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Since Grandpa Wu had brought it up, Wang Qian couldn’t refuse, and she also shared the same idea. Having someone to look after the house and assist with business was ideal. It would allow them to focus more on their studies without the need for constant running around, which could be exhausting.
The sisters exchanged a glance, each seeing agreement in the other’s eyes. “Grandpa Wu, that sounds good. When can you bring them over? We were just thinking of hiring some help. By the way, you can assure them that the pay and benefits here are definitely not lower than those in state-owned factories. They might even earn more here. They can rest assured and consider staying with us. How does that sound? The conditions and benefits are quite generous, right?”
Seeing the teasing look in Wang Qian’s eyes, Grandpa Wu chuckled heartily. “You sly little thing. I’ll thank them on your behalf first. But shouldn’t we discuss this with your parents too?”
Wang Xuan handed a cup of tea to Grandpa Wu with a smile, “Grandpa, enjoy your tea. We’ll talk to my parents about this, and it should be no problem. We do need people like this in the capital. I’ve been wanting to discuss this with you for a while, but the opportunity never arose. Your suggestion has come at the perfect time, solving a big issue for us. We’re truly grateful.”
Wu Changyong, pleased with Wang Xuan’s words, grinned broadly, “Our Xuan’er knows how to speak. It’s comforting to hear, my dear.”
Taking a sip of water, he remembered something, “By the way, Qianqian, we’ll need people for the factory in the South as well. I have quite a few ex-soldiers from the South who are looking for work. It might be a good idea if we handle this together. It would make management easier. My soldiers are all top-notch individuals.”
Wang Qian agreed with the idea, seeing the benefits of arranging employment for ex-soldiers while ensuring efficient management.
“Grandpa Wu, that’s a great idea. We’ll talk to my dad about it later, especially since he’s the one who will go down South. You two can discuss how to contact and arrange everything,” she suggested.
Impressed by her response, Grandpa Wu couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. He held his tea cup and went to discuss the matter with Wang Zhenhe.
Upon hearing Wu Changyong’s proposal, Wang Zhenhe’s eyes lit up. This arrangement would address the labor shortage issue without the complications of exploiting workers.
“Uncle, I’ll follow your plan. I’ll provide you with an address, and you can have them come to me. Hiring with familiar faces will help our factory get up and running quickly,” Wang Zhenhe agreed.
Wu Changyong couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief. He had been worried about this matter for some time. Seeing the soldiers he fought alongside on the battlefield return home without proper arrangements weighed heavily on his heart. Being able to arrange some assistance was a relief, and he planned to figure out further solutions in the future.
Zhang Lan finished picking vegetables with the group, and Zuo He and Mingyuan returned from outside. Seeing the two of them sweating profusely but still excited, Wang Xuan couldn’t help but complain, “You two, running around in this heat! Aren’t you afraid of getting heatstroke? Quickly go wash up. You’re not kids anymore; I worry about you.”
Seeing her brothers drenched in sweat, Wang Qian felt a pang of concern and went to get them some water.
Zuo He, with a gentle smile on his handsome face, handed Wang Qian a glasses case. “Qianqian, this is for you. Try them on and see if they suit you.”
As Wang Qian opened the glasses case handed to her by Zuo He, she felt a flutter of anticipation. Putting on the black-framed glasses, she realized they were plain lenses, more of a fashion accessory. She couldn’t help but smile happily, realizing that Zuo He had anticipated her thoughts before she even voiced them.
“Zuo He, thank you so much! This is exactly what I wanted, and it feels great. It doesn’t affect my vision at all,” Wang Qian expressed her gratitude.
Mingyuan, jumping in eagerly, exclaimed, “Sis, we picked these out together. I deserve some credit too! I’ll let you know, we’ll have the fish we catch later.”
Wang Qian couldn’t help but chuckle at her little brother’s enthusiasm, “Brother, you’ll definitely get to eat the fish. Look, Big Brother and Zuo Hao have already started fishing. You two must be feeling the heat. Go have some fruits to cool off.”
Zuo He graciously accepted the pear she handed him and delicately nibbled on it. Despite his soldier background, Wang Qian couldn’t tell from his refined manner.
“Zuo He, could you even secure a meal back in school with your eating habits? I seriously doubt it. Can you even get enough food with the way you eat?” Wang Qian teased.
Wang Xuan brought over some water and, hearing her sister’s comment, couldn’t help but smile, “Little sis, no need to worry. Zuo He ate well back home. Let me tell you a secret, during his military school days, it’s said that he was the ‘king of meals,’ and everyone in his dorm fought to help him with meals.”
