Song Nianchu returned to Qinghe Fishing Village and first brought two large bags of glass jars back home.
"Big sister, what are these?" Mu Haoxuan curiously leaned in.
"These are very important. Keep an eye on them for me. I have some business to take care of and will be back later," Song Nianchu instructed Mu Haoxuan and Mu Yongnian.
"Got it! I’ll guard them for you!" Mu Haoxuan nodded emphatically.
Only then did Song Nianchu turn and leave.
It happened to be midday, just as everyone was finishing work. Song Nianchu headed straight to Wu Zhenggui’s house.
Wu Zhenggui was washing his hands in the yard.
"Uncle Zhenggui," Song Nianchu called out.
"Nianchu! I was just about to look for you—didn’t expect you’d come first," Wu Zhenggui stood up, grinning at her.
"I came to see you as soon as I got back," Song Nianchu replied calmly.
"Let’s talk inside." Wu Zhenggui knew she must have something important to discuss. After drying his hands, he led her into an inner room.
The rest of the Wu family were resting in the yard, unfazed by the sight. Song Nianchu wasn’t like the other girls in the village—her strength matched several men’s, so Wu Zhenggui often entrusted her with tasks.
Once the door was closed, Wu Zhenggui turned to her.
"Nianchu, what did Manager Li say?" His voice carried a hint of tension.
It was already the third day. Song Nianchu had previously told him that Manager Li had only committed to a three-day trial—today would determine whether the deal would go through.
"It’s done!" Song Nianchu declared firmly.
"Really?!" Wu Zhenggui’s voice trembled with excitement.
"Yes. And the order increased from twenty portions to thirty, with two additional varieties—totaling sixty portions," Song Nianchu explained.
"Si… sixty portions? How much will we earn from that?" Wu Zhenggui felt his mind spinning.
"We make three mao per portion, so eighteen kuai a day," Song Nianchu said with a smile.
"You mean… eighteen kuai… per day?!" Wu Zhenggui’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Exactly. Eighteen kuai a day."
"This… Nianchu, pinch me. Am I dreaming?" Wu Zhenggui shakily held out his arm.
Amused, Song Nianchu gave it a light pinch.
"Ow! So it’s real?!" He sucked in a sharp breath.
"Of course. And Manager Li and I also came up with something new." She then explained the canned goods venture.
"If the canned food business takes off, it could be even more profitable than supplying pre-made dishes to the state-run restaurant. Eventually, we could distribute to other places—like the supply and marketing cooperative. And if we think bigger, we could even sell to other provinces, or overseas." Once she started talking business, Song Nianchu couldn’t help but elaborate.
"Stuff from our little fishing village… sold overseas?" Wu Zhenggui felt his worldview expanding.
"Of course! Our country already trades with others. If we make a quality product, anything’s possible." She wanted to plant that seed in his mind.
"That… overseas is too far off. Let’s focus on Qinghe County first." Wu Zhenggui had spent his whole life farming—he’d never even left the county, let alone imagined the world beyond.
"One step at a time." Song Nianchu admired people of this era—their simplicity, their diligence, their belief in hard work.
That was why she wanted to help them.
She had been born into a prosperous, peaceful era—one built by generations like theirs, brick by brick.
Now that she was here, she hoped to contribute too.
Naturally, their success would mean a better life for her as well.
"So, what’s next?" Wu Zhenggui’s eyes burned with anticipation.
"With Manager Li’s larger order, I think we should set up a dedicated workshop in the village—recruit some skilled cooks to help." Song Nianchu laid out her plan.
She didn’t yet have the funds for a full factory, so a small workshop would have to do.
"What’s a… workshop?" Wu Zhenggui looked puzzled.
"Like a small factory—just with fewer people and space," she clarified.
"Ah." He nodded. "You’ve learned a lot from Manager Li this past year."
Song Nianchu paused, then smiled.
"Yes, he’s taught me plenty." She’d been worried about explaining her knowledge, but Wu Zhenggui had handed her the perfect excuse.
From now on, she’d use that answer.
"But how do we set up this… workshop?" Wu Zhenggui steered the conversation back.
"If we’re doing collective production, we’ll need a communal space for cooking and canning." After deciding on the product, the next step was securing a location.
"Where do you think would work?" Wu Zhenggui pondered but couldn’t pinpoint a spot.
"Is there any unused space near the village office? For now, we don’t need much—just enough for cooking."
"There is, but aside from the room where the record-keeper stays, the rest hasn’t been maintained."
The so-called village office was just a dilapidated old building.
"That’s fine. We’ll tidy it up first and renovate properly once we start earning." Song Nianchu understood the village’s limitations.
"Then it’s settled. I’ll have someone clean it up later." Wu Zhenggui agreed.
"Good. Next, we’ll need to choose who’ll help." With the location decided, it was time to hire.
"How many people? Any candidates?" Wu Zhenggui deferred to her judgment—after all, she’d secured the deal.
"Five for now. If Manager Li increases orders later, we’ll add more. As for who… I think Aunt Wu and Sister Ahua would be perfect."
Aunt Wu was Wu Zhenggui’s wife, who had always looked out for Song Nianchu.
Sister Ahua, his eldest daughter-in-law, was efficient and sharp-witted.
"Out of five, two from our family? That wouldn’t sit right. Let’s just have Ahua join." Wu Zhenggui shook his head.
As village head, he couldn’t risk accusations of favoritism.
