Chapter 49 Going Abroad
"What's wrong?" Why are you lying on the kang (heated brick bed)? You look uncomfortable. "Are you sick? Have you been to the hospital?"
When her aunt saw it was her, she quickly sat up. She looked a little tired, but her wrinkled face held a smile. "It's nothing, just a bit of a cold."
"A sudden cold snap in spring; the weather has been so unpredictable these past few days. We need to keep the room warm." She touched the stove, then opened it to find the fire was smoldering. She guessed Su T-juan was in a hurry to do something and didn't have time to tend to the stove for fear it would go out, so she had kept it on a small flame.
"Let's go home today."
"Yaoyao, I'm sick," she said, feeling utterly weak. Old age makes one more susceptible to illness. She truly needed someone to take care of her. She felt bad troubling her daughter, Shuyao, but since she was already staying with her, her daughter insisted she stay until she was better.
"That's why I rushed back. Now I have time to take care of you."
Su Juan's sons who went to the countryside have all returned, but none of them are married. She only managed to get jobs for her two youngest sons last year, and she's been busy arranging their weddings every day.
After waiting for Su Juan to return, Shu Yao told her and then took the old lady back to her own home. The stove in the east room was burning brightly, making the room warm and cozy. With the children gone, it was just the three adults left, so cooking and other tasks were simple.
I made a stew of angelica and mutton soup to warm my stomach and dispel cold. I also got some Chinese medicine from an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor, and after three doses, I was almost completely recovered.
She stretched in the yard early in the morning; the weather was beautiful today, sunny and clear. It felt wonderful to be healthy, but what made her feel even more at ease was Shu Yao. Shu Yao had taken care of her these past few days, bringing her tea and water, cooking her favorite dishes—better than her own daughter.
"Third Aunt, would it be alright to make millet porridge for breakfast?"
"good."
First, boil the peanuts in water, adding cold water a few times until they become soft. Then, add golden millet and red dates and cook together. After about an hour, a pot of fragrant millet porridge is ready.
"Third Aunt, be careful, it's hot." She placed the porridge on the table. "I stir-fried some shredded potatoes and made some hot and sour cabbage. Let's eat first. Xiangdong had something to do today and left early, so he won't be home for breakfast."
"Oh. Xiangdong seems to be quite busy lately; he's often not home."
"Yes. He needs to be on-site with a series of deliveries these past few days."
The two chatted idly as they ate, their conversation clearly audible to Sun Yaozu next door. He had been discharged from the hospital several days prior, during which time he had asked Shuyin to look for the twins, but Shuyin's reply was that neither of them wanted to see him.
When he woke up, he saw Meng Xi. The woman spoke to him gently, apologizing and begging for reconciliation, and he tacitly agreed to let her stay. After being discharged from the hospital, Meng Xi followed him back to the Sun family home and spoke to him at the dinner table.
"Shu Yao bought several shops in the newly built wholesale building. You were also involved in import and export trade before, and that area will be a hub in the future. The foot traffic will definitely be huge."
This was the third time she'd brought it up in recent days, and even Sun Yaozu's cold expression couldn't hide it. He was speechless, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips. He wanted to laugh, but was too speechless to say anything but.
"Yaozu, why aren't you saying anything?"
"……fine."
"Um," Meng Xi thought for a moment before explaining, "I was afraid you'd miss such a great opportunity."
"good."
What's so good about him? This guy's been abroad for a few years, and now he's acting all erratic. He used to be so decisive, saying yes or no, but now he's so ambiguous, it's impossible to tell what he's thinking.
After their divorce, she rented a small apartment. She lost her job, couldn't stand the gossip, and life became unbearable. Her daughter secretly helped her out, and she realized that to start a better life, she had to use Sun Yaozu.
He's a big boss now, in the import/export business, and everyone looks up to him. They were young and fell in love, so there's some lingering affection between them. She softened her stance and took advantage of his weakness.
Reality prevented her from being assertive, so she could only make soup and go to the hospital. But as soon as that scoundrel was discharged, he sat by the wall, repeatedly watching the commotion next door.
The wholesale market wouldn't deliver until June, so Shu Yao spent her time either sourcing goods or training her employees. Drawing on her past life's experience, she had high expectations for her staff. The first step was ensuring excellent customer service.
