This is why so many brothers can confidently follow Bai Yichen. Now, all of them are living well, eating their fill, staying warm, and even looking forward to a bright future. Naturally, they hope Bai Yichen will settle down and live happily with their sister-in-law after getting married.

To Huzi, Sanzi, and the rest of the brothers, Bai Yichen is like a towering mountain, an awe-inspiring figure in their lives. In truth, Bai Yichen isn’t just their eldest brother but also the guiding light on their paths in life.

A man like Bai Yichen, in the eyes of his brothers, shouldn’t have any flaws or blemishes. He is almost like a deity, a sacred presence in their hearts.

With this in mind, Huzi, while driving, turned to the brother sitting next to him and instructed:

“Alright, Sanzi, stop babbling nonsense from now on. Big Brother and Sister-in-law are doing great together. Once we deliver the goods today, notify the others to come and distribute them quickly. Let’s get this batch moved out as soon as possible.”

Although life is tough right now, with constant hustle and bustle, it pays well. The money distributed among everyone is quite substantial.

The brothers are highly motivated, especially with Bai Yichen’s optimistic outlook: the country will soon open up entirely, and restrictions on goods trade will be lifted.

For now, the regulations are lenient, so they’re seizing the opportunity to earn as much as possible. With money in hand, they can invest in bigger ventures when opportunities arise. This way, the brothers won’t have to endure such hardships in the future.

Thinking about the promising future filled with cash, the young man in the passenger seat instantly perked up. He immediately complied with Huzi’s orders:

“Got it, Huzi. Once the truck arrives at our compound, I’ll inform the brothers to come over and pick up their shares.”

Huzi nodded in satisfaction, praising him:
“That’s the spirit. Work hard, and there will be plenty of chances to make big money in the future.”

Meanwhile, An Xin was rushing with Kaizi to the loading site. Without a word, she climbed into the truck and began unloading goods. They worked tirelessly until dusk, finally finishing the job.

Exhausted, An Xin jumped off the truck, where Kaizi was waiting. He handed her the labor fee for the day and said:
“Good work today. The delivery was right on time. Sanmao and Xiaozhong are clamoring for a meal out. Let’s go together!”

Over the past two days of working with An Xin, Kaizi had come to admire her. Despite her delicate appearance, she worked with incredible determination, exuding a fierce intensity.

This trait deeply impressed Kaizi. Those destined for greatness aren’t preoccupied with trivial matters. Like Wu Zetian, who rose to become China’s only female emperor, achieving such heights requires a relentless drive. While that comparison might be a stretch, the entrepreneurial grit An Xin demonstrated was commendable. She was soft-spoken when at ease but worked as fiercely as any man.

An Xin took the money, counted the 400 foreign exchange coupons without hesitation, pocketed them, and said without looking up:
“No thanks. One meal would use it all up, and I need to get home.”

Her family was still in the hospital, waiting for her return. If she went to eat with Kaizi and the others, who knows how late she’d get home? Besides, in this era, there were no phones, pagers, or mobile devices. She worried her family would get anxious if she didn’t return on time.

Kaizi, seemingly anticipating her refusal, raised an eyebrow and teased:
“In such a rush? Not even time for one meal?”

This girl seemed well-behaved. He had thought she might enjoy going out, but it turned out she was focused on finishing her work and heading home. Definitely a good girl.

An Xin smiled gently, thinking of her younger siblings, her ailing mother, and even a certain cold man who might come to pick her up tonight. Feeling a longing to return, she said:
“Yes, my family’s waiting for me.”

She couldn’t afford to raise suspicion. Until her plans were fully realized, it was best to stay obedient. If her cover were blown, things would become quite troublesome.

Kaizi smirked and looked helplessly at the eager faces of his two companions, Sanmao and Xiaozhong. With a sigh, he said:
“Well, what a pity! I told them that if you joined us, we’d head to that farmhouse restaurant in the west of the city for some yellow beef. But now…”

Pausing dramatically, Kaizi glanced at his crestfallen companions and added:
“Since An Xin doesn’t want to join us, you two can forget about the yellow beef tonight.”

An Xin: “…”

What did her joining them have to do with their yellow beef? Was Kaizi deliberately pinning this on her?

Sanmao: “…”
Xiaozhong: “…”

So the yellow beef they had been craving was off the table because of this?

The two exchanged glances, their eyes burning with frustration. Then, turning to An Xin, their faces lit up with forced smiles. They approached her with unusual enthusiasm.

Sanmao pleaded pitifully:
“An Xin, we’ve been running deliveries together for two days. We’re practically friends now. Please join us for dinner, just this once!”

Xiaozhong eagerly chimed in:
“Exactly! Come with us, and we can all get to know each other better.”

He also sent a series of gestures toward Kaizi, which An Xin immediately understood. If she didn’t join them, the yellow beef these two had been dreaming of would slip away.

Sanmao quickly added, doubling down:
“We’re begging you! Just one meal, alright?”

Like performers in a comedy routine, they kept gesturing exaggeratedly, as if Kaizi wouldn’t notice. It was clear they were desperate for her to join, all for their precious yellow beef.

Watching their antics, An Xin sighed inwardly and reluctantly said:
“Fine, but on one condition—after dinner, you have to drive me home in the truck!”

What choice did she have? She had to indulge Xiaozhong and Sanmao to avoid carrying the blame Kaizi had craftily placed on her.

The west of the city was far from the provincial hospital where her family was staying. If she had to walk back after dinner, it would easily be 10 p.m. by the time she arrived.