CHAPTER 488: CHAPTER 488: JUST TRICKING YOU

Gong Ruini didn’t care about Cai Meina’s dilemma. She hurriedly finished her breakfast and dashed outside. She wanted to see the place that might become their family’s temporary residence in the future.

Yesterday, because it was dark and she was extremely tired, she didn’t get a good look. Today, she insisted on taking a proper look around.

But before that, "Brother Guangran, how are the quails doing?" Gong Ruini remembered something very important.

Only now did she remember this, Zhao Guangran shrugged, "By the time you think of it, those quails would be dead."

At critical times, Gong Ruini was unreliable, "They’re all taken care of. I went to check today, and they’re in good spirits. I estimate that in a few more days, they’ll recover."

"Mm, in two weeks at most, we can start taking orders."

"Hopefully by next month, the quails will lay more eggs." Zhao Guangran rambled about his observations of the quails.

"Not bad, not bad." Gong Ruini thought it was lucky she brought some space water along to feed the quails, otherwise she really worried they would die this time.

After all, they had been jostled all the way into the city without proper rest, and their food was mediocre. Without the space water, who knows what would have happened.

"See, I told you I’d take good care of the quails along the way." Zhao Guangran was the most boastful, and when he set out, people doubted whether he’d accidentally kill the quails. It’s good that he persevered, with Gong Ruini’s support.

Watching the excited Zhao Guangran, Gong Ruini thought it best to let the kid boast a bit, avoiding attention herself. "Yes, you’re the hero," she said. Praising a bit more costs nothing.

After hearing Gong Ruini say a couple of nice words, Zhao Guangran was stunned when no further praise came, "That’s it?"

Is there more? Gong Ruini thought it was just a little thing, with Guangran contributing too. Did she need to heap more praise on him?

Playing dumb? Zhao Guangran was dissatisfied, "Aren’t you supposed to treat me to something delicious?"

When did she agree to this? Gong Ruini recalled and found no such promise.

"Oh, you’re tricking me!" Gong Ruini’s oblivious expression provoked Zhao Guangran, "You said there were delicious things in Beijing, and that once we got there, we could go eat together."

This, Gong Ruini admitted she had said. But the main issue is, "Did I promise to treat?"

"You said we’d go exploring together. Isn’t it your treat if you’re leading us?" To Zhao Guangran, whoever leads should pay.

Impossible, Gong Ruini was stunned. Zhao Guangran’s imagination was really running wild, "Mm-hmm, it’s okay. When I have money, I’ll take you out for shopping."

Since Zhao Guangran was imagining, she’d offer a blank check. Hmph, the kid was definitely trying to settle old scores. Hmph, even at such a young age, he thinks this much. His future girlfriend is really going to have a hard time.

After she has money? Zhao Guangran thought that when Gong Ruini sold the herbs and got money, she’d treat. After all, most money was invested in herbs, leaving them with little actually available.

With so little money, there’s no way to vent frustrations. Earlier, Zhao Guangran had tried to use Gong Ruini for fox faking a tiger’s might, but couldn’t truly regain face. Letting it go didn’t sit right with him.

Hmph, trying to unsettle her by turning the tables? Gong Ruini decided to let Zhao Guangran enjoy his triumphant moment; otherwise, he might be restless and lose sleep.

What Gong Ruini was thinking about now was the surrounding environment, "Is this all rural?"

Yesterday, sitting in the car, Gong Ruini couldn’t observe closely, but she did notice the area seemed to have a lot of farmland.

While this could make buying vegetables, eggs, and such easier, it also meant that if they wanted to do business, it might not succeed, or they might not get customers at all.

No customers, and all their preparations would be useless.

"It’s rural." Zhao Xuran had gotten up early to explore the vicinity, realizing Ni Zi’s business idea was bound to fail.

Ah, it’s rural. Initially, Gong Ruini was quite disappointed, as it affected their finances. But thinking further, she cheered up, "Then we can source vegetables from the villagers."

Not being from Beijing meant no ration tickets, and she didn’t fancy queueing early for vegetables—bad ones at that. Used to fresh produce and meats, Gong Ruini found it unsuitable.

After considering many solutions, she now found this path forward, though still uncertain in some parts.

"Actually, it makes raising chickens easier in the future." Zhao Xuran tried finding positives to comfort Gong Ruini.

That reason made sense, but did they plan to start a chicken farm?

Sure, chicken farming is profitable, but does it mean mobilizing the whole family?

Moreover, Gong Ruini really didn’t want to rely on others for livelihood—a discomforting thought indeed.

Also, would Hua Miaozhu be willing to do this kind of work?

Gong Ruini had observed that Hua Miaozhu had no liking for farm work back in the Northeast. Back then, there was ample labor at home, so missing a hand wasn’t an issue. But with Zhao Gang off studying, who would do the farm work?

Raising chickens wasn’t easy. Disease-free was fine, but disease was no joke.

"The educational environment here isn’t great either." More than anything, Zhao Xuran was concerned about the study environment, which seemed worse than the Northeast.

In rural areas, education quality is generally poor, even in Beijing.

"Ni Zi, how about we study in the city?" Zhao Xuran recalled their mom mentioning it before.

Ah, studying in Beijing? Gong Ruini wasn’t particular about where to study. If she couldn’t excel at this time, she’d rather smack her head against a tofu block.

"But can we enroll in Beijing schools?" Gong Ruini wasn’t sure which primary school Zhao Xuran would attend but assumed it wouldn’t be a bad one.

Jing Zhan’s father’s friend, Master Zhuge, would likely help. While helping Zhao Xuran and Zhao Guangran made sense, due to Jing Zhan’s father and the twins’ relationship, there was no connection between Gong siblings and Master Zhuge.

"How could we know without trying? And I think Grandpa Zhuge wouldn’t want two smart kids going to a terrible school," Zhao Xuran, having heard about Master Zhuge from his parents, believed him to be a reasonable person.

"I’m not sure about this." It’s not Gong Ruini being coy; she genuinely didn’t want to trouble Zhao Xuran.

"It’s fine. Tomorrow, we’ll visit Grandpa Zhuge and find out." Zhao Xuran insisted on trying. If it didn’t work, studying locally was acceptable. If his parents thrived in tough situations and made it to college, he’d carve his own path too.