After some time, the unreliable relatives in the family were mostly weeded out, like the chaff from the wheat.
Most of those remaining are more dependable, like my younger cousin Peng Jia.
She graduated from college just half a year ago, the eldest daughter of my uncle's family, with a younger brother in his senior year of high school whose chances of getting into a Magic City "211 Project" university aren't too great, though he does have a fair shot at a second-tier university.
Right after graduation, Peng Jia came to Magic City and has been job-hopping for half a year.
She isn't picky—whatever pays, she'll do.
After witnessing the lavish lifestyle of her cousin and his family, she's not too keen on jobs that only pay a few thousand a month.
Since she isn't fond of the step-by-step approach, her only option is to try her luck as an internet celebrity.
Er Piya, still not satisfied, started dishing out advice to her aunts and uncles, brimming with enthusiasm.
In the end, it was still Chen An'an who took her to do homework with Xiao Le, and Er Piya left in a huff.
Peng Jia and the others do have their own jobs with modest salaries of seven or eight thousand a month.
This is considered a rather ordinary income in Magic City.
Factories in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai usually offer monthly salaries around six or seven thousand.
Not to mention for college graduates like them.
Chen Pingsheng couldn't personally mentor them; fresh graduates, after all, need to venture out on their own for a few years to gain some social experience.
After New Year's, he was off to Guangzhou.
Firstly, to check out the development of the Dream Fund, and secondly, to set up a base for internet celebrity live streaming.
The main goal was to drive Teng You Media towards an IPO.
This was 2019's most important cash-out project, so there couldn't be too many slip-ups.
Coincidentally, his wife Song Yanxi and their two daughters had some free time, so Chen Pingsheng took his private jet down to Guangdong.
Secretary Zhang Wanyi became a well-known beautiful CEO in Guangdong, and after Chu Qiuyan transferred to Dream Fund as vice-president, she regained her work enthusiasm.
She still loves investing.
When Chen Pingsheng landed, it was already 10 p.m.
Zhang Wanyi had been there waiting for him all along, but to his surprise, he also ran into Xiao Danchun who was seeking his help.
Xiao Danchun was originally just an ordinary factory worker, her life completely changed after meeting Gao Hu.
Back when they got married, Chen Pingsheng gave her a dowry worth no less than fifty million, all under her name.
Xiao Danchun didn't have any other plans; she just wanted to divorce Gao Hu and take back the dowry Chen Pingsheng gave her at the wedding.
Gao Hu was a playboy before he got married, only liking to hang around with flight attendants.
She endured his behavior for two years, and after getting married, he settled down for a while.
However, he later caused a huge scandal for Tengying Group with a concubine selection group incident.
At the time, Xiao Danchun couldn't handle this kind of thing at all.
She only found out about it when Gao Hu left Tengying Group, which led to their first big fight.
Mr. and Mrs. Xiao still advised her to be calm, telling her that without Gao Hu, they couldn't possibly have the life they were living now.
Xiao Danchun didn't bring up the matter again, but after leaving Tengying Group, Gao Hu became increasingly indifferent, often not returning home, and said nothing when he did.
He was involved with one woman after another, and some Little Thirds even had the audacity to call Xiao Danchun directly, threatening her to leave Gao Hu.
Xiao Danchun couldn't endure it anymore; she reached out to Yang Qian and Song Yanxi for help.
Back then, she always called Song Yanxi "sister."
Now waiting here, she hoped Chen Pingsheng could help her retrieve the dowry given to her at the time of her wedding.
As for Gao Hu's assets, they were all tied up in investments.
Unsurprisingly, Gao Hu's current chain of restaurants was on the brink of collapse.
The chefs and managers he once poached were getting countless offers from Fei Yangyang, hoping to return to their old jobs.
Chen Pingsheng simply disagreed.
Gao Hu's latest venture was bound to have him cough up all the money he made from Fei Yangyang.
Not just that, he also signed an investment responsibility agreement with the capital.
Meaning if the business fails, Gao Hu would have to buy back the investment shares at their original prices.
Apart from Wang Yanfeng, that overconfident second-generation rich kid, he rarely saw anyone willing to sign such an agreement.
Xiao Danchun probably didn't even know about these things, her demands were only two at present.
To divorce and gain custody of the child as well as to retrieve the dowry given by Chen Pingsheng.
For an entrepreneur, especially one who is the boss,
any involvement in these matters would strangely be the curse for a thriving business.
Even though Xiao Danchun had material comforts over the years, her life had been indescribably difficult.
If he didn't help her now, by the time Gao Hu's catering business goes belly up, she would probably be left with nothing.
The capital would consume Gao Hu completely.
Chen Pingsheng said, "Tomorrow, I'll have my lawyer step in to reclaim the properties that rightfully belong to you."
Xiao Danchun was close to tears, "Thank you, Brother Pingsheng. Little Hu doesn't know how to cherish what he has, he's definitely going to take a huge fall this time."
It wasn't just a huge fall; it would be a struggle to ever recover in this lifetime.
Chen Pingsheng hadn't contacted Gao Hu for over a year since he went out on his own and hadn't made a single call.
For Xiao Danchun to seek him out showed that Gao Hu's current situation must also be indescribably difficult.
Chang Fu probably knew more details and even he found it hard to comment.
His home in Guangzhou was still the Baiyun Taiyi Villa, with a massive area of 3400 square meters.
It overlooked a large portion of the Baiyun Scenic Spot.
Song Yanxi felt quite sympathetic towards Xiao Danchun, a fine young lady whose life turned less than ideal after marrying the philandering Gao Hu. The rightful source is noveⅼfire.net
Now she could only try to get back what belonged to her before the divorce.
Initially, Chen Pingsheng had given her a three-room two-hall apartment in the city center as well as a Bentley.
Along with several million in cash.
If she could get all these things back, Xiao Danchun's life would certainly not be too bad going forward.
Early the next day, Song Yanxi accompanied her to the company.
She even personally called Gao Hu, and without much hesitation, he probably also understood his circumstances.
He let Chen Pingsheng send a lawyer's letter to formally claim Xiao Danchun's pre-marital property in the name of the law.
The capital invested in him would not have any objections.
After Xiao Danchun got back what belonged to her, Song Yanxi even advised her to consider remarrying someone suitable in the future.
After all, she was still young, only twenty-five, and it wasn't possible to stay single for a lifetime.
Xiao Danchun didn't say anything, just kept thanking her while crying bitterly.
However you put it, it was a marriage where true feelings had once been invested.
Along with several years of her youth, if possible, she certainly would not have taken this step.
The happier she was at the time of her marriage, the more desolate she felt now at the time of her divorce.
All of these were choices she made herself.
Song Yanxi snorted lightly, "Gao Hu doesn't care now, but when Danchun remarries and her children start calling someone else dad, he'll realize just how ridiculously wrong he was."
Chen Pingsheng shook his head and said, "The desire for sex is a trap, and because of a momentary impulse failing to control the lower body, breaking up the child's original family is also a tragedy."
Divorce may sound simple, but who knows how much it hurts a child.
Right now, Gao Hu can still act carefree, but in a couple of years, he's probably going to face endless regret.
In the world of adults, whatever you do, you need to think thrice before acting.