Chapter 50
Perhaps because he slept too much in the afternoon, Tao Zhi kept tossing and turning, making it impossible for the old man to sleep.
He picked up the pillow and said, "I'm going to sleep in Cheng Hui's room."
When he closed the door, he forgot to look back and missed Tao Zhi's upturned mouth.
"It's still more comfortable to sleep alone." Tao Zhi spread out his arms and legs and sighed in comfort.
In the morning, Cheng Xing saw her father coming out of Cheng Hui's room. She was stunned for a moment, then returned to normal, so quickly that no one noticed.
Tao Zhi and Cheng Xing went to send the baby off, and the old man took advantage of this time to stroll over to check the progress of the decoration.
"Dad, why don't you wait for me to come back?"
"No, no, I remember which one it was."
After he came back, he secretly told Tao Zhi, "Looking at the progress on site, it should be installed before Manman goes on vacation."
After a short rest, they set off for the construction site. After nearly an hour of driving and walking on a gravel road, they finally arrived at Cheng Jun's plot of land.
From afar, a vast expanse of construction walls can be seen, enclosing a vast expanse of land. Rows of work sheds flank the perimeter. From the entrance, beneath the towering transformers, bulldozers and rollers shuttle back and forth, while pile drivers prepare to begin work. The air is thick with the scent of diesel and dust, and the roar of various machines interweaves, creating a scene of bustling activity.
Seeing that they were already at Santong, Tao Zhi felt relieved. They did not look for Cheng Jun, but went home after checking.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Jun came back on his own on the weekend. As soon as he entered the door, he said, "Mom and Dad, why didn't you tell me you were coming? I could at least pick you up."
Tao Zhi looked at Cheng Xing and asked: Did you tell him? Cheng Xing nodded slightly.
"You're so busy. Your sister said we can hardly see each other for half a month. How can I bother you?"
Cheng Jun squeezed next to Tao Zhi and put his hand on his mother's shoulder: "We are friends, saying this hurts our feelings."
Cheng Xiangqian took out the bowl and asked as soon as he heard this: "What feelings are hurt?"
Cheng Jun stood up immediately and said, "Dad, let me help you serve the dishes."
Cheng Xing came over with a feather duster and handed it to him while saying disdainfully, "Go out and dust off the dust on yourself."
Only then did Tao Zhi notice that his trouser legs were covered in mud. Fortunately, he changed into slippers before entering the door, otherwise Cheng Xing would probably hit him.
Cheng Xiangqian shouted, "It's time for dinner." Immediately, two treasures came out of the room.
When Cheng Mingcheng saw Cheng Jun, he called out "Uncle, Uncle" and wanted to jump on him, but Cheng Xing grabbed him by the collar and said, "Come back after dinner."
Cheng Jun pinched his cheek and said, "Don't worry, I'll sleep with you tonight."
Cheng Mingcheng jumped and shouted with joy, as happy as a bird just out of a cage.
Seeing his uncle looking dejected, Cheng Jin silently took several steps back.
Tao Zhi asked, "Did you come from the construction site?"
"Yeah, I didn't want to socialize today, so I came back."
Cheng Xiangqian said, "That's perfect. Today's dishes are very light. Let's have a bowl of soup to warm our stomachs first."
Cheng Jun took the bowl and drank a few mouthfuls of soup: "Dad, your cooking skills haven't deteriorated at all."
Cheng Mingcheng quickly followed up: "Grandpa, the rice you cooked is so delicious." After saying that, he sighed and made everyone laugh.
After dinner, Cheng Jun collapsed on the sofa to rest: "It's still comfortable at home."
The old man continued, "Is it far to drive? If not, then you can come back and live here."
Cheng Jun smiled bitterly: "No, I'll be drunk all day and will disturb the children if I come back late at night."
"A lot of social engagements?"
Cheng Jun nodded: "I can't escape three or four times a week."
The old man was very worried: "Is it because of money?"
"Money is just one of them. Relationships need to be established, channels need to be managed, and funds need to be prepared at all times. You have to handle everything, and things keep coming back one after another, so there's no time to rest."
"We still have a little money..."
Cheng Jun hurriedly said, "No, no, Dad, your little money is just a drop in the bucket for real estate. You should keep it for Mom."
Cheng Xiangqian glanced at Tao Zhi and asked, "Can you ask someone to help you?"
"There are some things I can't help you with. I just started this business, so I'm bound to pay some tuition fees." Cheng Jun smiled generously.
Cheng Mingcheng pulled him aside: "Uncle, help me take a bath."
Cheng Xing took out the clothes: "That's perfect, you two can just wash them together."
Cheng Jun resigned himself to his fate and pulled his nephew up, taking the initiative to start taking care of the child.
The apartment only had three rooms, so the old man had no choice but to move back in. He sat and grumbled to Tao Zhi, "We have hundreds of thousands of dollars, so why is Cheng Jun saying he can't help?"
Tao Zhi squinted at him and said, "Didn't you hear what your son said? He always starts with a million. The money we have is really not enough."
The old man was a little shocked and didn't want to talk much.
