【Chapter Twenty-Five】

1

Xiaoqiao linked arms with Meihua as the three walked along the mountain road where the dusk was gradually deepening. Smoke from cooking fires rose everywhere in the mountain village, and the air was filled with the smell of burning acacia leaves.

Xiaoqiao said: “This is the most tragic story I have ever heard. I never imagined that the villagers would make such tremendous sacrifices in order to resist a corrupt regime.”

Wenyan said: “Among them were my father, Baofeng’s father, Aiyu’s father, and Apao’s father. They were all arrested by the military police and executed by firing squad.”

Xiaoqiao said: “So during our second year of high school, you would rather refuse the position of school magazine president than accept Director Du’s condition of joining the Kuomintang.”

Wenyan said: “That’s right! Even now the Kuomintang still rules over the people of Taiwan and still rides on top of the people’s heads.”

Meihua said: “So you are also the family member of a victim from the incident?”

Wenyan said: “Back then, our village was even called the ‘Communist Spy Village’! Don’t you think that was excessive!?”

Meihua said: “I can understand the grievances you have suffered. But…”

Wenyan asked: “But what?”

Meihua smiled and said: “Judging from Xiaoqiao’s Taiwanese accent, you should be Mainlander people, right?”

Xiaoqiao said: “Yes! My parents were both Mainlanders who came over from the mainland in 1949.”

Meihua said: “I’m very curious. One of you is a sweet potato, and the other is a taro. How did the two of you end up together?”

Xiaoqiao hurriedly said: “I’ll answer that question. Wenyan and I have attended the same schools since the first year of junior high. Baofeng, whom you just met, has been my good sister and classmate since first-year junior high. During second-year junior high, Wenyan won second place in a composition competition, which caught my attention, and gradually I developed feelings for him. During high school, the three of us attended the same school again. It was during our second year of high school that we finally got together, but at that time we still had not gained the approval of both families.”

Meihua said: “So you and Wenyan are old acquaintances. No wonder your mutual understanding is so good. This can also be considered a long-distance love journey, right?”

Wenyan smiled and said: “I suppose so? And we still have to keep running for several more years. Perhaps we may not necessarily even reach the finish line…”

Xiaoqiao said seriously: “Wenyan, you must have confidence in our future!”

The thoughtful and observant Meihua noticed something subtle. She realized that Wenyan seemed to be hiding some worries in his heart…

2

Xiaoqiao, Meihua, and Wenying squeezed together onto the same bed. Wenying appeared extremely excited emotionally.

“Big sisters, can Wenying sleep hugging both of you tonight?”

Meihua said: “Of course you can!”

Wenying said: “I’m so happy! During these past few years, sometimes I slept with Mom, and sometimes Grandma came to sleep beside me, but neither of them really talked with me much.”

Xiaoqiao said: “Tonight Meihua and I will stay with you!”

Meihua smiled and said: “With Wenying, this little sister-in-law, accompanying you, your days in the future won’t be boring either.”

Xiaoqiao said: “That’s right! Wenyan’s family members are actually all very easy to get along with.”

Meihua said: “I can tell. These country people are very simple and honest. By the way, was it Wenyan who took the initiative to pursue you in the beginning?”

Xiaoqiao thought for a moment, smiled, and said: “No, actually it should count as me chasing after Wenyan.”

“Chasing after him? What do you mean?” Meihua asked with great interest.

Xiaoqiao said: “Wenyan has always been rather popular with women. Besides Baofeng, who was his childhood sweetheart, there was also a senior schoolgirl who liked him back then. So I struck first in order to prevent someone else from getting ahead of me.”

“So that’s how it is!” Meihua said. “If it were me, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to put aside my pride like that!”

Xiaoqiao said: “At the time I thought to myself, my qualifications aren’t bad either, right? How could I surrender so easily?”

Meihua said: “You have more courage than I do!”

3

Inside the activity room of the “Aurora New Poetry Society,” Meihua handed the first draft of her novel to Wenyan for him to read.

After reading for quite a while, Wenyan raised his head and asked: “This long realistic novel, ‘The Coldest Spring,’ has a very wonderful development in its story. Are you planning to publish it?”

Meihua said: “Receiving your affirmation and praise as the person involved shows that my painstaking efforts were not wasted. Therefore, of course I will publish it.”

