It All Made Sense
Columbia University is located in Manhattan, in a much more bustling area than Princeton University.
Ou Ye lives in the most expensive luxury single apartment. She received a scholarship, and there is a difference of about ten thousand US dollars between the scholarship and the tuition and accommodation fees.
Ou Ye's parents covered the difference of about ten thousand US dollars and arranged for Ou Ye to stay in the safest and most comfortable room.
"Come on, Ou Ye, this is Columbia University's international student reception center. Let's get the enrollment procedures done first, and also get all the necessary documents, cards, and insurance while we're at it." Shen Qi was busy running around, showing great initiative. He had previously attended the "Ivy League Number Theory Seminar" at Columbia University, so he was quite familiar with the environment.
"You seem to know this place very well." Ou Ye followed Shen Qi, with her parents following behind.
"Do you come to New York often?" Old Ou asked with a serious expression.
"I've only been here once, once at the end of the year before last for a conference," Shen Qi explained. "I studied mathematics, so I have a good memory. After visiting Columbia University once, I basically knew the layout."
"Shen Qi is the youngest recipient of the Chern Prize in Mathematics." Ou Ye posted a picture of her boyfriend.
"Amazing! Shen Qi broke the record! He's so young and promising!" Aunt Ye exclaimed in admiration.
"Small achievements, small achievements. There is no end to learning," Shen Qi said neither humbly nor arrogantly.
"I would prefer you to have both virtue and talent," Old Ou reminded Shen Qi.
"Uncle Ou, you're absolutely right. I may not have any great talent, but my moral character and political awareness are absolutely top-notch. During my studies in the United States, I never forgot to study the important spirit and instructions of Deng Xiaoping's Southern Tour. As Deng Xiaoping said, a strong and prosperous socialist country cannot exist without scientific and technological development and cultural development. After I have completed my studies in the United States, I will dedicate my life to building a democratic Prosperity and Strength socialist country." Shen Qi made a firm and resolute political commitment.
These words were insightful and irrefutable; Old Ou simply nodded, unable to offer a further comment.
"Shen Qi is a veteran Party member, right? He should have joined the Party in high school?" Aunt Ye asked kindly.
Shen Qi said with some regret, "During my studies at Nangang Second High School and Yenching University, I actively sought to join the Party organization and submitted my application to join the Party during my sophomore year. Unfortunately, when the Party organization was reviewing my application, I left my motherland to study in the United States."
"Our Party has not established grassroots Party branches in the United States, so my application to join the Party has been temporarily suspended. Although I am now an ordinary citizen, I am wholeheartedly following the Party and am always ready to accept the Party's test again," Shen Qi said firmly.
"Shen Qi, your Uncle Ou and I feel ashamed. You, an ordinary citizen, have a much higher level of awareness than us two old Party members," Aunt Ye said with a smile.
Shen Qi, a politically sound and academically excellent young doctoral student, quickly won over Aunt Ye. Aunt Ye took out a small gift box from her handbag and handed it to Shen Qi, saying, "It's our first meeting. As your elders, your Uncle Ou and I are giving you a small gift to express our appreciation."
Aunt Ye really knows how to treat people. I've met Old Ou several times, and he's treated me to drinks that cost only a few yuan each time. Shen Qi accepted the small gift and said, "Thank you, Aunt Ye and Uncle Ou."
"Can I open it?" Shen Qi asked in a more American way, as Americans usually open gifts on the spot.
"Of course." Aunt Ye nodded.
The exquisitely packaged box, about the length of a palm, contained, by Shen Qi's estimation, small items such as ties, pens, and watches—typical gifts for men, often business attire.
Shen Qi opened the gift box, his eyes involuntarily narrowing. Golden light shone from the gift box; the gift was a golden pen.
This pen is made of pure gold, with exquisite patterns engraved on its body.
"Aunt Ye, isn't this gold pen too precious?" Shen Qi didn't expect Aunt Ye to give him pure gold as soon as they met.
Aunt Ye, "This is just a small token of my appreciation, Shen Qi. I wish you continued success in your writing, academic achievements, and that you will become a great writer, contributing to the nation and its people."
Aunt Ye's words were so eloquent that Shen Qi had no choice but to accept them. Aunt Ye's political rank was at least level 8. How could such a dignified, generous, articulate, and highly conscious aunt be a full-time housewife? Aunt Ye must work in a government agency.
Afterwards, Aunt Ye paid all of Ou Ye's tuition and insurance fees. After swiping a black card, she handed it to Ou Ye, saying, "Little Yezi, there are still several hundred thousand dollars in there. Spend it as you see fit. I'll send your medicine to you regularly through my friends in America."
"Okay, thank you, Mom." Ou Ye took the black card, showing no particular excitement or change in expression.
"..." Shen Qi was shocked. What exactly did this Aunt Ye do for a living? Could she be one of those legendary rich women?
Therefore, the basic structure of the Ou Ye family gradually became clear. Ou Ye was an only child, and because of her poor health, she received extra love from her parents.
Old Ou was a soldier and is now the planner of a science popularization program.
According to the information provided by Ou Ye, Aunt Ye is a full-time housewife who takes care of household chores. However, the actual situation is quite different. Aunt Ye is graceful and elegant. She claims to be a veteran member of the Communist Party but is very generous. She has friends in the United States who can help bring medicine back to her, which shows that she has a wide social circle.
In Ou Ye's family, Aunt Ye controlled the finances. From beginning to end, Aunt Ye swiped her card to pay for and give away pure gold gifts. The mighty and strong Old Ou became an NPC, responsible for finding fault with Shen Qi.
The King of Hell is easy to deal with, but his underlings are hard to handle, so the mastermind behind Ou Ye's family is Aunt Ye!
After analyzing this information, Shen Qi felt much more at ease.
While eating out, Shen Qi finally found a chance to be alone with Ou Ye.
"Ou Ye, you're not being honest. Does your Mom really stay home and do all the housework?" Shen Qi asked.
Ou Ye nodded. "Yes, she's usually at home and rarely goes to the company."
Shen Qi then asked, "What kind of company is she? What is its size? What is her position in the company?"
Ou Ye: "It used to be a state-owned enterprise, but it was later restructured. It wasn't a small company, and she was a person in charge who didn't have to do any work."
Shen Qi roughly understood. "Aunt Ye is a shareholder of a not-so-small restructured enterprise?"
Ou Ye: "I guess so."
Shen Qi: "So what specific products does Aunt Ye's company make?"
Ou Ye: "Real estate."
Shen Qi realized his girlfriend was hiding something. "Ou Ye, I thought your family was middle class, but I never expected your Mom to be a real estate tycoon, and you to be a rich girl?"
"You look down on rich girls?" Ou Ye asked nervously.
"It's pathetic that a rich girl like you has ended up like this. You're not arrogant at all, you're even quite low-key. You have excellent grades, especially in math. Where is there even a trace of a rich girl's qualities?" Shen Qi finally figured out Ou Ye's family situation completely.