Chapter 4: Second Sister Wants to Resign; Offering Counsel

Liang Shaoping did not answer, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Although this younger brother had been mischievous since childhood and began snatching things from her as soon as he grew a little older, their constant bickering had actually brought them closer than she was with their eldest brother. It was not that Liang Jiyong and their eldest brother lacked affection, but the ten-year age gap created a palpable generation gap, and the eldest brother’s personality was simply too steady and reserved.

"Yes, I’m leaving next month. You are not allowed to snitch to Dad!" Liang Shaoping said.

Perhaps it was the news of their eldest brother going abroad to study that solidified her resolve to work in Lingnan. Two years in Lingnan would earn her at least thirty thousand; while that wouldn't fully cover the shortfall, it wouldn't be far off.

"My revolutionary conviction is very firm; I never turn traitor!" Liang Jiyong said with a smile. There was a backstory to this claim. When Liang Shaoping was in junior high, her business acumen began to bud; she would sell her class notes to students in the same or lower grades. Liang Jiyong acted as her little child laborer, running errands for her for the price of three popsicles a day. Back then, three popsicles cost five cents—a pitifully cheap rate for child labor. Over two or three summers, Liang Shaoping earned two or three hundred yuan, while Liang Jiyong managed to scrape together ten yuan in pocket money. At that time, their father’s monthly salary was only a little over one hundred.

Their father eventually noticed Liang Jiyong spending lavishly on snacks and, assuming he had stolen the money, gave him a sound thrashing. Liang Jiyong refused to reveal the source of the money even under duress, because their father had taught them from a young age that one must never be a traitor. At the time, Liang Shaoping was attending Yunzhou No. 1 Middle School due to her excellent grades and only returned home on weekends. It was only when she came home that weekend and learned her brother had been beaten that she told their father she had sold her study notes. Their father severely criticized this "speculative" behavior, leading to the first clash between father and daughter over conflicting economic values.

Although Liang Shaoping’s illicit earnings were confiscated, the money could not be returned; the families who had bought her notes refused to take the money back. Many even told their father they wanted to continue buying her notes, and some even asked for the notes left behind by their eldest brother, Liang Shao’an. Liang Shao’an had been the first college entrance exam top scorer since the founding of the Red Flag Factory, and he had placed first in the entire province—a feat never before achieved by anyone in Yunzhou City.

However, because views were still conservative ten years ago, their father firmly put a stop to her commercializing her knowledge. Yet, her natural business intuition had left Liang Jiyong in awe since he was ten.

"Do you support me resigning and heading into the market?" Although Liang Jiyong had little say in family matters, Liang Shaoping still hoped for someone’s support. Their father was a staunch hardliner, and their mother, a conservative, also disapproved. The eldest brother reserved his opinion; while he acknowledged her desire for a career change, he did not support a short-term resignation, fearing it would cause a fierce conflict with their father. As for Liang Jiyong, in Liang Shaoping’s eyes, he had always been just a reckless kid who fought for that little girl, Su Wanqing.

"Yes. Given your personality, teaching doesn't suit you, and it buries your business talent. But I want to know, what is your plan? If it’s just to raise tuition for our eldest brother, I don't recommend quitting now, because Dad will be truly furious."

"I have compromised enough. I followed Dad’s wishes, chose liberal arts, applied to the Chinese department, and returned to Yunzhou to teach. But this is truly not the life I want. You haven't been to Lingnan; you cannot perceive that exciting atmosphere of the era. Compared to Lingnan, Yunzhou is stuck in its ways—it’s at least twenty years behind!"

Liang Jiyong smiled. Although at this age he hadn't traveled beyond the borders of Yunzhou, his thirty years of life in a previous existence meant he had traveled across half the globe and witnessed countless cycles of prosperity and decay. He couldn't voice this to even his closest sister; it was too bizarre. Should he tell her he had already lived through the next thirty years and was reborn? He estimated a seventy percent chance she would take him to see a psychiatrist.