Wenyan said worriedly: “Although this subject matter has been rewritten by you to avoid sensitive times, places, and characters, attentive readers will still be able to tell what it refers to. Once it is published, I worry that perhaps trouble may come upon you…”

Meihua said: “The fact that you think things through for me means that you regard me as a good friend. However, you don’t need to worry. I already showed the manuscript to my father, and he will consider how to handle it.”

Wenyan said: “Alright then! I respect your decision.”

Meihua said: “The club president said that this afternoon we’re going to National Taiwan Normal University’s ‘Fountain Poetry Society’ to interact with their club. Why don’t you come along and broaden your horizons?”

Wenyan said: “I have a senior schoolmate from high school who is a member of Fountain. It just so happens that I can go chat with her.”

Meihua asked: “Don’t you need to report it to Xiaoqiao first?”

Wenyan said: “Why would I need to? She has things to handle at the department office this afternoon.”

Meihua said: “Oh! Then that’s good.”

4

Inside the activity room of National Taiwan Normal University’s Fountain Poetry Society, long tables were set with cut and washed fruit platters and cookies. Society president Tang Yushu and his companions sat on one side, while the members of the Aurora Poetry Society sat on the other. Shao Yanling deliberately chose the seat directly opposite Wenyan. The presidents of both societies introduced their members to each other.

Tang Yushu said: “Shao Yanling, second-year Chinese literature student, winner of this year’s Normal University Literary Award first prize in modern poetry. She is an extremely promising female poet in our society and a leading candidate for future society president.”

Tang Yushu continued: “Zhang Weiwen, our activities leader, is skilled at leading recreational group activities. He writes modern poetry and children’s poetry, and his favorite poet is the late Yang Huan.”

Then it was Aurora Society president Lu Zhiqiang’s turn to introduce his companions: “Your society is overflowing with talent like a continuously gushing fountain, while our Aurora Poetry Society is producing newcomers one after another. First, let me introduce Zhang Meihua, winner of our school’s Literary Award first prize in modern poetry. She is quick-witted and comes from a scholarly family. Her father, Zhang Wenhuan, is precisely the famous senior Taiwanese novelist.”

Such an introduction indeed immediately made Meihua the center of everyone’s attention. Meihua proactively waved her small hand toward everyone, graceful yet approachable.

Lu Zhiqiang continued: “Beside Meihua is student Yu, winner of both the modern poetry and fiction prizes in our school’s Literary Awards. He is known as ‘Little Yu Guangzhong.’ His name is Yu Wenyan. Everyone should already have read his articles in literary supplement magazines. I jokingly call him a Shaolin lay disciple possessing extraordinary skills. In the future he is very likely to become my successor.”

These words of introduction aroused the curiosity of Fountain’s members, and they privately whispered among themselves. Yanling stared intently at Wenyan, an action that unexpectedly caught Zhang Meihua’s attention.

Meihua quietly asked: “That pretty and talented girl opposite us who looks like a doll should be your high school senior schoolmate, right?”

Wenyan nodded and responded with an “Mm.”

Lu Zhiqiang continued: “Although those two just now are both still newcomers, they can already be called super rising stars. Next I will introduce our society’s lyrical poet Wen Mo. He is skilled at songwriting and lyric writing, and the poets he admires most are Xu Zhimo and Zheng Chouyu…”

5

During the social gathering period, Tang Yushu and Shao Yanling came over to find Wenyan and Meihua.

Yanling smiled and said: “Wenyan, congratulations! You’re practically becoming an award-winning expert.”

Wenyan foolishly laughed and said: “Senior Yanling, please don’t flatter me like that, or I’ll become conceited.”

Meihua said: “You truly deserve it, Wenyan.”

Yushu said: “Student Wenyan, another day we would like to invite you to come give a lecture at our society and share your experiences in submitting works and participating in competitions.”

Wenyan said: “President, your high regard for me makes me feel somewhat overwhelmed.”

Yanling said: “Wenyan, you could gather together the articles you’ve already published and consider publishing a book!”

Wenyan said: “Publishing a book costs a lot of money. At the moment I haven’t considered it yet.”

Meihua also said: “With the quality of your works, you are capable of publishing a book.”

6

Meihua returned to her home in Taichung and gave the novel manuscript to her father Zhang Wenhuan to review.

Zhang Wenhuan praised her, saying: “This novel ‘The Coldest Spring’ is written deeply and vividly. You can submit this novel to a newspaper for serialization. I think the editor-in-chief will be very interested in this novel.”

