Chapter 338: Feng Nanshu: I Am the Gift

It was two in the afternoon, at Hongrong Homes in Jizhou City, Yuan Youqin sat on the sofa clearly upset.

The quilt that was taken out early for airing was tossed on the sofa, creating a slightly tense atmosphere which made Jiang Zhenghong’s tea pouring cautious.

Jiang Qin had grown up under their watch, and although he lived at school for some time, he usually came home for lunch.

But after starting college, he suddenly left home leaving just the couple to lead their life, adjusting was also a matter of time.

Especially since Jiang Qin had become particularly independent from the summer vacation, as though he no longer needed his parents, even shunning living expenses made this adjustment period all the more prolonged.

A mother worries when her son travels afar, knowing he was attending school classes eased the worry, but vacation trips were a different concern for Yuan Youqin.

Especially at her age, women are quite sensitive.

“Have some tea to calm down, he told you he had urgent things to handle, didn’t he?”

Yuan Youqin took a sip of the tea, “I have to see what sort of gift this bratty kid plans to give me!”

Jiang Zhenghong looked up at his wife, thinking to himself that women are indeed women, seemingly furious but actually eagerly anticipating their son’s gift, wondering if he too would get one.

As they were talking, their door was suddenly knocked; Jiang Zhenghong hadn’t yet reacted when Yuan Youqin had already run to open it.

Feng Nanshu stood prettily outside, sweetly greeting, “Auntie!”

“Nanshu? Jiang Qin said he wasn’t coming back, how come you’re here?”

Feng Nanshu stood there demurely, softly saying, “Jiang Qin said I’m the gift.”

Yuan Youqin stalled for a moment, thinking her cunning son really played his cards right knowing I like this young lady, “Come in, don’t just stand there at the door.”

“Okay.”

Feng Nanshu entered, familiarly opened the shoe cabinet, took out her own slippers and put them on, even Yuan Youqin felt a bit dazed as it seemed like she truly had gained a daughter.

Jiang Zhenghong came over, hearing a soft “Uncle” by his ear and instantly understood.

Ah, so this was the gift.

Yuan Youqin poured Feng Nanshu a glass of water, whispering to Jiang Zhenghong, “Your son is clever, sends Nanshu back to appease me instead of coming himself.”

“A son knows his mother best, he knew you’d fall for it, see? You’re almost laughing out the wrinkles but how come I don’t have a gift?”

Just as Jiang Zhenghong was about to give his opinion, Feng Nanshu pulled a CD out of her bag, “Uncle, this is Jiang Qin’s gift to you.”

“I do have a gift? What’s in it?” Jiang Zhenghong asked curiously as he took it.

“It’s the big silly bear looking handsome.”

Jiang Zhenghong paused, wondering if ‘big silly bear’ was some wildlife disc? He used to love those, but couldn’t his son have sent something more valuable?

Life for the couple had been quite lonely, but Feng Nanshu’s arrival instantly livened up the atmosphere.

Originally gloomy, Yuan Youqin now felt energized, rushing to the balcony to gather the quilt, setting up Jiang Qin’s room to Feng Nanshu’s liking and even inviting her to stay for a few days.

Having lived at Jiang Qin’s before, Feng Nanshu acted unreserved, trailing Yuan Youqin in her slippers and even helping with chores, reinforcing her “I’m well-behaved” image.

Yuan Youqin’s gloom was mostly swept away, yet the thought of Jiang Qin not coming home for the holidays still irked her.

“Maybe it’s better we get used to this sort of life earlier.”

Jiang Zhenghong, fumbling behind the TV cabinet for the long unused DVD player’s power cable, casually reassured her.

Yuan Youqin, puzzled, replied, “What’s good about that?”

“He’s still in college, has breaks and manages to be at home a month or two each year, but what about when he starts working? Sometimes he might not even make it back for New Year.”

“Not coming back for the New Year? Is he needed for the Spring Festival Gala or something?”

Jiang Zhenghong, finding a plug, replied while looking at it, “Remember Brother Cao from my unit? His son works out of town and didn’t come back last year, sent his wife instead.”

Yuan Youqin scoffed, “You make it sound like Nanshu is our daughter-in-law, the rest doesn’t add up. Not coming home for New Year’s, that means even losing our traditions.”

Feng Nanshu sat quietly, appearing clueless, but was internally issuing kindness, the kind that involves giving out several good sentiment cards at once.

“My wife, you always like to contradict me so I won’t argue.”

