Chapter 209: Complement Each Other

Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Complement Each Other

"This is great. With this storage bag, we can carry a lot more fish in one go, so we won’t have to come into the mountains as frequently. Now all we need to do is build a fish pond in Lihua Village and raise some fish there to avoid drawing attention. It’s a good thing you saved Old Shao and the others. All that commotion made our family famous overnight. Otherwise, the village wouldn’t have approved the land for our fish pond so quickly."

Seeing that Zhang Wei Qiang and Gu Nuan Nuan had truly taken his words to heart, Zhang Dazhuang was extremely gratified. At the same time, he sighed with deep emotion to Zhang Wei Qiang:

"Nuannuan’s luck is just incredible. Even Heaven’s favorite daughter couldn’t have it better than this. She didn’t just help you escape a disaster; she also brought our family the good fortune of being connected to the Shao family. When he heard we wanted to open a shop but hadn’t found a location, Mr. Shao’s old subordinate, Mr. Lu, immediately started looking out for us. He found us a great spot, not far from the supply and marketing cooperative. It’s a large space, the monthly rent is low, and he gave us a twenty-year contract. He even said if we have the money to buy the place later, all the rent we’ve paid will count toward the purchase price. He was so enthusiastic, it was impossible to refuse."

"He’s just really grateful to Uncle, Grandpa. If it weren’t for Uncle, think of the hatred their grandson would have brought upon them. It’s no exaggeration to say they escaped a disaster. So it’s understandable that they’re being so nice to our family."

Thinking of this, Gu Nuan Nuan couldn’t help but smile to herself. ’The Lu family really was a gift from the heavens.’

Although she and her uncle had saved the Shao family, and the Shao family was indeed powerful and influential, they lived far apart. The Shaos might be able to help in the future when their business grew, but for now, their help couldn’t compare to the immediate thoughtfulness of the Lu family. After all, the father of the brat who supposedly tried to snatch Shao Zhiheng’s military knife—nearly getting the Shao grandfather and grandson killed—was Lu Jianjun. He was considered a very capable man in their county. He happened to be away on business at the time. When he returned and found out what had happened, he and his father made another special trip to their home to express their sincere gratitude.

’It made sense. If anything had happened to Mr. Shao and his grandson, the Lu family would have been seen as the main culprits. Even if the Shao family was magnanimous enough not to blame them directly, their relationship could never be close again.’

The Shao family’s social standing was plain to see. The Lu family’s current success was largely due to the friendship between Old Sir Lu and Mr. Shao. If the two families grew distant, there was no way the Lu family would come out ahead. Even if the Shao family were broad-minded enough to let it go, what about Shao Zhiheng’s maternal grandparents?

’Heh. I don’t believe for a second that Shao Zhiheng’s maternal family would have just stood by and watched their daughter lose her only son. Would they really have accepted the loss of a grandson with such a bright future, someone who would have been a great asset to their family, just like that?’

Gu Nuan Nuan didn’t realize she was exactly right. In her previous life, she would have been too young to pay attention to such matters, but the Lu family had indeed suffered a sudden fall from grace. And just as she suspected, the ones who had struck out in hatred back then were none other than the young Shao Zhiheng’s maternal family.

"So, this means even heaven wants our Zhang family to prosper," Zhang Dazhuang sighed. "To think they just threw away a little lucky star like you. I wonder if your father and grandmother from the Gu Family will beat their chests in regret when they find out the truth one day?"

"Good fortune and good character go hand in hand. How could people with bad character be accompanied by good fortune?" Zhang Wei Qiang said with a smile, urging them on. "We should get going. We’ve been here too long. Look at the sky. If we don’t leave now, I don’t know if we’ll make it to our destination before dark."

"Let’s go, let’s go! Haha, we can talk as we walk." Zhang Dazhuang hurried to pack things up, but Zhang Wei Qiang beat him to it, sweeping everything into the larger storage bag in one go. Zhang Dazhuang slapped his own forehead and laughed. "Look at me. I almost forgot to use this wonderful thing."

His words made both Zhang Wei Qiang and Gu Nuan Nuan laugh. Gu Nuan Nuan said playfully, "You’re just not used to it, Grandpa. You’ll get used to it over time."

"It’s fine to get used to it, but not too used to it. If you get too comfortable and let something slip outside, it would be disastrous," Zhang Dazhuang warned them with a serious expression.

"We know," Gu Nuan Nuan replied with a smile. Zhang Wei Qiang also nodded. "Dad, you know us. What’s there to worry about?"

"Hehe, I’m just giving you a little reminder," Zhang Dazhuang said cheerfully.

The three of them walked through the mountain forest, feeling light and unburdened, their steps livelier than ever before. Along the way, Gu Nuan Nuan could finally let Cao Cao guide them openly, and she unceremoniously collected all the wild chickens and rabbits they came across. As for Cao Cao, having just received a large amount of energy, it was in an excellent mood. It was no longer obsessed with finding ways to delve deeper into the forest, or even traverse the entire mountain range, just to search everywhere for unknown sources of energy.

Instead, Cao Cao was now anxious to upgrade. But upgrading wasn’t something that could be done in a day or two. It couldn’t upgrade with peace of mind without first supervising Gu Nuan Nuan and guiding her safely through her Foundation Establishment.

Tossing the umpteenth rabbit they’d caught into the storage bag, Zhang Dazhuang couldn’t help but mutter, "It’s so strange. How did our luck get so good all of a sudden? Good thing we have a place to put all this. Otherwise, we’d just have to watch them get away."

"Maybe it’s because they know we have space for them, so they’re all just walking right into our trap." Zhang Wei Qiang exchanged a knowing look with Gu Nuan Nuan, and they both smiled. Just then, Zhang Dazhuang turned and saw their expressions. He immediately felt that something was off, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He stared at the two of them, his eyes filled with confusion.

’This is bad.’

Seeing that he had aroused suspicion, Zhang Wei Qiang quickly spoke to distract Zhang Dazhuang. "Dad, do you remember what Mr. Shao said when the Shao family came to our house and ate the wild fish from our Fish Spring?"

"Of course I remember. How could I forget? He said he’d never eaten such delicious fish in his entire life and that he felt comfortable all over after eating it." Zhang Dazhuang’s eyes narrowed in recollection, his attention successfully diverted. "Why do you bring that up all of a sudden?"

"Dad, then you must also remember Nuannuan’s idea to sell dried fish from the Fish Spring for a high price with nice packaging, right? To be honest, I thought she was being too fanciful back then. Who would buy dried fish at such a high price?" Zhang Wei Qiang laughed. "But after hearing what Mr. Shao said, I’m starting to think her idea has real potential. If we can actually sell the dried fish for a fortune like she said, then using the fish from the Fish Spring to make steamed buns would be a terrible waste, wouldn’t it?"