novellhall Chapter 113 Top-notch
Chapter 113 Top-notch
Gao Jie, carrying a lunchbox, arrived at the neighboring residential compound with practiced ease.
"Hey, Sister Gao, you're here to bring food to your younger brother and sister-in-law again."
"Ah, I stewed a little too much at noon."
"You're doing this kind of thing as the eldest sister-in-law—"
The other person gave a thumbs-up, and Gao Jie smiled broadly, saying modestly, "Hehe, we're all family, it's only right to look after each other."
The person on the other end sighed: "That's true, but how many families with brothers can be as generous as you and your family? You always give the best things to your younger brother's family. Zhang Mei's thermos cup last time was a gift from your company, right? It even has words printed on it. Those thermos cups are in high demand. I heard that someone offered 20 yuan plus ten industrial coupons to get one of those things! You just gave it to your brother and sister-in-law like that. I have to say you're very generous."
"Hey, Xiaomei's always on night shifts at the hospital, right? With a thermos, she doesn't have to run up and down to the water room to get a hot drink. Okay, Lao Zhang, I'm done chatting, I'm going to find Xiaomei."
"Sister Xing, you should go quickly. Cheng Hao is back today too. Your sister-in-law just led him this way."
Cheng Hao is back too?
Gao Jie calculated the time; Cheng Hao had been studying in the Soviet Union for two years, and it should be about time for him to return. She quickened her pace, feeling somewhat excited.
Speaking of which, it was she who helped Cheng Hao secure the opportunity to go to the Soviet Union. Originally, the government-sponsored study abroad quota was to be selected based on various factors and the best candidates. Cheng Hao's overall score was a little short at the time. Zhang Mei begged her for help, and she, out of compassion for her parents, went home and told Lao Cheng to give Cheng Hao the green light.
Lao Cheng naturally disagreed. Giving Cheng Hao the green light meant that someone more outstanding than him would be eliminated.
This is not the same thing as assigning someone an insignificant task.
The country is already short of resources, so sending college students abroad for further studies is also so that they can bring back advanced foreign technologies and models when they return.
Moreover, completing a course that would normally take several years in just two years means you have to study every single day, so frankly, it's not a time to relax and enjoy yourself.
Cheng Hao's grades were mediocre, and he had been spoiled since childhood. Cheng Huazhang felt that he was not cut out for it and that going there would only be a waste of resources.
Therefore, Cheng Huazhang absolutely refused to agree.
After Zhang Mei found out, she privately cried to her sister-in-law Gao Jie several times. Gao Jie even had a big argument with Cheng Huazhang over this.
In the end, he managed to persuade Hua Zhang to relent.
Fortunately, two years later, Cheng Hao finally returned after completing his studies. Gao Jie put aside her thoughts, entered Zhang Mei's apartment building, and started going upstairs.
The apartment building for family members only had five floors at most. Zhang Mei's family lived on the top floor. When Gao Jie reached the fourth floor and turned the corner of the stairs, she could faintly hear the clinking of keys mixed with voices coming from upstairs.
"Haozi, you should go inside and get some sleep. When you wake up, go see your grandfather and make him happy so he can get you a job in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cheng Zheng only went to military school and he can become a factory representative. You, on the other hand, studied abroad. You should be better than him at work."
"Back then, Mom had to beg and plead with your aunt to give you a spot to study abroad. Finally, you've completed your studies and returned home. You absolutely must live up to her expectations and make Mom proud in front of your aunt. Your dad can't rely on you, so Mom is counting on you to make him proud!"
"Don't worry, I'll just show off my Russian in front of the old man and impress him. He'll be so happy that he'll arrange for me to get a job in the Foreign Affairs Department as a counselor. You'll be able to hold your head high in front of your aunt and won't have to put up with her anymore."
"Oh, my dear son, in my heart, I've always thought you're more capable than Cheng Zheng. Cheng Zheng only benefits from blood ties. His father is your grandfather's biological son, while your father is adopted. The old man says he treats everyone equally, like your father, but what does that even mean? Look at your uncle's workplace, and your father's workplace. If the old man had treated everyone equally, your father wouldn't be just a lowly section chief in a quiet department, all title and no real power. As a result, I'm not well-regarded at the hospital, and after all these years I'm still a nurse, working myself to the bone every day. And look at your aunt, she's so successful. Her husband is a high-ranking official, and she benefits from that at work too. She sits in her office every day reading the newspaper and drinking tea, living a life of luxury. She's older than me, but she looks younger!"
"How can I be younger than you, Mom? You're naturally beautiful; your aunt is nowhere near as good-looking!"
"My son knows how to talk... Let me tell you, your uncle's family has had a really big scandal lately. Your uncle has an illegitimate daughter who's about the same age as Tingting. What's even funnier is that your cousin has fallen for her, which has your aunt so worried she's laughing her head off... I laugh just thinking about it tonight. I bet we'll be watching this show for a long time..."
It's unclear whether the mother and son were too carried away, but they ended up chatting for quite a while right in front of their house.
Gao Jie listened for a long time from around the corner.
She only snapped out of her daze when the door slammed shut and the rope of the net bag in her hand tightened painfully. Her face remained cold.