Chapter 86:

Such unruly children must be taught a lesson. As for why there are unruly children, it’s all because of indulgent parents. If they had been disciplined earlier, would they dare act this way now?

It’s all because the parents didn’t take it seriously before, allowing the children to become more and more unreasonable.

Now that something serious has happened, they come to play the victim—does playing the victim mean they can shirk responsibility?

What if no one had passed by in time?

What would have happened to the elderly? Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.

Knowing Qin Fengmao’s plans, Yu Xiang’an felt reassured.

They must be given a proper lesson—compensation where it’s due, apologies where necessary, and full accountability for their actions.

If a flippant “I was wrong” could sweep everything under the rug, what’s the point of having the police?

When Yu Qingshan heard about the incident, he was furious and shared the same sentiment.

“These kids aren’t that young anymore. At their age, we were already working just to fill our stomachs. Now that times are better, parents don’t even teach their children—what a tragedy.”

Yu Xiang’an went to see Lin Yunling, who worked nearby.

She asked about Yao Cuifen’s condition in detail.

Lin Yunling: “Your grandmother’s health is holding up, but she’s getting on in years and needs proper rest.”

“I gave your uncle a recipe for a nourishing soup—it’ll do her good if brewed according to the proportions.”

Yu Xiang’an: “Thank you, sis! With you here, I feel much more at ease.”

Having connections makes things easier.

Lin Yunling waved her off: “No need for thanks—we’re family.”

Then the conversation turned to children: “Yuan Yuan will be taking the college entrance exam next year, right? Has he decided on a university or major?”

Fu Yuanzheng’s grades were decent thanks to Lin Yunling and her husband’s strict supervision, but top-tier universities were out of the question.

Lin Yunling sighed: “His grandparents want him to study education and become a teacher. I think he should consider other options—maybe medicine.”

Yu Xiang’an: “What does he want?”

Lin Yunling shook her head: “He hasn’t made up his mind yet. I suggested Beijing or Shanghai—his uncles are there—but his grandparents think it’s too far. They want him nearby, preferably in the city. But what good universities are there in our city? Staying would be a waste.”

Yu Xiang’an: “He could go to Guangzhou—it’s not too far, easy to come home, and there are plenty of good schools.”

Lin Yunling nodded: “His father said the same thing.”

Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie were studying in Guangzhou. Yu Xiang’an wasn’t too familiar with the universities there, so she said, “My younger brother and nephew are in Guangzhou. I’ll ask them to put together a guidebook for reference.”

Lin Yunling brightened: “That would be perfect!”

Yu Xiang’an: “My grandmother still needs to stay in the hospital for a while. I’d appreciate it if you could keep an eye on her—I can’t stay here long.”

Lin Yunling patted her chest: “No problem!”

Back in the Special Economic Zone, Yu Xiang’an paid extra attention to Yu Qingshan, often giving him spiritual spring water and reminding him to be careful when traveling far.

Yu Qingshan found it amusing—he wasn’t that old yet and was still in good health.

His days were now very routine: waking up in the morning, washing up, having breakfast with his daughter in the canteen, then starting work. His daughter worked in her office as the factory director, while his office was next to hers—though he rarely stayed there. Most of the time, he wandered around.

Sometimes he checked inventory in the warehouse, sometimes observed production lines, and other times visited the finance department.

He moved unpredictably, never announcing his visits. If employees were slacking off, the first or second time might go unnoticed—but by the third, they’d be marked down and fined.

With such an unpredictable “bomb” around, few dared to slack off openly. No matter how alert they were, they couldn’t always catch his approach.

This was Yu Xiang’an’s way of keeping everyone on their toes. If things got too lax, the sight of Yu Qingshan would tighten discipline.

Occasionally, Yu Xiang’an also made rounds to check for any issues.

Chen Xiaoyang was the youngest daughter in her family. Her older siblings had been married off by their mother as soon as they came of age, but things were different for her.

Because their area had become a Special Economic Zone, there were many outside bosses offering jobs beyond farming.

She was lucky enough to be hired by one, earning thirty-three yuan a month—over forty with overtime.

Her mother, who had once been eager to marry her off, now wanted her to stay home longer to earn more money for the family and her nephews’ education.

Chen Xiaoyang didn’t want to marry early either—she was only sixteen, not yet seventeen. This suited her just fine.