The job posting had just been put up when several people came to my house that afternoon. They were all neighbors or relatives introduced by the neighbors.
Several years ago, many educated youth returned to the city, and their resettlement hasn't been completed yet. Her requirements weren't high, and she quickly recruited eight sales clerks.
She was busy with work; all her employees were undergoing pre-job training. Next door, Sun Yaozu was also preparing for his business, contacting suppliers recently. When Meng Xi got home that evening, she ingratiatingly poured him some water to wash his feet, then turned to look at her daughter. This year, she was taking the college entrance exam.
Sun Shuyin felt immense pressure, her mind reeling. Last year, her mother slapped her in anger after she failed the exam and ordered her to pass this year. Now, her mother was adding that same pressure, this time to her father's, and what would happen if she failed again?
Study hard.
"Okay." Faced with the pressure, she could do nothing but nod. After her parents left, she sat alone at her desk, feeling like crying.
Since the resumption of the college entrance examination, the questions have become more difficult year by year. People's learning environment has improved, but the difficulty of the exams has continued to increase. It's not as good as the year it was first reinstated; looking back now, it seems really easy.
Su Hexin was just lucky; she got into university that year and has now graduated and started working. She was assigned to the tax bureau, and everyone in the alley praises her.
Under immense pressure, she opened her books to study, while her mother gently coaxed her father. The couple seemed to have reconciled, and all the previous unpleasantness had been put aside.
The next day, her father took her to school, and her mother saw them off at the gate. To outsiders, it seemed like a harmonious family. But her heart was pounding in her chest. It was as if she were walking on ice, even though the grass beneath her feet was lush and green, and she felt that the ice might break at any moment and she would fall into the icy water.
Sun Yaozu has experience from his past life, and in this life he spent ten years abroad, so he's doing really well now. He drives a Polonez that looks very impressive, and he goes in and out every day; everyone who sees him envies him.
Shu Yao's parents passed away, and her eldest brother also left. The car they were supposed to give her was refused. Instead, her brother ordered two small trucks for her, but they haven't arrived yet. So, to outsiders, it looks like the couple is back to riding bicycles, falling behind the Sun family in status.
The daughter-in-law of the neighbor to the south has now applied for a job at her shop, and Huang Lan chats with her about gossip while she works. The shopping mall has just been handed over, and all four of her shops need to be renovated and stocked with goods.
"Sister," it's not standardized now, and there's no requirement to call someone "boss." Everyone younger than her calls her "sister." "You haven't seen Meng Xi, she's incredibly arrogant. She drives a car to work and deliberately tells people they don't have that kind of luck."
"Ignore her." Arrogance brings trouble. After how Sun Yaozu treated her, she still dares to cling to him; I don't know who gave her the brains.
When she was first reborn, she was filled with resentment. But as Sun Yaozu completely exposed her and the two children stopped recognizing her, she finally vented all her anger. Now she truly doesn't care about those two anymore; let them do whatever they want.
She did basic renovations on the entire building, and then made improvements on top of that. The shops are clean and spacious overall; the stalls selling inexpensive goods are simple and streamlined, making the prices look low. The stalls selling imported goods look high-end and classy, and obviously not cheap.
Each has its own style, allowing customers to choose what they want. Because she has help, she looks busy, but she's not too tired.
I ran into an acquaintance on my way downstairs after finishing work in the afternoon. It's true what they say, you never know when you'll run into someone; I was just talking to my employees about the Sun family, and here I am, Sun Yaozu. He's also in the import/export business, so it seems he's got his eye on this stall too.
"Shuyao, how have you been lately?"
"..." Shu Yao ignored him and walked out on her own. Why pretend to be familiar with me? We're not that kind of relationship. We've already torn off the mask, what's the point of pretending?
"Shu Yao, wait a moment."
"Get away from me." She broke free from his grasp and quickly walked out.
“Look at you, how come you’ve become so short-tempered? In business, harmony brings wealth, you weren’t like this before.” He chased after her, saying as he walked.
"What I do is none of your business. Don't come near me again."
"I'm just concerned about you." He spoke with an expression and tone that suggested he was doing it for your own good. "I run a mechanical parts business on the third floor, and your shop is on the first or second floor. Are you planning to sell small commodities and clothing? Didn't you have your eye on home appliances in your past life? Aren't you planning to go back to your old business?"
