Chapter 302: Preparations

“Brother, sister, come join us, it’s so much fun!”

Minggui waved at them from afar, and the two pseudo kids joined in the ice skating fun, playing with their young cousin until noon when they slowly dispersed, each heading home for a meal.

At noon, Zhang Lan made seafood soup, and little Minggui had a big bowl all to himself, along with a steamed bun. Even Wang Qian was impressed by how much this little one could eat.

“Young brother, isn’t your stomach full?” she asked.

The young boy nodded. “It’s full, but it’s delicious. If my stomach could hold more, I would have another bowl.”

In the evening, when Mingyuan was taking the children back home, Zhang Lan shared the day’s events with her daughter. Wang Qian felt like rushing out to hug the young cousin and shower him with affection upon hearing the news. She felt immensely grateful that they hadn’t developed any resentment, unlike some others. Otherwise, today’s events could have taken a different turn.

“Mom, they say good deeds bring good rewards. Truly, we owe a lot to Minggui. If he hadn’t cried out, things could have taken a serious turn,” Wang Qian expressed her gratitude.

Wang Qian believed that sometimes there was a reason for everything, and that even the smallest actions could have significant consequences. She felt that their young cousin’s timely appearance was no coincidence.

“Yes, in the future, treat this little brother well. Regardless of his father’s character, at present, this child is good. You all have siblings, and he’s all alone. Even as he grows up, support him. After all, you share the same blood, and he’s close to you. Cherish this bond and take care of him,” Zhang Lan advised.

Wang Qian wholeheartedly agreed. Their young cousin had become their family’s savior. Without Wang Zhenhe and the others, they might have faced significant challenges. Despite their capabilities, having someone out there looking after things was indispensable.

As the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year arrived, they bid a reluctant farewell to Minggui, then informed Wang Juan, before returning to the city with Minglin.

After the Lunar New Year, Geng Lianhua followed her son-in-law into the city. Initially, Qu Kai taught his father how to ride a motorcycle. Fortunately, at that time, the traffic police weren’t strict about checking for driver’s licenses. Qu Cungen quickly picked up the skill after some training and confidently rode around the city.

Meanwhile, Zhang Hua were busy preparing for their daughter’s engagement, so they didn’t stay long in the city.

Zhang Lan took over her husband’s wholesale business, which had a new batch of goods arriving after the New Year. She was busy sorting and managing the inventory for the customers coming to make purchases.

During her hectic schedule, Hao Lianchun rushed over with a letter. “Daughter, take a look. It’s from a faraway place.”

Although the elderly lady was unsure where they were ordering goods from, this letter seemed to have come from quite a distant location, possibly the place her son-in-law was planning to go, Xinjiang or something like that.

After noting down the accounts and stashing the money away, Zhang Lan finally had a moment to read the letter. Its contents surprised her – the sender had already dispatched the goods and requested payment upon receipt. The price was reasonable, similar to what Weiguo had quoted, but much cheaper than their local market rates.

“Mom, our goods will arrive in a while, and this is an early notification. We need to find some help quickly,” Zhang Lan informed her mother about their plan to sell juice. Geng Lianhua immediately offered her assistance, stating that she knew many people who could help. She assured Zhang Lan that she would find some unemployed individuals willing to work. Geng Lianhua emphasized the need for reliable and hardworking individuals for the job and promised to discuss it with her contacts.

Like a whirlwind, Geng Lianhua swiftly went out, clearing the courtyard of people to get things organized. With the workspace destined to become a processing plant, Zhang Lan needed to prepare in advance.

At noon, Zhang Lan instructed her daughter to move the remaining goods to the shop. Since they had a sizable courtyard, there was plenty of room to store the items.

“Daughter, I’ve spoken to my friends, and they will start sending people over for you to interview. Some young folks at home could use the work, and at least they can earn some money here. Also, should we ask your elder niece Wan’er to come over and help out? It could be a way for her to save up some money for her future marriage,” Geng Lianhua suggested.

Considering the impending engagement of her eldest niece, Zhang Lan agreed. She realized that having Wan’er help out would be beneficial as she was old enough and had likely been trained in household tasks by her mother.

“Mom, why not have your son-in-law bring Wan’er over next time? She can help me keep an eye on things, and with more people around, I might get overwhelmed,” Zhang Lan suggested.

In the afternoon, Yang Nuo, Cong Tao, and the others came to help. They also brought the stamps that Wang Qian had asked them to purchase. Seeing the stack of stamps, she felt as if she had stumbled upon a treasure trove.

“Yang Nuo, you two should keep a few stamps as well. They might become valuable in the future,” Wang Qian suggested.

Cong Tao chuckled and replied, “Wang Qian, we have bought these for you. If they do become valuable, don’t forget to treat us to a meal.”

While Yang Nuo and Cong Tao managed the packaging materials, Xiaomei, Mingyuan, and the others pitched in. They organized purchases, cleared clutter, and spruced up the place, leaving everyone and Zhang Lan looking quite messy by day’s end.