Her mother wanted her to support the family, and she was willing—but she secretly kept some of her bonuses for herself. She couldn’t afford to have no money at all.

After working for a while, she no longer wanted to go home. At home, she had to share a bed with her mother, eat watery porridge, and never feel full—the solid food went to her nephews. Her mother said she was just resting at home and didn’t need much to eat.

Going home also meant endless chores—looking after her nieces and nephews, tending to the crops, and feeding the chickens, ducks, and pigs. A day off at home was more exhausting than overtime at the factory.

She’d rather stay and work overtime. She earned money, and her family was happy for her to stay—it meant more income.

She worked in quality control. Their products were sold abroad, and it would be embarrassing if foreign customers found defective items.

Most workers were diligent, so problems were rare—but when they did occur, Chen Xiaoyang and her team had to recheck everything.

She admired the workers operating the machinery—they were so skilled. Sadly, she hadn’t dared to apply for those positions because she only knew how to write her name.

Now, she recognized more characters. Every morning, her supervisor made them recite the rules posted on the wall. Over time, she memorized them and learned to read.

She also learned to count. Before, she could only count to thirty—beyond a hundred, she was lost. Now, she could do basic arithmetic within a hundred without mistakes.

How wonderful—she had wages, work uniforms, full meals, a dormitory, and even learned to read.

As she placed a checked product back, she looked up and saw the boss inspecting the area. She flushed with excitement but, noticing the boss’s quiet approach, simply nodded respectfully before focusing on her work.

She wanted to show her best side.

Chen Xiaoyang remembered the menu from yesterday—today’s lunch included half a fried egg per person. She worked even harder at the thought.

Half a fried egg! The last time she’d had an egg was when she was sick as a child. Since her nephews were born, eggs were either sold or given to them.

Where did such good days come from?

All thanks to the boss who gave them this job and these benefits!

Yu Xiang’an also noticed the girl—thin and small, but with bright, eager eyes. Even while working, her face radiated joy.

Yu Xiang’an smiled. She remembered Chen Xiaoyang from the hiring process—back then, she’d been scrawny with dry, yellow hair. Now, she’d grown taller and filled out.

Behind Chen Xiaoyang was Sun Pandi, who noticed the boss because of Chen Xiaoyang’s nod.

She also smiled before returning to work.

A few days earlier, she’d received her first paycheck—forty-one yuan and eighty-two cents. Before that, her entire savings had been three yuan and twenty-four cents—not just her own, but her family’s entire savings.

Her husband had died from illness, leaving her to raise two children alone. Those three yuan were proof of her hard work.

Life as a widow was tough, but now she and her daughter both worked at the factory. Her daughter was in the packaging line and could earn eighty to ninety yuan a month with overtime.

Her son farmed at home. Sun Pandi calculated that in a few months, with three to four hundred yuan saved, they could renovate their house. Then, she could arrange her son’s marriage.

After that, she’d save for two more years to prepare her daughter’s dowry. Then, her major responsibilities would be settled.

With this job, her daughter wouldn’t struggle to find a good husband. She was still young—working a couple more years wouldn’t delay things.

Before this job, she’d worried endlessly about her children’s futures. Her son was older—most of his peers were already married—but their poverty made marriage impossible.

Bride prices had risen, and even borrowing from relatives wasn’t enough.

Every morning, she’d wake up dreading the day. Now, the future was full of hope.

Their stories weren’t unique. Many in the factory felt deep gratitude toward the boss—this job had transformed their lives.

The only regret was that it wasn’t a state-owned enterprise, meaning they couldn’t work there forever. But for now, with endless orders and growing staff, the factory showed no signs of closing.

Some envied them. When Yu Xiang’an first bought the land, the area had been remote. Now, both neighboring plots had been sold—one to a canned food factory (meat and fruit), the other to a pastry factory (seasonal treats like mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Festival and gift boxes for New Year, plus regular biscuits and candies).

Both focused on domestic sales, unlike Yu Xiang’an’s export-oriented business. Since she earned foreign exchange, she received more government support—the country needed foreign currency to buy imports.

The neighboring factories wanted to break into exports too, but in Yu Xiang’an’s opinion, their products were mediocre. They survived because supplies were still scarce—nothing went to waste. But if they didn’t improve, they’d be obsolete in a decade.

Their paths were similar. During festivals, seeing their sales volumes, Yu Xiang’an realized she could also venture into gifts—especially mooncakes, which were hugely profitable.

