Back To The 80s-Chapter 363 - 373: Discussion_1

Gu Xiaobei entered the yard with groceries and saw Xiaopang was leaning against Wen Xiuqing, with his little feet kicking at the dog Dahuang who was lying next to him.

She put the groceries in the kitchen, washed her hands, squatted down and asked, "Mom, where are my dad and Mo Wang?"

"Your dad thinks it’s really cool to go out with the soldiers following him as he holds the child, so he went for a stroll," Wen Xiuqing said with a laugh.

Gu Xiaobei playfully stroked Xiaopang’s chubby cheeks, teasing, "Whose naughty little girl are you?"

Xiaopang, revealing a few baby teeth, kept calling out, "Mama, Mama...." He had learned to call mother since he was weaned.

Looking at Gu Xiaobei, Wen Xiuqing said, "I heard you’re planning to start a business? Are you short of money? If you need any, just take it from our household."

Gu Xiaobei, touched, holding Xiaopang, said, "Don’t worry, I have enough money." She was grateful for her family’s support. Many people were skeptical about her starting a business as businesses can make or lose money. Most people were pessimistic, always considering the possibility of losses first.

After holding Xiaopang for a while, Gu Xiaobei began to prepare dinner. The two children now have sheep milk in the morning and before bed, and eat with the adults at other times. So Xiaopang and Mo Wang needed their meals prepared in advance.

While washing vegetables, Bai Xiaolan breeze in excitedly. Dragging along a bag of vegetables, she said, "Can you teach me how to cook today?"

Gu Xiaobei asked with a puzzled look, "What got you suddenly interested in cooking?"

Bai Xiaolan exclaimed excitedly, "Jin Xiangdong says he likes the bread of Shule River. Can you teach me how to make it?"

Gu Xiaobei almost fainted. Was this something one could make at home? Besides, she didn’t even know how. She smiled and said to Bai Xiaolan, "You might want to pick something else. You can only get that in Shule."

Bai Xiaolan, a bit disappointed, said, "Then I’ll learn the simplest one. How about rolling out noodles?"

Gu Xiaobei was defeated by this unabashed student. The simplest? She couldn’t yet roll out a decent noodle herself.

Under Gu Xiaobei’s guidance, Bai Xiaolan made a pot of noodles with inconsistent thickness and no real sense of what she was doing.

Gu Xiaobei thought to herself that it was fortunate she had already made the children’s meals. Otherwise, Xiaopang and Mo Wang might have to suffer from Xiaolan’s cooking.

Lu Zhanguo only managed to rush back home just before dinner. Everyone at the dinner table couldn’t stop praising Bai Xiaolan’s somewhat salty noodles. Jin Xiangdong even exclaimed when he put down his bowl, "The taste is very good, much better than the noodles made in our army canteen."

The praise encouraged Bai Xiaolan, and she became even more enthusiastic about cooking in the days that followed.

After dinner, Gu Xiaobei and Lu Zhanguo held their children and walked home. On the way, Gu Xiaobei shared her business ideas with Lu Zhanguo, and how she planned to rent a shop front.

Lu Zhanguo frowned with worry, "It’s not easy for you two young women. You might be bullied easily."

Gu Xiaobei had considered this. If they did start to make money, it could attract jealousy. Sighing, she said, "It’s fine, we’ll hire a couple of capable young men to watch over the warehouse and shop."

After thinking for a moment, Lu Zhanguo said, "Let me find a couple of retired soldiers for you. That would be safer. And when you go out for business, you can bring Dahuang or Dabing with you. That’s safer."

Gu Xiaobei chuckled and nodded. Going out for business and bringing a dog along, who else could compare?

"I said I was going to rent three shop fronts, right? I’m thinking of giving one to Li Fengmei. In the first year, I’ll consider her as working for me, and I’ll pay her wages. If the business goes well, next year, I’ll let her go solo, managing one stall. As for Chunling, we’ll discuss that after she gives birth," Gu Xiaobei shared her plans with Lu Zhanguo.

Lu Zhanguo didn’t particularly agree with Gu Xiaobei’s plan. He said, "If you really want to help Fengmei, you could let her set up her own small shop, supplying her with goods from your side. You could offer her a discount or allow her to pay later. But if you let her work in your shop and pay her a monthly wage, the two of you become superior and subordinate. It may be hard to get along. If she doesn’t perform well enough and you criticize her, it might become awkward over time.."

Gu Xiaobei suddenly realized that she had overlooked that. She agreed, saying, "You’re right. I was only thinking that a partnership wouldn’t work, but I had forgotten this. Well, when she comes, I’ll ask her if she’s willing to run a small shop. That way, she can lead a more comfortable life too."

"Aren’t you guys overdoing it? This business is a lot of work," Lu Zhanguo said worriedly. The business was small but required a lot of effort.

Gu Xiaobei laughed, saying, "Don’t worry. We will work hard for a few months at the start, but it will get easier once everything’s on track."

As they chatted about their collections and Jade Mutton Fat, Gu Xiaobei mentioned, "I also want to visit Shule River."

Lu Zhanguo, with a hint of mystery, said, "There will be an opportunity." Little Xiaopang, being ignored by his parents who are caught in a conversation, cried out discontentedly, "Baba~ Baba~"

His call left Lu Zhanguo and Gu Xiaobei laughing heartily. The setting sun bathed the family of four in its warm light, exuding a sense of happiness.

In the following days, Gu Xiaobei got caught up with getting the needed stamps for her business. When that all done, she took her application materials to the Commission for Development and Reform to seek Zhan Hezhi.

The city government office building was located in the courtyard of the city government, so it was easy to find.

Zhan Hezhi apparently had forgotten where he had met Gu Xiaobei before. He put on his official tone, saying, "The first year of rent is waived, so each household can only lease one unit. You are trying to lease three units at once, which does not comply with the rules."

Throughout the conversation, Gu Xiaobei kept a gentle smile on her face but was puzzled internally. This man seemed nothing like the sophisticated Zhan Hezhi she had met on the train.

"Director Zhan, is there no flexibility to this? As I have explained my business philosophy and development direction, we will certainly lease long-term. Moreover, there are more people observing and fewer people leasing now. Haven’t we led by example with our leases?" Gu Xiaobei lowered her posture.

Zhan Hezhi said in a difficult tone, "This matter is hard to handle. Today, someone requests three units, tomorrow someone might request five. If they can’t maintain businesses in the end and all end up closing, the purpose of one year of free rent will be defeated. Moreover, your theories of business operation, whether they can be implemented or market accepted, is yet to be seen."

Gu Xiaobei, feeling somewhat anxious inside, remained calm on the outside and asked, "So, Director Zhan, does this mean there’s absolutely no chance?"

Zhan Hezhi gently drummed his fingers on the desk and said with a smile, "Not exactly. It’s just that this will have to be discussed at a meeting."

Upon hearing his words, Gu Xiaobei felt a surge of anger. This was obviously asking for a bribe. This Zhan Hezhi in front of her had been corrupted by power.

Suppressing her irritation, Gu Xiaobei smiled, "Please, Director Zhan, speak kindly of us at the meeting. I’m not someone who doesn’t know how to show gratitude."

Zhan Hezhi nodded in satisfaction. This woman was really smart. She got the hint immediately.

With the development of the economy, it had also given rise to a group of greedy parasites.