Guide to Rising to Power as a Wife in Beijing's Elite Circle

When Fang Jingxiu came downstairs, the atmosphere in the living room was subtle.

Lin Wanqing leaned against the armrest of the sofa next to Fang Zhenguo, her fingers idly twirling the tassels on her husband's epaulettes. It was a habit she had developed over the past thirty years, and she liked to do it whether she was in a good mood or a bad mood.

"You know your son, he's getting more and more opinionated as he gets older." Her voice had a unique softness to it, and even at fifty, she could still act coquettishly. "That marriage with the Liu family was so good. I watched Sihua grow up, I know her inside and out. But him, he's just lukewarm."

Fang Zhenguo sat upright, letting his wife lean against him, his gaze fixed on the military report in his hand, and he only hummed in response.

"It's all your fault," Lin Wanqing scoffed. "When I was pregnant with him, you were always in the army and never home. I said I wanted a daughter, and you said okay, okay, but it turned out to be a boy. If it were a daughter, I'd be holding my grandson by now, and I wouldn't have to worry about this."

Hearing this in a coquettish tone, Fang Zhenguo finally looked up from the military newspaper and glanced at his wife helplessly: "Nonsense."

"What nonsense am I talking about?" Lin Wanqing straightened up. "My grandfather's generation were famous industrialists. My father was among the first to go into business after the reforms and built this family fortune. Back then, the person who introduced me to you..." She paused, mimicking the tone of the person who introduced me back then, "When I was the youngest regimental political commissar in the 38th Army of Jingjing, I thought, being a soldier must be so boring."

She laughed as she spoke: "And what happened? This guy looked so composed, but he dared to hold my hand on our third meeting."

Fang Zhenguo blushed and coughed, "There are people here."

Fang Jingxiu stood at the corner of the stairs, listening to his parents' conversation, a rare smile appearing in his eyes.

His mother, Lin Wanqing, was the only daughter of the Lin family. Her great-grandfather's generation was a prominent figure in Jingjing, and her maternal grandfather went into business in the 1980s and caught the first wave of profits.

His father, Fang Zhenguo, comes from a family with three generations of military service. His grandfather was a founding major general, his father participated in the self-defense counterattack war, and he himself joined the army at the age of eighteen, rising from platoon leader to political commissar of an army group. He is likely to be promoted to lieutenant general next year.

Such a combination caused a sensation in Jingjing at the time.

A large business sector cannot be stable without good governance, and a large government cannot thrive without business.

The Lin family needs military backing for protection, while the Fang family needs substantial financial resources to support its network of connections.

A marriage where both families get what they need, but it's more than just a transaction. Fang Zhenguo, a tough guy who grew up in the military, had never seen a girl as bright and lively as Lin Wanqing, who also had the background of a noble family.

Having witnessed the deceit and treachery of the business world, Lin Wanqing found herself yearning for Fang Zhenguo's military-like composure and steadiness.

And so it all fell into place naturally.

Fang Jingxiu walked downstairs, and said with a rare teasing tone, "Mom, it's not too late to start practicing the trumpet now. I think Dad's physique is good enough to have a few more children."

Lin Wanqing was startled. Turning around and seeing her son, she blushed and said, "What nonsense are you talking about! I'm already preparing to hold my grandson, having another child? What kind of talk is that!"

Fang Zhenguo put down the military report and glared at his son: "No respect for elders!"

"Let's eat." He got up and walked towards the dining room.

The dishes were already laid out in the restaurant.

The three sat down, the servants withdrew, and the door was closed.

Halfway through the meal, Fang Zhenguo put down his chopsticks and looked at his son: "Jingxiu, what do you think about that marriage with the Liu family?"

It's time to come.

Fang Jingxiu paused for a moment while picking up food, but quickly recovered.

He knew he couldn't directly reveal that he had a girlfriend, as that would only escalate the conflict and give his parents a preconceived negative impression of Chen Nuo.

He put down his chopsticks, his tone as calm as if he were analyzing a task: "Dad, Mom, I've thought about this carefully."

Lin Wanqing's eyes lit up, thinking that her son had relented.

Instead of directly refusing, he changed his approach: "You'll be promoted next year, adding another star to your rank—that's a certainty. As for me, if all goes well, I can also be promoted to director-general next year."

He paused, then looked at his father: "A thirty-year-old at the level of a division commander, and your father is a general in a theater command. This combination is already quite conspicuous in the eyes of outsiders."

Fang Zhenguo's eyes narrowed slightly.

"If, at this critical juncture, I were to arrange a marriage between our families again," Fang Jingxiu continued, his tone as calm as if he were giving a work report, "Liu Yang will most likely be promoted to ministerial level next year, at which point our two families would have two high-ranking officials from one family."

Fang Zhenguo's eyes narrowed.

