Stepmother Reborn: Dad, my mom hasn't hit me for three days

Ergou's voice was a little dry, "Godmother, do you know everything?"

No wonder his godmother was so weird when he came back this time. It turned out that she knew that he and Baolin were dating.

Zhang Xiuhua snorted, folded her arms and looked at him quietly.

Ergou was unsure of her attitude. Although his godmother had always been very kind to him, there was still a difference between a godson and a son-in-law. If his godmother did not agree with him being with Baolin, his marriage to Baolin would definitely be in jeopardy. He hurriedly explained, "Godmother, I didn't hide it from you on purpose. I was just worried that everyone in the village would know about it. If Baolin got tired of us and we separated, the rumors would not be good. She might mind this if she has a boyfriend again."

Zhang Xiuhua's frown could kill a fly. She thought the two kids were enjoying the secret feeling by hiding it from everyone, but it didn't sound right. "What do you mean? You are not serious about Baolin?"

Normal people think about what will happen after marriage when they are dating. But he is thinking about what will happen after the breakup. This is clearly not the intention of growing old together.

Ergou shook his head, "Of course I am serious. But Baolin has always been quick to react to things since she was a child. I'm afraid she will get bored."

He felt a little inferior to Baolin because Baolin was good-looking and a world champion. He was not good-looking and had a low level of education. He had some money, but it was not as rich as those suitors of Baolin.

Zhang Xiuhua's frown finally relaxed. So that's how it was. She sighed, "Don't worry. Baolin is casual about most things, but when she gets serious, she will always like it. Look, she likes ice skating. She fell so many times, but she still likes it! You may be the same as ice skating."

Baolin is passionate, and will immediately fight for something she likes. But this passion comes and goes quickly. She and Jilin have completely opposite personalities. Zhang Xiuhua didn't let Baolin go to the sports team to train early because she was unstable and she was afraid that she would not like it after training for a while, which would delay her college entrance examination. Who would have thought that Baolin has persisted until now?

Ergou's eyes lit up instantly, and the corners of his mouth turned up, "Really?"

Zhang Xiuhua didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Are you so unconfident? This is not like you!"

Ergou scratched his head, "This is different. I was facing the villagers before, so of course I was confident. But now I'm facing Baolin. She's too good!"

He still couldn't believe that Baolin liked him. It felt like pie in the sky.

Zhang Xiuhua smiled and wanted to suggest that they get married and have children later. But Ergou said first, "She is still in her career stage, I want to get married later. She should focus on her career first. When she retires, I can let her take on advertisements and become an artist."

Zhang Xiuhua was stunned, "Be an actor?"

It's not that she doesn't think highly of Baolin, but this kid doesn't know how to hide his thoughts. Acting requires acting skills, and Baolin doesn't have this talent.

"No! I'm an artist who only works in advertisements, not acting." Ergou has helped Baolin make career plans. It's a bit difficult to open an ice rink. Because the land may not be approved, and even if it is approved, it may not be built well. Ice skating is an unpopular sport. The national team does not have this sport. The public's acceptance is low, and there must be few people who apply. It's good enough to open an ice rink without losing money.

If Baolin wants to make money, she still has to use her celebrity effect, advertise, publish books, and serve as a commentator for the short track speed skating program.

Zhang Xiuhua understood, "As long as she is happy."

She asked Ergou, "Where are you taking Baolin to rest?"

"I took her to several southern cities to hang out. We are going to open a branch for the brewery." Ergou said with a smile, "She is usually busy with training. Even if she goes to Guangzhou for a competition, she doesn't have time to come out for a stroll. I took her around to have a look."

Zhang Xiuhua nodded. "Baolin has a bit of an eccentric personality and often has strange ideas. It will be very tiring for you to be with her."

Your own daughter knows herself. Ergou's previous worries were not groundless, because Baolin has always loved to play since she was a child. She especially likes new things and she must try them. If she gets stubborn, Ergou may not be able to resist.

Ergou has no conflicts for now. "I am usually busy with business and don't have time. Having her accompany me can make up for the shortfall."

Zhang Xiuhua patted him on the shoulder. When men and women are in the period of passionate love, they have filters for their partners and see everything good about each other, but after a long time, conflicts will emerge. Just like Youcai and Zhenzhen were in love when they first got married, but now they are quarreling.

Thinking of Youcai, Zhang Xiuhua mentioned that Youcai was going to study in France.

Ergou was also surprised when he heard this, "Do chefs have to study abroad too? Our country's cuisine is the best in the world."

Do we need to learn 5,000 years of food culture from other countries? You must be kidding.

Zhang Xiuhua explained, "He wants to learn Western cuisine."

Ergou asked how long it would take.

"About two years." Zhang Xiuhua sighed, "Zhenzhen is going to open a branch store, and his departure has disrupted her rhythm. When he came back for the Chinese New Year, the two of them were still having a quarrel."

"Brother Youcai has always wanted to be a chef. He doesn't have such an urgent desire to make money." Ergou still admires Youcai for this. He opened a clothing factory not because he loves clothing, but because he loves money. He is not like Youcai who has a pure passion for a certain industry.

After Ergou came back, he stayed at home for only two days before leaving. He had to go to Wenzhou for an inspection and did not have much time to stay at home.

Zhang Xiuhua went back to work and soon went to the capital again.

Jidong was not at home this time, so Zhang Xiuhua went to Xiangxiang's shopping mall after dinner. Half a month later, the mall had been completely closed and was undergoing rectification.

