In reality, when it comes to his current status in the Chu Family, Song Tianyao is not only inferior to Sister Hong or the head butler Uncle Yan, but he probably can't even compare to an old servant who has worked in the Chu Family for more than ten years.
"Sister Hong, I've come to deliver money to Young Master Shun." Facing the housekeeper in front of him, who had a long, shiny black braid, wore a light blue jacket, black trousers, and soft-soled cloth shoes, and was still charming despite being over forty, Song Tianyao dared not be lacking in courtesy.
"Young Master Shun is chatting with his wife in the back hall. I'll invite him to the living room for you. A-Xiang, make some tea for Secretary Song." After leading Song Tianyao into the living room, Sister Hong instructed a maid to make tea for Song Tianyao, while she herself prepared to walk through the living room towards the back building.
"Sister Hong, could you please take this money in and say it's the profit Likang made this week? Young Master Shun might want his wife to see it." Song Tianyao called out to Sister Hong, who was about to leave, and handed her the envelope he was carrying.
Sister Hong glanced at the envelope but didn't take it. "I'll lead you in to see Young Master Shun yourself. It's best if you hand over the money to him in person."
When Sister Hong led Song Tianyao into the back hall to deliver money to Chu Xiaoxin, the Second Young Master Chu was fawning over his mother. From the time his Dad, Chu Yaozong, left in the morning until lunchtime, he had showered his mother with every compliment he could think of, but his mother, Madam Chu, remained unmoved, her heart as hard as stone.
"Mom, Likang's business has been a bit tight lately, as you know. We've laid off all our previous staff and are urgently hiring. Likang means paying salaries, and my secretary is a big spender; maintaining a team is expensive. Last night I had a dream that Likang would make money in the next few days. Dreams are good omens, so I'll pay you back in a week at most."
Madam Chu's real name is Peng Xiulian. She is only forty-three years old this year. She is Chu Yaozong's second wife. When Chu Yaozong married her, he had already made a name for himself in the business world, so she could not be said to have shared hardships with Chu Yaozong. She entered the family into the life of a wealthy lady and never suffered any hardship. However, she also did not have the kind of aura of a powerful wife who could command the obedience of everyone in the Chu Family, from the boss to the workers, when she spoke, as Chu Yaozong's first wife who had started from scratch. Even though she was dressed elegantly, she lacked a certain grandeur and was more like a quiet lady who had been raised in seclusion.
"Although I rarely go out, I've heard about what you've done. Just a few days ago, you borrowed 100,000 yuan from your father and even wrote an IOU. Your father praised your Secretary Song, for being capable and efficient. How come it sounds the other way around in your words today?" Madam Chu asked softly, gently fiddling with the buttons on the old-fashioned radio on the table as she searched for a station signal.
With his back to the hall door, Chu Xiaoxin faced his mother, tears welling up in his eyes. He blurted out, "Mom, you can know a person's face but not their heart! That secretary turned her back on me after I lent her the money, forbidding me from touching it again, and now I have to figure out how to pay the workers' wages myself. I really..."
Just as Song Tianyao reached the back hall door, he overheard Chu Xiaoxin inside shamelessly selling himself for pocket money. He wanted to grab the money and turn around and leave.
Madam Chu had already seen Sister Hong and Song Tianyao outside the hall. Sister Hong's eyes swept between Song Tianyao beside her and Chu Xiaoxin inside the hall, and Madam Chu knew that they were Chu Xiaoxin's people. She had seen Chu Xiaoxin's driver before, and Likang no longer had any other workers. The only one she hadn't seen before was Secretary Song, who was by her Second Son's side and had been able to manipulate things with ease and had taken Likang from Chu Xiaozhong.
Her son, meanwhile, was speaking ill of Secretary Song to her, "That guy goes out to Flower boat to drink and pick up girls, tipping them with gold bars. He goes to the Lichi to patronize Songstress, and when one lets him touch her leg, he casually throws out five hundred dollars as a tip. At this rate, even if I had a mountain of gold, he'd eat it all up sooner or later. Mom, why don't you give me a few tens of thousands of dollars so I can fire him and find another secretary..."
"Madam, Young Master Shun, Secretary Song said that a sum of money has been delivered, so I brought him to see Young Master Shun." Sister Hong pushed open the hall door at just the right moment.
Chu Xiaoxin, who was relentlessly accusing Song Tianyao of wrongdoing, turned around upon hearing this and saw Sister Hong walking in from outside the hall, followed by his secretary, Song Tianyao.
"Uh..." Chu Xiaoxin looked like a rooster with its neck being squeezed. He turned his head to look at his mother first, then rubbed his eyes and turned to look at the two people who came in. He rubbed his face awkwardly and said, "Mom, what do you want to eat for lunch today? I haven't eaten at home in a long time. I have some free time today, so I'll go to the kitchen and cook a few dishes for you. I'll ask A-Yao to help; he knows how to cook too."
As she spoke, she stood up from her seat and was about to pull Song Tianyao out the door when Song Tianyao first bowed slightly to Madam Chu: "Madam Chu, I am Song Tianyao, Young Master Shun's secretary."
Then, she gently brushed aside Chu Xiaoxin's hand that was trying to pull her out the door, and deliberately waved the envelope in her hand at Chu Xiaoxin in front of his mother and Sister Hong: "Fifty thousand Hong Kong dollars, I just earned it this week and haven't even had a chance to warm it up before I specially sent it over. What nonsense were you talking about? You think I can't judge a book by its cover? You think I've emptied your gold mine? Fine, I won't disturb you and your wife having a loving lunch. I'm going to Flower boat to pick up girls and spend money. Goodbye, Young Master Shun."
After saying that, Song Tianyao turned to leave, Chu Xiaoxin quickly grabbed Song Tianyao, a smile on his face, and reached for the envelope in Song Tianyao's hand with his other hand. "Don't go chasing girls! Your hearing is acting up now! I just happened to have some money to take you to see a doctor. If you don't believe me, ask my mom or Sister Hong. I never said anything like that. I swear to God, if I said those things, may I spend all 50,000 yuan this afternoon!"
"Wow, your oath is really..." Song Tianyao let Chu Xiaoxin snatch the envelope away, saying, "Really, I admire you."
Madam Chu watched with a smile as her son spoke with Song Tianyao. Although it was their first meeting, Song Tianyao's words were very pleasant. Hearing her son teasing her behind her back, he openly addressed the issue and teased Chu Xiaoxin in return, instead of pretending not to hear or remaining silent and reserved. This approach helped Chu Xiaoxin alleviate his embarrassment and awkwardness.
"Madam Chu, I'm sorry to bother you. I've come to deliver the money for Young Master Shun." After Chu Xiaoxin took the envelope and slipped aside to secretly count the money with his back turned, Song Tianyao said to Madam Chu.