Jiang Chan glanced at him. “How do you usually sell your products?”
Liu Yuan answered without hesitation. “We deliver them to familiar work units, and send some to the wholesale market. They always sell eventually. Our products are this good.”
Jiang Chan was helpless. “That’s it? You don’t open your own shop to sell them?”
Seeing that Liu Yuan did not take it seriously, Jiang Chan simply went ahead and explained the benefits of a factory operated store. As she spoke, Liu Yuan’s eyes lit up, practically sparkling with the glow of money.
His sales manager was a young man in his twenties, sharp minded. He immediately analyzed the advantages of a factory store.
“That’s enough. I’m just mentioning it casually. You can decide on the details yourselves later. Although good wine does not fear deep alleys, good products still need promotion. Why not start by going out and promoting them?”
Jiang Chan did not interfere in business operations. She only offered suggestions. Liu Yuan and the sales manager clung to her as if she had given them a heavenly manual, repeatedly asking how to sell.
Jiang Chan casually mentioned a few sales techniques commonly used in later times. The two listened in amazement. Jiang Chan thought to herself that it was not her who was impressive, but the era they had not experienced.
In Liu Yuan’s and the sales manager’s eyes, however, Jiang Chan was someone deeply hidden with extraordinary abilities. Liu Yuan even wanted to pull Jiang Chan into the sales department. This was truly a sales genius buried by pastries.
Xiao Hua stayed by Jiang Chan’s side the whole time. Seeing how Liu Yuan and the sales manager praised Jiang Chan endlessly, the little girl’s face was filled with pride. Grandma was amazing. Xiao Hua wanted to be just as amazing in the future.
In Xiao Hua’s eyes, Jiang Chan was her idol. She could make delicious pastries and earn money. Now even wealthy people admired her so much. Thinking about it, Xiao Hua could not help secretly smiling.
After finishing matters at the food factory, Jiang Chan brought Xiao Hua back to the hospital’s temporary dormitory. As they entered the room, Xiao Hua suddenly said, “Grandma, Xiao Hua wants to be as capable as you in the future.”
Jiang Chan paused. She was not truly capable. These were all things she had spent a great deal of time learning.
She touched Xiao Hua’s braid. “All of this requires Xiao Hua to study seriously. Starting today, your study tasks will become heavier. Can Xiao Hua persist?”
“Yes. If I learn more, Grandma won’t be so tired.” The small child nodded and said loudly. This child was born knowing how to be considerate. Even if Jiang Chan had a heart of stone, she was warmed by the little girl.
By New Year’s Eve, there were not many people left in the hospital staff dormitory. Most were on duty. There was also less work in the cafeteria, so Jiang Chan took leave and spent her days taking Xiao Hua out and about.
Inspired by her earlier suggestions, Liu Yuan began sending the factory’s pastries to various supply and marketing cooperatives and street stalls. Over these few days, profits were substantial. The factory store could not be set up immediately and would have to wait until after the New Year.
Even so, Jiang Chan’s finances became much more comfortable. At least when she took Xiao Hua shopping, Xiao Hua no longer said that they should stop buying or they would run out of money.
Jiang Chan never hid the household finances from Xiao Hua. Whenever money was spent, the two discussed it together. She never ignored Xiao Hua’s opinions just because she was a child. This made Xiao Hua feel a stronger sense of belonging to their small family.
At such a young age, Xiao Hua already looked like a little housekeeper. Teaching girls to manage household matters from a young age was never wrong. Jiang Chan understood this deeply from her first world.
In ancient times, girls at eight or nine years old followed their mothers to learn household management, shopkeeping, and social dealings. Jiang Chan was now raising Xiao Hua in the same way.
People all have a shopping instinct deep down, and Jiang Chan was no exception. After these few days of shopping, the dormitory was filled to the brim with ingredients, new clothes, drinks, and other items.
She also bought many holiday fireworks for children, the handheld sparkler kind. Anything Xiao Hua had never seen or played with before, Jiang Chan wanted her to experience. Raising a child generously was always a good thing.
That New Year, Xiao Hua was like she had fallen into a nest of blessings. Jiang Chan made many delicious foods and fried all kinds of meatballs, radish balls, tofu balls, meatballs, and various pastries.
Especially the dishes for meals. Those were indispensable. Even with only two people, Jiang Chan prepared eight dishes. This was a sense of ritual, proof that the New Year was different from ordinary days.
Jiang Chan and Xiao Hua lived very comfortably in the provincial capital. Far away in the mountain village, Zhou Dayou’s family was not so fortunate. On the twenty eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhou Fuguo and Wang Mei finally returned with their youngest son.
Seeing his youngest grandson, Zhou Dayou was overjoyed. Trembling, he pulled out twenty cents from his pocket and handed it to the boy Zhou Xiaobao. Zhou Dabao immediately protested. “Grandpa, I want some too.”
It was the New Year, so Zhou Dayou said nothing. Grinning happily, he also gave Zhou Dabao twenty cents. Everyone received a share.
Zhou Fuguo and Wang Mei had gone out to work. Neither had formal education. Zhou Fuguo worked at a construction site, and Wang Mei cooked for workers there. They considered themselves worldly now. After returning home, they became somewhat arrogant.
After sitting at home for a while, Zhou Fuguo felt as if two people were missing. He looked around and smacked his lips. “Where’s Mom and the money losing girl?”
His sister in law Zhang Chuncao curled her lips. “She took that girl out months ago. No idea where they went.”
Zhou Fuguo was stunned. “Didn’t you report it to the police?”
Zhang Chuncao rolled her eyes. Jiang Chan had taken Xiao Hua out to seek treatment. If Zhou Fuguo learned that it was her son who burned the girl’s face, Wang Mei would definitely come after them.
The house was small. Any conversation could be overheard. Zhou Dayou knocked his tobacco pipe against the table. “Report what? From now on, treat it like those two never existed. Just assume they’re dead. With two fewer mouths to feed, life is easier.”
Zhou Dayou’s authority was deeply ingrained. Zhou Fuguo did not dare say anything more. He had only asked casually. With Jiang Chan and Xiao Hua gone and no longer in his way, he was actually quite pleased.
Wang Mei hugged Zhou Xiaobao and doted on him, calling him her precious darling. Zhou Dayou’s words seemed to go unheard. Favoring sons over daughters was truly a cruel mindset.
Both were human lives, yet treated with such indifference. Of course, Jiang Chan desperately needed that indifference. If Zhou Dayou’s family thought of coming after her, she would still have to deal with that trouble.
After the New Year, Jiang Chan resigned from the cafeteria job. She could not withstand Liu Yuan’s constant pleas. His side had only just begun to improve, and he still needed Jiang Chan to watch over things closely.
Only after all the workers were fully familiar with the processes would Jiang Chan be able to truly let go.
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Thanks for the chapter!