Chen Guoping nodded, "That child is good, speaking and acting with discretion. From now on, you can interact as a junior."
Sun Yongmei, noticing his tired expression, asked with concern, "Didn't you say the Jiang family was making moves towards your position a while ago? How is it now?"
"Old Mr. Jiang has retired. His eldest son is somewhat capable, but I'm doing well in my position, and it's difficult for him to advance further."
"Isn't there already a grandson from the Jiang family who has gone into business and is doing quite well? Politics and business have always been intertwined. It shouldn't be hard for them to achieve political merits. I'm just a bit worried about you."
Thinking of something, Sun Yongmei said, "Even if we don't engage in those messy affairs, having someone trustworthy around can lead to twice the results with half the effort. Those people in state-owned enterprises are all old hands. I think Young Chen is quite good."
Chen Guoping pondered for a moment before saying, "Let nature take its course."
Whether in politics or business, one must adhere to their bottom line. Exceeding the bottom line doesn't mean suffering a loss, but falling below it becomes dangerous. Therefore, from a long-term development perspective, it's still important to maintain one's bottom line. However, Chen Lishu is indeed good; she's sharp and knows gratitude. Providing some guidance wouldn't hurt.
Chen Lishu was completely unaware of the conversation between Chen Guoping and his wife. After returning home, Chen Lishu took another roasted duck to Lin Xiaoyue.
Since Lin Xiaohui's disappearance, Lin Xiaoyue had been deeply affected and had lost a lot of weight. However, she still had three children to care for, which didn't allow her much time to indulge in sadness.
"I discussed it with Old Wu. We don't know when there will be news about Xiaohui. The children will be in school in a couple of years, so it might be better to register them under my name now... The Lu family is too heartless. When they changed the household registration, they didn't even ask about the children, acting as if they were shedding a burden."
Lin Xiaoyue sighed as she spoke.
Chen Lishu's gaze fell on the three children running around the house. Lu Yang, who should now be called Wu Haiyang, seemed to have grown a bit taller and plumper than the last time she saw him. His face was filled with carefree smiles, indicating that Lin Xiaoyue was taking very good care of him.
"Isn't it very strenuous to raise three children?" especially three children of similar ages, it was really tough on Lin Xiaoyue.
Lin Xiaoyue gave a wry smile, "It's a bit tiring, but at least they'll grow up together, so I won't have to worry about them anymore."
Considering the Wu family's financial situation, Chen Lishu wanted to help. After some thought, she said, "Sister-in-law, if you're not afraid of hard work, I have a way to make money. With the New Year approaching, business should be good during this period."
Last time, it was Chen Lishu's idea that Lin Xiaoyue and Zhao Guiying made dozens of yuan selling plums and crabapples. However, those were seasonal, only available for two months at most. Hearing that Chen Lishu had another money-making idea made her a bit excited.
"Sister-in-law, tell me quickly, what is it? We all came from the countryside, how could I be afraid of hard work? As long as I can make money, I'll do anything."
Hearing her words, Chen Lishu shared her idea.
"Selling roasted sweet potatoes?"
Chen Lishu nodded, "These are cheap, and almost every household in the village has them. But it's not easy to roast them well. I know of an oven made of tin sheets. Sweet potatoes roasted from it are sweet and glutinous, especially delicious."
Thinking of the taste of roasted sweet potatoes, Chen Lishu couldn't help but swallow her saliva, suddenly feeling a craving.
It would be too much for Lin Xiaoyue alone to select sweet potatoes, roast them, and sell them. It would be perfect if she could work with Zhao Guiying. With this in mind, Lin Xiaoyue called out to her mother-in-law and took Chen Lishu to Wang's house.
Zhao Guiying was overjoyed to hear of another money-making idea and clapped her hands, "This is really great! Sister-in-law's ideas are definitely good."
"It means my mother-in-law will have to work hard again," Lin Xiaoyue said with some guilt.
"There's no other way. Otherwise, relying on the men's allowances, and sending some back to our hometown, with one person earning and eighty people waiting, it's simply not enough."
Zhao Guiying sighed, "Your Old Wu is a good man after all, knowing to help look after the children when he returns. My Old Wang is a hands-off manager after his usual training, doing no chores. If I go make money this time and he's still like this, I'll kick him out directly."
Chen Lishu, hearing them refer to their husbands as "Old Wang" and "Old Wu," couldn't help but laugh, "Brother Wang and Brother Wu are not that old, doesn't calling them like that make you seem old?"
Especially Wu Zheng, who was only a year older than Gu Xingdong, and she always called Gu Xingdong by his name.
"He's already the father of three children, does he still want to be like an old yellow cucumber brushed with green paint to look young?" Zhao Guiying pouted, "Besides, his full name has four characters, and Old Wang only has two. If I say one more character to him, I'll find it annoying." Let alone two characters.
Chen Lishu and Lin Xiaoyue couldn't help but burst into laughter at her words.
"I found calling Xiao Wu awkward, so I ended up calling him Old Wu like everyone else. Otherwise, calling him Comrade Wu would be too distant." If I were to call him by his full name, it would definitely be because he had angered me to the extreme.
Distracted by Chen Lishu, Zhao Guiying suddenly came to her senses. She was impatient, and it involved making money. She said, "Sister-in-law, what does the stove you're talking about look like? Tell me and Xiaoyue. After dinner, I'll have my husband go to the village ahead to get one made."
Chen Lishu asked for paper and pen, drew what she knew on the paper, and then described to them roughly what it looked like.
Soon, both nodded, indicating they understood.
Then, they discussed the purchase of sweet potatoes and where to sell them. As it was time to prepare dinner, the three returned to their respective homes.
In the evening, after dinner, Ruirui washed up and returned to his room. Gu Xingdong was engrossed in reading a book by the bedside. Chen Lishu came in from the doorway after washing up. She looked at his straight nose casting a faint shadow on his cheek under the lamplight. Thinking of how Zhao Guiying and Lin Xiaoyue addressed her husband during the day, Chen Lishu suppressed a smile and asked, "Old Gu, what book are you reading?"
Gu Xingdong casually replied, "Military strategy."
"Oh, Old Gu, when are you planning to sleep? Reading so late will strain your eyes. Don't you think so, Old Gu?"
After saying this, Chen Lishu found it increasingly amusing and couldn't hold back, letting out a chuckle.
Gu Xingdong finally withdrew his gaze from the book. Seeing her in fits of laughter, he frowned and asked, "Is it that funny?"
Chen Lishu, still laughing, said, "Why does it feel like Old Gu is a generation older? Otherwise, I'll call you Xiao Gu."
Saying this, Chen Lishu chuckled again.
Lin Xiaoyue and Zhao Guiying were so talented that they could habitually call their significant others like that.