My Favorite Ship Became My Sister-in-Law - Chapter 4

Ji Zhiruo had arrived at some point without anyone noticing. Looking sleepy-eyed and holding a glass of water, she drifted away like a ghost after dropping that unexpected remark.

“What are you dazing about?”

Ji Chenchuan waved his hand in front of Shi Yue’s eyes.

“Oh, nothing.”

Shi Yue snapped back to his senses. He did not know what kind of madness had possessed him to actually contemplate how he would accompany Ji Chenchuan on his wedding night.

“I remember Uncle Ji usually leaves early. Wait for me; I will go change my clothes and come right back.” With that, Shi Yue retreated and ran back to his house like the wind. Just as he entered, he suddenly popped back out. “By the way, Brother Chenchuan, do not close the door yet. My mom made dumplings. I will bring some over for you to eat. The dumplings she makes now are no longer as consistently terrible as they used to be.”

After saying that, he vanished back into his home.

Who would describe their own mother that way? Ji Chenchuan could not help but shake his head and smile.

Just as Ji Chenchuan sat back down at the dining table, Shi Yue returned carrying a large plate of steaming dumplings. He placed them on the table and reminded Ji Chenchuan once more to wait for him before running back home again like the wind.

Ji Shengqiang picked up a dumpling and put it in his mouth. His eyebrows furrowed sharply in surprise before he asked, “Is Shi Yue going to the shop with you?”

“Mm.”

“He really is too clingy with you,” Ji Shengqiang remarked. Then, his expression turned serious. “You probably do not know this yet, but Shi Yue was the top scorer in his Middle School Entrance Examination. He got a perfect score in math. His mother wants him to be recommended for admission to Peking University through math competitions. For the past two years, she has enrolled him in all sorts of competition coaching classes. He did not disappoint; he won first prize in the preliminary round in May. The league matches are in mid-September. So, Chenchuan, since Shi Yue likes to cling to you, you must guide him well. Do not lead him into playing around aimlessly.”

Ji Chenchuan was slightly shocked. Why had he never heard Shi Yue mention these competitions?

Only about 50% of the freshmen recruited by Peking University and Tsinghua University every year come from the Gaokao. The proportion of students admitted through special university programs, basic science plans, and competition recommendations accounts for a staggering half of the intake. Naturally, the Gaokao is much easier than the competitions. However, if Shi Yue had the ability, being recommended for admission would certainly be a greater honor.

There are two types of recommended students: those from the National Team of the five major subject competitions and foreign language recommended students. There are 260 spots available for the National Team every year, with 50 spots each for physics, chemistry, biology, and information technology, and 60 spots for mathematics. Regardless of which competition Shi Yue intended to use for his admission, it was a peak intellectual struggle. To stand out among them required an unknown amount of hidden effort.

“I understand, Dad. Do not worry; I will not lead him astray.”

“Of course I believe you. Look, your noodles are soggy. Stop eating those and try the dumplings Auntie He made. The taste is alright.” Ji Shengqiang suddenly lowered his voice, a smile appearing on his face. “Though, your mother’s cooking is still better.”

Ji Chenchuan picked up a dumpling and ate it. The skin was thin and the filling was tender. As Shi Yue had said, compared to being “consistently terrible” before, this improved version was indeed quite good.

Under the influence of Ji Shengqiang, the Ji family loved flour-based foods. Because Shi Yue spent so much time at their house when he was young, he also grew to love them. Shi Yue would not eat store-bought food; he had eaten at Ji Chenchuan’s house for a long time.

Ji Chenchuan’s parents did not mind, but Shi Yue’s parents felt embarrassed. Consequently, He Lin was forced to learn how to make dumplings. In the beginning, they were so bad that Shi Yue would cry every time he ate them. After more than ten years of technical refinement, they were finally edible.

One hour later, at the construction materials market.

Inside the grand and magnificent Taodu Ceramics exhibition hall, there was a large warehouse filled with construction materials at the back. After Ji Shengqiang introduced Ji Chenchuan to the employees, he sat on a leather sofa in the reception area. He spread a black notebook on the coffee table and said to Ji Chenchuan:

“Today is your first official day of work. However, I do not plan to have you stay at the shop. I want you to go out and negotiate a business deal. How about it? Do you dare to accept the challenge?”

“I will try.”

Ji Chenchuan sat on the other sofa and picked up the notebook to look at it. There was only a simple piece of information: “Sanhe County, self-built private hospital, Song Shaorong, 15XXXXXXXXX.”

Ji Chenchuan took a photo of the content with his phone. What he needed most right now was tempering.

“Zhang Ping, come over here. You have contacted this client four or five times already. Tell Chenchuan specifically what kind of person he is. He is a client you have been tracking. I am letting your nephew go to get some experience. If the deal fails, so be it. If it succeeds, the commission will be split half-and-half. You have no objection, right?”

Ji Shengqiang spoke to a man about forty-five or forty-six years old. He was of medium build, average appearance, wearing a high-quality black suit and a pair of nearsighted glasses.

