Song Yao hadn't expected her cousin to bring business to the workshop they hadn't even opened yet. "Now we absolutely have to open, or we won't be able to live it down." Song Yao managed a wry smile, though inwardly, she was quite pleased. Just a few days ago, Qiqi mentioned that Juliana might help, and today her cousin said she knew someone at a machinery factory. Even if they hadn't secured a partnership yet, having an introduction was certainly better than cold-calling for business.

Wang Qiqi knew Song Yao was just voicing a sweet complaint; if she truly didn't want to open the workshop, she would have just said so. "Sis, why don't we just not open it? I'll tell Bai Ge to give brother-in-law some spending money; he's got nothing better to do anyway."

Song Yao knew it was impossible to pull the wool over her cousin's eyes. "Girl, can you stop being so clever? Sigh, I was honestly considering shelving the workshop if we couldn't find any leads, but now that the name is out there, we really can't back down." Before, not opening meant minimizing financial loss when there was no hope; now, not opening would make them fools—the kind of fools who watch money slip right through their fingers.

Wang Qiqi covered her mouth, laughing softly. "Brother-in-law does well, and I benefit too, Sis. Let brother-in-law really show off in front of my classmates. And my classmate is in the printing business, so if we can support her in the future, we should." Wang Qiqi knew Bai Ge agreed to help so readily for two reasons: Gong Peixing could be a huge help to her, but the key factor was that if the brother-in-law succeeded, there would be plenty of printing jobs, which she could then secure.

"Don't worry, as soon as your brother-in-law lands an order from that factory, we'll give all that work to her," Song Yao said, understanding Wang Qiqi's meaning. If they needed custom work, as long as the price wasn't outrageous, they could certainly give it to her. Song Yao even thought they could form an alliance, speeding up market penetration and earning more money. "I'll give her a finder's fee too; I understand that much, Sis." Even though they were helping Qiqi's friend, some proper networking and courtesy were necessary; that way, if the contact had leads to other machinery plants, they would genuinely introduce them.

Hearing Song Yao's assurance, Wang Qiqi relaxed slightly. "That’s good. By the way, has brother-in-law started work?" Gong Peixing was quick; within two days of his return, they had found him a job. Other people had endless requirements when looking for work, but Gong Peixing only asked for opportunities to learn, coupled with his existing experience, so he was quickly hired.

"Mm." Song Yao was happy about her husband’s promising future, but thinking about the clothes he brought home these past few days gave her a headache. "His work uniform needs washing every single day, and that machine oil smell..." Song Yao made a face of distaste. "When your brother-in-law finally opens his own factory, we absolutely must buy a washing machine. Then you can tell him to clean his uniforms at the facility himself."

It wasn't that Song Yao refused to wash Gong Peixing’s clothes, but hand-washing was exhausting. If she used the washing machine, she worried the oil and smell would taint her other garments. Her clothes were expensive; ruining one might cost as much as half a month's wages from her husband's hard work.

"Your brother-in-law would be heartbroken if he heard you say that." Wang Qiqi was only teasing. In truth, her sister treated her brother-in-law exceptionally well. Their mother-in-law had mentioned they’d been stewing plenty of nourishing soups for Gong Peixing. If she truly didn't care, why the supplements? "Recently, brother-in-law's complexion has looked much better, Sis. You treat him too well."

Song Yao ignored Wang Qiqi and changed the subject. "I discussed it with Song Ziwen. He said he might not have that much capital; he can take at most a twenty percent stake. Qiqi, you take twenty percent too, and your brother-in-law and I will hold sixty percent. That way, if anything goes wrong, our family still controls seventy percent." That was clearly more than half, bordering on a two-thirds majority vote, absolutely enough to overrule Gong Peixing.

"Good." Wang Qiqi naturally had no objection. "But Sis, if we land a huge order right when we open, I estimate we’ll need several more machines, we’ll have to hire workers, secure a larger space, and handle the permits. Those costs won't be low."

Originally, they planned to start with one or two pieces of equipment, gradually take orders, and then expand the factory slowly. But now, it seemed the starting line was much higher, requiring proper preparation so they wouldn't be scrambling. Wang Qiqi was ecstatic. When Luo Hongjuan heard Han Tao was planning to invest in both the workshop and the interior design company, she was worried. Now, Luo Hongjuan would at least be much relieved. The largest investment should yield the earliest results. If the launch was strong and they secured a few clients, Wang Qiqi felt they needed to be fully prepared to avoid losing those initial customers. Losing them required far more energy and money to win back, often with uncertain results.

