Chapter 454: This Is an Open Strategy

Qiao Hui watched Lin Zhao and Yaobao huddled together chatting, a smile tugging at her lips.

Yaobao waved at her. “Auntie Qiao, stop working—come sit and chat with us. Aren’t you curious about my workplace?”

“Auntie Qiao, take a break,” Lin Zhao urged. “We clean daily—there’s hardly any dust. Rest when you can.”

Qiao Hui was a workhorse; earning a high salary, she felt guilty even pausing for a second.

She washed the cloth, hung it to dry, took off her apron, and sat down.

“Fine, I’ll steal half a day off.”

Yaobao gazed at her with affection. “Auntie Qiao isn’t lazy—she’s the hardest-working person in the world.”

Even ordinary people have dazzling sparks.

Qiao Hui laughed heartily. “Yaobao, your mouth is so sweet.”

“Yaobao has a likable personality and a sharp mind—she’ll shine on the radio. No one won’t like her.” She launched into lavish praise.

Gu Zhihang: That’s an exaggeration—sometimes others’ malice comes out of nowhere.

He hoped Yaobao never encountered it.

If she did, he’d make them regret ever crossing his sister.

As they chatted, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Gu Zhihang stood first. “Let me see who’s here.”

Soon he returned, followed by a dark-skinned, muscular young man.

“Auntie!” Seeing Qiao Hui, his eyes lit up as he called out loudly.

“Dashan!” Qiao Hui beamed, hurrying over. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you,” Dashan said, holding a sack filled with gifts for his aunt. “You didn’t go home for the New Year, so Grandma worried—I came.”

“When did you arrive? Are you hungry?” Qiao Hui gripped her nephew’s hand, studying his face with concern.

“I arrived yesterday. I stayed at a small inn, took a bath, slept a while, then came over.” Dashan didn’t want to embarrass his aunt.

“Foolish boy, why didn’t you come straight here? Your Lin Aunt doesn’t look down on country folk.” Qiao Hui thought of how much the capital had changed—Dashan had wandered lost—and her heart ached.

“Who isn’t from the countryside?” Lin Zhao said. “Dashan, next time you visit your aunt, just come directly. If you’re shy, go to your aunt’s…”

She left the sentence unfinished—she felt the news of the house purchase should come from Qiao Hui herself.

Qiao Hui didn’t mind. She smiled at Lin Zhao, then said: “Go to your aunt’s own home.”

Dashan frowned. “What do you mean?”

He hadn’t dared imagine his aunt buying a house in the capital—he had no concept of such a thing.

Qiao Hui said: “I bought a house. It’s not far from here. I’ll take you to see it later. Don’t stay at that inn—stay with me.”

“You bought a house?” Dashan stared in shock. “Auntie, where did you get the money?!”

Qiao Hui gave him a look. “I haven’t been idle all these years—I saved plenty. This is just what I used to buy the house.”

Dashan raised his thumb, his eyes free of greed, genuinely delighted for his aunt. “Auntie, you’re amazing! I never thought the most successful one in our family would be you. Grandma would be overjoyed if she knew—can I tell others?”

“Of course. I even plan to bring Grandma here.” Qiao Hui said.

Even the youngest, Yaobao, was working. All Qiao Hui did now was clean, wash clothes, and cook occasionally—her tasks were light, and she could finally do what she wanted.

“Bring Grandma to the capital?” Dashan was stunned. “Auntie, do you have the energy to care for her? She’s fine back home—Mother takes excellent care of her…”

Qiao Hui said: “I’m her daughter. She’s my responsibility. All these years I haven’t been by her side—it’s torn me up. I want to bring her here and care for her.”

At once, Dashan said: “Then I’ll go back and bring her, if she’s willing.”

He hadn’t rushed home because he’d come seeking opportunity. His aunt said the capital was growing fast—he wanted to explore, see if there were ways to earn money.

Opportunities existed back home, but his aunt was here—he wanted to stay, to support her in her old age.

Dashan carried the money he’d saved over the years—enough to start a business.

Qiao Hui smiled, as if already seeing her mother arrive, a glow of joy radiating from her.

She didn’t linger with Dashan, making an excuse to show him around, then took her leave.

Lin Zhao told Zhihang to prepare some gifts for Qiao Hui to take back. “I’m giving you three days off. Take your nephew around—there’s nothing urgent at home. Don’t rush back.”

Qiao Hui beamed. “Great, thank you!”

Dashan grinned happily too.

He was a stranger in a strange land—he needed his aunt to guide him.

He’d visited the capital five years ago to see his aunt. Back then, he’d come and gone quickly; seeing she was well, he’d felt reassured and returned home.

