Chapter 55 Excessive

Lu Yan pressed his fingers to his brow in frustration. “My father withdrew nearly four years’ worth of wages, and not a single cent was given to my wife or child. Now there’s nothing left, and I can’t produce a single coin. In this situation, what do you think I should do?”

Wang Zhifang was taken aback by the news. “All four hundred and thirty yuan a month was withdrawn by them?”

Even in the city, this sum was considerable.

Lu Yan nodded, his face grim.

Wang Zhifang felt a headache coming on. “That’s a huge amount. Even if it was withdrawn, it shouldn’t all be gone. Let me mediate; maybe they can return what’s left. Don’t let this get so deadlocked, all right?”

He truly feared that Qian Guihua would come to complain again—her voice was loud and commanding, and once she started, the whole office was filled with her presence. Though he disliked it, she was Lu Yan’s mother, and he couldn’t handle the matter too harshly.

Lu Yan forced a bitter smile. “My mother said there’s not a penny left.”

“What? Such a large sum, how did your family spend it all?”

Lu Yan wondered the same. He sat at his desk, wiped his face in defeat, and said nothing further.

Wang Zhifang couldn’t help but feel sympathetic. “All right, focus on the project. Leave this matter to me.”

“Is there a new project?” Lu Yan sorted through the documents in his hands.

Wang Zhifang nodded. “Your last design is being implemented, and the site selection was your suggestion. You may be assigned elsewhere.”

Lu Yan hesitated briefly, then nodded lightly, saying nothing more.

When Wang Zhifang returned to his office, he found Qian Guihua and Lu Tiesheng waiting for him.

Qian Guihua wore a frosty expression, but softened when she saw Wang Zhifang. “I’m sorry to trouble you, Comrade Leader. If there weren’t any issues, we wouldn’t want to bother you. Lu Yan has gone too far.

The two of us struggled to raise him through university, but the moment we withdrew his wages for a few years, he turned against us. What kind of behavior is that?”

Lu Tiesheng stood beside her, stooped and sorrowful, nodding repeatedly as Qian Guihua poured out her grievances. To a stranger, they might seem like honest, unfortunate parents saddled with an unfilial son.

Wang Zhifang’s face was stern. “This isn’t a small sum. Lu Yan and his wife and child have had a tough time these years. As parents, you haven’t considered your son at all—it’s not right.

If you can return the money, perhaps there’s room to reconcile. If not, you’ll have to go back to the countryside.”

Lu Tiesheng’s heart skipped. He’d dealt with Wang Zhifang before and knew him well: as long as things didn’t get out of hand and affect Lu Yan’s reputation, he preferred to smooth things over.

But this was the first time he’d so clearly advised them to leave.

“N-no, Leader, from now on, as long as he pays us eighty yuan a month for our living expenses, that’s enough. We won’t take anything extra,” Lu Tiesheng said.

Wang Zhifang shook his head. “That won’t do. Lu Yan’s legitimate rights are protected. If it were someone else, you wouldn’t even have the chance to sit in front of me to discuss this.

If you want to keep your dignity, do as he says.

If you want to break things off completely, he won’t lose anything.”

Even Qian Guihua, usually oblivious, understood. “What? Are you really sending us back? This is a state institution—how can you be so heartless?”

Qian Guihua’s voice was so loud Wang Zhifang’s ears ached. “If we were heartless, you’d have gone back when Lu Yan returned. Go now. Within ten days, if you haven’t moved, I’ll have the neighborhood committee assist.”

Lu Tiesheng wanted to protest, but Wang Zhifang’s posture was clearly that of someone about to throw them out.

He tugged at Qian Guihua’s sleeve and turned to leave the office.

Qian Guihua was unwilling as they exited. “I want to find Lu Yan.”

Lu Tiesheng frowned. “His place is restricted. Without his permission, can you even get in? There are people guarding it.”

Qian Guihua left with a bitter face.

Downstairs, Lu Tiesheng felt his legs go weak. This unruly son, no matter how capable, was never truly theirs.

It would always be the eldest son.

Before they even left the research institute, they saw Chen Haixia. She carried a bag and, seeing the couple, politely greeted them.

She had heard about Lu Yan’s situation today and was furious.

From the looks of things, Lu Yan’s marriage was certain to endure; thinking of her years of waiting in vain, she felt a bellyful of resentment.

Qian Guihua approached Chen Haixia as if meeting a long-lost relative, took her hand, and sighed, “Ah, Aunt Qian is sorry for you. That brat’s grown wings—won’t listen to his parents at all. Your Uncle Lu and I will go back to the country in a few days.”

Chen Haixia was surprised. “So soon?”

Qian Guihua nodded feebly. Chen Haixia looked at the old couple with contempt—so useless, after all her efforts, nothing had come of it.

“Lu Yan is being quite unfeeling. I’ll speak with him at lunch and see what he says.” Chen Haixia wanted to test Lu Yan’s true reaction.

“It’s pointless, that brat is determined. Truly heartless,” Qian Guihua lamented.

Chen Haixia smiled considerately. “Don’t be so pessimistic, Aunt Qian. Wait and see.”

She leaned in and whispered in Qian Guihua’s ear.

Immediately, Qian Guihua’s face lit up with a smile. “Will that really work?”

Chen Haixia nodded. “Of course. I heard his project has been approved—he may be invited for an interview, his reputation is growing. He’ll have scruples.”

Lu Tiesheng seemed to understand and looked at Chen Haixia differently. If anyone knew his son, it was this woman.

“Then Uncle Lu thanks you.”

Chen Haixia smiled gently. “No need to thank me. In such a big city, it’s not easy to have people around who feel like family. If he’s muddled, we can’t all follow suit.”

Her words struck a chord with Qian Guihua. “You’re right, you know him well. You’re a good match.”

Chen Haixia felt the same, smiling sweetly. “Don’t worry about it for now, don’t let it affect your health.”

As they parted, the bitterness had left Qian Guihua’s face; she smiled and said to Lu Tiesheng, “I’m still satisfied with Chen Haixia as our daughter-in-law.”

Lu Tiesheng said nothing.

When noon came, Su Yang, as usual, went to find Lu Yan for lunch.

They went to the cafeteria, got their meals, and sat down. Almost immediately, Chen Haixia walked over with a tin lunchbox and sat opposite them.

Lu Yan ate without looking at her, but Su Yang spoke up, “Haixia, you seem prettier lately. Are you wearing makeup?”

Ever since Chen Haixia received the two thousand yuan referral fee, she had become much more lavish—new clothes and cosmetics, especially from the counter Shen Qingyi used to frequent, where she bought three sets in a row.