Wang Damei saw that she couldn't persuade Wang Qiqi, so naturally she didn't press the issue further. She realized about her niece that if something was reasonable and legal, she would see it through to the end. "Then let the Master do a divination for you." Wang Damei had to admit that what Wang Qiqi said had a point; compared to relying on so-called Feng Shui, it really came down to individual capability.

Since Song Ziwen had even brought up the matter of moving her parents' graves, Wang Qiqi didn't believe he hadn't shared his own thoughts. "Auntie, you should also buy your resting place over there, then you can visit my dad’s house often." Wang Qiqi noticed that Wang Damei hadn't mentioned the cemetery plot being expensive or the service fees being high, which suggested that the price factor, which Wang Damei had previously cared about most, was no longer her primary concern.

"You could also visit your father-in-law’s grave," Wang Damei said, getting agitated at the thought, and tapped Wang Qiqi’s head several times emphatically. "I think your mother-in-law treats you too well, and your husband spoils you rotten. You can have a say in moving your own parents' graves, but Han Tao's father's burial site—is that any of your business?" Han Tao was now considered successful, and people even said it was because of Han Tao's father's blessings, that the plot was auspicious, and so on. In Wang Damei's view, even if Han Tao's father's grave was a great find, he had occupied it for over ten years, and Han Tao himself hadn't raised the issue, so why should Wang Qiqi, an unmarried girl, bring it up? Even though she was considered their family’s chosen daughter-in-law, she hadn't officially married in yet.

Wang Qiqi was about to defend herself when a sharp look from Wang Damei silenced her. "If you are truly serious about doing this, talk to Han Tao first." A son speaking to his mother is a completely different scenario than a daughter-in-law speaking to her mother-in-law.

Wang Qiqi certainly knew this; for some matters, having Han Tao communicate in between would yield much better results than her doing it herself. "Auntie, I know. Oh, right, about Niuniu, I bought some snacks." Fortunately, although Yang Jing came from an intellectual family, she hadn't followed those so-called scientific parenting methods when raising her child; otherwise, Wang Qiqi wouldn't dare buy Niuniu these snacks. In fact, everyone was generally careful with these things; they bought them infrequently, and mostly the ingredients were homemade, which felt safer.

"Your uncle just came back and took Niuniu out." When Wang Damei and her husband first heard they had a granddaughter, there was a moment of regret, but the longer they spent with the child, the more they realized how wonderful a granddaughter was. Though so young, she would smile sweetly at you and call you Grandpa and Grandma sweetly.

When Wang Qiqi returned to her room and logged online, she saw her husband was still online at this hour, which suggested he was working overtime again. Wang Qiqi pouted and messaged him directly online, asking if he had eaten anything.

Wang Qiqi waited a long time without a reply, thinking that perhaps her husband had left the computer on and gone to rest. If he had gone to rest, Wang Qiqi really wanted to know if he was at home or at the company.

Since no one was online to chat with her, Wang Qiqi could only browse the internet for news. There was really nothing worth looking at online these days. Comrade Shi Man wasn't online, and as for Zhu Lina, forget it; she was truly a busy person. Even if she had time to go online, she would only spare a moment to exchange a few words before logging off. Wang Qiqi thought she should really let those people who envied the rich second generation for having an easy life see what being truly rich second generation meant. At least, Wang Qiqi felt that Zhu Lina, as a rich second generation, worked incredibly hard; the hotel had practically become her home.

Wang Qiqi placed the laptop on the coffee table and padded into the kitchen to look for fruit. Since Wang Qiqi had returned, Yang Jing would buy some groceries for Wang Qiqi whenever she went shopping, and Yang Jing never asked for payment. "Sister-in-law treats me so well; I must buy her a designer handbag when I go to England." Of course, it had to be after Christmas; otherwise, with her little stash, she definitely couldn't afford it. Thinking about it, Wang Qiqi herself had never bought a designer bag for herself. First, she didn't have that kind of money, always feeling that making money breed more money was best. Later, she felt that as just a student, carrying a designer bag to and from classes was a waste, and it would make people think it was fake. But now that she was going to England, maybe she could upgrade her gear a bit. She'd check out second-hand shops first. Except for limited editions, designer bags didn't really hold much collectible value, which was why Wang Qiqi always felt it was unnecessary to buy them.

Song Ziwen walked in carrying several boxes of peaches (he had a key to Qiqi's place). Hearing Qiqi muttering something to herself, he wondered if the girl had gone a bit stir-crazy being alone. "Qiqi, what did you just say? What bag?"

