National Tide 1980.

The afternoon sun shone through the office blinds, casting dappled shadows on the desk.

Jiang Hui had just seen off a difficult loan customer, and the coldness of the official seal still lingered on her fingertips, when the phone on the table rang again. It was the voice of a teller in the credit union's business hall outside.

"Director Jiang, two people from Dahua Ceramics Factory want to see you. They say they have a prior appointment with you."

She rubbed her throbbing temples and replied, "Okay, let them in."

After hanging up the phone, she finally had a chance to open her thermos, take a sip of the long-cooled chrysanthemum tea, and moisten her throat. As the director of the credit department, Jiang Hui held real approval power over money, and every day she had to check piles of materials and deal with all kinds of clients.

She has to maintain a high level of vigilance, both by adhering to the bottom line of risk control and by meeting business targets. Especially recently, with the head office investigating irregular lending practices, she dares not be careless in the slightest and cannot afford to relax even for a moment.

Another hour passed, and I finally finished dealing with all the clients I had scheduled to meet today.

Jiang Hui glanced at her watch again; it was almost four in the afternoon, time to pick up her daughter from kindergarten. She sighed, stuffed the unfinished documents into her briefcase, gave a few words to her colleague, and hurried downstairs. Her high heels clattered heavily on the concrete, as if urging her on, never to stop.

The kindergarten gate was already crowded with parents picking up their children, and Jiang Hui spotted her daughter, Xiao Nuo, at a glance.

Almost all of the little girl's classmates had left, leaving only her and two or three other children. Under the teacher's supervision, they were peering over the fence, looking rather sullen.

When she saw her, her eyes lit up. After saying goodbye to the teacher, she immediately skipped and hopped over.

"mom!"

Jiang Hui bent down and picked up her daughter. Touching the sweat-soaked clothes on the child's back, she felt even more guilty.

I was in a rush this morning and didn't have time to change my child into a lighter jacket.

"Were you good at kindergarten today? Did you eat your meals properly?"

As Jiang Hui asked the questions, she helped her daughter tidy her hair.

Xiao Nuo hugged her neck and whispered, "Sweetie, the teacher praised me. Mom, when is Dad coming back? I also want Dad to take me to the Beijing amusement park. Many of my classmates have gone with their parents, but I haven't been yet."

When Nian Jing was mentioned, Jiang Hui's face darkened. Although she said to the child perfunctorily, "Dad is busy. When he comes back from his business trip, Mom and Dad will definitely take you there," she felt a surge of irritation.

It turns out that ever since Jiang Hao abducted Nian Jing to Hainan, the two of them haven't been home for over a year, and they didn't even come back for the Spring Festival.

During this period, the burden of taking care of the family and visiting both sets of parents fell entirely on Jiang Hui's shoulders.

Besides working, she is now both a father and a mother, taking care of her daughter independently, and every weekend she has to alternate between visiting both sets of parents to fulfill her filial duties on behalf of Nian Jing and Jiang Hao.

I was overwhelmed with responsibilities, suffering immensely, and utterly exhausted.

Moreover, every time they visited their parents' homes, the elders from both families would ask about Nian Jing and Jiang Hao's whereabouts in Hainan.

She had no choice but to bite the bullet and lie against her will, saying that their business was going well and that it would put both sets of parents at ease.

To be honest, thinking about all this made her feel incredibly wronged; she truly hated her husband and her brother to the core.

She didn't know if she would bite these two irresponsible men if she saw them again.

When she got home, Jiang Hui first washed her daughter's hands, took out the ingredients from the refrigerator, quickly cooked two dishes, ate dinner with her daughter, and then helped her with her kindergarten homework for a while.

By the time I got Xiao Nuo to sleep, it was already past nine o'clock at night.

Only then could she finally catch her breath.

I went to the bathroom and removed my makeup in front of the mirror.

When she looked at herself in the mirror, she saw faint fine lines at the corners of her eyes, her face was somewhat pale, and the dark circles under her eyes seemed like an inescapable shadow.

She's only in her early thirties, but she feels several years older.

Jiang Hui reached out and gently stroked her cheek, her heart filled with exhaustion.

The pressure of work, the hard work of taking care of her daughter, and the worries of caring for her parents weighed on her like three mountains, making it hard for her to breathe.

Beyond her exhaustion, she felt a complex mix of emotions and reflections about her current situation.

Of course, she was furious. How could it be easy for a woman to struggle alone, juggling her career and family?

With elderly parents and young children all relying on her, that feeling of isolation and helplessness is unbearable.

But after she calmed down, she felt somewhat relieved.

Because she had long since come to terms with it, she realized that her man was unreliable and could not be counted on to support the family.

Nian Jing is inherently a mercenary and irresponsible person. She only fell for him because he was gentle, kind, good-looking, and had a good temper.

Moreover, Nian Jing had no status in her family before, had suffered enough discrimination, and had also endured her past infidelity.

Now that he has finally seized the opportunity to make a fortune by going into business, he naturally wants to do everything he can to make up for it.

