After returning to the restaurant from He County, Cheng Su immediately opened the foam box containing the pineapples and proceeded to check them one by one. As expected, there was some spoilage. She quickly soaked them in salt water and reprocessed them to prevent further damage.
This time could be overlooked, but if she were to make jam again, there would be no need to go back to He County. Instead, Sister Wang and her people would send them over, though she still needed to hire more hands on her own side.
Pushing these assorted thoughts aside, Cheng Su began making pineapple jam with the current batch.
As the sky grew dark, Qi Taiguo arrived.
"Sorry, I was so busy that I completely lost track of time," Cheng Su apologized first upon seeing the sinking sun, realizing she had been too engrossed in her work.
Looking at her weary face, Qi Taiguo felt a pang in his heart and said, "You know you canāt get fat with one bite. Donāt you know to rest a bit before carrying on with your work slowly?"
"Theyāre in a hurry, how can I slow down?" Cheng Su said with a smile. "Since youāre here, why donāt we just cook and eat here? But Iām not sure if thereās still any vegetables left to buy outside?"
"Sit down for a while. Iāll go out and buy some," Qi Taiguo insisted as he frowned at her. "Look at the state of your face, go and wash it. Itās terribly ugly."
Cheng Suās smile bloomed like a flower. "My husband is the most caring!"
Qi Taiguo gave her a stern look and, grabbing the money, headed to the farmersā market she had pointed to.
By the time he returned with the groceries, Cheng Su had quickly cooked them up. After their meal, they worked together to make the jam, hand in hand, until the moon was high in the sky before heading home.
On the way, Cheng Su told Qi Taiguo about the business opportunity she had discussed at the Wang Familyās house that day.
"If I werenāt so busy, Iād really like to get involved," Cheng Su said, eager to jump in.
Qi Taiguo tapped her on the head and said, "It seems youāve fallen into a pile of money, one idea leads to another without rest."
Cheng Su chuckled, "But itās a business that makes money. Who would think they have too much money?"
"You sure act like youāre guaranteed to make money!" Qi Taiguo said, giving her a sidelong glance.
Cheng Su then repeated the argument she had made that day: "Itās not like the old days now. Private enterprises are likely to make money, nine out of ten. With the current reforms, opportunities are everywhere. Iām telling you, Iām now set on making money. Once we have it, weāll buy houses, buy lots of land, and become landlords."
"Youāre thinking of buying land and becoming a landlord? Arenāt you afraid of being denounced?" Qi Taiguo raised an eyebrow.
Cheng Su nodded and said with disdain, "Thatās because youāre stuck in the old days. What era do you think weāre living in? Who denounces landlords anymore? Iām telling you, in the future, landlords will be envied by everyone."
Thinking of future house prices, her eyes gleamed brightly. This was just Qing City, but what about places like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou? If she owned land there, wouldnāt she strike it rich?
If she were to buy several plots of land in those areas, she truly would be wealthy. Their children could then benefit as the ādemolition second generationā, already having a head start with such capital.
And letās not even start on the courtyard houses in the Capital; no matter what, the land was worth its weight in gold.
Cheng Su licked her lips, utterly lost in her fantasies.
Seeing her nearly drooling, Qi Taiguo couldnāt help but laugh, yet he also found it odd. She seemed so certain. Could she really make a fortune?
"You and your money," he joked with her. "All you think and see is money, how worldly!"
Cheng Su glared at him and reached out to pinch him: "So what if Iām worldly? I enjoy being tainted with the smell of copper. Itās none of your business."
Qi Taiguo laughed heartily as he dodged, and the two chased each other down the street, their laughter filling the air.