That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1675 Picking sesame seeds but losing watermelon
Pei Wencong, leading a little boy, walked towards Li Juan with a smile on his face. Upon seeing him, Li Juan quickly pulled her husband, Cao Jianqing, to greet him.

This action naturally caught Xia Qinghe's attention. She only glanced at Pei Wencong twice before being too shocked to speak.

Because of Li Ye's influence, Pei Wencong's fame has long since extended beyond Hong Kong Island. Just as many people recognized Li Ka-shing decades later, many people today also recognize Pei Wencong.

However, Chen Kangjian was not among them. After seeing Xia Qinghe's surprise, he asked in a low voice, "What's wrong, Xia Qinghe? Do you know that person?"

Xia Qinghe said disdainfully, "You don't recognize him? That's Pei Wencong! Pei Wencong, a billionaire from Hong Kong."

Chen Kangjian was also surprised: "Pei Wencong? Is he that patriotic businessman? I've seen his name in the government newspaper. He's so young?"

"He's very young!"

Xia Qinghe gave a wry smile: "Old Chen, we've all misjudged her. Li Juan is not the same kind of person as us at all."

Chen Kangjian smiled and shook his head, saying nonchalantly, "Didn't you say that once when we graduated? Haven't you figured it out after five years?"

Whether Li Juan has an outstanding older brother or knows wealthy people in Hong Kong, those are her own circumstances. We were classmates with Li Juan, so we can admire her, but we must not be jealous.

She sees you as a classmate, but I don't.

"Who's jealous? Who's jealous? Chen Kangjian, you're still as annoying as ever."

Xia Qinghe seemed to have been hit where it hurt, and she started yelling at Chen Kangjian.

Back when they were in school, the two of them often argued, especially after Xia Qinghe used marriage to stay in Beijing, which almost led to a complete break between them.

When they met again five years later, Xia Qinghe suddenly experienced a feeling that was hard to describe.

If others look down on Xia Qinghe's character, Xia Qinghe doesn't care at all. After all, Xia Qinghe has proven with facts that her choice was absolutely correct, and none of those upright people are as successful as her.

But she still couldn't control herself when Chen Kangjian said he was jealous of Li Juan.

"Ah~"

Chen Kangjian shook his head gently and sighed softly.

Among his classmates, Xia Qinghe and Li Juan were both very ambitious girls. However, Li Juan devoted all her energy to studying, while Xia Qinghe chose to be "pragmatic".

Xia Qinghe's success should have been able to cover up all the gossip, but then Li Juan appeared, always inadvertently causing Xia Qinghe excruciating pain.

Xia Qinghe probably realized her lapse in composure, so she pointed at Li Juan and changed the subject: "Old Chen, Li Juan doesn't just know Pei Wencong; their relationship is definitely more than just ordinary."

"An unusual relationship? How could it be unusual?"

Chen Kangjian looked at Li Juan in surprise, and then he saw Li Juan pick up the little child next to Pei Wencong. The two of them were babbling to each other, and soon the little child started laughing.

Clearly, the relationship between Li Juan and Pei Wencong is far more than just "acquaintances".

Chen Kangjian seemed to understand why Xia Qinghe was so excited.

Xia Qinghe came with Chen Kangjian today, probably because she had the idea that "fortune changes every thirty years" and wanted to compete with Li Juan.

But now Xia Qinghe realizes that no matter how pragmatic, scheming, or ambitious she is, she may never be able to catch up with Li Juan.

For the competitive Xia Qinghe, nothing could be more frustrating than this.

However, when Li Juan finished her work and turned around to invite Xia Qinghe and Chen Kangjian to take their seats, Xia Qinghe's face was full of genuine smiles.

"Li Juan, I didn't expect Mr. Pei Wencong to attend your wedding. You and Mr. Pei are quite familiar with each other, right?"

"Oh, Mr. Pei's technology company has some collaborations with our organization."

Li Juan didn't say much, only offering a vague explanation.

But Xia Qinghe immediately followed up with, "Does Mr. Pei's company have any collaborations with you? Is it Hong Kong Island Whisper Company?"

"Huh? Xia Qinghe, how did you know?"

"Hey, we're both in the microelectronics industry, so of course I need to know the latest industry trends both domestically and internationally. Computer companies in Hong Kong have been developing very rapidly in recent years, and Windwhisper Electronics is one of the best. What kind of cooperation do you have with them?"

Xia Qinghe gave Li Juan a perfectly reasonable explanation, but her subsequent questions were full of gossip.

"Li Juan, was that little boy Pei Wencong's son? But where's Mr. Pei's wife? I've heard she's quite mysterious. Do you know who she is?"

I know who it is, but I won't tell you.

