RYEY -Chapter 368 Parting Approaches

Qiu Min felt sad. She and Cheng Qiao were the best of friends. Without Cheng Qiao, she wouldn’t have had the life she had today.

Originally, she thought that after Cheng Qiao got into the Traditional Chinese Medicine University in the capital, she would wear a white coat, become a “white-clad angel,” and save countless lives. Who would have thought she would be sent off to a poor, remote area instead?

“Brother Huan, who’s behind this?”

“Shouhou, mind your own business. What you need to do now is run the wholesale and retail company properly. But you’ll also need to find two trustworthy people to take over your position.”

“What’s wrong, Brother Huan? Is there a new project?”

“You’re a smart one. We might start a transport company. When that happens, you’ll have to help supervise a bit.”

“Wow, my brother is impressive! And Uncle, it must be a big investment from him. I could pitch in a little too, just a token amount.”

“How much can you put up right now?”

“Eighty thousand. If I can get my parents’ savings for their future, I can reach one hundred thousand.”

“Your parents would only give you their savings? Twenty thousand, not two hundred.”

Li Huan knew Shouhou had completely fallen out with Qiu Min’s parents. Fortunately, his own parents were reliable and were living with their youngest son.

“My parents’ original savings were only two thousand. I had them increase it to twenty thousand. If I tell them it doubled, do you think they’d agree?”

“That depends on whether they trust you.”

“With you and Uncle around, how could they not trust me?”

Shouhou felt aggrieved hearing this. These were his own parents, yet they only trusted Li Huan and didn’t believe a word he said.

Li Huan laughed heartily. With this plan, he could ensure that Shouhou’s parents would never doubt him again. In fact, since the wholesale company had started, Shouhou’s parents had contributed quite a bit.

“You should give them each a salary. Just because they are your parents doesn’t mean they work for free.”

Shouhou nodded. Every year he gave his parents money during festivals, so he had forgotten to set up a formal salary. But how much should it be?

“My mom helps me run the shop. Cheng Qiao gives her one hundred yuan a month. She saves fifty herself and puts the remaining fifty into my account.”

“One hundred yuan?”

Shouhou screamed, then nodded repeatedly. He decided to also contribute one hundred yuan, giving each of his parents fifty as a salary, which was already quite generous.

Qiu Min went back first to get her eldest son. This little boy was slightly older than Cheng Li, looked like Qiu Min, and was mischievous too.

“Son, do you want to go to Aunt Qiao’s house?”

“Is Brother Cheng Li there?”

“Yes, Li Ming is there, and the twins too.”

“Go, go, let’s go right away!”

The four of them rode four bicycles, taking the two children toward Xiangyang Village. Meanwhile, Mother Li, Li Le, and Cheng Qiao were busy in the kitchen. Today, Uncle had come, and they wanted to serve him some local specialties.

“Wife, we’re back.”

“Cheng Qiao, I brought the two little ones to play.”

“Come in quickly. Oh my, our big and little Houye have grown so much.”

“Haha, forget Houye, call him Monkey Head instead. He’s quite the rascal.”

They laughed together. Qiu Min, being an old friend, immediately started helping with chores as soon as she entered the yard, although the Li family didn’t raise anything—not even a single chicken.

Thinking that in a few days the house would be empty again, Qiu Min felt a little sad. Such a good house, left uninhabited for long, would deteriorate over time.

“Qiao, why not have two people live with you? That way, if the house suffers, it won’t be a waste.”

“No need. Aunt Wang and the others will come. The backyard vegetable garden, chicken coop, and pigsty are all rented to them. Xiangyang Village will become a professional pig-raising village. If you want pork, ask Wang Xiangyang.”

“Xiangyang has really stuck it out with you. Now that he’s village chief, life finally has hope.”

“By the way, doesn’t Xiangyang have two younger brothers? They could work in the transport team.”

“Probably only one can come. Aunt Wang is taking 22 pigs. Without Xiangjun and the others’ help, the old couple might not manage.”

“Ah, that’s why rural families need many sons. Otherwise, they can’t even manage farming, let alone raising pigs. Brother Huan is amazing—three sons at once!”

“You silly one, Brother Huan’s sons won’t be farming. Their household registrations have been moved to the capital.”

“Oh… right…”

Shouhou scratched his head embarrassedly. Li Huan’s words surprised him. Zhao Hui also looked at Li Huan in astonishment. What was he planning?

“Li Ming’s household registration will be moved to the county, Cheng Li’s will go with my wife to Gan Province, and Xiao Nuan and Ye Jing’s will remain in the capital.”

“Why?”

“Xiao Nuan and Ye Jing plan to develop in the capital. Cheng Li will develop with his mother in Gan Province. As for Li Ming, he’s a Li, so naturally he develops in his hometown.”

“So in Xiangyang Village, only Mother Li has her household registration?”

“No, my eldest son Cheng Li’s household is also here.”

Everyone fell silent. Li Huan had made his plan clear: the houses and land in Xiangyang Village would belong to Li Bing’s son, while his own son would live in the county.

That made sense. The Li Ming Wholesale Company was registered under Li Ming, and there was already an old mansion in the county refurbished by Li Huan, grand and impressive.

“Time to eat. Why are you all so serious?”

“We can’t bear to see Cheng Qiao leave.”

Qiu Min’s eyes reddened. She hadn’t expected Cheng Qiao’s family to separate so completely, almost scattering to different places. What could be more painful than a family separating?

“Cheng Qiao, should I go with you?”

“Why would you? I’m going to study. In two years, I’ll graduate and be assigned to work in a hospital.”

“I feel sad for you.”

“This is fine. I can’t look after Li Ming, so he has to be with his father. The environment in Gan Province is harsh; the twins are too young to endure it. Cheng Li is older, so he can keep my father company.”

“But Cheng Li is so delicate. Can he withstand the harsh weather there?”

Qiu Min, who liked little Cheng Li, held him tightly, unwilling to let go, wanting to ask him to stay with her.

Little Cheng Li smiled. He didn’t want to leave Cheng Qiao and had a feeling that going to Gan Province might bring unexpected gains.

The meal was filled with laughter and tears. Mother Li went to bed early, not wanting the children to see her shedding sorrowful tears.

In late August, Cheng Qiao finally packed her bags, ready to leave. Li Huan also took a few days off to first take Mother Li and Li Ming to the grocery shop, then bring the twins to the Ye family.