Chapter 1372: Sense of Crisis

Zhou Jiao glanced at them humorously, “Actually, skincare products are secondary. The key is we have a youthful mindset. It’s fine, but we should eat more fruit.”

“I believe that. Look at Aunt Shan, her mindset is indeed good. Even though she’s only a few years older than my mother-in-law, she looks like she’s from a different generation.”

“I’m covering all bases!”

“You’re amazing!”

“I have to hurry and take care of myself. I have a distant cousin abroad and recently reconnected with her. When she visited, she advised us sisters.”

“Catch the man?”

“Smart! She said it’s quite normal for rich men abroad to be surrounded by women. Just over on the other side, there are still second and third wives; the higher a man’s status, the more money he has, the more dangerous it is.”

Each of them is beautiful, and the men pamper them. Zhou Jiao didn’t know what they were in a hurry for. Beauty fades; how can a man be held on to only because of looks?

Also…

Her mother stays young not just because of mindset; her father is great, she’s great, and the bird’s nest and fish maw her mom has eaten could almost pile up into a mountain.

But is this the aftereffect of suddenly knowing her husband owns a large sum of money?

It really might be!

She’s quite sinful.

Look at how they each got scared!

The men are merrily chatting over there, and the women gathered together aren’t about to lose to them, tossing remarks left and right.

A simple skincare topic went from discussing men being surrounded by women, to gossiping about familiar people nearby. Some of the rumors made Zhou Jiao sigh silently.

They speak vividly, as if they have witnessed things firsthand, but who knows if it’s true? Listening to them, she almost felt the urge to verify.

Oh dear, she nearly got led astray!

“… Do you think too many tickets were printed? Last time I went, I couldn’t buy any goods. Later, I went to the Friendship Store.”

Listening to the endless chatter of these ladies, Zhang Guoqing and the five others were quite curious and signaled each other, carrying stools to sit beside their wives.

“… Printing too many tickets is impossible, unless someone wants to provoke the central authorities. This concerns national plans, so they’d dare not mess with production schedules.”

“Sister Mi makes a lot of sense. I guess the biggest issue lies in the population. You think of the time just after liberation, there were a few members in a family, and now it has grown to several members? All those extra mouths.”

“That’s why family planning is imperative. Don’t gossip behind their backs; this is a decision made after careful consideration from above, and we ordinary folk should follow it.

In essence, do as much as you can handle. If you can’t afford to raise children, then have fewer. If you have them, raise them well. Rather than raising them poorly, it’s better not to have them… Ow… Wife, why are you pinching me again?”

“What do you think?” Qi Meizhen pinched her husband’s thigh and glared at Wan Dayong, “Which of our families are raising crooked children?”

“Hehe, we aren’t, but there are plenty around us, aren’t there?” Wan Dayong placated with a cup of tea, “Wife, have some tea, you must be tired?”

This amused everyone and made them laugh out loud.

Wan Dayong glared and jokingly scolded, “What’s so funny? Are your teeth white or something! I am straightforward, unlike you hiding things and coaxing your wives secretly.”

“Indeed, Brother Dayong, even if the grapevine in the backyard collapsed, it was due to the northern wind. Bruised kneecaps, well, you banged them somewhere.”

“Sister Mi, your husband is provoking you!”

“Oh dear, sister-in-law, spare me, please! My wife’s claws are even sharper than yours.”

“Oh no, do I need to lend you an abacus first?”

“Sister Qi, do you have more abacuses?” Mi Li waved a fist at her husband Ding Datou, insisting the couple follows the same path, “I thought they were all worn out by Brother Dayong kneeling.”

“My silly sister-in-law, why are you so biased?”

Yi Jiefang chimed in slyly, “Indeed, why should women make it hard for women?”

“Go away! Stop adding fuel to the fire.” Ding Datou quickly patted his wife’s thigh, “Wife, you’re awesome! Even if you beat me up tonight, I won’t make a sound. Outside, one must take a clear stand.”

“Is this okay?”

Zhang Guoqing played with his wife’s small hand, cheerfully watching them banter. Exposed, huh? Besides durians, there’s actually an abacus.

It’s really eye-opening; a bunch of hen-pecked guys!

After dinner, night fell.

Leaving behind a messy table, the men were patting their stomachs and were about to pick up their wife’s coats.

Zhang Guoqing laughed in exasperation, “You haven’t discussed the business yet. You’re not planning to just come for a meal and then leave, are you?”

“Ah? More business? Didn’t we discuss it all afternoon?”

“What is there to discuss? My sister can handle it.”

“Anyway, we’re following your couple; whatever you decide, we do. If we lose everything, even better; we’ll enjoy your hospitality after we retire, living the good life.”

“That’s a nice thought!”

“Of course, or why would we have wanted to buy a house next to yours back then?”

Zhang Guoqing rolled his eyes wordlessly, “Stop with the nonsense, let’s move to the study room first.”

“Brother Wu, truly no need, it’s not just them thinking so; we also trust Jiao Jiao. We are aware of our capacities. When it comes to big matters, it must be her choice!”

“Yes, Jiao Jiao has the final say.”

Zhou Jiao quickly pulled them back, “Even if you trust me, I should still report the accounts to you, right? Come with me; one person’s plan is short, but two people’s plan is long, and three people’s plan is proper.”

“Oh dear, haven’t I already mentioned the rough numbers? I get a headache when I see numbers.”

“You know my math is the worst too?”

“Oh Jiao Jiao, you were the top across all subjects back then, the top talent girl among Eight Great Colleges; can’t you spare me? Have mercy, my brain really can’t handle it.”

“Stop using flattery, stop forcing hats upon me.” Zhou Jiao chuckled and rolled her eyes at them, but she still had to help them along as she pulled them.

How many relatives have become enemies over money?

Since it started well, she prefers being frank with family about finances, making clear divisions.

In the front yard study, once they were seated, Zhou Jiao handed out the four organized accounts, one for each couple, “One for everyone, as a keepsake.”

Then, without waiting for their response, she decisively moved on to the main topic, since they have a knack for diverging the conversation.

She indeed followed Zhang Guoqing’s decision and laid out the next steps entirely. Of course, she couldn’t be completely open about everything.

For instance, the future markets they will target; apart from continuing financial investments, she can’t tell them the exact targets upfront. Risks must be assessed first; all her funds must be in the market.

Also, she could already anticipate how much profit they could reap in the future, but would her mouth spill the truth? Not even to her own father would she dare to give a definite answer.

Regarding investment risks, Zhou Jiao intensified her tone after Zhang Guoqing’s previous exaggerations.

Friendship is friendship, but she wanted to test Qi Meizhen and the four others’ attitudes.

No free dinner in this world.