Song Ziwen’s voice startled Wang Qiqi; she hadn't expected a sudden addition to the room. She turned and relaxed when she saw it was Song Ziwen. "I was just thinking that since I'm going abroad to study, maybe I should consider buying a designer bag when I get there." Wang Qiqi wasn't foolish enough to tell Song Ziwen she planned to buy one for his wife; he wouldn't accept it. "Oh, right, Brother, did you buy the peaches?"

"They were a gift, from one of my suppliers." Song Ziwen hadn't expected a supplier to send him gifts. To be honest, as long as their quality was good and the price was fair, that was enough for him, but he hadn't expected them to be so socially savvy. Since they were so thoughtful, Song Ziwen certainly wouldn't be polite.

Since it was a gift, Wang Qiqi felt even less burdened; after all, she was somewhat of a shareholder. "Right, Brother, what about sales channels?" Although they could cooperate with the Zhu family later, that wasn't on the agenda yet. Moreover, while joining forces with the Zhu family could expand the factory, the profit margin might not be high, and the initiative would remain in their hands. It would be best if both retail and group purchasing could be significantly developed.

Song Ziwen was happy about cooperating with the Zhu family, but he also knew that relying solely on them wouldn't be good for the factory. If the Zhu family saw the factory depending on their business, they would likely keep lowering prices. By then, the cost and effort required to seize market share might not be small. "I plan to get a storefront." While having a shop in their hometown would be more convenient, the economic level there wasn't great. Furthermore, their product was positioned in the mid-to-high price range. This made the newly opened furniture and home décor mall better suited to their positioning. Although it was a bit far, Song Ziwen had investigated and felt the market prospects there were good. Plus, it was only a two or three-hour drive, so visiting once a week was manageable.

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected Song Ziwen to set his sights on that location and plan to open a shop there. She wondered if it was a stroke of luck; business wasn't great there initially, but as the economy developed, it slowly improved. Those shop owners who had bought premises early on, even if they stopped doing business themselves, could live comfortably just from the monthly rent. In that instant, countless stacks of 'Mao Zedong' appeared before Wang Qiqi's eyes.

Song Ziwen carried the boxes of peaches up; his arms were already sore. Qiqi was just lost in thought. "I'll head back first."

Song Ziwen’s words pulled Wang Qiqi out of her reverie. She quickly grabbed Song Ziwen's arm. "Brother..."

Song Ziwen looked at her, slightly confused. "I want to put these things down and then come find you." Alas, Song Ziwen thought, he was covered in sweat; he should put the goods away first, preferably take a shower.

Only then did Wang Qiqi notice what her brother was carrying. "Brother, I'll make you some watermelon juice." Her brother had worked hard all day; he deserved a good reward.

Making him watermelon juice? That sounded good, but Song Ziwen felt his little sister had ulterior motives. "I feel uneasy all over. How about we discuss it over dinner tonight?" Song Ziwen rarely heard Qiqi speak so seriously.

"Don't worry, it's a good thing; your sister won't sell you out." Wang Qiqi then said very softly, "For someone as dull as you, who would want you besides my sister-in-law?" The former Song Ziwen really knew how to dress himself up, especially after marriage, when Yang Jing used to make him look quite dazzling, making him seem very young. But now, whether it was because he was busy or because his wife worried that if Song Ziwen got rich, many women might throw themselves at him, Wang Qiqi felt that Song Ziwen was trending towards looking like a middle-aged man. If Yang Jing was doing this deliberately, Wang Qiqi thought Comrade Yang Jing lacked confidence. Look at Song Yao; she dressed Gong Peixing up like a blooming flower, but her brother-in-law didn't even spare a glance for any wild flowers outside.

Song Ziwen knew his current appearance wasn't well-maintained. For one thing, his wife wasn't too pleased when he dressed up nicely. Another reason was, "Isn't the factory busy? Even though it sounds good that I'm the boss, I’m basically a high-level employee. When things get busy, I have to go to the workshop and pitch in." With the factory newly opened and the market not yet established, Song Ziwen really didn't want to hire more workers; otherwise, having products piled up in the warehouse wouldn't be good.

Since her brother had explained it, Wang Qiqi felt too embarrassed to tease him further. She waved him off. "Brother, it's genuinely important business. Come, let's discuss it first." Song Yao isn't here, so it's fine for the two shareholders to discuss it. "Hurry up and come over."

Although Song Ziwen felt a bit worried, he agreed to come over as soon as possible. Wang Qiqi watched Song Ziwen quickly close the door, wondering what his reaction would be when his brother learned about her idea later.