Song Yao hummed in agreement. "Yes, I’ve considered that too. But this means significant capital pressure. I plan to sell one of our houses back in the hometown. That will also show Gong's family how hard things are for us in the capital. Also, only Song Ziwen and you know about this factory; we aren't planning to tell the family for the next few years." Song Yao didn't want to provoke the Gong family right now. The Gong family attributed her brother-in-law's gambling problems to the elder brother being successful, claiming he gambled out of desperation because he couldn't compete. If they found out they were expanding the business, who knew what imbalance and crazy actions he might take?

Wang Qiqi was surprised that Song Yao hadn't even planned to tell Wang Damei and her husband about something this big. Not telling the Gong family was one thing, but "They will definitely be furious when they find out eventually. And if Song Ziwen is putting up so much money, won't Yang Jing know?" This wasn't a small sum; it couldn't possibly be moved without any indication.

"Song Ziwen has private savings," Song Yao simply explained why Song Ziwen could keep it from Yang Jing. "And you know my mother’s mouth; sometimes when people praise her children’s success, she can't keep quiet. Yang Jing might be keeping quiet out of a similar mindset. In a few years, if the Gong family's situation genuinely improves, we can let my parents know." As for the Gong family, Song Yao never considered telling them anything. In Song Yao's view, those people were vampires; they only knew how to keep taking, acting as if they were entitled to it, which greatly dissatisfied her.

Private savings? Wang Qiqi certainly knew Song Ziwen had that money, but she hadn't expected him to plan on using it this way. "Not telling Yang Jing?" That seemed like a major issue.

"Mm." Song Yao understood Wang Qiqi's concern. "Don't worry; their relationship is solid. Song Ziwen didn't use that money when they bought the house. If he suddenly tells her now that he's investing in my workshop, who knows how Yang Jing might react? You know she tends to overthink things." Furthermore, Song Ziwen was being considerate; the money was saved before his marriage, and he hadn't saved anything since. If this money suddenly appeared, Yang Jing might suspect him of being a serial spender. "Men, they just like keeping a little something tucked away. Your brother-in-law, though he seems honest, probably keeps a small stash too." Though the money he saved, Song Yao knew, mostly went secretly to support his family. But with this venture creating such a stir, he couldn't afford to subsidize them much. Moreover, Song Yao noticed how upset he was, feeling his parents never acknowledged any good he did, only mentioning how heartless he was.

"By the way, does Han Tao keep private savings?" Song Yao wondered if Han Tao, compared to the other two, had a better chance of squirreling away money. He could pick up a few private jobs and get paid, and in US dollars, no less.

Wang Qiqi shook her head immediately. "No." She knew Han Tao couldn't save private funds even if he wanted to.

"You confirmed that quickly?" Song Yao thought her little sister was a bit too trusting of Han Tao.

"That’s because payments from foreigners are always wired directly to the card," Wang Qiqi quickly explained why she was so certain. Besides, he had no real need to hide money. Luo Hongjuan would never demand he subsidize her, and her own income was quite substantial now. Wang Qiqi never constrained his spending; as long as it was reasonable, she never commented on whether he spent too much or too little. "So, foreigners can’t evade taxes." In comparison, domestic income was often paid in cash, making tax evasion much easier. However, Wang Qiqi found the tax evasion prevalent in both places somewhat normal: first, people think if everyone else isn't paying, why should they be the naive one to pay taxes? Second, foreign taxes are high, but the welfare benefits are better in return.

"Oh, I see," Song Yao finally understood why Wang Qiqi was so sure. She looked around and whispered, "Well, do you keep private savings? I certainly do."

Wang Qiqi nodded. "I do, although it's not exactly 'private savings.' The money my parents left me, and the apartment I bought before dating Han Tao, are all mine, including the rent I collect. Han Tao never counts that money as shared." Only properties they co-own are theirs; otherwise, everything stays separate.

Song Yao fully supported Han Tao's stance. "That’s how it should be. Men..." Song Yao thought that no matter how good his wife or in-laws treated him, he would always think of his own side first. "By the way, your brother-in-law said he won't short you on your cut either."

Wang Qiqi walked into the room carrying a cup of coffee and some cake, hearing Han Tao on the phone with his advisor. She pouted. That professor! He had clearly stated Han Tao’s thesis was fine, only requiring him to return for the defense next year. But just when everyone thought Han Tao’s domestic issues were mostly settled, the professor claimed there was a problem with the paper. This had thrown Han Tao into a frenzy. While they could continue discussing the thesis via email or international calls, it was bothersome. Consequently, Han Tao had dedicated all his time to the paper these past few days and looked significantly thinner.

