20 Waiting for Others to Bestow Happiness

"I don’t think I will go over there. It’s getting late, we are about to finish up here and prepare to head home." Su Cen politely declined.Wang Weiwei nodded without pressing the matter further. After...Chapter 20: Those Who Await Happiness from Others

For a few days after the exams ended, clear skies persisted for quite some time. The sunlight kept shifting across the small coastal city of Xiahai. Occasionally, Su Cen would go to the rooftop of his building where he could see the entire city; half of it was bathed in a golden glow, with light beams slowly meandering across the urban landscape from the cloud cover above.

This was Xiahai City eleven years ago. Many places that used to be high-rise buildings were now desolate wastelands or abandoned ponds filled with waist-high tumbleweed.

The gentle breeze blew, making Su Cen feel as though this place marked the continuation and renewal of his destiny. This time around, he couldn't afford to be a deserter from an ill-fated life; he needed to change the downward spiral he had been in before.

One day, he would stand at a higher vantage point and look down upon this world of flourishing and withering vegetation through the ever-changing clouds above his head.

Lately, Mother Zeng Ke had been coming home earlier and taking more holidays but her worried expression was becoming increasingly frequent. It seemed that in an instant, she looked several years older than before at her age when she should still be full of charm.

Seeing another day off and his mother returning home for lunch to cook, Su Cen asked, "Mom, is there something bothering you recently That’s why your face looks so worried."

Zeng Ke, who was picking pea sprouts, turned around to look at Su Cen. Indeed, something unsettling had been happening lately at her workplace, causing a lot of unease among the staff. However, instinctively, she still regarded Su Cen as a child who needed protection from adult problems. After all, he truly was one and she also didn't want him to be troubled by grown-up issues. All he needed to do was focus on his studies.

"What does a kid know There's nothing serious. If you're bored, come help me wash the vegetables!"

Su Can smiled inwardly, thinking that his treatment before and after exams was vastly different. Before an exam, he didn't have to do anything, enjoying a diet of chicken soup, milk, and eggs every day. After the exam, however, his meals dropped in quality by two levels, and he had to work.

Strangely, Su Can found this enjoyable. In his later life, when he was busy with work, he would return home even less often. Sometimes, when his parents wanted to talk to him on the phone, he was either entertaining clients or working overtime, let alone being able to help them out. Now that he thought about it, a wave of guilt washed over him. He quickly gathered all the vegetables in need of washing into a basket and took over from his mother, who handed him some pea sprouts. They worked together under the tap, Su Can's skilled movements surprising Zeng Ke. Usually lazy, her son had suddenly become so industrious.

This brought her a slight comfort amidst her depression.

In the evening after dinner, Su Licheng and Zeng Ke did something unprecedented: they didn't watch TV together with Su Can but retreated to their room, where arguments could be heard.

Su Can deliberately turned down the volume of the television, listening attentively to his parents' conversation.

"What can we do The unit is collapsing, and now they're asking us to buy out our service years voluntarily. They want to streamline things. What am I supposed to tell people now It's so embarrassing!" Zeng Ke's voice came through clearly.

Su Can’s father, Su Licheng, pondered for a moment before asking, "What did your unit leader say"

"If I opt for the voluntary retirement buyout, it can be settled right now. Based on my years of service, about 15 years would earn me around 30 thousand yuan. Aunt Lan and Sister Wang have already taken this option to leave. However, if one chooses to stay, there will be changes in the previous salary system, with a possible reduction of about 100 yuan per month! I asked my brother for his opinion, and he also looks down on our unit; you know how he is. If I lose my job this time, he'll definitely criticize me even more. This time, if it weren't for the face of Brother Huang, Manager Huang probably wouldn't have given me a choice!"

Su Cang instantly recalled what his parents were discussing; originally, his mother worked at a state-owned trading company in Xia Hai city as an accountant, with a promising start. However, the company later ran into problems and incurred continuous losses, losing its former glory. The company then started to discuss layoffs and other issues. If one opted for the voluntary retirement buyout back then, they would receive a lump sum payment from the company.

At that time, his mother faced two choices: either take the buyout package and start her own small business like an eatery or go into business; or remain with the company at slightly reduced wages to avoid unemployment.

Eventually, his mother chose not to take the risk and stayed on in the trading company. However, within just a couple of years, the company was no longer sustainable and finally collapsed. She had no choice but to accept the buyout package and venture out into business for herself. After working for others for two years, she discovered that stationery shops were highly profitable back then. Subsequently, she opened her own shop, although it missed the golden era of opportunity. Nevertheless, their family's living conditions improved significantly because of this small business.

"You want to go into business yourself Have you forgotten how your clothing store went bankrupt consecutively You can't make a success out of any venture."

His father’s voice said.

"But continuing like this isn’t a viable solution either... It looks like Manager Huang also doesn’t have much confidence in the company..."

"Sigh, never mind. I think your company's current situation is only temporary. Your manager Huang is capable and might be able to turn things around for your company. If you stay there now, even if it doesn't work out later on, he won’t mistreat you; the pay will still be better than what you have now." His father hesitantly said.

Su Cang put on his shoes and walked off the sofa to his parents' room door, knocking softly.

Mom's voice came in, "Su Cun, what is it Come in."

Su Cun opened the door. Zeng Ke and Su Licheng were sitting on the sofa in the bedroom with some materials laid out between them, including household registration books and savings account statements.

"Dad, Mom, I heard what you two were talking about," Su Cun sat down next to his parents after a moment's thought and said, "Mom, I think you should buy out your remaining years at the factory and go into business on your own."

His parents were taken aback. His father let out a sigh and said, "What do you know, kid Go watch TV! Adults' matters are none of your concern!"

Zeng Ke blinked her eyes and glared at Su Licheng with a hint of resentment, "Our son has grown up; he understands many things now. Let him speak his mind. Son, what do you think"

Su Cun thought about it for a moment. He knew that if he told his mother that the trade company she worked at was a product of planned economy and would inevitably collapse due to its outdated system in today's market-oriented environment, burying itself in history as ruins, it wouldn't be wise. And besides, since he already knew that the company would eventually fail, his parents might look at him as if he were an alien.

Su Cun changed his approach, "I read a few books recently, and there's this phrase: expecting others to dictate your fate means a life destined for sorrow. Mom, whether or not this company will collapse in the future, and whether it can develop well, isn't important; what matters is that our family’s destiny has become entangled with its fortunes. Today, Manager Huang may treat you kindly out of respect for Uncle Da, but if one day Uncle Da loses his power, a single sentence from him could turn everything upside down for us."

His parents were stunned; they never expected Su Cun to speak so maturely on this subject. If it weren't for the fact that he had said he read these things in books, they would have wondered if their son was too precocious!r smile, as those around him wished they could crawl into holes in embarrassment for how he had managed to make such an impression on them.Unable to get close to Tang Wu herself, the current conversat...