Chapter 376: The Soft‑waisted Educated Youth Is Again Being Spoiled Rotten by Her Boyfriend 39

After being in Xiangshi for over half a year and sending the Zhang family to prison, the garment factory's business finally stabilized. Besides export trade, Jin Chen also opened stores in several other fast‑growing cities, and business is booming.

It is especially popular with young people; calling it a fashion benchmark is not an exaggeration.

Jin Chen and Mo Zhinan have also become the undisputed new business elite of Xiangshi.

Before long it was the twelfth lunar month, and Jin Chen decided to head straight back to Fengshu Village for the New Year, then bring Gui Fang and himself to live in Xiangshi.

This proposal won the unanimous approval of the three younger brothers, who all said they'd spend the New Year with the Jin family—more people means more liveliness.

After the factory handed out all bonuses and closed for the holiday, it temporarily shut its doors, and all orders were postponed until after the Lantern Festival for processing.

The four cars also drove out of Xiangshi, retracing their route back to their hometown, which was already beginning to feel like the New Year.

At that moment, red lanterns were hung in Fengshu Village, every household put up spring couplets, and cooking smoke rose in the village's unique morning mist.

The villagers like to start preparing the New Year's dishes two days in advance.

After all, in southern rural areas they eat the New Year's noon meal, and they still have to worship the earth god in the morning; preparing on the same day would be too rushed.

On the twenty‑eighth of the twelfth month, many who had left the village for work returned home, and the villagers paid close attention to the honking of cars on the main road at the village entrance, perhaps their own children were stepping out of one of those vehicles.

Gui Fang and Gui Hua were no exception.

They had heard a couple of days earlier that Xu Lin next door had returned to the village in a sorry state, and the village chief had driven him out again.

After all, tying up his own grandmother was truly frightening; not reporting him or having him arrested was only out of the affection of having watched him grow up.

Many of the youths returning to the village had heard from their elders about Jin Chen's deeds; some couldn't believe it, some wanted to get on good terms with him this time, and others simply didn't believe it at all.

I don't know if Chenzi will bring Xiao Mo back for the New Year this year.

Gui Fang looked toward the village entrance again and sighed.

Sister, maybe Chenzi is busy with work, after all one person has to manage such a big factory.

Although Gui Hua was saying that, her gaze also occasionally drifted toward the distance.

The two of them went to town today and bought a lot of New Year supplies, preparing many portions, thinking that if Jin Chen and the others returned, they'd let Dazhuang and his friends also celebrate at their home—so many young lads would surely need extra food.

As they walked and talked, they were overheard by a passing young man whose clothes and style were very fashionable.

Sun Gang was one of the few highly educated youths in the village; after gaining a stable job in the big city he inevitably felt superior, yet who would have thought that the talk of the town this year, upon returning home, would revolve entirely around Jin Chen.

His family naturally told him as well, but Sun Gang utterly disbelieved it—Jin Chen, a hooligan who'd barely studied for a few years, bringing Liu Da Zhuang and his gang along, what could he possibly achieve?

He probably couldn't make money and dared not come home for the New Year—that's surely the truth!

Aunt Gui Fang, long time no see—why haven't I seen that brat Jin Chen come back yet?

Sun Gang walked over and stood beside them, soon reaching the camphor tree at the village entrance where many people had gathered to chat or do some vegetable sorting; he deliberately raised his voice.

"Hey, he's busy, he should be here soon." Gui Fang said, not noticing the malice in Sun Gang's attitude.

"It's already the 28th, and the New Year is in two days—what could be keeping him so busy that he hasn't returned even now?"

Sun Gang chuckled repeatedly, "Aunt Gui Fang, don't blame me for saying this, but business is tough out there—could it be that Jin Chen has lost money in his venture?"

This drew the attention of many, who thought it wasn't impossible.

Only then did Gui Fang understand what Sun Gang meant, and her face fell: "You little brat, after working away for a few years you've gotten worse at speaking."

Sun Gang wasn't annoyed either, "I'm stating facts, Aunt—I've seen people take tens of thousands to start a factory and end up deep in debt."

He shook his head, seeming to regret it.

Several villagers who had long envied the Jin family instantly seized on this as gossip, dropping their vegetables to join the conversation: "You really shouldn't say that—I've heard Jin Chen really did go set up a factory, right, Aunt Gui Fang?"

"Oh no, I hope it's not really a loss—otherwise your family would be poor again!"

Their tone was blatantly schadenfreude.

Aunt Sun, feeling even more superior, put her arm around her son and raised her voice: "So it's still best to have a decent job."

"Take a look at my son's clothes—they're made by a big factory in the big city, meant exclusively for overseas sale! Others can't even buy them!"

Sun Gang couldn't help but sit up straighter, feeling the villagers' envious gazes on him: "Yeah, this clothing is now a brand; I even got a few pieces handed out by the company over the New Year—employee‑exclusive."

This conversation rang a bell; Gui Fang recalled the garment factory name her son had mentioned in a letter two months ago, and she asked:

"What's the name of the factory that makes your clothes?"

Sun Gang gave a look that said, "You wouldn't know it even if I told you."

"Aunt, that garment factory is called Eternal Love Wisdom! It's all the rage now!"

Gui Fang and her younger brother exchanged a glance, both seeing amusement in each other's eyes.

It looks like Chenzi's factory hasn't gone under at all—it's thriving!

"Hey hey hey, quick look at the village main road—four small cars!"

Someone shouted.

Everyone turned their heads to look.

"Who is it, making such a grand entrance!"

"Could it be Jin Chen? He came back like that before when he bought a car, didn't he?"

"I remember the car Jin Chen bought before wasn't like this!"

The villagers whispered and craned their necks to look.

Until the lead car, which looked the flashiest, pulled up beside them.

The car window rolled down, and there, in the driver's seat, was none other than Jin Chen—they had just been saying his business had failed!

"Mom, Uncle, why aren't you home?"

Seeing a crowd gathered, Jin Chen thought it better not to drive off and got out of the car.

Mo Zhinan also got out of the passenger seat.

Right after, the three younger brothers also got out of their own cars and greeted Gui Fang.

"Aunt Gui Fang! Long time no see!"

It really was them!

The villagers who had been feeling proud just a moment ago suddenly felt a burning pain on their faces!

Not to mention Sun Gang, who was still feeling extremely superior just a moment ago.

The villagers don't recognize cars, but he does—these four cars are all luxury cars! The one Jin Chen is driving is something you might not be able to buy even if you have money.

He stared intently at the energetic and handsome Jin Chen, as if trying to see through him.

"As long as you're back, as long as you're back, let me see if you've lost weight."

Gui Fang no longer cared what others said; she put down the New Year's goods basket and cupped Mo Zhinan's cheeks with both hands.

"Little Mo, you still don't have much flesh on your face."

"Auntie, I've already gained a lot of weight."

Mo Zhinan embraced her, unable to keep from laughing.

"It's fine, Gui Fang Auntie; after the New Year, you and we will head back to the city, and from now on I'll keep an eye on Brother Mo's meals."

Dazhuang immediately squatted down and hugged his younger sister, joking.