Reborn in the 1980s: I became a stepmother in the 1980s Ⅱ

Part 247 Visiting an old man

The others laughed, "Well, you're the only one here who can cook!"

"Yeah, I heard you're a pro at it."

"Your family runs a restaurant, right, Yu Dong? When are you taking us to enjoy a meal?"

"Get lost," Yu Dong rolled his eyes at them. "Just me cooking for you is already a blessing; you think you'll eat at my restaurant? Dream on."

He then complained about Zhou Yuanshen, "Boss, why don't you let your wife come and cook? She makes great food."

Zhou Yuanshen, having finished handling a pig, didn't even glance at him. He took off his bloodied gloves and tossed them aside, walking toward his office.

Yu Dong felt a jolt of panic and quickly added, "Boss, I was wrong! I'm not worthy, alright? Aren't you going to eat?"

Zhou Yuanshen shot him a cold glance and dismissively replied, "It's terrible," before walking away without looking back.

Yu Dong nearly fainted in frustration. All he did was suggest having his sister-in-law cook! Was it really that serious?

Although his cooking isn't as good as his sister-in-law's, it's not bad either, right? He still ate that terrible food Aunt Liu made before! He's been spoiled by his sister-in-law! Yu Dong was grinding his teeth in frustration. He couldn't endure this miserable life any longer. He still wanted to go to the city and date some pretty girls. He couldn't waste time cooking for these old men. It seemed he couldn't delay finding someone to cook any longer.

...

Zhou Yue Shen returned to the office. He asked the person standing by the door, "Any phone calls?" The person was taken aback and shook their head, saying no. They wondered why the boss's first question every day was about phone calls. If there were any calls, couldn't he just go inform him? Zhou Yue Shen didn't say anything, entered the room, and closed the door. His gaze fell on the brand new phone.

He pressed his lips together and shifted his gaze away. Sitting down at his desk, he reflected on how things had finally stabilized after some issues with the piglets that had arrived earlier, which kept him from going home. The kids were about to start school, and he figured Si Nian must be busy, which was why she hadn't had time to call him after he gave her his number.

With that thought, Zhou Yue Shen picked up his pen and began to work. However, his gaze fell on the wedding photo beside him—one taken before they got married. He had asked someone to print an extra copy to frame. In the photo, the young girl looked stunningly radiant, her smile bright. He remembered feeling a bit stiff at the time, his expression somewhat serious.

Zhou Yue Shen stared at the photo, lost in thought, letting the pen leave a blot on the paper without noticing. Losing interest in work, he walked to the bed and lay down. Despite having not slept all night, he found no drowsiness at all. After a while, he opened his eyes, walked to his desk, and placed the photo on his nightstand. Just before closing his eyes, his fingertip brushed against her bright smile captured in the picture.

Si Nian parted ways with Aunt Jiang and Jiang Jiu, then headed to the bus station. In the city, there were buses going everywhere. Zhou Yue Shen had given her the address, and she boarded the bus according to the location. Although it was already spring, the weather was still a bit chilly. However, for some reason, her ears felt quite warm. She rubbed her ears and asked the driver how long the journey would take.

The driver replied it would be a little over an hour. Si Nian thought that was quite far. This man must have considered the location carefully when he chose the house, picking one close to where she and the kids worked and studied, even if it was far from his farm. She hadn't been to Zhou Yue Shen's farm before and hadn't noticed this issue. Someone nearby asked her, "Are you from the western suburbs? That place is pretty remote, not many people live there." Si Nian paused before responding, "No, I'm just going to meet someone."

The person laughed, "That area has been taken over by some factories; it's mostly workers there now." Si Nian smiled but said nothing. She was going to find someone—specifically, a man. Luckily, she was carrying a thermos; otherwise, after more than an hour, the food would probably be cold.

"Speaking of which, the houses in my area have also been bought up. They may not be worth much, but I didn't expect people to start opening factories there."

"Exactly! It's a pity my family didn't own any land. If we had known, we could have grabbed more land over in Guan Shan back then; we might have made a profit."

Si Nian was about to close her eyes and doze off when she suddenly opened them wide at the mention of Guan Shan.

"Guan Shan?"

"Yes," the person replied with a smile. "It used to be called Guan Shan Town; now it's moved further away and become a suburb. People just refer to it as the western suburbs now."

Si Nian's eyes flashed with interest.

Although she wasn't from this area, Si Nian knew that in the future, as the city developed, various trains, high-speed rail, and airports would be established. The Guan Shan District would become the city center in just a few years. The airport and high-speed rail were all built there, leading to rapid development, soaring property prices, and an influx of people, along with significant financial advantages.

Those who once owned property there became overnight millionaires after the area was redeveloped. Wasn't that the place? Although Si Nian didn't pay much attention to such matters in the future, she had visited Guan Shan District during a work trip. By then, it was already the most bustling city center, filled with skyscrapers and nightlife. Who would have thought that decades ago, it had been a desolate town?

Could it be that Zhou Yuanshen, by some stroke of luck, opened a pig farm in an area that might one day be worth a fortune? This man seemed to effortlessly prove that with the right mix of skill and luck, he could thrive without much effort. She remembered that the novel didn't delve much into what Zhou Yuanshen had done, only that he owned a pig farm. Yet in the future, he became a tycoon worth over a hundred million.

No one knew how he achieved it. Si Nian hadn't thought about that either, but at that moment, she suddenly had a premonition. This man was truly a winner in life! And now, she was the wife of an older man. In a twist of fate, could the future billionaire be her?

Si Nian had never harbored grand ambitions; in her mind, as long as there was enough money, that was good enough. She wasn't interested in the exhausting grind of pursuing a career like many other transmigrators. Having lived a life where she felt she couldn't accomplish certain things, she didn't believe she could do them in this new life either. For now, she just wanted to teach and get into college. In this era, she wouldn't have to worry about food in the future.

But the thought that she wouldn't have to do anything and could still become a billionaire was tantalizing. Even if Zhou Yuanshen became wealthy and changed his mind, she'd still get a good share in a divorce. The possibility of it all made her laugh out loud.

"Ha ha ha!!!" The people around her jumped at her sudden laughter.

"What's wrong with you?" someone nearby asked.

Si Nian, caught off guard by her own outburst, quickly covered her mouth, blinking her eyes. "Oh, nothing. Just... just fine."

Zhou Yuanshen hadn't slept for long when there was a knock on the office door. He frowned and spoke in a low, cold voice, "Who is it?"

"Boss, there's a woman at the door looking for you."

Zhou Yuanshen sat up abruptly. Si Nian was here? It made sense; with so many new employees at the factory, it was normal that they wouldn't recognize her.

He quickly got up to head out, but then noticed some bloodstains on his clothes. Turning back, he grabbed a clean shirt to change into and adjusted his collar before striding confidently out the door.