The Birth of Shanghai's First Conglomerate

Chen Lu is quite annoyed right now; he can't seem to get into a good mood for anything.

When I was preparing to buy a small house, I suddenly saw Su Xiaoxi handing out flyers outside the university.

Her WeChat ID and contact information were also printed on it.

She wasn't the only one posting; Yang Zi was also by her side. Chen Lu didn't want to go, but she couldn't resist the fact that she liked him.

The impulse in his heart still made him walk over without being able to resist.

Outside the university, people come and go, and Su Xiaoxi is so beautiful, she is known as the number one beauty of the school.

Who wouldn't want to take a second look when she's handing out flyers?

When Chen Lu arrived, there was still a large crowd gathered around her.

"Does that Miss Su, the school beauty, get a discount if she rents an apartment with you?"

"Yes... there are discounts available," Su Xiaoxi replied with a smile.

"Aren't you very rich now? Why do you still do such an ordinary job?"

Real estate agents, whose business includes renting and selling houses, can always earn a good income as long as they have strong sales skills.

"That's not my money."

"Even if it's not your money, it's already in your hands. Can't you do some decent work?"

For Chen Lu, handing out flyers on the street was indeed a rather ordinary thing.

Su Xiaoxi didn't mind at all. "I'm just an ordinary freshman girl. How can I find a decent part-time job?"

Chen Lu's breath hitched, seemingly unable to refute, "My father is about to open a large bookstore here. If you'd like, I can recommend you for a part-time job there."

"Go work part-time for your father?"

Su Xiaoxi was somewhat surprised, seemingly unable to believe that Chen Lu would make such a suggestion.

In other words, the people at the university didn't know Chen Lu's father's identity; otherwise, they would probably be scrambling to get part-time jobs working for him.

"Will your father still want to see me?"

“I don’t know. I had a fight with him a few days ago, and he hasn’t called me for several days. But my second sister is here, so I can ask her to tell him on your behalf.”

"Thank you, but I'll never be able to face your father again."

"How will you know if you don't try? My dad is much more open-minded than you think."

Thinking of this, Chen Lu immediately called his second sister.

When Chen Xinyi arrived, the procession was incredibly grand.

Chen Xinyi is still just like she was when she was a child, very afraid of dying, even though she drives a red Bugatti worth more than 50 million yuan.

But there were bodyguard cars in front and behind her to prevent any large vehicles from hitting her.

When Erpiya appeared, all eyes in the school turned to her, but unfortunately, she didn't pay any attention to outsiders.

They don't show any courtesy to their own younger brothers.

"Chen Lu, what do you want with your sister?"

"I want to ask you for a favor."

"You need something from me again. Just say it. As long as it's not important, your second sister will take care of it for you."

"I want Xiaoxi to work part-time at Dad's bookstore!"

Chen Xinyi is only twenty-one years old, and she is only three years and three months older than Chen Lu.

"Let me offer another suggestion; I can't help you with this."

"Why? You're not Father's favorite."

“Just because my father likes me doesn’t mean I have to take your scolding.”

Erpiya comes quickly and runs even faster; she won't get involved in Su Xiaoxi's affairs at all.

Stay as far away as possible.

That evening, Chen Lu had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to his father. He genuinely wanted Su Xiaoxi to work for his father for a few years, as it would be extremely beneficial for her.

Chen Pingsheng spends his time at home growing flowers and tending to his plants; he rarely pays attention to the so-called important matters of the outside world anymore.

Chen Lu arrived at 8 p.m. The silly boy had argued with him a few days ago and hadn't been home for several days.

Children grow up and become uncontrollable; isn't that true for all parents?

"Dad, is the bookstore outside your university about to open?"

Why are you asking this?

“I want Su Xiaoxi to work part-time for you.” Chen Pingsheng put down the kettle in his hand, stared at his son intently for countless seconds, and then asked, “Tell me your thoughts.”

