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Upon learning about their plans to develop in the south, Cong Wei couldn’t help but admire Wang Zhenhe’s courage. Wang Zhenhe mentioned the management of the factory after their departure, and Yang Mingxuan agreed to let the two young men take over.
“Zhenhe, isn’t your niece also working at the factory? Let her handle the cashier position. As for the accounting, I’ll have your sister-in-law help out part-time; she has experience in that field. The library is relatively quiet, so it should work out. With this staffing arrangement, you and your wife can focus on developing in the south. Rest assured, we’ll take care of things here,” Yang Mingxuan suggested.
Agreeing with Cong Wei’s decision, Yang Mingxuan saw it as a natural course of action and decided to manage things for the time being, unsure of how long it would last.
With the agreement reached during the discussion among the three men, Wang Zhenhe finally felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.
Upon hearing about their daughter and son-in-law’s plans, Geng Lianhua chimed in, “Zhenhe, I’ll look after the shop for you. My health is good, and I’ll have your father come stay with me when he’s free. I’ll take care of things here. If things don’t go as planned down south, at least you have a fallback. I’ll handle the shop’s finances. If it gets too busy, I’ll have your eldest aunt come help out. This way, they can earn some pocket money. With Qianqian gone, some things aren’t as profitable as before; we have to be more careful. Wholesale is something your brother-in-law can help with. Don’t worry, go ahead and focus on your work. I’m still capable.”
After contemplating the situation, Wang Qian realized that for now, this plan was the most feasible. Developing the car repair shop would take time, and rushing into it wouldn’t be wise. The money earned now didn’t concern her much; even if her brothers took a share, it wouldn’t amount to much. She decided to wait until they all graduated from university before making bigger decisions.
When Wang Xuan and the others finished their summer vacation and sorted out affairs in Capital, they returned with Zuo Yu. However, the three military school students were summoned by the Old Zuo to join the army, so they were unable to come at the moment.
Seeing Zuo Yu, now a handsome young man, Wang Zhenhe noticed Zhang Lan appraising him. Zuo Yu chuckled and said, “Auntie, don’t you recognize me? Do you see any changes? Do I still look the same as when I was a kid?”
Amused by his teasing, Zhang Lan couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, you do look just like you did when you were a child. If I saw you on the street, I will not mistake you for anyone else! It’s been a few years, and you’ve grown so tall. I can’t believe the little boy from back then has grown this much.”
As they sat down to chat with Zuo Yu, Wang Zhenhe also shared their plans with him.
Upon hearing the news, Zuo Yu was delighted but mindful of his position. He said, “Uncle, things look promising on our end. My classmates are quite interested in business. However, you should stay in the forefront while I assist from behind the scenes. Our collaboration should remain discreet.”
Zuo Yu’s concerns were previously mentioned by Wang Qian to Wang Zhenhe. Therefore, hearing it directly from Zuo Yu today, Wang Zhenhe was well aware of the situation. “Alright, you’ll have a smaller share in the juice factory, but I’ll need you to take a larger role in other aspects. As you are all nearing graduation, the future will be in your hands. I’ll support you for now, but after you graduate, it will be your responsibility. Give me some time to rest.”
Not wanting to keep pushing him, Wang Zhenhe hesitated, but Zuo Yu cheerfully responded, “Uncle, when the time comes, you won’t have a choice but to step back. Once we are capable, we will take over. I look forward to working side by side with Mingyuan. You can enjoy your retirement at home.”
As Wang Zhenhe detailed the future plans according to his daughter’s instructions, Zuo Yu’s expression grew more serious. If things unfolded as Wang Zhenhe envisioned, the potential earnings were beyond Zuo Yu’s imagination, a sum he couldn’t fathom.
“Uncle, go ahead and work with peace of mind. I’ll help you out,” Zuo Yu assured.
The two of them had a thorough discussion about their future development plans, and even Wang Zhenhe couldn’t help but admire Zuo Yu’s foresight. Zuo Yu had thought of aspects that Wang Zhenhe hadn’t considered, demonstrating his comprehensive thinking.
Once all the details were settled, the two emerged from the room. Zhang Lan and the others had already prepared dinner, waiting for the duo to come out. When Mingyuan returned from the factory and saw Zuo Yu, he joyfully pounced on him.
“Zuo Yu, when did you arrive? I’ve missed you so much. You guys left and never came back,” Mingyuan exclaimed with excitement.
Zuo Yu hugged Mingyuan, who was almost his height, and replied happily, “Mingyuan, I’ve missed you too. If it weren’t for the need to earn more money, I would have come to see you earlier. But now, we can work together. In the future, the two of us brothers will strive together.”
Mingyuan playfully punched him, “Of course, I’ve been looking forward to this day. When the two of us team up, we’ll be unstoppable.”
