Chapter 240 Having gained a foothold
Seeing Guo Zhenyi's embarrassed yet composed demeanor, Guo Yanlong finally understood.
The once taciturn cousin has now been warmed by Zhou Shufen and the children.
Guo Yanlong gently patted Guo Zhenyi's broad shoulder.
"Okay, okay, you're right! But bro, you've really changed a lot."
“You used to be alone all the time, rarely saying a word, and you walked with a swagger, as if afraid of others getting close.”
"Now that I have my sister-in-law and the kids, I feel so much brighter."
"After the New Year, Cuihua and I will go to Ningcheng together. Don't put on that official airs anymore!"
Guo Yanlong joked with a smile.
"Otherwise, our little girls will be scared and won't dare to call you Uncle."
Guo Zhenyi looked down at Zhou Shufen beside him, then turned to look at the noisy children around the table.
For some reason, my heart suddenly warmed.
"Within the rules, I will definitely arrange a good job for Cuihua."
“But I think it would be better to let her continue her studies.”
He frowned slightly.
“How can I really let a young girl go to such a far place? She’s unfamiliar with the area and there’s no one to take care of her. I’m not at ease.”
Don't worry!
Guo Yanlong waved his hand.
"Isn't it because I have you, my uncle, that I have this!"
"Besides, her mother's relatives are all in Ningcheng. Relatives can always help each other out, so she won't suffer any losses."
Zhou Shufen smiled softly.
"Director Guo..."
"Don't call me that."
Guo Zhenyi immediately interrupted.
"If you keep calling me that, I'll have to go pray to Buddha tomorrow."
"Just call me Yanlong. We'll keep it that way from now on. We're family, no need to be so formal."
"Yanlong".
Zhou Shufen nodded.
"If you don't mind, how about letting Cuihua come and help out at my supermarket?"
"The salary will definitely not be low, but the work is indeed a bit tiring. It involves moving goods, tidying up shelves, and cashiering and reconciling accounts. It's quite busy at the end of the day."
What a coincidence!
Guo Yanlong's eyes lit up.
"She asked me just two days ago if I was hiring female workers, saying she really wanted to go."
“The child already knew what was going on.”
"Is it Liangwen's side, or Qingshan's side?"
Zhou Shufen asked.
Either way is fine.
Guo Yanlong shrugged.
"But when she heard people say that you, her uncle, were doing very well in Ningcheng, and with a few friends stirring things up, she now has her eyes on Ningcheng."
He sighed, then smiled.
"I was determined to go and see for myself, saying I wanted to try my luck and experience life in a big city."
Zhou Shufen put down her teacup and said slowly.
“I’ve met Cuihua before. She’s quick and efficient, meticulous, and very reliable in her words and actions.”
"Working in a supermarket is definitely a safe bet."
"It's normal for a child to want to go out and see the world as she grows up. There are more opportunities there, she can see a wider world, and she can learn things faster, which will be good for her future."
Qi Changyu also chimed in.
"Uncle Guo has a lot of connections in Ningcheng. With you protecting Cuihua, her safety is definitely not a problem."
"Plus, Uncle Yu Jie and Uncle Yu Jie are there too. They're all family, so who would dare to neglect them?"
"Business over there is booming and fast-paced, so you have to be quick-witted."
"She has worked her way up there for several years. Whether she comes back to Yuxin to help you in the future or starts her own business, she will be more confident and her perspective will be different."
Guo Zhenyi nodded and looked at Guo Yanlong sitting to the side.
"Changyu's words are true and hit the nail on the head. It's definitely a good thing for young people to go out and explore, to see the world. In one's life, one should have a few opportunities to give it one's all; one can't stay cooped up in a small place forever."
"But you have to make things clear with her. Ningcheng has many opportunities, bustling traffic, and towering buildings. It looks glamorous and lively, but the pressure there is also terrifying. You're on the go all day long, and you have to rush to catch your breath. Unlike Yuxin, where life is slower and people are more stable. Without the stable foundation of Yuxin, it's easy to run into trouble if you're all alone outside."
"Don't let her get caught up in the novelty and become blinded by a few skyscrapers and bustling streets."
Guo Zhenyi lowered his voice.
"You might act impulsively and follow others who are clamoring to go, but what happens once you get there? What about food and lodging? Will you have a place to stay? Will anyone take care of you? If you really can't stand it and want to come back, you'll lose face. Rather than that, it's better to stay at your sister-in-law's shop now, learn some skills, gain some experience, and take it one step at a time, steadily."
Guo Yanlong scratched his head after hearing this.
“Brother, I’ve said all these things to her, over and over again, until my lips are dry. But this girl, she’s only eighteen this year, and her ambitions are sky-high.”
He sighed and shook his head.
“She said, ‘People say there’s everything there, opportunities everywhere, and as long as you’re willing to work hard, you can make it. Dad, if I don’t go, I’ll definitely regret it for the rest of my life.’ It sounded like she was being childish, but with that look in her eyes and that stubbornness, I just couldn’t persuade her, I really couldn’t.”
"However, after hearing what you said today, I feel a little more at ease. It's not that I don't want her to go, but I'm afraid she'll suffer, be taken advantage of, or be deceived without even realizing it."
"With your words as a foundation, I feel more at ease. Before she leaves after the New Year, I'll have a good talk with her and explain all the reasons you've given me, so she can hear what her family is thinking and not just focus on the glamorous life outside."
In fact, Guo Yanlong had already planned this out many times in his mind.
He saw it very clearly.
The Zhou siblings, especially Zhou Shufen and her brother, truly established themselves in Ningcheng.
It's not just empty talk; he actually opened a supermarket and settled down.
What father wouldn't worry?
Guo Yanlong often has trouble sleeping at night.
All I could think about was whether Cuihua had any clothes to wear when she got cold outside all by herself.
He wasn't afraid of her suffering, but he was afraid that she would be wronged and no one would stand up for her.
Therefore, he can sleep more soundly when there are acquaintances looking after him.
Zhou Shufen listened quietly the whole time.
“Yanlong, Cuihua is your own daughter, it’s perfectly normal that you can’t let her go. It’s only natural for a father to care more about her, and no one will say you’re nagging.”
"Whether she stays in Yuxin or goes to Ningcheng, we are all family. Blood is thicker than water, and even broken bones are connected by tendons. As long as she needs us, we will never stand idly by, nor will we pretend we didn't hear."
“If she really goes to Ningcheng, don’t keep it to herself if she has any difficulties, and don’t be afraid to bother us. Just ask anytime, a phone call or a letter, and we’ll take care of it. As for the supermarket, I’ve already thought it through. I’ll talk to my brother later and ask him to arrange for Cuihua to help out at the store and get familiar with the environment. It’s our own store, no one will bully her, and she can learn real skills.”
Guo Zhenyi chimed in from the side.
“If she doesn’t want to work at the supermarket, I can arrange something for her. I know managers at several reputable factories. The factories are well-regulated, wages are paid on time, and the environment is clean. We can let Cuihua start with odd jobs and take it slow, there’s no rush.”
“Learn on the job, familiarize yourself with the process, learn some skills, and you'll have a future. If she still wants to study, that's fine too. I know teachers at night schools who teach academic subjects and skills training. I can help her enroll, and the schedule is flexible. Working during the day and attending classes at night, learning more is always better than being idle. If you're idle for too long, your mind will wander, and your skills will stagnate.”
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