Although it's just a county-level city, there are quite a few middle schools here.
There are six key high schools, four regular high schools, three vocational high schools, and four vocational secondary schools. Then there are the junior high divisions—not to mention the seven or eight in the urban area, and more than a dozen in the surrounding towns.
If we calculate an average of at least two thousand students per school, with forty schools, that’s eighty thousand people.
If each person brings in a profit of a hundred yuan, that’s eight million.
For the Fang Family, these eight million are just pocket change—barely worth their attention.
But for the Ge Family, that’s a huge sum.
Besides, isn’t there way more than a thousand students in a single school?
There’s plenty of room to maneuver here. When you add it all up, the profit could easily exceed ten million.
With profits in the tens of millions, no wonder Mr. Ge is so anxious.
For a medium-sized company, a single deal with profits in the tens of millions is already excellent.
No wonder so many people want a piece of the school pie—it's such a lucrative opportunity!
For a big enterprise like the Fang Family, as long as they're willing to ask, it's basically theirs. This business is as good as his.
Who told the Fang Family to be such major taxpayers, right?
If he’s not anxious, who is?
The Fang Family definitely doesn’t care for these petty gains. They’ll just hand it over to Mr. Ge, pocket a little commission, and that’s it.
Thinking this through, Yujie’s expression turned a bit sour as she said, “Mom, I’m just a lawyer, not a business manager. I don’t have any connections with Boss Fang.”
“But you’re one of Mr. Mo’s people. As long as you speak up, the Fang Family won’t deny you this favor.” Mr. Ge finally couldn’t hold back: “Yujie, I know you’re a sensible and considerate child. I work so hard to earn money, isn’t it all for you? You and Xiao Jun are both your mother’s children. Even if I didn’t raise you, I’m willing to treat you as my own daughter. When your mom and I are gone, won’t all the family assets be left to you two?”
“Thanks, but I don’t need it.” Yujie smiled lightly. “Even though I don’t make as much as you, I have enough to live comfortably. Mr. Mo is a kind boss—he treats his employees well. As long as I don’t mess up, I’ll always have a job. The company gives me full benefits, and I can save a bit every month. When I retire, I’ll have a nice nest egg. Even without your inheritance, I’ll be fine, so just leave it all to Xiao Jun.”
Seeing Yujie’s firm refusal, Mr. Ge and Mrs. Ge’s faces turned extremely unpleasant.
“Yujie, are you still holding a grudge about me divorcing your dad back then?” Mrs. Ge picked up a tissue and dabbed her eyes, saying, “I’ve done my duty as a mother! Your dad and I couldn’t stand each other, neither of us wanted to bother with the other, but I still didn’t divorce him, wasn’t that all for you? If I’d left him early on, could you have gotten into such a good university? Can’t you cut me some slack? Is it just because I gave birth to you that I have to endure your coldness for life? Yujie, tell me, what do I owe you? I gave birth to you and raised you until you were eighteen—I don’t owe you anything!”
Yujie lowered her eyes. "Yeah, you said it yourself, you don’t owe me anything."
That’s right. Strictly speaking, she really doesn’t owe her anything.
They did fulfill their obligations and responsibilities. After she got into college, they stopped caring, but at least they raised her to adulthood.
She should be grateful.
But gratitude doesn’t mean you have to go against your conscience.
“Now you’re a big-shot lawyer and you look down on your grassroots mom, I get it. I won’t tell people you’re my daughter anymore—I know you’d be embarrassed!” Mrs. Ge decided to play her trump card: “So I called you out in secret, hoping we could have a heart-to-heart. But you? From the moment you walked in, you’ve been giving me the cold shoulder. Yujie, is this how you show filial piety?”
Yujie was left speechless by the accusation. “Sorry, Mom.”
“Don’t tell me you’re sorry! You’re so stubborn, you’ve got a thousand reasons to reject me. But have you ever thought about me? You just up and leave, but what about me? What about Xiao Jun? Your Uncle Ge tried to talk to you nicely, and you just brushed him off. Sure, you’re loyal, Mr. Mo praises you as a model employee, gives you raises and bonuses, lets you live worry-free. But what about me? I’m getting old, and you expect me to go out and work to support your brother? If your Uncle Ge can’t close this deal, how will we pay off the family’s debts? Who’s going to do it? You? Of course not! You’re a top lawyer, you know exactly what’s right and wrong, so I’m the only one who can do it! Yujie, today I’m not talking logic with you, I’m talking feelings. Do you even recognize me as your mom anymore?”
“Mom, of course I do.” Yujie replied, “But…”
“Don’t give me any ‘but’.” Mrs. Ge cut her off. “I’m not listening. Just tell me, are you going to help or not?”