Bai Ge wasn't angry at all by Wang Qiqi's question; if Qiqi hadn't asked, there would have been absolutely no hope. "Rest assured, if they don't work diligently, we won't even bring it up. It would be foolish to bring them only to fail to cover their travel and living expenses." What else would they be but wastrels? "My younger siblings only want to earn money for their tuition."

Wang Qiqi hadn't realized that Bai Ge’s family situation was this difficult. "I’ll ask around. I can’t guarantee anything, but if this job goes well, perhaps there will be another chance next year." The rush to make mooncakes always meant a busy period every summer vacation; no boss ever disliked a worker who was quick and efficient.

Bai Ge was surprised there might be a next time. To be honest, she wasn't even sure they would secure this current opportunity. "Qiqi, thank you, thank you so much." They all knew that if it weren't for Wang Qiqi’s connection, Zhu Lina wouldn't have shared such a great opportunity with them.

"Don't mention it. Working hard is what truly matters." Wang Qiqi stood rooted, watching Bai Ge and the others leave. Then she thought of Wang Rui. Wang Rui’s circumstances were far better than Bai Ge’s, yet she was dead set on finding a rich man to secure a happy life. Didn't she realize that if a rich man were interested in her, it would only be for a portion of her—her figure? Her looks? Had she forgotten that one day she would inevitably age, eventually be replaced by someone younger? Of course, Wang Qiqi would never voice these thoughts to Wang Rui.

She had spoken with Song Yao a few days ago; Song Yao mentioned that Wang Rui was becoming increasingly arrogant, and strangely, Li Cui seemed to be letting it slide. This struck Wang Qiqi as odd. Li Cui used to be extremely anxious about Wang Rui—even when she hadn’t attended high school in the previous life—and now, after spending so much money on school placement fees in this life, why wasn’t Li Cui worried? In short, Wang Qiqi felt something was amiss, but as long as her own money wasn't being targeted, she wouldn't bother prying.

However, during the call, Wang Qiqi still cautioned Song Yao to keep an eye on Wang Dagui’s family movements. Although the two families managed their own affairs separately, and things had become quite unpleasant during the winter break, Wang Qiqi worried that if those people who had tricked Li Cui into speculative stock investments ended up defrauding her, they might come after her family. In essence, better safe than sorry. Song Yao, who had initially dismissed the warning, turned pale after hearing Wang Qiqi's analysis and repeatedly assured her over the phone that she would constantly monitor Wang Dagui’s family.

Song Yao also laid out a few requirements during the call. Essentially, while it might not be the end of the world if Wang Qiqi didn't return home during her summer trip, she absolutely had to buy gifts for her little nephew. Song Yao didn't specify how much or whether Wang Qiqi should buy gifts for the nephew's father too, but Song Yao knew Wang Qiqi wouldn't disappoint her. Although she had essentially extorted a generous amount from Song Yao and her son, Wang Qiqi felt this demand was worth it; having a reliable insider was hard to come by.

After Wang Qiqi mentioned Bai Ge’s group to Zhu Lina, Zhu Lina didn't comment much, only stating a few requirements. Overall, the sentiment was strictly business—which Wang Qiqi found perfectly reasonable. Besides, once Bai Ge’s group heard that good work now guaranteed a good future, how could they not ensure their younger siblings worked diligently?

When Bai Ge and the others heard Wang Qiqi’s words, they were stunned. "It's really possible?" Heavens, they had asked on a whim, half-expecting only a few spots might open up. They never imagined the factory would take on everyone.

Li Xin suddenly remembered something. "That won't cause trouble for Zhu Lina, will it?" After all, Zhu Lina was just an intern. Even if she claimed the factory owner had business ties with her family, it still wasn't her factory, and she wouldn't want trouble.

"Just work hard. And by the way, your younger siblings should definitely bring their ID cards. You understand—no child labor." Wang Qiqi suddenly recalled something. Although the checks weren't strictly enforced now, preparing was always wise. Moreover, ID cards should be relatively easy to obtain in their hometown, right?

Bai Ge’s group was truly surprised by this unexpected turn—it was a major hurdle. "Is it absolutely necessary?"

"The unit needs a record for their files, right? And what if the factory leaders want to see them..." Wang Qiqi uncharitably spun the story. She was too embarrassed to tell them, "It’s fine, just get some fake ones made." Such a suggestion definitely violated legal statutes.

Bai Ge considered it reasonable upon hearing this. Besides, obtaining an ID card wasn't unheard of. They exchanged glances and immediately rushed toward a public phone. As for the content of their calls, unfortunately for Wang Qiqi, she couldn't understand—they were speaking their dialect. But she knew the central theme of every conversation was the ID card.