With Chen Xu overseeing things in Capital, Wang Xuan wasn’t worried. This time, he brought the account books with him and even had the money sent through the post office.
After dinner and reviewing the account books, Wang Zhenhe nodded in approval. Zuo Yu, upon seeing the financial records from their operations in Capital, was astonished.
“Xuan’er, you guys are amazing. Look at all this money! I thought I was good at making money in the south, but you guys are the real deal. I’m in awe,” Zuo Yu expressed, impressed by the financial success of Wang Xuan and the others in Capital.
Seeing the impressive results achieved by Wang Xuan and the team in Capital, Zuo Yu couldn’t help but admire their accomplishments. Despite being students, they had managed to establish a successful business, leaving him feeling outclassed. However, witnessing their achievements also ignited his own ambition. He was determined to excel given the opportunity.
With Zuo Yu’s presence, Wang Zhenhe and Mingyuan took the opportunity to familiarize him with the operations at the factory, with assistance from Cong Tao and Yang Nuo, making the workforce at home abundant.
Observing the factory established by the Wang family through their own efforts left Zuo Yu truly impressed. Although the product was simple, the juice they produced was exceptionally delicious. Having tasted a similar product at his grandfather’s house, he knew it was a gift from Wang Xuan and the others.
“Uncle, I believe that once our factory is set up in the south, the juices we produce there will be even better. With more variety of fruits and flavors to choose from, I am really looking forward to our future development,” Zuo Yu remarked, anticipating the potential success of their future endeavors.
As Zuo Yu and the others were busy with the factory, Wang Qian and Mingyuan received their college acceptance letters at that time. Both siblings were admitted to their desired schools – Wang Qian chose a foreign language school, while Mingyuan got into the same school as Wang Xuan.
With four university students in the Wang family now, upon learning about the siblings’ successful admissions, Yang Mingxuan and Cong Wei rushed over to congratulate them. Wang Zhenhe and Zhang Lan were not only happy but also proud. They felt immense satisfaction and pride, even though they never vocalized it. Their children had not disappointed them.
“Zhenhe, in ancient times, your family would have produced four top scholars – four! I can’t even imagine the honor that brings. If all our children made it to college, I wouldn’t know what to call myself,” Cong Wei expressed, admiring Wang Zhenhe’s family success.
Geng Lianhua chimed in, “Nephews, tonight our family is hosting a celebration dinner to commemorate this occasion. All of you must come. It’s a joyous moment for me as a grandmother to have all of my grandsons and granddaughters admitted to university. If anyone asks, I can proudly say I’m the grandmother of four top scholars. In ancient times, I’d be a noble lady, right?”
Ge Yun added with a smile, “Indeed, in ancient times, you, as a noble lady, would probably receive an audience with the emperor. No one else has this achievement. I’m worried about our own children; getting into college seems like a distant dream for them.”
The children all lacked the same enthusiasm for studying as their eldest son, with the youngest son showing more promise, while the two daughters lagged slightly behind.
Zhang Lan comforted Ge Yun with a smile, “Sister-in-law, even without going to college, there are plenty of ways to make a living. If necessary, they can work at our factory. There will always be food on the table.”
Ge Yun realized this was true. Academic success wasn’t everything, and if the daughters couldn’t make it to college, they could still find opportunities, even at the family’s workplace. She understood that not everyone can or needs to attend university.
In the afternoon, Zhang Lan began preparing the meal for the gathering. To her surprise, in the afternoon, Zhang Weiguo unexpectedly arrived with Bai Jianing, accompanied by Zhang Wanyou.
Seeing her brother, who had recovered his health, brought a mix of emotions for Zhang Lan. “Weiguo, Jianing, why didn’t you inform us in advance so I could come pick you up?”
Somewhat sheepishly, Zhang Weiguo scratched his head, “Sis, Uncle Wu asked us to come back to visit. However, Jianing’s mom hasn’t agreed yet. Jianing felt caught in the middle, so I thought of bringing her here to let our mom see her and show her what our family is like. Also, we wanted to seek your advice.”
Amused by her brother’s predicament, Zhang Lan chuckled, “You, struggling even with your mother-in-law. I wonder how you managed to lead troops in battle! Don’t worry, Qianqian has a plan for this. Just wait until we resolve it all during this visit. Jianing, why is your mother opposed to your marriage? We’ll address this when we visit.”
Zhang Lan hit the nail on the head with her comment. Bai Jianing felt a bit embarrassed as she explained, “Sis, my mom doesn’t approve of Weiguo being a soldier and living so far away. She’s worried about the hardships I might face. Uncle Wu and Uncle Zuo have tried to convince my mom, but it hasn’t worked. So, Uncle Wu suggested that Weiguo bring me here first to let Mom see our family and also to seek your advice. My dad is also trying to persuade her on his end.”