Shang Kun laughed and said, "You won't be bullied by your wife, will you? You should always look at things from two perspectives."
Lin Weiping closed her laptop and laughed, "With such a capable husband, I'd be doing beauty treatments and shopping sprees every day too. Why would I work so hard?"
Shang Kun chuckled and put his arm around her, saying, "No, you can continue. I'll retire and take care of the house, cook, and clean for you."
Mr. Bao pretended to vomit and laughed, "Come on, I'll take you somewhere. We should be almost done by now."
As soon as Shang Kun got into Lin Weiping's car, he said, "The third act of goodwill may have to be released ahead of schedule. This Bao Zong is a man of good character, and the things he does are very pleasing, even though you know you deserve them. The word 'cooperation' is always the hardest to write, but cooperating with someone like him who knows the rules should be smoother."
Lin Weiping was struggling to keep up with Boss Bao, who was driving fast, so he didn't dare to say much. He thought Shang Kun's words were good, but he just replied with a "yes." After many twists and turns, they arrived at a tall building that looked quite upscale. Upon seeing it, Shang Kun laughed and said, "Boss Bao wouldn't be thinking of giving us a new apartment, would he? That would be a good deal for Old Wang, haha."
Just as Shang Kun had predicted, things turned out perfectly. It was a two-bedroom, one-living-room hotel apartment, fully furnished, but it looked like it had just been cleaned. The kitchen was stocked with seasonings, so it was clear that this wasn't something that could be prepared in a short time; Boss Bao must have had someone start preparing it from morning. He took out the keys and said, "Since this is the case, you'll be spending a lot of time here from now on. Staying in hotels all the time isn't comfortable. I thought you might as well stay here; it's more casual, and it saves you from carrying too much luggage back and forth."
Shang Kun smiled and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "You've thought of everything, even more than we could have imagined. Thank you so much."
Seeing that the two of them liked it, Mr. Bao said smugly, "How about it? We'll go to the hotel and move your things over right now?"
Lin Weiping laughed and said, "President Bao, you should go back. The people waiting in line to have lunch with you must be getting impatient. You already skipped lunch with us today, so let's skip dinner. This is his first time here, so I'll take him outside to show him around and help him move his things. You can go about your business."
Shang Kun also said, "Brother, we have a long way to go. Besides... you have to give me and Xiao Lin some time alone." He winked as he spoke. Boss Bao laughed and agreed, leaving Lin Weiping uninhibited, kicking Shang Kun again. Shang Kun laughed, picked her up, and they both fell onto the two-meter-wide bed, saying, "Wasn't I telling the truth? It's so unfair to have such a big, fat guy always acting as a third wheel. Xiao Lin, this is our first home. I asked Lao Wang to find me a two-story house on the top floor of a high-rise building. It should be ready for handover soon. Go take a look at the blueprints and see how you want it decorated. I'll have Lao Wang do the decoration for us too, so you can save yourself the trouble."
Lin Weiping tried to get up, but Shang Kun wouldn't let go, so he had to give up and lie in Shang Kun's arms, saying, "What is this?"
Shang Kun laughed upon hearing this, "I knew you'd ask that. You silly little thing, what am I to you? It's a proposal, after all. We'll go back and arrange a time to meet each other's parents, and then register our marriage right away. I can't wait any longer. I want to be with you legitimately every day, so that people like Fang Ye won't have any ulterior motives towards you." After thinking for a moment, he added, "Come on, get up. Let's go to the hotel to pack our luggage and then go to the street to buy you a ring."
Lin Weiping stood up, then turned back and pulled Shang Kun up, saying, "Forget it, I don't wear rings or anything like that, so it's fine if you don't buy them. I don't really like them anyway. And the house you mentioned, is it that you like such a big house? I don't like it. It's too big, and it feels lifeless. When I lived in the first one-bedroom apartment I bought, I didn't realize it, but now that I live in a three-bedroom apartment, I understand the advantages of small rooms. Plus, the whole family can bump into each other, which makes it more intimate. If you want such a big house, you'll need at least two people to serve you. What do you think it would feel like to have two unrelated people in the house? I certainly don't like it."
Shang Kun was stunned for a moment before hugging Lin Weiping from behind and saying, "I was afraid you would feel wronged. Since you don't think that way, then call Lao Wang and ask him to cancel it. Otherwise, he should start renovating now. That's the house he reserved for himself. Xiao Lin, I've always known you're a reasonable person, but I didn't expect you to be so upright."