Jidong's renovation team was repainting it. Xiangxiang was talking to the renovation workers about her renovation plan, while Jidong was watching from the side.

When they saw Zhang Xiuhua coming, everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and greeted her.

Jidong came forward with a smile, "Aunt, why are you here?"

"I was bored at home, so I came to take a look." Zhang Xiuhua looked around. The decoration had changed drastically. "Have you found the brand?"

Xiang Xiang smiled and said, "I have already placed an advertisement in the newspaper. Originally I wanted to open it up to each store, but each store was unwilling to spend money on decoration. We were afraid that the business would be bad, so we made it an open-air model and let each store store its own goods."

Zhang Xiuhua saw from the outside that there were three floors, but at that time the mall had no elevator, so people could only walk up. She pointed upstairs and asked, "What are the second and third floors selling?"

"Women's clothing is sold on the second floor, and the third floor is temporarily used as a warehouse. It allows each store to stock up on goods." Because this shopping mall has no basement, she can only use the third floor as a warehouse.

Zhang Xiuhua nodded, "Very good."

Xiangxiang continued to discuss with the workers that marble tiles must be laid, and the size should preferably be 80*80, otherwise it would look ugly. The lights above the head should also be arranged in rows of LED lights, so that they would be bright.

The decorator nodded and agreed. "The lights are fine, but we can't get tiles this big. We can only find small tiles now, about the size of a palm."

"No! It's too ugly." Xiang Xiang quickly thought of a solution, "I know there are such tiles in the south, I will get them here. You can fix the water and electricity first."

Workers were dismantling the house, and dust was flying everywhere. Jidong brought Zhang Xiuhua out and said, "Aunt, it will take a long time here, you should go back first."

Zhang Xiuhua nodded, said hello to others and left the mall.

"The decoration is so luxurious, does Xiangxiang have enough money?"

Jidong nodded, "It's enough. She got the loan."

Zhang Xiuhua breathed a sigh of relief, "When will it be completed?"

"Two or three months?" Jidong said uncertainly, "She has a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder. She has to get it to her liking."

"It's really beautiful if it's decorated like she did, it's better than other houses. Maybe this place can become a commercial center." Zhang Xiuhua has also been to other shopping malls. Those shopping malls are similar to vegetable markets, with stalls crowded together, not to mention marble tiles, and they still use incandescent lamps.

She patted Jidong on the shoulder and was about to leave when Xiaoguo suddenly waved at Jidong from the opposite side. Seeing him gesticulating with joy, it was obvious that he had something important to say. However, it was just the time when the factory was getting off work and the driveway was full of bicycles, so he couldn't get through at all.

After waiting for the bicycle crowd to pass, Xiao Guo came running over and reported to Jidong urgently, "Boss Zhang, this is terrible! Something happened at An's house."

An Ge is Jidong’s classmate, the son of a second-generation official with a very wealthy background.

Jidong looked stern and asked him to speak slowly, "What's going on?"

"I was having dinner with An Ge at the restaurant, and a few police officers came and took An Ge away." Xiao Guo was also taken to the police station for questioning. "I heard that An Ge's father embezzled 100 million and fled abroad."

Zhang Xiuhua was shocked. This was 1990, and 2023 million at that time was equivalent to billion in . Good fellow, how bold, dare to take so much money!

Jidong suddenly thought of something and immediately grabbed Xiao Guo's shoulder, "Go find Aliang and the others right now and ask them to come over here and tell them to renovate the mall first."

Xiao Guo was slightly startled, "Don't we need so many people here?"

There was a ferocious look in Jidong's eyes. Xiao Guo was frightened. He nodded and ran away quickly.

Zhang Xiuhua looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

Jidong pursed his lips and said, "I may not get paid for the projects I have worked on since the beginning of the year."

Zhang Xiuhua's eyes widened. "You mean he embezzled the project funds?"

"It's very likely!" Jidong had previously taken on a demolition project and had received the money. But for the house construction project, he would have to wait until all the houses were built before he could get the money.

Zhang Xiuhua breathed a sigh of relief. "That's not bad. Less than two months. Not too long. So what are you going to do next?"

"Brother An has been arrested. I have no one to back me up, and I won't be able to get any government projects in the future. I'll start another business next." Jidong has no idea yet. "For now, I'll just take care of Xiangxiang's shopping mall."

Zhang Xiuhua was puzzled, "You can actually take on private projects, too?"

Government projects are good, but the risks are also high. If you take private projects, you will get paid quickly.

Jidong shook his head. "It's a private project. How can they afford to build houses? Real estate developers also need connections to buy land, but I don't have any now."

Zhang Xiuhua saw that he had already thought about this problem, so she had to give up. She thought about it and made another suggestion, "Actually, I think you can do what you are best at. You don't have to do this kind of project."

Jidong wondered, "What am I good at?"

"Aren't you studying aerospace?" Zhang Xiuhua said with a smile, "You forgot that I bought you a model airplane before. Actually, you can also develop in this field."

"Toys?" Jidong was actually a little tempted, "Then I need to think about it carefully."

It costs a lot of money to import toy production lines from abroad. He doesn't have much money, so it's a bit difficult. But if he works as a OEM for foreign companies like Ergou, he should be able to borrow a lot of money from the bank with such a large order. This is called borrowing chickens to lay eggs!