The rise of private industry and commerce and the influx of foreign capital have had a significant impact on department stores.

Jiangcheng No. 1 Department Store, once the most bustling and prosperous, has gradually become synonymous with old-fashioned and backward in the minds of consumers, and is now deserted.

Qin Hanshu now sits in the second position in the department store, below Wang Yinghui.

As early as two years ago, she proposed a plan to Wang Yinghui to see if management could be optimized.

Wang Yinghui pondered for a while before saying, "The fundamental problem is the system. I'm afraid that simple optimization will not have much effect."

Qin Hanshu actually understood this truth and never mentioned it again after that.

Two years later, Wang Yinghui told Qin Hanshu a piece of news: a big capital from Honggang wanted to acquire the department store.

The people behind this capital are none other than the department store’s founding family—the Tian family who immigrated overseas.

The news of the department store's restructuring gradually spread, and people in the department store were in a panic. With so many people laid off, they were afraid that it would be their turn.

When the department store was transformed into a joint-stock company, the Tian family capital accounted for the majority. Wang Yinghui had been the helmsman of the department store for many years. He also made great contributions in the process of the transformation and was the undisputed second largest shareholder.

But unexpectedly, Wang Yinghui also asked Qin Hanshu to have a share of the pie.

He said meaningfully: "You and I have worked together for many years. I can't leave you out if something good happens."

During the years that Qin Hanshu served as Wang Yinghui's deputy, the two of them basically had normal work interactions and did not have many private interests involved.

In the end, Wang Yinghui gave Qin Hanshu such a big gift, most likely because he had taken a fancy to the person behind Qin Hanshu.

Because of Ma Chaoyang, the relationship between her family and the Qi family has become closer in the past ten years. Ma Chaoyang's uncle has long been out of the city bureau, and recently heard that he will be transferred to Beijing...

Qin Hanshu did not rush to agree, but discussed it with Ma Chaoyang first before replying to Wang Yinghui.

As a result, Qin Hanshu also held 25% of the original shares of the department store. She invested all the capital, but half of it was held on behalf of Ma Chaoyang.

Next, the department store conducted public offerings, went public, opened chain department stores across the country, and began to build its own high-end department store brand.

Wang Yinghui is a capable person, and the board of directors decided to let him continue to serve as the president of the group. Wang Yinghui originally wanted Qin Hanshu to continue to be his right-hand man, but Qin Hanshu refused.

Although military dependents can engage in business, as Zhou Weiguang's career moves up, she still wants to keep a low profile.

Anyway, she is in her forties and can retire.

***

After retirement, Qin Hanshu suddenly had more free time.

She enrolled in classes to learn English and flower arrangement, and also bought a car, which she would occasionally take out for a drive.

Zhou Weiguang's career was at its peak and he had little time to accompany her. Zhou Sheng was admitted to the Naval Academy and, like Zhou Qi, was away from home all year round, so she could only find fun on her own.

However, Qin Feiyang's daughters Qin Meng and Peipei were both admitted to local universities, and they like to be taken out for fun by her during the holidays.

Although Qin Hanshu has lived two lives, her mentality is younger and more open than her peers. She gets along with the younger generations like friends, and the children are happy to play with her.

And Yang Le.

Yang Le's academic performance has always been poor, but she occasionally showed some talent in opera. Zhu Jingsu introduced her to a local opera teacher and taught her to sing local opera.

Later, he was admitted to the provincial technical secondary school of opera.

When she was in opera school, Yang Le appeared on the provincial television station and was spotted by a film director, who asked her if she would like to act in a movie.

Yang Le only had a few scenes in the movie she starred in. The performance did not bring her any fame, but it sparked her interest in acting.

For the first time in his life, Yang Le made a decision on his own and decided to apply to the Film Academy.

Last year, she was admitted to Jiangcheng and became a student of Jiangcheng Film Academy.

According to Yang Le, Zhou Ruilan and Yang Guangyu's life is much better now. Zhou Ruilan now keeps everything in her hands for the family that needs to be reported to the outside world, and does not let Yang Guangyu get involved at all. Whenever Yang Guangyu wants to express an opinion, Zhou Ruilan cannot stop him.

How could Yang Guangyu want a divorce? Over time, he developed a habit of keeping silent. Apart from work, he just cooks and does housework at home and takes good care of his wife and daughter.

Even if his sister-in-law fought with Zhou Ruilan, he would just turn a blind eye.

Although the couple communicated less and their relationship seemed to have become much more distant, they no longer quarreled. Zhou Ruilan no longer cared so much about Yang Guangyu, so her mood naturally improved.

Yang Le said that Zhou Ruilan also learned to find her own entertainment, such as watching plays, learning to dance, etc., and she lived a relatively happy life.

After the air flights were reopened, Zhou Ruilan brought the two elderly people in her family to Jiangcheng several times. Qin Hanshu saw that she was in good condition, liked to wear bright clothes, and had her hair permed, looking a bit like the bright and beautiful girl she was in her youth.

***

That day, Liu Ercui came to Qin Hanshu with a heavy heart, "There is something... I don't know if I am overthinking it."

Qin Hanshu wondered, "What's the matter?"

Liu Ercui hesitated for a long time before she said, "One night when I woke up, I saw Qi Lang leaning against the door of Pepe's room... He didn't do anything, just stood there for a while, maybe a few minutes..."

Qin Hanshu asked: "You mean, Qi Lang has any special feelings for Peipei?"

Liu Ercui shook her head. "I'm not sure. He didn't behave in any special way normally. It was just that night that I felt something was wrong."

Liu Ercui was very worried, "What if the two children really develop feelings for each other?"

Qi Lang failed to get into university, and Qi Feng wanted him to work in a restaurant, but he disagreed and went out to find a job on his own. He said he was in a construction team and moved out of his home, but would go home often.

Pepe usually lives on campus and goes home occasionally, so the brother and sister don't seem to have much interaction.

But since that night, Liu Ercui has been observing them consciously. She doesn't know if it's an illusion, but the more she observes, the more she feels that the atmosphere between the two people is weird.

Liu Ercui didn't want her daughter to have anything with Qi Lang from the bottom of her heart. It wasn't that she looked down on Qi Lang, because Qi Lang was not good at studying. But after so many years of getting along with him, she knew that the boy was not a bad person by nature. Now he had grown up and become sensible and positive.

But she and Qi Feng are husband and wife. From the day they became a family, in her mind, Qi Lang and Peipei are brother and sister.

Seeing Liu Ercui so worried, Qin Hanshu said, "These are just your guesses. The actual situation may not be certain."

Liu Ercui said, "I can't sleep well because of this, and I can't discuss it with Qi Feng... Do you think I can ask Peipei directly?"

"Not so good...I may not tell you the truth even if I ask."

Qin Hanshu thought for a moment and said, "I remember Peipei once said she wanted to go abroad. You can tentatively ask her if she still wants to go abroad. If she is really in love with Qi Lang, or likes Qi Lang, she probably won't want to go out."

Liu Ercui slapped her thigh, this is a good idea!

A few days later, Liu Ercui said with tears in her eyes: "She said she didn't want to go abroad..."