CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: WORDS OF ADVICE

Li Weimin, while eating the braised pork, brightened up and smiled, saying, "Wow, Xuemei, your cooking skills are really something, this braised pork is really delicious."

Li Xuemei blushed, "Big brother, this wasn’t made by me, Xiaoqing made it. Xiaoqing’s cooking skills are really becoming quite good."

When you’re outdone by your own daughter, how can you not blush?

Li Weimin added a piece of braised pork to Xiao Jie, Xiao Ying, and Xiaoqing’s bowls before praising, "Xiaoqing is a promising child, even better than you parents. But today, my brother-in-law also surprised me a lot. If I hadn’t looked closely, I would have thought someone swapped him with another person."

Gu Ruhai chuckled foolishly. It was the first time his brother-in-law praised him, and such commendation felt particularly comforting to hear.

Who doesn’t like being recognized by others?

It seemed he hadn’t done anything wrong today; all was worth it.

"Big brother, you don’t need to say anymore. Ruhai is also changing. Nowadays, we feel there’s hope in life; at the very least, both the children’s father and I feel we shouldn’t make life hard for the children," said Li Xuemei.

This was her brother’s first time having a meal at her house, and yet they encountered Mr. Gu’s unreasonable fussing, which really was indescribable.

You say it’s embarrassing, well, how can it not be?

But somehow, it wasn’t, as Gu Ruhai also gained some face today.

It’s really hard to clarify.

Suddenly, Li Weimin remembered the business that Gu Xiaoqing mentioned about Li Xuemei and Gu Ruhai and put down his chopsticks to ask, "Brother-in-law, I heard from Xiaoqing that you’re doing business. But business isn’t easy, if it doesn’t work out, better quit early to prevent losing more capital."

This was Li Weimin’s goodwill. After all, they were people dealing with agriculture daily, and everyone knew business wasn’t something everyone could handle. Many people would give up after just two days of running a stall.

It wasn’t because business wasn’t hard; on the one hand, finding supply channels was difficult, and on the other, there was no capital.

Rural folks would sell their home-produced eggs and such. Even if those didn’t sell, no one would worry since you could eat them yourself.

But business is different; everything is bought with money. If they can’t sell it, the money is just stuck there, unable to return as cash.

That’s why Li Weimin was concerned.

Upon hearing this, Li Xuemei said, "Big brother, don’t worry. We are doing a food business, just selling some steamed and fried dumplings, which doesn’t require much capital, just around a dozen yuan, and it won’t affect our daily life.

Moreover, big brother, the business is doing alright. We can make ten or eight yuan a day, which adds up to quite a sum in a month. The children’s father and I are thinking that Xiaoqing and Xiao Jie need to go to school, and Xiao Ying is almost ready for marriage. The dowry, tuition, and later building a house for Xiao Jie’s wedding all need money, so we’re thinking that we still need to keep going with this business."

Li Weimin was stunned upon hearing this, that’s quite a lot.

To make ten or eight yuan a day is indeed quite good. Considering that a farming peasant who works laboriously the whole year might just earn a few dozen yuan to over a hundred if they are hardworking.

If they earn two or three hundred yuan a month, it would be more than those workers in town, something Li Weimin hadn’t thought of.

In suddenly realizing this, his sister and brother-in-law wouldn’t need to worry so much as this would allow them to build a house over the year.

Thinking of this, he instantly broke into a smile.

"Good, really good. I never expected you two to be so clever to think of this and actually make it work; it’s truly a case of good things coming after hardship."

Li Weimin was genuinely happy. All along, Li Xuemei’s family’s difficult life had worried their father and them, the two brothers, supporting her was a given since after all, she’s their sister.

The problem is that no matter how capable the two of them were, they were just farmers, and financially they weren’t secure, as each had children and a family to care for.

Even though they wanted to support Li Xuemei, it was only within their capabilities, and with Li Xuemei having three children, their aid couldn’t cover her family’s living expenses.

Watching over this family of five, Li Weimin and Li Weiqiang worried quite often.

But what could they do?

She was their own sister after all.

Now that Gu Ruhai had had his epiphany and they had a livelihood, life should be lively without much difficulty.

So how could Li Weimin not be happy?

Gu Ruhai told Xiao Ying, "Xiao Ying, go get half a pound of white liquor. I’ll have a drink with your big uncle."

The main reason was joy, not having a drink wouldn’t feel satisfying.

Li Xuemei took a yuan out of her pocket and handed it to Gu Xiaoying, who ran off.

Gu Ruhai said to Li Weimin, "Big brother, have some food. Have some food. This business wasn’t actually suggested by Xuemei and me."

Li Weimin’s eyes lit up and he immediately turned to glance at Gu Xiaoqing, who was serving Xiao Jie some food, saying, "Was it Xiaoqing who came up with it?"

Gu Ruhai chuckled foolishly. His brother-in-law was indeed sharp, and he guessed it right away, while he had been planning to create some suspense.

"Yes, it was Xiaoqing."

Li Weimin excitedly banged the table, startling Gu Xiaoqing and Gu Xiaojie. What was going on?

Then they saw their big uncle suddenly lift Gu Xiaoqing, giving her quite a start.

Being actually not twelve years old, being lifted by the uncle was really embarrassing.

Li Weimin put Gu Xiaoqing down and said to Gu Ruhai, "You, Gu Ruhai, might not have many skills in this life, but you’re lucky because you have a great daughter. It’s true, silly people have silly fortunes."

Li Xuemei pursed her lips, wondering if her brother was praising Gu Ruhai or scolding him.

Gu Ruhai just wore a silly grin; his daughter was indeed different.

Gu Xiaoqing shyly stepped back a little.

Being the focus of the whole family felt a bit too conspicuous.

However, Gu Xiaoqing intended to repay her uncle and grandpa, so she told her uncle, "Uncle, actually it’s just a simple idea. As long as the food business tastes good and is clean, anyone can do it. You should try it, too. Think about how many free days you have in a year. If you use that free time to do some business outside, you can also contribute a lot to your household. Think about it, if my parents work hard this year, they can surely build a big house."

This was to entice Li Weimin. Of course, Gu Xiaoqing’s real intention was that farming year-round profits little, rather they should let others farm their land and engage in business as a family, this was 1984, soon those with good minds would join the business ranks.

At that time, becoming wealthy will be a common thing.

Those who act first, gain the advantage first.