Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Xie Changlin
’If I can just get on their good side, our town’s economy is sure to take off!’
’And if I succeed in boosting the economy, it’ll help my career, too!’
Thus, the look Song Shoucheng gave Xie Changyi grew even more fervent.
"Who is this relative of yours? Tell me, and I’ll help you find them."
Xie Changyi had reached her current position; what kind of person hadn’t she seen?
Song Shoucheng’s eyes told her everything. He wanted to curry favor with her. He had long known about her connection to Xie Changlin and was now trying to find a way to keep her here...
Xie Changyi smiled faintly. She looked at the young, pregnant woman standing in the doorway and gestured with her chin. "There. I just asked. She said she’s never heard the name Xie Changlin, so I must have the wrong place."
With that, Xie Changyi started to roll up the car window.
Seeing that Xie Changyi was about to leave, Song Shoucheng immediately put his hand on the window. "Xie Changlin is my son-in-law!" he told her anxiously. "We know him! You’re not in the wrong place!"
Hearing this, a flash of doubt crossed Xie Changyi’s eyes. "Then why—"
"My daughter is just a bit cautious. I’ll explain everything."
"Fine. I want to see him. Where is he now?"
Song Shoucheng sent someone to fetch Xie Changlin while hastily inviting Xie Changyi into the courtyard of his daughter’s home. He turned to his daughter and said, "What are you staring at? Go make some tea for Director Xie."
Xie Changyi waved her hand dismissively.
"Don’t trouble her. Being pregnant is hard enough."
Only after hearing Xie Changyi say this did Song Shoucheng let his daughter off the hook.
If looks could kill, Song Shoucheng’s daughter would have been stabbed multiple times already.
Song Shoucheng’s daughter was afraid of him. Seeing his dark expression, she didn’t dare make another peep.
’In truth,’ she thought, ’Xie Changyi and Xie Changlin must not have been in contact before. Something must have happened between them. Otherwise, Xie Changyi wouldn’t be unaware that I’m Xie Changlin’s wife.’
’Her gut told her this woman wasn’t here for a family visit; she was here to cause trouble for her husband.’
’That was why she’d refused to receive her.’
’She just hadn’t expected her father to invite the woman directly into their home.’
’She would wait for her husband at the door, tell him who was here, and warn him to be careful.’
Song Shoucheng kept staring at his daughter. He felt she was a stumbling block on his path to success!
’Don’t think I can’t see it,’ he thought. ’She’s wary of Director Xie.’
’How ridiculous. As if Director Xie doesn’t know what kind of character her husband is.’
"I heard that Changlin has relatives working at the supply and marketing co-op now. It seems they’re from the Yue family," Xie Changyi said, making small talk with Song Shoucheng.
At the mention of the co-op, Song Shoucheng’s expression stiffened.
The relatives at the co-op were all from his father’s side. A while ago, because they found out that Xie Changlin was related to the young factory manager in Anong County, they had—
Song Shoucheng felt a pang of guilt.
After all, those relatives had been dealt with recently—stripped of their posts and arrested.
At that moment, Song Shoucheng realized that cozying up to Xie Changyi might not be such a good thing after all!
"Ah, you must mean those parasites! I have no idea how they found out about Changlin’s connection to Mr. Xie. To just go and... Tsk!"
Song Shoucheng was painting himself as an innocent bystander.
Xie Changyi just smiled, not taking his words to heart in the slightest.
"It’s fine. Every family has a few parasites."
Hearing this, Song Shoucheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He began chatting with Xie Changyi about governance, the economy, and whether Xie Changning’s factory had plans to open a branch.
Xie Changyi gave Song Shoucheng a deep, meaningful look.
"My sister has her own plans for the factory in Anong County. As for the details, I’m not very clear on them. We both have very different focuses."
’Trying to pry into Changning’s development plans?’
’Who does he think he is?’
While they were talking, Xie Changlin returned. He walked in carrying two fresh fish and called out loudly, "Honey, I caught two fish for you! I’ll make you some fish soup today!"
The moment she saw Xie Changlin, Song Shoucheng’s daughter, Song Xiaoyu, had become extremely worried.
But before she could say anything, he had already called out, making it impossible for her to stop him.
As he spoke, Xie Changlin kept glancing at the Hongqi sedan parked at the entrance. "Did we have company?" he asked, curious.
He hadn’t seen a car like that since he was sent down.
Song Xiaoyu walked up to him and whispered, "A woman named Xie Changyi came today. She says she’s your cousin. Do you know her?"
Xie Changlin’s expression changed slightly at the name Xie Changyi.
He wouldn’t have recognized the name, but—
When he went to pick up his older brother, his brother had told him about Xie Changyi. That was when he learned he had a much older cousin working in Chuncheng!
Realizing who it was, Xie Changlin hesitated, unsure if he should go inside.
Song Xiaoyu sighed. "Come on. Dad’s inside. Let’s go see."
Hearing that his father-in-law was in the room, Xie Changlin had no choice but to bite the bullet and go in to greet Xie Changyi.
"Dad, you’re here?"
As he spoke, Xie Changlin turned his head to look at Xie Changyi.
Their eyes met, and Xie Changlin knew instantly that this cousin was no pushover. His peaceful life was about to be shattered.
He felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach.
’Things were finally starting to get better for him. Why was someone showing up at his door again?’
"Changlin, this is your cousin. Why aren’t you greeting her?" Seeing Xie Changlin remain silent, Song Shoucheng immediately put on a stern face and scolded him.
Xie Changyi, however, showed a hint of a smile.
"It’s alright. He’s never met me, so it’s normal he doesn’t recognize me." She sat down in a chair and introduced herself to Xie Changlin. "Changlin, hello. I’m your uncle’s daughter, your cousin, Xie Changyi."
"Hello."
Xie Changlin tensed up.
’He’d heard the rumors,’ he thought. ’Xie Changning was his uncle’s child, not his family’s biological daughter.’
’This cousin is Xie Changning’s biological sister. She couldn’t be here to settle a score for Xie Changning, could she?’
The moment he thought Xie Changyi was there to cause trouble, Xie Changlin almost instinctively moved to shield Song Xiaoyu, keeping her out of Xie Changyi’s line of sight.
His action made Xie Changyi raise an eyebrow.
’So, he’s afraid I’ll go after his wife?’
"I never thought the arrogant young man from back then would one day be wading in a river to catch fish and cook for his wife."
Xie Changyi’s words made everyone present tense up.
They could all tell she was being sarcastic.
Xie Changlin’s body went rigid. He explained to Xie Changyi, "Sis, I know I did a lot of wrong things in the past, but... since coming here, I’ve realized my mistakes. I—"
"You know your relatives used your name to cause trouble at your sister’s factory, don’t you?"
Since he had started to confess, Xie Changyi decided to stop beating around the bush.
She crossed her left leg over her right and looked at Xie Changlin with cold eyes.
"I... I only told them my sister was Xie Changning. I never thought they would go that far."
