Chapter Forty-Three: Provincial License Plate

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Two hours after Jiang Xiwen left, in the study of the Zhang family patriarch at Zhang Ya’s home.

“Dad, please don’t misunderstand. I’m Xiaoya’s father. I won’t let anything happen to him. There are too many issues involved here, I truly can’t disclose any details,” Zhang Yong pleaded earnestly.

The old man frowned, his voice thunderous: “But what if I insist on knowing?”

“It’s a matter of professional principle. I can’t do it.”

“Fine! Fine!” The patriarch sat down heavily. “Get out.”

“Take care of your health, Dad. I’ll leave now.” Zhang Yong softened his tone, slid open the door, and returned to his own study. He lay back in a comfortable reclining chair, massaged the dark circles beneath his eyes, and let out a long sigh of relief. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze landed on a photograph of him with Tian Weidong.

Thinking of Jiang Xiwen, Zhang Yong chuckled to himself. That boy. He picked up the phone and dialed a long-distance number to Shanghai.

“Old Tian, it’s me, Zhang Yong.”

“Oh, Deputy Mayor Zhang, hello, hello.”

“Drop the act with me, haha!”

“Yongzi, you’re always so busy; you wouldn’t call just to chat.”

“I’ll get straight to the point. I want to recommend someone to you. I hear he’s developing a system for your Tianxing company, but he hasn’t talked to you directly yet. If you have time, come to Yangjiang for a visit and take a look.”

“Hmm…” Tian Weidong hesitated briefly, then said, “I know your character, Zhang Yong. When did you start playing this sort of game?”

“Haha, if this person isn’t up to the task, of course I won’t force you to buy his system. If you can come to Yangjiang, just have a look. The decision is yours. I know nothing about computers anyway.”

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“Alright. I might be heading to Yangjiang soon for business negotiations anyway. Several companies nationwide are developing this system for us, so it’s a good chance to compare. I’ll let you know once my schedule is set.”

“Great. Thanks, Old Tian. I’ll wait for your news. That’s all…”

“Alright, Yongzi. Goodbye.”

Zhang Yong didn’t mention Jiang Xiwen’s age. He understood, including about himself, that everyone is prone to subjective judgment. He didn’t want age to affect Tian Weidong’s first impression of Jiang Xiwen. Everything would be decided after Tian Weidong saw the system for himself.

The next day, Jiang Xiwen went to Tianxing Computer School and told Fan Qiang he had made up his mind: if he succeeded in convincing Tian Weidong to buy the system, all the money would temporarily be kept by Fan Qiang. He would never trust Qi Huanchang again.

Fan Qiang responded with another round of insincere pleasantries, while Jiang Xiwen played along, indulging Fan Qiang’s little “secretary” fantasies.

The following three days, Jiang Xiwen wrote, practiced boxing, and waited. In his spare time, he created some viruses for Qi Huanchang to destroy. Lately, Qi Huanchang’s hobby had shifted from making viruses to eradicating them, and his skills were improving rapidly. This made Jiang Xiwen’s earlier ideas seem more and more realistic: once funds were ample, he could have Fatty Qi develop an antivirus software. With Jiang Xiwen’s knowledge of future viruses, they could surely rise to prominence.

On Wednesday evening, Jiang Xiwen got a call from Fan Qiang. Tian Weidong would be returning to Shanghai first and wouldn’t be back until the end of February next year to discuss the computer room management system.

On Thursday, Zhang Ya sought out Jiang Xiwen specifically to relay a message: Zhang Yong had helped him get in touch with Tian Weidong, who would return to Yangjiang at the end of February on business, giving him a chance to review the management system.

Hearing this, Jiang Xiwen fell into thought. He could be sure now: Tian Weidong was indeed coming to Yangjiang next February, and Fan Qiang had definitely submitted a real request to purchase the system to the real Tian Weidong. At that time, it would be interesting to see how the drama of the real and fake Tian Weidong played out.

Another thing was now certain: Zhang Yong and Fan Qiang didn’t know each other, or at most, only in passing.

Zhang Ya saw Jiang Xiwen lost in his own thoughts, indifferent to her presence. Annoyed, she said, “Jiang Xiwen, you saved me, and I’ve thanked you. I admire how you and Mr. Qi can develop computer software. What more do you want? I didn’t like you before, but now I treat you so well, and this is how you repay me?”

“Hm? Class monitor,” Jiang Xiwen snapped out of his daze. Seeing Zhang Ya puffed up with anger, he couldn’t help but laugh, then replied with mock seriousness, “You sure sound ambiguous. We’re only fifteen, you know. Starting a romance so early isn’t good.”

Zhang Ya blushed fiercely and hurriedly corrected him, “No, I mean I treat you better than before—as a friend, that kind of thing…”

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“Alright, alright. You believe my nonsense so easily? Even if I wanted to pursue you, you probably wouldn’t agree. I’m off for lunch. Want to join me? My treat.”

Hearing Jiang Xiwen’s words, Zhang Ya seemed dazed, answering mechanically, “No, my mom doesn’t let me eat outside, but…”

“Then see you around!” Jiang Xiwen waved and walked away alone.

Only after he had gone far did Zhang Ya whisper, “You idiot, I was going to say that even though my mom disapproves, once in a while wouldn’t hurt. How can someone be so dense? If, in the future… Ai, Zhang Ya, what’s gotten into you these past few days?”

Just as Jiang Xiwen walked out the gate of No. 2 High School, an old-model Red Flag sedan with provincial plates pulled up in front of him. The door opened, and a sharp-looking young man in a Zhongshan suit approached.

“Excuse me, are you Jiang Xiwen?”

“Yes, what is it?” Jiang Xiwen felt the scene was straight out of a gangster movie and instinctively bent his knees slightly—the defensive stance taught by Wang Wu, which would look ordinary to the uninitiated.

The young man’s eyes widened in surprise at his posture. “Kid, nice stance. Who taught you?”

“That’s not something you need to know. What do you want with me?”

The young man chuckled, hastily explaining, “You’ve got it wrong. I’m Old Zhang’s driver. He’d like to have a chat with you—Zhang Ya’s grandfather.”

“Oh? Him?!” In Jiang Xiwen’s memory, the old patriarch was a stern and somewhat eccentric retired official. Yet when he’d mentioned Liu Dashan last, the old man’s subtly suspicious expression had caught his attention. Jiang Xiwen had been wondering how to investigate further; now that the opportunity had come to him, whether it was a dragon’s lair or a tiger’s den, he’d take his chances.

“That’s right. Old Zhang said if you’re unwilling, we won’t force you.”

“Willing? Of course I’m willing. Riding in a car like this is quite the spectacle, after all.”