"Why are you drunk again? Didn't we agree you'd come home to help Yan Yan and Hao Hao with their homework today?"
Shen Xue looked at Chen Yang, who reeked of alcohol, with a sense of helplessness. She wasn't highly educated and, although she had learned some things from Chen Yang, she felt her foundation was too weak and feared she might teach the children incorrectly.
"Li Yong is back in Shanghai today, and Zhang Qun and Hou Yong are accompanying him. It was hard to refuse."
"Besides, isn't Er Ni at home? She can help them with their homework."
Shen Rong and Shen Pandi had just graduated this year. Shen Pandi was continuing her studies at Tsinghua University for her postgraduate degree, while Shen Rong wanted to go abroad to study and explore.
Chen Yang supported both Shen Pandi's and Shen Rong's choices. Shen Pandi's learning ability was very strong. Although Tsinghua University admitted very few postgraduate students in this era, Shen Pandi had still managed to get in based on her own merit.
Shen Rong's learning ability was naturally a little weaker. However, Chen Yang had his own channels to send her to study postgraduate at Hong Kong University. Given how much he had donated to HKU, arranging for someone to pursue postgraduate studies was merely a matter of a word.
"That girl Er Ni has been out and about these days. She has a few friends from Shanghai and hasn't been home. She leaves early in the morning and doesn't get back until late at night."
"You all have your own things to do. I can't be bothered to manage. I'll have Xiao Meng go to Fudan later to find a university student to tutor them."
Shen Xue simply gave up on the discussion. Xiao Meng was a new secretary Chen Yang had hired, a top student from Fudan. Over the years, Zhen Hua Electrical Appliance Factory's scale had continuously expanded, and the number of university students they recruited had also increased.
Shen Xue greatly respected intellectuals and remembered all the university students Zhen Hua had hired.
"Alright, I'll have Xiao Meng come over tomorrow. You can tell her what you need."
"Oh, right. The children are in primary school now, and Peng Peng is in kindergarten. We also have a nanny at night, so you should also make time to study at the night school and strive to learn more cultural knowledge."
"You want to help Dad acquire Xuan Distillery. If you don't understand anything about future management, that won't do."
In recent years, Shen Xue hadn't just stayed home looking after the children. Chen Yang had also arranged for university students who studied economics to teach Shen Xue some financial knowledge.
He had even arranged for Shen Xue to attend some night classes to broaden her horizons.
After all, the family business was set to grow larger and larger. As the mistress of the house, even if Shen Xue didn't directly participate in enterprise management, she couldn't be completely ignorant. Otherwise, she wouldn't even know if she was being deceived by her subordinates.
"I study every day. I'm not a child who needs you to supervise me daily."
Shen Xue used a wet towel to wipe the sweat from Chen Yang's face while giving him a playful glare.
However, Shen Xue also knew that Chen Yang was doing this for her own good. As the family business grew bigger and bigger in the future, she couldn't remain completely ignorant.
Chen Yang took a shower, turned on the electric fan, and lay down with a sigh. When the weather got a bit hotter, he wondered if they could install an air conditioner at home.
Zhen Hua Electrical Appliance Factory had already started researching air conditioners. The outdoor units were frighteningly large, and they consumed a lot of electricity. With the current power grid, it wasn't something ordinary families could afford. These devices were much more expensive than televisions.
But there would always be rich people who could afford air conditioners. Although the gap between the rich and the poor wasn't as obvious as before, there were still quite a few wealthy individuals. The more expensive something was, the higher the profit margin.
Shen Xue watched Chen Yang, who had already fallen into a deep sleep. She helplessly went to the study outside, took out her textbooks, and began to study. He could sleep, but she still had to seize the time to learn. She couldn't fall too far behind him.
Having such a capable husband was also a burden. If she couldn't keep up with his pace, she would only be able to stay at home as a decorative piece, looking after the children, and being unable to help with anything. This was not what Shen Xue wanted.
"Sister, still studying?"
It wasn't until past nine o'clock when she heard the sound of the door opening that Shen Xue got up. She saw Shen Rong tiptoeing her way home.
"You know to come back? Look at yourself, a young lady, coming back so late every day. What are you always doing out?" Su Dan Novel Network
Shen Xue had no choice with her younger sister. Ever since she went to university, her mindset had completely liberated. If you tried to lecture her, she could come up with a pile of excuses to refute you.
"I went out to set up a street stall, Sister. Let me tell you, in just these few days, we've earned several hundred yuan selling bell-bottom pants."
"I estimate that by the time Brother-in-law takes me to study in Hong Kong, I'll be able to earn several thousand yuan."
Shen Rong puffed out her chest, clearly very proud.
Shen Xue looked at her younger sister's bizarrely dressed attire, wondering why young people today liked such clothes.
The wide flare of the trousers covered her shoes, and the floral shirt wasn't breathable at all. The colors were so chaotic they made one dizzy.
"What is that thing you're wearing on your head? It looks like a toad. Take it off quickly. It's so annoying to look at."
Shen Xue found Shen Rong's eccentric outfit unbearable, but her sister had gone to university and had her own ideas, so she couldn't control her anymore.
"Sister, you don't understand. This is called fashion."
"Let me tell you, these 'toad glasses' cost eight yuan a pair, and I had to use my connections to get them. These are new styles circulating from Hong Kong and are only sold in Shenzhen.
"With my whole outfit – bell-bottom pants, a floral shirt, these toad glasses, and a tape recorder with two cassettes – I can definitely charm a crowd."
Shen Rong didn't carry the tape recorder. After all, she was a girl, and carrying such a thing would be unladylike.
But one of the male classmates who set up the stall with them had a dual-cassette recorder. They would plug in a tape, play music, and dance the disco in the plaza, immediately attracting a large group of young people.
They used this to attract customers to buy clothes. Their outfits served as the best advertisements. Few young people could resist such trendy attire.
They could basically sell all the goods they brought in every day. Even if five or six people partnered up, each person could earn nearly a hundred yuan a day, which was equivalent to an ordinary person's monthly salary.
Yes, in 1983, wages had begun to rise. The data released by the Price Bureau indicated that many commodities had increased in price, and if wages didn't rise, workers wouldn't be able to afford to eat.
"I don't care about your business, just don't mess around outside. The family doesn't lack this little bit of money. Focus on your studies. Don't let your mind wander off, or you won't have any desire to study."
Shen Xue shook her head. Shen Rong had transformed from an ignorant village girl into someone as lively and cheerful as she was now, undoubtedly influenced by Chen Yang.
Her business ventures were also inevitably influenced by Chen Yang. However, Shen Xue always felt that as a young woman, it was better to focus on her studies first. Setting up street stalls and doing business was just something to experience for fun. It was better to finish school and find a proper job.