Chapter 124

I was startled; I might actually earn over a hundred this month.

This sum of over one hundred was like a windfall for their family, directly resolving the losses caused by Lin’s Father being fired, and also allowing them to come up with the money they had asked others to bring for Lin An'an's schooling and the money for their other children.

Two weeks later, Lin An'an told Song Chaohua that she didn't have to drop out of school!

Upon hearing the news, Song Chaohua both happy and somewhat bittersweet.

She specially bought soda to thank Gu Yousi, saying, "Thanks to you, Lin An'an is able to continue her studies."

Gu Yousi: How is steel forged?

She glanced at the soda in Song Chaohua's hand, closed the book, and said, "It's not thanks to me, it's thanks to you. You're the one who gave us the initial capital for the restaurant."

"But you've been the one worrying about this whole thing, from beginning to end," Song Chaohua said instinctively after a moment of surprise.

Gu Yousi said calmly, "Wasn't it you who promoted the restaurant at school and told everyone that Lin An'an's mother was a great cook?"

She stood up, took the soda, and handed the book to Song Chaohua, saying, "You can read it when you have time."

The book was quite heavy. Looking at it in her arms, Song Chaohua was speechless for a moment. Perhaps she was bewitched, but she actually took the book home.

As the weather warms up in March, cicadas begin to chirp incessantly.

Gu Jinshui was leaning back in a rocking chair in the shop, enjoying the breeze, with a book in his hand. He Youyou closed his eyes, it was unclear whether he was reading or sleeping.

The wind chimes rang outside, and someone came in and stopped at the door of the cabinet.

Gu Jinshui didn't pay attention at first, but when the man coughed, he looked up and saw Professor Bai standing at the door with a smile on his face.

Gu Jinshui immediately stood up. "Professor Bai, what brings you here? You're a rare guest, please have a seat."

He gestured for Professor Bai to sit down at the tea table opposite him.

Professor Bai smiled and said, "Since I don't have class today, I came to see you. How's business?"

"It's the same as always. Anyway, my wife and daughter can earn money now, and the whole family doesn't depend on me for food and drink." Gu Jinshui said this with great pride on his face.

He's been boasting to everyone he meets lately about how business-savvy his daughter is and how successful her restaurant is.

Professor Bai laughed heartily, "That would be wonderful! Since that's the case, you must have plenty of free time. Would you like to come to Japan with us?"

"Japan?" Gu Jinshui placed the kettle on the stove to boil water, then turned around and said, "Yamamoto?"

"Yes, Professor Yamamoto who facilitated the exchange." Professor Bai rested his hands on his knees, quite frankly. "Professor Yamamoto admires you very much and said he'd like you to go to Japan with him. They'll cover all Japan food and lodging. What do you think?"

In the past, Gu Jinshui would have refused without even thinking.

But recently, to be honest, seeing how capable his wife and daughter are, Gu Jinshui has also been thinking about becoming more ambitious. He can't be inferior to his wife and daughter, can he?

He stroked his chin and said, "Let me think about this. How long will it take?"

"At least a month."

Professor Bai patted Gu Jinshui on the shoulder, winked at him, and said, "Anyway, the Japan are paying, so it would be foolish of us not to take advantage of this."

Gu Jinshui was amused by Professor Bai.

Looking at Professor Bai's refined appearance, you would never guess that he could be so humorous.

He said, "I'll go back and ask my family. If it's okay, I'll go. As you said, it's foolish not to take advantage of a good deal."

The Gu Family Members was somewhat surprised, yet not entirely surprised, that Gu Jinshui was going out, especially to Japan.

He Chunlian said, "I knew you couldn't sit still. You've only been in Shandong for a short time, and you're already going out again."

Gu Jinshui touched his nose, feeling extremely embarrassed.

Liang Ying smiled and said, "Mom, let him go. I heard that Japan cosmetics and home appliances are very famous. Let's make him spend a lot this time, so he can't just buy us some gold chains and gold earrings again."

Hearing this, He Chunlian was genuinely tempted.

She touched her face and said, "The girls in our crew keep saying how good those Japan face masks are, it's just a pity we can't buy them here."