"The Fang family has a military background, the Lin family has a business empire, I have real power in the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Liu family are local officials." Fang Jingxiu said each word carefully, "These four forces are intertwined, and a tall tree catches the wind."

The restaurant was completely silent.

The joy on Lin Wanqing's face gradually faded, replaced by deep thought.

"Have fewer people been watching us these past few years?"

Fang Jingxiu continued, "The disciplinary inspection teams come every year, and audits never stop. Why? Because we're too conspicuous. Dad, you often told me that in the system, you have to hide your talents and make money quietly."

He looked at his mother: "Mom, after you married Dad, was Dad's path to promotion more difficult than before? How many people tried to trip him up behind his back?"

Lin Wanqing's expression changed, and she sighed softly as she recalled the hardships of those years.

"I'm not saying the Liu family is bad," Fang Jingxiu changed the subject. "Sihua is very outstanding, and Uncle Liu has taken good care of me. But in the current environment, a political marriage carries more risks than benefits."

He picked up his chopsticks again, placed a piece of pork rib in his mother's bowl, and said, "My suggestion is to take it slow. Wait until you're promoted, until I'm settled in my position as director, until this storm passes. It won't be too late to talk then."

These words are well-reasoned, supported by evidence, and watertight.

They neither directly refused nor failed to make the stakes clear.

He saved face for his parents while achieving his own goal.

Fang Zhenguo remained silent for a long time before finally picking up his chopsticks: "Let's eat first."

These three words are tantamount to acknowledging the son's statement.

Lin Wanqing looked at her husband, then at her son, and finally sighed, "What Xiu-ge said... makes sense. Your father did go through a lot of trouble when we got married."

She ladled a bowl of soup for her son: "Then... let's put this matter aside for now?"

"Let it go," Fang Zhenguo said. "No rush."

Fang Jingxiu took the soup bowl, his expression unchanged: "Thank you, Mom."

But deep down, I breathed a sigh of relief.

We've passed this hurdle for now.

After dinner, Fang Zhenguo went back to his study to work on documents, while Lin Wanqing went for a walk in the garden.

Fang Jingxiu returned to his room, closed the door, leaned against the door panel, and closed his eyes.

He won the negotiations, but he felt no sense of relief.

Because he knew that this was just a delaying tactic.

His parents are now convinced because his words make sense.

But sooner or later, they will bring this up again.

But by then, he will need a better reason.

Or rather, you need to have enough leverage.

He walked to the window and took out his phone. On the screen, Chen Nuo's message was still from before dinner: "Brother Xiu, Dad said he wants to have a couple of drinks with you when you come to Yongzhou! [Smirk]"

Fang Jingxiu looked at that smirking expression and a smile crept onto his lips.

He typed: "Tell him I can't hold my liquor, and ask him to go easy on me."

Chen Nuo replied instantly: "I don't believe it! You drank so much in Yongzhou and you were fine!"

Fang Jingxiu laughed: "That was an act."

"I knew it! [Hmph]"

Fang Jingxiu put down his phone and looked out the window at the night view of the Western Hills.

Chen Nuo.

Twenty-two years old, not yet graduated from film school, his father is a businessman, although he is intelligent, he is not a person in this industry.

There are too many things between us.

But he has already made his choice.

The pinky ring was removed, the words were spoken, and then the person went to sleep.

What we need to do now is not to regret, but to pave the way.

Pave a path that will allow Chen Nuo to grow up quickly, pave a path that will allow her to stand by his side as soon as possible, pave a path that will allow his parents to finally accept her.

Director Li's program to support young directors is just the first step.

He wanted her to establish herself in the industry, achieve success, build connections, and establish her own value.

When she becomes dazzling enough that when others mention her, she is no longer just Fang Jingxiu's girlfriend, but Chen Nuo, a nationally renowned young director.

Only then, when he leads her by the hand to his parents, can he say:

"Dad, Mom, this is the person I chose."

Instead of…

"Dad, Mom, this is the person I like."

The former is informing, the latter is pleading.

Fang Jingxiu wanted to be informed.

He picked up his phone again and sent a message to Secretary Qin: "Send me a copy of the detailed plan for the support program for young directors after the New Year. Also, please arrange an appointment for me with Deputy Director Zhang of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. Tell him I have some personal matters to discuss."

Secretary Qin quickly replied, "Understood. Boss, is there anything I need to prepare?"

"No need," Fang Jingxiu replied. "I can do it myself."

He wanted to pave this road for Chen Nuo himself.

Use his resources, his connections, and his wisdom.

Because it was his choice, and also his responsibility.

Outside the window, the night was deepening.

Fang Jingxiu stood by the window, motionless for a long time.

The ring mark on the little finger of my left hand gleamed faintly white in the moonlight.

But he knew that new rings would soon be there.

It's not a pinky ring.

It's another kind of promise.