"It has nothing to do with you."
Shu Yao was too lazy to waste words with him. After finding her car by the roadside, she unlocked it and started pushing it home. At this moment, the man approached her again, still smiling. It has to be said, this bastard has really developed a thick skin after all these years.
"Shu Yao, I want to talk business with you. Don't leave yet, let's find a place to sit down."
"I have no business to discuss with you." She was a businesswoman in her past life, so she has the experience. She also has her brother to help her, so there's nothing she has to talk to you about.
"Shu Yao," he reached out and grabbed her handlebars, slightly out of breath, "Are you going abroad to visit your parents this summer?"
"Get out." She used all her strength to push him away. She turned around, got on her bike, and sped away.
She rode away on her bike, and he clutched his chest as he got into his own car. His hands gripped the steering wheel, a tear sliding down his cheek. He slammed his fist on the steering wheel in frustration. Shu Yao refused to say another word to him; her eyes held neither love nor hate, only utter disgust.
"Meng Xi, it's all your fault."
Meng Xi was completely unaware that something was amiss; when he returned that evening, he even brought her the latest fabric. Not long after, Shu Yao learned of the situation from a neighbor.
"Meng Xi is so lucky. Men are so good; they entrust their businesses to her."
Upon hearing this news, Shu Yao instinctively felt something was amiss. That evening, while having dinner with her husband, the topic of the matter came up.
"Given Sun Yaozu's personality, would he really give her such a good opportunity?"
Su Xiangdong nodded: "Maybe they're plotting something. Don't worry about it, let the couple do whatever they want."
Meng Xi, with an air of superiority, stood at the entrance of the mall in a dress during its soft opening. Shu Yao deliberately blocked her way as she passed by, her face practically screaming "show-off."
"Shu Yao, my shop is on the third floor. Remember to look for me if you need to buy accessories in the future, and I'll give you a discount."
"..." Shu Yao ignored her and quickly walked past her into the mall. It was only in its soft opening phase, but business was already booming. She was busy and didn't have time to come here with her.
After checking on the shops on the first floor, she went up to the second floor and saw that the shop assistants in her own clothing store were arguing with Meng Xi. She quickly went over to see what was going on.
"What happened?"
The sales clerk explained, "I told you, our shop only offers wholesale prices for orders of five pieces or more. This person insists I'm being unfair because the previous customer got a wholesale price. But she only bought one item, so she can't get a wholesale price."
Shu Yao turned around: "Meng Xi, your family owns a shop, how can you not even tell the difference between wholesale and retail?"
"Shu Yao, what business is it of yours if I buy clothes?"
“This is our boss,” the shop assistant quickly said, glaring at her angrily.
"This store is yours too?"
"right."
"That home textile store, the fabric store, and now there's clothing... Shu Yao, how many stores do you have?" Meng Xi was genuinely astonished and couldn't believe it. She had previously thought it was quite remarkable that her family owned any stores, but she never imagined that Shu Yao actually had several. Moreover, business seemed to be booming today.
"This has nothing to do with you," Shu Yao scolded her. "Your family is in business too, you should know the rules. Let me tell you again, although our shop does both wholesale and retail, the prices are different. If you want a lower price, you need to buy at least five items, otherwise you can only pay the retail price. You are also a boss, don't try to be unreasonable with your employees."
"Exactly. He's the boss, why is he being so unreasonable? Isn't he afraid of losing face?"
Nearby shopkeepers, hearing the commotion, gathered to watch. Meng Xi, embarrassed by their public display of disrespect, blushed deeply. She felt she couldn't say anything that would be convincing, and for a moment regretted coming here.
"Who knows your rules? Your staff didn't explain them clearly."
The salesperson immediately retorted, "I've made myself very clear. I've repeatedly said that the wholesale price is for five items, but you insist on comparing it to the previous customer. The previous customer was carrying such a big bag; couldn't you see that it was wholesale?"
"What kind of service attitude do you have?"
"What's wrong with me? I can't even be allowed to be truthful?"
"You've already opened a shop, yet you still don't understand the rules."
"Exactly. We're a wholesale and retail business here, how could she not know that?"
"How could she not know? She's a boss herself. She's just unethical, deliberately making things difficult for people. She's just throwing a tantrum."
"If this were a state-owned enterprise, they would have already started scolding her."
