When Chen Yang left, Zhang Qun and his wife watched their daughter return to peace, both lost in thought. Was it that simple?
Of course, things were not that simple. Zhang Yingying did not directly mention going abroad. She first lulled her father into lowering his guard, intending to catch him off guard later.
Zhang Yingying planned to go to Jinling to see her maternal grandfather in a few days. She would have her grandfather arrange for her to go abroad. Her grandfather loved her dearly, and with Chen Yang's reasoning—that she would study abroad and return to contribute to the country—her grandfather had no reason to disagree.
Once her grandfather agreed, even her father would have no choice. This was Zhang Yingying's plan. He wanted her to marry into a good family, but she, Zhang Yingying, would not.
She wanted to study abroad and then, upon her return, seek out Uncle Li to secretly learn foreign technology. She would then find a way to contribute to her country, proving to her father that women could achieve great things.
None of this was known to Zhang Qun. Instead, he felt that Chen Yang possessed true abilities.
The visit to Chen Yang's home the next day was thus settled. Since Li Yong would also be attending, even if he didn't show respect to Chen Yang, he would to Li Yong.
Li Yong was being transferred to the capital, and perhaps in a short while, his position would surpass his own. Maintaining a good relationship with him was undoubtedly wise. Chen Yang's capabilities were also worthy of this dinner.
The next day, Chen Yang and Shen Xue cooked at home, inviting Li Yong's family and Zhang Qun's family for dinner.
The three of them drank and conversed, discussing many things. Li Yong and Zhang Qun's evaluation of Chen Yang grew even higher. Despite his young age, his understanding of the current situation was remarkably insightful, surpassing even those who had lived twenty years longer than him.
Zhang Yingying, however, looked at Shen Xue, who was busy, and the three doll-like little ones, a hint of loneliness flickering in her eyes.
She didn't know why she felt a pang of sadness, even though he was merely her student.
Regarding Chen Yang, Zhang Yingying asked herself that she had never harbored any improper thoughts. She was the teacher, and he was her student. Yet, why did she feel a sense of loss when she saw his wife and children?
Yesterday, she had only used Chen Yang to provoke her father, but why did she have such emotions now?
Zhang Yingying didn't even realize how she finished the meal and left Chen Yang's home. She felt she should go to Jinling. She should go abroad and see the world.
This was not only to counter her father's proposed arranged marriage but also to clarify some things for herself.
Chen Yang noticed Zhang Yingying's emotional changes. He was not foolish; he had long recognized the subtle emotions Zhang Yingying held for him.
Chen Yang had no intention of hurting someone who had helped him from the beginning, but he also could not betray Shen Xue. In this life, besides living a good life with his wife and children, he had no other aspirations.
In his past life, he had endured countless days filled with immense longing and regret for his wife and daughter. Some things could only be truly cherished after experiencing loss.
Although Zhang Yingying was beautiful, in his heart, besides Shen Xue and the children, there was no room for anyone else.
Except for the dinner he had invited Zhang Yingying to yesterday to express his gratitude, Chen Yang had always deliberately maintained a distance from her.
But there was no help for it; a man with exceptional qualities could not hide his brilliance in any environment and would always attract women around him.
Zhang Yingying was such a case, unknowingly becoming infatuated with the charm Chen Yang occasionally exuded. Especially the contrast between his mature demeanor despite his youth and his handsome appearance made him even more captivating to young girls.
Attracting Zhang Yingying's admiration was not Chen Yang's intention. Therefore, inviting Zhang Yingying's family to his home for dinner today also aimed to make Zhang Yingying understand that a relationship between them was impossible.
Zhang Yingying was very smart, and Chen Yang believed she would understand his intentions.
"Chen Yang, your teacher is so beautiful."
After Li Yong's family and Zhang Qun's family left, Shen Xue quietly stood beside Chen Yang.
Although Zhang Yingying and Chen Yang had not had any special interactions, a woman's intuition told her that this woman might harbor some subtle affections for her husband.
"Teacher Zhang is the goddess of our school. Basically, all the boys in the school like her."
Chen Yang, as if oblivious to the jealousy in his wife's voice, continued speaking. As a man, sometimes one had to learn to play dumb, or you would find yourself in trouble.
"Then do you like her too?"
"You think she's very beautiful, and see her as a goddess?"
Shen Xue smiled at Chen Yang. For some reason, Chen Yang felt a chill down his spine.
"Heh, I have such a beautiful wife, how could I possibly have the time to care if Teacher Zhang is beautiful or not."
"Wife, actually, don't just look at how beautiful Teacher Zhang is; she's also quite pitiful. Her family wants her to marry into a good family, and Teacher Zhang is not feeling very good about it."
Chen Yang stopped there. Speaking too much could lead to mistakes. If he continued, Shen Xue might suspect his intentions.
Between women, besides war, there was also empathy.
Indeed, upon hearing Chen Yang's words, a flicker of surprise flashed in Shen Xue's eyes.
"Isn't Teacher Zhang's father a significant leader? Why would they do this?"
"It's precisely because her father is a leader that he wants his descendants to continue as leaders. This is human nature."
Chen Yang watched as Shen Xue, who now held no hostility towards Zhang Yingying, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Battling with women was like dancing on a knife's edge. Seemingly without any smoke, a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.
This time, he had safely navigated through the danger.
After dining at Chen Yang's place, Zhang Yingying went to Jinling the next day. Li Yong also headed north to the capital a week later, perhaps awaiting an opportunity for a meteoric rise.
However, none of these concerned Chen Yang too much at the moment. He was preparing for his final exams while also visiting the Shanghai No. 3 Radio Factory several times.
The two television production lines that Chen Yang had provided them, with the help of German engineers, had been installed for nearly a month.
With the Shanghai No. 3 Radio Factory workers diligently working overtime, they had already attempted to assemble televisions several times. Unfortunately, the previous attempts either had no sound or the picture tube was blurry with many white spots.
This time, the engineers went to great lengths, even buying foreign liquor to treat the German engineer and enlist his help. After several days of being plied with good food and drink by the workers,
the German engineer, having been drunk several times, finally agreed to help diagnose the fault. With the German engineer's assistance, the first television from the Shanghai No. 3 Radio Factory was likely to be officially rolled off the production line today.
Although it wasn't his own factory, until the fifty-thousand-dollar debt was repaid, every television produced by the Shanghai No. 3 Radio Factory belonged to Chen Yang for distribution. Now, with the first television about to roll off the line, Chen Yang was naturally excited!