Zhao Guixiang laughed happily. “Our family has never saved money before. I didn’t even know that depositing money in the bank earns interest. Two thousand yuan in a year’s interest is enough for our family’s living expenses for a month! If we save for three years, the interest would be even higher. Since this is our first time saving, let’s start with just one year, and when it matures we can transfer it again. So money really can make more money.”
Lin Baoguo reminded his wife to keep the deposit slip safe—after all, two thousand yuan was now represented by just a piece of paper.
“Don’t worry, I know where to keep it!” Zhao Guixiang replied as she carried the deposit slip inside.
They also brought back youtiao (fried dough sticks) and doufunao (soft tofu pudding)—Lin Ruyuan’s favorites.
“Here! Eat more.” Lin Baoguo looked at his daughter. “You’ve been working hard studying; you need to eat well. Come home early tonight and your mom will stew an old hen for you.”
The family’s hens were usually kept for eggs, especially for Lin Ruyuan’s older sister during her confinement. Every day, Lin Ruyuan would also get an egg. Her parents always tried to reserve the best food for her and her sister. After she earned two thousand yuan the previous night, they wanted to improve her meals a little.
Lin Ruyuan’s eyes softened. “Dad, you’re getting older and won’t be able to work as a laborer for many more years. Why don’t we try running a small family business? We now have some capital.”
Lin Baoguo shook his head. He wasn’t cut out for business and knew it.
“I’ve been a laborer my whole life. If I suddenly try to run a business, I’d probably lose all the money.”
Lin Ruyuan tried to persuade him gently. “Dad, starting is always the hardest part. How do you know you won’t succeed if you’ve never tried?”
“You’re right, daughter. Your body isn’t as strong as when you were young. How many more years can you keep doing this?” Zhao Guixiang added as she came out of the house. “If it doesn’t work, we can just farm a little. Even that brings in a decent yearly yield.”
They had moved here decades ago, but there was no land—they would have to lease some if they wanted to farm.
Lin Baoguo would seriously consider his daughter’s suggestion. Simply growing crops wouldn’t earn more than his laborer job, and crop yields were low.
Lin Ruyuan’s eyes lit up as she spoke thoughtfully. “Let’s grow vegetables.”
Both Lin Baoguo and Zhao Guixiang froze. Grow vegetables? Lease land for that?
“Summer we can grow greens, beans, and eggplants; autumn we can grow cabbage and carrots…” She trailed off. Selling vegetables might not earn as much as selling grains.
Zhao Guixiang frowned. “Ruyuan, there’s no shortage of homegrown vegetables at the market.”
“Mom, I mean off-season vegetables,” Lin Ruyuan clarified. “In winter, people can only eat cabbage and potatoes. If we can grow fresh greens in winter, we can make money.”
“That’s impossible,” Lin Baoguo thought. His daughter had never farmed before—she was imagining things.
“Dad, anything is possible!” Lin Ruyuan said. “Growing vegetables is just about controlling the temperature. Greenhouses can solve this perfectly.”
The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Her future work in agricultural research could also benefit the family.
After dinner, Lin Baoguo went to the textile factory. As soon as he arrived, the workshop director Huang Qi called him aside.
“Old Lin, you won’t have to do manual labor anymore.”
Lin Baoguo’s face turned pale. He had been working fine—why was he suddenly being relieved?
“Director Huang, what did I do wrong? I can fix it if you tell me!”
“You’ve been doing great!” Huang Qi said quickly, realizing the misunderstanding. “I’m arranging something easier for you. We need an assistant workshop director, and from now on, that’s you. I’ll assign any work through you.”
Suddenly, he had been promoted to deputy workshop director? Lin Baoguo was stunned, knowing immediately it had something to do with his daughter’s influence. The factory director had intentionally promoted him.
“Do your best!” Huang Qi patted him on the shoulder. “Go tell the team that there may be some overtime in the next few days. Everyone should be prepared to finish the current batch of work. Overtime pay will be provided!”
“Understood,” Lin Baoguo replied.
Huang Qi returned to his desk. The workload for the director and deputy director wasn’t heavy—this was a cushy job.
Meanwhile, Lin Ruyuan almost didn’t recognize Bai Jingshu when she saw her again. Her face had gained weight compared to before, making her small eyes look comically squinty.
If Fang Shijun didn’t hit her, it must have been Ding Ziqiang.
A man who could hit his own woman wasn’t a good person. No wonder Bai Jingshu had obsessed over Fang Shijun all these years.
“Look at me, all beaten up like this—are you happy now?” Bai Jingshu angrily faced Lin Ruyuan, fists clenched at her sides. “I’m like this all because of you!”
Lin Ruyuan snorted, laughing. “Did I make you pregnant before marriage? Did I make you marry Ding Ziqiang?”
Bai Jingshu had married Ding Ziqiang willingly. Now, she was reaping the consequences of her own choices.
“If you hadn’t exposed that the child was Shijun’s, I wouldn’t have been beaten like this!”
Bai Jingshu took a deep breath. “Lin Ruyuan, you’re clearly trying to ruin me. Ding Ziqiang refuses to divorce, Shijun can’t marry me, and I can only grit my teeth and endure in the Ding household.”
Who knows when it will end?
“Did you come just to complain?” Lin Ruyuan asked. Seeing Bai Jingshu at school today, she assumed it was because her face had been swollen and she couldn’t go out before.
“I want to propose a deal!” Bai Jingshu said coldly. “I don’t know what spell you put on Grandpa Fang, but he only favors you as his granddaughter-in-law. Even his own grandson isn’t favored. I want you to persuade Grandpa Fang to give me money to settle things with the Ding family, and then let me enter the Fang family. Whatever terms you ask for afterward, I’ll agree.”
She paused briefly. “Lin Ruyuan, think carefully. If you miss this chance, it won’t come again. Our family is poor—you just have to give me a number, and I’ll pay it in full.”
Lin Ruyuan thought Bai Jingshu must have been beaten in the head; otherwise, she wouldn’t say something so foolish.
Lin Ruyuan was too busy with her own matters to help them arrange a marriage for money.
“Heh,” Lin Ruyuan chuckled, finding the whole thing ridiculous.
Bai Jingshu frowned. “Why are you laughing?”
“What? Can you control my laughter? I laugh if I want,” Lin Ruyuan raised her eyebrows. “Bai Jingshu, don’t worry about whether my family has money. You’d better focus on how to divorce Ding Ziqiang.”
Bai Jingshu furrowed her brow even more. “You won’t do it!”
“Nope,” Lin Ruyuan said decisively. “Honestly, I think your situation is perfect—you’ve got one woman serving two men. Tsk tsk, not everyone’s so lucky.”
Bai Jingshu was too angry to argue. Lin Ruyuan was clearly calling her shameless.