Chapter 153: Reunion Dinner (3)
Following Liang Zhongwei’s departure, the members of the family in the room, filled with suspicion and uncertainty, still glanced at Gu Wanrong from time to time.
Gu Wanrong, however, seemed oblivious to their scrutiny, continuing to eat on her own.
The first person who couldn’t hold back was Li Heling, a girl of the same generation from Yao Zuzu’s family at the same table. She asked curiously, “Sister, what is your relationship with that factory manager who just came in?”
“He seemed so respectful toward you. Wow, could it be that you’re a hidden big boss, Sister?” Wu Suixi, who was always inseparable from Li Heling, tilted her head and leaned in.
Gu Wanrong set down her chopsticks and looked up at the two curious girls. In her peripheral vision, the gazes from the others also flickered with the same curiosity.
Only Tong Zishan was different; his entire aura was withered, wishing he could hide and disappear.
“I am currently working in the main headquarters above the company that owns the Xiyuan Food Factory.” After saying this, Gu Wanrong picked up her chopsticks and continued eating. Clearly, she only intended to give this one sentence of explanation.
Good heavens. Once Gu Wanrong said this, the “don’t see me, don’t see me” aura radiating from Tong Zishan vanished instantly.
“The main group?” Wu Suixi was shocked. “Entering Qianyuan Group before even graduating! The difficulty of entering Qianyuan Group has been on the trending searches several times.”
“Right, right, right!”
“Sister, you must be very capable. You won’t have to worry about tuition and living expenses for your four years of university.” Li Heling had heard the adults gossiping that Gu Wanrong’s university tuition was likely paid for with loans.
“Rong-mèir is quite capable. This makes me much more at ease.” Yao Zuzu at the other table spoke as well.
After hearing what Gu Wanrong said, they all collectively assumed that Gu Wanrong had found a good job in a large company and had strong work abilities—likely becoming a small leader.
Tong Zishan curled his lip. She was just a small employee at the group headquarters; her salary might not even be as high as his.
He was a leader in the personnel department at the factory; his rank was surely higher than Gu Wanrong’s.
However, if he could be promoted from the factory to the company or the group headquarters, wouldn’t that be even better?
“Little Sister, have you heard about the group’s personnel arrangements for us at the factories below?” Tong Zishan raised an eyebrow slightly, asking in a friendly tone.
Upon hearing this, Tong Zishan’s grandmother immediately cooperated. “Rong-mèir, you and your brother work in the same company. It’s perfect for you to look out for each other. Your brother is tall and strong; if he’s there, no one will dare bully you.”
Er Yeye was still angry about Gu Wanrong talking back to him. His wife and grandson’s behavior made him a bit unhappy. “What are you talking about? How could a little clerk like her know these things?”
“Rong-mèir, don’t listen to him. Your Er Yeye has had too much to drink.” Er Popo glared at Er Yeye and explained.
“Our Rong-mèir has been capable since she was little. Everyone who sees her says she has a good personality; she must handle her relationships with colleagues very well in the company.”
“If your brother is also promoted to the group someday, he can give you a hand too.”
“A father and son in battle, brothers in fighting a tiger. It’s just a matter of moving your lips; it’s no trouble at all.”
“It’s not good for you to be alone in another city. If your brother goes up, I’ll follow to take care of you both. It’s better to have more people to care for and accompany you.”
Tong Zishan’s family members spoke one after another, as if they had already accepted the matter of promoting Tong Zishan to the group headquarters on Gu Wanrong’s behalf. Their words grew more and more excessive.
They were all first-class masters of “Sichuan Opera face-changing.”
The faces of those who ignore you when they don’t need you but flatter you when they do were displayed to the fullest.
Yao Zuzu also seemed to feel that it was good for the family to put their strength in one place and help each other. Gu Wanrong, a young girl, could have someone to look after her, and everyone in the Gu family would have their own future.