Chen Lu frankly said, "Dad, I like Xiao Xi and I want her to be my future wife. I saw her handing out flyers outside the university today. I know her and I know she wants to earn that billion-dollar sum on her own so she can repay you."

"Your reason is not enough to convince me."

If Su Xiaoxi were to come to his bookstore, it wouldn't be a part-time job; it would be like he were personally mentoring and training her.

They even have to treat her like a second daughter-in-law and teach her properly for several years.

“Dad, I’ve never had any talent since I was little. I’m neither as reliable as my eldest sister nor as talented as my second sister. If I hadn’t become your son, I might have just been an ordinary person for the rest of my life. During my three years abroad, I tried my best to keep up with my two older sisters and to try not to disappoint you. But apart from being your son, I don’t have many strengths. My only advantage is that I’m your son.”

Chen Lu frankly admitted that he didn't have many strengths; he had always been like this since he was a child and never had many ideals.

He understood the ideals his father told him, but he couldn't achieve them.

He wanted to fulfill the hopes his mother placed in him, but he couldn't meet his parents' expectations either.

The years when he worked the hardest were the three years of junior high school when Su Xiaoxi was by his side.

It was then that he realized he could actually do whatever he wanted.

Now he feels that he is just a lucky person who was born into a good family.

Besides having good parents, what else does he have?

Nothing left.

Which rich kid doesn't want to surpass their parents? But parents are like a monument, a mountain, how easy is it to surpass them?
Chen Pingsheng suddenly realized a problem, perhaps it was him, or perhaps it was Chen Lu's mother.

They all imposed their desire to continue the family line on their sons.

But as it turns out, he may never be able to replace them, no matter how hard he tries.

Sometimes, talent really does matter.

Has their education failed?
Perhaps it is, or perhaps it isn't, but without a doubt, Chen Pingsheng began to waver for the first time regarding his son, Chen Lu.

The reason is simple: when Chen Lu said that his only advantage was his son, it proved that his confidence had been shattered.

If he lacks self-confidence, how can you expect him to achieve anything significant?
Actually, he's not the only one who encounters problems when it comes to raising children.

Every parent has to face challenges, from small things like their child's grades to big things like finding a job after graduation.

Then comes getting married and having children.

A child's life is a lifetime of worry for their parents.

Of the three in the family, Chen An'an is the one who is least worrisome.

Perhaps he really should let go and let Chen Lu make his own choice.

Whether it's good or bad, he has to bear the consequences himself.

Every parent will make arrangements in one way or another, in the name of doing what's best for their child.

Su Xiaoxi's mother chose to save all the money for her daughter.

She thought this would ensure her daughter's happiness for life, but little did she know that with Su Xiaoxi's stubbornness, she would probably spend her whole life paying off the debt.

His wife also used the excuse of wanting what was best for their son to persuade Chen Lu to leave Su Xiaoxi.

But this made him remember only his one advantage: that he was born into a good family.

Apart from that, it has no other strengths whatsoever.

It's really hard to say whether they were doing this for Chen Lu's good or harming him.

Even the wealthiest entrepreneurs face a more difficult choice regarding their children's education than starting a business or even making money.

They might even make many mistakes without realizing it.

Fatherly love, sometimes, is not based on the guise of doing what's best for the child, but rather on wantonly interfering in their life.

This is a trap, a pitfall that countless parents have fallen into.

Chen Pingsheng said, "What you said today surprised and disappointed me, but it also seems to be expected. I never thought about arranging your life. I just hoped that you would inherit something. Since you are unwilling and feel that you are not capable of taking on the responsibility, you can choose your own life according to your own will. As for the request you made, I will grant it."

After saying that, he left.

Perhaps it was because of Su Xiaoxi that he had made a new decision.

Or perhaps she had other ideas in her mind, because An'an gave birth to a boy as her second child.

Chen Pingsheng personally named him Chen Jiye.

This child will be calling him grandfather from now on, and he will also be the first official third-generation eldest grandson of the Chen family.

(End of this chapter)