pertwk Chapter 56 I Miss the Zhang Family
Chapter 56 I Miss the Zhang Family
In the battlefield of power and money, the wise exchange betrayal for freedom, while only a fool feeds greed with dignity.
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On her way home, Zeng Jia felt like she was walking on cotton wool, her heart pounding with anxiety. She had expected that when she saw Zhang Zhishan, he would slam his fist on the table, glare at her, call her an ingrate, and then use some of his workplace manipulation tactics to brainwash her.
But to her utter surprise, he had a complete change of heart today! And he even started talking to her with that earnest, heartfelt tone?!
She's always been someone who responds better to gentleness than force. No matter how big the issue, as soon as the other party softens their attitude, she feels embarrassed, afraid of hurting them.
Most importantly, this isn't Zhang Zhishan's style at all! Could it be that he has a change of heart sometimes? What exactly is he up to?
Zeng Jia stumbled home, feeling completely disoriented. The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. She realized she had indeed helped Zhang Zhishan a great deal, handling all sorts of chores and even secretly holding assets on his behalf. But anyone could do those things perfectly well. Why would he change his usual methods and go to such lengths to win her over for such trivial matters? Had she become that valuable to him?
Then my phone chimed with a message from Zhang Zhishan. He had laid out his plans for the next three days in detail.
Besides a bunch of trivial matters for her to handle, there was also a day when she was asked to take the initiative to invite Shi Jun to dinner. The three of them were going to have a private meal and talk about things that couldn't be said. He also sent her an application form for Peking University's EMBA program. At the end, he attached a long voice message.
Although she spoke at length, a long 60-second monologue, the gist was simple: Shi Jun was someone she couldn't afford to offend; she had to be used, no matter the method, as getting the job done was paramount. Her affair with Wang Haowen was common knowledge; if she didn't produce some results, even if he was the big boss of Tianyi, she wouldn't be able to keep her at Tianyi. She had to show the company something.
Zeng Jia's confusion vanished in an instant. It turned out that Zhang Zhishan had only spoken to her in a gentle and kind tone to get Shi Jun to do his bidding.
As for Peking University's EMBA program, it won't start until June. By then, not only will she be hiding somewhere, but it's also uncertain whether Zhang Zhishan will still be able to hold onto Tianyi's position.
He keeps calling her his "dear younger sister," but if she were really his sister, would he force her to fawn over a man he finds offensive? But you never know. In Zhang Zhishan's logic, the outcome is everything; the process and methods are just worthless scraps to be trampled on.
What should we choose now?
Zhang Zhishan's intentions were crystal clear: if she wanted to keep this job and opportunity, she would have to honestly invest her resources and suffer significant losses. But even if she helped him deal with Shi Jun, lowered herself to the dust, and sacrificed everything, wouldn't Zhang Zhishan simply kick her aside and make her a scapegoat after the deed was done?
Zeng Jia prided herself on being clear-headed and wasn't narcissistic at all. She didn't believe that Zhang Zhishan, who had severed all ties with Yu Li, could truly have deep feelings for her; he was just using her.
But giving up is truly difficult. After all, it's her livelihood, her foundation for survival. Giving it up is even more heart-wrenching than breaking up with Wang Haowen. What will Wang Haowen choose? Will he choose to stay? After this thought popped into her head, Zeng Jia gave a self-deprecating laugh. She couldn't even keep her own job, yet she still wanted someone else. She really was a bit too carefree.
Wang Haowen and Yu Li had a very "pleasant" chat. As soon as they met, he spilled the beans, revealing that he and Zeng Jia had been a couple for a long time.
Yu Li was also more efficient in her work. Without saying a word of nonsense, she directly gave Wang Haowen the conditions: completely cut ties with Zeng Jia, immediately transfer him to Shanghai to work as the vice president of a consulting firm, with a monthly salary of 50,000 yuan plus a 5% commission on projects.
When the pie came crashing down on him, Wang Haowen was just as stunned.
