142 New Consensus
To ensure the success of their wedding banquet, Mr. Lin and Mrs. Fang specially invited Mr. Ming to be the head chef.
When Grandpa Ming first retired, he said he wanted to enjoy a year or two of leisure before thinking about opening a restaurant. But less than six months into his retirement, he found even sitting on the chairs felt prickly, and he started thinking about finding something to do.
Hearing that his old friend Guan Canghai was looking for a storefront to open a barbershop, he went to look for one too, saying he would take out all his savings to buy a small storefront and open a small restaurant.
Ideally, it should be next to Guan Canghai's barbershop, so they can help each other out in the future.
Before the small restaurant even opened, business was already knocking on its door.
When Grandpa Ming heard it was about hosting a banquet, he asked about the scale and budget, and immediately agreed. He then went to find his apprentices and grand-apprentices, asking whoever was free to help him take on the job, so they could earn some extra money.
As Guan Yuehe put a sheet on the thin quilt, she said, "It's a pity that there aren't any suitable storefronts in our alley. Wouldn't it be great if Grandpa Ming opened a small restaurant in the alley?"
“There’s a suitable one.” Lin Yiku pulled over the pillowcase next to her and said, “Someone wants to exchange houses with Chai Congguang. They want to open a general store in the alley.”
Chai Congguang was the man who lived in the gatehouse of No. 1 Courtyard. He worked in the security department of the automobile factory. At that time, in order to keep an eye on Lu Chang and Lu Yan, the security department specially assigned him a house in Ginkgo Hutong.
“Besides Chai Congguang’s family, Ding Laosan’s family has also been approached by people who want to exchange houses.”
All the seats were for gatekeepers.
Guan Yuehe glanced at her small room. Some neighbors had considered renting it, but she hadn't given her any permission. After Lu Chang was arrested last time, no one mentioned it anymore.
"This room in our house is not available for rent," Guan Yuehe reminded her again.
Lin Yi nodded, somewhat puzzled as to why she had to emphasize it so much, since they had already reached a consensus.
Guan Yuehe finished tidying up the small room and then went to watch TV without explaining further.
But after the lights were turned off at night, Guan Yuehe suddenly discussed with him, "Should we just leave the family planning supplies in the drawer after we've used them all?"
Lin Yi was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what she meant and asked her again, "Are you sure you want to have a child?"
"I'm sure, but it still depends on your opinion, right? You'll have to put in the effort too."
"......"
Without a flashlight, the room was pitch black, making Guan Yuehe's muffled laughter all the more clear.
After a short while, Guan Yuehe giggled and hugged him again, "You said it yourself, you won't be going out on missions as often now. As for me, I'm getting the hang of my job. If we keep working hard, the little rascal can come out sooner. Let me do the math, maybe after I finish my postpartum confinement I can still make it to next year's Spring Trade Fair, and this year's Autumn Trade Fair isn't out of the question either... Sigh, how about we stop using the contraceptives starting tonight? Anyway, the remaining ones are still in the boxes, let's give them to Sitian, she might want them."
"Say something." Guan Yuehe shook the person while holding them, what did it mean by not saying a word? She couldn't have a child on her own.
Lin Yiku didn't say a word, and even pulled away the hands that were clinging to him. While Guan Yuehe was still in a daze, all she could hear was the rustling sound of clothes being taken off.
Now there's no need to ask.
Guan Yuehe liked Lin Yiku's straightforward and direct approach to work, and couldn't help but chuckle twice.
The two also reached a new consensus on the issue of their child, T.
When Guan Yuehe returned home from work the next day, she saw large and small bags on the dining table and a large bag next to the sofa. Upon opening it, she found it was full of rice. There was also an old suitcase on the low cabinet in the small room.
Guan Yuehe quickly put her briefcase back inside and went to courtyard number three.
Sure enough, she saw her aunt and second sister-in-law at her parents' house. Upon seeing her, her aunt quickly invited her to sit down, asking, "Are you busy with work?"
"I've been doing well lately." Guan Yuehe helped wrap the candies and cookies, and then fed herself a piece first.
"The new cookies from the food factory are really delicious; they have a milky flavor. Where are Juanjuan and Pingping?"
When Guan Weiguo and Li Qiuyue's youngest son was born, they had already contracted a piece of land to plant apple trees. When they were thinking about the child's name, they named him Pingping, saying that by the time he was old enough to help the family buy soy sauce, the apple trees would be ready for harvest.
Li Qiuyue smiled and said, "I went out to play games with Guyu."
Everyone in the family, young and old, is busy.
Jiang Guiying went to prepare dinner for Aunt Fang, but Guan Canghai, Uncle, Uncle Lin, Guan Weiguo, and Guan Aiguo had not yet returned.
