Chapter 57: Earning Foreign Exchange

When Zhao Sihai returned to the room, Bai Ruojiao gave him her answer as promised.

But the answer was completely unexpected.

“When I’m done organizing, Hai ge, find a time to give the notebook to Factory Director Liu. Whether I can join the textile factory or not will be up to him.”

Zhao Sihai looked at the rough clothing design drafts on the table and immediately guessed her thoughts.

“You want to make ‘new’ clothes?”

Bai Ruojiao answered without looking up, as she drew data charts on the notebook, “Yes. These years, the two things that have given our country the most headaches are food and money.

We can grow our own food. Even if everyone tightens their belts, we can still get by. But what about money? It’s not something you can just get by being self-sufficient.”

Zhao Sihai sat down and picked up a drawing, “But right now, people don’t have much money. Many things focus on practicality. Clothes, I’m afraid…”

He frowned, thinking about how to say it without discouraging her.

But Bai Ruojiao glanced at him sideways, then shook her head and continued to draw charts, only giving him one evaluation, “Stupid.”

Zhao Sihai raised an eyebrow. Could it be that he was wrong?

He couldn’t help but walk over and look down at the bar charts gradually taking shape on the paper. His gaze fell on the title of the chart.

“Analysis and Prediction of China’s Clothing Import and Export Market”

He looked surprised, “You… want to export?”

His voice rose a few pitches, a little incredulous.

It was a big step.

In his understanding, it was as far-fetched and impossible as ordinary people wanting to get involved in major national affairs.

Bai Ruojiao curled her lips, lightly tapped a data point with her pen, and looked up at him.

“Sheep wool, it always has to appear on ‘foreign’ bodies. These years, the country has racked its brains trying to earn foreign exchange, but the situation isn’t ideal. Why? Because everyone is stuck in their old ways.

Right now, there are large and small factories almost everywhere in China. But why are we still so poor? Because our products are basically sold domestically. In the current situation where people aren’t wealthy, domestic sales are just a vicious cycle.

To turn stagnant water into flowing water, we must export. We need to use foreign trade to drive domestic prosperity. But there are so many choices out there. Why would they choose you? Of course, it has to be ‘new’.”

She finished speaking, paused, looked at the chart with the estimated data, chuckled, and shrugged.

“Of course, this is just my personal idea. Whether they accept it or not is up to them. I don’t really need this job.”

She had countless ways to make money, not limited to any one place or industry.

This was just a sudden opportunity. If they accepted it, she might be able to enter the foreign exchange market early.

If they didn’t accept it, she would just have to wait another four years.

Zhao Sihai listened to her words and pondered for a moment. He suddenly felt that her idea was quite good.

But this matter was indeed not easy. It depended on the textile factory.

But no matter what the outcome, since it was something she wanted to do, he would naturally support her wholeheartedly.

So, he didn’t ask any further questions and quietly watched her write and draw in her notebook.

He would only ask when he didn’t understand something.

Early the next morning, Zhao Sihai first went to the machinery factory to ask for leave, then went to the textile factory to deliver the notebook, and then went to the Liu family.

But he didn’t go alone. He brought a security guard with him.

Bai Ruojiao knew about this because the security guard also came to the Zhao family to take the “eyewitness” to record a statement.

Bai Ruojiao wasn’t taken away, so many people came to ask her about it.

Everyone didn’t expect that Zhao Sihai would actually report it to the police.

Yesterday, someone heard that Grandma Cheng was very proud, saying that if the Zhao family dared to come, they would make a scene at the police station and see if the Zhao family could afford to lose face.

She also said that the money was Zhao Dani’s child support for the two children. They would just take it. It didn’t matter where the money came from. No one could take it away.

So, everyone thought that the two sides would probably fight.

But they didn’t expect Zhao Sihai to be so tough and directly report it to the police.

Wasn’t he worried that Zhao Dani would be convicted, which would affect his job?

Even the village head asked his wife to come and inquire.

The most angry people right now were the village head and the captain.

Yesterday, because of Lin Qianqian’s affair, the two of them were called to the brigade for criticism.

Today, when the news came out, they were called to the brigade again to ask about the situation.

Needless to say, how the two of them felt.

Bai Ruojiao didn’t know anything about this matter, but she could roughly guess Zhao Sihai’s intentions.

He was the only male in the family now. Before Zhao Dani was driven back, he didn’t step in to help, and people were whispering behind his back, saying he didn’t care about his siblings.

Now, he wanted to make up for it, get the money back, and stand up for Zhao Dani.

As for the theft, it wouldn’t fall on Zhao Dani.

If the Liu family hadn’t taken the money and hadn’t said those words, it could be said that Zhao Dani did it all by herself.

But the Liu family was stupid, so there was a lot of room for maneuver.

In short, the outcome Zhao Sihai wanted was for the Liu family to give back Zhao Dani’s dowry and the children’s support payments, and for the two families to sever ties, with the children being raised by Zhao Dani.

Moreover, in her opinion, the success rate should be very high.

Sure enough, near noon, a group of people came back.

They also brought back the final result.

Liu Dazhu and Zhao Dani officially divorced, and the two children were raised by Zhao Dani.

The Liu family needed to pay 2 yuan in child support every month, until the children turned eighteen.

One child was three years old, and the other was five. That meant the Liu family would have to pay child support for over ten years.

Zhao Gensen, who was originally unhappy about Zhao Dani coming back, had no objections after hearing about this payment.

Zhao Dani also agreed to the divorce because of this money.

As for the Liu family, they had no choice.

Zhao Sihai accused them of instigating Zhao Dani to steal money.

Zhao Dani, in fear, also insisted that the Liu family forced her to steal.

The money was in the Liu family’s hands, and they couldn’t defend themselves. If they didn’t choose to settle it privately, they would be convicted.

The Zhao family was already like a dead pig that wasn’t afraid of boiling water, but their family had an unmarried daughter, and their son would need to find a wife in the future. They couldn’t ruin their reputation.

So, the Liu family had to agree to their terms.

Zhao Sihai came back and told her everything.

After listening to his story, Bai Ruojiao looked at him and asked curiously, “What are your plans? Can’t you tell me?”

She didn’t think Zhao Sihai was just simply standing up for Zhao Dani.

Zhao Sihai paused in his action of wiping his face. Then, he looked at her, smiled slightly, and pulled down his undershirt, “Guess?”

Bai Ruojiao immediately rolled her eyes at him and turned around, “Say it if you want to.”

Her shiny braid drew a graceful arc in the air.

Zhao Sihai quickly went over and put his arms around her from behind.

His low chuckle slid into her ear, making her unconsciously tilt her ear and gently bump him with her elbow.

“Let go, you’re all sweaty.”

Zhao Sihai naturally didn’t let go. He lowered his head and pecked her cheek before explaining in a low voice,

“Actually, the one who’s most like Mom is Big Sister.”

Bai Ruojiao was stunned and turned her head in surprise, “Like? How so?”

One is a pushover, and the other is a blockhead. She didn’t see how they were alike.

If anything, Zhao Xiaohui was the one who was most like her.

Zhao Sihai curled his lips, a hint of mockery in his eyes, “They both love their sons dearly.”

Bai Ruojiao’s expression froze, then she nodded in realization.

Indeed, Zhao Dani’s favoritism towards her son was a perfect inheritance from Zhao’s mother.

Zhao Sihai took the vegetable basket from her hand and pulled her to sit down to pick vegetables together.

“They say a mother is fierce for her son. For their sons, they’ll do anything.”

With that said, Bai Ruojiao basically understood his plan.