Chapter 15 — The Day My Father Remarried

He mentioned it to me briefly.

He told you not to worry.

To let him shoulder it himself.

But to be honest with you.

Lately, his accounts have been running rather tight.

Not long ago.

The workshop replaced an entire batch of machinery.

A significant portion of his working capital is currently tied up.

That sum of one hundred and twenty thousand...

He is likely planning to draw it from his personal retirement savings.

My heart sank instantly.

"Doesn't that mean dipping into uncle's old-age funds?"

Without a doubt.

That is all the capital he has left.

Tony gave a helpless, bitter smile.

You know how stubborn our uncle can be.

Once he has made up his mind.

No one can talk him out of it.

If you genuinely want to help.

Then stop bringing up the topic of this loan to him.

Simply doing your job well.

That is the greatest comfort you can give him.

I gripped the phone tightly. Pacing back and forth across the room several times. That very night. I opened my laptop. And began researching. Bank loans. Unsecured credit. Student loan conversions. Interest rates. Eligibility requirements. I read through it all night long. I knew. Having just graduated. My credit history was entirely clean. No bad debts. If I truly needed to borrow thirty or fifty thousand. The probability of approval was still quite high. But I also understood. Should I actually take out a loan. Uncle would undoubtedly fly into a rage. And if father were to find out. Things would only become far more complicated. I closed my laptop shut. Outside the window. The sky was already beginning to grow pale with dawn. Finally. I reached a decision. I would hold off on borrowing money for now. First and foremost. I needed to excel at my work. Turn order tracking into my distinct professional advantage. Strive to earn even greater trust from our clients. Come the end of the year. Should I receive a bonus. Combined with my personal savings. I would quietly transfer the entire amount to uncle. Even if he refused to accept it. I would find a way to make him take it. Having figured it all out. A sense of relief washed over me. I washed my face. Changed my clothes. And wrapped a thick scarf snugly around my neck. The early winter morning air was bitterly cold. A scatter of withered yellow leaves carpeted the pathway leading to the bus stop. Right at that moment. My phone rang. It was uncle.

Van.

Come to the workshop a bit earlier today.

A major client is coming for an inspection.

Accompany me to receive them.

Yes, uncle.

I will be right there.

I hung up the phone. Quicken my pace. Plumes of white vapor dissolved into the chilling air with every breath I took. No matter how difficult life might be. One must keep moving forward step by step. Since someone was already standing before me to shield me from the wind. I could all the more not allow that person to bear everything entirely alone. On the day of the major client inspection. There were three visitors in total. The leader was a middle-aged man bearing the surname Song. His business card read: Procurement Director – Vast Horizon Supply Chain Company. Uncle personally guided them on a full tour of the entire workshop. I followed closely behind, taking meticulous notes. Director Song asked extremely detailed questions. Production capacity. Delivery schedules. Quality control standards. Uncle answered every single question fluently. Finally. Director Song nodded in approval.

Director To.

Your workshop's management standards.

Are even better than I had anticipated.

We can certainly proceed to discuss our cooperation in greater depth.

Uncle smiled warmly. Shaking his hand. That evening, he even arranged a banquet dinner. And had me attend as well. At the dining table. Everyone continuously raised their glasses in toasts. I sat quietly in the corner. Speaking very little. Simply pouring tea for the guests in silence. After we had been eating for a while. Director Song suddenly inquired:

Young lady.

Who might you be...

Uncle smiled and answered on my behalf.

My niece.

She just graduated.

And recently started working at the workshop handling order tracking.

The girl is hardworking.

And very eager to learn.

Director Song nodded approvingly.

Director To.

Your niece is truly perceptive.

She pours tea with such effortless skill.

She hardly seems like someone fresh out of university.

Uncle merely smiled. Offering no reply. Yet I could clearly see. A flash of profound satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. The dinner stretched on past nine o'clock in the evening. Once the guests had been seen off. Uncle leaned against a pillar outside the restaurant entrance. Having perhaps consumed a few too many glasses. His face was slightly flushed. I hurried over to support his arm.

I am fine.

Just a little dizzy, that is all.

Uncle.

Shall I call a cab to take you home?