Chapter 35: Family Matters
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“Going home? Hey, do you realize that by skipping one meal with me, you’re losing out on 9,600 yuan in savings!”
He knew that her father had spent years working away from home and only returned occasionally, so of course she would want to go back and spend time with him. He texted, “Then buy your dad some cigarettes and liquor. I’ll reimburse you!”
She replied, “I already bought them. I’m buying things for my father, so why should you reimburse me?”
“It’s just a gesture. You’ll probably finish dinner late tonight. I’ll come pick you up then. It’s more convenient since I’m driving!”
“No need. I’ll just take a cab. You should get some rest early!”
She was an extremely independent person. If she could avoid troubling anyone, she would—and by anyone, she meant everyone.
“That won’t do. It isn’t safe for a woman to be out alone at night!”
“Big brother, I’ve been living on my own for eight years. How is it suddenly unsafe?”
“I couldn’t do anything about it before, but things are different now!”
In the end, he could not win the argument and could only say, “Then take a picture of the license plate and send it to me before you get in the car!”
“All right, all right! Honestly, you’re such a pain!”
He really had to get her a car soon. It was dangerous for her to come home alone so late each time, especially since her brother’s place was on the outskirts of the city.
Zhao Xiangjun’s brother lived in Happiness Garden on the outskirts, a resettlement housing complex. Her brother was careless about his job and liked nothing better than drinking and playing mahjong.
Her sister-in-law worked for the property-management office in the complex and barely earned enough to get by. Fortunately, they did not have a mortgage to repay, but even so, life was still difficult. Every month, Zhao Xiangjun gave them 5,000 yuan under the guise of providing living expenses for her parents. Otherwise, they would not even have enough money for baby formula.
Her brother’s apartment had three bedrooms, and they had two children. No wonder Chen Xiao had asked where she would sleep when she came home, and she had joked that she would plaster herself to the wall.
When Zhao Xiangjun’s parents were young, they had quarreled almost every day. Now that they were older, her father had mellowed somewhat. He also spent most of the year working away from home and only returned from time to time, so the atmosphere in the family had improved considerably.
Perhaps the elderly couple also realized that they had failed to provide Zhao Xiangjun with a good family environment when she was growing up and felt they owed her something. As a result, they treated her with considerable affection. Of course, that affection mainly meant that they did not interfere much in her affairs and generally supported her opinions. When money or property was involved, however, everything still went to their son.
Dinner was quite lavish, and with the whole family gathered around the table, the scene appeared warm and harmonious.
Zhao Xiangjun had a cool, reserved nature and disliked wasting words. But she was kind to children, who were guileless and free of ulterior motives. Thus, whenever she came home, her niece and nephew would crowd around her.
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Her silence did not mean the subject would pass her by, especially since she was already twenty-five.
“Xiangjun, your brother has a point. No matter what, you should at least meet the man. You’re twenty-five now. You need to start a family sooner or later!”
She set down her bowl and chopsticks. “Why do I have to start a family? I’m perfectly fine living alone!”
“Dad, Mom, look at her. She’s always like this. The Wang Hao I introduced her to this time comes from a very wealthy family. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to marry into that family and live in comfort for the rest of her life?”
“Besides, Wang Hao’s family doesn’t live far from us. We could all look out for one another!”
Her parents said nothing. They gazed at Zhao Xiangjun expectantly, clearly agreeing with her brother.
“What do I need money for? And why should I care about living in comfort? A person only has so many years in this life. Why shouldn’t I spend them happily? Why should I chase after things I don’t even want?”
“You call that happiness? You like staying alone in your room so much that you can go a whole week without leaving the house. What meaning is there in a life like that?”
Zhao Xiangjun replied, “It’s my life, and I have the right to choose how I live it. Please stop worrying about me. Thank you.”
“See? She’s always got that attitude!” Her brother was so angry that he slammed his chopsticks onto the table. The sharp crack frightened his two-year-old daughter, who burst into tears.
Taking advantage of the need to comfort her little niece, Zhao Xiangjun left the dinner table and sat down on the sofa in the living room.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Her brother quickly got up to answer it.
“Uncle?” He was visibly surprised.
“Ah Hui, I heard your brother-in-law had come back, so I thought I’d drop by and take a look.”
Zhao Xiangjun’s brother was named Zhao Hui. Her maternal uncle also lived in the same building, and she rose to greet him.
When her uncle saw her, his eyes lit up at once. “I knew that if your brother-in-law came back, Xiangjun would be here too!”
Her parents invited her uncle to sit down. They had barely exchanged a few words before his attention turned to Zhao Xiangjun again.
“Xiangjun, I haven’t gone shopping in ages. When will you have time to come walk around the shops with me?”
Zhao Xiangjun felt a sudden weariness. Her uncle’s invitation to go shopping was only a pretense. What he really wanted was for her to pay for his clothes.
Whenever he had nothing to wear, he went looking for Zhao Xiangjun. And because she was generous, she never disappointed him. Over time, it had become a habit.
What frustrated Zhao Xiangjun most was that her uncle had two sons. Why did he never ask them and instead keep coming to his niece?
She was generous, but her monthly income was limited. She had several families to support, and even if she spent nothing on herself, it was barely enough.
Still, once her uncle had asked, she found it difficult to refuse. She could only say, “Uncle, I work in the city. Whenever you have time, come to Wansheng Mall. I’ll accompany you around during one of my breaks.”
Her parents were troubled as well. To be honest, they always dreaded her uncle finding out that Zhao Xiangjun had come home. Whenever he did, this was what happened.
Her uncle was delighted. He insisted on draining the remaining two ounces of liquor in the sharing vessel with her brother-in-law in a single gulp.
Zhao Xiangjun frowned deeply at the sight and rose to her feet. “Uncle, you may drink, but you mustn’t drink excessively. If you keep this up, I’ll put the liquor away.”
“Oh, all right, all right! I’ll listen to Xiangjun.”
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Just then, someone knocked on the door again. This time, her brother moved with remarkable speed, rushing to the entrance in a few quick strides and pulling the door open.
“Oh, Mr. Wang! Wang Hao! Come in, come in!”
Everyone in the room froze for a moment. But since guests had arrived, they all stood to welcome them. Zhao Xiangjun alone remained silent, anger already plainly visible on her face.
Her temperament was fierce and unyielding. No one could force her to do anything she disliked. She had principles and a mind of her own, and when it came to matters of importance, she would compromise with no one.
The first man to enter was middle-aged, around fifty. He had a crew cut, a broad face, and a large, protruding belly. His entire appearance radiated wealth. He walked with his feet turned outward and carried himself with the swagger of a successful businessman.
The young man behind him looked under thirty. He wore a round-necked T-shirt with jeans and was handsome and well-built, a fine-looking young man. The corners of his mouth curved slightly upward, revealing a trace of habitual arrogance.
“Dad, Mom, this is Mr. Wang, whom I just mentioned. He’s a major construction contractor. And this is Wang Hao, the young Mr. Wang—young and accomplished.”
Zhao Xiangjun’s parents and uncle hurried to welcome the guests. When Zhao Hui saw that his sister had not moved, he said, “Xiangjun, come over. This is Wang Hao.”
As he spoke, he turned toward Wang Hao and discovered that the young man was staring at Zhao Xiangjun. His eyes seemed glued to her, as though he could not pull them away.
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