"Commander Lu, Comrade Yu!" Zhu Xiudan caught up with them and called out to them.

Yu Yao turned around and saw that it was her, and greeted her with a smile.

Zhu Xiudan smiled and said, "You're heading back to your family compound, right? Let's talk as we walk. How are you feeling? Do you still feel dizzy occasionally?"

Yu Yao shook her head, "After resting for a while, I feel much better. The dizziness hasn't come back."

"That's good. This is your first pregnancy, so you can't be careless. Be extra careful now, and you'll know how good it is when you give birth..."

The two chatted for a while before Zhu Xiudan brought up the purpose of her visit: "I'm here about the side business group. Yu Yao, you have management experience and your own insights into processed food. I'd like to invite you to be our side business group's consultant. I wonder if you would be willing?"

Yu Yao looked at Lu Ze with surprise: "Advisor?"

Zhu Xiudan spoke earnestly: "That's right, you're an advisor. You don't need to do anything practical, you just need to give us ideas, and we'll carry them out. I believe you've all heard about the side business group's situation, and Commander Lu is here too, so I won't hide anything from you."

"It has been decades since the island troops started as a small unit. The barracks, the old family quarters, and many facilities and equipment were built at the beginning. Some are dilapidated and others need repair. All of these require money. As the number of people increases, the places where money is spent also increase."

"But as you all know, apart from the funding from higher authorities, the shipyard is not open to the public, so the profits are limited and it's actually burning money. The military has limited other sources of income, so we really have no other choice. We can't let ourselves be suffocated by our own desires, so we tried to find a side business group in the hope of finding new sources of income."

"As you all know, we haven't had enough experience and manpower in the past six months. We've wasted a lot of money and are operating at a loss, so we had to temporarily disband. But the fundamental problems of the unit haven't been solved, and there are still many places where we need money. We have no choice but to restart the sideline group..."

Yu Yao understood what Zhu Xiudan meant; she simply valued Zhu Xiudan's experience and abilities.

However, Yu Yao had no experience in being a consultant.

Although she had the knowledge of later generations, many cases that were suitable for later generations were not necessarily suitable for the present. Even she herself was feeling her way across the river by touching the stones.

Having transmigrated into the book, she knew far more than Zhu Xiudan. The reason Zhu Xiudan didn't mention was why Commander Zheng insisted on setting up the sideline group despite all opposition.

Building barracks and improving the living conditions of families is indeed important, but the most urgent need is for sufficient military funding to upgrade the troops' outdated equipment and weapons.

Territorial sovereignty shall not be violated by any petty person.

To deter troublemakers, you need advanced weapons and ample firepower, which are all expensive.

It's not that China doesn't value it, but rather that China is newly established, and various regions need money for development. With limited funds, we can't rely on central government allocations for everything; we have to find our own solutions.

The importance of side hustles is self-evident.

It was precisely because she knew the hidden reason that Yu Yao hesitated.

She wasn't sure if she was up to the task.

"Sister Dan, as you know, although I'm okay at cooking, I don't have much experience in management or giving development advice. The military has high hopes for the sideline group, so this position should be given to someone more experienced and capable. I'm not sure if I can handle it."

After listening, Zhu Xiudan was even more impressed with her, saying, "We've considered all of what you've said. We would like to hire someone like that, but the problem is we can't."

She gave a wry smile. "People don't want to come to remote islands either. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Although we hope that the side business can find new sources of income, we're not putting all our hopes on it."

“The side business group is just one option. If you are willing to be a consultant, we are willing to fully cooperate with you. We may not be able to provide much financial support, but we will do our best to provide other manpower and equipment as needed, as long as the military has them.”

Yu Yao was silent for a moment, then said, "Sister Dan, let me think about it. I'll give you an answer tomorrow morning."

Zhu Xiudan breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that she hadn't directly refused.

"It's alright, this is something we should think about carefully."

After parting ways with Sister Dan, Yu Yao and Lu Ze headed home.

As they approached the courtyard, the two encountered Song Yiming, who said solemnly, "Commander, it's an emergency meeting. The division commander wants you to come over."

Lu Ze's expression was stern: "Did the division commander say anything?"

Song Yiming glanced at Yu Yao, "There's nothing wrong with saying this; the news has already spread. The fishing boats of the Xiangyang Fisheries Brigade discovered a submarine belonging to another country while fishing at sea."

Lu Ze's expression was serious. "I understand. Ayao, you go home first, I'll be right back."

Yu Yao nodded. "Be careful."

After saying that, the two turned and ran away.

Yu Yao watched the two figures disappear into the distance and bit her lip.

According to the book, fishermen discovered a submarine while fishing at sea today. After realizing they had been discovered, the submarine not only did not hide in fear, but instead provoked them.

It provoked the fishing boat, then sailed away and disappeared into the sea.

Lu Ze is rushing over there now to cooperate with the anti-submarine unit in sealing off and searching for the submarine.

But Yu Yao knew that in the end, she would gain nothing.

The other side was actually hiding deep in the strait. Although they remained in hiding for seven days and seven nights, it is a fact that our anti-submarine patrol boats failed to detect them.

Besides a lack of experience, the bigger reason is that our equipment is too outdated, and the effectiveness and range of underwater reconnaissance are very limited.

Upgrading equipment requires sufficient funding.

Yu Yao's worries and concerns suddenly seemed less important.

She has only one thought right now: to do something.

To protect this land, and also to protect her family, friends and loved ones.

If the sideline groups can be established, the military will have more funding and can acquire more advanced equipment. Would these petty scoundrels still dare to provoke us like this?

At that moment, Yu Yao made up her mind.

She has to be this consultant, and she has to do it well.

At six o'clock in the afternoon, when it was time to collect the tree branches, Cui Zhizhou and Wu Huaiqing had already finished get off work, but Lu Ze had not yet returned.

Yu Yao: "We're not waiting for him anymore. Dad, come with me to the family compound to borrow a boat. Mom, you and brother go to the beach and wait for us."

"Okay, let's do as Zhizhi says."

After assigning tasks, Yu Yao took Cui Zhizhou to the family compound and, with the boat rental voucher, rushed to the port.

Having found the boat, Cui Zhizhou took charge of steering it, and the two headed towards the sea behind the mountain.

After picking up Wu Huaiqing and Wu Wanying, the four of them sailed to the island where the tree branches were stored.

Before we even reached the area where the branches were laid, we saw a continuous stream of seabirds flying in that direction, all attracted by the squid that had died after laying their eggs.

When we arrived at the place where the branches were placed, we indeed saw many white squid floating on the sea and the shore.