I'm reborn and I'm an international student again?

"Did you actually get a paternity test? Don't raise someone else's child without knowing the truth. Women these days are unreliable. There's a term online that perfectly describes someone like you: 'Yoga pants collapse, old lady.'" Chen Xi said, arms crossed.

"What nonsense! I've never heard of this before. I'm online all the time!" Chen Yifeng frowned and thought for a moment, realizing he had never heard of this claim before.

This is, of course, an internet slang term that will only appear many years from now, so he naturally doesn't know it now.

As a father, even if he knows he is wrong, he will never admit it in front of his son, because saving face is more important than anything else.

"Whatever you want. Now that Grandpa's gone, it's time to get rid of those relatives in the factory, especially the Zhang family. I don't want to have to deal with those monsters and demons when I take over Huade in the future."

"Take over Huade? I'm not even dead yet, and you're already thinking about taking over? You're just like your third uncle, always thinking about splitting the money before the old man is even gone!" Chen Yifeng wanted to get angry, but he couldn't because of the occasion, so he had to swallow his words.

Just like in their previous life, there were still procedures to go through between collecting the ashes and the official burial, so the group could only find a place to sit and wait.

"Second brother, Chen Xi is not young anymore. If you don't get married soon, are you going to have no descendants?" Chen Mingli's mouth was as sharp as ever, and he started mocking as soon as he sat down.

"Hmph." Chen Yifeng turned his face away, too lazy to reply.

"Ha, why are you so quiet today? I've said it before, the Chen family has never had a girl. Have you found out that the child isn't yours?" Chen Mingli pressed on.

Chen Xi sat to the side, silently smoking, watching the two bicker.

This passage is exactly the same as in his previous life. However, Chen Xi was a little curious, as his uncle usually spoke illogically, but this one sentence actually came true.

"If you weren't so sharp-tongued, you wouldn't be so annoying," Chen Yifeng finally retorted.

"Hey, you always think you're so great? If it weren't for me, you'd be dead by now! When you were a kid, you were bitten by a snake in the field, who saved you? You think that just because you're well-educated and earn a lot of money, the Chen family's word carries the most weight? I'm a college graduate too! I could have gone to a better school, but my family didn't have enough resources, so I had to join the army. Everyone in my family has served in the army except you, even Xiao Sanzi did!"

Chen Mingli became more and more agitated as he spoke: "Back then, the family was poor, and Mom wanted to give Xiao Sanzi away, but you insisted on keeping him. You doted on him more than your own son, spoiling him into this lazy good-for-nothing. And you? You ran off to secretly learn to paint every day, while I had to help Mom run the small shop. Later, you latched onto Chen Caiyue, begging her to buy you motorcycles and watches, showing them off in front of us every day. Get this straight, I'm the boss! If it weren't for you guys dragging me down, I would have been rich long ago!"

"It's not like I didn't help you make money later! I put you in the company, but you were the ones who were incompetent! A perfectly good company was turned into a family workshop! My son keeps urging me to reform, and if it weren't for you, I would have changed it long ago!" Chen Yifeng was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged.

“The factory was doing just fine, but you insisted on divorcing Chen Caiyue and marrying that little vixen, making a mess of the company, and now you’re trying to shift the blame onto us? You’re really good at talking!” Chen Mingli refused to back down.

Two grown men in their fifties started arguing in public.

Chen Xi and Chen Zhou smoked silently to the side.

Chen Xi remembered that the two brothers never saw each other again after that. Chen Yifeng didn't even attend Chen Zhou's wedding.

Chen Xi had a clear understanding of the Chen family's situation: First, there were too many people and limited resources. Second, people's hearts were inherently biased, making it impossible to treat everyone equally, as evidenced by Chen Kaiwen and Huang Jingfang's attitudes towards their three sons.

The father favored the eldest son, the mother doted on the second son, and the youngest son disliked everyone.

In such a family, all three members feel unbalanced.

Huajing.

"Linxi, I told you long ago that the ideology behind running an association must be correct. Look how angry you've made the instructor; he comes to me to complain every other day." Yang Xiao mocked his old rival smugly.

"We're running an association, not becoming civil servants! I really don't understand what kind of path you're taking!" Linxi slammed her hand on the table and retorted.

