Chapter 35 The Gloomy Little Poor Boy from the 1970s

"It's just three times higher than the original market price."

Shen Ci spoke calmly, her gaze sweeping over the busy construction site.

"As long as the project can be completed on time, it's worth spending more money. Keep a close eye on things here."

She paused, then turned to Zhou Zheng beside her.

"Have you made any progress with the person I asked you to find last time?"

As their family's wealth and businesses expanded, Shen Ci and Shen Huai became increasingly busy, making it difficult for them to stay together all the time. Zhou Zheng, as their only bodyguard, has proven reliable over the past six months.

Shen Ci then asked him to find some trustworthy people, preferably veterans like himself who came from the military and were highly skilled.

"Found it, boss."

Zhou Zheng replied immediately, his chest unconsciously puffing out.

"They are all my old comrades-in-arms. Several of them have not been able to find decent jobs since they came back."

We've hired five people in total, all of them highly skilled. They'll be more than enough to protect you and your boss in Huaicheng."

This task was not difficult for Zhou Zheng; on the contrary, it made his old comrades extremely grateful to him.

“Very good.” Shen Ci nodded in satisfaction.

"From now on, you'll be the captain of the security team, and your salary will be increased to eight yuan a day. Do a good job."

"What?!"

Zhou Zheng didn't react for a moment, then a huge joy rushed into his heart, and this tough man was so excited that he was a little flustered.

"Boss! This...this is really..."

This is really... I'll gladly accept it, hehe.

Eight yuan a day! That's two hundred and forty yuan a month! You know, right now, even the best-performing regular employees in the factory only earn a little over three hundred yuan a year, while he can earn in a month what they work hard for a whole year!

Zhou Zheng felt his eyes welling up with tears, and quickly wiped them away with the back of his hand. Who said it was bad for a boss to spend money like water? He thought this was an amazing thing!

"Don't worry, boss!" he said in a loud voice.

"As long as I, Zhou Zheng, have a breath left, I will never let you or the boss suffer a single hair! Thank you for your trust, boss!"

He felt incredibly fortunate that back in Zhoujia Village, he and his family had never joined others in taking advantage of the small business owner's misfortune. This good deed had now borne fruit.

With ample funds, everything is possible.

Under Shen Huai's management, the garment factory gradually got on track, and most of the villagers in Zhoujia Village were grateful to Shen Ci and her son. People could see clearly who their true benefactors were.

Under this atmosphere, the Zhou family became much more well-behaved and did not dare to cause any more trouble.

Time flies, and three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

More than half a year has passed, and under Aunt Fan's careful feeding, Shen Huai has long since lost his former thin and pitiful appearance.

With improved nutrition, he grew taller rapidly, his skin became fairer, and his physique became stronger. He was already as tall as Shen Ci. When the two walked together, they didn't look like mother and son, but rather like siblings.

Teenagers in puberty have an amazing appetite; Shen Huai can eat several bowls of rice in one meal now.

Sometimes Shen Ci would recall the records in the system data, about Shen Huai, who in the original trajectory of his life, only managed to eat his fill after he earned money, which led to a serious stomach ailment and a very poor physical condition, all due to the losses accumulated since childhood.

Ironically, in that family, his half-brother, who was only a few years younger than him and lived a life of idleness, was fat and strong.

It wasn't that the family was poor or couldn't afford to raise him; it was just that Shen Huai had always been the one deliberately abandoned and mistreated.

They truly mistook a pearl for a fish eye.

In the past six months, Shen Huai has received ample training, abundant love and care, and of course, enough wealth to support his ambitions.

As his youthful naiveté faded, he gained a more composed demeanor, and a touch of sunshine appeared between his brows.

In the airport waiting hall, Shen Ci straightened Shen Huai's collar.

"Don't be nervous, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

This is just a small step in your life.

"Thank you, Mom."

Shen Huai lowered his head slightly to make it easier for her to move, his tone natural and affectionate.

"Without you, I might never have had the chance to go up to heaven and see the world."

He gradually grew accustomed to his mother's unconditional kindness and was no longer as fearful and uneasy as he had been at the beginning. He accepted everything with equanimity and kept this profound kindness firmly in his heart.

Shen Ci shook his head.

No, whether she was there or not, Shen Huai was destined to be an outstanding person. She simply cleared the dust from his path, allowing him to shine earlier and more smoothly.

"Wow, this is a big airplane? It'll really be flying in the sky soon? I'm getting a little nervous..."

Zhou Zheng rubbed his hands together, both excited and nervous, and kept talking nonstop. While other bodyguards were all as steady and reliable as gourds with sawed mouths, he was different; every time he opened his mouth, it made people want to laugh for no reason.

This trip to Shanghai involved the entire bodyguard team. Big cities offer many opportunities, but they may also harbor more hidden dangers.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Shanghai, at No. 101, Tanxiang Road.

Butler Song Mingli had already led all the servants in the villa to be on high alert. The entire mansion had been thoroughly cleaned and tidied from the inside out, with every corner spotless. Security measures had also been checked repeatedly to ensure that nothing went wrong.

This beautiful villa, which has been quiet for many years, is finally about to welcome its true owner.

All the servants, dressed in uniform, waited early in front of the main building, as the family had instructed that they did not need to pick them up from the airport.

"Beep—"

After an unknown amount of time, a clear car horn sounded from outside the ornate iron gate.

Song Mingli's spirits lifted, and he immediately led all the servants to the gate, quickly opening the two heavy black walnut wood doors wide. They stood respectfully on either side, heads bowed, to welcome their master.

The car slowly drove in, and the sight before us was enough to amaze anyone.

The exterior walls of the three-story main building are clad in imported Italian natural stone, which gleams with a warm luster under the winter sun.

In the courtyard, several camphor trees, some over thirty years old, stretch out their verdant branches, and a faint fragrance seems to permeate the air.

Passing through the grand entrance hall, a dazzling crystal chandelier hangs from the high ceiling, and countless meticulously cut crystals gently collide in the breeze that flows through the hall, producing a delicate and pleasant tinkling sound.

Upon entering the villa, a gentle warmth enveloped everyone, instantly shutting out the cold outside. Although it was winter and everyone was wearing thick coats, they felt slightly warm after staying indoors for a short while.

"Madam, young master, welcome home." Song Mingli stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"The mansion is equipped with the latest temperature control system, which will automatically maintain the indoor temperature in the most comfortable range for the human body."

Shen Ci surveyed everything with satisfaction, feeling deeply moved. This was the 1970s! The benefits of technology truly first and foremost benefit the wealthy who know how to enjoy life.

She took off her heavy wool coat, which was naturally taken by a servant. With the burden removed, she finally had the leisure to properly appreciate the magnificent villa.

Song Mingli, the housekeeper she had spoken to on the phone several times, was indeed a talented person.

She had also confirmed with the system that everything here was real, and that Song Mingli and every servant here were living, breathing people, not something the system had made up out of thin air.

Of course, she will have to pay for their wages and all the maintenance costs of the villa in the future.