Meihua asked: “I already showed it to Yu Wenyan, and he reminded me that although this subject matter has undergone necessary rewriting to avoid sensitive times, places, and characters, attentive readers will still be able to tell.”

Zhang Wenhuan thought for a moment and said: “Although this subject matter is somewhat sensitive, you are presenting it in the form of a legendary novel with a changed appearance and identity. Even if the authorities know that you are alluding to the Lukou Base Incident, they cannot insist with certainty that you are.”

Meihua asked: “Dad, will this novel really not cause any problems?”

Zhang Wenhuan said: “Since you are going to publish it, then don’t worry about those things. If anything really happens, I will help you bear it.”

7

Zhang Meihua’s long novel “The Coldest Spring” began serialization in the literary supplement section of a certain newspaper. Although the names of people and places had all been rewritten, it still attracted the attention of the Security Bureau.

Inside the Security Bureau office in Xindian, Xing Aihua and Gu Zhengwen were discussing the matter.

Xing Aihua said: “Director, regarding the author Zhang Meihua of this ‘The Coldest Spring,’ after I verified with the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, her father is indeed the novelist Zhang Wenhuan. How should this case be handled?”

Gu Zhengwen said: “This novel uses an allusive approach to avoid sensitive times, places, and characters. Clearly Zhang Wenhuan must be giving instructions behind the scenes. We should not act rashly, otherwise outsiders will think we ourselves are drawing parallels. Moreover, her old man Zhang Wenhuan is not a simple figure either.”

Xing Aihua said: “In that case, based solely on this novel, there still is not enough evidence to convict the author.”

Gu Zhengwen said: “How about this. First go to National Taiwan University and find Chief Military Instructor Huang Guangming. Present this article and request that Zhang Meihua be summoned for questioning. If that doesn’t work, we will make a special trip to Taichung and gently persuade Zhang Wenhuan. More than ten years ago, I agreed to let him bail out Su Yulan. If you calculate it, he still owes me a favor.”

Xing Aihua asked worriedly: “What if the father and daughter refuse to accept the soft approach?”

Gu Zhengwen pondered silently for quite a while, then said: “That is precisely the difficult part. This novel has not crossed the red line. If we forcibly try to convict the author, I’m afraid it will provoke criticism from public opinion in society. Moreover, even if we send the case to the military tribunal, with the iron-faced judge Ouyang Jing overseeing it, he would probably reject it and throw it back at us. Let’s proceed this way for now! Whether it succeeds or not, we still have to give it a try.”

8

Xing Aihua came to see NTU’s Chief Military Instructor Huang Guangming.

Xing Aihua took out a stack of newspaper supplements and presented them to Chief Military Instructor Huang Guangming: “Senior, the author of this serialized novel ‘The Coldest Spring’ is Zhang Meihua, a student from your university’s Chinese Department. We reasonably suspect that this novel is an allusion to the Lukou Village Base Communist Spy Case and carries the suspicion of inciting ethnic conflict.”

Liu Sicheng, the College of Liberal Arts military instructor standing nearby, saw the stack of novels and said: “Chief, I’ve been reading this serialized novel myself, and I don’t think there’s anything inappropriate about it.”

Huang Guangming said: “Oh? What exactly is this novel about?”

Liu Sicheng said: “It mainly tells the story that during the late Qing Dynasty, local officials preyed upon the common villagers, frequently using various excuses to extort money and supplies from villagers in different places. Several outsiders entered a place called Luming Village and taught the villagers how to unite together to resist the repeated extortion of corrupt officials. Those corrupt officials were very dissatisfied with those outsiders, so they ordered people to file accusations before Magistrate Chen Yi, falsely claiming that the village was sheltering Japanese bandits wanted by the imperial court. Magistrate Chen Yi, failing to investigate carefully for a moment, immediately ordered a general to lead a large force of officers and soldiers to surround the village and arrest those outsiders along with many villagers suspected of sheltering them. Several hundred villagers were implicated because of this case. Most of those people were later executed, while a small number were exiled to the frontier borders. In that Luming Village, every household had people who were arrested or killed, practically as if the village had been massacred.”

After hearing this, Chief Military Instructor Huang Guangming said: “Junior, the story content of this novel doesn’t sound problematic at all to me? You say it alludes to the Lukou Base Case, but I think that interpretation is very far-fetched. If you want to question Zhang Meihua, I must be present!”