Song Ziwen sat stiffly on the sofa, his previously straight back now completely relying on the cushions for support. He had thought that Qiqi selling off houses recently meant her passion for real estate had waned, but now he felt it was absolutely difficult to change a person's inherent nature. "You mean buying the storefronts we plan to open?" Song Ziwen really wanted to ask Wang Qiqi if she realized how much factory money this would cost.

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Yes, that's what I'm thinking. What do you think?" Wang Qiqi had initially intended to buy the site for the upcoming shop, but then she reconsidered and decided on a broader approach: buying the premises for all future specialty stores. Although the initial capital pressure would be significant, with the rising property market, this would become a considerable appreciation asset. Even if they stopped operating the stores later, they could live comfortably just collecting rent.

Song Ziwen had certainly considered this, but the problem was, "Qiqi, haven't you forgotten how much money we've invested so far? How much we spent on equipment and renting the factory? The money in our account is just enough to cover salaries and inventory for this period." Although some families who had their custom cabinets installed were very satisfied with their work, the profit from that was minimal.

Wang Qiqi certainly knew this. "Brother, have you forgotten about bank loans?" Wasn't your brother-in-law quite adept at using loans to buy houses before? Why forget about that when it comes to running a business? "Brother, aren't you very familiar with the bank loan officers?" Since your brother-in-law worked in mediation, his relationship with those credit officers should be excellent, right? Wang Qiqi was genuinely worried about Song Ziwen for not using his brain.

Song Ziwen was indeed well-connected with those in the credit sector, and he had considered taking out a loan. But the factory was set up, and with business not being great currently, borrowing money meant interest pressure, plus the principal had to be repaid upon maturity. "How do you know the business over there will be good?" Although Song Ziwen had analyzed the situation and concluded that the market would develop, that was just speculation based on developer data and the number of businesses currently entering the market. But all of this was theoretical; he wouldn't know until he was established there.

With Song Ziwen raising that point, Wang Qiqi didn't know how to explain. She hadn't been in this line of work before; how could she know that market would definitely take off? Although it was the first concentrated home improvement market, others wouldn't fail to follow suit later. Wang Qiqi thought she couldn't just tell Song Ziwen, "Brother, trust me, your sister is reborn, and I know the economic development trend for the next decade." If she said that, she would either scare Song Ziwen half to death or have him sent to the appropriate place as a mental patient. There was also the possibility of being locked up to extract information about the future economic trends.

"The trend for housing is upward, and shop prices will definitely rise even more steeply," Wang Qiqi said hesitantly. "Besides, Brother, do you think the developers won't get clever when they see followers chasing after them, while the shops over there haven't even all sold out?" In the early stages, the developers put in the effort, and as the market gradually improved, the management committee formed by the merchants also worked hard to maintain the market. "How about we check the situation first? If you genuinely think it’s good, Brother, I think buying a few more shops would be beneficial too—even for the rental income."

Song Ziwen certainly understood that point. What he wanted to know was, "Qiqi, do you really think that market has great prospects?" Song Ziwen stared intently at Wang Qiqi, not moving. Most of the family's money had been poured into industry. Song Ziwen had sold several houses to get the factory up and running. If Qiqi said real estate had good prospects, he could build up the factory while simultaneously developing the property side. Moreover, if the shops belonged to them, they wouldn't have to worry about landlords raising the rent if business boomed. The initial investment was high, but the long-term pressure was low.

Wang Qiqi nodded eagerly. "Brother, you might not believe me, but do you disbelieve the housing market development over these years?" Wang Qiqi realized then that Song Ziwen wasn't unmoved; he hadn't ruled out buying shops himself, but the financial pressure made him consider many things, or perhaps worry about what the other shareholders would think.

"It's not that I'm not tempted, but you know that Brother-in-law's factory is still operating in a rented space. If I suddenly tell them I plan to buy storefronts for our operational points, what will they think?" Song Ziwen voiced his concern, but now that Wang Qiqi was backing him, he wasn't as worried. "How about we call my sister and talk to her?"

Call her? Wang Qiqi rolled her eyes at Song Ziwen, picked up her notebook, and connected to Song Yao. The four-year-old laptop was running rather sluggishly. "Qiqi, I'll buy you a laptop to celebrate your graduation." Song Ziwen suddenly remembered he hadn't given Qiqi a graduation gift yet. His older sister had already given Qiqi a digital camera. Song Ziwen had thought for a long time but couldn't decide what to get her, but now, seeing this laptop, which was turning into an antique, he finally knew what he should send.

