Chapter 22: Unappreciative of Favors

  Meng Lin didn't think much of it. Fortunately, she didn't ask further questions, or else Peng Yuanzheng really wouldn't have known how to explain any more.

  The next afternoon, Feng Botao's phone call came over.

  On the phone, Feng Bota didn't say much, only telling Peng Yuanzhen to focus on his grassroots work and come back to Beijing to visit him and his wife whenever he had time, especially emphasizing Mrs. Feng's concern.

  Also said to have entrusted someone to deliver 20,000 yuan to him, which was given by his grandparents, and asked the two of them to improve their living conditions.

  As for what arrangements Feng's family would make for Peng Yuanzhen and his mother next, Feng Botao didn't mention it, and Peng Yuanzhen didn't ask.

  Some things are better left unspoken; once they're put into words, they lose their value.

  After hanging up the phone with Old Man Feng, Peng Yuanzheng felt a sense of relief wash over him, his eyes brightening as the various gloomy emotions that had been accumulating in the depths of his heart were suddenly swept away.

  The doorbell rang.

  Peng Yuanzheng went forward and opened the door. Cao Ying was still wearing that white dress, her pretty face slightly red as she stood at the entrance.

  "Xiao Ying, please come in." Peng Yuanzheng smiled and invited his guest.

  Cao Ying walked in lightly and looked at Peng Yuanzheng gently, saying "Yuanzheng, my dad wants to talk to you."

  Peng Yuanzheng was taken aback and thought to himself: what does Cao Dapeng want to talk to me about?

  Cao Ying's face was slightly flushed and she didn't dare look directly into Peng Yuanzheng's eyes.

  Peng Yuanzheng thought for a moment and gradually understood.

  These days, she has been using all her strength at home, even threatening to commit suicide, which finally moved her father to agree to arrange Peng Yuanzheng to work in the office of Xin'an Machinery Factory. As long as the party committee of Xin'an Machinery Factory agrees to accept it, before Peng Yuanzheng goes to the township government for reporting, he can still withdraw his personnel relationship and be employed in the factory.

  Xin'an Machinery Factory is a provincial-level large enterprise with a military factory background, and it also has a well-known "number" as "682 Factory". At present, the salary and welfare treatment of Xin'an Machinery Factory are still quite good, and it is also a relatively difficult to enter a good unit.

  Peng Yuanzheng's ambition lies in officialdom, no matter what, he will never go to a business enterprise, which has nothing to do with salary income, but only with personal ambition.

  But he also knew that Cao Ying was a gentle and affectionate girl, and no matter what, he couldn't directly refuse her, hurting her heart.

  Until now, Peng Yuanzheng still hasn't figured out how to deal with the relationship between him and Cao Ying. In their past life, due to family background and social status, as well as Cao Ying's parents' selfishness and vulgarity, they were helplessly separated; in this life, because of changes in fate, social status should no longer be an obstacle, but when Peng Yuanzheng faces Cao Ying, his heart doesn't feel the excitement and palpitations it once did, instead he mostly feels pity.

  After hesitating for a moment, Peng Yuanzheng decided to go see Cao Dapeng anyway.

  ……

  ……

  The Cao Family

  Peng Yuanzheng and Cao Ying walked in together, nodded to Cao Dapeng who was sitting on the sofa with a proud expression, and greeted with a smile, "Uncle Cao! Auntie Liu!"

  Cao Dapeng nodded slightly in response. Cao Ying's mother, Liu Fang, gave Peng Yuanzheng a sarcastic glance before getting up and heading towards the bedroom.

  If it weren't for her daughter's crying and fussing, Liu Fang would not have allowed Peng Yuanzheng to enter the house. Even if she reluctantly agreed to let Cao Ying be with Peng Yuanzheng, she still felt very uncomfortable in her heart.

  In her heart, Peng Yuanzheng was no match for Zhang Kai. The former had nothing but a good face, which couldn't fill his stomach; while the latter had everything: family background, personal education, and economic conditions were all compatible with her daughter.

  Her mother's indifference and rudeness made Cao Ying's eyes redden, almost bringing tears.

  Peng Yuanzheng didn't take it to heart, but at this moment, his mood was different and he wouldn't care about Liu Fang's attitude. It was just that Liu Fang, a woman with such strong petty bourgeois consciousness, made him feel quite helpless and sentimental - in his opinion, the huge obstacle between him and Cao Ying was not their social status or any external factors, but her parents.

  Her mother was just that kind of person - the kind of person Peng Yuanzheng hated and detested the most in his life, and she happened to be Cao Ying's mother. Peng Yuanzheng knew it would be difficult for him to get along with Liu Fang from now on.

  "Sit down, I'll go get you a glass of water." Cao Ying bustled around, her voice trembling with a hint of tears.

  Peng Yuanzheng sighed inwardly, sat down according to the words, and silently stared at Cao Dapeng who was looking down on him.

  Cao Ying poured a glass of water for Peng Yuanzheng and then retreated back to her own room.

  The atmosphere in the living room was gloomy and oppressive, Cao Dapeng didn't speak up, and Peng Yuanzheng wouldn't say anything on his own initiative. Only the ceiling fan above hummed as it rotated, but the wind still felt somewhat hot and dry.

  As for Peng Yuanzheng, Cao Dapeng was extremely dissatisfied. With such a poor family background and being from a single-parent household, it was clear that his daughter would have to suffer hardships if she married him. However, since she was their only child, and her attitude was so resolute, Cao Dapeng's heart began to waver.

  It's not bad to find a poor son-in-law, as long as this kid is on the right path. With Cao Dapeng's abilities, it's not impossible to give him a good environment. Let's just say we've recruited a son-in-law to support us in our old age. This was Cao Dapeng's thinking.

  "What major are you studying at Jinghua University?" Cao Dapeng lit a cigarette, blew out a smoke ring and said calmly.

  "It's Chinese Department, majoring in Chinese Language and Literature." Peng Yuanzheng replied calmly.

  If it weren't for Cao Ying's deep feelings, he wouldn't have wasted his time in the Cao family, looking at Cao Dapeng's arrogant and condescending face, accepting his interrogations that were almost like a savior.

  "You're quite professional, go back and prepare, the office in the factory still lacks a clerk... The day after tomorrow is the party committee meeting, I'll mention it at the meeting. You're also considered a child of a factory worker, so we should take care of you. There shouldn't be any problem." Cao Dapeng said in an official tone, then suddenly changed his tone and gazed at Peng Yuanzheng with a sharp gaze, "It's your good fortune that Xiaoying can look up to you, if you dare to bully Xiaoying in the future, I won't forgive you!"

  Cao Dapeng's tone and words immediately triggered Peng Yuanzheng's extreme disgust. Not to mention that he didn't need Cao Dapeng's "care", even if he really needed this job, he would never accept his condescending "blessing".

  Peng Yuanzheng was about to turn and leave, but Cao Ying's sorrowful and beautiful face suddenly appeared before his eyes. He silently sighed, suppressed his anger, and smiled faintly, "I appreciate Uncle Cao's kindness, it's just that I don't want to work in the factory, sorry to trouble you."

  Cao Dapeng's face changed colour with rage. To him, these words were simply impolite.

  He coldly swept a glance at Peng Yuanzheng, suddenly stood up and pinched out the cigarette in his hand, walked into his bedroom with big strides, and then slammed the door shut.

  Since this little brat doesn't know how to behave and doesn't recognize kindness, Cao Dapeng didn't even bother to waste another word on Peng Yuanzheng.