On such a sweltering day, Linlin refused to be outdone and hugged her mother’s other arm as well. “Then I’ll bring Yan Yuan.”
Lin Zhilan playfully tapped her on the nose. “You little troublemaker. You’re always bullying Xiao Yuan.”
After the sisters spent some time cuddling up to Lin Zhilan, they gathered their bundles of luggage and boarded the train back to the capital.
Linlin and Jiang Chengzhou had always looked forward to returning home whenever they were away, while Su Li had spent every day longing to grow up and fly the nest.
Now, it seemed he had finally come to his senses. He gradually began focusing his thoughts on his studies, and his grades improved by leaps and bounds.
He was simply too careless, often losing points over minor details.
To temper his character, Lin Zhilan had him start practicing calligraphy as well.
Su Li grumbled and complained, but in the end he stuck with it. Still, when he called Yan Yuan, he made sure to complain about it at length.
Yan Yuan coaxed him and promised to bring him a Rubik’s Cube as a reward when he came home for the New Year. Only then did Su Li cheer up.
After Su Li finished his affectionate chat with his beloved “Brother Yuan,” Lin Zhilan took the phone and exchanged a few pleasantries with Yan Yuan.
“Auntie, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you and Uncle and ask for your opinion.”
Lin Zhilan waved for Su Lang to sit beside her, then turned on the speakerphone. “Go ahead.”
“A few friends and I are planning to establish a private technology company. We’ve nearly raised all the necessary funds, and we’re still putting together the documents required for registration… Auntie, I’m planning to resign.”
Lin Zhilan and Su Lang exchanged a glance, their expressions turning solemn.
Yan Yuan was currently a teaching assistant at Capital University. He was also involved in scientific research and worked as a researcher at an institute—an iron rice bowl in the eyes of outsiders.
The public climate at the time was not friendly toward doing business for profit. If he gave up his job and entered the private sector, the academic community might well cut ties with him completely. Returning to the scientific research system in the future would be nearly impossible.
Even his teacher, Chen Chun, had been heavily reported several years earlier, accused of promoting capitalism, corrupting the scientific research ranks, and privately distributing money for profit. Criticism within his institution had continued unabated.
It was not until early last year, when the central leadership issued specific instructions supporting Chen Chun’s experiments, that the controversy began to subside. Huaxia Research Institute was subsequently established.
Even now, Chen Chun’s reputation in scientific circles was still less than stellar.
For instance, the elderly professor Linlin had encountered in Yan Yuan’s dormitory had disliked him precisely because he knew Yan Yuan was working under Chen Chun. He believed Yan Yuan was throwing away his promising future.
Lin Zhilan had heard Linlin mention Chen Chun’s situation. Although she had not looked into it herself, she had heard of the famous Zhongguancun.
After hesitating for a while, Lin Zhilan said, “Xiao Yuan, do you really have to resign? Couldn’t you remain affiliated with the university or research institute, like Teacher Chen?”
“Auntie,” Yan Yuan’s voice came through the phone, “Teacher Chen has more seniority than I do, and the turmoil he faced back then has already passed. But if I work part-time, it will inevitably lead to even more criticism.”
“Besides…” He paused. “Auntie, although Linlin and I aren’t at the same school, I’m a teacher and she’s a student. I’m worried it might affect her.”
Su Lang gave Lin Zhilan a slight nod.
He had worried about this issue before. Fortunately, Yan Yuan and Linlin were not at the same school; otherwise, Su Lang would never have agreed to let his daughter be with him.
Lin Zhilan sighed softly. “Xiao Yuan, this concerns the course of your entire life. You need to think it through carefully.”
“I understand, Auntie.”
Su Lang asked, “Yan Yuan, are you telling us this because you want our opinion, or are you simply informing us?”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line.
“If you don’t agree, I’ll give it up.”
Policies were beginning to loosen, but public opinion remained deeply divided.
The mainstream of society still rejected the idea of going into business.
Although ordinary people envied those who made money, deep down they still felt that doing business was undignified and risky.
For an intellectual like Yan Yuan to resign and enter the private sector was even more shocking. He would be seen as betraying his ideals and taking the crooked capitalist road.
The previous year, the central government had publicly declared that “individual labor is honorable,” recognizing that self-employed people had the legal right to support themselves through their own work and rejecting the outdated notion that doing business was shameful.
But permitting people to do business did not mean encouraging civil servants or intellectuals to resign and become full-time entrepreneurs.
The law still retained the crime of speculation and profiteering, and the older generation, having lived through repeated political campaigns, was especially sensitive to such matters.
Yan Yuan was not being paranoid, nor was he lacking in resolve.
That was simply the objective reality.
Private enterprises did not enjoy the protection of state-owned institutions. If the direction of policy changed, a company could be shut down at any time, and any stain on one’s personnel record could follow a person for life.
Yan Yuan wanted to be with Linlin. If he were labeled as having violated regulations, their romantic relationship—and even their future children—could be affected.
Linlin had a bright future ahead of her. Although Yan Yuan and his several partners had held repeated meetings, consulted lawyers, and run around making sure of the relevant policies, he could understand Auntie Lin and Uncle Su’s concerns.
He had a strong feeling that the company would definitely make money. Yan Yuan wanted money, but there were many ways to earn it; starting a company was merely a faster one.
If Auntie Lin and Uncle Su disagreed, he could give it up.
Lin Zhilan took hold of her husband, who had become so anxious that he was pacing around the room, and said into the phone, “Xiao Yuan, you and Linlin are both adults now. As long as the two of you have discussed it and reached an agreement, we have no objections.”
“Zhilan…” Su Lang stared at her in astonishment.
Lin Zhilan waved him off and continued, “Auntie has only one requirement: your company must operate legally and in compliance with all regulations.”
“I understand, Auntie.”
After hanging up, Su Lang said anxiously, “Zhilan, how could you agree to this? What if something happens…”
“Oh, stop it.” Lin Zhilan linked her arm through his. “Don’t get so worked up. If he can register the company, that means the policies support it.”
Lin Zhilan had a very favorable impression of Yan Yuan. Perhaps one day he really would become one of the major figures of Zhongguancun.
Su Lang was helpless. “Why would I be worried about him? I’m worried that he’ll drag Baby into this!”
“They’re not married yet, are they? Don’t be afraid!”
Lin Zhilan reassured him. She naturally knew that policies would become increasingly relaxed in the future, but she could still understand his concerns from Su Lang’s perspective.
She had always been the sort of person who took immediate action whenever a problem arose. The two of them took a day off and traveled to Yangcheng.
They visited the Science and Technology Commission, the Administration for Industry and Commerce, the tax bureau, and several other departments to make inquiries.
In the end, they mailed the compiled materials to the capital.
Although Su Lang kept insisting that he was not worried about Yan Yuan, he unusually spent more than an hour on the phone with him, telling him everything he had learned and explaining the issues he needed to avoid.
Yan Yuan carefully noted everything down. His heart was filled with gratitude and guilt. “Thank you, Uncle and Auntie. I’ve caused you so much trouble.”
Su Lang maintained his usual gruff attitude. “Who’s worried about you? I’m only doing this for Linlin’s sake. Otherwise, who would bother with you?”