"Okay, okay, I'll revise it as soon as possible." Han Tao wearily hung up the receiver and took the items Wang Qiqi offered. "I have to pull an all-nighter again tonight." He wished he could just hold his wife and sleep. Han Tao felt the professor was being unreasonable. This was a great chance for the professor to make a name for himself, and Han Tao would gladly step aside for a student who needed the opportunity more, especially those planning to stay in China or study abroad, as they could secure better prospects. For him, this opportunity felt somewhat redundant. But hearing the professor frame it as being for his own good, he found it hard to voice his true feelings.

Another all-nighter? "Heavens, it’s just a graduation thesis! I thought it was excellent before," Wang Qiqi exclaimed angrily. While she didn't know the exact quality of Han Tao's paper, she was sure it would pass, perhaps even earn an excellent mark. Why the sudden strictness? What about the other students' papers? "Look how much weight you’ve lost. Even your mom looked distressed when she visited today."

Wang Qiqi remembered how heartbroken her mother-in-law was seeing Han Tao looking so thin, then lecturing Wang Qiqi extensively on how to properly manage his health. Wang Qiqi knew if Han Tao hadn't mentioned his recent obsession with the thesis, his mother might have suspected Wang Qiqi was overworking him with other things.

Han Tao knew his mother’s dissatisfaction with Qiqi stemmed from seeing him look frail. He knew it was his own fault for ignoring Qiqi’s advice to rest. He rubbed his nose. "I just get wrapped up when I’m busy and forget everything else. Say, do you know why the professor wants me to revise the paper?"

Wang Qiqi wondered if there was some hidden agenda behind the required revisions. "Don't tell me your professor plans to submit your paper to some professional journal?" Wang Qiqi thought that if it were true, Han Tao’s intense effort would make sense. But then she asked, "What good will publishing it do for you?" Wang Qiqi wasn't looking down on supposed professional journals—some journals publish anything for a fee, and publications in domestic journals might not even be recognized abroad—but the effort was immense. Compared to such empty fame, Wang Qiqi preferred to see her man healthy.

Wang Qiqi’s clear disinterest in mere journals somewhat dampened the joy Han Tao had hoped to share about his exciting news. "Wife, you don't have to be like that. The professor said if it gets published, I’ll be named an Outstanding Graduate of the university." Although it was a somewhat nominal title, Han Tao felt he should complete the task, and receiving this accolade would be a nice bonus.

Outstanding Graduate? Wang Qiqi wondered if a single professor had the authority to grant such a title. "Really?" She wasn't being overly suspicious, but something felt off—more than a little off. "Can a mere professor make that decision?" With so many high-ranking figures above him, when did it become his call?

"What 'mere professor'?" Han Tao shot Wang Qiqi a look. "If this paper gets published, securing his position as the Dean of the Computer Science College will be certain." Although Han Tao hadn't been involved in many school activities over the years, he had won some respectable prizes representing the school in competitions, so he knew a fair number of people. After the professor presented this tantalizing offer, Han Tao did some digging and confirmed the details before committing to such hard work. On the other hand, for a senior like him to publish in such an authoritative journal would certainly validate his abilities and serve as the perfect culmination of his four years of university life; that’s why he pushed himself so hard.

Wang Qiqi hadn't realized the offer wasn't a lie. "Good heavens, you've latched onto a powerful backer. While I think you don't need one at all, I bet Mom will be thrilled to attend your graduation ceremony." She might even have to go back to the hometown to report this huge piece of good news to his father. "Also, until this is confirmed, don't tell Mom. I want to surprise her." What Wang Qiqi really meant was that if the professor reneged and didn't secure the honor for Han Tao, there would be no subsequent disappointment.

"Mm." Han Tao agreed it was best to be cautious. He and Wang Qiqi might not care about this minor title, but his mother certainly did. "How is your thesis coming along?" Han Tao’s paper had hit a snag due to raised standards, otherwise, it would have passed immediately. In contrast, Wang Qiqi’s thesis was proving difficult; it was perhaps too theoretical, making an 'Excellent' mark unlikely.

