Chapter 394

Pei Jianguo arrived at the entrance of the Zhixia family's house with an anxious heart, coincidentally seeing Ping An about to come out.

Ping An was wearing new clothes that Zhixia had just bought for him. Pei Yong, being a grown man who had experienced hardship, adhered to the principle of raising a boy to be tough. As long as he had enough food and warm clothes to wear, it was sufficient.

He was afraid of raising a boy who would become as pampered as Pei Jianguo.

Little did Pei Jianguo himself suspect that he had become someone disliked by everyone.

Guo Momo had always kept in touch with Ping An and took care of his food and clothing. Even in her treatment of Pei Yong, her former father-in-law, she did so without any shortcomings. This point deserved some praise.

Of course, everyone knew that she was only doing it for the sake of Ping An's face.

But Zhixia was Ping An's elder, and since the child went to their house every day and had practically grown up under their care, he wasn't much different from their own child. So, whenever she bought things for the children, she habitually included something for Ping An.

Fortunately, Ping An was diligent, ambitious, and polite, surpassing his parents by a great deal.

"Ping An..." Pei Jianguo's eyes lit up when he saw Ping An coming out, and he pulled him aside. "Did you go to play with your uncle again? Is your third grandmother at home?"

Ping An was aware of the unpleasant situation between his father and third grandmother. Moreover, now that he had reached a sensible age, he was more cautious. "Why are you asking me about my third grandmother?"

He knew very well that his father hadn't visited his third grandmother's house for a year or two. Previously, he used to visit his grandfather's house quite often, but now those visits had become rare.

As for himself, whether he visited or not, it didn't matter. He had many people who cared for him, so it wasn't a big deal to have one unimportant father less. These were all things his cousin taught him.

"What else can I do? Of course, I'm here to apologize. I was immature in the past, but who doesn't make mistakes? Besides, your third grandfather has already reprimanded me." Pei Jianguo recalled the seemingly inconspicuous kick from his younger brother that had directly broken two of his ribs. He couldn't help but wonder if his brother was too strong or if he himself was too fragile.

Pei Jianguo sighed and continued, "Don't worry, I'm really not here to cause trouble. The past is in the past. I'm not a child who holds grudges. In the end, we're family, regardless of any past conflicts. Even if bones are broken, the tendons are still connected. I've genuinely come to apologize, and you can see that I have something in my hand. Just tell me, is your third grandmother at home?"

Ping An looked at the things in Pei Jianguo's hand, a net bag with two cans and a bag of apples. It didn't really look like he was here to cause trouble.

He pursed his lips and said, "My third grandmother is at home. Let's go together."

Although he always felt that he didn't care about Pei Jianguo, every time others mentioned how inappropriate his father was, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

Especially when he heard about the things his father had done, he always felt a sense of guilt when facing his third grandmother.

He wondered whether or not Third Grandma would forgive him, but at least he had the awareness to come and apologize in person, which indicated that he recognized his own mistakes.

Perhaps from now on, he wouldn't feel embarrassed by having a father like that.

Fortunately, Pei Jianguo couldn't guess what PingAn was thinking. Otherwise, with his arrogant nature, he would probably just want to teach that brat a lesson.

PingAn was quite surprised by Pei Jianguo's arrival.

There had always been constant conflicts between them, but it seemed like Pei Jianguo had a selective memory. Every time he offended someone, he always acted as if it wasn't a big deal.

After Pei Jing hit him last time, he hadn't come back in these two years, which PingAn was delighted about.

But she also knew that Pei Jianguo only held a grudge against her. He didn't come here, but he always went to Pei Yong's place whenever Pei Jing came back.

For Pei Jianguo, Pei Jing's existence was also quite special. Pei Yong rarely came back during his childhood. At that time, Wang Yue was very fierce, and Second Uncle and Grandfather didn't want to deal with her when they were angry.

Only Pei Jing wasn't afraid of Wang Yue, and sometimes he could even infuriate her. Old Master also enjoyed watching this scene unfold because Wang Yue couldn't possibly beat up Pei Jing, and of course, she was no match for him.

Regarding this little uncle, Pei Jianguo's attitude was probably a mix of envy and inferiority.

