CHAPTER 704: CHAPTER 697: OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

After seeing Tian Lili, Sisi soon forgot all about Xu Qianwen’s odd behavior. The Old Man said that this year they wouldn’t return to Yuequan Village for the New Year, and suggested that Tian Manjin and the others come to the Capital City to celebrate, ensuring it would be lively and bustling.

As a result, the house here needed tidying. Sisi cleared out the apartment she and Tian Xinhua shared. The place hadn’t been lived in for several years, so it needed to be fumigated with a charcoal stove to rid the dampness.

He Xuewen had just returned from a study tour in Europe, accompanied by Wang Shishi and Yang Wenbin, primarily to witness the industrialization levels there firsthand. The survey indeed left a lasting impression.

Especially in Germany, where century-old mechanical workshops were everywhere, unlike in China, where factories emerged during the reform and opening-up, each one being young with no comparison—this is why China’s mechanical products can’t compare in precision with those made in Germany.

In Germany, workers are calm and have a very detailed division of labor. A worker might engage in the same task his entire life, working till he passes, which is utterly unimaginable in China.

He Xuewen and Wang Shishi were incredibly excited; the welcome banquet inadvertently turned into a speech conference.

The banquet took place at Yun Mansion. After tiring of bread and salad, the three eagerly asked Sisi to cook something tasty to reward their salad-abused stomachs.

But as they ate, their excitement morphed into frustration over their country’s backwardness, pained by the people’s narrow-mindedness.

"You can’t comprehend the profound impact our trip to Europe had on us, especially Germany—their rigorous industrial spirit puts us at least 50 years behind, there’s simply no comparison!" Yang Wenbin lamented.

Wang Shishi expressed regret, "It’s unfortunate that people are smug about minor achievements, unaware that in the international market our country’s products are labeled as poor quality, even a screw rejects China’s standards."

He Xuewen nodded in agreement: "Yes, when buying parts, people specifically state not to buy those made in China, preferring Japanese ones—hearing this really makes you uncomfortable."

The three sighed at their defeat abroad, Sisi filled their glasses and chuckled: "Daddy, Uncle Yang, Uncle Wang, let’s not underestimate ourselves. Foreigners have their strengths, but we Chinese have ours too. Though we’re currently trailing them a bit, we’ve only just begun. And our Ai Hua Company isn’t far behind Europe—I heard from Ben that many Germans are our customers!"

Sisi’s words restored much of their confidence. Yes, Germans also use Ai Hua’s home appliances!

"Moreover, our smartphones are leading globally now, these are our strengths. When foreigners visit, we’ll have something competitive to show them." Sisi encouraged again, bringing smiles back to the faces of He Xuewen and his companions, a bit embarrassed. Though collectively over a hundred years old, they somehow weren’t as perceptive as young Ah Nan, falling victim to a morale slump!

The Europe trip was to observe advanced management systems and to check out an electronic waste treatment plant; Ai Hua had orders to fulfill.

Despite the challenges, they learned much about electronic waste, discovering that if well-executed, it could be profitable; the initial investment was substantial, and the return cycle long.

Overall, strong financial backing is essential, otherwise, you’d be facing the harsh northwest wind!

Fortunately, Ai Hua possesses that strength, and they’re planning to start constructing the plant post-New Year, aiming to commence production in two years.

He Xuewen and Mo Ye decided to celebrate New Year’s in the Capital City. Mo Ye is semi-retired now, joining only major performances, spending time with He Xuewen, accompanying him everywhere, making for interesting travels.

Amid the fiery sounds of firecrackers, the eve of 1996 arrived.

This year’s celebration was perhaps the liveliest for the Tian Family; Tian Bajin and others from Yuequan Village came over, and Tian Aiguo’s and Tian Manlan’s families from Inner Mongolia too, even Bao Guo and Weiguo from the U.K. returned.

Accounting for those serving in the military like Tian Qinghua and Tian Zhonghua, most of the males of the Tian Family were present, crowding the courtyard.

He Xuewen and Mo Ye celebrated at Yun Mansion, while He Chengsi specifically hurried back. After arranging affairs in T City, Tian Xinhua also arrived in the Capital City on the eve of the 30th.

Given the large family, Tian Xinhua and Sisi chose to celebrate New Year’s Eve at Yun Mansion and planned to visit the Old Man for New Year’s greetings after the dinner.

On the 30th, Sisi and Kang Mianhua prepared the New Year’s dinner, while Niu Erniu and Mo Ye wanted to help but were politely refused by Sisi.

"Aunt, Aunt Ye, today you just sit and taste our culinary skills,"

"Alright, we’ll wait, make it delicious, otherwise the red envelope later will be halved," Mo Ye joined in the fun.

"Then you’d better prepare big red envelopes, ensuring deliciousness because if the envelope isn’t big enough, I won’t accept it," Sisi boldly declared.

The atmosphere at Yun Mansion was joyful, and similarly, at the Tian House, everyone, adults and children alike, wore smiles.

Why wouldn’t they be happy? The Tian Family’s days have grown increasingly prosperous, with Qinghua and others in the military having promising futures, Donghua and others becoming key figures in their units, and the businesses run by Qinghua and Jinhua at home thriving, money just flowing like rain.

A lifestyle once beyond their dreams, akin to paradise!

Tian Aiguo and Tian Manjin, along with other brothers accompanied the Old Man, sunbathing in the courtyard, while the women prepared the dinner in the kitchen or watched TV in the living room, and the children enjoyed themselves the most, setting off firecrackers in the yard—their laughter combined with firecracker pops, full of festivity.

"I just remembered what Ah Nan said as a child," Tian Manmu suddenly remarked.

"What did she say?" Tian Aiguo asked.

"When Ah Nan was ten, Uncle asked her how long until good days came, Ah Nan seriously replied, ’About a decade,’ back then we laughed thinking she talked nonsense. But now, isn’t it just about fifteen years?" Tian Manmu shared.

Tian Manjin and Tian Mantu recalled too, with Tian Manjin proudly saying, "Ah Nan is indeed our lucky star, since she joined us, our Tian Family’s days have been getting better."

No one argued against Tian Manjin’s statement; throughout these years, their belief in Sisi being their lucky star has only strengthened.