Ultimately, whether you call it retribution or reaping what you sow, it's all something she owes him.

Jiang Hui leaned against the bathroom wall, closed her eyes, and felt a deep sense of remorse.

I was truly blinded by greed back then, and did many things I shouldn't have done for money.

Even their love is blind; they choose partners based entirely on their whims, without understanding the meaning and importance of family.

Looking back now, all those so-called benefits and vanity are no match for a peaceful and stable ordinary life.

But it's too late to say anything now; even if you want some peace and quiet, it's impossible.

From now on, my daughter will probably have to rely on herself.

Her only wish now is that Nian Jing and Jiang Hao can return safely as soon as possible, repay the loan they took out from the credit union, and please don't cause any trouble.

If they run into trouble in Hainan, or if they can't repay the loans they took from them, all three of them will have their futures ruined, or even end up in jail.

What will happen to the daughter? What will happen to the parents?
Jiang Hui felt a chill run down her spine at the thought of it.

Just as I was sighing and thinking, the telephone in the living room suddenly rang, its sharp ring breaking the silence of the night.

Jiang Hui's heart skipped a beat. She quickly walked over and answered the phone. To her surprise, it was Nian Jing's voice coming through the receiver.

A surge of anticipation welled up inside her, thinking that Nian Jing would ask about her and her daughter's situation, and about her parents' health.

Unexpectedly, Nian Jing didn't ask a single question about her family's situation; instead, she immediately asked for money.

“Jiang Hui, we’re staying at the Coconut Island Hotel in Sanya right now. You need to find a way to wire me some money as soon as possible, at least 100,000, preferably 200,000. Your brother and I are going to do a big business in Hainan; we’re going to buy over a hundred acres of land. However, after signing the contract, we won’t have any living expenses or public relations fees. We’re unfamiliar with this place, and getting a loan is too difficult. We can only rely on you now.”

Jiang Hui's expectations vanished instantly, replaced by a heart full of complaints and resentment. "Nian Jing! Are you crazy? Hundreds of acres of land! Have you thought this through? Don't you know how risky land speculation is? It was already outrageous of you to leave without saying goodbye, and now you want to make such a big fuss! Aren't you afraid of things going wrong and losing everything? Let me tell you, I don't agree to this! You all need to come back right now."

"Why are you like this! Stop acting like a housewife, making a fuss over nothing!"

Nian Jing's voice carried a hint of impatience, yet also a touch of excitement. "Jiang Hao and I don't fight battles we're not confident of winning. To be honest, since we came to Hainan, we've already made two land deals in Haikou, earning hundreds of thousands. Otherwise, how could we have the resources to acquire hundreds of acres of land? As for why we bought this land? It's because we got some big news from inside the land bureau. Someone's going to invest in an international resort here, a project worth hundreds of millions. And what's even more unbelievable is that the person investing in this resort is actually Ning Weimin. How about that, are you shocked? Think about it, that guy has never lost money in business, so how could the land he sets his sights on be bad? We're planning to take advantage of his connections this time, buying near his planned area, and we're sure to make a fortune! Oh, right, besides the money, can you also help me figure out how to get more inside information from Ning Weimin? It's crucial for us. You can still talk to him, right? We need..."

As Jiang Hui listened to Nian Jing's increasingly distorted words, she felt both angry and exhausted by his stubbornness and shamelessness.

She was too lazy to argue with him anymore and wanted to hang up the phone.

Just then, the sound of their daughter crying came from the bedroom, probably woken up by their conversation.

So, Jiang Hui seized the opportunity to say, "Don't talk to me about this anymore, it's disturbing the child's sleep. Let's leave it at that for now, I have to go and comfort Xiao Nuo. We can talk tomorrow, I'll hang up now."

After saying that, he hung up the long-distance call hastily without waiting for Nian Jing's response.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Hui went to the bedroom, hugged her crying daughter, and gently patted her back.

Xiao Nuo's crying gradually subsided, but Jiang Hui's heart was in turmoil.

The night outside the window grew darker and darker. Looking at her sleeping daughter in her arms, she felt that she had entrusted her life to the wrong person and that the future was shrouded in uncertainty.

This confusion, like an impenetrable fog, haunted her all night, causing her to wake up frequently in the latter half of the night and unable to sleep soundly.

As a result, just as dawn was breaking, Jiang Hui got up with bloodshot eyes.

What devastated her even more was that her child had also fallen ill. Jiang Hui discovered that Xiao Nuo's forehead was frighteningly hot—her daughter had developed a high fever last night, her face was flushed red, and she was so delirious that she couldn't even open her eyes.

Her heart clenched instantly. Without a moment's delay, she immediately asked the credit union for leave, quickly washed up, packed her things, and rushed to the Beijing Children's Hospital alone with her child in her arms.

In early spring, the air at Beijing Children's Hospital was thick with the pungent smell of disinfectant, mixed with the cries of children and the anxious attempts of parents to comfort them, creating a sense of unease.

Jiang Hui was currently caught in the chaos and looked utterly disheveled.