Li Juan now knows that Xia Qinghe not only pays attention to computer information in Hong Kong, but also likes to read Hong Kong gossip magazines.

Li Juan would never spread such gossip, so she just smiled and said to Chen Kangjian, "Hong Kong Wind Whisper Electronics is indeed developing very well. If you don't want to work for our company, I can introduce you to Mr. Pei's company."

Chen Kangjian was taken aback for a moment, then quickly waved his hand and said, "No, no, no, I'll go to your workplace."

Li Juan nodded and said, "Okay, you should complete the handover with your original unit as soon as possible, and I will have someone assist you with the transfer procedures."

Chen Kangjian nodded solemnly: "Li Juan, thank you."

Li Juan said calmly, "Don't mention it. It's a bit chaotic here today. Please enjoy your meal and drinks, and please don't mind if we haven't taken good care of you."

"Hahaha, we're all on the same side, how could we not take good care of each other?"

"."

Li Juan and Cao Jianqing went to take care of other guests, but Xia Qinghe and Chen Kangjian were getting anxious.

"Old Chen, are you stupid? Your company in Hong Kong makes at least tens of thousands a year! What are you doing coming to Beijing? Is a Beijing residency permit more valuable than a Hong Kong residency permit?"

Am I stupid? Maybe!

Chen Kangjian chuckled.

Perhaps Chen Kangjian was "foolish" when he first graduated five years ago, but now he has figured things out.

Why did Li Juan only invite Chen Kangjian this time?
Because Li Juan needs to cultivate her own team.

Going to Hong Kong Island might seem like a high-paying job, but it would distance him from Li Juan. Although he wouldn't earn a high salary in Beijing, he would remain Li Juan's staunch supporter.

Since her school days, Xia Qinghe has pursued the maximization of immediate benefits, and she did achieve the greatest development in a short period of time. However, in the long run, she has lost the big picture for the small gains.

. . . . . . . . . .

Xia Qinghe and Chen Kangjian were surprised by Li Juan's "confidence," and the groom Cao Jianqing was equally shocked.

When the Cao family and the Li family first met to arrange the engagement, all they knew was that the Li family were "newcomers to Beijing" from a county in Dongshan, with kind-hearted elders and successful siblings. But they never imagined they would be this successful.

Before the wedding ceremony even started, the villagers from Qingshui County began showering Cao Jianqing with wedding gifts under the pretext of "sending blessings."

Because the Li family had set a fixed amount for wedding gifts, everyone used the gifts given to the groom to express their goodwill.

Although Li Juan repeatedly said "I don't accept gifts, I don't accept gifts," these villagers didn't care about such things and just left the gifts and went.

Cao Jianqing's sister and sister-in-law were responsible for recording the gift list so that they could return the gifts later. However, the more they recorded, the more guilty they felt.

We can't possibly reciprocate this gift!

In this era where "nine out of a billion people are businessmen," people don't have any prejudice against "nouveau riche." They just feel that these gifts are too expensive and too hot to handle.

By the time Pei Wencong arrived, Cao Jianqing's sisters and sisters-in-law had become numb.

The richest man in Hong Kong Island is on friendly terms with Li Juan's brother. The tycoon's younger sister is Li Juan's best friend for many years. When the tycoon's youngest son plays with Li Juan's nephew and niece, he plays the role of the "little punching bag".

By this point, how could the Cao family not know that their ancestral graves were emitting auspicious smoke?
No, when we first saw Li Juan, the Cao family's ancestral graves were already emitting green smoke, and now they're on fire, with flames shooting into the sky.

As a result, the Cao family members' minds became set on something exciting.

"Big sister, I see that all of Xiaojuan's fellow villagers have gone into business. Why don't we talk to our younger brother about it? We don't need to make a fortune, just a few hundred thousand a year would be fine."

"Brother, since Xiaojuan is so familiar with Mr. Pei, could you help her get a permit to go abroad? I want to go abroad for a few years while I'm still young, and maybe save some money for my child."

"I don't think it's a problem. We don't even need Mr. Pei. We just need Mr. Pei's sister to help. Didn't you hear Mr. Pei's brother-in-law calling Xiao Juan 'Grandpa' and 'Master'? We're all family."

"."

Several of Lao Cao's relatives chattered excitedly, their faces beaming with joy, feeling that a bright future was just around the corner.

But Cao Jianqing's mother came over and poured a basin of cold water over them from head to toe.

"I'm warning you, from today onwards, unless it's your underlings contacting you, you all better behave yourselves and don't bother your underlings."

The daughters and daughters-in-law were stunned by Cao's mother's words and then became unhappy.