Wang Qiqi sighed, thinking of her own paper. "My usual grades were too good. Being favored by the professor isn't always a good thing." Wang Qiqi found the professor's evaluation of her first draft truly exasperating. She really wanted to say, Professor, I’m not aiming high, just passing is enough. But Wang Qiqi knew that if she said that immediately, the façade of being a model student she had maintained for over three years would vanish instantly from the professor's mind. Since she had worn this mask for three years, there was no reason not to maintain it for the remaining half year.

"Ah, too bad my professor didn't say my paper had a chance to be published in a professional journal," Wang Qiqi joked bitterly. Yet, she knew Han Tao had the capability, whereas she was purely a theorist with no practical experience. Publishing a truly good paper seemed impossible unless she spent a few years immersed in the field to gain sufficient experience. But Wang Qiqi wondered if she would even continue in this profession. The more she studied, the greater the pressure felt. She was considering switching fields if she decided to pursue graduate studies.

Han Tao knew Wang Qiqi’s interest in finance was waning. "Don't put so much pressure on yourself. If the paper can't be fixed, we'll just settle for no 'Excellent.' " His girlfriend was competitive, but he was sure her advisor wouldn't make trouble if she truly couldn't improve it.

"We'll see; there’s still some time." Wang Qiqi thought that she absolutely couldn't give up until the last moment. The day her draft was returned, Duan Xiaomin found out right after, and rumors started circulating in the class, which infuriated Wang Qiqi. Many drafts had been returned that day, yet the focus was entirely on her. Wang Qiqi also suspected that Duan Xiaomin's draft not being returned didn't mean hers was inherently better; it just meant the professor held her to a higher standard. Therefore, Wang Qiqi certainly wasn't going to give up so easily. "I will write an excellent paper to show them all." The best way to silence their chatter was to strike back with the most outstanding paper. "Besides, getting a US visa is hard right now; their attitudes..."

Wang Qiqi thought that even if she wasn't the most popular person in class, she had lent her notes to classmates often enough that her social standing should be decent. Yet, they were gossiping behind her back, saying she was too flashy and deserved this setback. This left Wang Qiqi stunned, especially since some of the voices spreading the gossip had been discussing problems with her just three or four minutes earlier, praising her profusely. They turned around and became judgmental. Although she knew people grew more realistic over time, she wished they could be more mature; they hadn't even graduated yet, and they still had to collaborate on problems.

Han Tao noticed Wang Qiqi pouting, looking glum. "Did you hear some people's idle chatter?"

Wang Qiqi affirmed, relaying the information she’d heard at school that day. "Aren't they infuriating? Hmph. I’ve made up my mind. If they’re going to talk behind my back, why should I keep playing the fool and helping them?" Since they spoke ill of her anyway, she wouldn't act foolishly anymore.

"If I pointed things out too honestly, they might just be calling me a fool in their heads," Wang Qiqi said. Seeing Han Tao's slightly disapproving look, she knew he wanted her to avoid spoiling relationships, but Wang Qiqi felt that even if she wanted to be nice, she couldn't let them think she was a pushover.

Seeing Wang Qiqi was determined, Han Tao stopped arguing and opened his computer document to revise his paper. "If you can't go to the US next year, what's your plan?" Han Tao had always assumed Wang Qiqi's move to the US was a done deal, but now he considered the possibility of not getting a visa.

"Then I'll go to Europe," Wang Qiqi had already made up her mind. "Aren't UK Master's programs only one year?" That way, she could earn her Master's degree sooner. "Zhang Yan has already decided on the UK. She plans to transfer to the US when visa situations ease up, though."

Going to Europe, Han Tao groaned, casting a mournful glance at Wang Qiqi. “So I have to be separated from you for a whole year.” Heavens, such a long separation—Han Tao wondered how he would endure it. Those damned insurgents, if it weren't for them, things wouldn't have ended up like this.

Wang Qiqi couldn't help but feel exasperated watching Han Tao's petulant expression. She couldn't exactly stay put in the country for a year; that would be dreadfully boring. “Compare yourself to that dullard, and you’ll realize how much happier you are. Even if US visas relax next year, Lu Qiaowei still has to go to America after she graduates.” After all, dropping out during the final year of university was a truly terrible financial move.

One needs comparison to gauge their own happiness. “You’re right, compared to the dullard, we’re much better off.” Han Tao didn't hesitate to stomp on Dai Lijun's foot. “But you absolutely must apply to American schools. If you can secure a US visa, we'll go there. England is our second choice.”

Wang Qiqi certainly knew this. “Don't worry; I haven't even considered being apart from you for that long.” Even though flights between Europe and the mainland were frequent, Wang Qiqi harbored a deep-seated fear of flying. RS