Lin Weiping thought about it and realized that Shang Kun's actions were indeed for her benefit; otherwise, he would have already found a large house to move into after the divorce, and his current living situation wasn't very good. Although she knew he was genuinely good to her, she was still touched, and the awkwardness she had felt that morning vanished. When they left the room, they held hands the whole time, and it felt very natural.
On the way, Shang Kun said, "If it weren't for Boss Bao giving us this hotel-style apartment, I was planning to cancel my hotel room and rush to Tianjin overnight, so you could have driven on the highway and played around with this car. But now I don't want to go anymore. Let's go to the supermarket to buy some groceries later, and you can cook for me, okay? I'm afraid of hotel food; the smell makes me lose my appetite."
Lin Weiping laughed and said, "So that's what you were planning to do when you rushed Bao Zong away. Okay, you win. You even made me cook while you were on a business trip. But your idea is really good. I don't like the taste of restaurants either. I was already thinking about this when I saw that kitchen just now. Luckily, I held back. Now that you've brought it up, you owe me a favor, haha. Treat me to geoduck when we get home."
The two entered the supermarket hand in hand to buy groceries. Shang Kun became impatient upon seeing the overwhelming amount of goods, but Lin Weiping insisted on keeping him company, discussing every single item with him. This felt wonderful, so much more comforting than before when he would rush into a store, grab a few things, and leave. Shang Kun could only helplessly follow, thinking to himself that he absolutely had to give up on the idea of her going shopping with him when they got back; being forced to accompany a woman shopping was really not a pleasant experience.
Chapter
Thirty-two
Price, price, what price should be written in the tender document? Lin Weiping, with Shang Kun's help, had contacted and won over the people in charge of bidding matters, but recently learned that they had gone abroad to inspect Waldo's Southeast Asian companies. Who knows what kind of shady dealings were involved in that inspection? But in the end, given equal strength, price will ultimately be the deciding factor. So, price, price, where should it be placed?
Around 3 PM, Shang Kun called, saying he was meeting with some leader and wouldn't be coming for dinner. Lin Weiping replied "okay" and hung up. No sooner had she hung up than Shang Kun called again: "Wife, why didn't you say anything when you heard I wasn't coming for dinner? At least show some regret, or anger or disappointment. Your gracious agreement makes me feel very unimportant."
Lin Weiping could only laugh while holding the phone. After spending these past few days together, Shang Kun's once wise and capable image had long since been shattered. In public, he still maintained his gentlemanly demeanor, but at home, he was completely unfazed, embracing his "shameless" ways to the fullest. At first, Lin Weiping just laughed it off, but later he started to take it easy, saying, "I'm afraid you'll be heartbroken if I show it. I was just planning to invite my friends out for shopping and dinner. Freedom is so good."
Shang Kun laughed and said, "Alright, I'll give you half a day off. Remember, you can't go shopping with men."
Lin Weiping could only say, "Tch, I'm busy," and hang up. But then it occurred to her, "Right, I could really ask someone out for dinner or shopping. I've been so busy with Shang Kun lately that I haven't had a chance to talk to my other friends." Her mind raced through her friends, finally settling on Xiao Liang. Without hesitation, she dialed her number. Xiao Liang answered quickly, exclaiming, "Sister, it's you! That's great! Your secretary said you've been so busy you've been nowhere to be seen. I didn't even dare call you, haha. It's so good you called me; I was just thinking about you!"
Lin Weiping remained silent for a long time until she finished chattering before he could finally interject, "How have you been lately? Let's have dinner together tonight. You can choose the place."
Xiao Liang let out another scream and laughed, "Okay, I'll call my sister after I find a good place. Sister, can I call my aunt? You know, my stepmother."
Lin Weiping took a moment to realize that it was Mrs. Guan, and then smiled and said, "Call whoever you like, as long as we can all talk about it. I can also make another friend."
Xiao Liang said, "I didn't realize before that Auntie is a really good person, and she's very capable. I think if she hadn't taken a break from the business for several years to raise her children before returning to the mall, she would definitely be just as capable as you. I've been thinking of introducing you two, and she agreed. That's great, then I'll contact her tonight."
