Chen Lishu was still in the early stages of her pregnancy and hadn't experienced any morning sickness. If asked what specific flavors she craved, sweet or sour, or spicy, she couldn't pinpoint anything. However, seeing her mother's hopeful expression, wishing to be useful, Chen Lishu thought for a moment and said, "Mom, why don't you make me some chili sauce? I can take it back to the provincial city."
Wu Chunmei immediately agreed with delight, "Okay, Mom will make it when she gets back."
Mother and daughter had nothing to hide from each other. Wu Chunmei took Chen Lishu inside and gave her a lot of advice before leaving with Chen Mantun.
Chen Lishu ate a plate of dumplings herself that evening. Even though the dumplings were small, there must have been twenty to thirty of them.
Gu Xingdong, afraid she might get indigestion from not exercising after eating, took her and Rui Rui out for a stroll.
Chen Lishu couldn't help but ask the silly question that all pregnant women ask, "Xingdong, do you prefer a boy or a girl?"
Gu Xingdong turned his head, "What do you prefer?"
Chen Lishu was displeased, "I'm asking you, why are you asking me back?"
Gu Xingdong said seriously, "Didn't I answer you long ago?"
Chen Lishu looked confused, "When?"
"As long as it's born from you, I'll love it even if it's an egg."
Chen Lishu glared at him playfully, "Get out of here."
Gu Xingdong lowered his head and looked at Rui Rui beside him, "Son, do you prefer a brother or a sister?"
Rui Rui's eyes darted around, then he looked up at Chen Lishu and smiled, "I'll love whatever Mom gives birth to."
Chen Lishu shook her head helplessly, "You father and son are truly sly."
Gu Xingdong was displeased, "Am I being called out for telling the truth these days? If I say a daughter, you'll ask if I favor girls over boys. If I say a son, you'll say I have feudalistic ideas favoring boys over girls. I think you're just trying to pick a fight."
As Gu Xingdong spoke, he patted Rui Rui's shoulder, "Son, is Dad right?"
Rui Rui nodded, "Yes."
"Hmph, the two of you are ganging up on me now."
Gu Xingdong touched her belly, "You just give birth with confidence. No matter when, he will still be Gu Xingdong's child."
Chen Lishu couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, "Crude."
Gu Xingdong didn't mind. It got dark early in winter, and no one in the village was out strolling at this hour. He held his son's hand with his left and tucked Chen Lishu's hand into his clothes pocket with his right, then slowly started walking home.
Since Chen Lishu found out she was pregnant, her appetite had not only increased but doubled. She ate almost one and a half to two bowls at every meal, and her cravings had also intensified. Previously, she didn't care whether she ate meat or not, but now she needed meat with almost every meal. Within a few days, she felt like she had gained quite a bit of weight.
However, Chen Lishu wasn't particularly thin to begin with, so the slight weight gain was barely noticeable. What was apparent was her exceptionally good complexion, her rosy cheeks, and her radiant skin.
A few days after New Year's Eve, Liu Yuemin and Gu Xingmin's restaurant was preparing to reopen.
"I asked Liu Renfa's wife in our village yesterday. She was very willing to work for thirty yuan a month."
Liu Renfa's wife was known throughout the surrounding villages for her skill in catering events. Liu Yuemin thought that it was just a few standard dishes, and it didn't matter who cooked them to make something extraordinary.
Master Tang was paid eighty yuan a month and came and left early, causing the restaurant to miss out on a lot of business.
Gu Xingmin asked, "Then we don't need Master Tang anymore?"
Liu Yuemin nodded, "It's perfect timing since we're reopening after the New Year. We just won't call him, and he'll know what's what." During the holiday break before the New Year, Liu Yuemin hadn't said much, as she had already decided not to keep him. Therefore, anyone who wasn't a fool would understand the situation.
Gu Xingmin also felt the salary was a bit high. Since Liu Yuemin had found a suitable replacement, he didn't object.
He leaned closer to Liu Yuemin and said, "Wife, look at us working ourselves to death every day. Why don't we hire another handyman in the village? That way, you can have it a bit easier, right?"
Liu Yuemin glared at him, "Do you think I don't know your little intentions? You're so lazy when it comes to doing any work. You'd rather lie down than sit when you can."
Despite her words, by dismissing Master Tang, they could save fifty yuan a month. Soon, Liu Yuemin hired an auntie from the village as an assistant, agreeing to pay her fifteen yuan a month.
The restaurant reopened soon after. Since it was still within the first lunar month, business was considerably slower than before the New Year. However, overall, it was acceptable, and the couple felt that their decision was incredibly wise.
The clothing store and the lingerie store also opened. A few days later, Lin Qi hired two more salesclerks, Liu Ping and Li Wei, both junior high graduates.
Zhang Li worked for a few days. One was assigned to the lingerie store, and the other stayed with Xie Dani in the clothing store.
Lin Qi then began familiarizing Zhang Li with his work procedures.
Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong took some time to visit the mountain. Ten thousand more fruit tree saplings had been planted on the mountain this year. The pigsty had been built, and the seven or eight pigs inside had grown to over a hundred kilograms. They estimated that in about two to three months, the pigs would be ready for market, which would bring in a considerable income.
The dozens of chickens they raised would also start laying eggs in the spring.
The several thousand yuan earned last year had all been reinvested in the mountain. Hu Si and Lin Dazhong had already purchased seeds for dandelion, moonpetal grass, and radix isatidis. They had also opened more than twenty mu of land last year. Fortunately, with the help of Chen Mantun and Gu Shoufui overseeing the work, and by hiring over ten to twenty laborers when they were overwhelmed, the mountain expansion proceeded in an orderly fashion.
After listening to Hu Si and Lin Dazhong's joint report on the specific situation, Chen Lishu reviewed the accounts. Although the two men were not highly literate, they had kept relatively clear records of every item. Chen Lishu was generally satisfied.
Chen Lishu understood the principle that "water too pure has no fish." As long as it was within a range she considered acceptable, she chose to turn a blind eye. After all, if you want a horse to run, you have to feed it; no one is willing to work enthusiastically if they are not compensated adequately.
She then arranged the work tasks for the upcoming year.
They would continue to plant another ten thousand fruit tree saplings, and the number of pigs would be doubled from the current seven or eight. It was estimated that two people would find it difficult to manage, so Chen Lishu thought that they could ask Gu Shoufui to help find two more long-term workers.
After all arrangements were made, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong started their descent from the mountain.
After the fifteenth day of the lunar new year, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong prepared to return to the provincial city with Rui Rui. Gu Xingye and the others from the construction team would also be leaving.
The weather was getting warmer. Although it was still below freezing outside, it did not significantly affect construction. They aimed to complete the original warehouse within about half a month to twenty days. By then, it would be time for the main construction site to commence large-scale work, ensuring no conflicts.
This year, their construction team had hired four more people, bringing the total to nearly twenty. The scale of operations was gradually expanding. Coupled with the equipment Chen Lishu purchased last year, they would have no problem independently undertaking small projects.