This time, the capital had changed utterly—no trace of its past remained.

Dashan followed Qiao Hui to the inn first, collected his luggage, checked out, then they went to her new house.

“Here it is,” Qiao Hui said, unlocking the door. “It’s not big, but it’s enough to live in.” She led him inside.

She flipped on the lights.

Dashan looked around and smiled. “Nice. Auntie, you bought a great place—everything’s nearby, so convenient.”

Seeing the TV in the living room, his voice brightened. “Auntie, you bought a TV too!”

TVs were expensive—his family could never afford one. Dashan usually borrowed neighbors’ TVs.

Qiao Hui said: “I didn’t buy it. Those things cost hundreds—I’d never spend that much. Yaobao’s college exam results came out, and Zhihang bought a new color TV for the family. Lin Zhao insisted I take it.”

Even after years of use, the TV still looked brand-new.

“The Gu family is so generous,” Dashan thought. If it were him, he’d never part with something like that.

“Yes—they’re utterly devoted to their own. So good.” Qiao Hui spoke gratefully.

She’d never forget: Lin Zhao was her benefactor.

Dashan smiled.

Qiao Hui led him to the guest room. “You’ll sleep here. The bedding was just sunned, the wardrobe is new—tell me if you need anything, I’ll buy it for you.”

“It’s already wonderful—much better than the inn I stayed at.” Dashan’s money was hard-earned; he’d shopped around for the cheapest lodging.

Cheap meant poor quality—conditions were bad, the place was crowded and unsanitary.

“You should’ve told me you were coming—I could’ve picked you up, saved you the trouble,” Qiao Hui said, pained for her nephew.

Dashan scratched his head. “No trouble—I got here fine. Besides, you’re busy. I can manage.”

Qiao Hui knew her nephew’s nature—he always feared being a burden.

“So… are you planning to stay, or…?”

Dashan’s face turned serious. “Auntie, I want to try staying.”

Hearing this, Qiao Hui was overjoyed. “You finally see it! I tell you, opportunities abound here—even selling tea eggs makes money. As Lin Zhao says, everything’s being rebuilt—if you’re willing to work hard, your life won’t be bad.”

She’d bought the house and sent a letter home urging Dashan to come to the capital for development. He’d been unable to come then—he’d finally arrived.

In truth, the Qiao family only sent Dashan after learning Yaobao was working and Qiao Hui’s life had become easier.

One, to look after her; two, to find opportunities.

Dashan was the vanguard—if he succeeded, the rest of the Qiao family would follow.

“Auntie, my parents say my tea eggs taste great. Do you think I could sell them?” Dashan asked hesitantly.

“Try it,” Qiao Hui said.

That day, Dashan used his seasonings to cook a pot of tea eggs. The aroma drifted up and down the building, making children outside wail with hunger.

Someone knocked on the Qiao family’s door.

“Sorry to bother you, but I smelled tea eggs—could I buy a few? My kids are driving me crazy.” The door opened, the scent intensified, and the neighbor—a grown man used to fine food—couldn’t help swallowing saliva.

Dashan looked at his aunt, beaming.

Success.

Qiao Hui nudged him with her elbow. “What are you standing there for? Go fill the lady’s box!”

As she spoke, she took the neighbor’s lunchbox and pressed it into Dashan’s hands.

“Yes, yes!!” Dashan replied eagerly, took a few steps, then stopped and turned back. “Lady, how many?”

“Six,” the neighbor said. She’d only planned to buy one for her greedy child—but now, the scent made her want more.

Dashan’s eyes sparkled. He went to the kitchen, counted six tea eggs, and neatly arranged them in the box.

Each tea egg cost two jiao—six totaled one yuan and twenty jiao.

The neighbor thought it expensive—hoping the taste justified the price.

When she tasted them at home, regret flooded her heart.

I bought too few!

“Auntie, this really makes money!” Dashan exclaimed. “Auntie, when I earn enough, I’ll buy a big house like the Gu family’s, bring everyone home, and you’ll move too—we’ll all live together.”

Qiao Hui thought: distance breeds affection. She preferred not to be a nuisance—living in a house under her own name was far more comfortable.

She didn’t dampen his enthusiasm. “Work hard. Try to save enough to buy a house soon—prices rise every year. Buy early.”

Dashan nodded thoughtfully. Yes—he’d make buying a house his top goal.

He didn’t know how much his willingness to listen would help him later—years on, he’d often say: “I owe my good life entirely to my aunt. If she hadn’t supported me, I’d still be living in a shabby building without a toilet, still paying off a mortgage like a young man…”

Qiao Hui always thought of Lin Zhao’s family. After tasting Dashan’s tea eggs and finding them delicious, she said: “I’ll send some to Lin Zhao and the others. Dashan, your skill is excellent.”