"Although I haven't been to Lingnan yet, I’m not blind. Reform and opening-up are the trend of the era; no one can stop it. But you must understand Dad; the era he lived in limited his thinking. I think resigning immediately is a bit too radical. Even if you want to leave, you could apply for medical leave or leave without pay. Given your status as a top student from Peking University, I’m sure your school would be willing to keep your file for two or three years."

"Dragging things out isn't my style," Liang Shaoping said, unimpressed by the suggestion.

"Second Sister, do you really have the heart to not come home for three years? And leave behind such a clever, sensible, and adorable younger brother?"

"Heh, 'clever' is occasional, but I haven't noticed 'sensible and adorable.' It’ll be a miracle if you just stop causing trouble!"

"I feel like I’ve suddenly had a great awakening, really. Consider my suggestion; try to look after Dad’s feelings a bit. No matter how much your perspectives clash, it will never change the fact that Mom and Dad love you."

Perhaps Liang Jiyong’s words touched a chord of warmth in Liang Shaoping’s heart, as her attitude was no longer quite as firm.

"I’ll consider it."

"Oh, Second Sister, I suggest you go check out Shanghai. I heard recently that the stock market there is very promising. There’s a stock called Yuyuan Mall; it’s said it will skyrocket in the coming months. If you buy in now, it could surge tenfold within a year."

Liang Shaoping chuckled and shook her head helplessly. "Enough. Treat these unreliable rumors as a bit of fun. China’s current stock market is very immature, and government intervention is too strong. It’s hard for ordinary people to make money trading stocks."

Liang Shaoping had studied economics, so she had some exposure to stocks, but in this era, not even professional financial scholars could predict the birth of the most insane "demon stocks" to come. Despite her exceptional business sense, without the relevant knowledge base and environment, she wouldn't believe it. Liang Jiyong thought better than to keep pushing; with his current credibility, he couldn't possibly make her believe such seemingly bizarre claims. However, he was determined not to miss out on this historic, frenzied stock market feast. The most pressing problem for him now was how to accumulate capital. Even with countless valuable memories, he couldn't directly cash them in.

"You should keep an eye on it. The rise of the stock market is an inevitability of the era!"

"Heh, I’m starting to wonder, are you really my brother?" Liang Shaoping felt he had changed too much.

"I told you, I’ve had a great awakening. Before, I was just playing the fool!"

"Not playing the fool, but blinded by lust!" Liang Shaoping retorted sharply.

"Second Sister, don't be so mean. Wanqing and I have been playing together since we were toddlers. If some bad kids wanted to bully her, could I just stand by?"

"Pfft, look at you, acting so shameless. I’m telling you, I don't care what happens between you and that girl in the future. But for this year, keep your distance. Studying is what matters. If you can't get into university, how will you have the face to hover around her?"

Liang Jiyong shook his head helplessly. If he couldn't even get into university, he would be a failure indeed.

"Why are you going to Yunzhou? If you’ve got nothing to do, go home and read. Study the notes from me and our eldest brother carefully. As long as you can honestly understand seventy percent of them, you can at least get into Yunzhou University."

Yunzhou University was considered a key university, but in his sister’s words, it was the absolute last resort.

"I’m going to Yunzhou to look around and buy some reference books. The content of the college entrance exam changes every year; your notes can only serve as a reference. I need to get some practice papers to train with!"

"Fine, that’s better. Go buy the books yourself at the Xinhua Bookstore; I have classes all afternoon and evening."

Liang Shaoping took out her wallet and pulled out a fifty-yuan note. Fifty yuan was an absolute fortune to Liang Jiyong. At school, fifty yuan was an entire month’s living expenses—two yuan a day was enough to stay full. Eating well, however, was out of the question, as the school canteen only guaranteed one wouldn't starve.

"Don't waste the money, or I’ll beat you!" Liang Shaoping threatened, though she could no longer actually win a fight against him. As the saying went, beating a brother should be done early. Before he was ten, Liang Jiyong had been obedient and loyal. After ten, he grew rebellious, and by then, not only could she not beat him, she couldn't even catch him. Yet, Liang Jiyong cherished his sister’s hollow threat. He truly needed this fifty yuan, as it would be his starting capital.

