Lin Guixiang didn't understand much about fixing phones either, so she didn't ask much more. Instead, she said, "Xiao Wu, you keep on with the repairs. I'm going to cook."
Lin Wu nodded slightly.
As the words fell, Lin Guixiang went to the kitchen to get busy.
Before long, Zhao Cuinong also got up to help.
By eleven in the morning, nearly all the guests the Lin Family had invited had arrived.
Each family in the village sent one or two representatives.
One family brought some eggs, another brought some fruit...
The villagers were simple and enthusiastic, never visiting empty-handed, no matter when they came over.
Everyone had thought that Lin Guixiang and her daughter were just inviting everyone over for a simple meal, but to their surprise, there was not only chicken, duck, fish, and meat but also beef, lamb, and seafood!
This clearly showed that the Lin Family was genuinely grateful and was not just going through the motions.
Shen Jinlan came too, and looking at Lin Guixiang and her daughter, she felt somewhat embarrassed.
Although she was a bit of a gossip, she wasn't so bad as to wish death upon someone. Having learned that Lin Guixiang attempted suicide by taking medicine, Shen Jinlan was terrified.
If Lin Guixiang had died, she would never have been able to live with herself!
Hesitating for a moment, Shen Jinlan approached Lin Guixiang, "Mother Xiao Wu, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you before. I promise I won't speak ill of you ever again!"
With Shen Jinlan taking the initiative to apologize, Lin Guixiang naturally gave her a way to step down, "Jinlan, it's all in the past."
Hearing Lin Guixiang's words, Shen Jinlan was overjoyed, "Guixiang, I knew you were magnanimous and wouldn't hold a grudge against me."
The meal went down with everyone in high spirits.
Evening.
The whole family sat together chatting.
Lin Bingqiang said, "Big sister, once we get to Qing City, you should start a business, do some small trade."
Start a business?
Do some trade?
Lin Guixiang frowned slightly, "How would I know how to do business!"
Lin Bingqiang said with a smile, "Start with a small business and then expand slowly."
Lin Guixiang still shook her head; she didn't know a single character, how was she supposed to do business?
Finding a job washing dishes or sweeping floors in the city would be more like it.
Lin Bingqiang looked at Lin Guixiang and continued, "Big sister, although you may not know how to do business, you have Xiao Wu! Xiao Wu is young; she knows what young people like these days! Plus, Xiao Wu has missed too many classes in the third year of high school. It might be better for her to take half a year off, help you with the business during the first half of the year, and then continue with her final year after the summer break ends."
Lin Bingqiang was a bona fide university graduate, now a key member of his workplace with a high salary, and he had both a car and a house to his name.
For his age, he was considered highly educated.
After all, many people his age had only finished elementary or middle school.
Therefore, Lin Guixiang trusted her brother a lot.
If this had come from Lin Wu's mouth, Lin Guixiang would have opposed it strongly.
But coming from her brother, she didn't object immediately, instead she said, "Won't this affect her studies? And besides, what does a child know about doing business?"
"Young people these days catch on to new things quickly, not like back in our day."
"What kind of business would we do, then?" Lin Guixiang continued to ask.
"Sell skincare products." Lin Bingqiang said with a smile: "The skincare industry is so hot right now. As long as the product is effective, it will definitely be popular! And if it's popular, making money won't be a problem!"
Skincare products?
Lin Guixiang paused, "But we have no idea about the channels for sourcing skincare products."
And mass-produced skincare products were essentially the same in terms of effects.
Whether they could be sold was another matter.
"No need to source products, we have Xiao Wu, right? Let her teach you."
Upon hearing this, Lin Guixiang's eyes widened.
Zhao Cuinong also looked completely baffled.
Lin Wu teaching Lin Guixiang skincare products?
How come she didn't know that Lin Wu could make skincare products?
Has Lin Bingqiang lost his mind?
Skincare products can go wrong and ruin someone's face, and there could be legal consequences.
Lin Bingqiang spoke calmly, "Didn't Xiao Wu learn traditional Chinese medicine from Old Master Zhou for a while? The principles of plant-based skincare overlap with pharmacology. We'll just go to Qing City to register a trademark, and then apply for a business license, a health permit, and a production license, and that should do it."
Applying for these certificates wasn't hard.
What was difficult was the skincare product's manufacturing process and its effectiveness.
Who would buy a skincare product with no effects whatsoever?
Lin Bingqiang didn't really believe that Lin Wu could pull this off, but now that he had promised her, he had to persuade his sister and couldn't go back on his word.
Saying this, Lin Bingqiang continued, "Big sister, you can't stay in the village forever!"
Lin Guixiang looked at Lin Wu, her uncertainty evident as she asked, "Xiao Wu, can you make skincare products?"
Her daughter had studied traditional medicine with a local TCM practitioner for some time.
But traditional medicine and skincare products were supposed to be two different things, right?
"I can," Lin Wu replied with a smile. "Anyone who has studied chemistry knows that the principle of skincare products is very simple. As long as we understand the effects of plants, we can make good products. Mom, don't worry, I'm not reckless. Look, uncle supports me so much, please just trust me this once!"
Lin Bingqiang nodded in agreement.
After much persuasion from the two of them, Lin Guixiang reluctantly agreed to give it a try.
The conversation ended.
When they returned to their room, Zhao Cuinong berated Lin Bingqiang angrily, "You're as foolish as Xiao Wu! She's so young. What if she loses money in the business? Then she will have neither a good education nor any money left! There would be nowhere to cry!"
Out of respect for her husband, Zhao Cuinong had been holding back until now.
Lin Bingqiang hadn't come to his senses when his wife started scolding him fiercely.
Zhao Cuinong was genuinely furious.
Starting a business?
Making skincare products?
What did Lin Wu, a child, know about starting a business?
Yet Lin Bingqiang, her uncle, was supporting Lin Wu all the way.
What made Zhao Cuinong even angrier was that her husband hadn't discussed it with her beforehand.
"Do you even have a brain?" Zhao Cuinong pointed at Lin Bingqiang.
Lin Bingqiang was silent, letting his wife vent her anger.
After she had calmed down, he looked at her with a smile, "Cui Nong, you've said what I understand, and I know why you're angry. But have you thought about why I would support Xiao Wu in dropping out to start a business?"
"Because you're an idiot!" Zhao Cuinong retorted mercilessly.
Anyone with a bit of intelligence wouldn't do this kind of thing!
In a way, by agreeing to Lin Wu's business venture into skincare products, Lin Bingqiang acted as her guarantor. If the business failed, he would be held responsible!
But they had their own family to care for, their own lives to live!
Who would be responsible if things went wrong?
Lin Bingqiang wasn't angry either and continued, "Cui Nong, after so many years of marriage, don't you understand what kind of person I am? If I had no confidence whatsoever, would I support Xiao Wu?"
Although Lin Bingqiang had his doubts about Lin Wu, at times like this, he could only focus on getting his wife on his side.
Zhao Cuinong glared, her fists knocking on the table so hard that it made a loud sound, "Then tell me, what confidence do you have?"
Lin Bingqiang looked at his wife, "Cui Nong, Xiao Wu is actually a very thoughtful child. Her thinking ability and vision may even surpass those of us adults. I believe in her."