Chapter 33#

“What?” Chen Yuanming frowned, carefully looking at his parents’ expressions. It didn’t look like a joke, so he couldn’t help but ask in a deep voice, “What happened to her family? Even if they moved, how could they be unreachable?”

Wang Juan struggled for half a minute, but finally spoke reluctantly, “Doudou, you are still young and don’t know about those dirty things between adults. I didn’t want to say it… Probably at the beginning of last year, Sun Jun’s affair in the factory was exposed. The couple had a big fight and almost smashed the office of the First Branch Factory, making it known to everyone. Later, they divorced, and the child was awarded to Liu Yun. I heard that she also got most of the family property. She resigned directly and took the two children back to her hometown. Affected by this incident, Sun Jun was also demoted and transferred to the branch factory as a workshop director. How can he still manage things…”

Chen Yuanming frowned tightly. He really didn’t expect this. How could they divorce?! There were too few women who chose to divorce in 1993. And leaving just like that, didn’t she leave any contact information? When he left back then, he left a letter for Sun Lang. If Liu Yun really wanted to go into business, she should have found a way to keep in touch with him…

Seeing her son’s tightly furrowed brows, Wang Juan couldn’t help but persuade, “Don’t think so much. I said that couple is not good. Why get entangled with their family? You don’t know what Sun Jun said back then. It was so ugly. Something about being crazy about making money and ignoring the family, something about having a wild heart and wanting to run outside causing conflicts. It almost dragged our family down. Liu Yun is also the same. How can she divorce just like that? Isn’t life full of bumps? If they don’t live well themselves, they don’t think about the children. Ermao was admitted to the City No. 1 High School…”

“Mom!” Chen Yuanming couldn’t bear it anymore and interrupted his mother’s gossip. He really remembered now. When his mother scolded him back then, she seemed to have let it slip. Sun Jun’s reputation in the factory was probably already terrible. And after Liu Yun knew about this, she didn’t choose to endure like most women at that time, but simply divorced. This was not bad, it was clearly extremely straightforward. However, in the conservative social atmosphere at that time, she became a typical example of not abiding by women’s morals…

But how could this kind of thing be explained clearly? Suppressing his anger, Chen Yuanming took a deep breath and asked again, “Did Aunt Liu leave any contact information when she left? Sun Lang and I have such a good relationship, there should be letters or something…”

Wang Juan’s eyes dodged a bit, afraid to look directly at her son. He really went out to do big business. When he got serious, he was a bit scary, making her feel flustered. But at that time, her husband threw away those few letters, and she also raised both hands in agreement. This family had a very bad influence. If they continued to associate, who knew what else would happen? It was better that they left!

At this time, Chen Jianhua also spoke, “That family has made such a fuss, will they still remember you? It’s good enough not to blame you. I’ll ask your mom about the house later. Don’t worry so much! Hurry up and eat!”

These words were hard and stiff, and couldn’t hide the taste of trying to cover up. Looking at his parents again, Chen Yuanming didn’t say anything more, picked up the chopsticks at hand, and continued to eat with his head down. Seeing that their son stopped asking, the Chen Jianhua couple breathed a sigh of relief. It was good not to ask. The meal was awkward, but in the end, it was peaceful. The family had been exhausted for the past two days, and they were afraid that the TV would consume too much electricity, so they turned off the TV and went to bed after 9 o’clock.

But lying on the wooden plank bed, Chen Yuanming couldn’t sleep this time. The planned things went out of control like this, catching him off guard. In his expectation, Liu Yun should have been the opportunity for the next step towards industry, an excellent partner who could be pushed to the front stage without putting himself in a passive or dangerous situation. He had sufficient funds and foresight for fashion, while the other party had excellent aesthetics and an open mind. There was definitely a lot to do in the field of clothing. Fashion and luxury goods were originally top industries that burned money. If they worked steadily step by step and became bigger and stronger, they might not be unable to become China’s Chanel or Versace.

But now everything has become empty talk. Even if he could ask her former colleagues and friends, it would be extremely difficult to find her. If he remembered correctly, her hometown was in Shandong. In these years, even landlines were not popular, let alone the internet and mobile phones. In the vast sea of people, how could he find her in a short time…

Turning over on the bed, Chen Yuanming closed his eyes. It seemed that he had to find another way first. It was just that in his previous life, the only path he was most familiar with and most successful in was finance. But now, the funds in his hand had exceeded the safety threshold. In the next two years, the Chinese stock market would enter a period of rectification with tight policies, and a bear market lasting 2 or 3 years was waiting on the road. The years after that were full of factions, making stocks completely reduced to a gold-digging field for local bigwigs and relationship networks to wrestle. It wasn’t until the era of market makers was destroyed that the atmosphere began to slowly turn around.

Possessing a large amount of funds but unable to stay in the stock market would inevitably increase the pressure on him several times. At the same time, age and net worth were like two big locks, locking most of the roads he could set foot on. Now that he had money, what to do with this money became a new problem. Even with a lifetime of experience, even if he knew the development trajectory of many things, a layman was always a layman. He knew very little about where to start. What should he use as an opportunity…

However, the things that troubled Chen Yuanming and made him toss and turn were too far away from Chen Jianhua and Wang Juan. Not knowing that they had inadvertently destroyed their son’s entrepreneurial plan, they continued to strive for the beautiful life in their ideals with peace of mind as usual. In a blink of an eye, it was the Spring Festival holiday. Neither of them chose to work overtime for wage subsidies this year, but returned home early to enjoy the happiest Spring Festival ever.

