Chapter 446: Making Money Isn

“You can do anything,” Gu Zhihang answered his sister’s question. “Mom always said this is a time when gold lies everywhere—I think she’s right. Every industry has room to grow; it just depends on what you want to do.”

“I don’t know,” Xiang Yaobao tugged at her second brother’s sleeve.

Gu Zhihang pulled his sleeve back, smoothed it out, then paused and asked, “What do you like?”

“I like pretty clothes, cosmetics, flowers… and I like…”

As Xiang Yaobao kept listing, Gu Zhihang’s head throbbed. He cut her off quickly. “Why not open a flower shop?”

“A flower shop?” Xiang Yaobao hesitated.

“Aren’t you fond of them?” Gu Zhihang said, exasperated.

“Is it profitable? What if I lose money?” Xiang Yaobao looked worried.

Gu Zhihang burst out laughing. “Are you kidding? Do we even need you to earn money? If you earn, what am I supposed to do?! I already said—open whatever shop you want. I’ve got your back. If you lose, I’ll make up the difference.”

Xiang Yaobao’s face lit up like a blooming flower. “Second brother, you’re so good.”

“Now you realize how good I am?” Gu Zhihang’s smile stretched nearly to his ears. “If you know I’m good, stop giving me trouble from now on.”

“No way—that’s my fun,” Xiang Yaobao deliberately provoked him. When he raised his hand as if to hit her, she didn’t even blink.

Gu Zhihang chuckled. “You’ve really grown up. Scaring you doesn’t work anymore.”

Hearing his sigh, Xiang Yaobao beamed. “Don’t be disappointed, second brother. Next time I’ll cooperate with you.”

“…Thanks a lot.”

“No need to thank me.”

As they spotted their family car, Xiang Yaobao’s eyes brightened. She tugged her second brother and broke into a light run.

Just before reaching it, the car door opened and Lin Zhao stepped out, arms outstretched toward Xiang Yaobao.

“Mom!” Xiang Yaobao flung herself into Lin Zhao’s arms, nuzzling her cheek against her shoulder. “Mom, I missed you so much. Did you miss me?”

“Of course I did,” Lin Zhao gently wrapped an arm around her daughter’s shoulders, her expression tender. “Did you have fun?”

“So much fun!” Xiang Yaobao’s voice rose. “Mom, Hong Kong has so many cool places. Next time, come with me—I’ll show you everything.”

“Did you meet any big stars?” Lin Zhao released her, guiding her toward the car.

Far off, Lin Yu waved from another car, signaling they’d talk when they got home.

Lin Zhao smiled back and got into the driver’s seat.

Xiang Yaobao fastened her seatbelt, excitedly blurted, “I met them! I took tons of photos!”

Remembering the Lin family members she’d met in Hong Kong, she added quickly, “Mom, there are so many people in the Lin family—I couldn’t even tell them apart!”

As the granddaughter most favored by her grandfather, Lin Zhao knew the Lin family was like a vast, leafy tree—packed with relatives.

“You’ll get used to them,” Lin Zhao started the car and drove home.

Knowing the children were returning, she’d driven all the way to Haicheng just to pick them up.

“Mm-hmm,” Xiang Yaobao nodded obediently.

She gazed at her mother behind the wheel, eyes sparkling with admiration.

“Mom, you look so beautiful driving!”

Lin Zhao glanced at her, then quickly returned her gaze to the road. “You should learn too. You’d look just as beautiful behind the wheel.”

Xiang Yaobao had always been afraid and never decided to learn—until now, she finally began to consider it.

“Okay, I’ll learn.”

Lin Zhao: “Zhihang, teach Yaobao.”

Zhihang had plenty of driving experience, was skilled, and even had students. Teaching his sister would be no problem.

“Got it,” Gu Zhihang agreed without hesitation.

“Yaobao, study hard. When you graduate… I’ll buy you a car.”

“Really?” Xiang Yaobao’s eyes glowed.

“Of course. When have I ever lied to you?” Gu Zhihang leaned back, settling into a more comfortable position.

Xiang Yaobao thought carefully. “Hmm… never.”

“What do you mean ‘hmm’? It’s a flat-out never!”

As the siblings bickered, the car pulled into the Lin family ancestral home. The mother and two children got out.

By the time they arrived, the bodyguards had already unloaded their gifts and placed them neatly on the table.

“Oh! These are the gifts I picked out!” Xiang Yaobao tugged Lin Zhao forward. “Mom, I bought you and Dad so many presents—quick, tell me which ones you like!”

“Whatever you chose, your father and I will love it,” Lin Zhao’s eyes softened.

Hearing this, the little girl who’d carefully prepared the gifts beamed even brighter.

