Gu Shaoming's calm eyes paused for a moment after seeing Gu Changzheng, then looked at his two younger sisters. After a long while, a genuine smile appeared on his fair face.

He extended his hand to his sister: "I'm your older brother, come inside with me."

Gu Nian, holding his sister's hand, smiled and said, "Brother."

Little Sisi also called out "brother" along with her older sister.

Gu Changzheng took his two daughters and never returned. Jiang Ruyi searched frantically for her husband, but couldn't find him anywhere. Even Gu Changzheng's workplace didn't know what he had gone to do.

Jiang Ruyi was overwhelmed by panic. She felt that Gu Changzheng didn't want her anymore. He would rather have two annoying daughters than her.

Jiang Ruyi, who was mentally devastated, ran back to the tenement and went crazy again. This time, she happened to run into Zheng Yang and Jiang Hui, who were both at home. Before Jiang Ruyi could even start to go crazy, the two of them took her to the police station.

Life went on slowly like this, and the policies became increasingly clear. The country began to establish diplomatic relations with other countries in the world, and foreigners with blond hair and blue eyes could be seen in Yanjing from time to time.

Jiang Ruyu met her foreign friend, Ms. Anne, who was now forty years old, again after more than a decade.

Anne came to investigate the domestic market. Her family are real capitalists, and she is a noblewoman who has taken over a part of it and holds real power.

Her main business areas are skincare products, clothing, and textiles. She came here to discuss cooperation with domestic factories. They can place orders with domestic textile factories by paying cash, and the textile factories will produce the products they need. In return, she can provide more advanced production lines.

Annie clearly remembered Jiang Ruyu, a friend with whom she had a past relationship. After failing to find Jiang Ruyu at the department store, Manager Wang took Annie to the bustling West Street.

Today, West Street is lined with shops. The success of Jiang Ruyu and Yuebin Restaurant in Fangzhi Hutong has shown many people the possibility of success, and some bold people have quickly followed suit and opened their own shops.

This street is now bustling with all sorts of shops and businesses, including clothing manufacturers, clothing stores, barbershops, car repair shops, and convenience stores.

Manager Wang knew that Jiang Ruyu had opened a shop, but he didn't expect so many people to come and the business to be so good.

When Jiang Ruyu took a break after finishing her work, she inadvertently looked up and saw Manager Wang standing at the door and Annie behind him.

Wait, Annie?

Jiang Ruyu's eyes widened, and she rubbed them as if in disbelief. Was she dreaming?

Jiang Ruyu suddenly ran out, leaving behind the words, "You guys watch over me, I'm going out for a bit."

She ran out wearing an apron: "What are you doing here? Annie! Why are you here?"

She wanted to hug Annie, but realized she was wearing an greasy apron. She quickly took off the apron and sleeves, asked Manager Wang to help her carry them, and then gave Annie a warm hug.

Annie smiled as she looked at her friend, who looked much the same as she remembered: "Ruyu, I'm so glad to have met you."

This was said in Chinese, and Jiang Ruyu was very happy: "Annie, I didn't expect you to, I was surprised and happy."

Jiang Ruyu never expected Annie to come to China, let alone to come looking for her. She was very happy that Annie's pure feelings for her had not changed because of time and distance.

"I'll treat you to dinner. I'm a great cook." Jiang Ruyu pointed to the restaurant behind her: "This is my store."

Anne smiled at her and said, "Ruyu, you're great."

Jiang Ruyu took Annie to her home. Annie looked at Jiang Ruyu's room and a smile flashed in her eyes. Ruyu's room was very cozy. Although it was not big, it was very warm.

Jiang Ruyu's room has been filled with many photos taken over the years. The room is small but very comfortable to look at.

When Zheng Yang returned at noon, he saw his wife's friend, whom she only knew from letters. Jiang Ruyu introduced Annie: "This is my husband, Zheng Yang. This is Annie, my friend."

Zheng Yang took the initiative to extend his hand to greet him. He also knew a few words of foreign languages: "Hello, I am Zheng Yang. I have heard a lot about you."

Anne politely returned Zheng Yang's handshake: "I know you, my beloved like jade."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jiang Ruyu prepared to cook a meal that Annie had never eaten before in order to welcome her.

Having learned beforehand that foreigners generally don't eat offal or animal heads and feet, Jiang Ruyu didn't want to force her friend, even though her cooking was quite good.

At lunch, Jiang Ruyu made sweet and sour pork with pineapple, a Cantonese dish. The pork pieces were fried until crispy and coated with a sweet and sour sauce and the refreshing sweetness of the fruit. Even people who don't like meat can have a bite.

A dish of garlic-flavored spare ribs and a dish of poached chicken. It was only when Jiang Ruyu was making this dish that she remembered that this dish was also easy to make and could be added to the restaurant.

One dish was stir-fried beef with green peppers. This dish was a bit spicy, but the beef was tender and went very well with rice. Another dish was pan-fried tofu. A third dish was stir-fried bok choy with garlic. Finally, there was a shrimp ball, egg skin, and seaweed soup.

"Annie, come on, try my craft." Jiang Ruyu had finished cooking, and Annie was chatting amicably with the family's children.

Anne pointed to the children: "Are all these children yours?"

After understanding, Jiang Ruyu smiled and said, "No, my younger brother's." She pointed to Jiang Chen and Jiang Yu.

Annie nodded knowingly, then looked at the delicious food on the table and exclaimed with delight to Jiang Ruyu, "You're really amazing."

"Come on, have a taste."

With a blond-haired, blue-eyed person at the dinner table, everyone in the family except Jiang Ruyu and Zheng Yang could still go about their business as usual. Everyone else, including Zheng Dali, was not used to it and just sat at the dinner table laughing and eating.

After the meal, Annie praised Jiang Ruyu several times. Before leaving, Annie looked at her friend and extended an invitation: "Ruyu, do you want to go abroad and see the world?"

Jiang Ruyu understood, so she was a little confused: "Going abroad, is your country?"

Anne nodded and sincerely told her that she had seen the changes in their country and Jiang Ruyu's efforts, so she thought of inviting Jiang Ruyu to go out and see the world, hoping to gain some unexpected benefits.

It must be said that Annie's invitation touched Jiang Ruyi. After discussing it with Zheng Yang, she replied to Annie: "Thank you very much, Annie."

After discussing it, the couple decided to visit Anne's country together next year to see how it differed from their own.