Chapter 36
"You're all grown up now, yet you still act like a spoiled child when you're with your uncle," Father Gu teased, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
Gu Xi stuck out her tongue playfully and smiled. "I haven't seen my uncle in so long." Then she shook her uncle's shoulders coquettishly and asked, "Uncle, do you miss me?"
"How could I not miss my little princess?" Wei Fangzheng replied warmly. He reached under the table and pulled out a brocade box. "I brought this for you on my last business trip. See if you like it."
Gu Xi took the box with both hands and thanked him politely.
Opening it, she found a light blue cat's eye bracelet inside. The beads shimmered softly in the light.
"Ah! It's so beautiful!" Gu Xi took it out and happily slipped it onto her wrist. "Thank you, Uncle, for such a lovely gift."
Cat's eye wasn't expensive — just a small trinket for his niece to enjoy. Gu Changan was wealthy; there was nothing Gu Xi hadn't seen before. But the fact that her uncle had specially chosen the bracelet in her favorite color touched her deeply.
Seeing his daughter's bright, delighted face, Gu Changan smiled wryly to himself. What was a mere cat's eye bracelet? When he got home, he'd get her a whole diamond.
After the greetings, Wei Fangzheng finally got down to business.
"Changan, why did you ask me to meet this time?" Wei Fangzheng's voice was cautious, still a little unsure after their vague phone conversation.
"It's like this." Gu Changan took a deep breath and carefully explained the plan he and Gu Xi had discussed that afternoon. As the conversation deepened, Wei Fangzheng's expression grew serious. But beyond contemplation, there was a trace of surprise — he had never imagined his niece, always so innocent and naive, could see the inner workings of official politics and business with such clarity.
"So, you want to sell the land in Shuangguanqiao, but you're worried Chairman Zeng might be displeased," Wei Fangzheng summarized thoughtfully.
"Exactly. I'm not sure if this will upset him." Gu Changan's concern was clear.
"Let me think it over." Wei Fangzheng closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
Gu Xi and Gu Changan sat silently at the round table. The room fell quiet. Gu Xi glanced anxiously at her father, hoping he would press his uncle again, but Gu Changan gently shook his head.
Although Xixi's idea was sound, the affairs of officialdom were far more complex than she realized. Ultimately, this decision had to come from his brother-in-law himself.
After about a cup of tea, Wei Fangzheng opened his eyes and noticed the tense silence. He chuckled softly, breaking the mood. "Why are you two so nervous?"
"Uncle, I'm worried about you," Gu Xi's voice trembled slightly. "You don't know how cruel they are. They just want to crush our family!"
"Don't be afraid, your uncle is here." Wei Fangzheng patted her hand gently, a flicker of pity in his eyes. "Xixi, tell me—how did you come up with the idea to sell the land?"