Back To The 80s-Chapter 443 - 453: Thoughts_1

Ou Ruoshui saw that the preparatory work was almost done, so she went back to Nanhai City. She asked Yang Tianhua to oversee the interior decoration of the store and the construction of the factory. Once she returned from Nanhai City, they could roughly start their business.

Although Yang Tianhua was reluctant because there were many chores and no benefits, his elder brother continuously emphasized the importance of supporting Ou Ruoshui fully. They considered this their best card for the future.

Gu Xiaobei saw that others in her same line of business had taken the lead. She knew she had to do even better to make a profit.

With the kids about to celebrate their second birthday soon, Xiaobei decided to start the store preparations after their birthday.

...... 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

At home, Wen Xiuqing was weeding her vegetable garden. The two children who were playing nearby messed around. Xiaopang was old enough to talk a lot now and kept asking non-stop about an unripe tomato, "Grandma, what’s that thing?"

"Grandma, can we eat this?"

"Grandma, can we eat it?"

Wen Xiuqing looked at Xiaopang’s big eyes, which were full of curiosity, and laughed, "You can’t eat it, Mo Wang, take your little sister to play under the grape trellis."

Mo Wang obediently took her little sister away, but Xiaopang kept asking, "Grandma, can we eat that?"

Wen Xiuqing heard the front gate open and then saw Gu Xiaobei pushing her bike into the yard. She smiled and said, "Xiaopang, look, mommy is back, go quickly."

Only then Xiaopang gave up his persistent questions and ran to find his mom, shouting, "Mommy, mommy, did you bring any goodies for Xiaopang?"

Gu Xiaobei parked her bike and saw the two little ones running toward her. Their faces all flushed from the sun, she squatted down to their level and asked, "Xiaopang, what do you want to eat?"

Xiaopang stretched out his tiny dirty hands, hugged Gu Xiaobei’s neck, whined, "Buy ice pops, grandpa bought ice pops, they are yummy."

Mo Wang nodded vigorously in the back, confirming her sister’s words were correct.

Wen Xiuqing put down her hoe and laughed, "A vendor selling ice popsicles came by on his bicycle. Earlier today, your dad bought one for each of them. They liked it so much they pestered your dad for more ice popsicles."

Hugging Xiaopang, Gu Xiaobei smiled, "If you eat too many ice popsicles, you’ll get a stomachache. They are too cold; you can have some more tomorrow."

Xiaopang withdrew his arm, touched his belly with a tiny hand, and said, "Not cold, mommy, my belly is hot, can I have an ice pop?"

Zhou Siping, walking with Bai Xiaolan, returned from their stroll. The moment they got into the yard, they heard Xiaopang kicking up a fuss about wanting ice pops.

Bai Xiaolan laughed, "Xiaopang, can you see what’s in my hand?" As she said that, she stretched out her hand and revealed four or five paper-wrapped ice pops on her palm.

Xiaopang looked up, his large eyes shone immediately, he laughed excitedly and was about to run over.

Alarmed, Gu Xiaobei quickly grabbed Xiaopang. Bai Xiaolan was heavily pregnant; she couldn’t afford any accidents. Xiaobei persuaded Xiaopang to wash his hands first.

Bai Xiaolan gave an ice pop to Xiaopang and Mo Wang each, offered one to Gu Xiaobei, and called Wen Xiuqing, saying, "Mom, you too, I also bought one for you."

Brushing dust off her clothes, Wen Xiuqing came over to wash her hands before accepting the ice pop from Bai Xiaolan. "Today, I told your father not to let Xiaopang eat too many cold foods. It’s not good for girls if they eat too much."

"It’s fine, he doesn’t have them every day. This ice pop vendor only comes every several days."

Bai Xiaolan started to unwrap one as she stuffed it in her mouth and then asked Gu Xiaobei, "Why did you come back so early today?"

It wasn’t until Gu Xiaobei helped the two kids unwrap their ice popsicles that she sighed and replied, "I was planning to find a store to rent on site, but didn’t find a suitable one, so I came straight home."

Intrigued, Wen Xiuqing asked, "Isn’t your business doing well? Why are you looking to open another store?"

"I’m thinking of opening a shop specialising in tea, located in the city centre," Gu Xiaobei explained simply.

As Bai Xiaolan bit her ice pop, her eyes darted back and forth, and she said, "Are you short on cash? I can lend you some if you need." As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Siping quietly tugged on Bai Xiaolan’s clothes from behind.

Gu Xiaobei shook her head, "Not necessary for now. I have enough money to open a store as the rent doesn’t cost much."

Wen Xiuqing shook her head, "If your wholesale business is doing well, don’t bother with something else. Regardless of whether you make money or not, it’s more taxing mentally."

Zhou Siping also chimed in, "Yes, when it comes to making money, how much is enough? As long as it’s enough to get by."

Gu Xiaobei laughed, "The wholesale business is too tiring. A transition will make it easier in the long run." She then looked down at the two siblings sitting on the stool eating their ice pops. Neither of them dared to bite, they both kept sucking their ice pops, which had lost their pink colour, while their tongues turned red. The ice pop liquid dripped down along their arm.

She quickly grabbed a towel to wipe the children’s hands. Seeing them eating ice pops, they all couldn’t help but laugh.

At noon, Wen Xiuqing asked Lu Songyuan to watch the kids while she and Gu Xiaobei prepared lunch.

Zhou Siping took Bai Xiaolan into the west room of the house, once inside, she complained right away about Bai Xiaolan’s naivety by pointing to Bai Xiaolan’s forehead, "How could you be such a fool? They say don’t let wealth fall into the eyes of others, why are you so eager to lend money to someone?"

Bai Xiaolan nonchalantly remarked, "Mom, it’s really nothing. Aren’t we all family? You always say we need to foster good familial relations. I’m lending money to Xiaobei, not strangers. Are you worried she won’t pay it back?"

Zhou Siping rolled her eyes, "How did I end up with a daughter like you, lacking street smarts? Look at Xiaobei, she’s running her own business, but has she ever offered you share itself? And once she starts making money, she isn’t helping out."

Bai Xiaolan was puzzled, "Why would she want me to invest in her business? I don’t like this line of work."

Zhou Siping gave her daughter a stern look, "This just goes to show how foolish you are. If she had your best interests in mind, she could ask for your investment and repay with a fraction of the earnings."

Staring in astonishment at her mother, Bai Xiaolan said, "Wow, Mom, you understand this, that’s impressive. But I think things are fine as they are. Mixing family and money usually ends up causing problems in the relationship."

Zhou Siping stated discontentedly, "Then just watch as they make a fortune while you don’t even get a cut. You care for the child and don’t work, with only Xiangdong providing for you. You will be living on a tight budget in the future. Your parents can’t help you forever. What do you plan to do?"

Hugging Zhou Siping around her belly, Bai Xiaoling giggled, "Don’t you always say each generation has its own blessings? Rest assured, I definitely won’t let our child go hungry."

"You remain glib, but in the future, be more wary, and stop being naive. I’m saying all this for your own good. We’re relieved when you all get along, but I just don’t like Xiaobei’s habit of making a fortune without taking care of her family. Your mother-in-law said Xiaobei joined forces with somebody named Lily—how could she team up with an outsider without even thinking of her own family first?" This last compliment of Zhou Siping was given after seeing Gu Xiaobei’s lavish spending on fruits and vegetables, thinking that Gu Xiaobei must be earning a good profit.