1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 119 The Prince's Pool: A Shocking Turn of Events

“His mother used to run a small business. She would stew pig's head and offal and sell it at the market.”

Lin Xiyu didn't hide anything: "I heard that you've made a lot of money, and you were a 'ten-thousand-yuan household' a long time ago."

"Huh."

With her superior gossip skills, Wu Meng imagined a whole drama: "No wonder his dad likes his mom, not him as a person, but her money. He got her, got her money, and then started to look down on her."

"His mother died young, probably from being angered to death by his father. She worked hard from dawn till dusk, and her husband wouldn't even give her a kind look, complaining that she was a haggard old woman. What woman could stand that?"

-

"Now that you mention it, it's really creepy."

Lin Xiyu shook her arm, scattering goosebumps all over the floor: "But his father is really shameless. He keeps the family's finances a closely guarded secret. He and my mother have a very clear plan. Each of us raises our own daughter, and we even split the expenses for raising our son."

"How could your mother stand someone so disgusting?"

Wu Meng said in disbelief, "My dad gives all his salary to my mom to manage. If I want to buy a cigarette, I have to ask my mom for money."

"I guess that's how most couples in normal families are."

Lin Xiyu nodded, not finding anything wrong with it: "My uncle is the same. He gives all the money he earns to my aunt and doesn't want to spend a single penny on himself."

"I hope your mom can think more positively."

Wu Meng felt genuinely sorry for her mother: "This kind of man is really not worth entrusting your life to. When she gets older and loses her beauty, won't she end up like Xu Jie's mother?"

"hope so."

Lin Xiyu's eyes shone with anticipation: "My aunt said my mom went home to pack her clothes. This time she must have made up her mind to leave that home and divorce Xu Weiguo."

"That's good!"

Wu Meng smiled and said, "Otherwise, just thinking about it makes me feel nauseous, and I can't even bear to look at it."

"Sister, stop chatting and let's go."

While the two best friends were chatting, Xu Yi dodged her cousin's pursuit, circled around in a nearby alley, and then ran back.

"coming."

"The little guy can't wait to go swimming."

"Let's go, let's hurry up and leave before they rush us again."

"it is good."

The two exchanged a knowing smile and quickened their pace, going along with the little guy's wishes.

-

Prince's Mansion Pond.

August, the hottest month of the year, is the height of summer.

It was summer vacation, and there were many children swimming. The pool was packed with people, like dumplings in a pot.

Xu Yi ran excitedly to the shore, kicked off his shoes, and jumped into the water in his clothes.

He had just learned to swim, and Lin Xiyu was worried, so she stood by the pool watching him.

"Sister, why don't you come down for a swim too?"

Xu Yi splashed around in the water a few times with his clumsy dog ​​paddle, watching his sister and grinning foolishly.

"There are too many people, I'm not going to go down and squeeze in, you can swim by yourself."

Lin Xiyu was wearing a skirt, which made it inconvenient for her to go into the water.

"Xiyu, Mengmeng, you two come here. There's a place over here. Sit down and rest for a while."

My cousin arrived early, found a seat on the side, took off her shoes, and soaked her feet in the water.

"coming."

Wu Meng's eyes lit up, and she rushed over first.

The pool water was suddenly cool, and when she put her feet in, the sensation made her skin tingle and her whole body shiver.

"Is it cold?"

Lin Xiyu walked over with a smile, squatted down, and reached into the water to test it.

"What are you afraid of?"

My cousin didn't seem to care and continued soaking: "We grew up soaking in the Prince's Palace pool, why would we be afraid of getting cold?"

"You're expecting good news, aren't you?"

Lin Xiyu kindly advised, "The water is too cold, it's not good for your health. Be careful and don't soak for too long."

"It's no big deal."

My cousin said nonchalantly, "It's rare that I don't have to go to work today. I'm going to enjoy myself while Liu Ye exploits me."

"You're not making money anymore?"

Lin Xiyu chuckled and teased her, "You were so excited during the opening period, you couldn't wait to work every single day. It's only been a month, and you're already starting to slack off?"

"Many of our customers were acquaintances who came specifically to support us when we first opened."

My cousin braced herself on the ground, looked up at the sky with a helpless expression: "It's not working now. Staying in the office all day won't get me a single client. This can't go on. I need to explore new frontiers and find work elsewhere."

"Are you resigning?"

