A Rabble

When Manager Zhong emerged from the office with an unfriendly look in his eyes, everyone present fell silent.

Even Fan Song, that reckless guy who feared neither heaven nor earth, stopped making a fuss.

Manager Zhong walked up to Yang Xu and the others. "Yang Xu, if I remember correctly, Liu Shang is the dedicated assistant President Song assigned to Professor Xu and me, isn't he?"

"You don't need to explain anything to me. Whatever you people are thinking, you can't hide it from me, Zhong Gaokuang."

"From today onward, if any of you want to assign work to Liu Shang, get my or Professor Xu's approval first!"

Then Manager Zhong walked over to Fan Song and gave a cold chuckle.

"Couldn't tell you were such an impressive figure, Fan Song, could I?"

"So you're some big shot in the underworld too?"

Rather than getting angry, Fan Song broke into a wide grin. "Hehe, Manager Zhong, aren't you joking with me?"

"We were just fooling around earlier, just fooling around..."

Manager Zhong snorted. "You're a warehouse and equipment manager. What gives you the right to order an engineer like Liu Shang around?"

"I know you're President Song's relative. Nobody can afford to offend you. I, Zhong Gaokuang, am just an employee too, so I'm no exception."

"Fine. Bring those notebooks of yours to my office, and I'll enter the data for you myself!"

Before Manager Zhong could finish, Fan Song immediately apologized repeatedly with a grin and put away his notebooks.

After the matter had settled, Manager Zhong and Xu Tiande called Liu Shang into the office.

Manager Zhong shed his previous sternness and burst into laughter.

"What did I tell you, Professor Xu? Liu Shang isn't someone to be trifled with, is he?"

"Even someone like Fan Song didn't get the slightest advantage over him, right?"

Xu Tiande shook his head. "Manager Zhong, we can protect Liu Shang for a while, but we can't protect him forever."

"Now that Liu Shang has offended Fan Song, Chen Xu, and the others, there will probably always be trouble at work in the future."

Rather than replying, Manager Zhong looked at Liu Shang. "Kid Liu, what do you think of Professor Xu's concerns?"

Liu Shang glanced blandly at Chen Xu and the others beyond the glass, then gave a faint snort. "A bunch of mongrels and rabble. What's there to worry about?"

Manager Zhong laughed and took a sip of tea. "You really are arrogant, kid."

"But that's how young people should be!"

"Liu Shang, you attended today's meeting too. Professor Xu is under a lot of pressure right now. Help Professor Xu with more work and learn properly while you're at it."

"I think President Song was right. Ma Yuan isn't fit for important responsibilities, so we'll have to rely on you to help Professor Xu share the burden!"

On the way home from work, Song Guangyuan's driver tactfully and without making too much of it, briefly told him about what had happened in the office that afternoon.

Song Guangyuan nodded without saying anything.

He naturally knew what kind of person Fan Song was, as well as how many people like him were in his company.

In a private enterprise, especially one in oilfield services, the web of personal connections involved was far more complicated than in other industries.

Therefore, it was common for the company to have quite a few relatives like Fan Song, or people connected to the oilfield clients.

As long as they did not cause trouble in the company or seriously violate company rules, most executives turned a blind eye.

Besides, Song Guangyuan was under immense pressure these days and had neither the time nor the energy to bother with such trivial matters.

When Song Guangyuan walked through the front door, he was surprised to find that there was a guest at home: Song Sha, the daughter of his good friend and business partner.

"Hello, Uncle Song."

"I've come to mooch another meal at your house!"

Seeing Song Sha and Song Jia standing before him together, Song Guangyuan smiled as well.

"Ha ha, so it's Song Sha. Not long ago, I was telling your Aunt Wu that it had been ages since you last visited."

"And you too, Jia Jia. Why didn't you tell Dad in advance? I could've bought some seafood, lobster, and the like."

"Hehe, Uncle Song, don't buy any seafood. I came just to mooch a home-cooked meal. I've really had my fill of school cafeteria food and restaurant food."

Song Guangyuan laughed. "Ha ha, you child. The semester has already been underway for several months now. You must be homesick, right?"

"If you have nothing to do, come back with Jia Jia whenever she comes home. Stay for a few days and wash some clothes or whatever."

"It's not as though we don't have room in this house!"

At that moment, Song Jia's mother, Wu Caiyun, happened to come out of the kitchen.

"Old Song, you're back?"

"Look at these two girls. They're so close, just like real sisters."

"Sha Sha, the last dish, the fish, is already stewing. We'll eat soon. Are you hungry already?"

Song Sha smiled and nodded repeatedly. "Mm, I really am a little hungry."

"Mostly because Aunt Wu, your cooking is amazing. Just smelling it has whetted my appetite."

Wu Caiyun laughed at her words, but then abruptly changed the subject. "By the way, Sha Sha, you're in university now."

"Is there any boy at school you like or have your eye on? Someone who can take care of you sometimes?"

Song Sha smiled and shook her head. "Not yet, Aunt Wu."

"Besides, you can't rush something like finding a boyfriend. I have to find someone outstanding, cultured, who likes me, and who comes from a decent family, right?"

"So I'm still looking. I haven't found any suitable candidates yet, haha..."

Wu Caiyun exchanged a glance with her husband, Song Guangyuan, then gave her daughter Song Jia a meaningful look.

"See? Song Sha is such a worry-free child."

"Auntie thinks you're right too. When girls choose a boyfriend, they must consider many aspects. He should not only be handsome and talented; most importantly, he must like you, have a good personality, and his family circumstances cannot be too poor."

"As the saying goes, it's hard for humble families to produce great children. It's still best when families are well matched!"

"Sha Sha, keep an eye on Jia Jia at school. Don't let her associate too much with those messy, no-good boys."

Wu Caiyun's words clearly startled Song Sha. "Aunt Wu, do you mean Tan Feng and the others?"

Seeing that Song Sha had misunderstood, Wu Caiyun waved her hands with a laugh. "Ha ha, no, no."

"Tan Feng, Zhou Liang, and Lu Kai have been Jia Jia's classmates since middle school. They've been good friends for years."

"Especially Tan Feng. I really like that child, and I'm very familiar with his mother too."

"If Jia Jia really chose Tan Feng as her boyfriend, I honestly wouldn't object."

"What Auntie fears is that Jia Jia might be deceived by some scheming boy, like that Liu..."

Before the word "Liu" could leave Wu Caiyun's mouth, Song Jia reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and immediately dragged Song Sha back to her bedroom.

"Mom! What are you even talking about all day?!"

"You're being completely ridiculous!!!"

"We're going back to our room. Call us when dinner is ready..."