Chapter 301: Reality in Society (Part 1)

Chapter 301: Reality in Society (Part 1)

The moment Hou Weidong saw Zeng Xiangang and the woman beside him, he immediately sensed a simple connection between them. Their physical distance was slightly closer than that of ordinary male and female colleagues—a subtle proximity that could be felt but not easily articulated. Hou Weidong’s sensitivity picked up on it instantly.

The woman’s name was Song Zhicheng. She was the company’s sales manager, appearing to be just in her early twenties. Her complexion was fair, dotted with a dozen small freckles, giving her a look somewhat reminiscent of American girls. Her temperament was straightforward and brisk. Having heard Zeng Xiangang speak of Hou Weidong on multiple occasions, she exchanged a few pleasantries and then enthusiastically led Hou Weidong on a tour of the company’s products.

Throughout the tour, Song Zhicheng spoke in her distinctive Lingxi accent. Zeng Xiangang trailed behind, saying very little. Wearing sunglasses, a rare smile graced his face, and his demeanor appeared much gentler than usual.

At noon, He Zhu had to leave due to some business. Hou Weidong, Zeng Xiangang, and Song Zhicheng went to a nearby Sichuan restaurant for lunch.

During the meal, Hou Weidong paid special attention to the subtle interactions between Zeng and Song. Song Zhicheng picked a chicken leg for Zeng Xiangang and handed him a napkin. These small gestures further confirmed Hou Weidong’s initial impression.

When Song Zhicheng excused herself to go to the restroom, Hou Weidong said, “It seems Miss Song treats you very well.”

Zeng Xiangang didn’t immediately grasp the deeper meaning behind Hou Weidong’s words. He replied, “She is very detail-oriented.”

“Are you married? Do you have a boyfriend?”

Seeing Hou Weidong’s mischievous smile, Zeng Xiangang said, “What are you thinking? She only graduated from a secondary vocational school three years ago. She’s just turned twenty-one; she should be calling me ‘Uncle.’”

Hou Weidong encouraged him, “I’ve noticed Miss Song treats you very well. You should consider your personal life. You can’t stay single forever.”

“What is her situation?”

Zeng Xiangang explained, “She graduated from the Provincial Finance and Trade Secondary Vocational School. After graduation, she was assigned to the Lingxi Boiler Factory. Her whole family worked there. The factory went bankrupt recently, and since our company was hiring, she came over.”

“So she’s only been here for a little over a month.”

“Yeah.”

Hou Weidong cheered him up, “A ten-year age difference between a man and a woman is no problem at all. This girl has an open personality, she’s smart, and she’s pretty. Her only drawback is her difficult family background, which might be something you’d hesitate about.”

“Only others would look down on me; I have no right to look down on others,” Zeng Xiangang sighed. “I’m just a farmer from Yiyang, and I have a young child to support. Miss Song is a good girl; she would never marry me.”

“Times have changed, Old Zeng. You are strong and have a masculine aura—the kind of Toshiro Mifune type that modern girls love. Moreover, you are now a millionaire. Miss Song’s family consists of laid-off workers, and their finances are tight. If she really married you, all their problems would be solved.”

Zeng Xiangang’s ex-wife had been a genuine farmer, frugal and gentle-tempered. Miss Song, however, was a girl from the provincial capital. Their temperaments and images were worlds apart. If Hou Weidong hadn’t pointed it out, he never would have considered such a possibility. Suddenly recalling Miss Song’s youthful, beautiful face and her considerate words, he felt a stir in his heart.

Hou Weidong encouraged him, “Opportunity knocks but once. If you don’t take the initiative, you’ll regret missing the chance.”

Zeng Xiangang grew somewhat disheartened again. “I don’t know if her family would look down on me, a farmer. This matter hasn’t even begun.”

“Never underestimate yourself. In this society, whether a person is successful is mainly judged by wealth. From that perspective, you are a successful person. Furthermore, household registration policies are loosening. If you spend some money to buy a household registration later, all problems will be resolved.” Hou Weidong emphasized, “You need to grasp the key issue. You are now a successful businessman, a true diamond bachelor.”

Under Hou Weidong’s encouragement, Zeng Xiangang’s confidence began to rise. “I’ll try to sound her out.”

Just then, Song Zhicheng returned. A few water droplets still clung to her fair face. She said to Hou Weidong, “Director Hou, I really can’t drink alcohol. My head starts spinning after just one cup.” After sitting next to Zeng Xiangang, she added, “President Zeng, please don’t drink anymore, or your eyes will get inflamed again.”

After lunch, Zeng Xiangang drove Hou Weidong to the highway toll station. Hou Weidong said, “As long as the other person has good character and you like them, you must pursue them bravely and proactively. Happiness is in your own hands.” He raised his voice slightly, intentionally letting Song Zhicheng hear.

Hearing these words, Song Zhicheng’s expression became complex.

Once on the highway, Hou Weidong thought to himself, “Miss Song must have some feelings for Zeng Xiangang too. Heh, heh. Who would have thought that the former village committee director of Jianshan Village could end up marrying a girl from Lingxi.”

