sight of over ten thousand yuan. “Daughter, where did this money come from?”
Seeing his reaction, Wang Qian sat him down and explained, “Dad, this money wasn’t stolen or obtained unlawfully. It’s from trading gold. Remember the incident with Wang Zhenguo’s illness back then? While they were digging graves, I was nearby. You’ve heard they found quite a bit of gold. I managed to retrieve some from the coffin. Most of it was taken by others. Earlier, I exchanged a gold ingot on the black market.”
Taking her father to where she had buried the gold, Wang Qian retrieved the remaining gold and silver. Seeing the items in her hands, Wang Zhenhe understood her explanation was true.
“Daughter, remember, it’s important to earn money through hard work. Even though you have this treasure, never resort to unscrupulous means to obtain it, understand?” Wang Zhenhe advised his daughter with a gentle yet firm tone.
Wang Zhenhe, concerned about his daughter’s young age and potential inclination towards shortcuts, took this opportunity to offer her some guidance.
Wang Qian smiled warmly, “Dad, I understand the importance of hard work. I don’t have any intentions of obtaining things without effort. Those items wouldn’t have been put to good use if I hadn’t taken them from those rascals. It would have been foolish not to act. I haven’t engaged in such activities since then.”
Knowing his daughter’s character well, Wang Zhenhe accepted her explanation without further comment.
Wang Qian recounted her experience of exchanging gold with her father, “Dad, let’s exchange some more tomorrow. We should keep the remainder for emergencies. Besides, you’ll need money to buy spare parts.”
Although Wang Zhenhe claimed not to care much about money, the sight of the substantial sum did stir some desire. After considering, he suggested, “Qian Qian, let’s exchange less tomorrow. It’s best not to draw attention to ourselves. We can gradually exchange the rest later. This money should suffice for our needs.”
Not being overly greedy, Wang Zhenhe believed the current funds would serve their purposes well, leaving the rest in the care of his beloved daughter.
Checking the time and anticipating Lin Xi’s arrival, Wang Qian and her father grabbed some fruits and waited in the room.
Before long, Lin Xi arrived, looking refreshed. “Brother Wang, Qian Qian, I apologize for the delay. Let’s go, I’ll treat you to a lavish meal today.”
Wang Zhenhe, noticing no child with Lin Xi, couldn’t help but inquire, “Where’s the child? Why didn’t you bring Xiao Ping with you?”
Lin Xi smiled as she mentioned her children, “Brother, Xiao Ping and his brother were taken back by my husband. They’ll be back in a few days.”
At a nearby restaurant, Lin Xi treated them to a meal. During the meal, she asked about her parents’ situation, prompting Wang Zhenhe to update her. “Sister, I thought you had settled down. Why haven’t you sent any news to your parents? I thought you were in touch with them. Even your mother doesn’t know about your current situation.”
Reflecting on her parents, Lin Xi’s expression turned sorrowful. “Brother, I admit I was wrong back then, but I have faced consequences. When I went to bid farewell to my parents with my daughter, you can’t imagine how cruel they were. They didn’t even let me in the house, just spoke through the door, telling me to fend for myself. It was heartbreaking.”
Taking a sip of wine to hold back tears, she continued, “Brother, it’s been many years. I don’t blame anyone but myself for my mistakes. However, I still can’t get over the fact that my own parents refused to see me. You can’t imagine how I felt at that moment. I almost couldn’t bear it. If my child hadn’t been young back then, I might have done something drastic. Even my own parents looked down on me. What was the point of living? It was the words of my sister-in-law and Qian Qian that kept me going. Without them, I wouldn’t have found my happiness today. Looking back, I realize how absurd my actions were back then.”
Wang Qian quickly handed Lin Xi a handkerchief to wipe her tears. “Auntie, as long as you’re doing well, that’s what matters. Let’s forget the past. Look ahead, focus on living a good life with your siblings. Some things are best left in the past. By the way, what are your plans for the house back home? Are you going to sell it or keep it?”
Lin Xi shook her head. “Qian Qian, I’ll give you that house. It’s just a mud-brick house, not worth much. Consider it a gift from me. If it wasn’t for your guidance back then, I might still be stuck in a difficult situation. I don’t want to go back. Keeping the house wouldn’t serve any purpose. Let’s leave it to you. You can sell it later for educational expenses.”
Over dinner, Wang Zhenhe and his daughter shared stories about familiar faces and events from their village with Lin Xi. After the meal, Lin Xi invited them to her home.
Arriving at Lin Xi’s current residence, they were impressed by her comfortable living conditions—a two-story small Western-style house.
“Brother Wang, this house is my husband’s ancestral home. My in-laws moved to Hong Kong years ago, leaving my grandfather, grandmother, and younger aunt here. After my aunt got married, this house became my grandparents’ residence. After my grandfather passed away a few years ago, the house was inherited by my husband. Isn’t the house nice?” Lin Xi explained.
Inspecting the house, Wang Qian and Wang Zhenhe noticed the scholarly ambiance of the place, indicating that the elders were likely educated individuals.
As they sat down and chatted, Wang Zhenhe mentioned his plans to procure spare parts. Lin Xi praised his idea, “Brother Wang, that’s a great idea. Motorcycles and cars will surely become more prevalent in the mainland. Being proactive will help you earn early. It seems you have a good business sense.”
Wang Zhenhe felt a bit embarrassed by Lin Xi’s praise. “Sister, I’m just dabbling around, nothing compared to your accomplishments. Your business has truly grown.”
In the evening, Lin Xi wanted Wang Zhenhe and his daughter to stay, but Wang Zhenhe declined. It would be inconvenient for him to stay alone in her home. However, Wang Qian was persuaded to stay. Lin Xi was determined to have her remain, remembering the advice she had given her last time, hoping to have a meaningful conversation. She sensed there was more to this child than meets the eye—quiet and unassuming, yet surprisingly insightful at crucial moments.
After showering, Wang Qian and Lin Xi discussed business. Lin Xi’s husband was currently involved in the jewelry business, albeit in its early stages.
“Auntie, I have a favor to ask. Could you buy a piece of land or a large factory building in Bao’an County for me? Additionally, could you purchase a few houses? I want to have a base in that area for the future,” Wang Qian requested.
Lin Xi looked at the beautiful young girl in surprise. She hadn’t noticed during the day, but after the shower, she realized how stunning Wang Qian was becoming. If not for her bangs, one might not recognize her as a young beauty.
“Wang Qian, can you tell me why you want to buy property there?” Lin Xi inquired.
Wang Qian gazed at Lin Xi earnestly and replied, “Auntie, I see potential for development in that area. If you have the funds, consider buying some too. Once you’ve made the purchase, let me know, and I’ll transfer the money to you.”
Wang Qian had no time to handle this matter herself, so she entrusted Lin Xi to take care of it. However, if Lin Xi was astute, following her lead in the purchase would likely result in a profitable venture.
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