"Brother, I'll go back to Germany this time and inquire about it. Maiwei might sell its newest cargo ship to a Chinese shipping company because of this lawsuit."

"Because their next-generation cargo ships are already under construction," Chen Niaoshu said without hiding anything.

After returning to China, she knew that only if the Chen family prospered could her career flourish.

Abroad, she had no connections whatsoever, and her self-proclaimed talent was insignificant in foreign universities.

Chen Yi nodded, "Okay, let's try to finalize it before the end of the year so that the port in Guangzhou can be officially put into use after the New Year."

Chen Niaoshu pursed her lips and didn't say anything more.

Once her brother makes a decision, even their parents find it difficult to change his mind.

Whether you're going into business or not, it's a good opportunity to avoid the current turmoil in Beijing.

Chen Niaoshu knew that someone was already testing the Chen family's attitude, but her grandfather had remained neutral and had not taken sides.

As for the Lu family, her eyes were dark and she couldn't fathom their intentions.

…

Two days later, the shrimp paste factory in Haibi Village was extremely busy every day.

The chubby girl sat at the entrance of the shrimp paste factory, watching everyone process the ingredients.

Jiaojiao sat next to her, propping her chin up with her little hand. "Sister Pearl, is my sister really coming back today?"

"I don't know either. She called last night and said she was taking a plane and would arrive in Fuzhou this afternoon. She should be back in the village by evening," the chubby girl said listlessly.

Ayan wasn't home, so no one was making braised pork for her.

The chubby girl remembered the last time she moved into a new house and got drunk without eating a single bite of meat, and she wanted to hit herself on the head.

"I really want to eat the candied sweet potatoes, steamed egg cakes, braised pork, Sichuan-style boiled chicken, mango milk that my sister makes..." Jiaojiao stretched out her little hand and kept counting.

The chubby girl swallowed hard, "And pumpkin pancakes, sweet and sour pork ribs, chicken cutlets..."

The two foodies exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.

Aunt Chen wanted to roll her eyes. "Do you two want the food or Ah Yan?"

"I want both!"

The two of them said it in unison, and then burst into laughter.

Jiaojiao was wearing a pink dress with white stockings and white cloth shoes. Her hair was tied with a pink ribbon, making her look like a doll.

With her round, chubby face and clear, bright eyes, she's starting to look more and more like Lin Ziyan.

"Jiaojiao, I really want to bite you." The chubby girl hugged her, her eyes narrowing into slits as she laughed.

Jiaojiao covered her face with her little hands, "No, only my sister can bite it."

Aunt Chen shook her head and continued peeling garlic, a smile curving her lips.

Everyone at the shrimp paste factory was hoping for Ah Yan's return, even if she didn't come to the factory often, as it would at least put their minds at ease.

"Is Fatty's marriage settled?" Aunt Huang asked.

I haven't seen any matchmakers visiting lately.

"Yes, it's settled. The groom's family is coming to our house. Her father and I have already had the land behind our house prepared so we can build them a new house." Aunt Chen's smile deepened the wrinkles around her eyes.

Aunt Huang nodded, "I'll also go find that matchmaker later and ask her to help Ah Jian find someone."

"Now that our lives are better, we can organize banquets and such in a proper way."

The sunlight fell on the leaves, as if gilding them with gold, making them shimmer.

The sound of waves came from afar, along with the salty, fishy smell carried on the wind.

Lin Ziyan returned to the village, got off the bus, grabbed her bag, and ran home.

She waved her hand behind her back and walked quickly.

Lin Ziyan knew that Lu Yunshen and the others had to rush to the port, so she didn't exchange many pleasantries with them.

Now all she wants to do is run back, pinch Jiaojiao's chubby little face, and eat a bowl of salted vegetable noodles cooked by her grandmother.

Hearing the familiar sound of the waves as she walked along the village paths, she finally felt like she had come home.

“Ah Yan…”

Lin Ziyan saw her two younger sisters and the chubby girl sitting at the door and ran over.

"elder sister,"

"Big sister,"

Her two younger sisters rushed into her arms, their voices choked with emotion.

Lin Ziyan's nose tingled with sadness; she hadn't seen them for over ten days and missed them terribly.

"Come inside quickly, Grandma cooked you some pickled vegetable noodles with minced meat." The chubby girl helped carry the bag and strode inside.

Lin Ziyan pulled Jiaojiao's hand and walked inside, while casually putting her arm around her second sister Xiaoxiao's shoulder.

"Let's go, we'll talk later. I'm hungry and waiting for Grandma to cook noodles..." Lin Ziyan said with a smile, her eyes slightly red.

The rich aroma of meat wafted out of the house, and she quickened her pace.

When she washed her hands and sat down at the table, it was already full of her favorite dishes.

The chubby girl also made her a glass of lemonade.

"Ayan, the sales of shrimp paste at the supply and marketing cooperative have increased a lot. Now many stores are ordering shrimp paste from us."

"All the stalls at the seafood market have been rented out..." The chubby girl briefly explained the situation of the shrimp paste factory and shrimp farm, etc.

Lin Ziyan took a sip of the noodle soup and breathed a sigh of relief. This was the taste; it was very refreshing.

Grandma, "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

"You all should eat quickly too," Lin Ziyan said hastily when she looked up and saw that they were all looking at her.

After dinner, the group sat around the stone table and chatted.

Aunt Chen and Aunt Huang also came over.

One person took fruit, and the other took brown sugar glutinous rice cakes.

"Ayan, you're finally back. We've been so worried these past few days, afraid something might happen at the shrimp paste factory that we wouldn't be able to handle." After saying that, Aunt Chen pulled up a rattan chair next to her and sat down.

Lin Ziyan had a fruitful trip to Beijing, where she met several clients from other provinces and arranged to visit the factory with them.

“That’s right. We have to follow the procedures you wrote down and check them several times a day, just in case a few more health department staff come and find something out.” Aunt Huang patted her chest and said.

Lin Ziyan smiled and said, "You've worked hard these past ten days or so. In a few days, some customers from other provinces will be coming over, and they'll want to visit the shrimp paste factory."

Aunt Chen and Aunt Huang exchanged a glance and asked nervously, "A customer from another province?"

"Why didn't you mention this when we called before? Is there anything I need to prepare?"

After Aunt Chen finished asking the question, her heart, which had just settled down, started racing again.

Lin Ziyan briefly explained the purpose of their visit, then reassured them, "I will receive them, so you don't need to make any special preparations."

The more deliberate you are, the worse it will be. Those clients are all shrewd business people; they can tell at a glance.

The two nodded, relieved, and then chatted with her about the shrimp paste factory.

During her absence, the shrimp paste factory hired a few more people and also acquired a lot of chili peppers and garlic.

"Ayan, are you back?"

As the group was chatting, Brother Jian called out from outside the door and then walked into the courtyard.

"Ah Jian, weren't you going to check on the shrimp farms in other villages today?" Aunt Huang hurriedly went up to him and asked.

Why are you back so early? I usually don't get home until almost 8 pm.

"What happened?" Lin Ziyan asked, frowning.

The last time he was so panicked was when the seafood market caught fire.

"Today I went to several shrimp farms that are quite far away, and they all want to break their contracts and stop cooperating with us."

"It's as if they had planned it beforehand. They said that after the shrimp are harvested from the ponds this time, they will no longer buy shrimp seedlings, shrimp feed, etc. from the shrimp farms."