Chapter 6: That Occupational Hazard Is Quite Severe

Ye Bei was speechless, his stern expression softening, as if his heart had been hit by an atomic bomb.

His gaze flickered. The noisy sounds of the restaurant seemed to stretch into eternity.

Gu Congshuang realized her bluntness might have been too shocking.

Seeing Ye Bei’s face flush, she felt like the villain, not him. She’d been working too much on dating shows; her flirty lines were effortless.

This occupational hazard was severe.

“After I report to my superiors, I’ll formally propose to your family. The island base requires approval, which takes two to three days, or a week at most. I’ll get it done as soon as possible.”

Ye Bei put down his teacup, as if a weight had been lifted.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

Back home, Gu Congshuang smelled chicken soup.

She rushed into the living room. Li Yuqin was no longer her usual harsh self, greeting Gu Congshuang warmly:

“Shuangshuang, you’re finally back! Your father got paid today, so I bought a chicken. You fell in the river yesterday; you need to replenish your strength.”

Gu Qinshan, having heard about Ye Bei from Li Yuqin, was beaming. He understood the significance of a navy second lieutenant. With such a son-in-law, even the factory director would look up to him.

The factory director’s daughter had married an ordinary worker, but his daughter would be the wife of a navy second lieutenant.

He felt honored, forgetting his previous dislike for his daughter.

But Gu Congshuang hadn’t forgotten. Perhaps it was her reader’s perspective, but she kept a distance from her family to avoid driving herself crazy.

Her priority was making money. If things went wrong with Ye Bei, she could leave with the money.

She said, “Dad, I know you’re happy about your paycheck. I’ll be marrying into the Ye family soon, so I won’t be around much longer. Give me three hundred yuan for a dowry.”

“What! Three hundred yuan! That’s a gold dowry!” Li Yuqin stopped eating.

“I didn’t ask for a dowry when I married your father.”

“Then you could only marry my father.”

Li Yuqin almost had a heart attack when she heard this, but she couldn’t refute it.

“Dad, Mom, I know our situation. Three hundred yuan is about a year’s salary. The bride price is 888 yuan, totaling over a thousand. We’ll earn more. After I marry, I’ll take care of you both, so it’s worth it.”

Gu Qinshan and Li Yuqin exchanged glances. Gu Congli didn’t mind; his parents had spent a lot on him. He immediately grabbed a drumstick from the soup.

“Dad, can you borrow the factory car?”

“Why? That’s factory property. I can’t borrow it. Besides, can you drive?”

“Ye Bei taught me. I can drive now.”

In her real life, she had five years of driving experience. She knew drivers were in high demand in the 1970s and 80s.

She had an idea. Even without a license, she could drive illegally, making money by transporting goods from the city to the countryside and vice versa, buying and selling local products and herbs. It was simple arbitrage.

She could earn a lot. Even ten Ye Bei wouldn’t tempt her; she’d leave with her money.

Gu Qinshan gasped. The son-in-law was indeed impressive. Factory drivers earned high salaries, almost as much as the director. If Gu Qinshan could drive, he would have become a driver. He hadn’t expected his daughter to learn.

“I know you can borrow it, Dad. You’ve worked there for decades. Borrowing it for a few hours a day is no problem.”

“Besides…” Gu Congshuang paused, glancing at Gu Congli.

“Congli can sit beside you. You can teach him to drive. He can work in the army or as a driver at the factory. Dad, shouldn’t we borrow the car?”

Gu Qinshan looked at his daughter in surprise. She was usually docile and indecisive, fawning over Lin Wanxing. Now, she’d found a reliable husband and seemed transformed.

He gritted his teeth. “Since you say so, I’ll borrow the car. But be careful. If you damage it, I’ll never be able to repay the factory.”

“Okay! It’s settled then.”

Gu Congshuang knew Gu Congli was the favored son. In the past, she would have felt bitter, but now, she needed to make money and escape.

The next morning, Gu Qinshan handed Gu Congshuang the car keys. “The factory agreed to lend it for three days. Be careful.”

It was a Soviet-imported car, used for VIPs and clients, a rare sight in China. It was pristine white, with a boxy design, looking vintage to Gu Congshuang, fashionable to Gu Qinshan.

Gu Congshuang adjusted the seat and mirrors. The controls were less convenient, but she quickly found her rhythm.

Gu Qinshan stubbed out his cigarette, rubbing his hands excitedly. His daughter could drive! A goldmine! A driver’s license cost thousands, money he didn’t have.

Gu Congli jumped up, shouting, “Sister! Teach me! Stop the car!” He chased after the car like a giddy child.

Gu Congshuang, however, accelerated, leaving Gu Congli far behind. She slowed down, teasing him, making him run in circles before finally stopping.

Gu Congli, breathless, leaned on the car door, “Let… let me in… Sister!”

Gu Congshuang stopped, and Gu Congli, panting, got into the passenger seat.

He was oblivious to being teased, enthralled by the car. “Sister, you’re amazing! Teach me soon!”

“No rush. Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“To make money!”