Chapter 121: Choose Your Own Path
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Dai Li did not doubt Manager Fang at all with a check for 200,000 yuan in his hand. He was holding four years' worth of Dai Li's salary and did not have a care in the world.
Li really wanted to put the check in his pocket, but, how could he betray Haiquan Fang? "Haiquan trusted me so much," he thought to himself.
"Manager Fang, I'm sorry, but I can't help you with this." Li returned the check to Manager Fang.
"Young man, you are smart. You know how to play hard to get. You refused the shopping card last time, and now you are refusing a check. Is it not enough for you? Ah, that's right, the prices of almost all commodities are rising because of inflation. You cannot buy anything valuable with only 200,000 yuan. How about we do 500,000 yuan and quit the bargaining? Is that enough for you? I'll have a new check brought right up." Manager Fang was acting like a true businessman.
"Manager Fang, you are misunderstanding me. I do not want your money." Li flat out refused this time. He was worried he would be misunderstood again if he hesitated.
"You don't want money? Well how about an apartment then? If you can persuade Haiquan to study in the UK, I can give you an apartment in the Mainland's Prestigious Residence."
The Continental Cooperation was a real estate enterprise, which meant selling buildings was their main business. The Mainland's Prestigious Residence was a new project that had just been completed by Continental. Although it was far from the center of the city, the housing price was close to 20,000 yuan per square meter. If the apartment was even 80 square meters, it would be worth about 1,600,000 yuan.
Dai Li was really wavering now. It was many young people's dream to own an apartment. Many people struggled their entire lives to pay off a 30 year loan for an apartment. These days, owning an apartment was the standard used to judge whether one was successful in their career or not. For men, owning an apartment could at least help them please their future mothers-in-law.
But Li only wavered for a moment. He had his own principles that had to be adhered to.
Li took a deep breath and calmed himself down. "Manager Fang, you must know that Haiquan does not want to go abroad. He wants to be a long jumper. Why are you forcing him to do something he does not want to do?"
"At Haiquan's age, the only thing he should be doing is studying hard. He is too young to understand me. I am his father. I would not hurt him. Everything I do is for my kid!" Manager Fang said.
Li sighed in silence. "Everything I do is for my kid" was the motto of most domestic parents. They made many decisions on behalf of their children using this reasoning.
The after-school classes, specialties, and friends a child had were all decided by their parents. Even as they got older, the major they chose in university and their job after they graduated was decided by their parents. The same parents sometimes even decided who their child would marry.
Li experienced the same thing when he was a child. He understood these parents. They had more life experience, and could see more things than their children could. But Li also knew that the choices the parents made were not always correct.
He subscribed to a different method of teaching, where the children made decisions themselves while taking their parents' suggestions into consideration. Because it was their life, they should experience it by themselves. If they made the right decision, they would enjoy the honor and success that came along with it; if they were wrong, they would taste bitter defeat. But regardless of if it was right or wrong, it would be an experiences they could learn and grow from.
Dai Li said, "Actually, the senior middle schools in Qingcheng City, such as the first and second middle schools, are also great. Both of them have very high academic reputations. If you are not satisfied with those schools, you can send Haiquan to the capital city, or Donggang City, where top domestic educational resources come together. They have education quality similar to foreign countries."
For ordinary families, studying in the capital city was very difficult. Zoning enrollment and registered residency problems were large obstacles. But for Haiquan's family, it would not be a big deal.
Hearing Li's words, Manager Fang stated fiercely, "No way. He must go to the best school in the UK! He is going to a noble school where princes and princesses study, like Eton or Winchester! Many business partners of mine sent their children there. My son cannot study in a middle school in our country!"
"They sent them there because their children are not gifted like Haiquan!" Li was annoyed. He knew Haiquan was very hard-working. Haiquan was not some ignorant rich kid. What had really upset Dai Li was the blind decision Fang was making.
Fang wanted to send his child to the UK only because his business partners had done so. He was simply following them. It was like buying an expensive piece shirt only because everyone else was buying one.
This was a decision that would influence Haiquan's life. He could either stay home and become an outstanding athlete, or study in the UK and become an affluent second generation child with an uncertain future.
Manager Fang's face had turned red because he was offended. He had not been offended in a long time, excluding his son, Haiquan. However, Li did not pay attention to Manager Fang's facial expression. He said, "Haiquan likes long jumping. He would like to take on the long jump as his future career, and he made the decision himself. Studying in a British Noble School like other affluent second generation children is the decision you are making for him.
"Perhaps, you can force him to follow the path you choosing for him. But in the end, he will have to experience his life by himself. Whether he succeeds or not, it is his life. He will enjoy the taste of the ups and downs of life by himself. You can do nothing for him."
After pausing for a moment, Dai Li continued, "Manager Fang, I am very sorry for being unable to help you. I am a coach. I will teach my athletes how to get past their problems; I will teach my athletes how to insist on the things they enjoy; and I will teach my athletes how to stand their ground. But I will not teach them how to quit!"
Dai Li finished his speech, opened the car door, and got out of the vehicle, leaving an astonished Manager Fang alone in the car.
The next second, however, Dai Li came back and sat beside Fang once again.
"What's wrong? Do you regret what you said now?" Fang asked unconsciously.
"I want to tell you that the Province Youth Game will be held in the Sports Center on the 29th of this month. I have already submitted his name for the competition. I think Haiquan would look forward to seeing you there cheering for him," said Li. He then smiled at Manager Fang, got out of the car, and left without looking back.
Manager Fang sat in the car for a while. As he watched Dai Li walk away from him, playing back his words in his head. He had a perplexed expression on his face.
...
"No, my apartment! My apartment in the Mainland's Prestigious Residence! I have lost it!" Dai Li yelled after letting out a long sigh. "I am so impulsive. If I cannot afford my own apartment in a few years, I will probably regret what I have done today."