Chapter 522: Chapter 522: Playing Dumb?
Gu Jinli listened and asked, "Do you want to buy the Fugui Building?"
Qi Kangle nodded, "Yes. Ever since the Zou family got into trouble and the Fugui Building was seized, I’ve wanted to buy it. My mother worked as a chef in the Li Family, and I’ve learned quite a lot of dishes from her, including those exquisite dishes favored by wealthy households... I’ve also learned property management from following the young lady of the Li Family, so I have some understanding of managing businesses. Buying and operating a restaurant with my parents and you all providing guidance should be feasible."
Gu Jinli looked at Qi Kangle, whose eyes carried a trace of nervousness and eagerness; it was clear that she really wanted to buy the Fugui Building in town to own a property of her own.
But...
"Cousin Le, running a restaurant isn’t an easy task. It’s not just about cooking; you also need to handle purchasing, attending to customers, dealing with clerks and government officials from Si Li Square. And if your business does well and sparks jealousy, you’ll need to deal with all sorts of schemes from your competitors." Gu Jinli wasn’t trying to discourage Qi Kangle but wanted her to understand that running a restaurant wasn’t simple. She had to be prepared to face any difficulties if she wanted to proceed.
Qi Kangle’s nervousness intensified, but she didn’t want to give up and said firmly, "Xiao Yu, I’ve thought about all of that. I can handle it, don’t worry."
Gu Jinli asked her, "Cousin Le, are you thinking of buying the Fugui Building so you can establish your own household in the future?"
Ever since she was rescued from Yingxian Square, Qi Kangle had been considering the idea of not marrying and establishing her own female household.
Without denying it, Qi Kangle nodded and said, "Yes, I don’t really want to marry... But I can’t rely on my parents and brothers for my whole life; I must have my own property to be truly independent."
After speaking, she hesitantly asked Gu Jinli, "Xiao Yu, don’t you think my ideas are... unconventional?"
Gu Jinli shook her head and smiled, "Not at all. But this is a big decision; Cousin Le, you should discuss it with Aunt Daya and Uncle first."
Worried that Qi Kangle might feel disheartened, believing Gu Jinli wouldn’t support her, she promised, "Whether Aunt Daya and Uncle agree or not, I will buy the Fugui Building in town. If Aunt agrees with you running a restaurant, we can partner up. If not, I’ll rent it out. Either way, we won’t lose money."
Although she only wanted to manage her pharmaceutical workshop, owning more properties was never unwelcome, and buying it meant it would be hers.
Hearing this, Qi Kangle was very grateful to Gu Jinli, her eyes turning red as she said, "Xiao Yu, thank you."
She guessed that probably only Xiao Yu would support her in such a matter.
Luo Huiniang had been listening quietly and became more furrowed with concern, reminding Qi Kangle, "Sister Le, you’d better bring it up when Aunt Daya is in a good mood, otherwise you’re sure to be scolded."
If she dared to have such thoughts, she would surely be beaten by her mother.
Qi Kangle laughed upon hearing this, "If I can open a restaurant, I don’t mind if my mother scolds me."
Gu Jinxiu was sitting outside the main house, embroidering in the light, and saw Qi Kangle looking quite worried. She comforted her, saying, "Aunt loves Cousin Le the most. As long as you talk to her nicely, Aunt might be angry at first but will eventually agree."
Hearing this, Qi Kangle felt somewhat relieved. After discussing the matter, she took the spice packets prepared by Gu Jinli and went home.
Luo Wu had been sitting in the courtyard the whole time. After they finished talking, he couldn’t help but say to Gu Jinxiu, "Sister Xiu, I’m a bit hungry. Is there anything to eat at home?"
Usually, whenever he visited, she would give him something to eat, but this time it hadn’t happened, and Luo Wu was feeling a bit anxious.
Gu Jinxiu replied, "There’s some crystal cake made by Xiao Yu in the kitchen; it’s sweet. I’ll go get some for you."
Brother Luo Wu wasn’t very fond of sweets.
Luo Huiniang hastily said, "Sister Xiu, I want some too. Get some extra, I like sweet things."
Gu Jinxiu smiled: "There are still over a dozen pieces left, enough for you all to eat."
She stood up and went to the kitchen to get something. Luo Wu watched her figure, then glanced back at Gu Jinli in the main hall, hesitated for a moment, and followed her to the kitchen.
Gu Jinli narrowed her eyes; Luo Wu was getting bolder, even daring to follow her sister to the kitchen to be alone with her.
However, she didn’t follow them to keep an eye on them; she had heard her parents discussing her eldest sister’s marriage prospects.
Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui have always favored Luo Wu as a son-in-law. After the incident with Gu Yumei and the Wan family, besides being scared, they were even more convinced about choosing Luo Wu as a son-in-law. They thought it would be better to marry Gu Jinxiu to a family they were familiar with rather than to a stranger’s household.
Seeing the situation, Luo Huiniang commented, "Sister Xiu is so reserved, I don’t know why my brother is so keen on following her around."
Such a young girl, untouched by romantic feelings, could not understand her elder brother’s thoughts.
In the kitchen, Luo Wu helped Gu Jinxiu serve soy milk, but his eyes stayed on her. He said to her, "Sister Xiu, I got promoted to squad leader today, and now I have thirty government officials under my command."
Gu Jinxiu was very happy to hear that, she raised her head and smiled at him: "That’s great news. With Brother Luo Wu’s capabilities, you’ll surely get promoted again in the future."
During the conversation, she noticed the injury on Luo Wu’s face and asked, "Brother Luo Wu, what happened to your face?"
Luo Wu was delighted, she finally noticed the injury on his face. Touching the wound caused by Squad Leader Zhu, he smiled and replied, "I got hit while capturing someone, it’s nothing, you don’t have to worry."
He just wanted Sister Xiu to show some concern for him and did not want her to worry, so he changed the subject: "I plan to buy a house and a shop in the county. The house will be for living, and the shop can be rented out to collect some rent money every month to help with household expenses."
As he said this, he looked at Gu Jinxiu a bit nervously and asked, "What do you think? What kind of house do you like?"
Gu Jinxiu replied, "Since you work at the county government, having a house and a shop there is of course good."
As for what kind of house she liked, she didn’t say. After serving the soy milk, she carried out the crystal cakes and soy milk from the kitchen.
Luo Wu was not too disappointed.
Being able to be alone with Sister Xiu for a while, and receiving a few words of her concern, made him very happy. After eating the crystal cakes with Luo Huiniang, he took her and went back home.
After seeing the siblings out of the yard, Gu Jinxiu went back to continue her embroidery work.
Gu Jinli was looking at the medical book given by Master Hu. After a while, she approached and said, "Sister."
Gu Jinxiu paused with her embroidery needle in hand and looked up: "Hmm? What is it?"
Gu Jinli thought for a moment but still didn’t ask what she had on her mind, and shook her head, "Nothing, just calling you for no reason."
Ms. Chu did not understand why, but no one had come to their home to propose marriage yet. It might be better to not awaken Gu Jinxiu’s awareness, to prevent her elder sister from giving her heart away prematurely.
But...
Once again, she looked at Gu Jinxiu. Did her elder sister really not understand Luo Wu’s feelings? Even Luo Huiniang could see that Luo Wu liked being around her.
Gu Jinli’s heart itched with curiosity, she couldn’t help but ask Gu Jinxiu: "Sister, are you pretending to be clueless?"