Lin Weiping hung up the phone, smiling as she recalled the image of Mrs. Guan she had met at the hospital. It was a blur, but she did have a vague impression of her, like the stepmother from Snow White, given to her by Xiao Liang. Seems like she's got the makings of a strong woman. Thinking of strong women, Lin Weiping immediately thought of Yu Fengmian. She wondered if Yu Fengmian had changed her phone number; after such a huge upheaval, she might have disappeared. But the call went through immediately, surprising Lin Weiping. This was a true strong woman, a formidable one. True character is revealed in the face of adversity; not avoiding or retreating in the face of hardship—that's what makes a true hero. Yu Fengmian answered quickly: "Xiao Lin?"
Lin Weiping hurriedly said, "It's me. I haven't heard from you in a long time." Only after getting through did he suddenly realize he had nothing to say. Asking "How are you?" would seem insincere; their relationship was merely one of mutual appreciation, not yet at the level of genuine concern. Asking anything else would be superfluous. And Yu Fengmian was such a perceptive person; if he were being insincere, he might think he was acting convincingly, but she would probably see right through him. Therefore, it was better to be concise.
Yu Fengmian's voice seemed a little slower than before, "I haven't left yet, I'm still in this city, but I'm free now. I've handed over all the responsibilities to Lao Wang and Shang Kun, and I've realized that life can be lived so quietly. It's been almost two months since we last met, hasn't it? You must be very busy."
Lin Weiping could tell that Yu Fengmian wasn't just going through the motions; she seemed to really enjoy talking to her. That's when she started to say, "You know how busy I am. Actually, who can't I do without? I'm just keeping myself busy."
Yu Fengmian laughed and said, "What are people so busy with? Fame and fortune, it's all about those two words. I just went to England to see my son and stayed with him for two weeks. He was so happy. So you see, I've lost so much before. By the way, I've found something new to do. I just got a shop space, about 200 square meters. I want to open a coffee shop. The coffee won't be anything special; I'll focus on fancy pastries. You should bring your friends to support me when I open it."
Lin Weiping smiled and said, "You really are looking for trouble. I just didn't expect you to act so quickly, accomplishing so much in just a few days. It's clear you still have the skills. Based on your personality, I can now guarantee that once your shop opens, it will immediately attract a large group of diners, making beauty-conscious girls hesitate to eat, lingering and finding it hard to decide. I think you should call your desserts 'Drugs,' and the shop name 'Tang Clan of Sichuan,' haha, Tang Clan Drugs, isn't that right? Aren't desserts just like drugs for girls?"
Yu Fengmian laughed upon hearing this: "How did you come up with such a name? It's really quirky and clever. This name is good, with a touch of the wicked. It's much better than the one I registered before. I'll go change it right away. This name makes people want to try it as soon as they see it, to see what rare and delicious things are inside."
Lin Weiping quickly said, "This wasn't my idea. I saw it in Beijing and thought it was a really good name, so I remembered it. But you shouldn't have any problems registering it here. And let me tell you something else, I got married."
Yu Fengmian was clearly taken aback, and asked, "How come I haven't heard of this?"
Lin Weiping laughed and said, "It's not like Brigitte Lin is getting married, making it known to the whole world."
Yu Fengmian immediately said, "No, you're not famous, but Shang Kun is different. He's at least a celebrity in this city."
Lin Weiping was surprised and asked, "How did you know it was him? Who told you?"
Yu Fengmian laughed and said, "How could it not be him? There's no one else but him. Shang Kun has been eyeing you for a long time, you just didn't know it. Who is Shang Kun? Who can he possibly see? If he sees you, do you think he'll let you go? So I don't need to ask to know that if you get married, it will definitely be Shang Kun. You can't escape him. Haven't you two had a wedding banquet yet?"
Lin Weiping listened thoughtfully, but immediately said, "We never had a banquet, it was just our parents having a meal together. You were the first person among the two of us to know this, you're probably in the top ten."
Yu Fengmian was a clever person. After listening, she said, "Is this your idea? Shang Kun would never dare to propose such a marriage. You are a very low-key person. Do you not want to provoke the people ahead of you?"
Lin Weiping responded with a "Yes".
Yu Fengmian said, "You're more reserved than me. You're so young and already considerate of others. Your future is limitless. It's just that Shang Kun got a lucky break, he picked up a treasure for nothing. I've been thinking about when you'd call me these past few days. I figured you wouldn't bother comforting me when I was down on my luck, you know I don't fall for that. I just felt you should call these past few days, otherwise I'd misjudged you. Why did you decide to call?"
Lin Weiping was speechless for a moment before saying, "I was just thinking that you are still very clever and shrewd, just less aggressive and more approachable. I didn't expect you to reveal your true colors so quickly. Since you timed my call so precisely, how could you not know why? Don't ask me, I'm afraid it would make you cringe."
