Chapter 183: Tips “Put your lover first, and she will always…
Wang Ying sighed silently, put the photo frame back under the pillow, and continued to make the beds for the two children.
After the room was tidied, Wang Ying went downstairs with three hot water bottles. Huanhuan and Yueyue had already washed up and were sitting on the sofa, each holding a steamed bun and eating.
Wang Ying looked at Huanhuan. She lowered her head slightly, probably because she was afraid others would see her crying eyes. Wang Ying went to wash up. Chen Xiuqin came over and whispered, "I think Huanhuan has been crying."
"Well, Yueyue said she cried last night," Wang Ying said. "It's New Year's Eve, so she must be missing her mom."
Chen Xiuqin sighed, "Alas, the child is pitiful. There's no news about Wang Hui at all, and her damn father won't even come to see her."
"I didn't allow Du Jianguo to come," said Wang Ying.
Chen Xiuqin snorted, "If she really wants to see her own daughter, who can really stop her? She just doesn't have the heart to do it. Huanhuan hasn't asked to go back either, not even to see her grandmother. The child is heartbroken. Even though she's young, she knows everything. Go ask her if she wants to go back to see her father and grandmother."
"Okay, I'll ask later." Wang Ying agreed, then thought for a moment and said, "Let's talk about it after the New Year."
After breakfast, Chen Xiuqin and Wang Ying prepared the dishes together and put some dishes that needed to be stewed in advance, such as old hens, pork elbows, and spare ribs, into the pot in advance.
Zhao Yunsheng took his two children to hang red lanterns and cut paper-cuts.
Zhao Yunfei's family arrived around noon, and Huang Jing and Dongbao joined them in cutting paper-cuts. They wasted quite a bit of red paper, and only managed to get a few out. But Zhao Yunsheng still managed to use the children's crooked paper-cuts and plaster them all over the windows of his house.
In the afternoon, Zhao Yunfang and her husband and wife also arrived, and the Zhao household became even more lively. The tape recorder upstairs was playing music, the TV downstairs was on, and the children were running upstairs and downstairs, playing and having fun.
"You come back every year, what will happen to the old couple at home?" Chen Xiuqin said to Zhao Yunfang privately.
"We now have New Year's Eve dinner at noon," Zhao Yunfang said. "We're together every day all year round, so it's not a big deal if we're not at home for dinner."
"This is different." Chen Xiuqin still has the old idea and thinks this is not good. How can one spend New Year's Eve at her parents' home every year?
"He has a small family, so it's not lively. Dong Zhiyuan and Mingjie are happy to come, so no one has any objections. You don't have to worry about it. I won't be beaten by my in-laws." Zhao Yunfang said nonchalantly.
Chen Xiuqin heard the laughter of Dong Zhiyuan and Zhao Yunsheng in the living room and said nothing more. She certainly hoped that her daughter and son-in-law would be by her side...
By around four in the afternoon, the couplets had been posted at Wang Ying's house.
"Yingzi, Director Xiang hasn't arrived yet. Do you want to go pick him up?" Zhao Yunsheng asked.
"No need, he will definitely come if he says he will." Wang Ying said.
"Then wait until five o'clock. If he doesn't show up by five, I'll go get him," Zhao Yunsheng said. "If he's delayed by anything, I can go check on him."
It was almost five o'clock when Xiang Huaimin finally arrived, his bicycle handlebars festooned with gifts. Seeing so many people from the Zhao family, Xiang Huaimin wanted to just leave the gifts behind and go back...
Wang Ying certainly wouldn't give him a chance to escape, and hurriedly called out her father-in-law to accompany the guest. The two were old colleagues, so they still had something to talk about.
During the New Year's Eve dinner, the Zhao family was very relaxed, not stiffened by Xiang Huaimin's arrival, which made him feel relieved. Listening to the Zhao family's younger generation chattering, he felt as if he was looking at his own younger generation, but in reality, his younger generation had nearly killed him more than a decade ago...
Zhao Yunfang still had the desire to become an individual entrepreneur. She heard that someone was setting up a stall near Chengbei Park to sell things, and she decided to give it a try.
Dong Zhiyuan didn't dare to say a word. Chen Xiuqin was the first to disagree: "Setting up a stall? The country allows it? Don't do that!"
"I saw someone standing there for many days and he hasn't been arrested," said Zhao Yunfang.
"Maybe they're waiting for someone like you to take the bait, and then they'll take you down!" Chen Xiuqin said, "If you really can't stay idle, go work at Yingzi's factory."
"If I had to work, I would have started a long time ago. Setting up a stall is so free. I can set up the stall whenever I want and wherever I want!" Zhao Yunfang said with a longing expression and tone.
Wang Ying said, "It's not impossible, but what are you going to sell, second sister? Do you have a source of supply?"
"How about I go to your factory and get some goods to sell?" Zhao Yunfang said casually.
Zhao Chengjun couldn't stand it any longer: "Don't mess around."
Zhao Yunfang stopped talking and prepared to tell Wang Ying in private that no one else understood her at all! Only Yingzi and she were heroes who appreciated each other.