Zhu Lina hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to tell Bai Ge’s siblings to prepare IDs. "The factory doesn't require this?" While employing child labor was forbidden, there were certainly factories that hired them; child wages were lower, and for a mooncake factory, hands and skill mattered more than age, especially since Zhu Lina knew these workers would only stay for a month or two. In the summer heat, why would the big bosses leave their air-conditioned offices to do this kind of work? Naturally, the factory made sure to maintain good relations with the relevant authorities.

"There is no requirement now, but what if someone reports the factory for hiring child labor, and the Labor Bureau steps in?" Wang Qiqi recalled that in later years, the issue of child labor frequently appeared on television. Of course, the factories shown were the inhumane ones, but many more faced less severe consequences, ending with fines or bribes. But why avoid a problem if you can, especially if the workers could bear the repercussions instead of the boss?

Although Zhu Lina didn't take Wang Qiqi's words entirely to heart, one day, while talking to her family on the phone, she mentioned it casually and then forgot. However, Father Zhu pondered the remark for a long time. Later, when a child labor scandal erupted again, none of the Zhu family's companies or factories ever committed this error or were exposed during surprise inspections because of it.

Wang Qiqi certainly wasn't going to dwell on this; it wasn't her factory, and she had only mentioned it offhand because of the situation with Bai Ge’s group. Her current concern was, "Nana, is there any issue with our passports?"

Yes, summer vacation was fast approaching, and Wang Qiqi and the others planned to head abroad immediately once school let out. Since it was their first time, they were initially motivated by the idea of making money. They planned to spend a few days in Paris, then pack up their purchased goods and return home. If the market looked favorable, they might squeeze in another trip in August. This first journey was purely a test run.

Zhu Lina gave an OK gesture. "Almost done. Besides, look at the thick stack of financial documents we submitted—how could foreigners refuse us?" We sisters were simply going to boost their country's GDP through our shopping spree; what grounds would they have to object?

"They wouldn't agree without your family guaranteeing for you," Wang Qiqi knew that Shi Man’s and Zhu Lina’s applications would pass easily, but her own documents were problematic. Although she had assets, the issue was the lack of immediate family like parents, which would make foreigners hesitant.

"The guarantee is secondary; the main point is whether there’s a risk of you overstaying," Zhu Lina said, having traveled abroad several times and understanding the situation somewhat. "Besides, we’ve already booked round-trip tickets and hotel rooms. What more could they doubt?"

Shi Man got a headache watching the two thank each other endlessly. She waved her hand decisively. "We should be focusing on what we need to procure this time. Oh, my mom said her friend needs some things; she’ll give me the list in a few days." Shi Man hadn't expected her mother to bring her some clients. "I told her I’m adding a ten percent markup, and I’ll just give her a copy of the receipt."

Wang Qiqi had initially worried about not making a profit—not because she begrudged small money, but because failing to set prices beforehand made it awkward to bring up money later. "Getting orders like that is the best thing. At least we can shop with confidence." Accepting orders wasn't stressful; the more orders they secured before leaving, the better.

"My mom also said she has orders," Zhu Lina recalled her mother calling her a few days ago, "but I won't know the specifics until right before we board the plane. However, some of it is just to carry back for her."

This was a necessary clarification for all of them in business. Otherwise, everyone would claim they were just bringing things for family, erasing any notion of making money—though ultimately, only the carrier knew if they profited. Fortunately, none of them were inclined to take petty advantages; otherwise, the group’s morale would have dissolved before they even left.

Wang Qiqi nodded in acknowledgment. "I’m not planning to bring anything." She was close to Wang Damei and the others, but a line had to be drawn. If they got used to receiving things, would they ever stop asking?

"Not even a gift for your future mother-in-law?" Zhu Lina thought that while it was acceptable not to bring gifts for others, she couldn't possibly neglect her future mother-in-law. She knew Han Tao and Wang Qiqi were going abroad, and even if Mrs. Luo specifically called to say not to bring anything, as a junior, one couldn't truly arrive empty-handed.

That was impossible. "I plan to look for a souvenir when we get there. As for cosmetics, probably not." While they were effective, they were easy to price, and Wang Qiqi thought Aunt Luo’s skin was already quite good; there was no need to ‘poison’ it with cosmetics.

"Buy a watch. Even though they are expensive, there are cheaper ones abroad," Zhu Lina mused. She remembered that Han Tao’s mother often wore a watch, and the one she was wearing looked quite worn out, so she suggested the idea. (To be continued.)