A group of people were gossiping, all thinking Meng Xi was being unreasonable. Her face flushed and paled by their teasing; she had originally intended to show off, as the shop had nice clothes she wanted to buy but didn't want to spend the money. Who would have thought she'd run into such a tough customer? Shu Yao hadn't given her any face at all.
"I just didn't understand it for a moment," she said, trying to save face. "Wrap it up for me, I'll take this one."
Since she had said that harmony is paramount in business, Shu Yao didn't argue with her further. She had someone wrap up the dress for her and promptly paid the money.
Both sides maintained a facade of harmony, but Meng Xi's vanity was not satisfied with Shu Yao. After returning home, she sat with a group of people in the alley, listening to their compliments and envious remarks for a while, before finally feeling refreshed and going home to cook.
Shu Yao rode back on her bike, and a group of people greeted her with smiles. "Shu Yao, you're a big boss now, still riding this bike?"
"Yeah, your older brother's car was really nice before."
She smiled and didn't seem to mind: "It's convenient to ride a bike, I'm used to it."
When she got home, the group couldn't help but start comparing them. "Su Xiangdong is no match for Sun Yaozu now; at least he drives a car."
"Ke Ren Shu Yao is also quite nice."
"Will that work? Women still have to look to men. Look at Meng Xi, she's a boss now. She's going to buy a car at the end of the year, saying she wants to drive herself."
"Really? Sun Yaozu is really capable."
"Of course not."
Shu Yao didn't hear or care at all what the outsiders were saying. Next year, Kyoto plans to build a large shopping mall, and she intends to rent the basement floor so her husband can run a supermarket there. These days, large shopping malls like this are practically nonexistent in China, but that free and clean shopping environment is the trend for the country.
"Dad, if you open a supermarket, will you also have to take a leave of absence without pay? Or can you manage both?"
Su Xiangdong had many comrades-in-arms and made many friends during those ten years, many of whom were in important departments, and he had a wide network of information.
"They must take unpaid leave; public officials are not allowed to go into business."
"Then you..." She can earn money on her own. If he still prefers a public service job, then continuing to work is fine too. In his previous life, he seemed to have retired early and later opened a supermarket.
"I'm trying to get early retirement so that if business doesn't go well in the future, I'll have a way out and be able to receive some pension money."
Shu Yao chuckled. He was always so reliable. This kind of personality might not lead to a particularly large business, but his restless nature, along with his rich experience and network, destined him to be extraordinary.
"good."
"Are you laughing at me?" He placed the food on the table. "The main thing is that I'm getting on in years. If I were still far from it, I might as well take a leave of absence without pay. Judging from the current trend, this is the perfect time. If I miss this opportunity, I won't have such a good chance to develop in the future."
"Yes, I agree with you."
"You have such foresight; you've been thinking about this for years. You didn't hesitate to take a leave of absence without pay."
She smiled but didn't reply. In her past life, she was forced to start a business after losing her job. In this life, she has more experience and understands the changing times. But she is the same; born into a merchant family, it seems that business acumen flows in her blood.
"By the way, what kind of accessories does Sun Yaozu's shop sell?"
"Hardware. I see a lot of bicycle and motorcycle parts, and a small amount of car parts."
"This business is pretty good."
"Yes." He had experience from his previous life, so of course he knew what would make money. Having spent so many years abroad, he should have already figured out the distribution channels for goods.
"Never mind that, whether he makes money or not is his business. Our visas have all been approved, and we've already talked to our bosses about the kids' leave; we just need to confirm the leave slips. How's things on your end? When should we leave?"
"Next month. I need to get it on track, otherwise I won't feel at ease."
"good."
My older brother has taken on a project in China and has been spending most of his time there this year. I told her a while ago that I would call her once the dates were confirmed so he could come and buy his plane ticket.
As the family boarded the plane to go abroad, not only were the children excited, but Su Xiangdong was also somewhat excited. He gently nudged his composed wife beside him and carefully examined her face.
"Why aren't you excited at all?"
"How could I not be excited? I was excited too, I just didn't show it."
Having traveled extensively abroad in her past life, including many times for business, she remained calm. While many places overseas are indeed more advanced now, that wasn't her focus.