"Mom, what are you saying? People only say that a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup, but I've never heard of a married son refusing to acknowledge his family. Jianqing just got married today, and you're already telling him to sever ties with the Cao family?"

"That's right, Mom. I raised my little brother myself. I've washed his underwear for years. I just asked him to help me find some business opportunities. I didn't ask him to lend me money. Why is that not allowed? Why is it not allowed?"

"On what grounds? Because you're all good for nothing and good for nothing."

Cao's mother glared fiercely at her daughter and daughter-in-law, threatening them like a tiger: "I'm warning you, if your younger brother and Xiao Juan don't offer any help, then none of you are allowed to ask him for anything. Can't you tell the difference between the Cao family's things and the Li family's things?"

This silenced the Cao family members.

Cao's mother's wake-up call made them realize that Li Juan's things belonged to Li Juan, and Cao Jianqing's things belonged to Cao Jianqing, and they absolutely could not be confused.

Seeing her children and daughters-in-law with their heads down, not daring to utter a word, Cao's mother softened her tone and said, "I know what kind of person your younger brother is. If he had the ability, he would have helped you without you even having to ask."

If a family lives in harmony, good days will naturally follow. If you use family ties to force someone to do something against their will, even if you gain something temporarily, it will ultimately be a losing proposition.

"Mom, we know, we were just saying it."

"That's right, that's right, everything is up to my brother, we won't force anything."

"You're wrong, it's Xiaojuan who decides."

"."

After parents raise their children to adulthood, the power dynamics within the extended family gradually shift. If the children are successful, the parents can relieve themselves of their burden sooner; if the children are dull-witted, the parents will simply have to work harder.

Therefore, Li Juan's marriage has quietly affected many people, and it has also had a slight impact on Li Ye.

After a busy day of tidying up Li Juan's wedding, Li Ye was called over by Fu Guiru.

As soon as she entered, Fu Guiru asked Li Ye, "How do you feel about successfully marrying off your younger sister today?"

"Don't you feel anything?" Li Ye said nonchalantly. "She didn't marry far away; it's just a ten-minute walk to her parents' home. It's not much different from before."

"Is that what I asked? Are you playing dumb with me?"

Fu Guiru's expression changed, and she reached out to poke Li Ye's forehead: "Li Juan is two years younger than Xiao Ruo! You married Li Juan off, but what about Xiao Ruo? Isn't Xiao Ruo your sister anymore? Just because Xiao Ruo doesn't have the surname Li, does that mean you'll abandon her?"

Li Ye was forced to retreat repeatedly by his mother's prodding, speechless and exasperated.

Meanwhile, the naive Fu Yiruo had already slipped to the door, ready to make her escape as soon as she stepped out.

"You come back here!"

With a roar, Fu Guiru brought Fu Yiruo, the "culprit," back to the scene.

Then Fu Guiru ordered Li Ye, "You set a deadline for Li Juan to find a man before she turned twenty-five, so now you set a deadline for Xiao Ru too! I don't care if you steal or cheat, you can't let your sister stay single forever."

Li Ye immediately looked distressed: "Mother, this is not up to me! Over the years, Xiao Yu and I have worried a lot about Xiao Ruo, but this brat is too proud and looks down on everyone!"

Over the years, Li Ye has really worried a lot about Fu Yiruo. He has introduced her to many talented people, both from the mainland and Hong Kong, but Fu Yiruo has only met a few of them, let alone gotten along with any of them.

Fu Guiru waved her hand dismissively: "You used to spoil Xiao Ruo, but you won't be able to let her have her way anymore. Just find someone similar to Cao Jianqing."

"Someone similar to Cao Jianqing will do? Mother, your requirements aren't low."

Cao Jianqing's qualifications are actually quite high. He has a master's degree from a 985 university, and his height and appearance are acceptable. He also has a gentle personality and his character is in line with the "big picture." These requirements combined make him really demanding.

Li Ye can't be like that guy decades later, with all sorts of conditions maxed out, so that even the turtles in the wishing well would pretend to be dead, right?

But at this moment, Fu Yiruo suddenly said, "Mother, you don't need to rush me like this. Things will work themselves out. Look at Pei Wencong, he was single for many years, but now he has a son."

"Pei Wencong? You dare to follow Pei Wencong's example? That playboy only cares about his children and not his wife. Are you going to imitate him too?"

Fu Yiru pouted, looking quite unconvinced, and said, "That's not necessarily a bad thing. Anyway, you only care about your grandsons and great-grandsons. Does it matter if you have a son-in-law or not?"

"."

Fu Guiru stared blankly at her daughter, speechless for a moment.

Li Ye was also shocked. He never expected that his younger sister would say something like "leave the father and keep the son".

(End of this chapter)