With fancy packaging, cheap mooncakes could fetch high prices. A multi-item gift box could bring even greater profits. Once the brand was established, the returns would be substantial.

This was a viable business.

Construction was booming in the Special Economic Zone. Yu Xiang’an and Yu Mansheng’s building wasn’t the only one.

The design was simple—no elevators, maximum eight floors. Each floor had four units.

The first floor was for shops, the rest for residential use.

They weren’t sold as bare units but came with basic finishes. With furniture, they were move-in ready.

Yu Mansheng kept one unit for himself, Yu Xiang’an kept one, and their two partners each took one. The rest sold quickly—surprisingly fast.

With the profits, they immediately started expanding on the adjacent land they’d bought earlier.

Yu Mansheng kept his unit for when his parents visited—his current place wasn’t suitable.

Yu Xiang’an kept hers as bait—she still lacked talent. Most skilled workers were state employees or soon-to-be college graduates, who rarely joined private factories.

Unless the offer was irresistible—like this apartment, much larger than state-assigned housing. If someone urgently needed a home, this could lure them in.

Housing was always attractive.

Once Yu Mansheng finished furnishing his unit, he called home. Yang Huili stormed over.

“I won’t live there—we have a home. Decorate it as your wedding house!” She no longer cared where he lived or married, as long as he married!

Did he think he was still young?

If he delayed any longer, his elder brother’s son might marry before he even had a child.

Yang Huili grabbed Yu Xiang’an’s hand and sighed: “You work with him—have you noticed him seeing any girls? My only requirements: female and able to have children. That’s it!” She paused, then asked: “Is that too much to ask? It’s not hard, right?”

Yu Xiang’an shook her head with a mix of amusement and exasperation. “It’s not difficult. If I notice any signs, I’ll definitely tell Auntie.”

Yang Huili nodded, then glared at Yu Mansheng, who turned his head away to avoid her gaze.

Shifting her focus, Yang Huili turned to Yu Qingshan. “Second Uncle, since you’re here, please help me talk some sense into him. He’s grown too stubborn to listen! All his peers already have kids, yet he’s still single. How can I not worry?”

Yu Qingshan agreed wholeheartedly. “Men should marry when they come of age, and women should wed when they’re ready.” He fixed his gaze on Yu Mansheng. “Tell us what kind of girl you’re looking for. Your mother and I will keep an eye out for you.”

There were plenty of unmarried women around—some older, some younger. Some were beautiful, others gentle or fiery.

Honestly, his nephew had it all—height, good looks, and a promising future. Any girl marrying into their family would be fortunate. If only he’d just take the initiative, he could easily win any girl’s heart.

Yu Mansheng grinned sheepishly, playing dumb. “Mom, don’t worry. I promise I’ll bring home a wife this year, okay?”

Yang Huili narrowed her eyes skeptically. “You said the same thing last year. Who did you bring back?”

Yu Mansheng scratched his head awkwardly. “Last year was an accident, really! But this year—this year, I swear I’ll bring home a daughter-in-law for you!”

Yang Huili huffed. “Do you have someone in mind? Don’t just say ‘this year’—that’s too vague. If there’s a girl you like now, tell me. I’ll help pave the way. Mother-in-law relationships are important, you know. If I show my sincerity, she might just agree. So, who is it?”

Under her relentless questioning, Yu Mansheng could only force a laugh.

Seeing his reaction, Yang Huili understood—he had no one in mind at all!

She sighed deeply. “Son, I’m not pressuring you, but how long do you plan to drag this out? Your eldest brother’s kids are already grown, and your second brother’s child is in Shanghai, taken care of by their maternal grandmother. It’s just you now. If you don’t have kids while I’m still young enough to help raise them, how will you manage later? When I’m older, I might not even be able to take care of myself properly.”

Yu Mansheng didn’t want to hear it. “Mom! What are you saying? You’re still young!” Don’t make it sound like time’s running out.

Yang Huili glared. “What did I say that wasn’t true? I’m getting older every year—I can’t stay eighteen forever!”

Yu Mansheng deflected. “Your son isn’t married yet, so of course you’re still young. Look at Second Uncle’s Xiao Ju—he isn’t married either.”

Yu Qingshan was speechless. “How old is he? He was born late, and he’s still in college. Students are practically kids—how can you expect him to marry now?”

