Chapter 16: Men Only Slow Down My Money-Making Speed

The Gu family’s ancestral home was located in the south of the city, eight kilometers from Gu Congshuang’s house.

The century-old house was dilapidated due to neglect. The wooden building seemed gloomy as the sun set.

The first floor was damp, infested with insects and rodents in the summer, but the house still retained a sense of grandeur.

Gu Qinhai sat in the living room, surrounded by his children: his eldest son, Gu Congyu; second daughter, Gu Congbing; youngest son, Gu Congying; and youngest daughter, Gu Congxin.

“You’ve all heard, haven’t you? Gu Congshuang got incredibly lucky. She’s marrying a navy lieutenant, and her dowry was the highest in the city—3000 yuan! Many people can’t earn that much in seven or eight years.”

Gu Qinhai glanced at Gu Congbing, a mixture of disappointment and exasperation in his eyes.

Gu Congbing lowered her head, silent, envious of Gu Congshuang’s good fortune. She couldn’t back out of her marriage now.

“Congbing, it’s not that your current situation is bad, but look at Gu Congshuang. She broke off her engagement and found someone better. You’re my daughter; you don’t have to marry a butcher. You should understand this and know what to do.”

Chen Hehua defended her daughter, “Why are you saying this? You thought her fiancé was good, praising him for being hardworking. Now that you have a comparison, you’re complaining. What kind of father are you?”

Gu Congbing, even more embarrassed, secretly devised a plan.

“I understand.” She wouldn’t let Gu Congshuang be so smug!

…

At the Hantang Automobile Factory, Gu Qinshan returned in the car Gu Congshuang drove. He and the Ye family had spent the entire day and night discussing the wedding. The Ye family’s conditions were excellent. Gu Qinshan was completely satisfied.

Ye Bei only had a few days of leave. He would return to the army soon and get married after receiving approval from his superiors. They needed to finalize the date for the engagement banquet before he left.

The usually frugal Gu Qinshan was unusually generous, ordering many Da Bai Tu milk candies as wedding favors and distributing them to his colleagues.

“Old Gu, congratulations on your daughter’s marriage to such a good family.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Regarding the car you borrowed, since your daughter’s getting engaged, you can keep it for a few more days. We don’t want people to look down on us. Our Hantang cars, though domestically made, are quite good. You can use it as a wedding car.”

Gu Qinshan was overjoyed. Borrowing a car usually required favors and meals, but now it was easily arranged.

Ye Bei’s family must be influential. Otherwise, his boss wouldn’t have been so generous.

The car, originally for three days, was now extended by two.

This time, Ye Bei, not Gu Congli, sat in the passenger seat. Ye Bei wasn’t comfortable with Gu Congshuang driving alone, especially after the incident with Liu Guoqiang. He regretted not hurting Liu Guoqiang more severely.

Gu Congshuang wanted to earn more money to repay the dowry, feeling pressured by Ye Bei’s kindness.

Ye Bei couldn’t persuade her and dismissed Gu Congli.

Gu Congli was heartbroken but didn’t dare offend Ye Bei. He pleaded with Gu Congshuang, “Sister, please teach me how to drive. My beating was for nothing.”

He humbly got out, letting Ye Bei sit in.

Before leaving, he said, “Brother-in-law, can I borrow your car once I learn to drive?”

“Stop it. Let’s go,” Gu Congshuang said, slamming the door.

With Ye Bei, Gu Congshuang felt safe. Her money-making plan could finally begin.

After dropping off a few passengers, she went to the local wholesale market with her capital.

She initially wanted to wholesale radios to sell in the countryside, but there were no suppliers, so she postponed that. She went to the clothing wholesale market instead.

Years later, Yuehai City’s clothing wholesale market would become famous nationwide, but it was just beginning.

The market’s rise was still three years away. It was a nighttime black market, operating secretly at night.

“Don’t come here without me.”

Ye Bei looked at the narrow, dark alley, where people carrying bags appeared, and worried, “It’s not safe.”

“Don’t worry, it’s fine with Congli.”

Ye Bei shook his head. He knew Gu Congshuang’s determined nature.

“But you’ll be going to Seagull Island soon. Will it restrict you? You’ll have four children to take care of.”

“That’s why I need to earn more money. You spent over 3000 yuan on Liu Guoqiang; that money could be used for the children.”

Gu Congshuang was angry at the thought of the abusive ex-boyfriend. She was relieved that the plot had changed. She needed to get to Seagull Island quickly.

Otherwise, she would have to take matters into her own hands and run over him.

But that meant jail time. She didn’t want to waste her youth.

“We have money, don’t worry.”

“But you spend too much. Even with money, it will run out.”

Besides, your money is my money, and my money is my money. You’re spending my money so freely, Gu Congshuang thought.

They reached the night market. To avoid detection, they were silent, using hand gestures to haggle.

Ye Bei held Gu Congshuang’s hand. It was the first time he held her hand tightly since their initial handshake.

Gu Congshuang blushed, trying to pull away, but Ye Bei held on tight.

Her heartbeat seemed to transmit to Gu Congshuang’s hand—intense, breathtaking, romantic.

“I can’t haggle with my hand held.”

“I’ll handle the men. Only women get hand-holding,” Ye Bei said, refusing to let go.

Gu Congshuang: …

Men only slow down my money-making speed.

There were many stalls. Gu Congshuang, having edited countless videos of beautiful women, knew the styles.

She quickly selected a few stalls with beautiful clothes. She imagined herself wearing them. Fortunately, the stall owners were women.

Ye Bei let her haggle. After some effort, she bought two large bags of clothes.

Ye Bei, a hardened soldier, carried one bag on his shoulder and another under his arm.

Gu Congshuang couldn’t stop smiling.