189 Through Her Backdoor 2in1 (1/2)
Going through the backdoor for relationships was actually something very common in today's day and age. Certain people did this to pull themselves up, and others used this to yank people down. No matter the case, the convenience of this tactic could not be understated.
Those with power would be arrogant and proud even if they used the backdoor. They manipulated the connections and power of being a higher-up to press others. Without calling the door open, the door would oftentimes open on its own. Those with just enough power replied on others to help make the connection—it was often a get to know each other type of situation. One would lend the other money, and in turn, they could use the other party's standing—it was a barter system, an exchange of equals. Those without power would generally be passive; they could only supply whatever favors they could, but the favors might not even be accepted. However, in any case, the chance of it being successful was still higher than those who did nothing…
Ye Shuang thought back to the information provided by Yao Zhixing on Zhou Yue. The man's family was involved in the cold chain business. However, the family was not that powerful. After all, Zhou Yue's father did not come from a cultured family background and had built himself from the ground up, so naturally, he did not have relationships that were built up over generations like Yao Zhixing's family did.
If it was just a movement between business people, then it would have been fine, but if they wanted to intervene into a completely different field, the type of backdoor Zhou Yue could do was the second type. He could use money to buy a good relationship and then use that person to do something of convenience for him.
After the meal, after Ye Shuang heard what she needed to hear, she was no long in the mood to wander around. Therefore, she sent the unwilling An Zixuan back home before she returned to her own home to think of a solution. From a certain perspective, the issue was easily resolvable. Ye Shuang could have sought out Yao Zhixing or some other people to inform them of this situation, then they would crush Zhou Yue's action before it had the opportunity to grow and fester. However, this would lead to Ye Shuang owing people favors, and the problem would not have been removed at the basic level.
If she really did this through a friend, then in other people's eyes, Father Ye managed to stay at his post due to his relationship, and he himself did not have a background that ensured his post. This could be stopped once or twice, but if the mad dog refused to release his grasp on Father Ye, did this not mean that Ye Shuang would have to keep her eyes on this issue every day of her life?
Therefore, to completely eradicate this problem, the best solution was to do what Ye Shuang did to Zhou Yue on New Year's Eve, which was to make Zhou Yue fearful of Father Ye's position within San Lin City's education circle. How was that possible‽
Just the thought of her father's soft and gentle Marxist philosophy on life, Ye Shuang felt like coughing blood. Marxist philosophy was a basic course at most universities. Basically, students from any course would need to take this class. However, in terms of being paid attention to, it was worse than other basic courses like English or Mathematics. Marxism ideology was like an attachment—it had to be studied but was useless in general. In any case, one had to pass the exam, and after passing the exam…
Basically, this course was no different from the ideology classes taught in elementary school. If Father Ye had a role in any of the university departments, at least he would have been given a certain degree of respect by the students. Alas, he was just a normal lecturer, and this went to show how little Father Ye's presence was at the university.
Thinking about this and the fact that Zhou Yue might have started to make his move like sending presents to certain characters, Ye Shuang instantly felt annoyed. She was so annoyed that her food intake had dropped down to only four meals that day. She no longer felt like celebrating the New Year, and this caused An Zixuan, who still wanted to ask her out, to become equally saddened. After thinking about this left and right, on the day of the lantern festival, when the Ye family of three came back from visiting both sides of Ye Shuang's grandparents, Ye Shuang finally came to a decision. On the second day, she dragged Father Ye out of the door, informing the rest of the family that they were not coming back for dinner.
”That rascal!” Mother Ye groused angrily as she waved the frying pan in the air. ”Today is the 15th; we purposely came back earlier, but now she is dragging her father out. If I'd known that sooner, we would have just celebrated Lantern Festival at Grandma's!”
Little Brother Ye was not feeling that happy either because he was left behind to do the pacifying work. ”Mom, Sis already said this is for some official business.”
”What kind of official business is so urgent that it has to be done today‽” Mother Ye roared.
”Er… I hear it is the lantern parade that is organized jointly by the city government, the education ministry, and health ministry.” Little Brother Ye scratched his head. In any case, he could not clearly remember the long string of ministry names. ”In any case, it is related to the qualification competition that Sis will be participating in at the end of the year. I hear the competition has been fixed, and the people from the Go association asked her to show up for this event.”
”Is that so?” Mother Ye was first proud before grumbling, ”In that case, she should have brought the whole family with her after dinner. Why did she only bring your father and so early in the day at that?”
The complaints went on and on. Originally, she was only mad that her daughter would drag her husband out on a day like this, but now there was an additional sin of not taking her along. Little Brother Ye listened to her mother's endless grumbling with a saddened face. He really did not know what to do to resist the powerful complaints of a middle-aged lady.
On the other hand, it was of course not without reason that Ye Shuang had dragged her father out alone. The official activity would start after dinner, correct, but the gathering for the internal committee was not open to everyone.
The lantern festival was held for the public to enjoy the celebration together; the government had quartered off a part of the city to decorate and set up stalls and various mini games for the public to enjoy. Even though this was a joint collaboration between the local government and the Go association, it was open to all normal citizens as long as they knew about the event. However, the internal committee's gathering was only open to people of a certain stature, like the leaders of a ministry, those with special working posting or people like Ye Shuang who were rising stars.
”Girl, you have a very bright future.” The city mayor was complimenting Ye Shuang, who was introduced by the Go association's leader to the people at the gathering. Ye Shuang had fair skin, brilliant eyes, and a gentle presence like one of those young ladies that was described in Wuxia stories. ”I hear you're also the private student of a retired national player, Ol' Jian from Jing Hu City, and you don't have a loss on your record‽”
The more the mayor interacted with Ye Shuang, the more approving he was. The fact that such a brilliant young woman had come out of San Lin City, even without any political result to show, it was something that was good to his face, especially when the girl's Go skills were not bad, and she was someone that could be shown to the media as well.