Yiyang was a closed, inland small county town. It was not easy for people from the county town to marry girls from Shazhou. For that marriage, Hou Weidong and Xiaojia had made considerable efforts back then. Through their persistent efforts, the lovers finally became a couple. He remembered when Zhang Xiaojia first arrived in Shangqinglin; it caused quite a stir in the town and made the government officials envious.

Now, Zeng Xiangang, a native Shangqinglin commune member, actually had the opportunity to marry a young girl from the provincial capital. The rapid changes in the world over just a few years made Hou Weidong sigh repeatedly.

One of the goals of socialism was to eliminate the urban-rural divide. However, after decades of struggle by the entire nation, the divide had not narrowed but widened. Agricultural and non-agricultural household registrations artificially divided equal citizens into two different categories. For city dwellers and rural residents to intermarry, except during the era of educated youth going to the countryside, it was only feasible if the rural person changed their household registration category.

To be more specific, in the past, for a genuine farmer from Shangqinglin to marry a Lingxi state-owned factory employee who had attended a secondary vocational school was akin to a fairy tale, like plucking a star from the sky, or marrying the younger sister of the Seventh Fairy.

Now, as the era of socialist commodity economy slowly arrived, the evil force of money had torn a breach in this layer of ice. This was why Hou Weidong dared to suggest that Zeng Xiangang pursue Miss Song.

Thinking of Zeng Xiangang’s experience, Hou Weidong once again lamented the rapid changes in the world and felt sincere respect for the old man who had drawn a circle in the south.

During the period when the chief architect of reform, Mr. Deng Xiaoping, passed away, Zhu Yan had taken him around to pay New Year calls. Ordinary people felt only slight sorrow and shock before returning to the lives they had to face.

On the highway, the Mitsubishi car traveled at a standard speed of 120 kilometers per hour, leaving Lingxi and Hou Weidong’s reflections behind. At three in the afternoon, the car returned to the Yiyang New Management Committee. As soon as Hou Weidong stepped onto the courtyard of the New Management Committee, he straightened his chest, restoring the confidence and composure of the committee director.

Back in his office, Hou Weidong had barely warmed his seat when the staff from the Office, Finance Section, Investment Promotion Section, and Infrastructure Section, whose ears were incredibly sharp, almost simultaneously detected his return. They came in one after another to report on their work. Time flew by until five o’clock, when he finally had a moment to breathe.

Taking a sip of tea, Hou Weidong moistened his throat and leaned back in his chair. Suddenly, he thought, “Since the Research Office was established, Yi Zhongcheng has not reported on his work once. This man truly has a scholar’s temperament. He is already in his thirties; the older he gets, the fewer opportunities he has to move up. I wonder what he is thinking.”

Reality was extremely cruel and indifferent. There was no hate without cause, nor love without reason. Heaven did not drop pies for free. One’s future and destiny could only be won through one’s own efforts.

Considering the factor of Yi Zhongling, Hou Weidong had transferred Yi Zhongcheng away from the Office, which held many secrets, but still gave him the title of Director of the Research Office.

As the head of the New Management Committee, he had no reason or need to accommodate Yi Zhongcheng’s temper. He didn’t even need to harm him; he just left him on the sidelines. Over time, Yi Zhongcheng would naturally become a marginalized figure in the New Management Committee. For someone with ideals and high self-esteem, this was an extremely painful thing.

Hou Weidong thought to himself, “Why can’t a smart person like Yi Zhongcheng understand this principle?” He picked up the investigation report Yi Zhongcheng had written previously and read it carefully again. It was undeniable that he possessed some talent; at least within the New Management Committee, he was first-rate.

“Director Yi, have you completed the research topic I assigned you last time?”

Thinking that Yi Zhongcheng was an innocent victim of association and had been injured for the sake of the New Management Committee, Hou Weidong’s heart softened slightly. He called Yi Zhongcheng, urging him on his work as a form of indirect care.

The research topic had been assigned before the Suli Village incident. Yi Zhongcheng had been in a bad mood and had not started the work at all. He stammered, “I just got out of the hospital and haven’t had time to complete it yet.”

Hou Weidong said gently, “Has your health recovered?”

“It’s okay.”

“How the New Management Committee is positioned among the dozen development zones in Lingxi is a matter of strategic development. The Research Office was established recently, and this is currently your most important task. If you need funds or personnel, submit a report to me in advance. If you need to go out for inspection, that is also acceptable.”

When Hou Weidong first arrived at the New Management Committee, Yi Zhongcheng had been full of enthusiasm, offering advice and writing an investigation report that attracted the attention of the County Party Committee. Who would have thought that he would be inexplicably kicked out of the Office for having “high theoretical levels”? Although the Research Office and the Office were at the same rank, Yi Zhongcheng’s self-esteem was hurt, and he felt his future was dim. From then on, he began to slack off.

Hearing Hou Weidong’s favorable promises, his mind didn’t turn quickly enough, and he said, “My abilities are limited; I can only say I will try my best to complete it.”

Life is fair to everyone. In a lifetime, everyone has opportunities to change their destiny. Some people seize the opportunity and proceed smoothly, while others make one mistake and face坎坷 (bumps) at every step.

Yi Zhongcheng sat restlessly in his office. Temporary setbacks and momentary pride had dulled his senses considerably.