Thus, she followed up by saying, “With Tong Zishan there, at least I won’t have to worry about your safety. Your Second Aunt has also promised to go and take care of you. Having an elder by your side is different.”
(Second Aunt: Tong Zishan’s mother, Er Yeye’s daughter, ranked second in the Gu family.)
Disenchantment with a person can happen in an instant.
Regardless of Yao Zuzu’s intentions, the moment she said those words, the image of a kind and amiable elder in Gu Wanrong’s heart shattered.
There truly was nothing left in the Gu family worth Gu Wanrong’s attachment.
Si Yeye had remained silent the whole time. He hadn’t been back for decades and didn’t feel it was right to interrupt or throw cold water. Seeing things getting weirder, he quickly cut in.
“Oh, she’s still a young girl. This is precisely the time she needs to establish a firm foothold in her unit. Second Brother, your grandson is older than our Rong-mèir; a grown man should learn to be self-reliant.”
“Second Sister-in-law, I remember your grandson is the oldest of this generation in the Gu family. He should set a good example for the younger ones.” Si Popo followed Si Yeye’s lead, affectionately taking Er Popo’s hand and patting it.
Gu Wanrong’s expression remained unchanged; no one could tell what she was thinking.
She only followed Si Yeye and Si Popo’s lead by saying, “The group has specific people in charge of personnel changes. The promotion and demotion lists, along with the reasons, will be announced on the internal official website. Everything is open, fair, and transparent.”
“We people of the Gu family all walk the ‘sunny path’; everyone lives and acts with integrity.” Si Yeye straightened his back, and the aura he had been restraining burst forth at this moment.
This play of trying to manipulate Gu Wanrong under the guise of “for your own good” ended without success.
Someone who had stayed away from their homeland, settled in another city, married, and had children, and didn’t return until decades later would naturally be a stranger to the friends and relatives who remained.
Under such circumstances, combined with his pre-retirement work environment, Si Yeye had no reason—nor was he the type of person—to interfere in the affairs of Gu Wanrong and Tong Zishan’s family, especially to contradict an elder’s words on the spot.
It seemed that the purpose of Si Yeye and Si Popo returning to City C was her.
Gu Wanrong had a sense of it now.
Her grandfather and grandmother, Gu Huairen and Tang Shaoyu, must have had a friendship or had done them a kindness.
However, they hadn’t been in contact for decades. The friendship might exist, but it wasn’t deep; the kindness might be there, but it wasn’t much.
More importantly, there must be a reason involving the System.
“Old Fourth, come back with me. My eldest daughter lives with me to take care of me, and the rooms are already prepared.”
In the first-floor lobby of Shiweiju, Yao Zuzu was trying to persuade Si Yeye and Si Popo to go to her house to rest.
“Auntie, Eldest Sister is even older than us; she can just take care of you. Fourth Brother will stay with me.” Before Si Yeye could refuse, Er Yeye directly rejected Yao Zuzu’s suggestion.
“Our place is also fine.” San Gupo and Yao Gupo also wanted Si Yeye to stay at their houses.
“We’ve already booked a hotel. Staying at a hotel is fine,” Si Popo said.
A large group of people were all arguing, each with their own reasons, and no one could convince anyone else. They all wanted Si Yeye and Si Popo to stay at their own homes.
Was it hospitality?
No.
It was because there was something to be gained.
Tong Shenba drove the car from the garage to the main entrance and stopped, honking the car horn.
“Beep— Beep—”
Seeing this, Gu Wanrong spoke up, “Si Yeye, Si Popo, my car is here. Let’s go together.”
Translator’s Note: “Sichuan Opera face-changing” (川剧变脸) is a metaphor for people who quickly change their attitude. The “sunny path” (阳光大道) refers to a bright, honest, and straightforward way of doing things. “A father and son in battle, brothers in fighting a tiger” (上阵父子兵，打虎亲兄弟) is an idiom emphasizing the strength of family cooperation.
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