Winter vacation had arrived, and Jiang Chan needed to think about how to earn money during the break. She was counting on saving enough to cover four years of university tuition. That was no small sum. Keep at it, girl!
Old Tang paid close attention to Jiang Chan. She was his secret weapon, and he was counting on her to bring home the title of top scorer in the college entrance examination. He understood her too. If she said she would not return to the Lian family, she absolutely would not.
That made finding a place for Jiang Chan a problem. As it happened, a childhood friend of his ran a company, so Old Tang used his connections to send her there as an intern, with meals, accommodation, and a salary provided.
His childhood friend ran a trading company. After only a week there, Jiang Chan had successfully outdone all the men in the sales department, bringing the company orders worth tens of millions of yuan.
Old Tang’s childhood friend was grinning from ear to ear. Where had Old Tang dug up this treasure? Even their marketing manager conceded defeat to her sales ability.
While chatting on the phone with Old Tang, he even marveled, “Where did you find someone this talented? She should stop studying and come straight to my company. I’ll pay her a million yuan a year!”
Old Tang gave him a dead-eyed look. “Get lost! Don’t lead my good student astray. I’m counting on her to achieve something academically. How could a money-grubbing man like you understand the joy we get from teaching and nurturing students?”
After hanging up, Old Tang pondered. Did gold really shine wherever it went? Lian Qiao was a good student and a skilled salesperson too?
Seeing Old Tang shake his head, the principal put down his newspaper. “What’s the matter with you? One phone call, and you’re completely distracted.”
Old Tang smiled. “Who else but my wonderful student Lian Qiao? She really is going places. Xiao Jiang just called and praised her to the skies. He said she’s a natural at sales. She’s only been there a little over a week and has already signed orders worth tens of millions.”
“Really? That girl is impressive!” The principal took off his glasses. “It looks as though she’ll accomplish a great deal in the future!”
“Of course. She’s my prized pupil!” Old Tang’s nose was practically pointing at the sky. If Lian Qiao became successful, who would not treat him with the utmost respect?
“All right. The New Year is almost here. That child will be all alone. Why don’t we invite her to spend it with us? She can keep us company too.” The principal’s wife smiled and made this suggestion.
Old Tang immediately clapped his hands. “Great! I meant to bring that up ages ago, but I forgot. Mom, you’re so open-minded!”
Mrs. Tang smiled. “What a pitiful girl. Call her and tell her to come to our home for dinner on the twenty-eighth. I want to meet this girl too, to see why both you and your father think so highly of her!”
Old Tang grinned. “Mom, you’ll definitely like her when you meet her!”
Jiang Chan was now the treasure of the sales department. Old Tang’s childhood friend was no miser either and knew she was in a difficult situation. After she signed a major order, he generously gave her a one-percent commission.
Jiang Chan immediately had much more money to spare. When Old Tang called, she was shopping for gifts at the mall. Even if he had not called, she would have paid him a visit.
Old Tang had run around handling her affairs. Otherwise, could her household registration have been transferred to the school so easily? In fact, Jiang Chan had some suspicions about his identity.
His surname was Tang, and so was the principal’s. Were the two related? But Old Tang kept his identity tightly under wraps at school, and Jiang Chan would not expose him. It was enough to understand such things without saying them aloud.
With money in hand, Jiang Chan did not stint on herself. She bought down jackets, snow boots, and the like. Dressed up this way, wasn’t she a delicate beauty too?
As for her old clothes, Jiang Chan disposed of them all. Before, she had had no choice because she had no money. Now that she did, she would naturally do whatever made her comfortable.
The mall was bustling before the New Year. Pushing a shopping cart, Jiang Chan put in whatever caught her eye. Of course, she chose only things she could afford. She could not bring herself to spend beyond her means just to keep up appearances.
“Mom, how do I look in this?” A girl’s voice reached her ears. Jiang Chan raised an eyebrow. Life really did bring people together everywhere. Who else could the girl standing before the mirror be but Wu Jin?
Glancing at that shop, Jiang Chan decisively went to the one opposite. It sold men’s coats, and the clothing looked finely made. Although it was not a major brand, Jiang Chan found it very pleasing.
Thinking of Old Tang’s build, Jiang Chan smiled. With her eye, she certainly would not go wrong. After paying by card, she felt a pang. This one wool coat had cost her thirty thousand yuan. But thinking of the workmanship and tailoring, she felt the money was well spent.
When Jiang Chan came out, Wu Jin and the others were still in the shop. She swept an unruffled glance over them. Well, everyone was here. Lian Shuguo, Wu Xiuzhen, Lian Yanbin, and Wu Jin were all in that women’s clothing shop.
Wu Jin and Wu Xiuzhen were trying on clothes, Lian Yanbin sat to one side playing on his phone, and Lian Shuguo was commenting on Wu Xiuzhen and Wu Jin’s outfits. What a picture of family bliss.
A smile curved Jiang Chan’s lips. She pushed her cart and prepared to leave without looking back. Lian Yanbin, who was playing on his phone, happened to look up and met her eyes.
Jiang Chan scoffed and pushed her cart away without looking back. Lian Yanbin’s hand paused. That person looked so familiar. Where had he seen her before? This truly fulfilled the saying about meeting face to face without recognizing each other. How ironic it was.
Jiang Chan had filled out considerably now. Before, she had been dark and thin, looking very inconspicuous. With the original owner’s thick bangs added in, even Lian Shuguo and his wife might not have recognized her true appearance.
Her classmates also took good care of her, bringing her milk or biscuits every day. As a result, Jiang Chan had long since become fair and fresh-faced, with fuller cheeks, and she had grown much taller too.
Lian Yanbin and Lian Qiao had never spent much time together, so it was understandable that he did not recognize her. It was simply ironic.
“Brother, what are you looking at? I’ve asked you several times already.” Wu Jin waved a hand in front of Lian Yanbin’s face and spoke coaxingly.
Lian Shuguo glared at Lian Yanbin. “Of course our Ah Jin looks lovely in that. Your brother only has eyes for his phone. Let’s get this one and have it wrapped up.”
While Wu Xiuzhen went to pay, Lian Shuguo asked, “What’s wrong? You were staring outside just now.”
Lian Yanbin came back to himself. “I saw someone who looked familiar, but I can’t remember who she is.”
Lian Shuguo answered offhandedly, “Probably someone unimportant. All right, your aunt has paid. Let’s go.”
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