Upon hearing Wang Xuan’s words, Zuo He blushed slightly and raised his hands in defense, “Big sis, I really couldn’t help it. The lady serving food was overly enthusiastic. I couldn’t handle it every time. I preferred having my dorm mates handle it. But when they found out I was classmates with those getting food, they started giving us extra portions. Thankfully, having my two brothers there helped us finish the food. Eating a full meal before training was indeed uncomfortable. I didn’t intend for it to be that way.”
Seeing Zuo He’s expression, the siblings couldn’t help but chuckle at his predicament. “Zuo He, you’re taking advantage of the situation and acting innocent. If we had known, we would have joined in for a free meal. Unfortunately, your school probably wouldn’t allow us in,” they teased.
Mingyuan shook his head in disappointment, regretting not being able to benefit from such favorable conditions. Apparently, their school’s food wasn’t as good as what Zuo He enjoyed.
Wang Xuan turned to see her sister with large black-framed glasses covering most of her face, looking surprised. “Qianqian, where did you get those? With those on, no one can see your beautiful face!”
She was puzzled. It seemed like a waste to cover up her sister’s pretty face with such large glasses.
The other three chuckled and advised, “Sis, you might not know this, but our little sister is still young. It’s better to keep a low profile. Both of us and Zuo He are often distant, so we might not always be able to look out for her. It’s best to follow what our sister suggested, staying discreet. This way, Zuo He and I won’t have to worry too much.”
Zuo He stepped forward to adjust her glasses frame and appraised, “Hmm, looks good. Qianqian, you should keep wearing them like this. Don’t take them off. If anyone dares to bother you, just let me and Mingyuan know. We’ll take care of it for you.”
Wang Qian was taken aback by their serious expressions. “Zuo He, I’m going to study, not to battle. No need to be this tense. We’re all just students; there shouldn’t be any major issues.”
Imagining the two of them running amok at the school, she could already envision the chaos they might cause with their mischievous ideas. The thought of those students facing the mischief from these two made her shudder.
“Hey, come over here! We caught a fish, and it’s a big one!” called Zuo Hao excitedly, waving at the others. The siblings hurried over upon hearing the news, with Grandpa Chen and the others following out of curiosity.
“Old Zuo, Old Wu, how about we go fishing this afternoon? Both of you rarely have time to relax. Enjoy this leisurely life. Look at how these two kids are savoring it—sitting in the shade, fishing, and chatting without a care in the world,” suggested Chen Lao.
Wu Changyong scratched his head, “Old Chen, I can’t sit still like that. It would be too uncomfortable for me. I’d rather go train the soldiers. You’re the one who knows how to enjoy life. I’m just naturally accustomed to being busy. Old Zuo seems more like you. It’s not for me.”
Old Zhan Shan chuckled and patted his old comrade’s shoulder, “Old Wu, you should learn a bit from Qianqian’s spirited attitude. Even at a young age, she loves to have fun. Look at how well she can sit still and catch fish. You should try to relax a bit, like these kids. It’s not a bad idea to unwind occasionally. Otherwise, when you retire, I’m afraid you might struggle to adjust. We’re not getting any younger, you know.”
Old Grandpa Wu nodded in rare agreement with his old comrade, “Well, it seems like I’ll have to come here more often and learn from Old Chen. Looks like refusing to grow old gracefully isn’t an option. Just look at these young ones—they’re all up and about.”
Old Chen patted his shoulder reassuringly, “Wu, a spirited horse runs a thousand miles. With people like you at the helm, they can’t go wrong. These kids have a long road ahead, and they’ll need your guidance to help them along.”
Zuo Hao proudly displayed a large carp he had caught, “Grandpa, how about this? This fish should be enough for our dinner. The ones Mingcheng caught can be taken home for you all to try. Let everyone taste the flavor of the fish we’ve raised here. Ever since we bought the house, we’ve been raising fish here. Finally, they’re ready to be eaten.”
Seeing the big fish in Zuo Hao’s hands, the three grandpas couldn’t resist the urge to try their luck at fishing as well.
Wang Zhenhe, who had joined them, took the fish from Zuo Hao, weighing it in his hands. “Well done, young man. I’ll go prepare the fish. You all can have dinner here tonight. Let’s reminisce about the old days when we used to eat fish at my place.”
Wang Zhenhe happily carried the fish away, leaving the group to admire the blooming lotus flowers by the pond. A gentle breeze carried a faint floral scent, providing a moment of relief from the sweltering heat.
“You guys are way too relaxed here. I’m almost jealous.” Zhang Weiguo, who had returned from taking a leave of absence to go back to school, unexpectedly arrived at this moment.
Upon seeing Zhang Weiguo, Hao Lianchun cheerfully greeted him, “Weiguo, come and give your uncle some fishing tips. He’s been at it all morning and hasn’t caught a single fish. I’m starting to worry for him.”