Chapter 194 Coming for You

Zhou Shufen did not refuse.

She knew the weight of these things and understood the significance of Guo Zhenyi's trust.

Zhou Shufen put all the documents, letters, and valuables into her spatial storage.

The day I returned happened to be a weekend.

Xu Yunli and Wu Dekang arrived together, carrying two bags of fruit and a package of snacks.

Now that they have some free time, the two of them take the initiative to help Zhou Shufen manage that small daily necessities factory.

“Zhenyi, I’ve found out the truth about that matter you asked me to investigate.”

Wu Dekang was bending over, carrying a box of soap.

“Pan Yun spoke with her family on the phone last year. The child she gave birth to abroad was born three years later.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Yunli quickly came over.

“She’s had a really tough time. Her husband over there died, she lost her job, and her life collapsed all at once. She’s planning to come back next year and has already asked around about the policies here.”

Guo Zhenyi stood to the side, his brows instantly furrowing into a tight knot.

She's a problem.

"They've been separated for so many years. She was the one who wanted to leave, without even saying goodbye. She just left without a word. Now that she's old, she wants to come back and stay? She's fifty years old, isn't she?"

Wu Dekang was panting heavily, looking displeased.

"Back then, she looked down on our small town, deeming it poor and unsophisticated, and insisted on going abroad to enjoy a better life. But what happened? She couldn't make it in the world after all."

"But you know her temper."

Xu Yunli took over the conversation.

"They cry and throw tantrums at the slightest provocation, and are capable of anything. If they really come back, they'll probably cause chaos again. It's always better to be on guard."

"Zhenyi, do you still have the divorce papers from back then?"

Wu Dekang suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Guo Zhenyi.

He and Guo Zhenyi grew up together, and their families were related, so he knew a little about the Pan family.

“I remember you two signed something, it was in black and white, very clear.”

"Signed."

Guo Zhenyi lowered his voice.

"But that document... has been moved countless times over the years, from the army to Yuxin, and then from Yuxin to here. My belongings have been moved around so much that I can't find it anymore."

“When you called last time, I went to ask for you.”

As Wu Dekang spoke, he reached into his robes.

He pulled out a piece of paper with yellowed edges.

"Here, I brought back the Pan family's share for you."

Guo Zhenyi was stunned.

He quickly reached out and gripped the paper tightly.

"Dekang, this is so important... I really don't know how to thank you."

Guo Zhenyi's voice was strained.

During this period, he searched high and low, turning every corner of the house upside down.

But that agreement never materialized.

He was always worried that Pan Yun would suddenly reappear one day, bringing up old stories and making trouble, disrupting his life.

Now, with this copy, although it is not the original, it is sufficient to be used as evidence.

Zhou Shufen had just finished sorting the goods.

"Is this the agreement?"

Guo Zhenyi nodded repeatedly and quickly handed over the paper.

Zhou Shufen took the paper and read it carefully, page by page.

"This is enough. If she really dares to come back and cause trouble, this is the strongest evidence. It may not be enough legally, but in terms of social etiquette, it's enough to shut her up."

Xu Yunli, standing to the side, had already sensed something was amiss.

“Zhenyi, if Pan Yun really comes back, how could she leave empty-handed? I heard she hasn’t been doing well abroad all these years and has been struggling to make ends meet. She’s probably here for you, to get some money or to make your life miserable.”

After hearing this, Wu Dekang echoed his sentiment.

“Yunli is right. You need to make plans early, instead of scrambling to deal with things when she actually comes back. I think it would be better to go and talk to the elders of the Pan and Guo families first, and explain the whole story to them in person. Let them know that there is evidence and proof of the matter, so that she won’t spread rumors everywhere as soon as she comes back, saying that you have mistreated her and abandoned her.”

Guo Zhenyi took a deep breath.

He knew Pan Yun all too well: selfish, domineering, and extremely possessive.

"Tomorrow I will go to see the elders of the Pan and Guo families. I will explain the whole story clearly, without concealing or avoiding anything. I will keep this piece of paper safe and will never lose it again."

After saying that, he turned to Zhou Shufen and handed her the agreement.

"Shufen, please keep this for me. I feel most at ease leaving it with you."

Zhou Shufen smiled.

"Don't worry, leave it with me, it's perfectly safe. Nobody will be able to touch a single hair on it."

Wu Dekang and Xu Yunli pushed the goods, preparing to deliver them to the department store that Yang Qingshan was managing.

Guo Zhenyi and Zhou Shufen turned into another street and went into the small department store that Kang Liangwen managed.

"Boss Zhou! You're finally back!"

Kang Liangwen spotted Zhou Shufen from afar, his face lit up with joy, and he ran out of the shop as fast as he could.

"Liangwen, how's business lately?"

Zhou Shufen asked as she walked.

Kang Liangwen beamed as he unloaded the goods, gesturing as he did so.

"Boss Zhou, our shop has been bustling lately! We sell around four hundred yuan worth of goods every day, sometimes even more. Most of them are wholesale customers, some from nearby villages and some from other places. There are so many people that it's impossible to fit them all in front of the counter."

Zhou Shufen nodded with a smile.

"That's right, we need to build our reputation. For wholesale customers, be flexible with the price if possible, don't scare them away. In business, don't be stingy with small profits, the key is to increase volume. If the volume is high, the profit will naturally be stable, and there will be more repeat customers."

Kang Liangwen nodded repeatedly.

"Mr. Zhou is absolutely right! We will definitely do as you say from now on!"

As he spoke, he led Zhou Shufen and Guo Zhenyi into the shop.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw several simply dressed women gathered around the soap counter, chatting away.

"This rose-scented soap smells wonderful. My hands feel soft and fragrant after washing with it. Even my old man says it smells pleasant. It's just a bit expensive, though, at 30 cents a bar. There are five people in my family, and we use it every day, so it's quite an expense."

An auntie with her hair up in a bun said in a low voice.

The person next to him immediately chimed in.

"It's expensive, but it really works! My hands used to crack like dry tree bark, and they'd get so painful in winter that I couldn't even hold a bowl. After using this soap for a few days, the itching and pain are gone, and the cracks are healing slowly. Don't you think it's worth the price?"

Zhou Shufen walked over.

"Ladies, what do you think of this soap? If you like it, please say a good word for us so more people can know about it. We're a small business, and we rely on word of mouth."

The aunties immediately warmed up to her as soon as they saw that she spoke without any airs.

"Mr. Zhou, this soap is really great! It smells wonderful and feels substantial, unlike other brands that lather little and hurt your hands. Could you make it a little cheaper? We'll buy a few more bars to take home for the whole family, and we'd also like to share some with our relatives and neighbors."

The auntie with her hair up asked tentatively.

Zhou Shufen thought for a moment, lowered her head to calculate the costs, and then looked up.

"How about this, buy five at a time, and I'll calculate it for you at the wholesale price, 25 cents per dollar, how about that? Consider it a token of my appreciation for everyone's support."

As soon as she finished speaking, the eyes of several women lit up instantly.