The man’s name was Zhang Ping. He was Ji Shengqiang’s brother-in-law. Having failed to find an ideal job, he worked as the marketing manager in Ji Shengqiang’s shop.

Zhang Ping agreed diligently, but he quietly rolled his eyes at Ji Chenchuan. He did not expect that when he looked up, he would see Shi Yue, who was browsing around the shop, looking right at him. A flash of embarrassment crossed Zhang Ping’s face.

Zhang Ping had met Shi Yue before and knew he was the son of the neighbors whose family status matched the Ji family.

Zhang Ping was naturally displeased. To win over this client, knowing the man liked fishing, he had catered to his interests. He spent more than half a month’s salary on fishing hooks and spent three days fishing with him. Just as progress seemed imminent, a deal that could bring in over 30,000 in commissions and bonuses, Ji Chenchuan suddenly stepped in. Even if he was his nephew, Zhang Ping could not be happy when his interests were at stake.

“Chenchuan, regarding this client, he really is a tough nut to crack.”

Zhang Ping sat down next to Ji Chenchuan, pretending to show the generosity of an elder. He spoke eloquently, saying that Song Shaorong was a heavy smoker. To talk business with him, one must buy several packs of high-quality cigarettes.

In reality, Song Shaorong was no smoker; he was allergic to nicotine and could not even stand the smell of smoke, let alone smoke himself. Zhang Ping had hit a wall during his first contact with him, which was why he had not secured the order despite putting in so much effort.

Ji Chenchuan took this to heart. Driving from Lincheng to Sanhe County would take about three hours. Fearing Shi Yue would find it too far, he asked if Shi Yue wanted to go with him or stay at the shop and go home with his father in the evening.

Shi Yue said he would go with him.

There were five Wuling vans parked in the warehouse for the business managers to use, and an Audi that his father drove to construction sites, which still had dried yellow mud in the tire grooves. Ji Chenchuan asked his father which car he should take.

“Take the Audi.” Ji Shengqiang handed the car keys to Ji Chenchuan.

Ji Chenchuan took the keys, unlocked the car, and let Shi Yue in.

Shi Yue sat in the passenger seat. Ji Chenchuan started the car and entered the address into the navigation while Ji Shengqiang stood nearby watching.

“Uncle Ji, Chenchuan and I are heading out. Wait for our good news,” Shi Yue said confidently.

“Good. If you two can land this order, in addition to the commission and bonus, I will personally reward each of you with a ticket to the aquarium,” Ji Shengqiang said with a laugh.

“Really, Uncle Ji? I have never been to the Lincheng Aquarium. For that ticket, I will give it my all.”

“Then give it your all. I will wait for your good news.”

There were probably very few people in the world who would dote on a neighbor’s child like his father did. Ji Chenchuan looked at the loving gaze in his father’s eyes and said, “We are leaving, Dad.”

“Mm. If the deal does not work out, do not take it to heart. After all, even someone as experienced as your uncle struggled to land him. It is normal for a green boy like you to fail,” Ji Shengqiang warned him beforehand.

Ji Chenchuan nodded, drove the car out of the warehouse, and sped away.

The car raced along the highway. The mountains and trees by the roadside retreated rapidly. Shi Yue was incredibly excited, repeatedly insisting that they must land this order and get those aquarium tickets.

Seeing how determined Shi Yue was, Ji Chenchuan felt the pressure. At the same time, he could not understand what Shi Yue was thinking. The commission and bonus totaled over 30,000; even split with his uncle, it would be over 10,000. An aquarium ticket was only a little over 100, yet Shi Yue’s heart and eyes were set only on the ticket.

“By the way, Brother Chenchuan, do you not think that uncle is very dishonest? Uncle Ji asked him to tell you about the client, and he agreed verbally, but I saw his eyes were full of resentment toward you,” Shi Yue suddenly said.

Ji Chenchuan had heard exactly what kind of person Zhang Ping was from his parents over the years. If it were not for his aunt’s sake, his parents would not respect Zhang Ping at all. Zhang Ping was not only narrow-minded but also liked to stab people in the back.

“Do not worry about him,” Ji Chenchuan said. Then he asked, “Where are your league matches in September?”

“How do you know I have league matches in September? Who told you?” Shi Yue was extremely surprised.

“My dad. What is wrong? Is it a secret?”

Shi Yue’s shoulders slumped, and his face was full of disappointment. “I was planning to wait until I won first prize in the league matches to give you a surprise. Ah, Uncle Ji is so annoying! How could he tell you first?”

The reason he never mentioned it was to surprise him with an award. Seeing the disappointment on Shi Yue’s face, Ji Chenchuan felt an indescribable feeling in his heart. He felt he needed to do something.

“I am sorry. I apologize on behalf of big-mouthed Uncle Ji for revealing the surprise you wanted to give me ahead of time.” Ji Chenchuan slowed the car down. He steered with one hand and reached out with the other to pat Shi Yue’s head, speaking in an extremely gentle tone.

“I accept your apology,” Shi Yue immediately brightened up. “But you have to promise me one condition.”