Yu Fengmian laughed on the other end: "You're being too polite. Saying I'm just being aggressive, when I think back on it, I wasn't exactly mild-mannered. It's kind of you to still consider me a friend. Alright, the situation has been reported, I have to get back to work. Look at me, I just run a small shop, yet I'm already running around like crazy, even busier than before. I'm really regressing, haha, goodbye."
Yu Fengmian ultimately didn't dare to reveal that she was the one who had sown discord between Lin Weiping and Gong Chao in the past. However, now that she saw that Lin Weiping was not unhappy with Shang Kun, and that his tone was different when talking about marriage, she decided not to tell Lin Weiping that Shang Kun might also know the inside story. It was rare to have a true friend with whom she could talk, and she now knew how to cherish him.
Lin Weiping hung up the phone, feeling a sense of relief. He was surprised by Yu Fengmian's sudden change in attitude, but also happy for her. It showed she was adaptable and intelligent. Thinking of Shang Kun, she seemed to still hold a grudge. However, her words revealed something new to Lin Weiping: Shang Kun had harbored feelings for her all along. This thought filled him with smug satisfaction. "Yes, who is Shang Kun? Who does he even notice?" he thought. "Yet he's now obediently submitting to my bullying. Humph."
Seeing that it was still early, she arranged to meet Fang at the dock. The dock had just called to say that her materials had arrived at the port and were being unloaded, and she wanted Fang to see them for himself.
Upon entering the dock, they saw the car she had driven before parked in the open space. Fang Ye and another man were standing with their backs to the door, pointing and gesturing as they watched the cranes being hoisted. Lin Weiping stepped forward and greeted them, "President Fang, this ship carries five thousand pieces. Another ship will arrive tonight, but it's a bit smaller, carrying four thousand pieces, just enough for our two companies to work for about half a month." Upon closer inspection, the man who came with Fang Ye was a small business owner.
The young boss could speak Chinese, but it was the local dialect his parents had taught him, and his Mandarin was only partially fluent, making it difficult for him to speak. Therefore, he always spoke to Lin Weiping in English. When he turned around and saw that it was Lin Weiping, he immediately said in English, "Miss Lin, it's been a long time."
Upon seeing him, Lin Weiping was reminded of the second wife, Xiao Chen's pale face, and the seal on the office door. However, she knew these were not the young boss's ideas. Nevertheless, not wanting to be perfunctory, she casually smiled in Mandarin and said, "Yes, it's been a long time." Then she added to Fang, "President Fang, come over here."
Fang Ye glanced at the young boss, then at Lin Weiping, sensing something subtle going on, but he wouldn't press the matter. Seeing Lin Weiping's indifferent expression, the young boss wisely stopped following, besides, he wasn't interested in such things. As they walked, Fang Ye remarked, "Mr. Lin, you've changed cars? It's a very nice BMW sports car."
Lin Weiping chuckled and said, "I've changed three cars in the past year. One is the one you just drove here, which was the one I used to drive; another is a Buick Regal I bought when I entered Triumph; and this one was a gift from Boss Bao. I drove it here last month, and it was exhausting. Luckily, it's all highway now." Calling Fang Ye to see the materials arriving at the port and telling him about the car's origins were not unintentional; they were meant to make him see the road ahead clearly.
Fang also looked at the materials that had just been hoisted down and smiled, "You guys have an agreement on what you discussed at the dinner table, right? Or has it already been implemented?"
Lin Weiping smiled meaningfully, "President Fang guessed right away; it's already been implemented. However, I've just realized that I'm willing but unable to carry it out. I imagine President Fang's supplies are running intermittently. Let me be frank, that would be burying your talent. Besides, I've been in this position before. You've had more than three mountains above your head; your life isn't easy, and there's even a possibility of unforeseen events. The car I used to drive wasn't so easy to ride in. The young boss is still here, which means the second wife might come back, and that's how I was taken down by her. Learn from my mistake."
Fang remained silent. He wasn't a fool. From their first meeting, Lin Weiping had consistently given him unfavorable information, and based on his own observations and undercover investigations, he knew this information was true and reliable. He had weighed the options in his mind countless times. However, he had come here at the invitation of a classmate, and he was unfamiliar with the place and the people. He had only just begun to explore this circle, so he didn't know what to do. But he already knew clearly that staying was pointless. From his conversations with Waldo and John in recent days, he sensed that they were only thinking about maintaining the status quo, not about development. The business world today was no longer like when he first entered it; it was now a cutthroat competition. It was like rowing against the current—if you didn't move forward, you fell behind. Maintaining the status quo would only narrow his path further.