Looking at each other, they resembled a group of little mud-covered kids. Zhang Lan chuckled, “Children, Auntie will take you for a bath later. Go home, get clean clothes, and meet here.”

With the house renovated, Zhang Lan felt content. They decided to skip bathing at home and head to the public baths instead, which were affordable and suitable for a larger group.

Yang Nuo and his companion had some trouble finding a manufacturer for soda bottles. After visiting several places, they finally found a factory. To their surprise, they recognized the factory manager, who had served as a comrade with Yang Mingxuan in the past, which made the interaction more cordial.

They examined the samples and made some specific requests. Although the factory manager seemed a bit impatient, as they were used to others complying with their demands rather than the other way around, they couldn’t afford to offend these two individuals. Being well-connected and influential, even the factory manager had to treat them with respect, knowing that upsetting them could lead to consequences for his staff.

Taking advantage of the acquaintance, they also requested assistance in preparing a machine for capping the bottles. Since they were already imposing on the factory, they didn’t mind causing a bit more trouble.

“Uncle Song, we’ll take our leave now. I’ll leave the rest to you. Please handle it promptly, don’t delay my money-making endeavors,” one of them quipped before departing.

Uncle Song could only shake his head with a wry smile as he bid the two off. He had heard that these two had passed for college, so he was puzzled by their sudden interest in business. Concerned, he decided to call Yang Mingxuan to inquire about their unexpected foray into bottle procurement.

“Old comrade, what’s going on with your son Yang Nuo and the Cong family’s child? Aren’t they supposed to be studying? Why are they coming to me to order bottles?”

Yang Mingxuan understood the situation but couldn’t reveal the whole truth. “Old comrade, our kids have been talking about working hard to pay for their education. They say they want to earn their tuition fees next semester on their own. It seems they are motivated to work and earn money. They probably went there today to fulfill some tasks. Please be understanding. Come over sometime, and I’ll treat you to a drink,” he explained tactfully.

After a pleasant chat, the old comrades hung up. Yang Mingxuan couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction. These two youngsters were impressive, getting things moving.

When the brothers returned, Zhang Lan had already brought the kids back after their bath. She planned to host them for dinner and was busy in the kitchen with a few girls.

“Auntie, things are mostly sorted out. How about you on your end? Have you bought all the pots and pans?” Yang Nuo asked, approaching the door.

Zhang Lan, holding a ladle, replied with a smile, “Everything’s taken care of. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to meet the workers we’re considering. You two can help observe. We need clever and hardworking individuals, not sly tricksters. Go wash up; I’ve already heated water for you.”

Cong Fei guided the two to the prepared water for a quick wash. “Bro, Auntie made a lot of delicious food today. Hurry up and wash; otherwise, all the good food will be gone, and I won’t take responsibility,” he teased as they prepared to freshen up.

After dinner, Ge Yun and Zhao Ru also came over for a visit. Seeing all the kids gathered there, they couldn’t help but check in. As soon as they entered, they noticed their son gleaming with oil on his lips, happily munching on a chicken leg.

Fondly, Ge Yun wiped his son’s mouth and then handed the partially eaten chicken leg to her. “Mom, you should try it, Auntie’s cooking is delicious,” their son insisted.

Smiling, Ge Yun shook her head and pushed the chicken leg back. “Brother and sister, I’ve spoken to the authorities. As long as we can get the necessary permits, they’ll be the first to help you out. So, don’t worry too much. As long as our hygiene and everything are in order, it should work out fine,” Ge Yun reassured Wang Qian, addressing her concerns.

Wang Qian, grateful for Ge Yun’s thoughtfulness, expressed her gratitude. “Aunt Ge, we must thank you properly. Once the first batch is ready, we’ll definitely have your colleagues and friends taste it. I’m sure it’ll be delicious.”

With the kids fed and content, Ge Yun and Zhao Ru quickly bid their farewells, as everyone was exhausted and ready for some rest. It was time to head home and get some sleep to prepare for the tasks of the following day.

Both mothers didn’t see Zhang Lan’s actions as exploiting child labor. They believed that the children’s happiness and development through exercise were the most important. Having endured hardships themselves, they knew what was best for their children. Following Zhang Lan’s lead, they were confident that the children would only progress positively and avoid any wrong paths.

The next day, Zhang Lan took Yang Nuo and Cong Tao to select workers. Seeing the young individuals, the two of them were thrilled.

“You guys, why are you here? Weren’t you all supposed to be working at the street factory?” Yang Nuo asked in surprise, recognizing some of the young people from their past. However, most of them had transitioned to working in the factories managed by the street office.

One of them chuckled bitterly, “Yang, don’t make fun of us. The factories under the street office are struggling to pay wages. We can barely support ourselves. We’ve been on leave most of the time. We heard you were hiring, so we decided to come over together.”