dkrc Chapter 856: Want Some Peace and Quiet
Chapter 856: Want Some Peace and Quiet
The annual plum rain season has arrived as scheduled, and the entire middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River have entered the rainy season mode.
Looking out from the office's floor-to-ceiling windows, everything was shrouded in a gray haze; nothing could be seen. The entire building was enveloped in a low-lying mist and rain.
"Knock knock knock," someone knocked on the office door from the outside.
"Come in!" Huang Xiaochuan put down his teacup.
The door opened, and Gao Song walked in. "Mr. Huang, General Manager Jiang from Times has arrived."
"Please let him in!"
"OK!"
Soon, Jiang Bixing appeared in the office. Huang Xiaochuan pointed to the seat opposite him and said, "Old Jiang, sit down and have a cup of tea!"
Huang Xiaochuan knew that Jiang Bixing was only seeing him under the guise of reporting on his work, just like Cao Charlie and the others before him. He had guessed what they were thinking: they were scared by Nan Hui's affair, so they came to show their loyalty to him in order to put their minds at ease.
Adhering to the principle of seeing through things but not revealing them, Huang Xiaochuan met with them one by one, without mentioning Nan Hui's matter at all, and listened attentively to their work reports, just as he had always done.
After sitting down, Jiang Bixing first thanked him, then picked up his teacup, took a sip, and immediately his expression relaxed.
"Good tea! Is it Jin Jun Mei?"
"Old Jiang, not bad! Looks like you drink a lot of tea regularly." Huang Xiaochuan said with a smile as he refilled the teacup in front of Jiang Bixing.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bixing humbly replied, "Hey, I was just imitating you poorly. I learned it from you and I'm nowhere near your level. I was just drinking it haphazardly."
Huang Xiaochuan raised an eyebrow: "Who said that? Your skill level is quite good, on par with mine."
Jiang Bixing waved his hand: "Don't flatter me. I know my own limitations. I've only learned one thing in my life: you have to know your own capabilities and do your job well."
"You, Lao Jiang, are absolutely right about that. Your strength is your reliability; otherwise, Shidai Commerce wouldn't have grown to its current size." Huang Xiaochuan picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"If it weren't for your support, I wouldn't be where I am today. I know that perfectly well!" Jiang Bixing also raised his teacup and toasted Huang Xiaochuan as if offering a toast.
Huang Xiaochuan clinked his teacup with his: "What's wrong with you today? You came all this way just to tell me this?"
Jiang Bixing was quite frank: "Hehe, I'm just laying the groundwork before giving my work report!"
Huang Xiaochuan laughed too, pointing at Jiang Bixing: "You!"
Huang Xiaochuan has always managed his businesses by focusing on the big picture and delegating the small details. He is only responsible for providing guidance and adjustments in the overall direction and never interferes in the specific affairs of his subordinate group companies, giving full authority to people like Jiang Bixing and Cao Charlie.
So I don't usually see these people very often, but I've been seeing them more frequently lately. It seems that Nan Hui's matter has had a significant impact on them.
Meanwhile, in that western suburban villa area, Nan Hui was taking a walk alone under an umbrella. The fresh air on that rainy day lifted her spirits after staying at home for several days.
After turning a corner, she encountered several women who were taking a walk together. Nan Hui recognized most of them; they all lived in this villa area. Among them was Zhang Gaolei's wife, Han Nuo.
Han Nuo also saw Nan Hui and immediately walked over to greet her with a smile: "President Nan, what a coincidence! You're also taking a walk."
Nan Hui stopped and responded politely, but her tone was distant: "Hello, Mrs. Zhang."
Han Nuo seemed oblivious to Nan Hui's aloofness and started a conversation with her: "This plum rain season is really something! It's been raining for days, and I wonder when we'll see the sun again."
Nan Hui smiled and said, "It should be soon! It's been about the same every year."
"Mr. Nan, I've been seeing you a lot lately, you don't seem so busy anymore?"
These words touched a nerve with Nan Hui, who replied in a flat tone, "Oh! I'm getting old, my energy isn't what it used to be, I just want to rest and have some peace and quiet."
Upon hearing this, Han Nuo immediately extended a warm invitation: "Oh, is that so? We usually get together to drink tea and chat when we don't have much to do. If you're free, Mr. Nan, you're welcome to join us. It's always more lively with more people."
Nan Hui was getting annoyed. She had already said she wanted some peace and quiet, so why couldn't she understand?
He declined directly, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm used to being alone, so I won't disturb your enjoyment."
Han Nuo was now a little embarrassed: "Oh, I see! Okay then! You can take your time looking around! We'll be going now."
"Okay, goodbye!" Nan Hui said goodbye and parted ways with the others.
Han Nuo was somewhat dissatisfied with Nan Hui's behavior. Could it be that he had done something wrong to dislike this woman?
When she got home, she told Zhang Gaolei about it.
"Old Zhang, what do you think of me?"
Zhang Gaolei was a little puzzled by the question, but he still replied, "It's great!"
"Why was Ms. Nan, who lives in number 2, so distant from me when I took the initiative to talk to her?"
Zhang Gaolei didn't take it seriously after hearing this: "They're probably too busy to greet you."
Han Nuo was a little puzzled: "Busy? I heard from Mrs. Lu of No. 9 that President Nan has been staying here recently and hardly ever goes out. She usually just takes walks in the neighborhood. I don't think she's busy at all."
Han Nuo was right. Since leaving Guangda Real Estate, Nan Hui has been living a secluded life at home and has disappeared from the public eye. Unless necessary, she almost never leaves the community. If she does go out, she will cover herself up tightly, as if she is afraid that someone will recognize her.
Although this community only has a dozen or so villas, except for Villa No. 1 which has always been vacant, the rest of the villas are all occupied by people, and they are all prominent figures in Shanghai's business community. Therefore, Nan Hui often sees some of these ladies and young women when she goes for a walk, and she inevitably greets them.
If it weren't for the fact that there wasn't a better place to live in Shanghai, Nan Hui would have moved away long ago. But nowadays, it's too difficult to find a place in Shanghai that can compare to the living environment here.
Zhang Gaolei found Han Nuo's words somewhat incomprehensible.
"Whether they're busy or not is none of your business. I think you're just bored. If they don't want to deal with you, then let's just mind our own business. Instead, you're complaining about them behind their backs. Honestly."
Seeing that the man was unhappy, Han Nuo explained, "I was just saying it casually. I was thinking that we're neighbors, we see each other all the time, so it's always good to have a good relationship!"
Zhang Gaolei didn't want to discuss this issue with his wife anymore. He was busy and had many things to consider: "Alright, alright, since they don't want to be with you, why are you going to keep trying?"
Zhang Gaolei then got up and went to the study to avoid Han Nuo, who talked far too much.