Chapter 162 I'm Behind You
"Shufen, no one has the right to interfere. No matter how many times you've been married, as long as you love each other, no one can stop you."
"With me here, who dares to say a bad word about you? I won't let anyone bully you or look down on you."
Zhou Shufen clutched her handkerchief, tears falling unconsciously.
She didn't wipe it, but just clenched her fingers tighter.
Guo Zhenyi was heartbroken.
He really wanted to pull her into his arms and wipe away her tears with his palm.
But this is on the main street, where people come and go, their footsteps hurried.
"Shufen, all I want to do in this life is live with you."
His voice was deep.
"Don't avoid me, I'll shoulder all the difficulties. I'll shield you from the wind and shelter you from the rain. Just keep moving forward, I'll be right behind you."
Zhou Shufen's heart suddenly calmed down.
She turned her head and glanced at him.
“Zhenyi…”
She spoke softly.
"Let's have the wedding once my career is stable, okay? I don't want you to marry someone who hasn't established themselves yet. I don't want to be a burden to you, and I don't want people to say that I climbed the social ladder by relying on you."
"I'll wait."
He answered simply.
"If you're worried, test me anytime. I'm not afraid to wait, nor am I afraid of your coldness. I'll wait for your approval, no matter how long it takes. Ten years, twenty years, a lifetime."
"Whenever you say, I'll do whatever you say."
Zhou Shufen looked down at their clasped hands, her gaze falling on his rough palms.
There are thick calluses on it, caused by years of writing at a desk.
Yet, those same hands, holding hers firmly, were reassuring.
Just now, he raised his shoulder and blocked all those messy stares from the outside.
A sudden warmth filled her heart.
This person is truly reliable.
"No need for testing."
She sniffed.
"I believe you. From now on, I will no longer hide."
Guo Zhenyi's throat suddenly tightened, and his eyes felt a little hot.
He stopped and turned to look at her.
"Shufen..."
"When I'm free, I'll help you with some chores. Renovation, moving goods, bookkeeping... whatever you need, I'll fill in."
Zhou Shufen burst out laughing.
"You're the district head, a high-ranking official position. You have a ton of important business to attend to. It's not your place to do anything. If the higher-ups find out, they'll say you've lost your composure."
"Your matter is the most important thing."
He spoke without the slightest hesitation.
"Other things can be delayed or postponed, but your matter cannot wait, nor should it wait."
Zhou Shufen's heart was beating fast.
She suddenly stood on tiptoe and quickly kissed him on the cheek.
"The car is coming!"
Guo Zhenyi stood there, his hand still resting on the spot where she had touched him.
He didn't move, just stared blankly at her running figure.
Her clear voice drifted on the wind.
"Come early on opening day! Don't be late!"
He grinned.
"I'll definitely be there! I'll be standing at the door an hour early!"
He watched her slender figure slowly turn into the corner of the station entrance before finally turning around.
The woman next to her, carrying a vegetable basket in one hand, looked at Zhou Shufen's still slightly flushed cheeks.
"Girl, were you just flirting with your boyfriend? Your face is so red, tsk tsk, you're so sweet you could squeeze water out of it."
Zhou Shufen neither refuted nor denied it; she simply lowered her head, pursed her lips, and smiled gently.
Back at the shop, she immediately pulled out her contacts and dialed the phone numbers of nearby opera troupes one by one.
She was thinking of hiring a large, boisterous procession to liven things up on the opening day.
This will not only attract customers, but also let the neighborhood know that "Zhouji Convenience Supermarket" has opened.
I made call after call, but several companies said their schedules were full.
But she didn't give up and patiently looked for the next one.
By the time the final phone call was completed, it was already completely dark.
By this time, the Zhou family members had already gradually squeezed back into the somewhat cramped rented room.
"Mom, I have to go back to Hong Kong tomorrow."
Zhou Liya leaned against Zhou Shufen's leg, her voice low.
"I took the day off this time, but I still missed seeing your supermarket open... What a pity."
"Auntie, I want to see the opening too!"
Yang Qingyan hopped and skipped over.
Ever since Zhou Yujie officially recognized her as his goddaughter, she has sweetly called Zhou Shufen "Auntie" whenever she sees her.
Zhou Shufen reached out and gently stroked Zhou Liya's hair, then turned to look at Yang Qingyan.
"Qingyan can stay, let's have some fun tomorrow. But your sister Yaya has to go back to school, she can't miss her lessons."
"Liya, don't worry. Mom will open many more stores in the future, one after another. You'll catch up sooner or later."
Under the oil lamp, the clerk Li was writing something intently with his head down.
Zhou Miaoling squatted down beside him, holding a worn-out math textbook in her hand.
Upon arriving in Ningcheng, the couple suddenly realized what had happened.
For years they've been holed up on a remote island, long since left behind by this rapidly developing era.
Now, they have to grit their teeth and start learning from scratch.
Zhou Yujie occasionally chimed in with a few words.
His words are concise and clear, always able to explain complex principles clearly in one go.
Wen Shuli is quick-witted and has a strong understanding; she can grasp most of what you've learned after just one lesson.
Zhou Yujie became more and more satisfied with what he saw.
This person is not picky about work, is willing to endure hardship, and is down-to-earth and unassuming in his work. He is truly a rare gem.
The class ended, and it was late at night.
Zhou Shufen called her family to the main room and sat them around the mottled little wooden table.
"Tomorrow, our Zhouji Convenience Supermarket will officially open."
"There will definitely be a lot of people and things to do, so we need to divide the tasks in advance to avoid chaos and mistakes later on."
“We need to break things down into smaller parts, with each person in charge of a section, each fulfilling their responsibilities, so that everything is well-organized.”
She first looked at Jiang Nanzhi sitting to the side.
"Sister-in-law, you're the best at accounting, so you're very meticulous and skillful. I'll leave the cashier duties to you."
As she spoke, she carefully took out a brown paper package from her cloth bag.
"Here's some change. Take your time, don't rush. One stack at a time, you can't go wrong. This little machine is called a calculator. I'll teach you how to use it later. Just press a button and the number comes out. It's very convenient."
Jiang Nanzhi didn't say anything, but silently reached out and took the paper package.
Wenshu Li patted his chest confidently.
"I'm strong, so I'll handle all the moving, loading, and restocking! You all just focus on taking care of the customers, and just let me know if you need anything!"
He turned his head and pointed to the tall stack of empty cardboard boxes in the corner.
"Those canned goods, soaps, and laundry detergents on the top shelf that you can't reach, just call me. I'm tall and have long legs, so I'm perfect for that job."
Yang Qingyan jumped up and raised her little hand high.
"I want to help too! I can carry the bags for customers and give them directions! I'm quite strong, I can lift them!"
Zhou Shufen couldn't help but laugh when she saw her adorable appearance.
"Okay, here's a red ribbon tied around your neck. Everyone who sees you will say, 'This little girl is so spirited, so well-behaved and sensible.'"
She turned her head and her gaze fell on Zhou Miaoling.
Zhou Miaoling was focused on mending the cuffs of Wenshu Li's sleeve.
Zhou Shufen said softly.
"Miaoling, you're very meticulous, so I'll leave the daily necessities section to you. Don't let the kids open the soap packaging, or it won't sell well; make sure the caps on the floral water bottles are tightened properly so they don't spill and people slip and fall. But even if someone accidentally breaks something, don't yell at them or have a stern face. Remember, a friendly attitude brings good business."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