He truly wanted to live his life like Pei Jing but constantly trapped himself in his own cowardice.

It seemed like Pei Jianguo really only came to apologize, leave something behind, and then he would leave after a while.

One shouldn't bite the hand that feeds them. PingAn, as an elder, couldn't possibly throw his things out.

However, afterward, he would come almost every day. To prevent him from finding her absent, he always arrived around mealtime or in the evening. He would say a few words and stay for a while, making PingAn wonder what he was really up to.

If someone said he had no ulterior motives, PingAn definitely wouldn't believe it.

After Pei Jianguo came to visit again, PingAn became impatient with his feigned politeness and directly asked him, "If you have something to say, just say it. You don't need to come here every day and play these deceptive games. You know better than anyone else the relationship between us. Since I married your little uncle, you've never looked at me favorably. And it hasn't changed until now, Pei Jianguo. You show great respect to your little uncle, even to our children, but it's undeniable that you've never wanted us to live peacefully."

The smile on Pei Jianguo's face froze instantly because he couldn't deny that PingAn's words struck a chord within him.

Until now, he had always believed that this woman wasn't worthy of his little uncle. His little uncle had never shown interest in women before, and their marriage was rushed. He was certain that she had used some improper means to force it.

As for now, their seemingly affectionate relationship, who could say that it wasn't his little uncle enduring it for the sake of the children?

After all, his father had done the same thing back then.

The only difference was that An ZhiXia was smarter than her mother. Her mother always wanted to control the whole family, which eventually led to losing everything. On the other hand, An ZhiXia knew how to handle children, subtly and gently capturing the heart of her little brother-in-law.

"You're right. I've never had a good impression of you, and I've even refused to acknowledge you as my brother-in-law's wife. But, Sister-in-law, even though I may say some unpleasant things when I'm impulsive and irritable, I have never intended to harm you both in my actions," Pei JianGuo said in a deep voice.

"Exactly. That's why I haven't kicked you out. However, it's clear that our relationship hasn't reached the point where you come to see me every day. So, let's speak frankly without beating around the bush and wasting everyone's time," An ZhiXia smiled and said.

"Then I'll be straightforward," Pei JianGuo stated his purpose and the task his superiors had assigned him. Suddenly, he felt much more relaxed.

These past few days, it hadn't only been uncomfortable for An ZhiXia but also for himself.

If it were a few years ago, he might have directly shown his displeasure, even if it meant not doing his job. But people grow, and he was already in his thirties.

His father avoided him, his mother was getting older, and his younger sister was still fooling around without settling down.

He was no longer the impulsive and easily angered young man he used to be; he had to start considering the consequences of his actions.

After finishing his words, he fell completely silent, feeling somewhat anxious about the future.

The consequences of being middle-aged and unemployed were not something anyone could bear.

He had nothing now, and the only thing he could rely on was his job.

But An ZhiXia wouldn't be able to sacrifice so much for his job. Even if it were him, it would be impossible.

An ZhiXia didn't rush to reply because she hadn't expected that Pei JianGuo's intention was this.

Just as she was dozing off, someone brought a pillow to her.

The significance of the Construction Bureau actively seeking her help and coming to her personally was definitely different.

"I need to consider this matter. After all, it won't work to take over this mess without enough funds. I believe you understand this, and I can't just agree without considering what kind of preferential policies your side can offer and the costs involved," An ZhiXia said.

Pei JianGuo looked up in surprise.

He had already prepared himself for An ZhiXia's refusal and had begun thinking about what to do after losing his job. But he never expected that she would actually consider it.

"Are you really considering taking over? You're not just fooling with me, right?" He couldn't believe that he had actually obtained the result he wanted. "Do you think I have so much free time to fool around?" An ZhiXia teased. She didn't have that kind of spare time.

"Why... why would you consider it?" Pei JianGuo asked.

An ZhiXia smiled and replied, "Pei JianGuo, when you think about it, haven't you always been targeting me? When have I ever intentionally caused you trouble? Regardless of whether you admit it or not, since you called me 'little sister-in-law,' that means I am your elder. Now that you're seeking my help, if there's anything I can do, I will naturally assist you. However, as you know, everything must be within my capabilities. Whether I can help you or not will also depend on the favorable policies from the government. I can't risk bankrupting myself just to assist you, right?"