"Hehe, let me be blunt. These days, who doesn't want a good life? Money, power, beautiful women—they all want it. Do you think they're cultured? Of course, they are, and they're all highly educated. Those who can become… are all smart people, but do you think they all have faith? That's hard to say. But my grandparents' generation, their families were richer than others, yet they still thought about changing society—that's what faith is! We returnees are the same. Do you think I'm full of old-fashioned ideas? Let me tell you, no! I also received a Western education. But look at the current situation, isn't it getting worse and worse because some people only care about enjoying themselves! If you want to change the status quo, you have to change your approach. We don't… want to intervene in change, so we can only get involved as an association, understand?" Yang Xiao stood up and took a few steps closer.

"I don't understand! I think you're just flirting with Zheng Wei and doing all that radical stuff. Your association is doing so poorly, and you're trying to kick us while we're having a conflict with Zheng Wei!" Lin Xi sneered.

"Well, how can I explain it to you? Let me give you an example. In ancient times, there was a scholar with lofty ambitions who wanted to change the corrupt court. But he was surrounded by corrupt officials. If he insisted on going against the grain, he might not even be able to keep his seventh-rank official position, let alone talk about changing the future. The only thing he could do was to pretend to be corrupt and wait until he reached the highest position in the court before using his original ideals to change everything."

"Nonsense! If you actually sat in that position, you would have been corrupted long ago. How could you maintain your original aspirations?" Lin Xi shook her head.

“Let me tell you, your association is in great danger right now! A global organization that makes so much money, is so large, and is so disobedient, openly going against the higher-ups—do you think it can last? The higher-ups have long been worried about this situation, and that's why they created local overseas returnee associations to check and balance you. They didn't expect you to develop so quickly…” Yang Xiao said with a serious expression.

"What do you want to say?" Linxi frowned.

“I suggest you follow Zheng Wei’s arrangements and slow down the association’s development pace to ensure safety.” Yang Xiao took a sip of water.

"Didn't you want our association to disband? Why are you giving me advice out of kindness?"

"A triangle is the most stable structure, and that's what they think too. If you collapse, we'll be in danger too."

"Aren't you one of them? You're all the same to them."

"Please, every group has factions. Who knows what the next group will be... I mean, if something goes wrong on your side, I suggest we merge." Yang Xiao sat up straight and looked at him seriously.

"Merge with you? Dream on! Even if our association is forcibly disbanded, we will never merge with you. We're completely different. We value pure blue..." Lin Xi stood up, glanced at Yang Xiao, and left without looking back. "Just as Chen Xi said..." Watching his departing figure, Yang Xiao leaned back in his chair and muttered to himself.

Association of Young Returnees

On the wall of the lobby, Xu Yun's photo was once again displayed, but now it was surrounded by brightly colored promotional slogans.

The walls on both sides were covered with Xu Yunxin's photos, all of her making funny faces, her expressions playful and quirky, as if she were mocking something.

Like the large photographs, these photos are also surrounded by various slogans.

It's clear that the struggle between Xu Yun and Zheng Wei continues.

The "Values ​​and Guidelines of the Youth Returnees Association" on the wall is particularly eye-catching:
I. With a pure and loyal heart, we serve our country.
With the great ideal of national rejuvenation in mind, we will dedicate the advanced knowledge, skills and concepts we have learned abroad to the construction of our motherland, and be loyal practitioners and contributors to the cause of the great rejuvenation of the nation.

II. Diligent study and practice, and a spirit of innovation
Upholding the spirit of seeking truth and being pragmatic, continuously tracking the forefront of global science and technology, venturing into uncharted territory, striving to overcome "bottleneck" technological challenges, and becoming a pioneering force in building a science and technology powerhouse.

III. Integrating Internal and External Resources, and Promoting Mutual Learning Among Civilizations
Leveraging our advantages in cross-cultural communication, we will tell my country's story to the world, disseminate my country's solutions, become friendly ambassadors connecting my country and the world, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

IV. Respect the law and keep promises, understand etiquette and cultivate oneself.
Consciously abide by Chinese and American laws and regulations, uphold academic ethics and professional conduct, and demonstrate the positive image and sense of responsibility of Chinese youth in the new era in international exchanges.

V. Unite and cooperate, help each other and make progress together.
To build a community for the development of overseas returnees, promote professional exchanges and resource integration among members, form a cohesive and outstanding team, and achieve common growth for individuals and the collective.

VI. Strive for self-improvement and work hard.
Maintain a clear mind, carry forward the spirit of hard work, and demonstrate the ambition, backbone, and confidence of Chinese youth in a complex international environment and fierce competition for talent.