Dashan immediately packed them, washed the lunchbox twice, and filled it to the brim with tea eggs.

He answered Qiao Hui’s question: “I learned this from a woman in the shack. She said her family were imperial chefs and gave me a few recipes. We were too poor to try them before—but now I have some money, I tried them, and the taste really is good. That’s why I had the courage to come to the capital.”

If he hadn’t held those precious recipes, he wouldn’t have come—he’d only have been a burden to his aunt.

Qiao Hui looked at her nephew. “It’s because you’re kind-hearted—you deserve this chance.”

Dashan chuckled happily—he was delighted by his aunt’s praise.

Watching him, Qiao Hui felt as if she were seeing the little boy who’d once trailed after her.

“Silly kid.” Qiao Hui patted her nephew’s head, took the lunch box, and left.

Qiao Dashan couldn’t sit still—he cleaned the entire kitchen inside and out, mopped the floor, noticed there wasn’t much coal left for cooking, asked a neighbor where to get some, grabbed his wallet and keys, and brought home a hundred bricks of honeycomb coal.

The space is too small; it can only hold this much.

…

Lin Zhao tasted the tea eggs from the Qiao family; the moment the flavor hit her tongue, her eyes sparkled.

“The taste is really good,” she praised.

“It’s still early—by tomorrow, the flavor should be even better! Qiao Jie, if Da Shan has this skill, he’ll get rich!”

Qiao Hui grinned broadly. “Enough to make a little money and get by is fine.”

“Da Shan learned this from a descendant of the imperial chefs—he knows other things too. If he makes something else, I’ll bring it over for you to try.”

Lin Zhao smiled. “Alright, I’ll wait.”

Qiao Dashan was a man of fortune; as long as he wasn’t lazy, his future would be bright, and settling in the capital would be easy.

Qiao Hui left after delivering the tea eggs.

Gu Chenghuai, the busy man, returned home and tasted the Qiao family’s tea eggs—even he, who cared little for fine food, nodded in approval.

“Good, right?” Lin Zhao’s clear, bright eyes shimmered with amusement. “I saved two just for you.”

“Only my wife treats me well,” Gu Chenghuai said with mock solemnity.

Lin Zhao laughed and collapsed into his arms.

Gu Chenghuai lifted his hand, afraid his dirty fingers might touch Zhao Zhao and earn her scolding.

“Busy man, done for now?” Lin Zhao casually pulled a tissue, lowered her eyes, and wiped his fingers.

“Temporarily wrapped up,” Gu Chenghuai replied softly, his gaze fixed on her profile. He said no more—it was confidential.

Lin Zhao didn’t press.

Gu Chenghuai looked at his daughter, who was giggling in the corner of the sofa. “Yaobao, how’s your job at the radio station? Are you getting used to it?”

Yaobao put down her hands, straightened her shoulders, and answered seriously. “I’m getting used to it. My coworkers are all easy to get along with. I just started—I’m still adjusting.”

She glanced at Gu Zhihang, then shifted closer to her father, whispering, “Dad, Second Brother insists on driving me to work tomorrow. It’s too showy. Can you talk to him? Tell him not to?”

Yaobao, powerless against her second brother, had learned to use his strength against him.

But—

Gu Chenghuai looked at Gu Zhihang with approval. “Zhihang thought this through very well.”

“...?” Yaobao’s head spun.

“Dad, where did Second Brother think things through?” Her tone rose slightly. “Our car parked right at the radio station’s entrance—everyone will think I’m putting on airs.”

“You’re my and your mother’s only daughter. It would be strange if you weren’t putting on airs,” Gu Chenghuai said calmly.

It wasn’t self-praise, but at his level, few people could afford to draw his protection.

A little arrogance was nothing—as long as she didn’t break the law, he was happy for everyone to know Yaobao was his precious jewel.

It would also keep those clueless fools from approaching.

This was Gu Chenghuai’s open strategy to deter suitors from pursuing his daughter.

Gu Zhihang smirked at his sister, raising an eyebrow triumphantly.

… Little Gu never made a wrong decision.

“Hmph.” Yaobao huffed at her brother, finally giving up.

Her eyes darted as she plotted: tomorrow, as soon as she got out of the car, she’d dash into the office building—if she moved fast enough, no one would notice her, right?

Yaobao wasn’t sure.

Gu Zhihang smiled.

Silly sister—her face was so readable. How could he ever relax?

If he didn’t make sure Yaobao was properly taken care of, he couldn’t even focus on his business in Haicheng. Tsk.

As it turned out, Gu Zhihang’s high-profile drop-off of Yaobao to work had been effective—