Work Arrangements

Xiao Yao led his parents to his Mercedes and said, “Dad, this is the car. Take a look and see if you like it.”

Xiao Zhenshan walked around the car several times, unable to hide the excitement in his eyes. “A Mercedes is truly a Mercedes—just looking at it, you can feel its grandeur. And in black, it’s so dignified and elegant, really suits me. It’s just a bit too flashy. My colleagues and the leaders will definitely ask about it, and explaining might be a hassle.”

“It’s not stolen, not robbed, and certainly not bought with dirty money. So what if it’s a bit flashy? What’s there to worry about? With all these changes in our family, people are bound to ask sooner or later. When they do, just invite your colleagues and leaders to a meal and explain everything over dinner—they’ll all understand.” Xiao Yao spoke with indifference.

What man doesn’t like luxury cars? Xiao Zhenshan was dying to sit behind the wheel and give it a try, but in front of his son, he didn’t want to seem too eager.

With Xiao Yao’s current powers of observation, there was no way his father’s excitement would escape his notice. Seeing his father still putting on the airs of a parent, Xiao Yao deliberately said, “Dad, would you like to try driving it? The performance is really impressive.”

Just as Xiao Zhenshan was about to agree, Xiao Yao suddenly slapped his forehead. “Oh, I forgot! Both of us had drinks at lunch. Looks like Mom will have to drive.”

That one sentence instantly dampened the mood. Just as Xiao Zhenshan was about to walk to the driver’s seat, he had to stop, scolding, “With so much to do this afternoon, you should know better. How could you not plan ahead? We shouldn’t have been drinking at lunch—it’s just held things up!”

“What are you snapping at your son for? Weren’t you the one craving a drink?” Bai Yuzhen couldn’t stand by any longer and exposed his act. “You clearly love this car but you keep pretending. Your son isn’t a stranger, so who are you putting on a show for? He’s already given you the car. You can drive it however you want starting tomorrow. Can’t you wait just one day?”

Xiao Zhenshan replied awkwardly, “Can’t you let me save a little face in front of our son?”

“Our son’s already been thoughtful enough. Be grateful. Get in the back—I’ll drive.” Bai Yuzhen boldly snatched the keys from her son and took the driver’s seat.

Seeing his son’s mischievous grin, Xiao Zhenshan shot him a glare and resigned himself to sitting in the back.

Although Bai Yuzhen rarely drove and her skills weren’t the best, she drove steadily enough. Under Xiao Yao’s directions, the car pulled up right to the door of the villa.

The family got out, and Butler Lu was already waiting outside with all the household staff lined up.

“Good afternoon, sir, madam. I’m Lu Xuhui, the house manager,” he greeted them with a quick step forward.

“Thank you, Mr. Lu. We’re grateful for all your hard work these days. Xiao Yao is young and inexperienced, so we’ll be relying on your guidance in the future,” Xiao Zhenshan replied politely.

After the brief exchange, Butler Lu introduced the rest of the staff to the couple, and they all proceeded into the villa.

The sheer luxury of the place left Xiao Zhenshan and Bai Yuzhen in awe, but both were determined not to embarrass their son. Listening to Butler Lu’s introductions, they maintained calm, composed expressions throughout.

All afternoon, excitement was evident in their demeanor. The leap from middle-class to billionaire status was so abrupt that it was only natural for them to feel overwhelmed—this kind of exhilaration would likely last for days.

After dinner, the three of them sat together in the living room. Xiao Yao, recalling his parents’ work situation, spoke up, “Dad, Mom, now that you know my situation, you also know that, financially, there’s no need for you to keep working. From now on, you can live exactly as you please. What are your thoughts about work and life going forward?”

“I’m not even fifty yet. Of course I’ll keep working. If I had nothing to do all day, I could only stand it for a short time. I’ve been at the municipal company for twenty years—I’m used to it. The work isn’t hard, and there’s nothing to stress about. So you don’t need to worry about me. Unless something unexpected happens, I plan to work until retirement.” Despite their sudden wealth, Xiao Zhenshan remained grounded.

“That’s a good job, and as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.” Then Xiao Yao turned to his mother. “Mom, your situation’s different from Dad’s. You really should quit your job. If you want some time to relax, don’t look for new work just yet. But if you don’t want to be idle, I can find you a more comfortable job. What do you think?”

“I’m only in my forties. If I stopped working now, I’d be bored out of my mind. It’s better to have something to do.” Bai Yuzhen had been a working woman for so many years that the thought of staying at home left her feeling empty.

Xiao Yao considered for a moment. “How about this? I just invested 1.8 billion in Huahui Bank, which gives me a 6% share. That makes me one of the major shareholders. They have a provincial branch here, and since you studied finance, you could take a position there. If you think Huahui Bank isn’t prestigious enough, you could always take a post at ICBC—I’m a VIP client there, and arranging a position or two at the provincial branch wouldn’t be a problem.”

Bai Yuzhen quickly made up her mind. “Since both options are in banking, there’s no need to go to ICBC. You’re a major shareholder in Huahui Bank, after all. If I work there, I can at least learn about the bank’s operations and make sure you don’t suffer any losses without knowing it.”

“That makes sense. Once you’re familiar with the work, if you’re interested, you could even take on a board position at Huahui Bank. That would free me up to focus on other things,” Xiao Yao encouraged his mother, giving her a lofty goal.

He knew his mother well—she was a career woman at heart, but family burdens had always held her back from advancing her career.

Caring for his parents meant addressing both their material and spiritual needs. Everyone’s aspirations are different, and to make his parents truly happy, he needed to ask for their opinions instead of making decisions on their behalf.

Xiao Zhenshan and Bai Yuzhen were not lazy or apathetic people. Their ambitions lay in gaining social status and the recognition of their abilities.

Having discussed it with them, their future work arrangements were thus settled.