Yang Huili smacked Yu Mansheng’s shoulder hard, the sound making even Yu Xiang’an wince. Despite his size, Yu Mansheng grimaced in pain. “Mom! Mom! Stop, I get it, I was wrong.”

It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about it. But once a man had money, plenty of people would flock to him—most of them attractive, some his age, some younger. After seeing so many, he’d lost interest. Who knew if they were after him or his wealth?

Yang Huili wasn’t appeased. “Your second brother just had a child. Even if you have a daughter, I won’t complain—she’d still be my grandchild. But how can you have kids without a wife?”

This year, Yu Manwu’s daughter was born.

Truthfully, Yang Huili felt a single daughter was too few. Most believed a son was needed to carry on the family name, or else others might take advantage. But with the one-child policy, those with jobs risked losing them if they had more children.

Between a son and a job, which mattered more?

Opinions varied. Some would rather lose their jobs than give up on a son, while others were content with just a daughter.

Yu Manwu and his wife had decided—one child was enough.

Though Yang Huili had her reservations, she accepted it.

She had three sons. The eldest had four children—two boys, two girls. The second had one daughter.

As for the youngest, the odds were even. If he had a son, she’d have three grandsons and three granddaughters—not bad. If it was another daughter, well, Yu Mansheng wasn’t bound by the policy anyway. He could afford the fines.

But without a wife, where would the grandchildren come from?

The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became. Yu Mansheng excused himself to escape, leaving Yu Xiang’an to console her.

“Don’t worry, Auntie. He just hasn’t met the right person yet. Once he does, he’ll be the one chasing after her.”

Yu Qingshan added, “He’s focused on his career now. With his prospects, he’ll attract a good girl eventually. It’s just a matter of time. Don’t stress yourself sick—who’ll take care of the grandkids then?”

Yang Huili could only sigh and let it go.

Yu Xiang’an had a rough idea of Yu Mansheng’s thoughts.

Since she’d built her business here, she’d had no shortage of suitors. But she’d always made her stance clear.

Her relationship with Lin Chuanbai was different. They shared a bond, a history, and a mutual understanding. Their loyalty to each other ran deeper than most.

Long-distance relationships were risky, especially with money involved. Temptations were everywhere—for both men and women.

If Yu Mansheng wasn’t ready, it was better not to marry. Commitment required responsibility—to himself and to others.

At his age, being unmarried wasn’t unusual. In a few decades, it’d be even more common.

When Yang Huili returned home, she was laden with packages—most bought by her son, some from her niece.

Neighbors crowded around, curious.

“How was your trip? Your son’s a big boss now, right?”

“Did you see my son? Is he doing well? Did you give him my letter?”

“What’s all this stuff? Must be expensive…”

After finally shooing them away, Yang Huili’s throat was dry.

Zhang Chahua asked, “So, does he have a girlfriend yet?”

Yang Huili shook her head. “No, that stubborn boy!”

Zhang Chahua frowned. “What’s his type? If he’d just say, we could find someone.”

Yang Huili fumed. “He won’t say! But never mind—if he’s still single by New Year’s, I’m dragging him to meet someone. No more delays. Here, look—he bought you shoes. They’re comfy and cost a fortune…”

Unexpectedly, Yu Mansheng’s offhand remark came true.

It started when Yu Xiang’an connected with a Hong Kong business associate, Lu Anran, introduced by their cousin Yu Wanxin.

Lu Anran was stylish—red lips, voluminous curls, tailored suits—like a movie star. Her faint, alluring perfume made her unforgettable.

She was in the home furnishings industry, looking to invest locally. Yu Xiang’an referred her to Yu Mansheng’s construction company, known for its reliability.

This wasn’t the first time Yu Xiang’an had made introductions. She left them to negotiate, stepping back afterward.

Months later, they showed up hand in hand, announcing they were together.

Yu Xiang’an: “……”

Well, that was unexpected.

She blinked. “Congratulations.”

They were a good match—similar in age, both single. While Lu Anran was wealthier, Yu Mansheng had no prior marriages. She’d been widowed but had no children.

Together, they looked happy. As long as they were both willing, who was she to object?

When Yu Qingshan heard: “……”

Well, at least he’s settling down. Better late than never.

His sister-in-law had only two requirements for a daughter-in-law: female and able to bear children. This checked both boxes. Surely she wouldn’t oppose.

Meanwhile, back in the village, Yang Huili suddenly sneezed.

Who was talking about her behind her back?!