Chapter 164: Go Further Down

His palm was scorching hot, his gaze blazing, carrying an undeniable strength.

"We act righteously and sit upright, what's there to fear? Once the Discipline Inspection Committee's investigation results are out, these rumors will collapse on their own!"

"Now, we must straighten our backs even more, make the shop flourish, and show those waiting to mock us whether Chongsu can be toppled by a few of their nonsense!"

His words were like kindling, instantly igniting the flame in Su Ruan's heart that had been chilled by cold.

So, panic and fear are of no use.

She inhaled deeply, grasped Jiang Ran's hand pressed to her face, and nodded firmly: "Hmm! I'm not afraid. Whatever we should do, we'll do it."

A few days later, Comrade Zhou from the Planning Office called Jiang Ran privately, his tone somewhat heavy: "Little Jiang, lately the negative talk about your shop… has been spreading quite strongly."

"Although we trust your capability and innocence, the park project is now at the forefront, with many eyes watching."

"To avoid suspicion and to ensure smoother progress of the project, the signing of the specific agreement for your entry… may need to be postponed, until… until the Discipline Inspection Committee's investigation yields a clear conclusion."

Postpone signing the agreement.

This means that, although they remain a priority development target, the formal status and those substantive preferential supports have been postponed indefinitely.

The gates of the Incubation Park seemed within arm's reach, yet were separated by an invisible barrier.

So this news dealt a blow to Su Ruan and Jiang Ran greater than the previous rumors.

It implies that the hidden mastermind behind it may have far greater power than they imagined, not only seeking to tarnish them but also to cut off their path of advancement outright.

That night, the two trudged back home with heavy steps.

At home, the dishes were already set; Li Huijuan was cradling Nian An, feeding him rice porridge, while Jiang Jianguo was playing with Jinjin.

Warm lamplight, the child's cooing, the aroma of food… all these ordinary scenes of happiness now made Su Ruan's nose tingle with sourness.

She forced a smile, tried to help, but Jiang Ran grabbed her firmly.

"Dad, Mom, Grandma," Jiang Ran's voice was hoarse, "the Planning Office sent news; the entry agreement… needs to be postponed for signing."

The air at the dining table froze instantly.

Li Huijuan's hand feeding the rice halted, Jiang Jianguo's playful motions with his grandson paused, and even Jiang Nainai's fingers twisting Buddhist Beads stopped.

"Is it because… those rumors?" Jiang Jianguo asked gravely.

Jiang Ran nodded heavily.

Jiang Jianguo fell silent for a long while, then slowly spoke: "A tree may desire calm yet the wind persists. Someone is set on pressing you down, at least, temporarily…"

He looked at his son and daughter-in-law, "The agreement's postponement doesn't mean the opportunity is gone. As long as you don't fall, there will be a time when fortunes turn. Now, the most important thing is stability. Keep the shop, keep the people, steady your hearts."

The logic is understood, yet when truly faced with it, that sense of an uncertain future and futile effort still surges like a tide.

At night, Su Ruan once again suffered insomnia.

She kept her eyes open, listening to Jiang Ran's heavy, suppressed breathing beside her, knowing he too hadn't slept.

"Jiang Ran," she whispered, her voice trembling in the silent night, "Will we really not be able to make it through?"

As soon as the words left her lips, a strong force suddenly pulled her into a scorching, solid embrace.

Jiang Ran's arm tightened around her, causing some pain; his face buried in the hollow of her neck, breathing heavily.

"No way!" his voice was muffled, bearing an almost fierce resolve, "Su Ruan, listen to me! What storms haven't we weathered? You think this petty trouble can crush us? No chance!"

"The agreement's postponement stays postponed; we rely on ourselves! The shop stays open! The clothes keep being made! The designs keep being drawn!"

"I can't believe it—without that Incubation Park, Chongsu wouldn't survive?!"

So his chest rose and fell violently, his heartbeat like a drum, transmitting through the thin nightgown to Su Ruan.

That vigorous vitality and unyielding fighting spirit, like a potent tonic, poured into Su Ruan's cold limbs and bones.

"Right," she raised her hand, wrapping around his tense waist and back, her voice gaining strength, "We rely on ourselves. The shop was built stitch by stitch by us, the clients gathered garment by garment. No one can take them away."

So feeling her response, Jiang Ran's tense body relaxed slightly; he lifted his head, accurately finding her lips in the darkness, and kissed her.

Between the interlaced lips and teeth were salty tears and a spreading blaze.

"Daughter-in-law," after the kiss, Jiang Ran pressed his forehead to hers, breath uneven, his eyes shining astonishingly in the dark, "Do you remember when we first opened the shop? No money, no staff, just the two of us—didn't we still make it?"

"Now we have the shop, Handcraft, Wang Shifu, Sun Shifu, Douzi Yaya, Master Ma and his team, and… also our Jinjin and An'an."

So mentioning the children, his voice softened for a moment, then became even more resolute.

"For them, for this home, for our Chongsu, we cannot fall!"

"Not only must we not fall, we must live even better! Let those malicious scoundrels watch with wide eyes!"

His words, every single one, struck Su Ruan's heart, shattering confusion and fear, leaving only a resolve as decisive as burning one's own boats.

She hugged him tightly back, her voice choked yet clear: "Alright! Together! Let them see!"

That night, the two, entwined, barely slept, whispering low as they discussed countermeasures:.

So one day, Su Ruan, while sorting the warehouse, uncovered several old fabrics of a very special texture that had been stockpiled but never figured out how to use.

She ran her fingers over the warm, unique feel, and a bold idea suddenly flashed.

That night, she pulled Jiang Ran under the lamp, spread the fabric, eyes sparkling: "Jiang Ran, look at this material."

"I want to use it to create a very, very small series, maybe just three to five pieces, not mass-produced, only for display and a handful of VIP orders."

"Design-wise, completely discarding commercial considerations, just expressing some of my recent… thoughts and attitudes. It may not make money, perhaps even lose money, but I want to do it."

Jiang Ran examined the material, then looked at the pure creative flame burning in Su Ruan's eyes, and nodded without hesitation: "Do it! Make it however you want! Fear losing money? We're not broke now!"

"Daughter-in-law, just go for it; tell me if you need anything! I have only one request: whatever you create must match you, match the backbone of our Chongsu!"

Outside, the north wind howled sharply, yet inside the shop it was unusually quiet, only the rustle of a pencil across paper.

Su Ruan crouched before the desk, brows knit, staring at the waistline on the paper that she kept revising yet never satisfied with.

The stiffness in her shoulders and neck surged in waves.

Suddenly, a pair of warm, rough hands pressed onto the back of her neck, kneading the tense muscles with just the right pressure.

So Su Ruan's body tensed slightly, then relaxed, mumbling indistinctly: "Hmm… the left side, a bit lower…"

"Here?" Jiang Ran's voice sounded from behind, hoarse from staying up.

His fingertip, bearing a thin callus, precisely located the aching nodule and slowly applied pressure.

"Right… just there…" Su Ruan sighed with comfort, the pen tip paused on the paper, she gently closed her eyes, "What time is it? Why haven't you gone back yet?"