The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 690 - 659: Twisting Ears, Discussing Together_1

Chapter 690: Chapter 659: Twisting Ears, Discussing Together_1

Huo Yingjie did not look up, offering a simple explanation.

"It’s not for me, it’s for my father," Huo Yingjie said. "I don’t want to go into politics, I just want my dad to hold office properly. That way we can continue to live with power and influence."

He Tiantian listened and chuckled, saying, "Brother Yingjie is smart as always, knowing how to use and take advantage of your father-in-law. You can live comfortably as a wealthy idler!"

"Haha, my dad loves being an official anyway," Huo Yingjie said as he patted He Tiantian’s smooth forehead. "This isn’t about giving orders or using; it’s called fully supporting!"

"Alright then, you do your best to cultivate and help your father-in-law," He Tiantian said. "You keep writing; I’ll go to sleep first."

For these economic matters, it was better to leave it to Huo Yingjie. He Tiantian knew her limitations; she would rather focus on her braised meat shop.

Huo Yingjie wrote for several nights in a row and finally produced more than twenty sheets, which he copied onto new sheets of paper and handed to his father.

When Huo Zhekun received them, he skimmed through them briefly at first and was shocked. Then, word by word, he pondered over them without sleeping for the entire night.

Jiang Lifang called him once, twice, and he still would not sleep. She got so mad that she stopped bothering him.

The next morning, Jiang Lifang directly twisted her son’s ear, scolding him, "What did you write on those papers for your father? He didn’t sleep all night and wouldn’t go to bed no matter how much I called him. He even glared at me when I got anxious!"

All these years and she had never seen her husband so eager!

Since her husband wouldn’t listen to her, she came to interrogate her son.

"Mom, I already have a daughter and a son; you can’t just twist my ear like that," Huo Yingjie complained, feeling too embarrassed.

"Haha, haha!" Huo Ruimin and Huo Ruihua laughed out loud from the side, finding it very amusing, thinking grandmother and father were playing a game.

Jiang Lifang hesitated and then reluctantly let go, saying, "Fine then, explain yourself. What exactly did you give your father? Oh, and your father went to Yanjing for over half a month a while ago, what was that all about?"

"It’s all work-related stuff. Father wants to advance further to secure a future for us. As his son, how could I let my dad take all the strain by himself? So, I just helped him out."

Jiang Lifang sized up Huo Yingjie and then twisted his ear again, "I know you all too well! You must have some trick up your sleeve, making your father take all the heat."

"Hehe," Huo Yingjie chuckled, "Mom, Dad can’t always stay in the same place, can he? Not being able to return to Yanjing has always been something that saddens Dad. If he does well locally, it’s not impossible for him to be directly transferred higher up in the future!"

Of course, Jiang Lifang understood her son’s words and knew her husband’s feelings, but she felt such heartache seeing her husband so worn out!

"You should help your father more," Jiang Lifang said. "These years have not been easy for your father; he’s always wanted to climb higher, but the Huo Family’s resources are limited. After catering to the eldest son’s family, there isn’t much left for us, the second branch."

The Huo Family could at most protect Huo Zhekun from trouble, but the real resources to help him weren’t substantial.

One reason was to avoid suspicion, to prevent jealousy from those above.

Secondly, as the second son, he couldn’t obtain too many resources from the family.

The old man and old lady had spent so much of the family’s effort on the eldest son’s family; it was an unchangeable fact. So Huo Zhekun had to work hard himself to climb up the ladder and needed exceptional talent and abilities.

In the past, Huo Yingjie might have thought it was nice to benefit from the protective shade of a big tree, but after hearing what his mother said, he began to change; he hoped his father could achieve his dreams.

"I’ve got it, Mom. I’ll help Dad," Huo Yingjie replied, "and I will also persuade him to rest properly. You have to eat your food one bite at a time and do the work bit by bit!"

"Yes, do give him some advice," Jiang Lifang said. "I’m getting irritable now. I feel like hitting your dad whenever we disagree on something."

Huo Yingjie gave a bitter smile; it was not easy to deal with menopausal women. He reminded her, "Mom, you better eat now, or you’ll be late for work."

That stopped Jiang Lifang from continuing her complaints.

When Huo Yingjie called his father to come and eat and saw his gaunt face but excited eyes, he couldn’t help but give a wry smile and said, "Dad, these matters aren’t urgent. After all, the documents haven’t come out yet! If you don’t take care of your health, I won’t help you anymore. You might collapse from exhaustion before you make it to the top. It might be better to just quietly work until retirement."

Hehe! Huo Zhekun laughed and didn’t seem to care. "Son, you’re so talented. Stop doing research and go into politics instead. You’d surely outdo me and go even further."

"That’s enough; the big uncle’s family already has two people in politics. If you and I also go into politics, that would be too many," Huo Yingjie declined. "Besides, I don’t like it. If I did, I wouldn’t need you to tell me; I’d have done it already."

"Ah!" Huo Zhekun sighed. "It’s such a pity, wasting such great talent."

"It’s not a waste, you are very capable too!" Huo Yingjie reminded him. "Hurry up and wash up, come eat. You’ll be late for work too."

"Alright, I’m coming now," Huo Zhekun said with a smile and locked the manuscript paper in a cabinet.

"Until the official document is issued, don’t discuss these things outside, lest they be overheard," Huo Yingjie reminded him; in fact, many people had some ideas in their minds, just not comprehensive ones.

Those in politics are no fools.

Once given a hint, it would stimulate thinking and lead to associations.

"I know," Huo Zhekun nodded. After working so many years, he was aware of such taboos.

He wouldn’t say a word until the reform documents and his official appointment were handed down.

If he spoke now and he wasn’t appointed as Mayor, it would become someone else’s achievement.

Late that evening, without examining it himself, Huo Zhekun pulled Huo Yingjie aside to discuss every detail, and together, they refined it, broadening Huo Zhekun’s thinking and making his problem-solving more comprehensive.

"This document of yours is very good," Huo Zhekun remarked thoughtfully. "While focusing on economic reform, we cannot neglect other aspects."

"Yes, if China wants to reform and open up, it will seek investment by offering favorable policies. Many people will come to invest, but initially, the numbers will not be large, so we need to be proactive," Huo Yingjie said. "But you don’t need to worry, Mr. Qi, as well as Tiantian’s grandmother, Uncle He, have been eager to invest in Nan City. As long as there are appropriate projects, they will agree to invest and set up factories. Additionally, Nan City, once a capital and also the location of the Presidential Palace during the Republic era, possesses a rich historical heritage. By focusing on protecting these historical and cultural buildings during economic development and turning them into tourist sites or a city’s calling card, it would be very beneficial for Nan City."