"You can't keep up with the numbers, can you? Let me break it down for you," Yu Li said, adjusting her clothes as she spoke to him, her tone calm and steady, just like usual. "Leaving aside your monthly salary, just for each brand you bring in for Tianyi, that's 50,000 yuan. If you bring in thirty at once like last time..." She paused deliberately, "...1.5 million. Wang Haowen, you can easily make a million a year, what kind of girlfriend can't you find? Zeng Jia, that little girl, she's much more cunning than you, she's not very ambitious, she's just dragging you down."
"Don't blame me for sending you to Shanghai. Your affair with that girl has caused quite a stir. I can't protect you in front of the board members. We have to give them an explanation. There are so many eyes watching."
"You can no longer take charge of the international investment bank's affairs. I will find someone to take over for you. Go back and think it over carefully. We'll talk properly again when you're at work tomorrow." Yu Li was in a hurry to attend a social gathering for wealthy women, and it was rare that she didn't let Wang Haowen accompany her. After saying this, she sent him away.
After leaving Yu Li's mansion, Wang Haowen didn't rush home. Instead, he stood alone on the street, smoking in the cool breeze, puffing away, so irritable that he wanted to chew up and eat the cigarette butts.
Actually, Yu Li offered very generous terms, but he wasn't happy at all. Because the person in charge of that Shanghai consulting firm was none other than Song Yaxuan's biological mother. He wanted this high-paying job? Fine! First, he'd have to please Miss Song and her arrogant wife.
To put it bluntly, this high salary is not earned through genuine skills and hard work; it is earned by bending over, bowing one's head, and begging on one's knees.
Putting aside how difficult it was to tolerate Song Yaxuan's delicate and pretentious personality, just thinking about Mrs. Song's arrogant and condescending attitude made him feel itchy all over, as if he were crawling with ants.
Think about it carefully, why did he join Tianyi after losing his job? Wasn't it just so that he and Zeng Jianeng could save up for a down payment as soon as possible, buy a small place, and settle down to get married and live a stable life?
Now look what's happened! His girlfriend's become his ex, and he's willingly wallowing in self-pity for a few pennies. Everyone wants to climb the social ladder, but you have to be comfortable and happy first. Instead of constantly serving those two tyrants, he'd be better off back in his alley walking the birds for the local folks!
As his thoughts drifted to Zeng Jia, Wang Haowen started to wonder again if that old fox Zhang Zhishan had also offered her a glittering but empty promise. What would she choose? An ugly rich guy with a house and a car? That wasn't out of the question. In terms of wealth and family background, Shi Jun was definitely miles ahead of him; he couldn't compare at all.
Thinking of this, Wang Haowen chuckled self-deprecatingly, casually pulled out his phone from his pocket, and his fingers, as if acting on their own, pulled out the video of "squatting down to tie shoelaces" and watched it over and over again.
Only after the phone completely drained its battery, went black, and shut down did he click his tongue in annoyance, "Wang Haowen, you're such a loser, you're fucking shameless!"
Zeng Jia stayed at home quietly until midnight, feeling suffocated and tossing and turning, unable to shake off the feeling. She then made a video call to her mother, taking advantage of the time when it was back home.
The elderly couple had just finished tidying up their small shop and seen off the last group of customers.
"Is everything alright at home? Is it much warmer now that spring has arrived? Dad, please don't push your back too hard. Mom, your knees are very sensitive to cold, so wear more clothes and take calcium supplements regularly..." She racked her brains and rattled off all the nonsense she could think of. She was so full of grievances that she had nowhere to vent, and she just wanted to hear what her parents had to say.
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zhen's large face suddenly appeared on the screen, his eyes filled with genuine concern. "Jiazi! Dad misses you. Can you come home for a couple of days when you have some free time? Spring is here, it's not so cold back home anymore!"
Zhang Yuhua chimed in, "Your dad talks about you every day, and he complained that I left in a hurry last time and didn't spend more time with you. I've been regretting it ever since. I didn't even bring you any good food when I left, but I did pack a whole fridge full of dumplings for you before I came back!"
"You're so careless! You should have spent two days there taking care of Yoshiko!"
"Don't give me that hindsight advice. Just shut up!"
