Chapter 22: A Twenty-Thousand Red Envelope

Zhang Jun turned to look at him and asked, “Sir, do you have any further advice?”

The fortune teller gazed at the stars in the sky, twirling three fingers on his right hand, and spoke in a mysterious tone: “You are no ordinary man. Like a dragon leaping from the abyss, bending when needed yet stretching with grace. Though shallow waters may invite the shrimp’s play, one day you will soar into the azure clouds. Fate is cruel when love remains unfinished; this life will bring the sorrow of a broken string. But if a high mountain meets flowing water, beautiful scenes and companions will grow old together.”

Just as Zhang Jun was about to speak, the fortune teller continued:

“Plans may succeed or fail, yet it is better to guard simplicity and act with honesty. Like a boat sailing full of sails on a favorable river, who would expect hidden stones to lie in the heart of the stream? The high think a light boat easy to steer, yet no one knows the wheel may break its spokes.”

With that, the old man lay back down and soon fell into a deep sleep.

To live as contentedly as he did, adapting to whatever comes, was a true freedom.

Zhang Jun memorized those words, pondering them carefully but found no clear meaning. He decided to return home first.

Upon entering, if it were not for seeing his wife Liu Yujie at home, Zhang Jun would have thought he had come to the wrong place!

The living room was packed with people; some stood due to lack of seats.

Liu Yujie’s cheeks glowed rosy as she cheerfully called out, “Zhang Jun, you’re back!”

While changing his shoes, Zhang Jun asked, “What’s going on here?”

Liu Yujie came over, politely took his briefcase, and whispered, “They’re all colleagues from my workplace. When they heard about your promotion, they insisted on coming to visit you and said they wanted to treat you to a meal. I told them you were busy, but they didn’t believe it and decided to wait here until you came back.”

One by one, they smiled and greeted Zhang Jun.

“Oh, I always knew Yujie married the best and is the happiest! She found such a talented man like Zhang Jun; now the future is bright!”

“Secretary Zhang is handsome and talented, highly valued by Governor Ma, with limitless prospects.”

“Liu Yujie works at our hospital, so Secretary Zhang is basically our hospital’s son-in-law!”

“Yes, yes, we hope Secretary Zhang will continue to take good care of us!”

Everyone chatted animatedly, showering Zhang Jun with compliments.

They surrounded Zhang Jun—some women brushed dust off his shoulders, others made room for him to sit.

Returning home felt more like being a guest.

He preferred peace and quiet, disliking the noisy commotion that gave him a headache.

These people had no real business but kept flattering Zhang Jun and, by extension, Liu Yujie.

After more than half an hour of this, Zhang Jun said he was tired and needed to rest. Only then did the guests rise, still wanting to arrange a meal the next day, but Zhang Jun declined, citing prior commitments.

The crowd didn’t mind, smiling as they said they’d meet another day, then left.

After seeing off the guests, Liu Yujie, radiant with joy, said, “Zhang Jun, go take a shower. I’ll join you.”

Zhang Jun replied irritably, “Can you not bring so many people home in the future? Too many women, all chattering—it’s so noisy!”

Liu Yujie was taken aback. “They’re my colleagues. They came to congratulate you on your promotion. How can you not appreciate that? The red envelopes they gave me totaled over twenty thousand yuan!”

“What?” Zhang Jun was furious. Pointing at her, he said, “Who told you to accept gifts? Do you really need that twenty thousand yuan?”

Liu Yujie, a woman with a temper, had been playing the virtuous wife these days, but that was her limit. Now she exploded, shouting, “I do need money! I do need that twenty thousand yuan! They gave it to me, so what if I accepted it? When their families have weddings or funerals, don’t I give gifts too? It’s just normal social exchange. Even the Discipline Inspection Committee can’t interfere with that!”

Zhang Jun snorted coldly. “Your hospital is under investigation, and the matter isn’t over yet! And you dare to blatantly accept so many red envelopes? You’re really brazen! I warn you, return all those red envelopes immediately! Not a single cent can be kept!”

Liu Yujie turned around and started tidying the living room, saying, “I’m keeping them! These are gift monies! Which leader’s family doesn’t have weddings or funerals? Who doesn’t accept gifts? I’m not collecting from the whole hospital, just from friends and colleagues with whom I have social ties.”

Zhang Jun was stunned by her defiance.

Just having been appointed Secretary to Ma Hongqi, if anyone found out he was taking bribes through his promotion, how could the boss regard him?

Liu Yujie swept trash into the bin by the tea table and said, “Tomorrow is the weekend. We’re hosting a lunch. They gave gift money, so it would be rude if we didn’t reciprocate. You must go.”

Zhang Jun sank into the sofa, pressing his hand to his forehead, and said sternly, “I’m not going! You have to return that money. I’m telling you, what you’re doing will seriously harm my future! If I lose my position over this twenty thousand yuan, I won’t forgive you!”

Liu Yujie, hearing how grave he sounded, pursed her lips skeptically and said, “Our hospital director’s birthday banquet collected over a hundred thousand yuan in gifts. I’ve only accepted a bit over twenty thousand since your promotion. What’s the big deal?”

Zhang Jun asked, “Where’s the money? If you don’t return it, I’ll return it myself!”

“No!” Liu Yujie was resolute. “I want to save for a place with an elevator. Our current home is in a collective housing unit with no elevator—it’s inconvenient.”

“A home is enough. Look at our conditions; why do you need an elevator apartment?” Zhang Jun’s desires differed completely from his wife’s. He was content with modest comfort, seeking stability.

Liu Yujie was a woman driven by ambition and desire for material wealth.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have tried so hard to curry favor with someone like Zhou Wenbin, an old lecher.

“I don’t care, I want it!” Liu Yujie grabbed a mop and began scrubbing the floor vigorously. “Many sisters at my workplace have elevator apartments now. They’re so convenient! High floors, wide views, fresh air, quiet, and comfortable! Anyway, I’m determined to buy an elevator apartment. Either you give me the money, or I’ll save it myself.”

Zhang Jun knew arguing with her was useless. He softened his tone and said, “Yujie, what you’re doing will really affect me.”

Liu Yujie smiled lightly. “You’re just a department head; how much could it affect you? You’re too timid. That’s how the world works: the brave thrive, the timid starve. While Ma Hongqi still holds power, you can ride his coattails. Hurry up and plan for yourself! Power unused will expire!”

Zhang Jun was speechless at his wife’s words.

He sensed a clue and asked, “Did you hear some gossip? Why do I feel like you think Governor Ma won’t last long?”

Liu Yujie stopped her work and said, “You can’t just keep your head down and work. You have to learn to look ahead. Ma Hongqi came from the capital; no matter how long he serves, it’s at most one term. In five years, after polishing his credentials, he’ll either be promoted back to the capital or transferred elsewhere. Are you going to follow him? Even if you want to, he has to be willing to take you along!”

Zhang Jun wiped his face and fell into deep thought.

No wonder his wife was doing better than him; her understanding of officialdom was truly deeper than his.

It seemed he really needed to make some plans for his own future.