The chicken, duck, fish, meat, and vegetables for tomorrow's banquet were all purchased from the Fengshou Brigade. My aunt and second sister-in-law came by car with their children, while my second brother and eldest brother transported the chicken, duck, fish, meat, and vegetables into town by tricycle. This not only helped solve the problem of purchasing meat and vegetables but also allowed the people at the Fengshou Brigade to exchange them for money.
Lin Yiku and Lin Sitian were able to return early, just in time for dinner.
The two families need to eat at two separate tables.
The elders and the eldest brother and sister-in-law all went to the Lin family's side, leaving the younger generation behind at the Guan family's side. The children ran back and forth between the two sides.
Guan Yuehe last saw her older brother and sister-in-law before the Lunar New Year. This time she came back because her older brother had just returned from driving a truck out of town and ran into her father and his family delivering ingredients to the factory canteen. He borrowed the factory's car to give them a ride back and also picked up her sister-in-law and their three children.
The Coke she brought back also ended up at their house; Guan Aiguo took it to the factory to deliver it.
Weiwei went to the technical school of the machinery factory, and Jingjing also went to junior high school. They were both quite old and couldn't keep up with the adults. They didn't know what to say to the younger children either.
But the adults talked a lot more.
Gu Mannian spoke the most.
"Second brother, if the brigade can reliably provide enough chicken, duck, fish, meat, and vegetables, you and your uncle can discuss it. The brigade could set up a cooperative and sign a supply contract with our factory."
Every state-owned factory has its own supply channels, which must be direct from one government to another. Asking Guan Weiguo for help with procurement is out of the question. However, if the Fengshou Brigade has a cooperative that can supply chicken, duck, fish, meat, and vegetables, then the factory can purchase directly from the brigade without going through the commune's purchasing station.
“Look, last year when our factory bought apples, the contract was signed with the commune, but the apples were collected from the local production brigades. Going back and forth like that is less efficient than just signing the contract directly with the production brigades.”
By bypassing the middle layer, their factory might not save a lot of money, but the production teams at the bottom would definitely make a lot more.
More importantly, with the addition of a cooperative, Guan Weiguo, who is in charge, will definitely be able to get a job.
Of the five siblings in the family, only Guan Weiguo was not a city resident and did not have a job. Even if Guan Canghai wanted to transfer the job to him, he couldn't get around the issue of household registration.
Seeing that Guan Weiguo was still considering, Gu Mannian offered another suggestion.
“My relatives in my hometown collect eggs, chickens, ducks, fish and meat from several production teams around the village every afternoon, bring them to the city to sell the next morning, and go back at noon. They make money from the price difference between the two trips.”
Of course, we can't be too blatant about this right now, nor can we make too much of a fuss.
"Go find those small restaurants; your supply will definitely be cheaper than what they buy from the meat and vegetable markets themselves."
Not to mention those further away, there are neighbors who set up stalls in Ginkgo Alley, and Grandpa Ming who is planning to open a small restaurant.
Guan Weiguo pondered for a moment and said, "I'll go back and think about it."
Whether it's doing it on your own or setting up a cooperative in the brigade, it's not something that can be decided in a short time.
This wasn't the first time Gu Mannian had given him advice; last time, he made a fortune by taking his two brothers-in-law to the city to buy apples.
Guan Weiguo picked up his cup and said gratefully, "Brother-in-law, thank you."
"Hey, we're all family."
Gu Mannian thought to himself that if he didn't have a job, he would definitely find someone to partner with to do this business.
His relative back home has probably become a millionaire in just the last two years.
When the concept of a "ten-thousand-yuan household" was first introduced, the family of Guazi Wang was the undisputed ten-thousand-yuan household in Yinxing Hutong. In the clothing factory's residential compound, the family of Xu Qianjin was the undisputed ten-thousand-yuan household.
Gu Mannian believes that there must be many low-key millionaires who simply don't flaunt their wealth, but they have substantial savings.
Take Yuehe's family, for example.
"Why are you looking at me?" Guan Yuehe looked up at Gu Mannian, she didn't understand business.
"Next time you go to Guangzhou, bring me back a color TV," Gu Mannian said casually.
Guan Yuehe clicked her tongue, "A color TV costs nearly two thousand? You really want to buy it?"
Gu Mannian tilted his chin towards the door, where Gu Yu was showing off that her father was going to buy her a big color TV.
"Buy it early and use it early, so she won't have to run to other people's houses all day long."
The Zhuoyue Garment Factory is doing well, so his salary is quite high, and his family hasn't bought any big-ticket items in a long time.
He originally wanted to buy a washing machine first, but then felt that with the few clothes he already had, it wasn't worth it. Later, he thought about buying a refrigerator, but the power rationing became increasingly severe, and he didn't have that much meat and vegetables to store in the refrigerator, so he gave up on that idea.