On New Year’s Eve, as soon as it got dark, a large pile of sumptuous dishes was placed on the dining table, almost bursting the small round table. Chicken, duck, fish, and meat were all available. The wine was Wuliangye brought back by Chen Yuanming. It was said to be good wine from Sichuan. There was no price tag, but it tasted exceptionally mellow, making the usually taciturn Chen Jianhua praise it several times. The brand-new TV was broadcasting the 1993 Spring Festival Gala. Although the Spring Festival Gala had been broadcast for a full ten years, it was the first time for Wang Juan and Chen Jianhua to see it with their own eyes and experience it personally. They were indescribably excited.

The sound of firecrackers outside the window rose and fell, and the firelight reflected the smiling faces of the family. The hosts of the gala were still the youthful Zhao Zhongxiang and Ni Ping. Feng Gong’s catchphrase was not yet “Audience friends, I missed you so much!”. Dong Wenhua still stood in the center of the stage, singing the main melody loudly… Familiar yet strange faces appeared on the screen in turn. Until the melodious melody of the annual golden song “The Sound of Waves Remains” sounded, Chen Yuanming looked at the love song prince of that year and revealed an indescribable smile.

Yes, what an innocent era this was. Those ruined reputations, those aging years, those sad disappearances, had not yet appeared in front of the audience. This was such a good era, full of overflowing hope, fearless and brave. But at the same time, it was also a sinister era. Undercurrents surged under the calm water surface, and traps were everywhere. If one took a wrong step, it would be eternal damnation. He had been walking on a tightrope for so long, what was waiting for him?

The bell of 12 o’clock finally rang. Chen Jianhua also took out a string of 1,000 firecrackers, hung them on the windowsill, and set them off with crackling sounds. Wang Juan handed Chen Yuanming a small red paper packet somewhat shyly, “Doudou, Mom knows you make money now and don’t care about this, but there must always be New Year’s money. Mom also wishes you peace and safety this year, and may all your wishes come true…”

Opening the paper packet, inside lay three brand-new fifty-yuan bills. This was the monthly salary of both parents, and also the limit they could instinctively give… Pinching that thin paper packet, Chen Yuanming didn’t know what to say. These were his parents, an existence that always made him miserable but impossible to let go.

In the end, Chen Yuanming smiled and put the red packet into his pocket.

“Thank you, Mom and Dad. I also wish you a Happy New Year and all the best.”

&&&

At the same time, in a military compound in Xicheng District, Beijing, the sound of firecrackers was deafening, drowning out all sounds from the TV. Two round tables were set in the spacious living room. The heating was pleasant, and the wine and food were sumptuous, but the atmosphere in the room was not so harmonious.

The sound of firecrackers just paused slightly, and the old lady with silver hair next to the main seat couldn’t help it. She patted her husband’s arm, “Don’t scold Old Four all day. How old is he? Does he have to rely on his brothers and sisters for the rest of his life? Now the one above says we need reform and opening up, and revitalize the economy. You insist that this is a crooked way. If stocks are really a crooked way, why say give it a try… How did that saying go?”

Knowing that his mother was finding an opportunity for him, Xiao Yun immediately stood up straight and answered properly, “Allowed to look, but must resolutely try. If it’s right, do it for a year or two. If it’s right, open up; if it’s wrong, correct it, just close it. Closing can be fast or slow, or leave a little tail. What are you afraid of? If you stick to this attitude, it doesn’t matter, and you won’t make big mistakes.”

“Listen to this, can this be a crooked way?”

Hearing his old wife taking sides here, the old man was full of anger. He slapped the table with a bang, and a pile of bowls and plates jumped along with it. “What do you know! This brat is spoiled by you! Just this stock market, how many people have fallen into it? Embezzling public funds, abusing power, and some people see others making money and plan how to fish in troubled waters! You only think about making money, don’t think about what the situation is now! As soon as the meeting opens in March, the stock market will definitely be rectified. We must not let Old Four drag the family down! And making money is making money, why do you have to rely on forcing those ordinary people to death to make money? Don’t you feel guilty in your heart!”

These words were a bit heavy. Xiao Yun frowned and retorted somewhat stubbornly, “I have never been a market maker. This money is earned by relying on the general trend. It is real and there is no guilty conscience at all.”

“Oh, Old Four, you say a few words less too.” A middle-aged woman sitting aside immediately stopped the conversation, giving the old man no chance to flare up. Smiling at the people around her, she spoke in Mandarin with a soft Shanghai accent. “Making money should have a good channel. Since the situation doesn’t allow it now, it’s good to change to another business. This stock market is, after all, a numbers game and rootless grass. Otherwise, finance in Shanghai was not undeveloped back then. Why did my ancestors choose industry instead of those financial trades? Industry strengthens the country, this is always right.”

These words were polite and restrained. She spoke out what was in the old man’s heart and also gave Xiao Yun a way out. As a holder of a large amount of stock trading principal, her opinion on this topic was quite persuasive.

Xiao Yun lowered his head and thought for a moment, and finally nodded, “I understand what sister-in-law means. It’s just that the stock market is still in an upward channel now, and I have to finish this wave of market anyway. After this, I will prepare well for the next step. Although the stock market is charming, there are too many tricks in it, and it is not what I really like. I will always give an explanation.”

Hearing such soft words, the atmosphere in the room immediately eased up. Pulling and persuading, it finally turned back into harmony. Xiao Junyi, who had been sitting at the next table eavesdropping, finally came back to his senses. Looking at the sweet lotus root with osmanthus on the table, he suddenly remembered that strange kid. His uncle was ready to retreat, what would that kid plan?

Tapping his fingers on the edge of the table, he revealed a smile.