Chapter 75: Family Ties and Library Dates

Xu Chen glanced at the banknotes in the safe and smiled as he said,

“Dad, our nursery business is just getting off the ground. We need this money at home, so keep it there.

Besides, I’m just a senior in high school—I don’t really have anywhere to spend it!”

“Don’t worry, Dad. When the time comes, I’ll ask you for cash.”

Xu Zhiquan thought for a moment, then pulled a wad of bills from the safe.

“All right, here’s some spending money for now.”

Xu Chen felt a bit helpless but still accepted the cash.

“Thanks, Dad!”

Xu Zhiquan laughed, reached out his large hand, and ruffled Xu Chen’s hair.

“Your Third Uncle really went all out to win that deal with the Mechanical Factory. He even paid full price for our plant equipment without bargaining.”

Xu Chen replied, “Isn’t that good? We were just short on funds.

And remember when the family split up? Third Uncle cost us a lot back then.”

Xu Zhiquan took a drag from his cigarette and said,

“I’ve watched your Third Uncle grow up…

He probably needs to take a big fall in life to learn his lesson.

Letting him lose out a bit now might be good for him.”

He sighed deeply as he spoke.

Father and son shared an unspoken understanding—some things were best left unsaid.

Their next and greatest challenge was figuring out how to seize control of the Mechanical Factory and pave the way for the upcoming electric vehicle plant.

Meanwhile, Third Uncle Xu Zhihai was bound to take that big fall sooner or later.

He had no idea any problems were brewing at the Mechanical Factory. Right now, he was still strutting around, overconfident.

But Xu Zhiquan had already caught wind of rumors from Boss Huang—trouble would erupt at the factory soon.

Just as Xu Zhiquan had warned before, there was no talking sense into his younger brother,

and if their father tried to intervene, Third Uncle would think Xu Zhiquan was deliberately blocking him.

He’d only resent his brother more and might double down, throwing even more money at the project.

Xu Zhiquan felt powerless about all this.

“Let him learn the hard way. A fall now might do him some good when he’s young.”

……

……

Xu Chen tidied his things in his room, then headed out.

Li Rui drove the black Accord with Xu Chen riding shotgun as they left town.

“Chen, do you want me to drop you at school?”

“Take me to the City Library instead.”

“Got it!”……

More than half an hour later, the black Accord pulled up in front of the City Library.

Xu Chen stayed in the passenger seat, busy replying to messages on his phone.

He’d texted Zhao Fengshou from “Golden Wheat Ear” on QQ to thank him for the fertilizer deal.

As for the local distributor Liu Chi, their father, Xu Zhiquan, had already handled that relationship himself, so Xu Chen didn’t need to worry about it.

Zhao Fengshou’s avatar blinked, and a reply came through:

【Mr. Xu, you’re too polite!】

【By the way, we’ve lined up an ad for our Jin Kela fertilizer. We’ll hire one Black actor and one White actor in the Provincial Capital…】

【Once the shoot is done, I’ll send it over for your approval, Mr. Xu!】

【Mr. Zhao, you’re too kind! I’ll study it carefully when I get it!】……

Li Rui parked, set the handbrake, hopped out, and opened the passenger door for Xu Chen.

Xu Chen smiled, put away his phone, and said,

“No need to be so formal with me!”

Li Rui said nothing and gave an embarrassed smile.

Xu Chen got out, rummaged in his backpack, pulled out two packs of Red Double Happiness, and handed them to Li Rui.

When he’d last bought Hua Zi cigarettes, the shopkeeper had thrown in four packs—two went to Zhao Feng and Fang Tao, leaving these two.

Luckily, Li Rui smoked the same brand.

Li Rui said, “Thanks, Chen!”

“All right, go ahead with your work!

If Dad wants to drink tonight, look after him for me.”

“Don’t worry, Chen. I know how to handle him.”

……

Xu Chen slung his backpack over his shoulder and climbed the library steps.

He’d come to “meet” Feng Qingqing, but in his heart he just wanted to get it over with and return to school early.

Of course, Feng Qingqing had done nothing wrong—she was kind and perhaps too innocent.

He simply didn’t want any more entanglements.

This was how Feng Qingqing had acted when they first met—though after their last encounter, she’d changed her feelings slightly…

On the first floor, Xu Chen bought two bottles of drinks, then took the spiral staircase to the second floor and headed straight for a reading area.

By the window, Feng Qingqing was already seated.

She stood and smiled when she saw him, then sat back down, lips pressed together, looking a bit shy.

Today she wore a white floral maxi dress and a white hair clip.

Several review books lay open on the table before her.

Xu Chen smiled, set one bottle of “Cooler” juice in front of her,

a Japanese-brand fruit drink actually produced by Coca-Cola.

It had been heavily advertised in China for two years and had enjoyed a run of popularity.

Feng Qingqing took the “Cooler” orange juice and said,

“How did you know I like this?”

“Oh… last time at the Youth Center, I saw you buy one.”

Xu Chen scratched his head, feeling a bit regretful.

He should have gotten something like White Flower Snakegrass Water or Black Pine Soil—those super terrible-tasting drinks.

He’d slipped up.

Now he’d left another good impression…

Xu Chen sat down across from Feng Qingqing and pulled out a stack of review notes from his bag,

looking ready to focus on studying and avoid chit-chat.

Feng Qingqing sipped her drink, glanced out the window, and said,

“The driver who dropped you off—he’s your personal driver?”

From her seat by the window, she’d seen the black Accord and Li Rui politely open the door for Xu Chen.

Though she knew Xu Chen’s family was well off, the idea of his “own driver” still surprised her.

“That was my dad’s car; he just gave me a ride…”

Feng Qingqing blinked her big eyes and asked with a smile,

“My dad says your family’s business is booming. Did you land some new projects?”

Xu Chen felt speechless—he hadn’t expected Feng Qingqing to know so much.

Her insight suggested her family might really have some business connections…

Her parents were just low-level civil servants in town, not high ranking.

But in the bureaucracy, sometimes those mid-level bosses hold key resources or have powerful backers.

Xu Chen smiled, “I’m not too clear on my dad’s business affairs.”

He spread out the problems in front of him and focused on studying.

Feng Qingqing hesitated, took another sip, then lowered her head to review her notes…

At one point she spoke up and asked Xu Chen to tutor her through a few math problems.

Xu Chen didn’t refuse, but he kept a professional distance.

Not warm, not cold—he answered her questions but didn’t appear overly eager.

Seeing his concentration, Feng Qingqing felt the pressure of the college entrance exam and buried herself in her own review.

……