This time she should be able to see her two sisters-in-law, as well as her childhood friend. If she hadn't gone to find her back then, she wouldn't have gotten separated from her parents. In her previous life, after she was found, Xu Feng wanted to reconnect with the Shu family, but her parents sensed her reluctance and weren't very warm towards her.
Su Xiangdong smiled and reached out to clasp her hand. He took a deep breath. At fifty years old, this was his first visit to his future in-laws' home, and he was actually quite nervous. Although he had prepared many gifts, he couldn't help but worry.
The three children sat in a row. The three sisters discussed something for a while, and then each picked up a book to read. Shu Yao also leaned back in her seat to rest, and Su Xiangdong asked the flight attendant for a blanket to cover her.
"Go to sleep, I'll wake you when we get there."
This was the first time for the father and his three sons to travel abroad, but Shuyao had experience. After a long flight of several hours, they passed through airport security smoothly. At the exit, her second brother and parents waved to them from afar.
"Here, here!"
"Maternal grandparents, eldest maternal uncle,"
"It's not my eldest uncle, it's my second uncle," Shu Yao quickly explained to the children, and everyone laughed. Her second brother saw that her eyes were moist and gave her a gentle hug.
"Just like when we were kids, no one else can tell us apart, but you've never mistaken me for someone else."
"Second brother, are you alright?"
"good."
After exchanging pleasantries, the family members quickly got into their car and headed home. Although it was already past ten o'clock at night, their home was neatly prepared to welcome them.
The eldest brother has two children, while the second brother only has one son, who seems rather irresponsible. They must have been instructed beforehand, because they greeted everyone very obediently upon seeing them.
Just like in her previous life, her two sisters-in-law were very warm and welcoming to their new sister-in-law in front of their parents-in-law. But Shu Yao knew that gaining family approval takes time. Maintaining politeness upon their first meeting was already quite good.
The room had been prepared long ago and was just as comfortable as in his previous life. Looking at the luxurious villa, Su Xiangdong thought to himself how good his parents-in-law were to their daughter; with such wealth, they could live in his humble little courtyard for so long.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you asleep?" Shu Yao came out after taking a shower and saw him sitting there in a daze. He had already showered, so why wasn't he lying down to sleep? In her past life, when Sun Yaozu first came to her parents' place with her, that guy was excited and his eyes were full of calculation. But here he was, just spacing out.
"Wait for you."
The couple slept very well even in a different place. Their family treated them very warmly, taking them sightseeing for several days in a row. The fifth day was the father's birthday, and the birthday banquet was very grand, with all those who had business dealings with the Shu family invited.
"Mom, is this the evening gown?" The two daughters were changing with her, very curious about the evening gowns they were wearing. The gowns were prepared by their aunt; the older sister's was purple, and the younger sister's was pink.
"Yes. Your aunt has great taste; the clothes she picked suit you very well."
"It seems like my older cousin helped me choose it."
"How have you two been getting along with them these past few days?" The eldest daughter of the older brother's family is the same age as He Yi, but a month older. The son is younger than the twins. He Xin is the youngest, and they seem to be taking good care of her these past few days.
“It’s great!” He Xin said with a smile, sharing with her mother, “My sister and I were worried that we would be looked down upon. People abroad look down on people from the mainland these days, but my cousins are so kind and take such good care of us.”
"That's good." It must have been something her brother and parents had told her beforehand; the twins in her past life got along very well with them. In this life, they have Tangtang, a little sister who is pretty and has a sweet tongue. It's clear that her older cousin genuinely likes her.
She had just changed her clothes when her sister-in-law pulled her away, and she spent the night with her parents. Her parents introduced her to their old friends, and tonight was essentially an introduction to all of the Shu family's business partners. She was also in business now, and these were all connections.
Shu Yao was an experienced person and naturally understood the importance of these connections. Following behind her parents, she greeted everyone. With her past life's experience, she remembered people very quickly. Among these people were those in the toy business, those in the condiment business, and others in the shipping, electrical appliance, and hardware industries—all of whom would come in handy later.
"Congratulations, old buddy, you've finally found Yaoyao."
Uncle Xu came uninvited today because she was missing, and my father hadn't been in contact with him for decades. They grew up together, studied abroad together, and now that his daughter has been found, and his old friend has come to visit again, my father couldn't refuse.
Thank you.
"Yaoyao, do you still remember Uncle Xu?"
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