What?!
The sudden shift caught Zhu Meiqun and her husband off guard, completely swept up in Wen Dongrong’s rhythm.
Following their own logic, they thought Wen Ying’s family, having bought two houses and facing loan repayments, must be under significant pressure.
Zhu Meiqun and her husband knew Chen Ru had a decent income at the bank, though they couldn’t guess how much, and as for how much Wen Ying earned from her writing… Parents always felt they hadn’t given enough to their kids, so how could they let an unemployed daughter support the family?
Wen Dongrong’s salary was fixed, and his job’s nature was unique—pushing him to make big money would mean pushing him toward corruption!
The couple believed Wen Dongrong’s flimsy excuse without a second thought.
In an instant, Wen’s father’s ears flushed red.
He shot up, shaking the dining table.
“You’re under so much pressure, why didn’t you say earlier?”
The Wen family relied on Wen Dongrong as their backbone. He arranged jobs, found good schools for the younger generation, seeming almost omnipotent. Hearing their most capable brother cry poverty, Wen’s father, as the eldest, was beside himself with worry.
Not waiting for Wen Dongrong to respond, he turned to Zhu Meiqun, “How much savings do we have? Take it out to help Dongrong’s family!”
“About fifty thousand,” Zhu Meiqun answered honestly. “The passbook’s at home. I’ll bring it on the second day of the New Year.”
University tuition was paid yearly, and Wen Kai had already covered his first semester. After the winter break, he only needed living expenses.
Living costs were a few hundred a month, and there was no need to send a whole semester’s worth at once. With Zhu Meiqun’s stall income and Wen’s father’s wages, they could easily cover Wen Kai’s university expenses and household costs, so Zhu Meiqun revealed their savings without hesitation!
Such honest people.
Wen Ying was dumbfounded.
—Auntie’s only suited for small, labor-intensive businesses. With this honesty, any bigger venture would see her lose everything!
Deng Shangwei opened his mouth, playing along with his brother-in-law Wen Dongrong to trick the honest couple, and his conscience twinged.
Even a sharp mind like Wen Dongrong was momentarily stumped!
The plan was sound, and it should’ve worked, but some honest folks don’t follow the script, leaving clever people dumbfounded.
Wen Changlin caught on. What partnership? It was clearly Wen Dongrong wanting to subsidize his elder brother and sister-in-law, using the guise of a partnership to give them capital and a more profitable business.
With Wen Dongrong’s style, since he mentioned a “fruit” business, he’d likely already picked out the shop’s location!
Wen Changlin chimed in loudly, “Sister-in-law, how could Second Brother want your savings? Not that your savings are small, but as the saying goes, better to teach a man to fish than give him a fish. Second Brother needs steady income, not a loan that only solves short-term problems. Partnering with him solves his money issues at the root, letting him focus on advancing at work!”
From having nothing to settling in a small city and funding a son’s education, fifty thousand was Zhu Meiqun and her husband’s entire savings.
When Wen Dongrong said he was short on money, the couple revealed their finances without hesitation. Wen Changlin didn’t mock their naivety; his heart warmed. If he were the one saying he was broke, they’d do the same!
With such family, how could life not turn out well?
Wen Changlin, with his insurance salesman’s eloquence, left Zhu Meiqun no room to argue.
There was an obvious flaw in the logic. If Wen Dongrong truly needed a business partner, Deng Shangwei was the better choice. In experience, vision, or capital, Zhu Meiqun was miles behind Deng Shangwei!
Wen Kai didn’t fall for it.
Young and sharp, he could see from the house’s furniture and appliances that Wen Dongrong wasn’t short on cash.
Chen Ru’s bank income, Wen Dongrong’s wages, Wen Ying’s royalties—a family of three earners wouldn’t care about a fruit shop!
Wen Kai stepped over from the coffee table, throat tight, “Second Uncle, you—”
You’ve already helped our family so much, no need to do more.
Wen Kai wanted to say this, but Wen Dongrong cut him off, “What, afraid I’ll take advantage of your family?”
Of course not!
Wen Kai’s eyes reddened.
Zhu Meiqun panicked, “How could your Second Uncle take advantage? This child!”
Flustered to defend her son, Zhu Meiqun nearly agreed on the spot. Wen’s father, uneasy, said, “Dongrong, can a fruit business make money? Losing our money is fine, but I’m scared of losing yours. We really have no experience!”
Honest Wen’s father was already considering the partnership’s feasibility.
Wen Dongrong wouldn’t harm his elder brother. If it was just Zhu Meiqun and her husband doing it alone, he’d have agreed instantly.
But Wen Dongrong’s partnership proposal made him nervous.
Losing their own money was okay, but losing Wen Dongrong’s was not.
Wen Ying facepalmed: Uncle and Auntie’s kind of honesty was practically extinct. Successful entrepreneurs rarely risked their own money—they used investors’ funds!
The honest couple was nearly swayed, and Wen Ying wondered if she should help Old Wen’s pitch when Chen Ru, silent until now, spoke up, “If it loses, it loses. How do you know without trying? If you’re scared of losing, why quit the factory, Sister-in-law? A job’s steady, unlike business!”
Chen Ru’s gaze met Zhu Meiqun’s, and Zhu Meiqun jolted.
Right, if she feared losses, why not stay at the factory?
Coming to Chengdu was for a better life.
A better life required risks, like Deng Shangwei and Chen Li once took.
Blood rushed to Zhu Meiqun’s head. She turned to Wen Dongrong, “Can a fruit business work? Where would it open, and how much capital do we each need?”
No need for Wen Ying’s help—Zhu Meiqun had fallen into Old Wen’s trap.
Wen Dongrong, confident, said, “I’ve picked a few spots. If you’re set on it, Sister-in-law, we’ll check them out after the New Year. It won’t need much capital—your fifty thousand will more than cover it. We’re too busy to manage a fruit shop, so we’ll rely on you to run it. When profits come, you and Big Brother will take the bigger share!”
His business sense came from dinner table talks.
Those spouting business wisdom, like Qin Xianming and Wang Jun, could teach small business owners a masterclass. Their advice for a small venture was like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut!