After registering, triaging, getting blood drawn, and waiting in line, she was drenched in sweat, her shirt soaked through and sticking to her back, feeling cold and uncomfortable.

Especially when holding her daughter who weighs over 30 pounds, her arms ached so much she could barely lift them. She also had to carry a medical record book, a thermos, a thick coat, and spare diapers. She felt like a sack stuffed full of things, and even bending over was difficult.

After finally managing to get to the door of the examination room, I tripped on the step, and everything I was carrying scattered to the ground with a "crash." The thermos rolled far away, the medical record book fell open, and the test results inside were scattered everywhere.

Jiang Hui's heart tightened, her eyes reddened with anxiety, and she tried to pick up her things.

But little Nuo was whimpering and snuggling closer to her, calling out "Mommy" indistinctly. She couldn't free her hands to pick him up and could only stand frozen in place.

Wanting to ask for help but not knowing how to ask, I felt anxious and helpless, and my eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Just then, someone actually offered to help.

A man appeared out of nowhere like a savior, not only picking up her medical record that had fallen to the ground, but also bending down to pick up the scattered examination reports.

The man then quickly caught up with the hot water jug ​​that had rolled away, wiped the dust off the jug, and handed it to her.

"Here you go, don't worry, all your things are here."

The voice was deep and resonant, carrying a familiar warmth, like a ray of sunshine that instantly pierced through the surrounding noise and chaos. Jiang Hui was stunned for a moment, looked up, and was momentarily dazed.

The man in front of me was wearing a well-tailored dark gray cashmere trench coat, which made him look tall and straight, and his hair was neatly combed.

He has a handsome face and gentle eyes, but his composure and aura as someone who has long held a high position are hard to conceal.

But what's even more surprising is that this person, this face, is extremely familiar to Jiang Hui.

Upon seeing the other person clearly, Jiang Hui's heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat for half a second.

What a coincidence! The person who helped her was none other than Ning Weimin.

Especially when she thought about what Nian Jing had said to her on the phone last night, she felt even more like she was in a dream, and it all felt unreal.

"Mr. Ning...?"

Jiang Hui took the items, her fingertips trembling slightly, her cheeks burning uncontrollably, feeling extremely embarrassed by her disheveled and wretched appearance.

Without looking in a mirror, she could imagine what she looked like: disheveled hair, a soaked shirt, and dark circles under her eyes from staying up all night. This starkly contrasted with his refined and presentable appearance, making her feel incredibly embarrassed.

Ning Weimin recognized her and also showed a surprised expression, but quickly a gentle smile appeared on his lips. "What a coincidence, we actually met here. Is this your daughter?"

Ning Weimin's gaze lingered on Jiang Hui's reddened eyes and then on Xiao Nuo's drowsy face in his arms, his tone filled with even more concern.

"Does the child have a fever? Look how red his face is. This little guy must have worn you out."

His gaze was so focused that Jiang Hui's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Yes, I suddenly developed a fever last night, and it hasn't gone down."

Jiang Hui sniffed, her voice a little dry, filled with suppressed grievance, "I really didn't expect to run into you here. How could you..."

“I also brought my child to see a doctor, and coincidentally, I also have a daughter, just like you.”

Ning Weimin explained proactively, and only then did Jiang Hui notice that a little girl was approaching from not far away. She had fair skin and long eyelashes, and looked like a carefully crafted porcelain doll.

The child was about three or four years old, dressed very elegantly, and had a beautiful appearance. His eyes were clear and bright, and he was looking at her curiously. His two small, white hands were holding Ning Weimin's hand.

No wonder she's Ning Weimin's child with a big star; both parents are beautiful, and the child is good-looking too.

Jiang Hui, who had some knowledge of Ning Weimin's personal life, felt both admiration and sudden curiosity.

Given Ning Weimin's current status and position, he certainly has no shortage of people helping him, so why would he personally come to take his child to see a doctor?
"You...brought your child to the doctor in person? Where is the child's mother?"

As soon as she said it, she realized that she had been a bit abrupt.

Now that the other party was no ordinary person, and especially since these words seemed like a prying into their privacy, he quickly added, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. I didn't mean anything by it."

Upon hearing this, Ning Weimin's eyes softened, and he glanced at his daughter before speaking softly.

“What’s the big deal? We’re old friends, so there’s no need for such formalities. The child’s mother is in Shanghai, invited by the Shanghai Film Dubbing Studio to discuss cooperation with some old friends. She won’t be back for about half a month. I didn’t expect the child to start having a sore throat and a slight fever during this time. No matter how busy I am, I have to come over in person to put my mind at ease.”

As they were talking, a young man in a suit walked over with medical records and receipts. Seeing that Ning Weimin was talking to someone, he waited to the side.

Ning Weimin raised his chin again and introduced to Jiang Hui, "This is my driver, Xiao Zhang. He's just here to lend a hand. When it comes to things like taking a child to the doctor, it's more reassuring for the parents to be by their child's side."

His voice was soft, yet it carried a reassuring power, causing Jiang Hui's tense nerves to inexplicably relax a little. (End of Chapter)