Chapter 166: Drawing the Line—I’ll Go to My Little Sister Alone
After a long meal of persuasion, Su Tao still didn’t agree. When she left, Sheng Yuqing’s eager, expectant gaze…
When Zhuang Wan heard about it, she wasn’t surprised at all:
“Every time Sheng Yulan goes home, she tells her parents and sister all about how amazing Taoyang is—praising it like it’s the best place in the world, better than anything else. In their family’s eyes, following you is the best possible future, even better than staying in the military district.”
Su Tao waved her hand. “It’s not suitable, really. You don’t understand how capable Sheng Yuqing is—even Shi Zijin has acknowledged her. Staying in the military district is the best path for her. If she follows me, all she’ll do is eat, sleep, and waste her talent. Just thinking about it makes me feel bad.”
Zhuang Wan said, “Well, you’ll have to work hard to persuade her then. Oh, by the way, I just finished processing the new employees’ onboarding paperwork. Find some time to hold a meeting for them, okay? I know you’re busy, but squeeze it in!”
Su Tao replied, “Alright. Since there’s not enough space in Taohua Building, have the sales team and seed administrators temporarily work on the second and third floors of Taoli Building. I know it’ll be a hassle for them to move back and forth.”
Zhuang Wan chuckled. “Hassle? Not at all! The new employees were stunned when they saw Taoli Building—especially the second and third floors, with their spacious meeting rooms and fully equipped break areas.”
Su Tao’s face lit up. “Once I have time, I’ll renovate Taohua Building too.”
At the Su Family Home
Su Jianming sat with a furrowed brow, his face unshaven. He asked his second son in a low voice, “I heard one of your classmates got a job in Taoyang? Who is it? What did they do before? Why didn’t they take you with them?”
Su Zhenglan looked dejected. “Just someone who worked in warehouse management. They got lucky—went for an interview and got hired. The probation salary is 10,000. It’s not that high, but meals and various subsidies are included, adding up to around 15,000 or 16,000. Once they pass probation, they’ll have priority for housing in Taoyang and can even bring their family.”
“Plus, as soon as they joined, they got to work in the new office building. I heard it’s impressive—brand-new desks and chairs, a break room, and free instant noodles for overtime.”
The worst part? That classmate even came to brag about it to his face.
It was embarrassing. He had boasted everywhere that his younger sister was in Taoyang and could easily get him in. But after multiple visits, he hadn’t even managed to see her once.
Su Jianming looked much older now, his hair turning gray.
“…The benefits are really good. No other place is offering something like this. Zhenglan, try harder. I’m getting old—this family still depends on you.”
Su Zhenglan felt a heavy weight on his chest. “Dad, I really have tried. But they won’t even let me through the front gate. What can I do? I can’t even get through to Little Sis’s number—I’m pretty sure she blocked all of us. Don’t you get it? She’s never going to help us.”
Hearing this, Li Ronglian rushed out, clutching Tangdou in her arms. Her eyes were red as she said, “Find someone in Taoyang to pass a message to her. Tell her I’m dying! I refuse to believe she has such a heart of stone that she wouldn’t even come to see her mother one last time!”
Four-year-old Tangdou, now able to speak clearly, waved her little hands and shouted, “Auntie has no heart! No heart!”
Su Zhenglan snapped and turned to Su Jianming. “Dad! Look at this! Tangdou is so young, and she’s already saying things like this. Who else could’ve taught her? This is exactly why Little Sis left!”
Li Ronglian’s voice rose. “Am I wrong? She got close to some powerful man and made it big. Now she’s living like a queen in Taoyang and has completely abandoned her family. She doesn’t care whether we live or die—how is that not heartless?”
“We can’t go on like this! In two days, we’ll run out of food! I have the worst luck—married a useless man, have an unfilial stepson, a daughter who joined the military, and another daughter who has no heart…”
Su Zhenglan thought his stepmother had completely lost her mind. She had once been soft-spoken and pitiful, but now she had thrown all dignity aside, ranting and raving.
Looking at his broken home and so-called family, he didn’t say a word. He just started packing his belongings.
Su Jianming sensed something was wrong. “Zhenglan, what are you doing?”
Without looking up, Su Zhenglan replied, “I’m exhausted. Having this family is worse than not having one at all. From today on, we’re done. I’m going to Taoyang alone. You all do whatever you want.”
No one could stop him. He grabbed a small bag and walked out without looking back.
Behind him, Li Ronglian broke down, wailing in despair, while Su Jianming swayed unsteadily on his feet.
That Afternoon
As agreed, Pei Dong came to pick up Su Tao for the selection process.
When she got into the car, she turned her head and was surprised to see a familiar face—Xing Shuyu.
It had been a long time since she last saw her, though she frequently saw her parents. The elderly couple was enjoying their lives in Taoyang, often playing chess and chatting with Old Mei and Elder Gu.
Su Tao thought back to when the old commander had sent Xing Shuyu to Taoyang to gather intel. It felt amusing now, almost like a lifetime ago.
Unknowingly, Taoyang had already been established for six months.
Despite the long separation, Xing Shuyu didn’t seem distant. She immediately started venting:
“There are too many battles and not enough people. I got temporarily assigned as a clerk on the front lines. I only just rotated out yesterday, and then this morning, I was forced to entertain the Hekang delegation. My grandpa really doesn’t treat me like his own—he’s trying to work me to death.”
“But Tao, you should’ve seen Hekang’s delegation. It’s a shame you missed it. They looked at our guesthouse like it was a royal palace—so ignorant.”
Su Tao was more concerned about the outcome of the negotiations with Hekang. “So, did the cooperation go through?”
Pei Dong seemed to be in a good mood, indicating that things had gone well. She nodded with a smile.
“It’s done. Hekang has cotton and hemp plantations, as well as a plastic factory. They’ll be collaborating with us on light industry. This will save many businesses in Dongyang.”
Su Tao beamed. “That’s great! The fridge full of drinks didn’t go to waste.”
Xing Shuyu yawned. “The drinks were a game-changer. At first, they weren’t keen on cooperating. They saw Dongyang’s industries as unstable and didn’t want to take risks. But when they saw all the beverages and brand-new furniture, we didn’t hide the truth—we told them you sponsored it.”
“Hekang realized that with Taoyang as a powerful ally, Dongyang had to be reliable. So, they agreed without hesitation. Now they want to visit Taoyang, but we haven’t given them an answer yet. We wanted to ask for your opinion first.”
Su Tao asked, “How many of them?”
“Not many, just five—three men and two women.”
Pei Dong added at the right moment, “They’re probably looking to buy supplies from you. You can ask for crystal cores in exchange. Hekang has hunted just as many evolved zombies as we have, so it’s worth meeting them.”
Su Tao’s eyes immediately lit up. She leaned on the back of Pei Dong’s seat, grinning. “Sister Pei, you really get me. Always looking out for me.”
Pei Dong pushed her face away with a long arm. “Don’t get all clingy.”
Xing Shuyu rubbed her arms and glanced at the completely transformed Taoyang. “Tao, where’s my room? I’m exhausted. I just want to take a shower and sleep.”
Su Tao spread her hands. “Ask Zhuang Wan. I forgot where you’re staying.”
Xing Shuyu huffed as she got out of the car. “I put my trust in the wrong person after all.”
Su Tao looked at the personnel files in her hands. They were all promising young talents, mostly around 18 years old. As she flipped further, she unsurprisingly spotted Sheng Yuqing’s name.
