Chapter 191: The Confused Ou Sisters
Ou Guofang felt nervous when she heard her cousin's question.
You see, ever since Ah Ping married into Thatchfield Village, the two sisters had also wanted to marry there, hoping to keep the three sisters together. Now that this wish had finally come true, if Ah Ping were to move to the county town to pursue opportunities, wouldn't they be further apart?
Of course, having said that, this was still Ah Ping's home. She would definitely return during holidays, and the chances of them meeting would still be greater than if she had married elsewhere.
Zhang Xiuping nodded and said, "Ahua, you're right. If nothing unexpected happens, your brother-in-law and I will move to the county town next year to pursue new opportunities."
Seeing that her guess was correct, Ou Guohua said reluctantly, "Ah Ping, if you're no longer in the village, our 'iron triangle' will be missing its most important part, and it won't feel complete anymore!"
Ou Guofang sighed, "When my brother-in-law quit the tile factory and gave up his monthly salary of over 200 yuan, we knew he was planning something big. But Ahua and I only thought he might start another business locally. We never imagined he'd set his sights on the county town instead of Double Prosperity."
Ou Guohua asked, "Ah Ping, what are you and your brother-in-law planning to do in the county town?"
Zhang Xiuping felt it was time to share some inside information with her two close sisters. After all, even if this news got out, no one could replicate it, and it wouldn't affect her father-in-law's plans. So she said, "My father-in-law plans to open a restaurant in the county town for us to manage."
Hearing this, the Ou sisters suddenly understood. Everyone in the entire Bangjie team knew how skilled Uncle Jiu was in the kitchen.
So they weren't surprised at all that he was opening a restaurant.
Ou Guohua smiled and said, "Uncle Jiu's cooking is amazing. If he opens a restaurant, business will definitely thrive."
Ou Guofang nodded in agreement, "Exactly. With Uncle Jiu's skills, he won't have to worry about making money."
Zhang Xiuping realized her sisters had misunderstood and quickly clarified with a smile, "What are you thinking? My father-in-law is only providing the funds for us to open and manage the restaurant. He won't be working as the chef!"
"Ah?" The Ou sisters looked utterly confused.
Their limited perspective led them to believe that someone with excellent cooking skills should naturally work as a chef when opening a restaurant. The idea of hiring someone else to cook while they managed the business seemed wasteful and unfair.
"In fact, my father-in-law might stay in the county town during the early stages of the restaurant's opening. But once things are running smoothly, he'll likely return to the village."
"As expected of Uncle Jiu. His ideas are beyond what ordinary people can imagine. I heard his large-vault technology is the best in the entire Help And Correct Brigade. But after he and Uncle Yungui contracted the vat factory, he stopped making large vats and simply gave up his monthly salary of over 200 yuan.
It's no surprise that someone opening a restaurant wouldn't want to double as the chef."
"Exactly. Uncle Jiu's vision is something we can't even begin to comprehend."
"…"
After praising Uncle Jiu profusely, the Ou sisters brought the conversation back to the main topic.
Ou Guohua sighed and said, "Ah Ping, if you and your brother-in-law move to Bobai, it'll be so hard for the three of us to get together again."
Ou Guofang nodded, "Yes, I guess we'll only be able to meet during New Year's and other festivals. It'll be rare to see each other at other times."
Zhang Xiuping reassured them, "This is still my home. I'll definitely come back. Besides, your brother-in-law and I are going to Bobai to explore new opportunities, which could pave the way for you too. If we find something suitable for you, we'll call you to join us.
As my father-in-law says, we young people should have a broader vision and not limit ourselves to the small piece of land in the countryside. The world outside is vast. If we don't go out and explore while we're young, we'll regret it when we're older."
Ou Guohua was moved by her words but couldn't help feeling conflicted. "Ah Ping, I'd love to go to Bobai with you and find work, but my son Yuan is at home. If I go to the county town to work, it's not realistic for me to stay there alone."
Ou Guofang thought about her own family situation and said, "If there's a job suitable for us, my husband and I could go together. He's just helping raise chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep at home. There are others in the family who can handle things, so it doesn't matter much whether he's there or not."
Zhang Xiuping couldn't help but laugh. "What are you thinking? I wouldn't ask you to come and work for us."
Hearing this, the Ou sisters exchanged surprised glances.
Ou Guohua swallowed and asked, "Ah Ping, are you saying you want us to go to Bobai and start our own business?"
Zhang Xiuping nodded firmly. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting. Our country has been reforming and opening up for three years now. As my father-in-law says, the focus will be on economic development in the future. Only by venturing out and starting a business can we have a chance to make a fortune."
Ou Guofang felt a bit hesitant. "Ah Ping, we grew up together. You know me well. I've never even sold eggs before. How would I know how to run a business? What if I end up losing money instead of making it? That would be humiliating."
"Yeah," Ou Guohua agreed, nodding. "We don't know the first thing about business!"
Zhang Xiuping smiled calmly. "I understand your concerns. When my brothers from my mother's side wanted to open a shop on Dragon Lake Street, they felt the same way. They were afraid they'd fail and lose their investment, which would've been heartbreaking.
But in reality, once they got started, they found it wasn't as difficult as they'd imagined.
Look at them now—my brother and sister-in-law are earning a good income every day, and our family's situation has improved significantly."
Being from the same village and close to Zhang Xiuping's family, the Ou sisters were well aware of her brothers' success. Hearing her mention this real-life example, they couldn't help but nod. It was a meaningful reference point for them.
"Of course, even though my brothers succeeded, I'll be honest with you—your brother-in-law and I are also a bit nervous about managing the restaurant. We're worried that poor management might lead to losses."
Zhang Xiuping looked at her two sisters and smiled. "When we shared our concerns with my father-in-law, do you know what he said?"
The Ou sisters asked in unison, "What did he say?"
(End of this chapter)