Song Ziwen offering to buy her a laptop? Wang Qiqi was certainly happy. She had planned to buy a new laptop before going abroad anyway. While she could buy one overseas, Wang Qiqi was used to operating in the Chinese system. "Brother, then I won't be polite. Can I have an IBM?" IBM laptops were quite good at this time. Wang Qiqi thought that if her brother found the IBM too expensive, she could settle for a Lenovo.

IBM? Song Ziwen hadn't expected his little sister to ask for something so high-end, but he agreed immediately. Wang Qiqi was surprised that Song Ziwen had agreed so readily, especially without haggling. This made Wang Qiqi look at him again and again. "Brother, you don't have secret savings, do you?" Didn't that person use up all his secret savings to start the factory last time? (Of course, it was done under the names of Song Wenbo and his wife, and he had cried about it back then.) But it hadn't been long, and he already had such a substantial little treasure trove. Wang Qiqi thought her brother's financial strength was a bit too much.

Secret savings? Song Ziwen was at a loss for words, half-laughing and half-crying. Every time he saw his nearly empty private savings passbook now, his heart truly bled. If he hadn't tried to earn more money and started this factory, Song Ziwen felt he would have been a happy man; the savings in that passbook could equal the total savings of many families. But now, there were only a few thousand left as a memento. That wasn't the worst part; what infuriated him was that his sister was teasing him. Song Ziwen really wanted to ask Qiqi why she focused so much on him. "It's not me paying; your sister-in-law is paying." Song Ziwen paused. "Although I also wanted to give you a decent gift, unfortunately, your brother is practically broke."

Yang Jing was giving it to her? Wang Qiqi froze. "Sister-in-law is giving it to me?" Heavens. "Then let's change the gift. My brother-in-law will reimburse you." If it were Song Ziwen, Wang Qiqi would have accepted without hesitation, but Yang Jing—Wang Qiqi truly felt unworthy.

"It's fine." There was always a subtle distance between Yang Jing and Wang Qiqi, which Song Ziwen wasn't unaware of. "Although your sister-in-law has her little schemes, overall, she’s okay. Besides, this is your sister-in-law trying to butter you up; why refuse it?"

Wang Qiqi thought about it later. She was planning to buy Yang Jing a designer bag when she got to England anyway. At worst, she wouldn't buy an out-of-season style; she'd just buy the current season's new arrivals, and the price would be about the same. Thinking of this, Wang Qiqi felt it was acceptable to take it. "Deal."

Just as Song Ziwen was about to say something else, he saw he had successfully connected with Song Yao and relayed the two main issues: the matter of their parents' final resting place, and the question of whether to rent or buy the storefront.

Regarding the former, Song Yao said it was the son's responsibility; she didn't mind, only requesting that they consult the Master to choose a Feng Shui-blessed location (it wasn't that Song Yao wouldn't pay, but if she offered, Song Ziwen wouldn't accept, insisting it was his responsibility as the son. Although Song Wenbo and his wife would provide houses and money for Song Yao and Tao Tao, compared to what they gave Song Ziwen, it was a negligible amount. Even if Song Ziwen agreed, the formidable matriarch—Grandma—would never consent). As for the storefronts, Song Yao naturally supported buying them outright if their finances allowed. "Ziwen, while Qiqi is still in the country, squeeze her for all you can," Song Yao instructed before logging off to get busy.

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected her older sister to be so direct in instructing Song Ziwen. "Why do I feel like this didn't need to be asked of Song Yao at all?" Wang Qiqi sensed there was more meaning in Song Yao's words.

Song Ziwen understood his sister's implication. "Qiqi, why don't you come with me in a few days when I go check out the storefronts?" Song Ziwen had planned to go alone, but now that his sister implied he should bring Wang Qiqi, how could he refuse as her younger brother? "Are you busy at home?"

Wang Qiqi wanted to say yes, that it was comfortable to stay home on such a hot day, but they were in the hometown. If they were in Beijing, Wang Qiqi would be busy. "As long as I'm supplied well with good food and drink, I'm fine."

"Consider it done." Meeting this requirement was, of course, a given. "I'll contact the other party immediately and inquire about the exact procedures for securing a corporate loan through the bank." Previously, it had always been private loans, an area where Song Ziwen was exceptionally adept, but corporate loans were an entirely different beast, and he was unfamiliar with the specifics. However, with the right connections, securing the financing was never truly in question. "Oh, QiQi, Han Tao is trying to reach you online." What followed were the hushed whispers intended only for a husband and wife, and Song Ziwen promptly excused himself, leaving the space entirely to Wang QiQi. RS