Chen Zhuo listened intently.
He waited for Liu Xiuying to finish nagging about the pork ribs and the bicycle and take a breath.
Chen Zhuo shifted his position, sitting up a little straighter.
"Mom, I need to tell you something."
The casualness in Chen Zhuo’s voice faded, replaced by a more serious tone.
Liu Xiuying immediately picked up on the change.
"What’s wrong? Did something happen at school? Are you short on money?"
"Neither."
Chen Zhuo chuckled.
"You know that service fee I sent home last time?"
"Yes, your dad put it in a fixed deposit. We haven’t touched a single cent. We’re saving it all for you."
Liu Xiuying said matter-of-factly.
’He ran through the airtight logic he’d prepared long ago.’
"That last payment was just the initial part. The national key project has now officially concluded."
His voice was steady in the autumn night’s breeze.
"My algorithm was a huge help to the country and solved a major problem. Because of that, the higher-ups specifically approved a special settling-in fund for young scholars."
"A settling-in fund?"
On the other end of the line, Liu Xiuying paused. To a female textile factory worker, the term sounded somewhat unfamiliar and grand.
"Yes, a settling-in fund. It’s for five hundred thousand yuan."
Chen Zhuo let the number slip out casually.
The other end of the line was suddenly plunged into a deathly silence.
Chen Zhuo could even hear Liu Xiuying’s breathing suddenly turn ragged and heavy.
A full five seconds passed.
"CLANG."
A dull thud came through the receiver, as if something Liu Xiuying was holding had dropped to the floor.
It was followed by Liu Xiuying’s trembling shout, her voice strained and off-key from utter shock.
"Jianguo! Chen Jianguo! Stop watching that stupid TV and get over here!"
A flurry of hurried footsteps sounded on the other end, mixed with Chen Jianguo’s somewhat confused questions.
Chen Zhuo waited patiently.
After a rustling sound, Liu Xiuying had a firm grip on the phone again. She lowered her voice, a note of unconcealable panic in it.
"Xiaozhuo... you don’t have a fever, do you? Don’t joke with your mother. What kind of lab gives out five hundred thousand yuan? Did you break some expensive government equipment and now you have to pay for it? Or... have you been selling something illegally?"
In the mind of an ordinary working-class family, it was impossible for a thirteen-year-old boy, even a prodigy, to earn five hundred thousand yuan out of thin air.
It was beyond their comprehension.
Chen Zhuo had anticipated this reaction.
"Mom, no. It’s a mandatory reward for a national-level project. Every cent is clean, completely legal and above-board. The vice dean overseeing me personally signed off on it."
His tone was gentle yet firm, carrying a power that made people want to believe him.
On the other end, Chen Jianguo had clearly heard as well. The two of them seemed to be whispering to each other.
A moment later, Liu Xiuying’s voice came through again. This time, the panic was gone, replaced by an extreme excitement and a resolute desire to plan ahead.
"Okay, okay, as long as it’s clean. Xiaozhuo, you listen to me. Don’t you dare touch that money, and don’t tell anyone! First thing tomorrow morning, go to the bank and transfer all of it to our passbook back home. Your dad and I will go tomorrow and put it in a fixed deposit with the highest interest rate! Five hundred thousand... With this, you’ll have all the money you need to buy a big house in the Provincial City and get married in the future!"
Liu Xiuying’s calculations were loud and clear, representing the simple, heartfelt wish of most parents in China.
Upon receiving a huge sum of money, the first instinct is always to save it for the children.
Sitting on the steps, a profound smile flickered in Chen Zhuo’s eyes.
He knew the real tug-of-war was just beginning.
"We can’t save it, Mom."
Chen Zhuo casually tossed out his first line.
"Why can’t we? Once the money is in our hands, isn’t it up to us how we save it?"
Liu Xiuying’s voice was suddenly anxious.
The smile on Chen Zhuo’s face vanished. His tone grew serious, even taking on a hint of official, business-like gravity.
"Because it’s a special-purpose fund."
Chen Zhuo threw out his first piece of jargon.
"Mom, there are explicit regulations about this money. It’s called a settling-in fund, which means it must be used to improve the living conditions of the researcher. Once the money is transferred from the account, it has to be converted into a fixed asset within a limited time."
The other end of the line went silent.
Chen Zhuo didn’t give them time to think, immediately delivering the gentlest, yet most fatal, blow.
"Originally, the school required the money to be used to buy a house here in Huizhou."
Chen Zhuo paused for a moment, letting the night wind carry his voice, making it sound even colder.
"But Mom, you’ve forgotten. I’m only thirteen this year."
"I’m still a minor."
"Legally, I don’t have full legal capacity. I can’t independently own a high-value property like this. So, I went to the dean and, after much persuasion, he made a special exception for me."
Liu Xiuying quickly asked.
"What kind of exception?"
"A designated transfer."
Chen Zhuo stated the two words.
"The dean gave special approval for the money to be designated for transfer to my legal guardians—that’s you two—to directly improve our living situation back home in Zeyang."
Liu Xiuying breathed a sigh of relief.
"So it’s still our family’s money, then. Can’t we just save it instead of buying a house?"
"Absolutely not."
Chen Zhuo cut her off unequivocally.
He began to apply pressure.
"The finance department has strict orders. This five hundred thousand must be spent completely within three months and converted into a property back home. And..."
Chen Zhuo’s tone grew heavy as he spoke, emphasizing each word.
"The property deed must have both of your names on it as proof of proxy ownership."

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