Gu Yu insists on taking him to Mo Zhinan's house every day at the same time. Mo Zhinan is his boss, and he's tired of seeing him in the office every day. Why does he have to see him again after get off work?
If He Shuangshuang gets off work early and is home, that's fine; she'd welcome Guyu to come over. But if she gets off work late, it'll be Mo Zhinan's mother at home, and that old lady won't be too keen on Guyu going.
Unfortunately, Gu Yu was too young to understand the adults' expressions, or perhaps she did, but the allure of the color TV was too strong, and she stuck her bottom to the little sofa.
Therefore, it's more cost-effective to buy it sooner rather than later.
"Don't just rely on me. I might not be able to bring her back for you." What if she's already pregnant when Qiu Jiao meets her? She definitely won't be able to take care of her.
Lin Sitian interjected, "Brother-in-law, if you wait another six months, you might be able to buy a color TV made in Beijing."
“That would be best. Tell Chen Lizhong to put in more effort. Our Zhuoyue Garment Factory is the biggest supporter of domestic products.” Gu Mannian deliberately looked at Guan Yuehe and said, “This is what Director Zheng said as well.”
Tsk! He really deserves a beating.
Everyone knows about Zhuoyue Garment Factory now. Section Chief Xiao Guan never forgets to promote Zhuoyue brand sportswear and shoes, as well as Factory Director Zheng, wherever he goes.
This is what Section Chief Long said when he was drunk during the factory's last celebration of a great success at the Canton Fair.
After dinner, the eldest brother and sister-in-law went home. The uncle and aunt went back with Guan Yuehe and stayed in a small room that night.
Lin Yiku stayed home to boil water for her aunt and uncle, while Guan Yuehe took a package to find Lin Sitian.
"You're not here to impart some experience to me, are you?" Lin Sitian said with amusement. "I'm a gynecologist, what don't I know?"
Guan Yuehe rolled her eyes. She must have had nothing better to do than say that.
Before becoming a gynecologist, Lin Sitian knew more than anyone else, all thanks to Aunt Fang who would whisper everything to her in private. When Aunt Zhao wanted Chang Zhengyi to date one of their partners, Lin Sitian even told her that Chang Zhengyi didn't seem very promising.
She took the items out of the bag one by one, and before Lin Sitian could exclaim in surprise, Guan Yuehe covered her mouth in time.
"Stop yelling!"
Lin Sitian took out the gold bracelet from the box and unceremoniously slipped it onto her wrist. Suddenly remembering something from the past, she frowned and asked, "This isn't the bracelet your aunt gave you, is it?"
Back then, Yuehe dragged her to hide at home to look at the big gold bracelet, which was so shiny that it made her envious.
After asking, Guan Yuehe rolled her eyes again, "Of course it couldn't be that one!"
"Your brother and I discussed it. Giving you money didn't seem like a enough thought, so we decided to buy you some big pieces of furniture since your new home has everything you need. After thinking it over, we decided to buy you a gold bracelet. I asked Uncle Hai to have someone make it for you. Isn't it nice?"
As Guan Yuehe looked at it, she reached out and pulled the bracelet off, saying, "Let me try it on too."
She had kept the item since she got it from Grandpa Hai, itching to try it on. Only after Sitian had worn it did she snatch it and try it on herself.
Lin Sitian clung to Guan Yuehe's arm and said obsequiously, "Yuehe, you're the best, and so is our brother."
"Your brother!" But it wasn't her brother.
"Yes, yes, my brother," Lin Sitian hummed. She didn't know who it was before, but they always called him "our brother."
"what else?"
She also found a pair of red leather shoes in her bag, and Lin Sitian said she would wear them tomorrow.
but......
"You've got the wrong thing, haven't you? Why are you bringing me family planning supplies?"
Guan Yuehe glanced at it and then looked away. "Your brother and I don't need it anymore. The rest are unopened, so we can't waste them. You can use them."
Guan Yuehe scratched her head and said uncomfortably in a low voice, "We've just gotten married, we need to settle down first, there's no need to rush into having children."
Lin Sitian laughed so hard her shoulders shook. It was actually her turn to give me advice from someone who'd been there before?
She thought it, and that's what she said.
Guan Yuehe was so angry that she wanted to take back the large gold bracelet she had given her.
"Oh dear, I was wrong, I was wrong."
His apology was accompanied by loud laughter; it wasn't sincere at all!
While still looking at the guest list in the living room, Grandpa Lin and Grandma Fang both looked at the closed door, shook their heads, and found it amusing.
These two girls have been laughing and joking since they were little.
Author's Note: I apologize! I deleted and rewrote everything I wrote during the day, so it's very late now. [Poor thing]
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