Chapter 160: Market
Xie Changning took it all in stride.
If she had to admit to being curious, she was. But her curiosity was about which product line their parents were developing, not about when they would return.
Given their status, it was actually better that they didn’t show up.
Xie Changning had a feeling herself. More strange people had been appearing around her lately. Clearly, she had been targeted by those traitors.
Xie Changning’s answer took Xie Changyi by surprise.
’She had assumed that since Changning had never met their parents, she would want to see them. So this was how her sister viewed their parents’ existence?’
"Our parents sent me a letter a while ago."
Xie Changyi said to Xie Changning, carefully observing her sister’s expression as she spoke, to see if she minded.
But her sister’s expression didn’t change. She just nodded. "In that case, it seems they’re doing well, if they can still send you letters."
Xie Changning didn’t ask how the letter had been delivered, nor was she curious about its contents.
Xie Changyi would tell her what she needed to know. And what she wasn’t supposed to know, Changyi wouldn’t tell her even if she asked.
So, she didn’t bother asking and setting herself up for disappointment.
Changning didn’t ask, but Xie Changyi began speaking on her own. "They already know about how our uncle abused you. They said they’ll contact the clan and make the family give you a proper explanation. They can’t come back right now, so they can only have others help."
"Actually, there’s no need. They’re in a pretty miserable state as it is."
Their miserable state was all Xie Changning’s doing.
Not only had she taken all of their assets, but she had also deliberately leaked the letter reporting them to the neighborhood committee, which was why their assignment to the countryside had been arranged so quickly.
Of course, she had no intention of telling anyone about how she had taken her adoptive parents’ assets.
Not even her own sister.
"They still need to give you a proper explanation. They feel they’ve wronged you, so naturally they’ll find a way to make it up to you," Xie Changyi said.
Xie Changning nodded, not refusing.
"They know you’re also on the path of research and development, and they’re very proud of you." Xie Changyi kept putting in a good word for their parents, and even someone as oblivious as Xie Changning would have noticed.
Xie Changyi was afraid she held a grudge against their parents.
Xie Changning looked at Xie Changyi. "It’s really nothing. They had their own difficulties. The country was in a tough spot back then. If it were me, I would have also chosen to follow the leadership’s instructions."
’Perhaps the younger Xie Changning couldn’t have understood after learning the truth of her birth.’
’But the original owner, after growing up, would definitely have understood her parents.’
’The original owner was a very kind child.’
"I’m relieved you can think that way." Hearing that Xie Changning didn’t mind that their parents had abandoned her when she was young, Xie Changyi finally relaxed.
"It wasn’t just me who was left behind. Weren’t you, too?"
Xie Changning smiled.
In truth, the pair had made arrangements for their daughters before they left. They just hadn’t expected the girls’ uncle to be so unreliable. If they had known, they probably would have sent both children abroad.
"Do you want to see their letter?"
"No, you should just get rid of it."
Xie Changning shook her head, telling Xie Changyi to dispose of the letter.
The letter wouldn’t have a return address, but if those traitors were dead set on finding them, they just might succeed.
It was better not to leave any potential trouble behind.
Since Xie Changning didn’t want to see it, Xie Changyi didn’t stand on ceremony. She lit a candle and burned the letter.
In reality, there was nothing sensitive in the letter. It was filled with their parents’ apologies to Xie Changning and their plans to make amends. They barely said anything to Xie Changyi, aside from telling her to take good care of her younger sister.
Of course, Xie Changyi wouldn’t tell Xie Changning any of this.
After the two sisters finished talking about their parents, Xie Changning looked at Xie Changyi. "You don’t have work today?"
"Just because your boyfriend is in the army all the time, you think I should be working every day? It’s Saturday. Besides, I just got back from a business trip where I distinguished myself. Isn’t it normal for the leadership to give me a few days off?"
Xie Changyi’s words made Xie Changning raise an eyebrow. "Wasn’t it my accomplishment?"
"Never mind that. The point is, the leadership gave me time off."
Just as Xie Changyi had said, the provincial leadership was ecstatic. They gave everyone who went on the trip time off, telling them to rest well so they could return to work with renewed passion.
Xie Changning shrugged and held up her hands. "Fair enough."
With all the US Dollar profits Xie Changning brought back this time, Lin Province’s total profit for the year was already far greater than that of the past three years combined!
"You should have a clear idea of what the leader meant during dinner yesterday."
"Hm?"
"He wants to bring you to Hui Chun City." The factories under Xie Changning’s control were all small-scale. If they were larger, they could certainly generate even more foreign currency!
This was the leader’s line of thinking.
Hearing this, Xie Changning’s brow furrowed slightly. She slowly shook her head. "The leader should also be clear from what I said yesterday. I have no intention of going to Hui Chun City."
She understood what the leader meant. A larger factory could offer her many conveniences.
But, by the same token,
a large factory wouldn’t be her one-woman show. In the factories she was currently in charge of, her word was law. Almost everyone listened to her, which gave her more room to excel.
Other factories—
wouldn’t necessarily offer such freedom.
Xie Changyi nodded. "The leader knows. That’s why he didn’t press the issue. However, he did provide a great deal of support for your plan to build an R&D lab."
Normally, with Xie Changning’s academic qualifications, it would never have been approved.
Xie Changning knew that. "That’s why I’m planning to ask my mentor to come over." ’Her academic credentials weren’t enough, but she had her mentor!’
Her mentor was a formidable figure at Beijing University. As long as she used her mentor’s name, some things would be very easy to resolve!
’She was confident her mentor wouldn’t refuse her.’
Hearing Xie Changning say this, Xie Changyi knew that her sister had already thought of everything when she submitted the application to the leader.
’It would even shut those old-timers up!’
’Excellent!’
"As expected of my sister, you think of everything."
The two chatted as they finished cleaning the house, then went out shopping together.
Since they had acknowledged each other as sisters, Xie Changyi hadn’t gotten Xie Changning any gifts. This time, she planned to buy some presents for Changning and her two children.
Xie Changning knew what she was thinking and didn’t refuse.
Relationships are a two-way street. If Xie Changyi bought her something, Xie Changning would naturally prepare something in return.
However, what she had in mind for Xie Changyi was—
"Our daily chemical plant is preparing to develop a shampoo. When the time comes, I’ll bring you some. Remember to try it out and give me some feedback."
At these words, Xie Changyi was pleasantly surprised. "Are you saying you already have the formula?"
That stuff... quite a few domestic factories had been researching it, but none had managed to crack it.
’She never expected her sister to have her eyes on this market too!’