……
The elderly couple bickered, their words concealing their heartache for Zeng Jia. Zeng Jia's pent-up frustration finally surfaced, and she shouted, half-sullenly, half-seriously, "Fine! I'll ask for leave tomorrow. If the boss doesn't approve, I'm quitting this lousy job! I'm not putting up with this anymore!"
Li Zhen immediately nodded vigorously, his voice loud and protective: "If you don't want to do it, then don't. Come home, Dad will support you. Just stay home and rest peacefully. When you're comfortable and have had your fill of fun, you can go out and explore if you want. My daughter can do whatever she wants; she doesn't need to suffer that humiliation outside!"
Zeng Jia's throat tightened suddenly, and she almost burst into tears. She bit down hard on the soft flesh of her cheek, forcing back the tears.
How could her parents not see that she was unhappy? This was just a way of comforting her and deliberately giving her a way out.
She didn't know what possessed her, but from a young age, she desperately wanted to escape that small town in Northeast China, always feeling that the world outside was vast and she was determined to make a name for herself in Beijing. But in the end, she fought tooth and nail, and still could only lick her wounds at home. It's quite ironic when you think about it.
Is leaving the place she once dreamed of a failure? Yes, it is. But she gave up. Couldn't she go home? Of course she could. Not for any other reason than her two beloved parents who doted on her and treated her like the apple of their eye.
"Okay, it's settled then. I'll check the tickets now." Zeng Jia hung up the phone and, without further hesitation, directly opened 12306 to book tickets.
The next morning, Zeng Jia was impeccably dressed, even her makeup was flawless. Carrying her resignation letter, shareholding certificate, and transfer agreement, she headed straight for Zhang Zhishan's office.
Zhang Zhishan glanced up, his smile wide enough to swarm flies: "That's more like it! Yesterday, you were so dressed like that, you'd disappear into a crowd... By the way, did you call Shi Jun? There's no time like the present, how about today at noon?"
"Mr. Zhang," Zeng Jia handed over the documents with both hands, as if handing over a bomb, "This is my resignation letter. And the company shares and houses you asked me to hold on your behalf, the certificates and transfer agreements are all here. Do you see if there are any other procedures I need to complete? I'll do it as soon as possible."
Zhang Zhishan's smile froze instantly. He stared intently at Zeng Jia, his eyes venomous: "Just for that bastard Wang Haowen? Is it worth it? Have you lost your mind?!"
Zeng Jia stiffened her neck. "It's not for him, it's for myself. I don't want to play this game anymore. Your power and money struggles are like a battlefield. I'm tired. I just want to go home now."
Zhang Zhishan took a deep breath. Zeng Jia's attitude surprised him greatly. Just when he needed someone, his "arm" was going to abandon him?!
"Have you thought this through? You won't regret it? How could you be so reckless!" Zhang Zhishan persisted, his words now carrying a hook, "Once you submit this resignation, you'll have to sign a non-compete agreement for at least three years. In Beijing, you won't be able to find another job. Are you really going to throw away your future like toilet paper just for the sake of pride? You're fucking stupid!"
Zeng Jia had already thought it through: "I'll sign everything that needs to be signed, not a single word will be missed."
"Get out!!!" Zhang Zhishan roared, like a mad dog whose tail had been stepped on. He grabbed the expensive blue and white porcelain teacup next to him and slammed it to the ground with all his might!
"You ungrateful wretch! You ungrateful wretch who can't be tamed! Get out of here right now! Get out of God's sight! I must have been blind! Get out!!!"
Zeng Jia didn't even blink. She looked down at her shoes, which had almost been splashed with tea. It seemed that her body knew how to protect itself better than her brain. She had already begun to reflexively and subconsciously pull her foot back.
As she turned to leave, she glanced up and, wow, everyone in the office area was craning their necks to look in her direction, just like radishes in a field.
In the crowd, another pair of eyes was fixed on her—it was Wang Haowen. He held a transparent folder in his hand, the three large characters on the cover of which were very eye-catching—Resignation Letter.
Zeng Jia wondered to herself, "Does he not want to do this anymore?"