After dinner, Xiang Huaimin sat for a while before taking his leave, and Wang Ying saw him out. Children were playing and chasing each other in the alleys, and laughter could be heard from the courtyards. The flavor of the New Year was in these laughters.
"When will you return to Shanghai?"
"About fifteen." Xiang Huaimin said after thinking for a while while pushing his bicycle.
"Have you been home all this time? If I look for you I should be able to find you."
"Yes, if not, where can I go?"
"Then I'll come to wish you a happy new year in a few days." Wang Ying smiled.
"Um."
Wang Ying sent Xiang Huaimin to the entrance of the alley and watched him ride away on his bike.
As soon as Wang Ying returned home, Zhao Yunfang pulled her upstairs to talk.
"Yingzi, do you think I can set up a stall?" Zhao Yunfang asked.
"You can do it, but you need to have a supply channel to get the in-demand goods," Wang Ying said. "What are people selling in Chengbei Park right now? Is business good? Is anyone in charge?"
"I didn't see anyone policing it, and business was good. There were people selling clothes, shoes, needles and thread. It's the New Year, after all. There were also people selling roasted melon seeds and peanuts, and handwritten couplets," said Zhao Yunfang.
"According to what my second sister said, there are quite a few stalls." Wang Ying remembered that in her previous life, a comprehensive market was indeed built near the North City Park, which started with a gathering of small vendors. However, she didn't expect that there would be people setting up stalls and doing business there so early.
"Yes, there are quite a few, and I see more and more of them," Zhao Yunfang said. "But I really don't know what to sell. Yingzi, can you give me some advice?"
Wang Ying thought about it and said, "I think you can start with small commodities. The investment is small, and the products don't take up much space. You can put them in a suitcase or take them on a bicycle."
"What small commodities?" Zhao Yunfang asked.
"Head ties, hair flowers, hairpins, headbands, rubber bands, buttons, belts, silk scarves, handkerchiefs, these things are small and don't take up space, but the styles must be new and good-looking. If you sell them near textile factories or garment factories when the employees get off work, you will definitely sell them well." Wang Ying said.
Zhao Yunfang clapped her hands and said, "Yingzi still has a lot of ideas! I think this business can be done!"
"The problem is you have to have a source of supply," Wang Ying said. "Your stuff has to look better than what you get in department stores, and it can't be too expensive."
"This is indeed a problem, Yingzi. I think I need to go out and take a look. I can't just sit here and ask you everything," said Zhao Yunfang.
"I think it's okay. I support you." Wang Ying smiled. She felt that Zhao Yunfang's idea was very promising. She wanted to be a self-employed person and set up a stall so early on. At least this awareness was very advanced.
Zhao Yunsheng took the children to the upstairs terrace to set off fireworks. Wang Ying and Zhao Yunfang ended their whisper and went out to watch the fireworks. Then they sang and danced, and had a lively time until ten o'clock.
Everyone had left, but the cheerful song on the tape recorder was still playing. Wang Ying had been dancing with Zhao Yunfang for quite a while, and now she was tired. She gave Zhao Yunsheng a look, and he immediately understood and turned off the tape recorder. The house suddenly became quiet.
The two children were already dozing off. Wang Ying took them to wash up first, then carried Yueyue upstairs. As they walked from downstairs to upstairs, Yueyue fell asleep on her shoulder.
Wang Ying took care of Yueyue and put her to sleep. Huanhuan had already taken off her coat, crawled into the quilt, and closed her eyes.
Wang Ying smiled and was about to turn to leave when she noticed Huanhuan's photo frame was back on the bedside table. But the picture inside had been replaced with a picture of her and Yueyue at the Southwest Film Festival. Huang Jing and Dongbao were both playing in their rooms today, so the two older children might have helped her change it.
Wang Ying walked over to Huanhuan, who was pretending to sleep, and touched her face. Huanhuan's eyelashes fluttered, but she didn't open her eyes.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, as usual, the main activity was to pay New Year's greetings. On the second day, Wang Ying and his wife took their two children back to Lao Wang's home.
At Old Wang's house, Wang Ying quietly asked Huanhuan, "Huanhuan, do you want to go see Dad and Grandma?"
Huan Huan hesitated for a moment, shook her head and said, "No."
"Don't you really want to?" Wang Ying asked again when he saw Huanhuan hesitating.
This time Huan Huan didn't hesitate any longer and said directly: "I don't want to."
"If you don't want to see me, forget it." Wang Ying didn't ask any more questions. "If you want to see me again in the future, just tell me directly."
"Yeah." Huanhuan nodded.
Huanhuan and Yueyue stayed at Lao Wang's house that day, and the two sisters slept in their mother's previous bed.
Wang Ying and his wife returned home. Not long after they got home, Wang Ying was called to their room by Chen Xiuqin.
"What's wrong, Mom? Is there something wrong?" Wang Ying asked.
Chen Xiuqin took out an envelope and handed it to Wang Ying.
Wang Ying thought it was a letter from someone else, but when she turned it over and saw it was blank, she had a premonition. She opened the envelope and took out two deposit slips, each for 10,000 yuan.