Xiang Yaobao asked the family maid for scissors to open the boxes. The maid hurried to stop her. “Let me do it! You don’t need to—Miss, please sit and rest. I’ll open them, then call you when I’m done.”

The gifts Xiang Yaobao picked were numerous—five large boxes in total.

It was like she’d gone on a major overseas shopping spree.

“It’s fine—I’ll watch you open them,” Xiang Yaobao said sweetly, refusing to move.

“Open this one first—it’s for Mom,” she reminded.

“Alright, we’ll start with this one,” the maid replied eagerly.

She’d won this job after beating out many competitors. Her starting salary was already high. She’d assumed there must be a catch—this family must be impossible to please. Before coming, she’d braced herself: I’m here to earn money; being treated poorly is normal. I’ll endure it for the pay.

But then—

All the hardship she’d feared? None of it existed!

The Lin family was impeccably cultured—no trace of arrogant wealth. Everyone spoke politely, treated others with respect, and made her feel at ease.

The other maids quietly upped their game. There was no choice—they had to give their all. Such a good job was too rare. To earn such high pay without giving your best felt like stealing.

“Take your time, be careful,” Lin Zhao said, watching the maid open the boxes swiftly and neatly. She couldn’t help speaking up, worried the woman might hurt herself.

“Yes, ma’am,” the maid replied obediently, slowing her pace slightly—though she didn’t mention she was perfectly skilled and wouldn’t get hurt.

Lin Zhao’s brow relaxed.

Xiang Yaobao was a thoughtful, attentive girl. She knew everyone’s tastes and had chosen gifts that hit right at their hearts. She’d even remembered Qiao Hui.

Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai’s gifts were the most numerous: tailored suits and qipaos, made to their exact sizes at Hong Kong’s finest shops, plus a matching pair of couple’s watches…

Lin Zhao loved every single one.

“Yaobao has such good taste. Did you empty your savings?”

Xiang Yaobao shook her head, smiling. “Not even close. It’s still full.”

Lin Yu chimed in. “How could it be empty? When Yaobao came home for the first time, who didn’t give her a gift? She came back with a full haul, didn’t you, Yaobao?”

“Yes! Full haul!” Xiang Yaobao beamed.

Lin Siyuan and others had to work and couldn’t take time off—they didn’t go to Hong Kong and weren’t home now.

None of the Lin children were spoiled or arrogant. They were all grounded—even with plenty of money, they worked hard and pursued their own value.

Lin Zhao rubbed the top of her daughter’s head. Her Yaobao was so wonderful—she deserved to be loved.

After staying two days at the ancestral home, mother and daughter set off for the capital.

Xiang Yaobao’s school term was starting soon—she needed to prepare.

Gu Chenghuai received his daughter’s gifts, his gaze softening.

“I’m finally enjoying my daughter’s filial piety,” he said.

“You say that like Yu Bao and the others haven’t spoiled you,” Lin Zhao looked up.

“It feels different.”

Lin Zhao didn’t understand the difference. “Your daughter wants to open a flower shop. Find someone to renovate the storefront—simple, with floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides so it’s visible from afar. Yaobao also said she wants wind chimes hanging at the entrance…”

“A flower shop? Can that make money?” Gu Chenghuai didn’t understand.

“Making money isn’t the point—it’s about finding something to do,” Lin Zhao said.

Gu Chenghuai was speechless, then gave up asking further. “What else does she want? Tell me everything—I’ll have someone design it.”

Lin Zhao listed a few more requests. Gu Chenghuai understood immediately and called designers to start right away.

Working for his daughter always filled him with enthusiasm.

If it were his son’s request, he’d barely lift a finger—maybe just recommend someone reliable and hand over a phone number.

Before the design was even ready, Yaobao’s enrollment day arrived.

That day, Gu Chenghuai cleared his entire schedule to personally drop his daughter off at school.

The last one to receive this treatment was Lin Zhao. Gu Zhihang had only gotten it by accident.

Gu Chenghuai was tall and upright, his military background giving him an air of authority unlike ordinary men.

Since it was the start of term, male visitors were allowed in the female dormitory.

So Gu Chenghuai went to see Yaobao’s dorm room.

The four-person dorm wasn’t shabby—but as a father, he still thought the conditions were terrible. Yaobao wouldn’t be comfortable.

Seeing him frozen in thought, Lin Zhao tapped his arm. “What are you standing there for? Go make your daughter’s bed. Or should I?”

Gu Chenghuai snapped back to reality. His sharp, capable eyes showed rare hesitation. “Yaobao’s never lived on campus. Won’t she be uncomfortable?”

He might as well have said outright: let Yaobao commute.

“She doesn’t live here full-time,” Lin Zhao said. “Only when classes are heavy. When things are light, she comes home. And you don’t want her to be a lone wolf, right? No one to eat with, no one to fetch water with?”