Xing Aihua said: “Of course, of course!”

Huang Guangming continued: “If there is no concrete evidence and no official court subpoena, I absolutely will not allow your Security Bureau to arbitrarily take away any student. Junior, this is my position. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Xing Aihua said: “Understood, understood!”

Huang Guangming said: “Instructor Liu, go to that student’s department office, inform the department chairman and department military instructor, then bring her to the Chief Military Instructor’s office.”

“Yes, Chief, I’ll go right away.” Liu Sicheng saluted, turned around, and left.

Huang Guangming said: “Let me tell you, junior, you know the current university president Qian Siliang. After the ‘April Sixth Incident: Wheat Wave Singing Troupe,’ he dislikes students becoming involved in politics, and even more so does not want the Security Bureau and intelligence agencies extending their hands into the campus. Therefore, regarding Zhang Meihua’s matter, my bottom line is this: unless you go through normal judicial investigation procedures and obtain a prosecutor’s detention warrant or arrest warrant, you cannot take her away.”

Xing Aihua said: “Yes, senior! I completely respect your position.”

9

Military instructor Liu Sicheng arrived at the Chinese Department and met teaching assistant Tao Xiouya and department military instructor Wu Dazhao.

Liu Sicheng said: “Assistant Tao, Junior Dazhao, under the instructions of Chief Military Instructor Huang, please have your department’s second-year female student Zhang Meihua come to the Chief Military Instructor’s office.”

Military instructor Wu Dazhao asked: “Senior, what happened? Why does the Chief want a student from our department to go to the office?”

Liu Sicheng explained tactfully: “Security Bureau group leader Xing Aihua specially came to visit the Chief and said that their bureau’s superiors have certain opinions regarding a novel, and they would like to speak face-to-face with the author Zhang Meihua.”

Assistant Tao asked in surprise: “A Security Bureau officer wants to question Zhang Meihua? Isn’t that making a mountain out of a molehill?”

Wu Dazhao said with difficulty: “But the department chairman went to Academia Sinica for a meeting today. It’s not appropriate for me to overstep my authority in handling this.”

Liu Sicheng said: “Dazhao, then why don’t you accompany Zhang Meihua to the Chief’s office? The other party only wants to communicate a little and won’t make things difficult for the student.”

Wu Dazhao said: “Alright then! I’ll go to Zhang Meihua’s classroom and bring her over. Senior, please wait a moment.”

10

On the way there, military instructor Liu Sicheng had already given a brief explanation of the other party’s intentions so that Meihua could mentally prepare herself.

Military instructor Wu Dazhao and Liu Sicheng brought Zhang Meihua to Chief Military Instructor Huang Guangming’s office.

Chief Military Instructor Huang Guangming said: “Student Zhang Meihua, this Security Bureau officer has something he wants to discuss with you.”

Xing Aihua tactfully said: “Student Zhang, regarding your serialized novel ‘The Coldest Spring’ published in the newspaper supplement, because our superior officers have different interpretations of it, I am worried that unnecessary misunderstandings may arise, so I specially came here to communicate with you and hope to gain your understanding.”

Zhang Meihua said: “Sir, you say your superiors have different interpretations of my novel? Then does that mean you can freely rely on subjective judgment and arbitrarily fabricate charges against me?”

Xing Aihua had not expected that the girl before him would be so sharp-tongued and would launch a counterattack based on the flaw in his wording from earlier. He could only awkwardly force out a smile and say: “Young lady, you are very eloquent. That was not what I meant just now, but rather…” Xing Aihua was thinking about how to continue his explanation.

Zhang Meihua pressed her advantage: “But rather what? But rather you feel that you want to fabricate charges against me, yet lack proper justification, so under the name of a questioning session, you directly pressure me into retreating when faced with difficulties.”

Xing Aihua was repeatedly cornered by the other party’s words. Although angry inside, he could not lose his temper in front of several instructors. He forcibly suppressed his emotions and continued smiling as he said: “I know your father is the novelist Zhang Wenhuan. Both my superior General Gu and I respect him greatly. We do not wish for this novel to damage the harmony between us. I hope Student Zhang can understand our position.”

