Chapter 399 — Kang Jingming's Upset Stomach
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Yet the hardships of life and the torment of the years had worn his edges smooth. He who had once dreamed of great achievements could now only tend this little teahouse with painstaking care, transformed into a genial fellow who had to weigh every side of every matter, offending this person or that at the slightest misstep.
He did not want his son to walk the same road as he had, from hope to disappointment, and so certain things had to be stated plainly beforehand. The intention was good, but putting it into practice was another matter entirely.
Taking a sip of tea, Father Kang went on, "I say you'd best keep your mind on one thing. Put the corporate management business aside for now. Once a real big company actually wants you, it won't be too late to study it then..."
"If it were a small company, I wouldn't have bought all these management books at all..." Kang Xiaofeng said with a bitter smile. "The one heading the investment is a big company! He's planning to open a pharmaceutical company with Guan Xuewen, Dr. Guan. They're putting in a hundred million to start..."
"Pfft—" The tea in Father Kang's mouth sprayed straight out. "Cough, cough... What? Guan Xuewen? A hundred million?"
"That's right, Dad. What did you think my pressure was all about? Me, someone who knows nothing, helping to run a company that big—can I do it without studying?" Kang Xiaofeng found his father's expression somewhat amusing, yet he was rather smug inside. Didn't you say your son was no good? So what if he isn't? With a good leader, even a useless one becomes useful!
"Good heavens, how much is a hundred million?" Mother Kang's eyes went wide as well. "Your father's teahouse is a few million at the very most, and that's counting the building.
Father Kang shot Mother Kang a glare. "A hundred million looks like a lot to you, but to my second uncle it's nothing much. Their family has at least a billion or more in assets. Still, a company starting with a hundred million in investment counts as a big company! Xiaobo, if you really can't handle it, don't force yourself to be brave and end up losing their money for nothing—what would you do then?"
"What second uncle? Just look at how he treated our Xiaobo today—the nerve of him!" Mother Kang snorted. "Xiaobo, Mom's behind you. Since your leader trusts you so much, you should repay him well and make something of yourself, and show your second grandpa's family a thing or two!"
"Yeah, I know!" Kang Xiaofeng clenched his fist. "That's what my leader told me too!"
Matters having come to this point, Father Kang could say no more. He could only silently bless and support his son. "Xiaobo, since you've made up your mind, then do it well. Don't let us down!"
"Yeah. I'll head back to my room first. What happened today has been too much of a shock for me—one thing after another. I almost feel like I'm dreaming. I need to sit down and digest it all," Kang Xiaofeng said, a little embarrassed.
Father Kang nodded, but inside he smiled bitterly. Never mind a child like you—even a man like me who has weathered great storms nearly dropped his teacup when I heard your news...
After Kang Xiaofeng had gone, Mother Kang's face was wreathed in excitement. "I told you our son was something special! See? Our family's about to turn things around! Then we'll see whether your second uncle's family still looks at us properly! Dr. Guan Xuewen is far better than that half-baked miracle doctor your second uncle!"
"Nothing's settled yet, so what are you going on about? Besides, you can only encourage him, not praise him. Children get carried away easily. Don't let Xiaobo's pride swell up—it'll only do him harm in the end," Father Kang said sternly. "Don't bring this up again from now on. We'll just watch quietly."