Gu Chenghuai imagined it, his brow furrowing.

He said nothing more and quietly made the bed.

Xiang Yaobao didn’t like the bed by the door or the bottom bunk. With only two choices left, she picked the one on the left—slightly more private.

Lin Zhao carried a basin of water and helped Xiang Yaobao clean the cabinets and desk.

Yaobao looked at her father, then at her mother, and smiled foolishly.

“What are you laughing at?” Gu Chenghuai spread out the bed, jumped down, and clapped his hands.

“I’m happy,” Yaobao’s smile brightened further.

So foolish.

Gu Chenghuai always worried his daughter would be bullied; the existence of someone like Ling Zhi made him truly afraid Yaobao would get hurt.

Yes, he had learned of Ling Zhi’s plans and her methods of tormenting others.

Just imagining himself as the father of those bullied girls, he felt like his whole body would explode!

At that moment, Yaobao’s other roommates arrived one after another.

Gu Chenghuai scanned the group with his reconnaissance soldier’s expertise—analyzing their accents, clothing, and more—then concluded: acceptable, no troublemakers.

Gu Zhiyao politely greeted her roommates, “Hello, I’m Gu Zhiyao, these are my parents.”

One roommate, who seemed more lively, smiled and replied, “I’m Ai Qing. Your parents look so young.”

She greeted Yaobao’s parents, “Uncle, Auntie.”

“Hello, Miss Ai,” Lin Zhao had brought some small cakes specially today and handed them out to Yaobao’s three roommates, “Nice to meet you. These are my little gift for you—just a token. Please look out for each other from now on.”

Ai Qing glanced at the cake packaging, surprise flickering in her eyes, then accepted it gracefully, “We will. Thank you, Auntie. Miss Gu Zhiyao is the provincial top scorer—we still need to learn from her.”

Lin Zhao was impressed by the girl; her smile grew a little more genuine.

“You’re not bad either. Learn from each other.”

Everything was packed up. The dorm was crowded, so Lin Zhao led her husband and daughter to leave first.

The family of three went to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria had already opened; the smell of food hit them as soon as they entered.

Lin Zhao smiled, “Smells good. No surprise—it’s your second brother’s pick.”

“Mm-hmm, Second Brother came to test the food here himself. He told me exactly which window serves dishes I like,” Yaobao’s lips curled up.

“Does your second brother treat you well?”

“Very well. All my family treat me well,” Yaobao kept her balance even-handedly. “He even said if I couldn’t get used to the food, he’d send someone to bring me meals. But I told him no—I’m not that delicate, and I don’t want special treatment.”

Not delicate? She barely ate when the food was even slightly bland, and broke out in rashes if fabric was even a little rough…

She’d been spoiled by her mother and father—Lin Zhao had nothing to say.

“Foolish girl, what’s so special about that?” Gu Chenghuai looked at Yaobao with helpless exasperation. “I work day and night so you can live comfortably—don’t turn things upside down.”

“I know, Father,” Yaobao’s voice was sweet.

…

University classes weren’t heavy; if she had no morning classes, Yaobao always went home to sleep, so Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai saw her even more often than before.

Both were delighted, especially Lin Zhao, who took the girl out for afternoon tea on a whim, visited newly opened restaurants, and arranged for a flower shop—her days were full and satisfying.

Gu Chenghuai helped find reliable suppliers; fresh flowers arrived daily, and the shop was about to open.

For this, Gu Zhihang hired a lion dance troupe.

After a few days of rehearsal, on the official opening day, firecrackers exploded and lions danced—everything was lively.

The renovation cost a fortune, and the storefront looked stunning.

Lin Zhao introduced a trustworthy shop assistant; the flower shop officially opened.

Gu Zhihang, fearing it would be empty, invited many brothers to fill the place; the shop instantly buzzed with people coming and going.

Yaobao sensed something was off. She watched the customers closely—and recognized a familiar face. She knew instantly it was her second brother’s doing.

“Second Brother, did you hire people?”

Gu Zhihang answered confidently, “Of course. I was afraid no one would come and you’d be upset, so I arranged people to fill the place. How’s it? Pretty good, right?”

The Lin family’s business principle: mastering the art of creating momentum is key.

He put it into practice.

Yaobao understood his intent. “...Thank you, Second Brother.”

Though she’d prepared herself mentally for no sales at first—even for no one to care.

She believed sales wouldn’t last forever; there were always wealthy people, and this shop’s target audience was precisely those who had no lack of money.

Thinking of the newly released movie she’d watched with her second brother in Hongcheng, she felt opening a flower shop had real potential.

She had no rent cost; even if she lost money, it wasn’t a big deal—she’d just be paying for her own hobby. She’d keep going.

Yaobao hadn’t expected the first orders to arrive so quickly.