Seeing that he remained silent, Lin Weiping guessed that he must be having a lot on his mind, but it was inconvenient for him to say it. So he continued, "The third production line I ordered at the beginning of the year is already gradually being put into operation. I plan to open a new production line at the raw material storage yard. Otherwise, if the bidding is successful in the future, both of my lines will have to be used to rush that bid. I will have to withdraw from the market I have already occupied for a long period of time before completing the bid, which is obviously not possible. It is easy to withdraw but difficult to enter. Mr. Fang is proficient in sales and knows the difficulties best. So I am now forced into a corner. I am extremely busy, and Mr. Bao is also urging me urgently. So Mr. Fang, please go back and think about it immediately. Can you turn around and help me and give me a hand?" Lin Weiping thought that Fang should be a few years older than her and was a man. She guessed that he must have considered joining her, but he was probably afraid of losing face as a man if he said it. Lin Weiping had encountered this kind of thought more than once or twice since she started her career. So if she wanted him to come over, she had to take the initiative. Besides, she couldn't afford to waste any more time. She wished she had three heads and six arms.
Fang Ye's heart softened upon hearing Lin Weiping's tactful and earnest words. Besides, he had always liked Lin Weiping. He had originally planned to go out with his boss today, but Lin Weiping's phone call had led him to bring his boss along instead. He simply enjoyed seeing Lin Weiping. However, he still knew his limits. After considering it for a moment, he nodded and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Lin, and thank you for your honesty. It's just too sudden. I'll think about it and give you an answer tomorrow."
Seeing his serious tone, Lin Weiping deliberately lightened the mood by laughing and saying, "I hope tomorrow's answer won't embarrass the lady."
Fang smiled upon hearing this and said, "I am not a gentleman, but I still hope to move closer to being one."
The two smiled at each other and then walked back to their original spot, while the young boss had already gotten back into his car. Seeing them approach, he immediately rolled down the window and leaned out, speaking clearly in English: "Miss Lin, I've only recently come to understand the pain you felt when my mother dealt with you. I know my mother did it for my sake, so I should be the one apologizing to you. I'm sorry, and if there's anything I can do to make amends, I will."
Lin Weiping was surprised and finally took a good look at this young boss she had never really paid attention to before. Seeing the melancholy now on his usually naive face, she guessed he had tasted the hardships of life in the inheritance battle after his father's death. She smiled and said, "It's not your fault. Everyone has to fight for survival and for themselves. But thank you for understanding." However, Lin Weiping didn't want to say more. Firstly, she felt uncomfortable, and secondly, she didn't want to get involved in their family's conflict. She knew without a doubt that things wouldn't be as simple as Waldo had described. They said goodbye and drove away.
Mrs. Guan was indeed a nice person, but Lin Weiping found her to be more easygoing than decisive. Recalling what Shang Kun had told her about the scene of the will reading, he thought: That's true, if she had enough decisiveness, she should have taken Xiao Liang's share back then. There are plenty of flexible payment methods available. Now, Old Wang really got a good deal.
Lin Weiping asked Xiao Liang with a smile, "I didn't see your light gray Elysee. Did you change cars?"
Mrs. Guan laughed first, "She's been busy opening accounts, changing cars, and resigning lately. In short, she's been spending money."
Lin Weiping immediately chimed in: "That's why I had the foresight to ask Xiao Liang to find a place to eat. Look how nice the environment is here. We can sit on such a spacious terrace, enjoy the warm spring breeze, and not smell the usual smoky or human smells. It's as pleasant as it gets."
Feeling embarrassed by their comments, Xiao Liang, being the youngest and most sensitive, quickly explained, "No, I just saw it online. But it's not the best time to visit here yet; it'll definitely be more comfortable in May. I'll invite you two to dinner then."
Mrs. Guan smiled and said, "Since your sister is here today, I want to say something, and you can see if it's right. Xiao Liang, you've inherited a large sum of money, enough for you to live comfortably for a lifetime. But your mother is coming soon, and you can't just hang around in front of her all day, can you? Besides, listen to my experience. When I first married your father, he was already wealthy, so I happily stayed home and didn't work. But after having children, raising them to primary school, and then going back out, I realized I was already behind. I might not be considered obnoxious, but I was definitely bored. So later, I insisted on working at your father's company to experience the atmosphere. Sure enough, the deeper I went, the more energetic I felt. People probably think I wanted to seize power, but my initial intentions weren't that complicated. So I advise you, you're still young, don't repeat my mistakes."
