Gong Ruini thought that after her big brother expressed his gratitude, this matter would just pass like that; she didn’t expect there would be more.
This follow-up was even noticed by Zhao Xuran, "Why has your brother been getting close with Chu Ling lately?"
Zhao Xuran didn’t understand why Chu Ling was suddenly getting close to Gong Ruwen.
Gong Ruini didn’t know either; she had asked her brother, "My brother said the books she likes can be copied at my place, but she just likes to be at my brother’s side."
Gong Ruini had thought whether it was because Chu Ling was interested in how Ruwen handled things; compared to her side, there were still so things to see on his end.
But since Chu Ling started visiting often, he beca very cautious; you could say his study had nothing but howork and his occasional doodles, absolutely nothing that would interest Chu Ling.
Zhao Xuran didn’t doubt Gong Ruwen’s words, "Could it be that Chu Ling is interested in your brother?"
Ah, interested in Gong Ruwen? Gong Ruini was startled, not because Gong Ruwen wasn’t good enough, but because they weren’t socially or economically matching.
Based on the information Cai Ming gathered afterward, they knew bits about the surface situation of the Chu family.
For Chu Ling’s parents’ generation, apart from marrying into the families of Old Sir Chu’s comrades-in-arms, it was either classmates or fellow soldiers, but for Chu Ling’s generation, her siblings’ partners were not ordinary commoners.
"Our family probably isn’t on the Chu family’s radar." Gong Ruini thought and thought but didn’t see anything in her family that would appeal to Chu Ling.
If it were Zhao Xuran, that might be possible; after all, Zhao Xuran really looked the part and was clearly a leader among their peers.
He certainly is the best candidate for a marriage alliance; why would she fancy Gong Ruwen? It doesn’t make sense and is beyond understanding.
Listening to Gong Ruini’s self-deprecating words, "We’re all good; we’re not any worse than them."
Zhao Xuran admitted that the Chu family might have so influence, but didn’t the impression that it was full of talents relate to Old Sir Chu?
"Whether it’s good or not will have to wait till Old Sir Chu is gone." Back then, there were many who climbed higher than Old Sir Chu, but how many of those who were in the lilight then still are now?
"No matter what, we can’t be used as pawns by them." Gong Ruini appreciated Chu Ling’s defense of her, but this wasn’t enough to justify sacrificing Gong Ruwen.
Zhao Xuran breathed a sigh of relief, but then imdiately thought, is this line of reasoning making Gong Ruini overthink? "Well, I was just..."
Before Zhao Xuran could explain, Gong Ruini interjected, "I know, Brother Xuran, don’t worry, I understand."
Having one more person in the family trailing behind others is enough; there’s no need to have a few more.
As long as you understand, "By the way, how about going to see the maple leaves this weekend?" Zhao Xuran recalled Ni Zi clamoring to see the red maple leaves in the suburbs last year.
But she fell into a coma before the maple leaves turned red, and Zhao Xuran thought of making up for this regret this ti.
Seeing the red maple leaves? How did the topic suddenly switch to this? But going out for a walk, to wander around, "Sure."
"And then prepare so picnic stuff." Gong Ruini was now less concerned about Chu Ling’s unusual actions and more about the delicious picnic food for the weekend.
"By the way, Brother Xuran, how did your chef search go last ti?" Zhao Xuran’s proposal to switch careers received unanimous agreent from everyone.
It’s better to seek a backup plan while business is still thriving than to switch careers when there’s no business left.
Gong Ruini regretted not transferring the shop at its peak of business; otherwise, she wouldn’t be in such a hurry now.
"I’ve got so news; I’m planning to recruit a few people to go south for training." Zhao Xuran explained why he was doing it this way.
"Chefs are rarely willing to co to the north, and even if they are willing, their wages are high." Although this would ensure more authentic flavors, costs cannot be ignored.
"We cannot let those chefs control the lifeline of our business." Zhao Xuran was most worried that once those chefs saw the hot business in Beijing, they would leave and open a shop themselves.
By then, it would really open up the market for others, "Just let Guang Ran’s friends go to learn; they are Beijing locals, and even if they want to open a shop themselves, they might not have many resources, just small endeavors."
"Plus, they’re Beijing locals, they’ll be more cautious." Zhao Xuran wanted them to be cautious.
Cautious because they’re Beijingers? If they saw a lot of money to be made, would they still be cautious?
Even the greatest caution is weaker than Grandpa Mao’s incentive, but Gong Ruini didn’t voice any opinions; maybe those kids were indeed more loyal.
"By the ti they aren’t cautious, we would have already made a fortune; if they have ideas, we’ll help them realize them."
He knew Zhao Xuran was a sensible person; it seed like he truly viewed the culinary industry as a place to make quick money.
"We don’t have secret recipes or ancestral recipes; whatever we can operate, as long as soone has the ambition and is willing to spend money, they can open the sa kind of shop. Only the things unique to us can make money."
Let others imitate, we’re also imitating others, "You could say we were ahead of them before, so we made a lot of money."
Zhao Xuran explained why he wouldn’t be in this industry for long; Gong Ruini thought, maybe Zhao Xuran was really thinking about industries with secret formulas, like ointnts.
Gong Ruini didn’t know how much Zhan Jing had gone through in her past life to open Shiyu Hall, but in this life, things should speed up and get organized, and Gong Ruini was very much looking forward to it.
But there is sothing to look forward to, "Aunt Zhan’s ointnt is quite good, even better than the hospital’s."
"Even Grandpa Zhuge said it would be a pity if this isn’t launched." Gong Ruini tentatively asked.
Gong Ruini didn’t expect Zhao Xuran to reveal much; even if they really had such plans, Zhao Guangran would keep it a secret, and it wouldn’t be shared with an outsider like her.
This girl really knows how to speculate, but this matter can’t be hidden for long, Zhao Xuran glanced around, "My mom will resign after the New Year."
Ah, resigning, once Zhan Jing resigns, her entrepreneurship will start to be on the agenda.
Gong Ruini recalled Zhao Gang being very busy recently, and it seed like many places he was visiting were large herbal dicine districts.
And it seed like Zhao Xuran was looking at real estate the last ti, only she thought it was for helping her dad find a place; her dad couldn’t let go of his carpentry skills, plus the factory-made furniture wasn’t great, so Zhao Gang couldn’t resist and planned to open a factory.
"Then congratulations to Aunt Zhan."
"Yes, my mom’s wish, or rather my grandfather’s wish, is about to co true." Zhao Xuran suddenly rembered what he once told Gong Ruini.
Lately, Zhao Xuran had been wrestling with the issue; it was an opportunity for his mother, a chance to fulfill her dream, and a challenge for him.
"Ni Zi, I have sothing to tell you." Zhao Xuran thought about it and decided it was best to tell Ni Zi this first.
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