Chapter 175: Moving Money

Su Ruo felt a little worried; although she also wanted to buy that factory, she had no money and could do nothing.

Was she supposed to just watch this great money‑making opportunity slip away before her eyes? Su Ruo felt somewhat unwilling.

Li Zhaodi was also feeling down; she had been planning to open a factory because the clothing factory's orders had increased.

No one knew how excited she felt when she heard the state‑owned clothing factory was going to be sold off.

Li Zhaodi eagerly shared the news with Su Ruo and Bai Xinya today, never expecting that after finally convincing them, they would be stuck on the funding issue.

Before, Li Zhaodi thought she already had enough money; after all, just over a year ago she couldn't even come up with a few dollars.

Now she had bought a house and had assets of nearly 100,000, but only now did she realize that this amount of money was nothing at all.

Since starting her business, Li Zhaodi had had smooth sailing thanks to Su Ruo and Bai Xinya's help, but this was the first time she had faced a setback and blow.

Feeling down, Li Zhaodi said: "If we can't buy the state‑owned clothing factory, the only way to expand production is to find a place and build a new factory."

By then we'd have to buy land, build workshops, purchase machinery, hire workers—spending more money, dealing with more complicated procedures, and getting far worse results than buying the state‑owned clothing factory.

Su Ruo and Bai Xinya both understood that Li Zhaodi's difficulties were already a major problem just in buying land and constructing a factory.

Although the state now encourages economic construction, setting up a factory is far from easy.

Even just buying land requires approval from above and dealing with the village and villagers; even if they had money, they couldn't withstand the other side jacking up the price or creating malicious obstacles.

Although they had Zhou Feng's help, as the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot crush a local snake; just thinking about these matters gives one a headache.

Su Ruo didn't think that relying solely on their fervent courage could accomplish these things.

If there were no choice, they would naturally overcome all difficulties to do it, but now that a better opportunity is clearly available, letting it slip away leaves them all feeling unwilling.

Just as Su Ruo and the two others were frowning with worry, the madam beside them suddenly said: "It's just money! You don't have it, but I do!"

Su Ruo and the two others all looked at the madam, but the light in their eyes quickly died—after all, this was over 200,000, not just 20,000, and the madam had been unconscious for ten years; she probably didn't even know what 200,000 meant.

The madam sensed that Su Ruo and the others didn't believe her and weren't paying attention, so she told Su Ruo: "Follow me, then turn and leave."

Su Ruo felt doubtful, but she followed; she thought the madam was going to ask the master for money, since as the owner of Jishan Hall the master normally had some cash, but the madam didn't.

The madam took Su Ruo through a winding alley and stopped in front of an inconspicuous gate.

The madam placed her hand on the gate and knocked a few uneven strokes; soon the door opened from inside and an old man with white‑tinged hair stepped out.

Upon seeing the madam, the old man's eyes lit up instantly, and he immediately invited Su Ruo and the madam inside.

After closing the door, the old man immediately knelt before the madam and said: "Young master, you've finally returned."

The madam, a little impatient, said: "Enough, what era is this? Don't pull this act, or it'll just cause trouble if anyone sees."

Only then did the old man tremble as he rose from the ground, looking at the madam with tears of excitement streaming down his face.

From the old man and madam's conversation, Su Ruo learned that the madam's father had not only run Jishan Hall but also a money shop.

Before his death, he gave Jishan Hall to the master and the money shop to the madam.

Later, with changing times and national turmoil, the money shop could no longer operate, so they exchanged all its money for gold.

Part of it was taken out to support the revolution, part was hidden away, waiting for the day the country would regain peace so they could rise again.

But now the madam clearly has no interest in continuing the money shop, especially since the state doesn't allow it.

For the madam to produce money to help Su Ruo acquire the state‑owned clothing factory is nothing compared to her wealth—after all, at its peak her money shop was rich enough to rival a country.

The madam told the old man: "This is my daughter; from now on, seeing her is like seeing me." Then she handed Su Ruo a plaque made of pure gold.

The old man, moved, wanted to kneel to Su Ruo, but she quickly stopped him, saying: "Madam, this is too precious; I can't accept it."

But the madam, with a stern face, said: "If it weren't for you, I would already be dead; these external things are no different from dirt to a dead person."

"I have never had sons or daughters; since you call me madam, I regard you as my own biological daughter."

"I'm counting on you for the rest of my life; if you refuse, it means you don't want this burden of mine."

After saying that, seeing Su Ruo still hesitant, the madam shoved the gold plaque into her embrace and said: "All right, it's just a plaque; keep it for now, and if you later don't want it, you can return it to me."

Having come this far, Su Ruo couldn't well refuse; she carefully accepted it, though at that moment she had no idea what immense wealth she had just taken in.

The madam told the old man: "I need 500,000; deliver it to this address."

The old man asked nothing and respectfully replied: "Yes, young master."

The madam then took Su Ruo away; after Su Ruo emerged from the small courtyard, she felt dreamlike, watching the old man standing at the gate seeing them off, unable to believe he could really come up with 500,000.

But that very night the old man drove a carriage to Su Ruo's siheyuan.

Li Zhaodi saw the plain‑clothed old man and the black oilcloth covering the cart, and thought he had come to deliver coal briquettes, so she told him to just unload it against the wall.

But when the old man lifted the black oilcloth, not only Li Zhaodi but also Su Ruo stood there stunned.

Because on that ox cart lay a whole cartload of money, neatly stacked.

"This… this… this…" Li Zhaodi was so shocked she couldn't utter a word.

Su Ruo also stared in shock at it all; only the madam remained calm, looking at the cart of money and saying: "You've gone dumb—hurry up and move the money inside."

Li Zhaodi then snapped to her senses and hurried to move the money indoors, after all, having so much cash sitting in the courtyard would be a huge problem if anyone saw it.

Although no one ever came to Su Ruo's place, she still hurried to lock the courtyard gate.

Even An'an and Qin Xiao came to help; nobody spoke, they just grunted as they hauled the money inside.

Every face showed an uncontrollable flush of excitement.