"Don't worry about that. I will talk to the leaders and ensure you receive the maximum benefits. We will also try to cooperate with the later stages of the project," Pei JianGuo impulsively promised. But after saying that, he hesitated, "However, regarding the later stages of the project, I hope you can cooperate with the plans from our bureau. It was developed through the collective efforts of many people and is undoubtedly the most suitable for the initial development of the city. After all, you also know why the previous person ran away, right?"

He was afraid that An ZhiXia would be as arrogant as that Hong Kong businessman and insist on doing things her own way. If things didn't work out and she suffered losses, he would bear the blame. It would create an unfavorable situation for both sides.

Although he wasn't very clever, he had been in this line of work for many years and understood the basic strategies.

"Alright, I will cooperate with you, and I hope you can cooperate with me as much as possible," An ZhiXia said.

"Then I'll go back and prepare the documents. I will give them to you within two days."

After leaving the premises, Pei JianGuo let out a sigh of relief.

He never expected that what seemed like an extremely difficult situation, akin to being caught between a rock and a hard place, would be resolved so easily.

Although An ZhiXia only agreed to consider it, he believed that once she saw the policies for the later stages of the project, she would be convinced.

Back at the bureau, Pei JianGuo quickly reported to his superiors and, as expected, received a round of praise. He was even promised a promotion if he successfully handled this matter.

The next two days were probably the busiest time in Pei JianGuo's life, and it was the first time he had such enthusiasm for a task.

On An ZhiXia's side, she also became busy with the preparations. To take over the later stages of the project, it wasn't enough to rely solely on policies. She had to first assemble a team for the construction.

She quickly made a plan, and with Hu Zhou, who had learned a lot during his years with Wu Lei, they had the necessary execution and adaptability.

Pei JianGuo's arrogance wasn't entirely without benefits because of An ZhiXia's words. He genuinely believed that she was helping him out of familial duty, so he put in extra effort for this matter. He provided maximum support in terms of preferential policies and other aspects.

At the same time, because An ZhiXia was someone he recommended, he was given full responsibility for the project by the Bureau of Construction.

Jian'an Group was established in May 1986.

With both parties aiming for the same goal of construction, An ZhiXia cooperated with the requirements of the Bureau of Construction and planned to invest in and build a shopping mall. She also secured the rights to nearby land from the bureau.

Pei Wanqing, the largest investor and chairman of Jian'an Group, still holds the positions of both major shareholders of Jiaoyan and Hongfeng under the Jian'an Group. Meanwhile, Hu Zhou is responsible for real estate development and holds a 40% stake as the second largest shareholder, based on the investment amount.

"Mom, I won't be coming home for dinner tonight. A classmate invited me to her house for her birthday." Pei Wanqing has made new friends recently, and to prevent a recurrence of the previous incident, Zhi Xia took the opportunity of her birthday to invite all the classmates she gets along well with to celebrate at their home.

This has also sparked a trend among their group, as they would be invited to celebrate when others have their birthdays.

"Alright, I got it. Whose birthday is it? I'll have your younger brother go pick you up later in the evening," Zhi Xia inquired.

"No need for that. I'll come back early," Pei Wanqing replied cheerfully and ran off.

"This girl," Zhi Xia smiled helplessly.

Fortunately, Pei Wanqing has some self-defense skills, although not as impressive as her older and younger brothers, she can still protect herself, so there's no need to worry too much.

Children grow up and inevitably leave the shelter of their parents' wings.

Just like Chenye, after the college entrance examination, it was time for university, and now it takes several months before they can see each other again.

Although Pei Wanqing said so, Zhi Xia still had Chen Ze pick her up. It's not safe for a girl to walk alone at night.

Thirteen-year-old Chen Ze has also grown taller and has a handsome appearance, which makes his classmates envy him greatly.

Pei Wanqing is really lucky. She has a twin brother who is good-looking and smart, known as the "academic genius," and several handsome and considerate younger brothers.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Pei Wanqing will soon face the college entrance examination.