Once Lunar New Year's Eve is over, the cold winter is drawing to a close.
Chen Ke stayed at home for a few more days before moving back. During those days, Song Xiaowen and Aunt Liu tried all sorts of ways to nourish him, as if they wanted to make up for the weight he had lost in just a few days.
Chen Ke didn't know whether the meat had actually made up for it; he only knew that he had become quite picky about food, so much so that everything he ate after returning home tasted a little off.
Li Guaizi was unconvinced and couldn't believe that he, a chef, was inferior to the neighborhood aunties. He insisted on finding time to compete with them.
Chen Ke thought Li Guai was just joking and agreed, but he didn't expect that Li Guaizi was quite persistent about the cooking competition and kept asking him about it for two days in a row.
Chen Ke has been extremely busy these past two days. After the cargo ship that went to Europe returned, Avery said that the goods were selling very well in Europe. Originally, he had only shipped a batch of goods there on the side, but now he wanted to use a whole cargo ship to carry Chen Ke's goods, which would greatly increase the volume.
As a result, Chen Ke had no choice but to buy land in a remote part of Shanghai to build a factory. He had previously told Xu Manling and the others that he had a factory in Beijing and that the goods were all transported from there. However, now that the demand has increased, using this excuse would arouse suspicion from those with ulterior motives, so it would be better to actually build a factory.
From site selection to land purchase and factory construction, Chen Ke and Chen Zhuo personally handled every single thing. At first, Chen Zhuo could only watch from the sidelines, then gradually he was able to offer some suggestions, and finally he was able to go out and take charge on his own without Chen Ke's help in just one month.
Xu Manling was impressed by Chen Zhuo's remarkable growth, but she truly admired Chen Ke, who taught him like a father teaching his son, guiding him step by step.
"No one in this world can treat you better than your brother."
When Xu Manling said this to Chen Zhuo, Chen Zhuo could clearly see her jealousy.
Just as he was about to feel smug, he heard Xu Manling say quietly, "I really envy you. You're so terrible, yet you have such a good brother."
Chen Zhuo sneered, "Then you're really pathetic. You're already in such a terrible situation, and you still don't have a brother who treats you well."
Xu Manling wasn't angry when she heard this. Anyway, she had gotten used to arguing with Chen Zhuo. She dragged out her words and sighed, "Your brother is so good to you. Imagine how good he'll be to his children in the future."
Before Chen Zhuo could react, Xu Manling exclaimed in surprise, "Oh dear, do you think your brother won't be as good to you anymore if he has children in the future?"
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Seeing Chen Zhuo's face suddenly darken, Xu Manling smiled elegantly. She knew all too well how to deal with her extremely possessive younger brother.
"Won't he be nice to anyone?" At that moment, Chen Ke pushed open the door and entered.
Xu Manling's triumphant smile froze on her face.
In contrast, Chen Zhuo's voice was much lighter and more cheerful, "Brother, you're back? Did you finish discussing things over there?"
"Hmm, it's a bit troublesome, but it's nothing serious." Chen Ke told Chen Zhuo that he was going to talk business, but in reality, he was just going to Matsumoto to ask for the remaining money. As expected, Matsumoto was trying every means to avoid paying the remaining money.
But Chen Ke wasn't about to let him have his way. He decided to go and talk to Hebrew, who had always disliked him, later. He figured Hebrew would be happy to listen to him pour his heart out, complain about Matsumoto's untrustworthiness, and then promote him in the concession.
After finishing his sentence, Chen Ke casually asked, "What were you guys talking about? You weren't being nice to someone, were you?"
Xu Manling pursed her lips and didn't say anything.
Seeing this, Chen Zhuo hesitated for a moment and said, "It's Sister Manling. She said that once you have children, you won't be so good to me anymore." After saying that, he looked at Chen Ke anxiously.
Xu Manling wished she could walk up to Chen Zhuo and tear off his pitiful disguise so that Chen Ke could see the cold, icy look in his eyes!
"Won't."
With just two simple words, Chen Zhuo was immediately overjoyed, as if he would believe anything Chen Ke said.
Xu Manling really couldn't stand his arrogant and smug look, just because he didn't have a brother, he showed off all day long!
"Hmph, don't be too happy yet. By then you'll be over six feet tall, how will you compete for attention with those soft, cuddly, and adorable babies?"
Before Chen Zhuo could speak, Chen Ke interjected, "There won't be any children. I have no intention of getting married, so how could I possibly have children?"
These words shocked not only Xu Manling, but also Chen Zhuo, whose eyes widened in disbelief.
Chen Zhuo didn't know which category to categorize his current emotions into; his mind was a complete mess. On one hand, he felt that he should persuade Chen Ke, since he was the eldest son of the Chen family and, with his parents gone, he should shoulder the responsibility of carrying on the family line.
However, there was another opposing voice: the Chen family was not a prestigious family, they had no imperial heir or vast wealth, all they had was a dilapidated mud wall in their hometown, so why should they leave behind any bloodline?
But my feelings were even more complicated.
However... in general, most people are secretly pleased.
Compared to Chen Zhuo's chaotic thoughts, Xu Manling's shock was much simpler.
"Why don't you plan to get married? If you meet a girl you like in the future and you don't plan to get married, do you want to give up directly or date her but not even give her a formal status?"
In Xu Manling's view, life is so long, and you never know when you will meet the other half who will make your heart flutter and fall in love. It is too early to say that you will not get married now.
Chen Ke shook his head firmly, "I will never meet him."
Xu Manling stared at Chen Ke for a long time, and finally sighed and said, "I also hope you don't run into him."
A person with such unwavering conviction is suited to grow old alone!
"Hey boss!" Just as the atmosphere was getting tense and awkward, Li Guaizi poked his head in through the crack in the door.
However, as soon as he peeked in, he sensed that the atmosphere wasn't very harmonious, so he awkwardly shrank back.
Chen Ke: "...What is it? Come in and tell me."
Li Guaizi slowly peeked in again, his voice sounding aggrieved: "Well, um, didn't we agree to have a cooking competition with Aunt Liu? When is it? I've been preparing for two or three days..."
Chen Ke was surprised that Li Guaizi was still thinking about this matter even after more than half a month. Amazed by his persistence, Chen Ke agreed to ask Aunt Liu for him.
Chen Zhuo replied, "Compare cooking? No need to ask Aunt Liu, she'll definitely agree. She loves cooking the most."
Li Guaizi excitedly pushed open the door. "Really? Can I go straight there?"
"Okay, then bro, let's go home for dinner together tonight?"
Chen Ke looked at Li Guaizi with suspicion. Seeing how enthusiastic and eager he was, he had reason to suspect that the competition was fake and that he was really just there to freeload a meal.
Li Guaizi couldn't understand Chen Ke's gaze and was still looking expectantly at him, waiting for him to nod.
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