Gu Yuanzhi stood at the joyous wedding venue, witnessing the happy moment of the newlyweds. She had thought that after the wedding, the bride and groom would embark on a brand new chapter in their lives; however, reality often takes unexpected turns.
The bride and her family followed Zhou Jiyuan to his home. The house was originally designed to be spacious enough to accommodate a large family. Old Mr. and Mrs. Zhou occupied one bedroom, Zhou Xiaohui's brother and sister-in-law had another, and Zhou Jiyuan and his sister each had their own space. However, the plan before the wedding was for the young couple to move out and live independently, but so far, this plan does not seem to have been fulfilled.
The bride's mother stood in the Zhou family's living room, her face somewhat gloomy, her tone clearly showing dissatisfaction: "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, didn't you say before that the young couple would move out after the wedding? How can they live in such a crowded place?" Her gaze swept over every corner of the Zhou family's house, as if searching for a solution.
Zhou Jiyuan's mother cursed the other party in her heart, thinking, "What are you pretending for! Your own house only has three rooms, not even as spacious as ours, and you have an extra child. Now that your daughter is getting married, you come here to nitpick." However, she didn't dare to say these words out loud, after all, it was her son who insisted on marrying someone else's daughter.
Zhou Jiyuan explained awkwardly, "Mom, the situation is like this, I've been so busy lately. Once this period is over, I'll definitely move out with Minmin." Wang Minmin, who was standing next to him, quickly nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, Mom, we've been so busy lately that we haven't had any time to look at houses."
Hearing her son-in-law and daughter say this, Wang's mother's expression softened slightly, and she said, "Alright, but the house must be registered in Minmin's name." Zhou Jiyuan nodded repeatedly in agreement, "Of course, of course." But in his heart, he began to secretly calculate how to get his sister-in-law to help with the money for the house.
With the bride's mother's insistence and the Zhou family's promises, the tense atmosphere gradually eased. After confirming that the Zhou family would resolve the housing issue as soon as possible, Wang's mother finally decided to leave with her two sons. A trace of worry still lingered on her face, but her eyes revealed shrewdness and calculation.
The Zhou family watched Wang's mother and her sons leave, their hearts filled with both relief and worry. Old Man Zhou and Old Woman Zhou exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with contemplation about the future and concern for their family.
Before the old man fell ill, the Wang family lived a comfortable life. They had a stable income and some savings, and their living conditions were considered good among their neighbors. However, since the old man fell ill, their situation changed. The illness not only rendered the old man unable to work but also brought continuous medical expenses and care needs.
With the loss of the elderly man's income, the family's financial burden gradually increased. Mrs. Wang was forced to make a difficult decision: to resign and stay home to care for her bedridden husband and young grandson. The eldest son's family had a new member, a grandson whose arrival should have been a joyous occasion, but both the eldest son and daughter-in-law needed to work and were unable to care for the child full-time.
Wang's mother's resignation meant the family lost her salary, which undoubtedly exacerbated their financial burden. She was busy at home every day, taking care of her husband's daily life and her grandson's upbringing.
The Wang family's life seemed to have fallen into a cycle, with each member appearing somewhat unambitious, their daily attitude best described as "just getting by." They always harbored a sense of wishful thinking, believing that the factory, as their long-term source of employment, would eventually not abandon them. This mentality gradually robbed them of the motivation to change their situation.
This attitude within the family was also reflected in Wang Minmin's marriage. During the marriage negotiations, the high dowry demanded by the Wang family deterred many potential suitors. While the dowry is traditionally seen as a sign of respect and compensation for the bride's family, the Wang family viewed it as a means to improve their living conditions.
Zhou Jiyuan was one of the few who didn't back down because of the high bride price. He came from a well-off family and had deep feelings for Wang Minmin. Because of this, the Wang family had high hopes for the marriage, hoping to obtain some financial support through this union and thus improve their living conditions.
The Wang family's thoughts always seemed to revolve around how to use Zhou Jiyuan's family's resources to their own advantage. They were secretly plotting to have their youngest son move into the new house under the pretext of insufficient space, once Zhou Jiyuan's family purchased it, in an attempt to seize the new house for themselves.
If the son-in-law showed reluctance, the Wang family even planned to exploit their daughter's filial piety by staging a sob story for her. They believed that as a dutiful daughter, she would eventually agree to their request, even if it meant sacrificing the interests of her own small family.
Xia Liang didn't have much time to pay attention to the Zhou family's affairs; her own schedule was packed. She was a busy businesswoman with grander plans in mind. The land she had previously acquired with her discerning eye was now gradually revealing its value.
Xia Liang used a portion of the land to establish various factories, which not only created jobs for the local community but also brought continuous vitality and profits to her business empire. Her market insight and expertise in production management enabled these factories to operate efficiently, producing sought-after goods in the market.
Another portion of the land, with Ji Xiao's assistance, was successfully transformed into a real estate development project. Xia Liang and Ji Xiao's collaboration developed these lands into residential and commercial complexes, not only increasing the land's value but also contributing to the city's development.
Xia Liang's decisions were bold and decisive, and her business acumen was precise and insightful. She knew that land was a valuable resource, and that its rational use and development could bring long-term economic benefits and social value.
In her office, Xia Liang was busy processing various documents and reports, her gaze focused and resolute. She knew that as an entrepreneur, she not only had to be responsible for her own business, but also contribute to the development of society.
Xia Liang's success was not achieved overnight, but stemmed from her relentless efforts and keen grasp of opportunities. Her ambition and work ethic became the driving force behind her continuous progress.
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