Chapter 174 - 173: One Year (Fifth Update)
Life is unchanging.
Gu Xiaoqing left home, carrying a large bag of fruits and food bought by Li Xuemei, and took the bus to school.
The Gu Family has already bought a house.
In a newly developed community, it’s a workers’ community on a commercial street; those without connections can’t buy there.
This was thanks to Li Shangmin’s help.
Li Shangmin and Gu Ruhai are friends now. Mainly because Gu Ruhai is honest, doesn’t play tricks, and is diligent. In Li Shangmin’s eyes, he’s capable, competent, and wealthy, someone he can rely on in the future.
After all, business and economic development will be the focus of urban growth in the future, so those who can develop commerce are Li Shangmin’s friends.
Moreover, He Cui and Fang Jianguo, including Bai Jianzhong, are now friends with Gu Ruhai, who appreciates sincerity and honesty.
No one looks down on Gu Ruhai.
Gu Ruhai consistently maintains his integrity and sincerity in dealings.
Although his business has expanded greatly over the past few years, Gu Ruhai has learned many business tactics and seen many methods. However, he still cannot act against his conscience.
This year, Gu Ruhai’s business has grown even larger.
Upon Gu Xiaoqing’s suggestion, the Gu Family Spicy Hot Pot chain brand has been registered, and the second and third branches have opened, all in different bustling areas, with uniform decoration style and signage.
Gu Family Spicy Hot Pot is almost a household name now.
There’s no need to talk about the customer base. On top of continually developing new dishes, they’ve also introduced some classic snacks to complement meals. Many people order a few snacks before having hot pot as an appetizer.
Actually, at this moment, Gu Xiaoqing has thought of famous future self-service barbecues and such, but feels that Gu Family Spicy Hot Pot still needs a period of stability before adding new elements.
After all, the novelty of Gu Family Spicy Hot Pot is still prominent in the public’s mind.
It’s one of the brands people like.
There’s no need to act hastily.
After all, the survival of restaurants nowadays still has a long way to go.
Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei now have funds exceeding ten million.
They don’t talk about this.
They live very low-key.
Aside from no longer personally helping in the kitchen, everything else remains unchanged.
Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei’s daily work involves inspecting the three branches and paying attention to the main store’s various responses.
Gu Xiaoying is no longer a cashier.
She has become the financial manager.
Her primary responsibility is overseeing financial management at each branch and the main store and depositing money in the bank daily.
Gu Xiaoying is also very busy now. Besides busying herself with the family business during the day, she’s enrolled in a night school for financial accounting in the evening to recharge herself.
Upon arriving in the city, she sees and experiences different people and things, realizing a need for change.
Going back to school isn’t very feasible since her age, nearly twenty, poses a limitation.
However, with Gu Xiaoqing’s encouragement, Gu Xiaoying thinks attending a specialized night school is a good option, providing both skills and new motivation.
Neither Gu Ruhai nor Li Xuemei opposes this; they’re happy with their children’s accomplishments.
Life at home is very different now compared to before.
Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei have bought each of their three children a house.
In different locations, each house is a spacious 120-130 square meters.
Nowconsiderably wealthy, Gu Ruhai considers their future settlement in the city.
Because they bought houses, the household registration could also be transferred.
Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei want Gu Xiaoying to find a son-in-law in the city.
This way, the whole family can be together in the city.
After all, Gu Ruhai isn’t short of money now.
The home’s decor was chosen by Gu Xiaoqing, who leveraged connections to buy TV sets, refrigerators, washing machines—every household appliance is available.
Gu Xiaoqing also encouraged Gu Ruhai to learn to drive.
Even Gu Xiaoying was encouraged by Gu Xiaoqing to learn driving.
Cars will become indispensable transport tools in the future. The family doesn’t lack money, and learning an extra skill will only be beneficial.
Thus, this year, Gu Ruhai bought a car.
It’s a van.
Gu Ruhai is practical; he believes a van can carry more goods, making it convenient for purchasing and transportation.
However, after being repeatedly nagged by Gu Xiaoqing, he couldn’t resist buying a black car.
It’s a four-seater sedan.
It becomes the essential vehicle for Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei.
This is the biggest change in the Gu Family now.
So whenever Gu Xiaoqing returns to school, Li Xuemei, like city parents, packs a bunch of fruits and snacks, worried that her child might be hungry.
Gu Xiaoqing actually doesn’t want to take them.
He doesn’t care for those things.
Years of habit have made Gu Xiaoqing uninterested in vanity. Although the family’s condition has changed, he doesn’t feel the need to flaunt wealth.
He’s still the ordinary Gu Xiaoqing.
Even now, He Min doesn’t know the situation of Gu Xiaoqing’s family, still thinking his parents are migrant workers in the city.
Holding the bag in his hand, Gu Xiaoqing gave a wry smile.
Li Xuemei is particularly afraid her children will suffer, always thinking of ways to treat them well.
Gu Xiaoqing’s concern is with his younger brother, Gu Xiaojie.
Gu Xiaojie is too young, and the family’s environment has changed without him experiencing much upheaval. The imprint on his heart is shallow. In the city, he’s mostly exposed to peers with good living conditions.
He’s never faced significant hardship.
In Gu Xiaojie’s mind, he’s different from Gu Xiaoying and Gu Xiaoqing. His life is mostly filled with happiness and joy, although his mischievousness has reached a certain level now.
Being called to school by teachers has become routine.
What Gu Xiaojie fears most now is Gu Xiaoqing. When Gu Xiaoqing is at home, Gu Xiaojie behaves like a well-mannered lamb.
If Gu Xiaoqing is absent, Gu Xiaojie becomes uncontrollable.
Fortunately, the child still listens to Gu Xiaoqing. Every week, Gu Xiaoqing checks Gu Xiaojie’s homework and assigns exercises, expecting to review them during his next visit home.
Gu Xiaojie has no choice but to comply obediently.
Gu Xiaoqing always advises Li Xuemei not to spoil Gu Xiaojie too much, lest a caring mother ruin her son.
Li Xuemei always nods in agreement.
But afterward, she still treats Gu Xiaojie with tender indulgence.
Gu Xiaoqing can only do so much.
They can’t impose the hardships he and his sister experienced on their younger brother.
One can only hope that Gu Xiaojie won’t be adversely affected. So far, apart from a bit of mischievousness, he hasn’t made any serious mistakes. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)