Missing the early bus, the three of them had to walk all the way to town.
Lin Qi had just finished tidying his clothes to deliver them to the shop. When he saw Chen Lishu approaching, his eyes lit up. "Sister Chen, when did you get back?"
"Two days ago." Chen Lishu's gaze fell on the large bag of clothes at his feet. "Are you going to make deliveries?"
Lin Qi nodded. "Business has been good these past few days before the New Year, so I'm delivering more frequently."
"No rush. Wait here, I have something to tell you."
Upon hearing her words, Lin Qi sat down on the sofa.
Chen Lishu, Gu Xingping, and the other person went back inside to take off their hats and coats. Lin Qi had lit the stove earlier, so the room wasn't too cold. Chen Lishu only wore a cashmere sweater.
"How has Zhang Li and Xie Dani's work performance been this past year?"
Lin Qi had been in close contact with them for a long time and knew their strengths and weaknesses clearly.
"They've both been doing quite well. Zhang Li has been here longer and graduated from junior high, so she's very proficient at greeting customers and keeps clear records. Xie Dani has a good attitude, and as long as I keep a closer eye on the accounts, there's no problem."
Chen Lishu nodded. As long as their work attitude was positive, other issues could be improved bit by bit.
"After all, our future development will focus on the provincial capital. I want to transfer you there. What do you think?"
Chen Lishu suddenly bringing this up caught Lin Qi by surprise. "What about this place then?"
"It's not like you'll leave immediately. For now, keep an eye out for suitable sales assistants. Hire two more people, and let Zhang Li train them for a while. After the New Year, I plan to promote Zhang Li. She'll be in charge of these two stores in the county, so you can gradually hand over your responsibilities."
"Don't worry about anything else once you get to the provincial capital. I've bought a new house there, and it will be finished by early next year. It's spacious, and you can bring your uncle to live with you."
The house that was previously used as a storeroom had caught fire and she had bought it. However, the construction team was rushing to meet deadlines, and as the weather grew colder, work had been put on hold. The first thing they would do in the spring was to finish building the house.
Lin Qi didn't mind where he was. Moreover, Chen Lishu wanted to transfer him to the provincial capital because she trusted him. As for his father, he had been in poor health. Considering that the city offered better medical facilities and environment than the countryside, he was very willing to move his father there.
"I will definitely continue to work in the apparel industry. During this time, help me persuade Aunt Yuan to move to the provincial capital as well. I want to bring her there."
The policies next year would definitely be more lenient than this year. The issue of hiring employees had been debated for two years. There were countless instances of hiring issues in the workshops in the south. The authorities should make a decision soon. However, it was always best to be prepared, to avoid being a step behind others if the policy changed abruptly.
What had impressed her about Yuan Lihua was her craftsmanship, especially in making cashmere coats in the past two years. She had sold those pieces at high prices. Therefore, in addition to mass-produced styles, she also planned to focus on high-end products. As more people ventured into business, they would not lack money; they would lack class.
After discussing work matters with Lin Qi, he went off to make deliveries. Chen Lishu, along with Gu Xingping and Chen Lifei, took gifts and went to the Ding family's house.
It was currently the winter break, so Sun Shuzhen and Ding Yongfeng were both at home. The couple was very happy to see Chen Lishu and the others arrive. Ding Chen's eyes never left Gu Xingping, causing her to secretly glare at him warningly.
As they hadn't seen each other for a long time, they chatted for a while and stayed for dinner at the Ding family's. When it was getting late, Chen Lishu took her leave and took a car home.
Meanwhile, Gu Xingdong was playing chess with Rui Rui in the house.
The child was quite intelligent. He usually watched Wu Zheng play, so he understood the basic rules. After playing a few games with Gu Xingdong, he gradually found his rhythm, and his occasional moves even made Gu Xingdong pause to think.
"Grandpa Chen said that all paths lead to the same source, and the principles of chess are interconnected." Rui Rui's gaze fell on the chessboard. After hesitating for a moment, he reached out and captured one of Gu Xingdong's pieces. Thinking he had secured victory, his dark, grape-like eyes held a faint flicker of excitement.
Gu Xingdong, however, calmly moved a piece. "Check."
Rui Rui then realized that he had been so focused on attacking that he had neglected his defenses. He dejectedly lowered his head.
Gu Xingdong flicked his forehead with a resounding snap, chuckling. "Let me tell you something else, son. Playing chess is like fighting a battle. You must never be greedy for victory or advance rashly. Don't just focus on immediate gains; you need to consider the overall situation."
Rui Rui rubbed his forehead, nodding as if he understood.
Gu Xingdong asked, "Want to play again?"
Rui Rui's spirits immediately lifted. "Mm."
"Third cousin."
As the father and son were setting up the pieces, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Wang Qiao'e entered.
She was wearing the clothes Gu Xingping had given her that day, and she had washed her face and styled her hair. She had even used the hair oil that Gu Xingping had left out to slick her hair back several times until it was glossy. Then, she excitedly went to find Gu Xingdong. As she stepped in, a strong scent of hair oil filled the air. Gu Xingdong's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. "Is something wrong?"
"Are you guys playing chess? Can I watch from the side?" she asked, fiddling with the hem of her clothes, looking a little timid.
"Get out."
"Huh?" Wang Qiao'e took two steps inside, ready to sit next to Gu Xingdong. She was startled by his sharp gaze and froze.
"You have a strong smell on you. Also, your third sister-in-law doesn't like outsiders touching her things, and that includes the kang."
Wang Qiao'e's face immediately flushed red. She twisted her fingers, her voice tinged with grievance. "Then, can I stand here and watch?"
Rui Rui looked up and said with a furrowed brow, "Cousin Aunt, my mom doesn't like strong smells. You should go out quickly, or she'll be unhappy when she gets back."
Being looked down upon by a child, Wang Qiao'e's eyes flashed with embarrassment and annoyance. "What does a little kid like you know? This is osmanthus oil; it's very expensive."
Gu Xingdong was clearly losing patience. "My son doesn't care if it's expensive or not. He just knows the smell is unpleasant. Don't casually enter other people's rooms; it's the least basic courtesy. Go out."
Simultaneously scorned by father and son, Wang Qiao'e's eyes welled up with tears, and she quickly turned and left.
"Dad, what are you doing?"
Rui Rui saw Gu Xingdong go to the window, untie the plastic sheeting nailed there, and then open the window. A gust of cold wind blew in, and the suffocating, greasy fragrance instantly dissipated.
"Put on your clothes, and let's keep it open for a while longer. Otherwise, your mom will smell this when she gets back, and she'll definitely be uncomfortable."
"Oh, okay." Rui Rui quickly grabbed the cotton-padded jacket beside him and put it on.
After experiencing the life in the Gu family, Cheng Xifen was extremely envious. She recalled that Li Xiulan wasn't as good-looking as her back then, and their family conditions were even worse than hers. Who would have thought that their current conditions would be so good?
She told Li Xiulan she was going out for a walk. As soon as she reached the courtyard gate, she saw a woman emerge from the neighboring courtyard. The woman appeared to be around her age, so she quickly called out to her.
If anyone understood the Gu family best, it would be the surrounding neighbors. Gathering information would only benefit her and her son.