Chapter 417 Who Says Women Are Inferior to Men?
For the next hour, Gu Beichen led Su Yue, knocking on the most inconspicuous doors from house to house.
There are families who have just given birth to twins and don't have money for formula, families whose husbands have sacrificed their lives to raise the children alone, and families that have suffered disasters and urgently need money.
Gu Beichen didn't say much about grand principles. At each house he visited, he first looked at the rice jar, then the medicine pot.
If I can help, I will do so on the spot; if I can't help, I will write it down in my little notebook.
Su Yue cooperated perfectly from the side.
Those who lack funds will be given job opportunities; those who lack medicine will be connected with hospitals; and those who lack skills will be provided with training.
After walking around the compound, the wind direction had changed completely.
Those who were gossiping behind people's backs all shut up now.
Instead, there was a respect that had never been shown before.
People used to be afraid of Gu Beichen because of his cold demeanor and military rank.
We respect him now because he truly treated these ordinary soldiers as brothers and their families as relatives.
It was already late at night when I got home.
The two children were already fast asleep.
Gu Beichen washed away the dust of his journey, wearing only a military green vest that revealed his strong, muscular arms. He sat on the edge of the bed, watching Su Yue remove her makeup under the lamp.
"Are you tired?" he asked.
Su Yue put down the comb and turned around: "I'm not tired. It's just that I feel a tightness in my chest."
The scenes she had just witnessed lingered in her mind. Even in this land brimming with hope, some people were still struggling below the poverty line.
“You can’t save everyone by just giving them money and jobs.” Gu Beichen took a cigarette from the cigarette pack on his bedside table, smelled it, but didn’t light it. “The Blue Ocean Factory has a limited number of positions; it can’t fit everyone in the entire family compound.”
"Then what do you want to do?" Su Yue keenly sensed the hidden meaning in his words.
Gu Beichen threw the cigarette back into the box, leaned back against the headboard.
"I discussed this issue with Qin Zheng when we were in Beijing."
“The military can’t just rely on the little money allocated from above to carry out development. It has to generate its own revenue.” Gu Beichen’s fingers tapped unconsciously on his knee. “We have land, people, and you, a female strategist who understands technology.”
Su Yue raised an eyebrow: "You want to start a side hustle?"
“It’s not just a side business.” Gu Beichen sat up straight, a glint of light flashing in his deep eyes. “I want to designate a piece of land around the military region and build a military family farm.”
"farm?"
“Yes. Centralized management and scientific planting.” Gu Beichen had clearly thought it through. “Get those military wives who are idle at home involved. Part of what they grow will be supplied to the military canteens to improve their meals; the rest will be sold through your factory’s channels.”
Su Yue's mind was racing.
That's definitely a good idea.
Blue Ocean Chemical Factory now needs more and more raw materials, such as aloe vera, sea buckthorn, and mint, all of which require large-scale cultivation.
If it can be combined with military dependents' farms, it will not only solve the problem of raw material supply, but also solve the employment problem for family members. More importantly, it is a sustainable development path.
"Where is the land?" Su Yue asked the crucial question.
“That barren land to the west.” Gu Beichen stood up and pulled back the curtain in front of the military map hanging on the wall. “It’s right next to your pharmaceutical factory. It’s about 500 acres.”
Su Yue walked over and traced her finger across the map.
Although that land is saline-alkali soil, it's perfect for growing sea buckthorn and aloe vera.
With just a few improvements, it can become a treasure trove.
“This can be done.” Su Yue turned around, leaning against the map, “but the approval process will be difficult. Using military land for production is skirting the law.”
"I'll handle the paperwork." Gu Beichen placed his hands on either side of her, trapping her between himself and the wall. "As long as you agree, you'll take care of the technology and sales channels. I'll handle the rest of the problems."
Su Yue looked at the face so close to hers.
Resolute and decisive.
This is the kind of man she's set her sights on. Not a reckless man who only shouts slogans, but a truly responsible and strategic leader.
"Well done, Commander Gu." Su Yue pointed a finger at his chest. "You've only just been promoted and you're already scheming to exploit child labor?"
"What child labor?" Gu Beichen grabbed her hand, kissed it, and his stubble tickled Su Yue's palm. "This is what it means for a couple to be of one mind; their strength can break metal."
It's late at night.
The sound of cicadas chirping outside the window gradually faded away.
Gu Beichen turned off the light, and in the darkness, only the steady breathing of the two of them could be heard.
"Su Yue".
"Um?"
“When we were in the capital, I was afraid too.” Gu Beichen’s voice sounded particularly deep in the darkness. “I was afraid that the Lin family would really investigate you thoroughly, afraid that I couldn’t protect you, afraid that this military uniform would become a constraint.”
Su Yue rolled over, snuggled into his arms, and found a comfortable position.
"And now?"
“I’m not afraid anymore.” Gu Beichen tightened his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. “Because I know that it’s safest to entrust my back to you.”
The "foreign trade sample" materials sent from Beijing, the press conference that shocked the world in the port city, and the promise she made to those military wives tonight.
Each and every one of these incidents.
This seemingly frail woman, with her not-so-broad shoulders, carried half the sky for him.
"Go to sleep." Su Yue nuzzled against his chest. "There's a tough battle to fight tomorrow. We'll be exhausted just weeding those 500 acres of wasteland."
Gu Beichen chuckled softly and said nothing more.
Before the morning sun had fully penetrated the dense foliage of the coconut trees, a yellowed military map of Hainan Island was already spread out on the octagonal table in the main room of the Gu family's house.
The air was filled with the aroma of congee and pickled vegetables, but no one around the table touched their chopsticks.
Gu Beichen held a red and blue pencil in his hand, the tip of which was heavily poked into a gray-white area in the northwest corner of the map.
The sign there reads "Salt Basin," and is surrounded by symbols representing swamps and weeds.
“This piece of land, five hundred acres.” Gu Beichen threw his pen on the table with a crisp “thud.” “I’m going to turn it into a military family farm.”
Huo Wenxuan, with half a steamed bun in his mouth, leaned over to take a look and almost choked.
He took the steamed bun down, pointed at the land and shook his head: "Commander Gu, are you trying to reclaim land from the sea? I know this place. Rabbits don't poop here, and weeds don't grow there. Last year, some villagers wanted to plant sweet potatoes there, and they even lost their seedlings."
“It’s precisely because nobody wants them that approvals are easy.” Gu Beichen pulled out a chair and sat down, stretching out his long legs casually. “Once you’ve got the water, electricity, and seeds sorted out, all that’s left is manpower.”
"You've got the people," Huo Wenxuan said, turning the map around. "Those military wives are practically wearing down the doorstep of Blue Ocean Factory. But the problem is, nothing grows on this land. Are you going to send people there to starve?"
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