Zhang Meihua said: “After saying so much, your real purpose is simply to make me stop serializing that novel. You are obviously interfering with my freedom of speech, aren’t you? Besides, if there is no guilt in your hearts, why would you worry about what kind of associations this novel might provoke?”

Xing Aihua said: “I have conveyed my superior’s intentions. I hope you will conduct yourself wisely.”

Chief Military Instructor Huang Guangming ruled: “How about this? If both sides continue arguing, there still won’t be any result. Let this matter end here for now.”

After running into Zhang Meihua’s firm resistance, Xing Aihua felt no further interest in staying and thus took his leave from the school.

11

After returning to the Security Bureau, Xing Aihua reported the results to Gu Zhengwen: “That Zhang Meihua is extremely arrogant and simply refused to give me any face. Because Chief Huang was present, it was inconvenient for me to lose my temper at the time.”

Gu Zhengwen said: “That little girl truly possesses her father’s style. Both father and daughter are equally stubborn.”

Xing Aihua said: “Why don’t I find several plainclothes men and directly seize Zhang Meihua, then frighten her a little?”

Gu Zhengwen angrily rebuked him: “Can you use your brain a little? Matters like this should not be handled so crudely and recklessly. Once Zhang Meihua disappears, her father and the school will certainly suspect that we sent people to do it.

That would only give those dissatisfied elements an excuse to attack us.”

Xing Aihua said: “Director, since you have such concerns, are we simply supposed to turn a blind eye and allow that Zhang Meihua to continue causing trouble?”

Gu Zhengwen thought for a while and said: “We should prescribe the proper remedy for the illness and directly go speak with Zhang Wenhuan.”

12

Zhang Meihua saw Wenyan in the library reading room and proactively greeted him: “Wenyan, you came to the library to study?”

“Yes!” Wenyan said. “Many students are talking about your serialized novel! They say it’s like a modern version of ‘Water Margin,’ and that the plot is very exciting.”

Meihua said: “Hearing you say that the readers’ response has been enthusiastic makes being questioned by the Security Bureau worthwhile!”

Wenyan asked in surprise: “You were questioned by the Security Bureau?”

Meihua said: “Yes! Two days ago a Security Bureau officer suddenly came to the school to question me.”

Wenyan could not help but break into a cold sweat on Zhang Meihua’s behalf and asked with concern: “They didn’t do anything to you, did they?”

Meihua proudly said: “What could he possibly do to me? The instructors were all present during the questioning.”

Wenyan let out a sigh of relief and said: “That’s good then!”

Meihua said: “Why are you even more nervous than I am?”

Wenyan said: “I don’t want anything to happen to you, Meihua.”

Hearing how much Wenyan cared about her safety made Meihua feel deeply warmed inside: “Too bad you already have a girlfriend, otherwise…”

Wenyan said: “What are you saying, Meihua? Friends should care about each other.”

13

Gu Zhengwen and Xing Aihua traveled to Taichung to visit Zhang Wenhuan.

When Zhang Wenhuan saw the two men, he already understood the purpose of their visit.

Xing Aihua said: “Mr. Zhang, your daughter Zhang Meihua serialized a novel in the newspaper supplement that alludes to the Lukou Base Case. This action has already attracted the attention of higher authorities. We hope you can persuade her to withdraw the novel in order to spare us from having to make things difficult.”

Zhang Wenhuan maintained a firm attitude and said with a smile: “My daughter’s novel is merely ordinary literary creation.

Surely the Security Bureau would not make a mountain out of a molehill?”

Gu Zhengwen said: “Anyone with discernment can see that there is a problem with that novel. Once it alarms the higher authorities, I’m afraid the matter will no longer be something our Security Bureau alone can control.”

Zhang Wenhuan countered: “Director Gu, according to what you’re saying, are you planning to take advantage of this opportunity to create a literary inquisition?”

Gu Zhengwen said: “Brother Zhang, your words are too harsh. We merely hope you can restrain your daughter and ask her to know moderation. I am kindly advising you because I do not want the situation to expand until it becomes irreparable.”

Zhang Wenhuan coldly laughed and said: “So you are threatening me?”

Gu Zhengwen smiled and said: “Calling it a threat would hurt our relationship. Back then when you came to the Security Bureau to bail out Su Yulan and her daughter, I did not make things difficult for you. Consider it as me asking you for a favor in return. Give me a little face and advise your daughter not to force us into handling this officially according to regulations.”

