Ye Longlin hadn't expected Mu Hanqi to not leave last night. He had thought she had left the small courtyard.
He really should have taken her with him!
Ye Longlin tapped the table, "Are you done with your business in Nan Province?"
Mu Hanqi's eyes darted around. Clinging to Zhao Qian's sleeve, she looked pitiful, "I... I... I'm sorry, I'll do a good job, I promise I'll do a good job, please don't hit me..."
"......"
Zhao Qian's sharp gaze fell upon him. Ye Longlin knew immediately that Zhao Qian was on Lin Tian'ai's side. He had no idea what kind of charm offensive she had deployed to get Zhao Qian to support her so fiercely.
It was truly exasperating.
Zhao Siyu had gone to the company early in the morning and then had to go to school.
She was still in her final year of university. However, even within the university, Zhao Siyu was a prominent figure. She had founded a company before graduating. Although its market value was only over ten million, everyone knew she was still young!
Outsiders might not be aware, but Zhao Siyu herself was very clear that with the investment from her cheap elder brother, Ye Longlin, her logistics business was poised for rapid growth in the near future.
Of course, the ultimate extent of its success would still depend on her own efforts.
After breakfast, Ye Longlin took Mu Hanqi away, fearing that if he left her there any longer, the next time he returned, they might be discussing his wedding.
In the car, Mu Hanqi pouted, clearly displeased. Ye Longlin looked out the window, the atmosphere thick with awkwardness.
"I asked you to act for a bit, but you went and made it real."
After a long silence, Ye Longlin sighed, his gaze carrying a hint of helplessness. This was a classic case of inviting a wolf into the sheepfold.
He knew very well what Mu Hanqi felt for him, yet he still let her meet his family. Wasn't that inviting a wolf into the sheepfold?
Mu Hanqi, however, spoke as if it were only natural, "What's wrong with that? I like you, that's a fact. I want to marry you, that's also a fact. Besides, you're the one who asked me to act. From my perspective, I naturally have to develop factors that are beneficial to me!"
It seemed... there was no fault in her logic.
"Since we've reached this point, I have a membership card for the Hilton Hotel. Want to discuss the possibility of deeper interaction? What if, just what if, you fall for me? Right?"
Ye Longlin looked at her with a strange expression. Mu Hanqi, lifting her chin, replied, "Speaking of which, if we were together, Aunt Zhao wouldn't have to doubt the authenticity. Think about it, if I don't visit Aunt Zhao for a long time, won't she ask? She definitely will. How will you respond then?
Will you say we broke up? And then what? Will Aunt Zhao continue to urge you, and then you'll find another shield? This kind of vicious cycle will surely lead Aunt Zhao to discover the truth, right? I'm doing this for your own good, and of course, it's also my wish."
Ye Longlin: "......"
Her words were so logical and well-reasoned that he didn't know how to refute them.
Suddenly, Yuan Gang slammed on the brakes, and the two were thrown back into their seats, thankfully secured by their seatbelts.
"Boss, there's a traffic jam ahead. We don't know what's happening."
Yuan Gang looked at the long line of cars ahead with a hint of helplessness. After speaking, he got out of the car to investigate what was going on.
Ahead.
A one-armed middle-aged man, with determined eyes, faced forward, his other hand protectively covering his son.
Opposite him stood a group of people wielding clubs.
"Old Li, you should leave. You can't change this. These matters are now beyond your capabilities. We don't want to lay hands on you, so don't make it difficult for us!"
"Yes, Old Li, their family's influence is something you can't shake. If you insist on confronting them, you'll only get hurt."
"Old Li, go back. We're from different backgrounds. Although I don't approve of their actions, we still rely on them for our livelihood."
The group wielding clubs were all advising the one-armed middle-aged man. They seemed to know him well.
After listening, Yuan Gang's eyes were blank. They were blocking the pedestrian crossing, but no one dared to honk. Although these people were just house guards, they were still members of the Zhu family.
"Brother, what's happening?"
Yuan Gang stepped forward, patted the shoulder of a man in front of him, and asked curiously.
Perhaps watching a spectacle was a national pastime in Daxia?
"It's like this. See the one-armed middle-aged man's son? He's the top scorer in the provincial college entrance examination. The Zhu family, however, impersonated him. That is to say, the top scorer's results were switched with the Zhu family head's son, and the one-armed middle-aged man's son only scored over a hundred points in the college entrance examination.
In this world, it's increasingly difficult for the poor to produce noble scholars. In the future society, the poor will only become poorer, and the rich will only become richer. Ah, the education system in Daxia..."
Yuan Gang, confused, asked, "Why is that?"
The man glanced at Yuan Gang and chuckled, "Brother, are you not married?"
Yuan Gang shook his head.
The man showed a knowing expression and continued, "I am a teacher at Nan University. I've been teaching for fifteen years and have a clearer perspective on these matters. In fact, it all boils down to the fact that in the past, good grades were inversely proportional to family conditions. The poorer the child, the better their grades, because reading was their only way out.
Now, wealthy families' parents are willing to spend money, sending their children to various training classes, even hiring private tutors. Their grades are built on money. Within 20 years, the educational disparities will only widen. For children from poor families to achieve good grades, mere hard work is not enough. They are already at a disadvantage from the starting line. Poor students lose out on the educational starting line.
This is just the basic difference. There are others as well. Do you want to hear more?"
Yuan Gang remained silent for a moment, clenching his fist, and looked ahead, preparing to help. However, he was stopped by the teacher raising his hand.
"Brother, listen to me. Don't intervene. It's a way to protect their dignity."
"That child... is my student. I know their character."
"His father was a soldier. In his own words, even if he died, it would be on the charge.
As a father, if he can't even protect his child, how can he protect the country? It's said that he lost that arm on the battlefield."
Yuan Gang fell silent, looking at their retreating figures, and murmured, "Don't worry, someone will back you up. Daxia will never mistreat its soldiers, and even less so those who lost an arm on the battlefield!"
Returning to the car, Yuan Gang recounted the events. Ye Longlin and Mu Hanqi fell into silence.
Mu Hanqi could deeply relate to this matter, "When I was young, as soon as I started understanding things, my father made me learn this and that. After starting school, it was either training classes or other training classes. When I finally had a little personal space, there was still a private tutor. What that teacher said is also true, the gap will only continue to widen."