"Mom, just tell me what you need, and I'll buy it wholesale for you. We'll buy enough for a whole year!"

Gu Jinshui immediately patted his chest and assured him.

He Chunlian rolled her eyes at him, "Get lost! Why buy a year's supply? What if it doesn't fit? Here, you wait, I'll ask those girls tomorrow."

"So you mean you're willing to let me go?" Gu Jinshui asked cautiously.

He Chunlian rolled her eyes at the sky. "Your legs are your own, I can't stop you. Besides, your wife has already agreed, what can I say? I'm just telling you, you better behave yourself and don't even think about causing trouble outside!"

Gu Jinshui quickly replied, "What are you saying? Do you think I'm that kind of person? I'm definitely going out for exchange and learning; I won't stay outside the house!"

Even Gu Yousi didn't believe that.

Gu Yousi had no doubt that Gu Jinshui was going to Japan to find bargains, which was a good thing. The Japan had looted too many cultural relics and antiques from their country during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China of China. If they could bring back one or two pieces, that would be great.

With his family's consent, Gu Jinshui contacted Professor Bai the next day.

Professor Bai was very happy, but also a little hesitant. He said on the other end of the phone, "Jin Shui, um, I heard something this morning. Sun Zhiping is going too."

"He's going too?!"

Gu Jinshui sounded somewhat surprised, "Wasn't he disciplined? How come your school is letting him get away with such a good thing?"

Professor Bai sighed, "He was disciplined, but this time he said he would pay for it himself, and Professor Lin from the school also spoke up for him, so the higher-ups added him to the list as well."

If that's the case, then there's really nothing we can do.

Gu Jinshui wasn't a teenager, so he naturally knew that things often didn't go as planned. For example, among superiors, leaders, neighbors, and relatives, there were bound to be a few idiots. But could you quit your job, move, or sever ties with your relatives?

Adults simply pretend they didn't see it.

"Fine, let him go then. As long as he doesn't bother me, we'll keep to ourselves."

Gu Jinshui, "But if he causes trouble, I won't take it lying down."

"Don't worry about that," Professor Bai said. "We were instructed by our superiors to go out this time; we can't cause any trouble."

Gu Jinshui chuckled, not taking his words seriously.

He asked Professor Bai to help him get a visa, and then he needed to exchange foreign currency. Since he was going to Japan, he also went and bought a few books on Japan collecting so that he could adapt to the local conditions abroad.

After all the preparations, it was already the end of April when it was time to go abroad.

Liang Ying packed his luggage, including a bag of soil. "Mom said to dig this for you. Japan is different from China. If you feel unwell while you're there, you can mix some soil with water and drink it."

"My wife is so good to me!"

Gu Jinshui hugged Liang Ying's waist, feeling truly reluctant to leave. "You must take good care of yourself while I'm gone. Let Gu Yinxing and Yan Ren help with the chores around the house; don't let them always be eating and taking things from our house."

Liang Ying turned around, unable to suppress a laugh, and tapped Gu Jinshui's nose, "Don't let Yin Xing hear you say that, or she'll beat you up."

"Hmph, why would I be afraid of her?" Gu Jinshui said dismissively.

Liang Ying laughed and said, "You're not afraid of her, but her status is different now."

"What kind of identity makes someone so powerful?"

Gu Jinshui held his wife's waist, his mind wandering.

Liang Ying whispered something, Gu Jinshui's eyes widened, his face lighting up with joy, "Really?!"

"It's absolutely true. Yin Xing only found out a few days ago. Your sister is so careless; she didn't realize she was pregnant until she was more than two months along."

Liang Ying shook her head helplessly, "Your brother-in-law is so thoughtful. He noticed that there was still a lot of toilet paper at home, so he took her to get checked, and that's how he found out she was pregnant."

Gu Jinshui Gu Yinxing nothing to say about Gu Yinxing's carelessness.

He said, "Anyway, now that they have Yan Ren, who Yan Ren, it doesn't matter if Yin Xing is a little careless. But I was wondering why she suddenly had such a good appetite, eating hot pot every day. They've definitely fallen for each other. Old Yan is really happy about this."

"That's for sure."