With Father Ye watching, Ye Shuang tried her best to act up the role of a cultured young lady. She smiled a smile that did not show her teeth, and she lowered her head slightly in a nod. The way she carried herself elicited the gentleness of a cultured background. ”Everyone is very good at the game. I was merely lucky to have won a few rounds.”
The elder at the Go association nodded along to Ye Shuang's show of humility. He shook his head and sighed with adoration. ”Xiao Shuang's Go skills are definitely not a product of luck. Even Ol' Jian and I have not won a game against her.”
The mayor widened his eyes immediately. He initially thought the win streak was with people of the same bracket or people of a similar skill level, but he did not realize it included national players! Then this was more than an issue of face. If San Lin City could produce such a big talent… even if she did not love the competitions, as long as she could maintain the perfect record among the national players, this was such a boon.
Thinking about this, the adoration the mayor had for Ye Shuang tripled. Initially, Ye Shuang was assigned a side table, alongside her father, but now with the face given by the mayor, instantly, even Father Ye's seat was moved to the main table. With this move, the people in the crowd started to talk.
With the rumors of an incredible family background that were purposely cultivated by Ye Shuang like she came from a line of scholars, like it was her father who she owed everything to… Father Ye's name thus spread through the crowd. When these rumors reached the secretary who sat beside the leader of the education ministry, the secretary could only work hard to wipe the sweat that appeared on his forehead.
F*ck! What do you mean a small character, a small teacher, without background and support? Even the mayor is paying attention to him. His daughter is so famous, and you told me that is without background. In that case, who do you consider someone with a background‽
The secretary sneaked out from his seat to make a call. After all, since the food had not been served yet, no one would notice his disappearance. He found a relatively quiet corridor and made a call to Zhou Yue. The secretary did not say much—certain things would only become awkward after they were laid out in the open. Furthermore, if he was overheard, it would lead to so much more trouble. Therefore, he maintained a tone like he was talking to his friend, relaying what had just happened on the main table, and then very naturally eased in several words of compliment about the girl. Zhou Yue naturally understood what the man was trying to say—the Ye family was untouchable.
His daughter had already become a beloved of the mayor. After the news had time to spread within the community, it was only a matter of time before Father Ye was given his due attention.
You dare come after the parents‽ Just for the sake of this new rising star, the people above will definitely start a close investigation, when things are brought to the surface, we will definitely get into trouble. While you might get to stay out of it, we are not dumb enough to take this fall for you.
After all, this was in relation to classical talents like the four arts. To preserve the cultural air of the organization, this kind of talent would be closely protected. Even though they could not contribute to any economic value, when the situation called for it, they would be incredibly helpful to increase one's fame, face, and reputation. San Lin City was just a small town so she was nothing to be afraid of‽ Fine, but her reputation had grown beyond San Lin City. That retired national player at Jing Hu City? She was his private student. Actually, it sounded like they were players of equal skill.
In any case, the secretary was suffering from a headache.
As the proverb goes, like a genteel scholar trying to start a rebellion, without hope.
This kind of Go player was no different. They did not have any powerful connections to rock the world, but they had an identity that was beyond normal. Basically, these types of individuals were no different from the peaceful NPCs in games. It was impossible for them to attack the main character because they did not have the power, but if they were actively attacked, it was impossible as well because that was their character design.
When Zhou Yue heard that, he wanted to curse so badly. That is impossible! With that kind of strength and attitude, you're telling me she is a Go player, a talented belle‽ When have you heard a young lady shove a man's head under water and punch him until he coughed up water‽
After explaining the situation in a rather roundabout way to the assistant, the secretary shook his head repeatedly. From the beginning, he did not think that the Ye Shuang at the main seat would do something described by the man on the phone. Look at the girl's thin arms, fair skin, and that gentle presence… Even if you want to make up a lie, couldn't you have come up with a more believable one? I know you look down on other people's IQ, but you cannot look down on our power of sight.
On the other hand, Zhou Yue felt like the secretary was lying to him. He had a firm belief that the talented belle he was describing could never be the tigress that punched him. He demanded that the secretary send him a picture message. After they both confirmed they were talking about the same Ye Shuang, the conversation came to a halt.
The secretary thought Zhou Yue was being disingenuous, barbaric, and pushy, while Zhou Yue thought the secretary was being shameless, unfeeling, and unreasonable.
After hanging up the unhappy call, the secretary told himself not to interact with these kinds of mindless folk in the future. He had thought that he would be doing nothing more than a favor, but this man had given him a mine to step on. On top of that, the man's mind seemed to be broken as well. He had already stated his difficulty, yet the man kept saying he was lying and refused to let him go.
He put the phone back in his pocket. He sighed and was about to turn back to the seat when Ye Shuang walked out from the corner with a smile. The secretary almost froze where he was. The cold sweat that he just wiped off earlier had started to flow again.
”Hmm, Secretary Chen‽” Ye Shuang stopped with a gentle smile as if she had just noticed someone standing there in the corridor. ”The event is going to start soon. Why are you still standing here?”
Ye Shuang was channeling the power of an Oscar-winning actress, so the secretary did not realize anything. He really thought that Ye Shuang did not hear anything, and the heart that reached his throat relaxed instantly. After a sigh of relief, he smiled back at Ye Shuang. ”Just came out for a breath of fresh air and call the son at home. Miss Ye, are you on the way back to the event as well?”