Chapter 239 The Number One Under Heaven

Just then, Zhou Shufen came over carrying a pot of steaming chicken soup.

"Don't just sit there, everyone! Start eating! Dinner's ready! I specially stewed a whole old hen today, simmering it for two whole hours until the broth is thick and white. Here, everyone, have a bowl. Drink it while it's hot; it'll warm your stomach and nourish your body."

Guo Zhenyi and Guo Yanlong sat down in response, each pulling up a chair.

Zhou Lijuan immediately picked up the soup spoon on the table, first serving a bowl to her mother, and then serving a bowl to each of her two uncles.

"Mom, Uncle, be careful, it's hot."

Qi Changyu, who was standing nearby, was also busy, quickly helping his younger siblings distribute chopsticks and bowls.

"Xiao Bao, if you keep staring at that plate of braised pork, it won't just jump into your mouth by itself!"

As soon as he finished speaking, laughter erupted in the room.

Guo Yanlong took a small sip of the hot soup in his bowl.

"Sister-in-law, this tastes absolutely amazing! It's so fresh it goes straight to your heart, several times more delicious than what I used to eat at those expensive restaurants in the city!"

Upon hearing the praise, Zhou Shufen quickly waved her hand.

"It's not that complicated. I just used a simple home-style stewing method, added some ginger slices to remove the fishy smell, and simmered it over low heat for two hours to let the chicken absorb the flavor. I'm happy that you like it."

Zhou Liya was gnawing on a golden, glistening chicken leg.

"My mom's cooking is the best in the world! Those lousy restaurants outside add MSG and artificial flavoring all the time. How can they compare to this? It's like comparing heaven and earth, worlds apart!"

Guo Zhenyi sat to the side and put a piece of chicken into Zhou Lijuan's bowl.

"Eat more, don't just talk."

The conversation he had with Yang Muyan before dinner resurfaced in his mind.

However, he looked down at Guo Yanlong sitting opposite him.

He trusts Guo Yanlong.

This person is always steady in his actions, doesn't talk much, but is a man of his word and never lies.

Just then, Zhou Lijuan quietly reached out and gently touched him.

"Uncle Guo, do you have something on your mind? I noticed you've been spacing out."

Guo Zhenyi snapped out of his daze and turned to look at her.

"It's nothing, really nothing. I was just thinking that I'd like to go to Ningcheng after the New Year to check on the factory's progress and make some arrangements for the new production line. Don't worry, I've already asked around about Yang Muyan, and he won't come looking for you or bother you and your daughter anymore."

After listening, Zhou Lijuan didn't ask any further questions.

She knew, of course, that Guo Zhenyi wasn't the kind of person who would just talk the talk.

He always keeps his word and never makes promises lightly.

But once you say it, you're sure you'll do it.

At the dinner table, everyone ate and chatted, with one topic after another.

Guo Yanlong spoke enthusiastically about the factory's new orders.

“You wouldn’t believe it, but with this batch of orders, our factory will have to expand production. Once the machines are running again after the New Year, we can immediately hire more than a dozen more people. This will not only allow the villagers of Yuxin to earn more money, but also give many families who used to rely on the weather for their livelihood a better future. They won’t have to worry about their children’s schooling or their elderly parents’ medical care.”

Zhou Shufen listened attentively and nodded gently.

“That’s right. Once the business really takes off, not only will we ourselves be better off, but it will also boost the development of Yuxin. Every additional person we hire means one more family can settle down. This is something worth doing, and we must do it well.”

At this moment, Qi Changyu, who had been listening quietly, raised his head and looked at Guo Zhenyi.

"Uncle Guo, after the New Year, I'd like to go to Ningcheng with you. I've heard that they have innovative ideas, advanced technology, and their factories use automated equipment and have advanced management models. I want to learn more and broaden my horizons so that when I come back, I can truly help the factory."

Upon hearing this, Guo Yanlong's eyes lit up immediately.

“Great! You’re a smart and hardworking kid. You’ll definitely broaden your horizons there! I know Ningcheng well. Let’s go together, you two, and see how big cities work. That way, we can make our factory even more successful when we get back!”

Qi Changyu studied economics at Peking University and never planned to work for a company after graduation.

He is independent and quick-witted, and has always secretly planned to start his own business in the future.

A group of people sat around a table under warm lights, eating and chatting.

Before leaving, Guo Yanlong quietly tugged at Zhou Shufen's sleeve.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, he quickly took out a bright red envelope from his pocket and stuffed it into her hand.

"Sister-in-law, I wish you and my brother a long and happy life together! My brother usually works quietly and doesn't talk much, let alone say sweet words to make people happy. You have to be more tolerant and understanding of him."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shufen couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She turned to look at Guo Zhenyi sitting next to her.

"Yanlong, you don't know, your brother is really good at winning people over. Lijuan, Liya, Changyu, Qingyan, which one of them hasn't secretly received a gift from him? He doesn't say it, but he's very thoughtful behind the scenes."

Guo Zhenyi was exposed in public, and subconsciously scratched the back of his head.

"It's never wrong to be overly polite; when exchanging favors, there has to be some meaning behind it."

Upon hearing this, Guo Yanlong's heart skipped a beat.

Is this really his cousin?

Since he met Zhou Shufen, he seems like a completely different person.

Guo Zhenyi, who used to be incorruptible, is now actually giving gifts?

Guo Yanlong held the red envelope in his hand, his fingers pausing slightly.

He suddenly remembered that last year on his birthday, he had specially sent some local specialties from Yu Xin's hometown to him as a token of his appreciation.

As a result, Guo Zhenyi called and berated him for half the night.

Although he reluctantly accepted it in the end, he still gave special instructions.

"Don't do this again! Don't do it again!"

But what about now?

He not only accepted the red envelope, but also said with a calm expression, "It's never wrong to be too polite."

"Brother, your change is too drastic!"

Guo Yanlong couldn't help but speak.

“Last month I asked you for help, hoping you could help Cuihua find a stable job. You even had a stern face and said, ‘We have to do it the proper way,’ telling me to follow the proper procedures and not to make any special exceptions. But the next day you were sending rice and oil to my sister-in-law’s family, and I heard you even asked someone to buy new home appliances? This… this is really not like you!”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone at the table burst into laughter.

Zhou Shufen smiled and picked up an orange from the fruit plate, gently placing it into Guo Zhenyi's slightly open hand.

"He's all talk and no action. The other day, Liya said she wanted to learn art, and he muttered, 'It's a waste of money for a little kid like her.' But the very next day, he drove to the city himself, brought back a whole set of sketchbooks, watercolors, and an easel, and said in all seriousness, 'We can't stifle a child's interest; we have to support her all-round development.' Isn't that hilarious?"

Guo Zhenyi lowered his head, took the orange, and muttered to himself.

“The children are obedient and sensible, so what’s wrong with giving them a small gift? Besides, Changyu helped the factory sort out the accounts a while ago and did a lot of work, so it’s only reasonable to give him a pen as a gift, it’s just a matter of courtesy.”

Qi Changyu suppressed a laugh.

“Every time Uncle Guo buys an expensive gift for Auntie, he tells people that it was just something he picked up on the way back and that it wasn’t worth much.”