Xiao Liang, being a sensible person, readily nodded in agreement.
Lin Weiping replied, "That's right, Mrs. Guan really meant what she said. I like to hear that, and it's perfect for us."
Mrs. Guan's eyes lit up, and she smiled, "You two are married? Congratulations!"
Xiao Liang, looking bewildered, asked, "Who are they?"
Mrs. Guan glanced at her sideways and laughed, "You even boasted that you knew your sister Lin the most, but you can't even tell this. It's your Uncle Shang."
Xiao Liang insisted, "I could tell that Uncle Shang was very good to my sister, but I thought my sister looked down on him. My sister is much better off than him."
Lin Weiping knew she was speaking from a naive and sincere perspective, and laughed heartily, "Of course, of course, your Uncle Shang is incredibly lucky to have married me. But it's good this way too, it makes it easier for me to bully him. We didn't have a banquet, so we didn't invite you, please forgive us." He casually changed the subject, "Did Old Wang's transfer payment arrive on time?"
Xiao Liang laughed and said, "This cunning merchant is just a trustworthy one. He always pays me on the last afternoon of the deadline and even faxes me the receipt as proof. Sometimes I think it's kind of cute how adults use tricks. But don't you think it's a pity, sister? You should be wearing a wedding dress and being the most beautiful bride."
"Why make things so complicated, like acting? I find it all so boring." Lin Weiping knew that Yu Fengmian would understand her thoughts, but Xiao Liang might not, so she simply kept quiet.
Mrs. Guan understood, but didn't point it out. She smiled at Xiao Liang and said, "You should learn from her. Your sister Lin is so reserved, low-key, and considerate."
Lin Weiping smiled at her and thought that this Mrs. Guan was quite remarkable, far superior to Bai Yue'er. He began to consider getting to know her better.
After dinner, the three of them went shopping together. Mrs. Guan gave Lin Weiping advice on what Shang Kun needed, for which Lin Weiping was extremely grateful. Back home, he remarked to Shang Kun, "Mrs. Guan is such a good person, why did Lao Guan still find another girlfriend? I just don't understand."
Shang Kun dared not answer the truth, and only said, "Just because two people died in the same car doesn't mean they had an ambiguous relationship. Don't make wild guesses."
Lin Weiping wasn't a novice; his words wouldn't fool her, but she didn't expose him. However, she also realized that dealing with her husband required the same level of dedication she had for making money, and she couldn't afford to be careless in the slightest.
Chapter
Thirty-three
The bidding process is in its final days, and the bids are about to be submitted, but the price is still uncertain. Lin Weiping has a minimum target price in mind: the cost of each product plus a gross profit of 200 yuan. This profit margin is less than her usual orders, but considering the large volume, stable supply, and the high likelihood of the other party having sufficient funds, this price is acceptable. Moreover, for companies from outside the city to compete at this price, they first need to overcome the transportation costs. It seems her only competitor is her current employer. She wonders what their prices will be.
When asked, Fang Ye, who had already joined their ranks, gave a straightforward answer: he had participated in the preparation of all the tender documents, except for the price section, which was left blank. John and Waldo hadn't even consulted him. Lin Weiping believed him, because she had worked there for many years and knew that such family-run businesses clearly separated outsiders from relatives. People without any blood ties were relegated to the periphery—they might be used, but not valued. Position had nothing to do with ability; loyalty was paramount.
Just as he was fretting, Fang Ye came over with his phone and knocked on the door. "President Lin, take this call from a junior business owner."
Previously, the young boss and the second wife had both called her through Fang Ye, but Lin Weiping really didn't want to contact them or needlessly get involved in that vortex, so she didn't call them back. This time, Fang Ye came over with the phone connected. Thinking that Fang Ye wasn't a tactless person, and to give the seller some face, Lin Weiping took the phone. Fang Ye smiled and left.
“Miss Lin, my mother originally came here to meet with you and have a talk, but seeing your attitude, she said there’s no need to talk anymore and asked me to give you a brief overview of the matter.”
The young boss's voice had a hint of probing, but Lin Weiping didn't believe his abilities could improve overnight. Nevertheless, he remained calm and said casually, "Please thank your mother for me. She said she appreciates it, but she's been very busy lately and hasn't been able to find the time."