I got back in the car and checked the time—it was already one o'clock. I had agreed to go to my mother-in-law's place today, but no specific time was set. I quickly checked my phone and breathed a small sigh of relief when I saw no missed calls or WeChat messages from her. At least I hadn't delayed the important matter.
I called my mother-in-law to ask about the situation. She simply said she was waiting for me at home and told me to hurry over before hanging up.
I didn't dare delay any longer and immediately started the car to head out.
Although my mother-in-law is strong-willed, she is quite a low-key person. With her wealth and status, she could easily afford to live in the most luxurious villa in the city. Yet, she insists on living in an ordinary residential community and only drives an Audi A6. Those who don't know her well would never connect her with the businesswoman Su Yin.
Our city is called Yuncheng, a second-tier city in the north. It has developed fairly well over the years, but being a prefecture-level city, the urban area isn't very large. In less than half an hour, I arrived at the building where my mother-in-law lives.
I straightened my clothes and did a few jumps downstairs to temporarily shake off the fatigue from last night's indulgence before heading upstairs.
My mother-in-law can't stand seeing young people looking listless and weak. After all, at fifty, she lives with more energy and vitality than most young people.
When I knocked on my mother-in-law's door, it was opened by a young woman around thirty years old, dressed smartly in a business suit.
I actually recognized this woman. Her name is Luo Tong. I heard she was personally trained by my mother-in-law and is her right-hand woman—an elite among elites. We've crossed paths a few times before, but we've never spoken. After all, my mother-in-law's affairs have never involved an ordinary office worker like me.
"President Su is in the study. She asked you to wait in the living room for a while," Luo Tong politely welcomed me inside, poured me a glass of water, and then turned to enter the study.
Watching her sexy and fiery figure disappear from sight, I couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. What's happening with society these days?
Women are becoming increasingly powerful. The proportion of women among the shrewd and capable elite is growing larger and larger. Moreover, I've noticed that the more capable a woman is, the more beautiful she tends to be. It really makes us men who just muddle along feel utterly ashamed.
While lost in these thoughts, I idly scrolled through my phone, browsing some even more boring gossip news as I waited.
"Mr. Liao, President Su asks you to come in," Luo Tong said as she emerged from the study about half an hour later.
I nodded and got up to go to the study. My mother-in-law rarely lets me into her study. Whenever she calls me there, it's always because she has something important to discuss.
Every time I enter my mother-in-law's study, I feel an uneasy sense of oppression. Because in other parts of the house, my mother-in-law is talkative, laughing, and very kind. But as soon as she enters the study, it's like she becomes a different person. An aura of a superior high and mighty authority emanates from her. This domineering temperament makes me very uncomfortable.
Sure enough, my mother-in-law was sitting at her desk, her back ramrod straight, holding a few documents as she perused them. Her face showed no expression whatsoever; it was completely impossible to tell if she was pleased or angry. My heart sank. This was the version of her I feared most. My mother-in-law in this state is the most terrifying.
"Mom, what did you call me over for?" I asked cautiously, hardly daring to breathe.
My mother-in-law put down the documents in her hand, looked up, and stared at me without saying a word, just watching me.
It made my hair stand on end, and I couldn't help but start to speculate wildly. Did she find out about my wife and me playing the wife-swapping game?
That shouldn't be possible. How could she know about something that just happened yesterday?
Besides, my mother-in-law had scheduled this meeting with me last week. At that time, we hadn't done anything yet.
Just as my nerves were stretched to the breaking point with wild thoughts, my mother-in-law finally spoke: "Xiao Fan, I called you over this time to ask for your help with something."
Hearing her say this, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Mom, there's no need to be polite with me. Just tell me what you need me to do."
"Take a look at these documents first," my mother-in-law said, handing over the papers on the desk.
Puzzled, I took the documents and flipped through them. It was registration information for a construction company, along with qualification certificates and such. I couldn't really understand it, so I just skimmed through. When I turned to the last page, I was immediately confused.
It was information about the company's legal representative. The representative's name was Xie Dong. That wasn't the issue. It was the photo of the legal representative that looked very familiar. The features bore a resemblance to me, though he appeared much more mature and seasoned. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and had a stylish beard, looking every bit the refined and cultured gentleman.
"Mom, who is Xie Dong? Why does he look so familiar?" I asked.
"Of course he looks familiar. Because it's your photo, photoshopped. So Xie Dong is you. I created a fake identity for you and used it to register a construction company," my mother-in-law said expressionlessly, as if it were the most casual thing.
"Then what do you want me to do?" I had a bad premonition.
"There's a real estate development project in the neighboring city, Jiangcheng. It's very important to me. Due to certain reasons, it's inconvenient for me to be involved personally. I can only have someone represent me. But this matter involves several hundred million in funds. I wouldn't feel comfortable putting it under anyone else's name. After much thought, you are the most suitable person," my mother-in-law explained.
Although I don't understand much about the business world, I know a little. My mother-in-law is extending her reach into the neighboring city. As the saying goes, 'a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake.' Competing with local developers for business could easily lead to a lot of trouble. My mother-in-law is using a strategy of using a scapegoat.
I just couldn't figure out why. My mother-in-law has always been in the finance business. I've never heard of her involved in real estate development. Why the sudden shift? And why go after a project in Jiangcheng? With her influence, securing a real estate project in Yuncheng would be easy as pie, wouldn't it?
Although I was full of doubts, I didn't dare ask. What schemes this business tycoon of a mother-in-law has in mind are beyond my ability to figure out. And I don't want to know. That kind of life is too complicated. I just want to quietly live my own simple life.
"Mom, you know what kind of person I am. How could I possibly handle something like this?" I said helplessly.
"You don't need to do anything. I've already taken care of all the necessary arrangements in Jiangcheng. However, you need to go there personally to sign the contract. Luo Tong will go with you. Just follow her instructions," my mother-in-law said.
"Mom, maybe you should find someone else. I really can't do this kind of thing," I said.
"I'm not discussing this with you. Understand?" my mother-in-law said coldly.
Didn't I know that? I muttered to myself. My mother-in-law is an extremely decisive woman. Once she decides on something, no one can change her mind.
"Xiao Fan, today I want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you," my mother-in-law suddenly said, her tone softening.
"Nannan is my only daughter. The family business I've worked so hard to build over the years will eventually be passed on to you two. Nannan is very outstanding, I believe she has the ability to take over. But after all, she is a woman. As someone who has been through it, I know very well how difficult it is for a woman to gain a foothold in the business world. So, I would prefer that after I retire, you take on this heavy responsibility. Understand?" my mother-in-law said.
My mother-in-law's words completely stunned me. I had never once thought about taking over any family business. I just want to live my simple life peacefully.
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