Lin Xiyu's expression changed upon hearing this.

"No, I don't want to resign."

My cousin has her own plans: "I'm going to go to the newly built housing developments to find new clients and recruit people myself."

"Oh, that's right."

Lin Xiyu clutched her chest and breathed a sigh of relief: "I thought you were going to quit after only a month. It gave me quite a fright."

"I can't go out to do business without someone in the office."

Her cousin turned around and glanced at her, her eyes bright and shrewd, with undisguised calculation: "How about this, since you've finished filming anyway, and you're just sitting at home with nothing to do, why don't you come to the company and help me?"

"I?"

Lin Xiyu was a little confused: "What can I do if I go? I don't know anything about renovations."

"You don't need to do the renovation."

My older cousin taught me by example: "Just sit in the office and answer the phone. When a customer comes in, pour him a glass of water, show him the model room, and if he's interested in cooperating, take out the brochure and show him the price list."

"So simple?"

Lin Xiyu was a little tempted.

"It's that simple."

My cousin nodded very seriously: "Sales isn't that difficult. It's no different from selling clothes. You just need to promote what you want to sell."

Would Liu Ye be willing?

Lin Xiyu hesitated for a moment: "If you're not here, I'll do the work for you."

"What is he unhappy about?"

My cousin was very confident: "With you as a living advertisement, business is sure to be good. He'd love for you to be there every day, helping him promote his business for free."

“Who would work for him for free?” Lin Xiyu’s little calculations were already running: “I also have to ask him for a commission. From now until the start of school in mid-September, I can work a full month, so he has to give me some salary.”

"Commission is a must."

My cousin knew perfectly well: "I know how murky the renovation business is. The company just opened last month and made a gross profit of 30 yuan. That guy is making a killing. We have to make him bleed a little more."

"30?"

Lin Xiyu's beautiful eyes widened: "Is decorating really that profitable? No wonder Wang Fan said he wanted to open a branch in Beijing. This guy is really good at shrewdness, always looking for profit."

"No wonder business people are all so rich."

My cousin was incredibly jealous: "These days, if you want to make big money, you have to be your own boss. Working for someone else will only get you exploited."

"You work with them for now."

Lin Xiyu patted her on the shoulder, expressing encouragement in a younger sister's way: "Now that you've figured things out and have the capital, you can start your own company."

"I think so too."

My cousin's eyes lit up: "If our family wants to get rich, it can only rely on me. I have to stand up for ourselves, find my own way, and get my uncle to work with me too."

"You still want to bring your uncle along?"

Lin Xiyu looked slightly surprised.

I'm not taking him with me.

My cousin chuckled and said jokingly, "With only 500 yuan a month he earns at the hotel, and he has to support his wife and kids, when will he ever be able to pay you back that 1 yuan?"

"Too."

Lin Xiyu laughed, her eyes crinkling with joy: "Although I don't expect my uncle to pay me back, it's still nice to have something to look forward to."

Why not make him pay it back?

My cousin still felt a lump in her throat when she thought about her aunt adopting a child: "If you don't make him pay it back, the money will all be spent by outsiders. Raising a child is not easy. Grandma is getting old and can't relax. She also has to help them take care of the child."

"Don't say that to your uncle and aunt when you get home."

Lin Xiyu kindly reminded him, "Uncle can't have children, so he must feel guilty towards Aunt. If Aunt wants to adopt a child, he will probably agree. Let's not make trouble and reopen old wounds."

"I know."

My cousin looked speechless: "Do you really think I'm stupid? I know exactly what I can and can't say. I'm just so angry that my aunt's mother had to cause trouble at this time. The doctor said it's possible to cure her. We've waited for so many years, what's a few more years?"

"Can raising your own child be the same as raising someone else's child? What if one day, your uncle's health is really cured and they can have children again? Should they have them or not?"

"Nowadays, most people are only children. What if the family planning policy prevents them from having more children? Wouldn't it be a waste to give up your own biological child for an adopted one?"

“I just can’t accept this. No matter how you adopt, you can’t be as close as your own child. Even your own son can be unfilial. It’s ridiculous to expect an adopted person to take care of you in your old age.”

-

"My aunt's mother is a little anxious."

Lin Xiyu agreed with her reasoning and nodded repeatedly: "I also think that biological children are better. It's hard to describe the feeling of adopting children. You always feel like they're not family. There's a distance in your heart, and they're not as close as you are."

