Cheng Su pulled Hualing into her room to sit down, handed her two tissues, and then sighed.
"Last year when I talked to you, Old Qi did mention this to me, but at that time it wasnât certain, so I didnât say anything," Cheng Su said.
Hualing laughed: "No wonder. I knew it was like this. You must secretly be satisfied, arenât you? Finally seeing our family have bad luck!"
Cheng Suâs face suddenly darkened, and she said coldly: "If youâre going to talk like this, then I have nothing to say to you. The door is over there, I wonât see you off!"
Honestly, she only spoke to her because theyâve been neighbors for a few years, and now itâs out of sympathy to bring her home for a chat.
But Hualing just had that explosive temper, speaking sharply and sourly with no provocation, as if she owed her anything. Besides, this reshuffling wasnât initiated by her, why should she take it out on her?
She has a temper, and I have a temper too. Does she really think Iâm a pushover?
Hualing was rendered speechless by Cheng Suâs retort, feeling very awkward, neither able to leave nor stay.
Cheng Su said nothing, even picked up a book.
Hualing then said: "Iâm not blaming you, just that at that time, you didnât tell me anything? And I considered you as a sister."
She softened her stance, and Cheng Su wasnât one to pursue relentlessly, so she said: "How could I say anything? There was only a preliminary list, if I spoke out and it wasnât true, wouldnât it be much ado about nothing?"
"Well, I know that."
"I didnât tell you about the list, but I did give you a hint, didnât I?" Cheng Su said, "You donât need to cry over this, whatâs there to cry about? Chen Shouwangâs situation now, what future could he have? As I said, taking advantage of your parentsâ influence, why not find him a position as a clerk or something to strive for?"
"You make it sound easy, but if it were Qi Taiguo..." Hualing retorted, awkwardly falling silent.
"If it were Qi Taiguo on the reshuffling list today, I wouldnât feel any pity. Soldiers often go out on missions risking their lives," Cheng Su snorted.
Hualing said nothing.
"Anyway, Iâve said my piece. If a seedling in one pit wonât grow, itâs better to look at the other pitâs seedling. Chen Shouwang could at least go on for another ten years or so, even if he joins some organization, and retires as a director, that would be enough for your food and drink. Why cling to being a deputy platoon leader in the military? With no chance of promotion, just idling through the days," Cheng Su said.
Hualingâs expression softened a bit, looking at their television, she said: "Canât he go into business?"
If going into business could earn a lot of money like Cheng Su, it might be feasible. I heard that a few years ago, Commander Zhou retired and ventured into business, making a fortune.
"Sure," Cheng Su said with a half-smile, "but do you think Chen Shouwang has the knack for business?"
Honest and straightforward â yes, honest people can go astray too, maybe letâs not call him honest. Not cunning, business, how can he succeed?
Business people have the sharpest tongues.
Hualingâs face flushed from the jab, yet she couldnât refute it. Chen Shouwang indeed didnât seem like a shrewd person.
"I canât make decisions for you guys about this, itâs best to ask your parents, I suppose they have the most say!" Cheng Su said indifferently: "But in my opinion, Chen Shouwang is more suited to work in an agency!"
At least retiring in twenty years, a cadreâs pension only increases, never decreases, why not do it?