"It's not much money, take it and use it first," said Chen Xiuqin.
In this era, 20,000 yuan is no small sum. A courtyard house in Beijing is only a little over 10,000 yuan! This is probably all the savings of Mr. and Mrs. Zhao.
"Mom, let me take one." Wang Ying said.
"Take it, take it all. You'll need it," Chen Xiuqin said. "Your father and Yunsheng both said that Director Xiang is working on high-tech, which will benefit you, your factory, and the country. Money will just go to waste if you just leave it there. It's better to put it to good use."
Wang Ying held the two deposit slips in her hand. She had made a lot of money in her previous life, but nothing like these. The weight of these deposit slips weighed heavy on her. Her voice trembled as she said, "Mom, thank you."
"You're being polite," Chen Xiuqin said. "You all have great potential. You'll earn back this money tenfold or a hundredfold sooner or later."
Wang Ying nodded heavily: "Yes, I will!"
Wang Ying returned upstairs with the deposit slip, and Zhao Yunsheng looked at her with a smile.
"When did you tell my parents?" Wang Ying said angrily, "and you didn't even let me go with you."
"Hey, I said that the day before yesterday," Zhao Yunsheng said. "Well, I told you they would support you."
"I'm afraid the old couple gave me all their life savings." Wang Ying sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed.
"They're happy to do that," Zhao Yunsheng said. "By the way, how will you donate the money? Will it be given to Director Xiang personally? Or how will it be done?"
"Let's ask Director Xiang later. The school should have formal donation procedures," Wang Ying said. "We might even have to go to Shanghai."
"I'll go with you then," said Zhao Yunsheng.
Wang Ying chuckled: "You are always asking for leave in this class. Do your leaders and colleagues have any problem with you?"
"If it really doesn't work out, I can only resign. Anyway, I can now support our family by writing," said Zhao Yunsheng.
Wang Ying did not express his opinion and let Zhao Yunsheng make the decision on his own.
The holiday ended quickly, the factory resumed work, and Wang Ying became busy again.
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Qiu Zhenhua got married. Wang Ying and Zhao Yunsheng went to the wedding banquet, just the two of them, without their children. When they arrived at Qiu's house, Qiu Zhenhua had gone to pick up the bride and hadn't returned yet. Wang Ying and the others waited with the other guests for the bride and groom.
Not long after, Gu Xuan arrived and went straight to Wang Ying and the others.
After Wang Ying greeted him, she asked him about his lawyer.
Gu Xuan asked, "What happened to you that required a lawyer?"
"I have an old boss who's a university professor, and I'd like to donate some money to his lab," Wang Ying said. "I'm not sure what the risks are."
"I'll ask for you later." Gu Xuan agreed, then asked, "Why did you think of donating money to the lab? In your personal name?"
"I'm still considering whether to invest in my own name or in the factory's name," Wang Ying said. "I want to use the final results of this experiment for the factory, but for now, I'm investing my own money in the lab."
Gu Xuan said: "Since you are taking the money personally, donate it in your own name first."
"Well, I'll discuss it with my old boss later. We'll probably have to go to Shanghai then, so please ask your lawyer friend to accompany us," said Wang Ying.
"When are we going?" Gu Xuan asked.
"Let's do it after the Lantern Festival." Wang Ying hadn't told Xiang Huaimin yet, but it was probably possible.
"If I'm free, I'll go with you." Gu Xuan said, "I just need to go get some materials."
"Okay." Wang Ying needs to bring a lot of money with him this time, and having more people will be a good way for them to take care of each other.
As they were talking, the bride and groom arrived at the entrance of the alley. Firecrackers were set off outside, and everyone in the house went out to welcome the bride. Wang Ying and the others also followed the guests out to welcome them.
At the entrance of the alley, Qiu Zhenhua arrived on his bicycle with his bride. A long line of red firecrackers stretched from the alley entrance to the Qiu family's front door, crackling and exploding. The crowd cheered, shouting, "Here comes the bride!"
Wang Ying couldn't help but think back to when she and Zhao Yunsheng got married. Back then, firecrackers weren't allowed. Seven or eight years had already passed. She and Zhao Yunsheng were truly an old married couple. She looked at Zhao Yunsheng, and he looked back at her. They could tell from each other's gaze that they were thinking the same thing.
Gu Xuan, who was standing aside, looked at the newlyweds, then at Wang Ying and Zhao Yunsheng, with a smile on his face.
At the banquet, Gu Xuan and Wang Ying sat at the same table. When Qiu Zhenhua brought his bride to toast, he joked with Gu Xuan, "It's your turn to attend the wedding banquet next time, right?"
Gu Xuan smiled and said, "I'm not in a hurry. I haven't had enough fun yet."
After he said that, Qiu Zhenhua stopped joking, and then toasted Wang Ying and Zhao Yunsheng, and joked that he wanted to ask them for the secret of their long-term love.
Many of the guests at the table were colleagues from the cultural center, and they all joined in the clamor, asking Zhao Yunsheng to teach them the secret.
Zhao Yunsheng smiled and said, "There's only one secret: put your lover first. She's always absolutely right!"
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