As they walked out of the Third Residential Compound, Liang Shaoping felt that her brother had truly grown up. In an instant, he seemed to have aged ten years—a shift in mental maturity that she found hard to adjust to, though she was pleased by it. Perhaps he really had reached a moment of clarity.

"Second Sister, I think you could get into the education industry in the future. It’s definitely a sunrise industry!"

"The timing isn't right. I’m not used to cultivating things step by step!" she replied.

Liang Jiyong sighed, "You’re just too impatient. To put it bluntly, you like speculation. If your vision isn't right, you’ll lose everything in one go!"

"Risk and reward are equal. We have nothing to begin with, so what is there to fear? I’m still young; I can still struggle for at least another twenty years!"

Liang Jiyong smiled. She was right; they were both still young. He was nineteen, and she was not yet twenty-five. Youth was a wonderful thing. But in this life, he wouldn't let his sister suffer defeat after defeat again.

"Have you thought about what major you want to study in university?" Liang Shaoping asked.

Liang Jiyong nodded. "Law."

Liang Shaoping was stunned. Her most lawless brother wanted to study law? It was unbelievable.

"You compensate for what you lack. Besides, I think law is the most worthy subject to study in the world. It is the crystallization of human wisdom and reflects the will of the ruling class. At the same time, it leaves room for interpretation. Only by studying law can you make the law serve you!"

"That’s called exploiting loopholes, and it’s dangerous!" Liang Shaoping felt his thinking was what was truly dangerous.

"No, I’m talking about avoiding legal risks!"

"Are you planning to go into business, too?"

Liang Jiyong shook his head. "Our eldest brother is a pillar of the nation; whether he chooses research or business later is up to him. You are a commercial genius; I can't compete with you in making money. I want to be an official—a high-ranking official!"

"Those who excel in study should pursue an official career, but there are too many clever people in the bureaucracy; it’s dangerous." Liang Shaoping disliked the political world and its infighting; she preferred the cutthroat nature of the economy.

"That’s why I have to study law. At the very least, it will serve as my talisman. In the bright light of day, no demons or monsters will be able to harm me!"

"Heh, you have ambition. But first, you have to get into university. Your current grades are fifty-five points short of the minimum requirement for the Yunzhou No. 1 Middle School repeat class."

To get into the repeat class at Yunzhou No. 1, the minimum was 330 points. This year’s admission cutoff was 490. By that standard, improving by 160 points in a year was hopeful. But Liang Jiyong had only scored 275, a gap of 215 points from the cutoff. In the history of Yunzhou No. 1, no one had ever improved by over 200 points in a year. With a total possible score of 640 in liberal arts, 215 points was a third of the total—an exaggerated jump. But he had no choice, and 215 was just the minimum to get in; to get into a better school, he needed at least 520 or 530.

"I’ll leave getting into the repeat class to you, Sister. Your great kindness will never be forgotten!" Liang Jiyong joked. As a teacher at the school, it wasn't hard for her to arrange a spot. After all, one more student meant a few hundred more yuan in fees, and there were always twenty or thirty such "connected" students every year.

They reached the station. There were three buses daily from the Red Flag Factory to Yunzhou, and they had twenty minutes until departure.

"Beep, beep..."

A horn sounded. Liang Jiyong turned to see an Audi pulling over beside them. The driver was a refined-looking middle-aged man in a white shirt and black-rimmed glasses—the quintessential intellectual.

Su Kui, Su Wanqing’s father, their own father’s fellow villager, comrade-in-arms, and former best friend.

"Uncle Kui!" Because of Su Wanqing, Liang Jiyong had always had a good impression of Su Kui. Although his father claimed Su Kui had been a deserter, in Liang Jiyong’s eyes, he was just a bookish man; expecting a scholar to fight on the battlefield was unrealistic to begin with. As for Su Kui’s financial and moral issues, Liang Jiyong didn't care to comment. While the Red Flag Factory had been doing well, corruption existed, just less so than at the Red Star or National Cotton factories, and Su Kui was certainly not the worst offender. In his past life, Liang Jiyong had learned the more detailed reasons behind it all.