Gu Yinxing is pregnant, and Liang Ying is happy for the couple. After all, they have been married for so many years, Yan Ren is not young, Yan Family's parents are also getting on in years. They have been looking forward to having a child, and now that they have a child, they can feel more at ease.

Although they all knew that Gu Yinxing and Yan Ren were both healthy, if nothing happened for too long, others would inevitably start to wonder if something was wrong.

¤¤Rabbit¤¤

Chapter 111 The 111th Day of Being Eavesdropped On

The family saw Gu Jinshui off at the airport.

He Chunlian also said to Li Xing, "Little Li, we'll have to trouble you. Few of them speak Japanese; they'll all need you when they go abroad."

Li Xing smiled and replied, "Aunt He, don't worry. Brother Gu is so capable, even if he doesn't speak Japanese, there's nothing to worry about."

That's true.

Gu Yousi wasn't worried at all about what would happen to her father while he was abroad, in an unfamiliar place.

With her father's abilities, he could communicate using only body language.

After seeing Gu Jinshui off, the family went home. Liang Ying had recently bought land in the suburbs with Old Mr. Lan and now they wanted to build a factory. They had to run around both inside and outside the city. Fortunately, Gu Jinshui had left Shanhu behind to lend a hand this time, otherwise they would have been too busy to manage.

Liang Ying said, "Mom, I have to go to the suburbs to check on the factory this afternoon. I'll probably be back late tonight. If you're hungry, you can eat first, just leave me some food."

He Chunlian said, "Alright, go ahead, remember to bring Shanhu and the others with you."

The suburbs are where factories are built, so all sorts of people come from, a real mixed bag.

Liang Ying agreed, grabbed her purse, and went out.

When she returned home that evening, before she even reached her doorstep, she could hear several voices coming from inside; the voices sounded very familiar.

Liang Ying pushed open the door and went inside. It was almost dusk, and the lights were on inside. The living room was full of people. Hearing the noise, they turned around and, seeing it was Liang Ying, all stood up. "Sister Liang!"

The people who came were none other than Zhang Xing’er and her group.

When Liang Ying noticed the strange expressions on the faces of her former colleagues in the workshop, Liang Ying didn't show it on her face and greeted them with a smile, "Oh, what brings you all here? You didn't even tell me you were coming to my house! I knew you were coming, I would have rushed back! Have you been waiting for a long time?"

He Chunlian took out the washed fruit and greeted them, saying, "They've been here for a while. I offered to call you, but they wouldn't let me."

"Sister Liang is a very busy person. We've come uninvited, how could we possibly bother her?"

A rather young married woman said shyly.

The young woman, Qi Xiyu, joined the workshop later. Liang Ying had taken good care of her when she was working at the factory.

Liang Ying laughed and said, "Why are you all saying such polite things? Do you think I'm no longer one of your own now that I've left the factory?"

She glanced at He Chunlian and smiled, "Mom, why don't you go check if Niuniu has finished her homework?"

He Chunlian knew her daughter-in-law had something to discuss with someone, so she smiled and agreed.

After He Chunlian left, Zhang Xing’er and the others relaxed a lot and weren't so tense anymore.

Liang Ying invited everyone to drink tea and eat fruit, and then asked if they had eaten. Everyone said they had. Liang Ying asked, "So, did you come here today as guests, or is there something you need?"

Zhang Xing’er and the others exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat awkward.

Zhang Xing’er, being the quick-tempered one, blurted out, "Team Leader Liang, something's happened at the factory. They're selling it, and the management says they're going to lay us off!"

"Laid off?" Liang Ying blinked, somewhat incredulous.

She picked up a piece of apple, took a bite to fill her stomach, and said, "Isn't our factory doing pretty well? How did it come to the point where we have to be laid off?"

"That's right! Even the garment factories around here aren't in this situation!" Zhang Xing’er said indignantly. "But our factory leaders insist that the factory's upgrade failed, that the factory is heavily in debt, and that they have to sell the factory to pay off the debts. Now they're telling us that if we agree to be laid off, each person will receive three thousand yuan in severance pay. But what can three thousand yuan even buy?"

"Yeah, three thousand yuan seems alright, but who among us doesn't earn a little over a hundred a month?"