Jiang Zhenghong plugged in the DVD player and pressed eject, “This player has been idle for over two years, didn’t expect it still works.”

While talking, he took the CD from its protective sleeve, inserted it, and the TV displayed a scene in less than a second.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Linchuan Business Group’s First Station Marketing Plan Q&A and On-site Signing Event, sponsored by the Linchuan Municipal Government…”

“Now, please welcome the Linchuan young entrepreneur and pathfinder of the Linchuan Business Group, Jiang Qin, to speak.”

“?”

As the video played, Jiang Zhenghong’s expression became more puzzled, even rubbing his eyes, feeling both familiar and strange toward Jiang Qin on the screen.

Damn, what’s this about no holidays? My son doesn’t even seem to need a job anymore!

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin was aboard a plane headed to Shanghai, accompanied by Sun Zhi, business manager of the Group Buy Division, and Deng Yuan, marketing manager of the Group Buy Division.

Sun Zhi, a former health product lecturer, came to discuss business, and Deng Yuan, a participant of the field promotion team, was temporarily summoned from a promotional site to get up to speed on Jiang Qin’s plans for the group buying scheme.

Around four in the afternoon, they landed in Shanghai. Stepping out of the airport, they were met by individuals dispatched by Qin Zhihuan, all in suits and white gloves, holding signs that warmly welcomed Director Jiang’s visit and carrying three bouquets of flowers.

Frankly, Jiang Qin had only informed He Yijun, and nominally it was a visit accompanying He Yijun, but the effort Qin Zhihuan put into the reception clearly showed considerable respect.

Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Qin was at the Kempinski Hotel where Qin Zhihuan and He Yijun were already waiting in a banquet hall.

Abalone, sea cucumbers, lobster, sashimi, and various delicacies filled the table, surrounded by dry ice emitting a continuous stream of white smoke, taste wasn’t the priority, but the arrangement was surely impressive.

“Director Jiang, trekking all the way to Shanghai must have been tiring, I drink to you,” Qin Zhihuan stated as host, rising with a glass.

“Director Qin, you flatter me, I merely came for the excitement, it wasn’t tough at all.”

Jiang Qin finished his drink and approached He Yijun, “How does it feel?”

“I’ve seen it and it’s more reliable than I thought,” He Yijun affirmed.

Jiang Qin curiously asked, “You have this conclusion already, why did you still ask me to come?”

“You’re better than me at this; there might be things I didn’t see that you might.”

“Damn, I can’t tell if you’re praising me or taking a dig at me.”

Jiang Qin commented then sat upright and began picking dishes with his chopsticks; he had slept all afternoon, had a small dim sum before boarding, and was frankly starving by now.

After dinner, they exchanged a few pleasantries then announced the end. Jiang Qin wiped his mouth, expecting some after-party but was instead taken to a top-floor suite.

“?”

Aren’t these businessmen supposed to go for a foot massage after dinner? Have Shanghai businessmen already discarded such splendid traditional customs?

You didn’t get a foot massage, how can you do business?

Jiang Qin felt his first impression was right, Qin Zhihuan seemed more of an intellectual than a businessman, apparently unaware of even these unspoken rules.

But the next second, he felt relieved he wasn’t forcibly dragged to get a foot massage, as his dad’s call suddenly came through.

Jiang Qin had been prepping his parents about doing business, increasing the gifts and red envelopes gradually, playing it like warming up a frog in water to prevent shock.

He knew his parents, both straightforward and honest, were more resistant than accepting about starting a business, he hadn’t mentioned it initially fearing they wouldn’t understand.

Even with prior vaccinations, that news conference in the disc still shocked Jiang Zhenghong.

Jiang Qin had no choice but to lay out his entire entrepreneurial timeline, and after a silence of three minutes on the other end, they barely managed to absorb the information he provided.

“No wonder you always say you work for a few hundred people, turns out a few hundred people work for you?” Jiang Zhenghong realized.

Jiang Qin coughed, “We are a team supporting each other through thick and thin. They work for me and I work for them, it’s just that I earn a bit more.”

“…”

Jiang Zhenghong paused, “Let your mom take the phone, I need time to digest this.”

Jiang Qin opened his mouth, “As you command, dad.”

After speaking, he moved the phone away from his ear, dreading his mom’s roar might knock him out, but her reaction was surprisingly calm, only advising him to take care of himself and visit home when he could.

Huh, it seems the little rich girl really has my mom wrapped around her finger, truly a cute creature that swallows anger.