Zhang Wenhuan softened his attitude and said: “Alright then! Director Gu is a reasonable man. When my daughter returns from her vacation in a couple of days, I will advise her.”

Gu Zhengwen said: “Act quickly! I’m worried I won’t be able to withstand the pressure from above.”

14

After class, Wenyan came to the entrance of the English Department classroom in the College of Foreign Languages to pick up Xiaoqiao. Wang Jun was holding a bouquet of flowers and waiting at the classroom entrance. Xiaoqiao and Lin Meidai walked out of the classroom together.

Wang Jun quickly stepped forward, wanting to hand the flowers to Xiaoqiao: “Junior Xiaoqiao, do I have the honor of inviting you to dinner and a movie?”

Xiaoqiao took the bouquet, smiled, and said: “Thank you, my boyfriend came to pick me up.” She casually threw the bouquet into the nearby trash can.

Wang Jun looked stunned: “Junior, you…”

Meidai said: “Senior, Xiaoqiao already belongs to someone, so you don’t need to waste your effort anymore.”

Xiaoqiao walked toward Wenyan, turned back, waved to Wang Jun, and said, “Bye-bye.” Seeing this, Xiaoqiao’s classmates began jeering and mocking Wang Jun.

Classmate A: “This senior Wang Jun is really thick-skinned!”
Classmate B: “Senior Wang Jun got rejected by Xiaoqiao!”

Looking at the backs of Xiaoqiao and Wenyan as they left, Wang Jun felt both ashamed and angry: “I refuse to believe it!” Wang Jun struck his fist into his palm and made up his mind that he would definitely win Xiaoqiao over.

15

Meihua returned home during vacation, and Zhang Wenhuan said: “Meihua, people from the Security Bureau came to our house two days ago.”

Meihua said in surprise: “These people really refuse to give up!”

Zhang Wenhuan said: “Since they already came to our door to deliver a warning, I think you should withdraw that novel.”

Meihua said unhappily: “They are the ones with guilty consciences, making the connection themselves. I have no need to bow to evil forces!”

Zhang Wenhuan earnestly advised her: “We are in the open, while they are in the shadows. Meihua, I do not want anything to happen to you. This novel had better be put on hold for the time being.”

Unable to withstand her father’s pleading, Meihua said: “Father, I feel that we are so cowardly!”

Zhang Wenhuan comforted her, saying: “Common people do not fight against officials. Stop while things are still favorable. There is no need for us to clash head-on with them.”

16

Inside the living room of the Xia family mansion, the master of the house, Xia Yitiao, sat at the table examining a stack of reports: “Sales have dropped drastically for three consecutive months. If this continues, the company will collapse sooner or later.”

Zhai Jialing, who was knitting a sweater, asked with concern: “How did this happen?”

Xia Yitiao said with a worried expression: “Ever since that Max Factor cosmetics distributor appeared in Taiwan, the sales of our Shiseido cosmetics have started to decline sharply.”

Jialing stopped the work in her hands and said: “There’s nothing we can do about that! I heard from the ladies and young women who have used it that the American-brand Max Factor cosmetics are priced one-third cheaper than our Shiseido products. Consumers naturally love the new and tire of the old. Besides, the other side truly has the advantage in pricing. It’s very hard for us to compete with them in a price war.”

Xia Yitiao said: “Right now there is one solution, and that is to borrow Boss Wang’s department store distribution channels and establish cosmetics counters in his chain department stores.”

Jialing thought for a moment and said: “But if we do that, won’t we have to spend a considerable amount on personnel expenses and venue rental fees?”

Xia Yitiao said: “If we station one salesgirl at each counter to provide product trials and makeup services, we should be able to bring consumers back.”

Jialing said: “This idea is indeed very creative and worth trying, but would Boss Wang really be willing to help us?”

Xia Yitiao said: “Boss Wang’s son likes our daughter very much. If the two families become in-laws, Boss Wang will definitely do his utmost to help us.”

Jialing said: “Really? I do not agree with you scheming over our daughter! It’s not as if you don’t know her personality. Her lifelong marriage matters are not for us to decide.”

Xia Yitiao said: “Could it be that you mother and daughter are going to watch helplessly as our company heads toward bankruptcy? Go persuade Xiaoqiao. After all, she is also a member of this family.”

Jialing complained: “What you’re doing really puts me, as her mother, in a very difficult position!”