"That's it."

These words really hit my cousin right, and she launched into another long rant: "I just felt so bad because the adopted child wasn't close to me, that's why I complained so much at home, and I almost got into a fight with my aunt."

"Calm down, and whatever you do when you get home, don't complain anymore."

When Lin Xiyu heard that she had already made a scene at home, she was shocked and her heart skipped a beat: "I'll say it again, we are the younger generation, we can't interfere with my uncle's childbirth. If we say too much, people won't listen. If things get too tense, we won't be able to stay at my maternal grandmother's house anymore, and we'll just suffer ourselves."

"Ugh, this is so annoying."

My cousin sighed, "What's going on here?"

"Xi Yu, come here for a moment."

Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Lin Xiyu was about to say a few more words of comfort when Director Zhang of the neighborhood committee suddenly walked over from Wangfuchizi West Street and waved to her through the fence.

"coming."

Lin Xiyu recognized Director Zhang and dared not be negligent. She patted her cousin on the shoulder, signaling her not to say anything more, then got up from the poolside, pushed open the gate, and squeezed out of the crowd.

"Xi Yu, I've come here to ask you for a favor."

When Director Zhang saw her coming, he beamed and warmly shook her hand.

"What is it, Director Zhang?"

Lin Xiyu felt uneasy, sensing that Director Zhang's smile was strange and that something bad was about to happen.

"That's right, Xi Yu."

Sure enough, what Director Zhang said next confirmed her guess: "The city has issued a new document that old houses that are not to be demolished will be renovated at the request of the citizens. The roofs will be renovated and the exterior walls will be painted white, just like the water towns in Jiangnan, with red roofs and white walls, which is particularly beautiful."

"This is a good thing."

Lin Xiyu smiled and agreed, "The old house is too old; it's time to renovate it."

"It's a good thing, but the city has some requirements."

Director Zhang then changed the subject, saying, "This renovated area will be transformed into a tourist area, which will then be open to tourists from all over the country to attract them to visit."

"Jinan's main focus is its spring water culture. Spring water is our calling card, and the water quality must be clear and free from any pollution. Therefore, the authorities have issued new regulations prohibiting swimming in all spring pools, including Wangfu Pool."

-

"Oh, swimming is no longer allowed?"

Lin Xiyu's breath hitched, and her smile froze on her face.

"Xi Yu"

Director Zhang said earnestly, "I know this is not something that people will easily accept, which is why I wanted to ask for your help. No matter what, you are now considered the image ambassador for tourism in Jinan. You need to set a good example. So many eyes are on you. If you don't cooperate, our work will be very difficult."

Lin Xiyu remained silent for a long time, her heart filled with regret, a bitter and astringent feeling that made her feel very uncomfortable.

"Xi Yu"

Director Zhang smiled good-naturedly and patiently persuaded, "We understand how you feel. I myself grew up in the Wangfu Pond and have a deep affection for this pond. My little rascal won't let me swim and is making a fuss at home, crying loudly."

"However, the city has made a regulation that we must accept it no matter how difficult it is for the sake of Jinan's tourism and culture, and we cannot let it hold back economic development."

-

"Director Zhang, what do you want me to help with?"

Lin Xiyu was filled with anxiety, fearing that Director Zhang would tell her to become a volunteer, wearing a red armband and standing guard by the pool to stop residents from swimming.

"Could you help us contact the TV station and ask them to reshoot the promotional video for 'Spring Water Village'? In the part about Wangfu Pond, please don't show people swimming in the pond anymore. Just show the beautiful scenery. That way, the promotional effect will be better."

Fortunately, Director Zhang didn't make such a bizarre request, which gave her a little comfort in her bittersweet heart.

"I can only ask for you, but I can't guarantee whether it can be reshot. It depends on Director Du's approval."

"Okay, you can ask first, as soon as possible."

Director Zhang was very satisfied with her pragmatism: "Someone from the street office will come to take charge soon, lock the gate, put up signs prohibiting swimming, and repair the railings, making them higher and wider to prevent children from going into the water without permission, ensuring there are no safety hazards."

"So swimming isn't allowed today?"

Lin Xiyu's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously glanced towards the edge of the pool.

My cousin and Wu Meng didn't know what they were talking about, and kept looking in the direction they were standing.

Xu Yi was still splashing around in the water, having a great time.