Tao Zhi advised him, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. You have your career, and your son has his. We can't just do everything we can to help him because he's built a big business. It's always difficult to start a business. If you spend all your money, what will happen to your other children when they need it?"
I don't know what struck the old man with Tao Zhi's words, but he suddenly perked up: "You're right, do everything within your ability. Old woman, what do you think about me opening a machinery factory in S City?"
Tao Zhi also sat up: "Why did you suddenly have this idea?"
"If you won't let me retire, I might as well earn more."
Tao Zhi couldn't express her bitterness. In his previous life, the old man had run a branch factory at seventy, and because he was always busy, he was in excellent health. Until Tao Zhi's return, he had money, free time, and a lovely wife by his side, leading a happy life.
Thinking of this, Tao Zhi calmed down instantly: "If you have decided, then do it."
Cheng Xiangqian was still worried about being opposed, so he suspected he had misheard: "You don't have any objections?"
"There's nothing wrong with me, why would I complain about having too much money?"
"Don't you worry about me?"
Tao Zhi couldn't help rolling her eyes. She was the one who died early, so it was not certain who was worried about whom.
But she couldn't say that. She softened her voice and said, "I just want our family to be together."
The old man was surprised: "You don't plan to go back?"
"Cheng Xing is taking care of two kids by herself, and the house over there is being renovated. You see she's so busy she's dizzy. I have to stay and help her."
"When did you decide?"
"I was just going to discuss this with you."
"You have a point. If I open a factory here, I won't have to travel back and forth between my hometown. At least my health won't suffer so much."
"But the expenses for machinery and equipment are not small." Tao Zhi still remembers how the machines in the machinery factory were assembled one by one.
"If you buy everything brand new, the capital requirements will definitely be huge, but if you buy second-hand, like the plywood factory, there's no pressure."
Renting a factory is not expensive these days. Tao Zhi searched her memory and remembered that mechanical processing was also a flourishing industry in the neighboring city. Driving from City S to the neighboring city was only an hour's drive, compared to the more than ten hours it would take to return home. It was truly a world of difference.
The biggest expense is labor. Tao Zhi did the math and it seemed like opening a new factory was not a stretch at all.
"But we have to get the factory back home settled first."
"I have an idea," said the old man.
"Tell me about it?"
"Just like Cheng Xing's board factory, the management rights are contracted out."
"Are you crazy? That's the goose that lays golden eggs. We need a stable income." Tao Zhi couldn't help but exclaimed.
"Don't worry, don't worry." The old man comforted Tao Zhi, "Just listen to me first."
Tao Zhi took a deep breath and said, "Okay, go ahead."
"If I'm stationed here, it will be inconvenient to go back, and I'm out of reach. Who do you think you can trust to take care of it?"
Tao Zhi thought seriously for a while, "Money is very tempting, it's hard to say who to give it to."
"Besides, it's the old customers I found and the orders from my brother-in-law that support such a large profit. When my business starts to grow and my brother-in-law's orders come over, and I can't maintain customers as attentively as before, do you think the factory can still have such a considerable surplus?"
"Do you want to take all the orders?"
"That's unrealistic. Customers from my hometown will definitely stay in the old factory. What I mean is that I can transfer orders from outside the city or province here to ensure that there will be orders as soon as the new factory opens."
Tao Zhi had never thought of this possibility before, and her head was buzzing for a moment.
"Let's not talk about these things for now. The most important point is, who are you going to contract it to?"
"I want to give it to my second brother's family, Cheng Yu."
"Didn't he join a bank after graduation?"
"I'm still in the internship period. I work at the counter every day and earn 500 yuan."
Tao Zhi was shocked: "Are college students' salaries so low?"
"Well, he doesn't like that environment. He talked to me before and asked if I had any advice on doing business."
"I have no objection to Cheng Yu. After all, he's one of us. But, didn't he study finance? It's a far cry from mechanics."
"If he doesn't understand, he can ask me. I will never ignore him."
"If Cheng Yu is willing, then I have no problem."
"Isn't it different from Cheng Xing's contract?" the old man asked tentatively.
"Why is it different?"
"I don't get paid on a commission basis. The annual contract fee is fixed. After paying a certain amount, all the equipment becomes his."
"What about the land and the house?"
“I definitely won’t give you these.”
"That's fine, I can do it here."
"You agree?" The old man was a little bit unbelieving.
"I know you want to give him away for free. It's only right to help raise your own child. I really have no objection." Tao Zhi said this very sincerely. She really thought so. After all, it's better than having his stepson for free in his previous life.
Cheng Xiangqian massaged Tao Zhi's shoulders and back, "Azhi, thank you."
Tao Zhi explained, "My eldest brother told me that since the factory opened, you've been paying them wages every month?"
"Since I don't have time to visit them, I thought I'd just cash in."
“That doesn’t have to happen every month…”
The old man interrupted her and said, "Just consider it as my filial piety to you."
"You are also a good brother-in-law. I thank you on behalf of my brothers."
"Same here, go to sleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow."
"good evening."
"Sweet dreams."
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