Seeing these slogans, Linxi's lips twitched as he walked in. His face darkened further when he glanced at the photos of the grotesque faces.

What's all this...

"What's the situation now?" he asked, calling over an association member.

"No...not very optimistic," the other person stammered.

Linxi nodded and walked straight to Xu Yun's office.
-
"Secretary-General, please recite the 'Value Code of the Youth Returnees Association' once." In the office, Zheng Wei sat in his chair with a serious expression.

"Recite? Why should I recite? I'm not a primary school student, why would I recite articles to the teacher? Are you out of your mind? You're bothering me every day, forcing us to shout slogans. Let me tell you, I'm very busy, the association has a ton of business waiting to be dealt with! Go cool off somewhere else!" Xu Yun waved her hand like she was shooing away a fly, her face full of disgust.

“Watch your attitude! No matter how big the association becomes or how much money it makes, if its ideology is flawed or it goes down the wrong path, it will all be in vain! This set of guidelines was specifically formulated for the association, and the same applies to Yang Xiao's side. Please cooperate with my work…”

"I'll cooperate with you, Ma!"

Xu Yun immediately swore.

"I'm warning you, Xu Yun! If this continues, I will apply to my superiors to remove you from your position as secretary-general! I'm talking to you nicely now because I don't want things to escalate!" Zheng Wei slammed his hand on the table.

Even the most good-tempered person can't stand being scolded like that.

"Hey, do you think I'm stupid? You wouldn't report it to your superiors! People like you wouldn't dare let the leaders know, because reporting it would mean you're incompetent, unable to handle even this small matter, how do you expect to get promoted? Don't think I don't know anything, I grew up watching my dad eat with those leaders!" Xu Yun crossed her arms and sneered.

Indeed, Zheng Wei has not reported the truth to his superiors so far, precisely because of the concerns Xu Yun mentioned. He doesn't want his superiors to think that he can't even handle this small matter.

"Can't you cooperate a little? Even just pretending would be fine. I'm just completing a task. Wouldn't it be better if we both compromised?" Zheng Wei softened his tone, trying to use gentle persuasion to overcome rigidity.

"Fine, then take down the slogan next to my photo. You can put it up anywhere—in the restroom, in the break room. Also, cancel your ideological education class. We've already distributed the pamphlets, haven't we? People who want to read them will read them." Seeing the other party back down, Xu Yun felt a surge of smugness.

"Such a solemn thing, you want me to put it on the toilet? Is that reasonable! Cancel ideological education classes? If you were to learn them voluntarily, would I even need to hold classes?" Zheng Wei was so angry that his nose almost twisted out of shape.

"Then why are people unwilling to learn? Because they don't agree with it at all! You can force us to do this today, and you can force us to do something else tomorrow. I, Xu Yun, am not stupid. This is like dating; I'm the one who's supposed to train others, not the other way around." Xu Yun crossed her legs, her attitude arrogant.

"You wait, I'll tell Linxi and Chenxi about this!"

"Hehe, you already called them, didn't you? They're both very busy right now; this place is under my jurisdiction. But then again, I bet even if they were here, their attitude would be the same as mine!"

These words struck a nerve with Zheng Wei. He had indeed contacted Lin Xi, but she kept saying she was busy in Shanghai. Chen Xi, on the other hand, gave him the runaround, saying she rarely got involved in association affairs.

Zheng Wei knew perfectly well that the two of them were just passing the buck. But he simply couldn't handle Xu Yun, this crazy woman; the methods he used to deal with normal people were completely ineffective against her.

Outside the door, Linxi, who had been eavesdropping, heard the entire conversation. Originally intending to go in and find out what was going on, he now silently backed down.

(I'll post this much for now. I had a get-together with Dongdong, Wang Li, and Shitao in Shanxi. Then my laptop broke down; I just took it to the after-sales service center and they said the motherboard is most likely faulty. I'll post what I wrote first. Yesterday, my uncle in Africa, whom I mentioned in the book, saw that I wasn't doing well and asked me to work there. I'm hesitating about whether to go or not. I used to think Xiang Yu was a bit foolish for refusing to cross the Wujiang River, but now that I'm in a similar situation, I can understand. Leaving like this feels like deserting. My computer is broken now too. I'll meet up with some classmates for the next couple of days and update again when I get back.) (End of Chapter)