Chapter 24

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Dad, Mom, don’t worry. I didn’t steal this IOU, nor did I rob it. I used five million dollars to get it back from Shi Tian. Now, the debt of the Gu family has been paid off.”

Gu Qingchen patiently explained what had happened that day, except for Tang Feng and the police.

Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu were confused and had mixed feelings.

Mrs. Gu didn’t know much about stone gambling. She felt uneasy when she heard the word “gambling”, mainly because she was worried that her daughter would be cheated.

“Chenchen, listen to me. Don’t go to those stone gambling places in the future. It’s not safe for a little girl like you.”

Gu Qingchen picked up a piece of fish for her mother and said, “Mom, stone gambling is different from the casinos you know. I was just curious and happened to buy a piece of raw stone. I didn’t expect the jade that was found inside would solve our family’s crisis.”

“I think that Heaven never bars one’s way. If one is kind, their luck will always be better.”

Mrs. Gu believed in these things. Or rather, she was a little superstitious. When she heard her daughter say this, she felt that God couldn’t stand it and wanted to help their family.

Mr. Gu had heard of stone gambling. Many people in their circle would pay attention to the news of making money.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I’ve heard before that the business of jade and raw stones is very profitable. However, I’ve always been in the business of wood and don’t know much about jade and raw stones, so I didn’t get involved easily.

Now it seems that the business of jade and raw stones still has a lot of potentials. Of course, the one with the most potential is my daughter. She’s so good at picking out treasures!”

Mrs. Gu nodded repeatedly and finally revealed a smile that she had not shown for a long time. Gu Qingchen knew that both of them were deeply relieved.

The family debt was finally resolved.

......

Compared to the feelings of Mr. and Mrs. Gu, Gu Qingchen was the most touched. After all, when her parents passed away one after another, Gu Qingchen was the one who had to bear all the debts.

The days of living in the dark and living frugally to pay off the debts were finally far away from her.

“You’ve never been in the jade business before. You’d better not get involved with it. Let’s just find a job and work honestly.”

Mrs. Gu had a psychological shadow. Seeing that her husband was thinking about doing business again, she hurriedly tried to stop him.

Gu Yuanchuan was slightly stunned. He was a little discouraged. After experiencing a business failure once, he did not dare to do business easily anymore.

He still had a wife and daughter. He was already middle-aged. The days when he had to start all over again seemed to be far away from him.

Gu Qingchen could see the unwillingness and frustration in her father’s eyes. She smiled gently as she said, “Mom, dad has been in business for so many years. He is very experienced. I feel that there is something fishy about this failure. Perhaps he was cheated by someone. If dad was forced to give up just because of this, I feel that it is a pity.

Dad, look, I know a little about jade and raw stones. Besides, the three-colored jade was sold for ten million dollars. After returning money to Shi Tian, there is still five million left. How about we do business together?”

Gu Qingchen knew that her mother and father were both worried about the same thing. Gu Yuanchuan did not know much about raw stones and jade, so she told them that she knew a lot about it. It could also make them feel at ease.

As expected, after hearing Gu Qingchen’s words, both her parents were relieved. In the end, Gu Yuanchuan said, “Let me first understand the situation of the jade industry before I make a decision. I’m feeling happy today so we won’t be eating at home. Let’s go to a restaurant.”

The family of three were also straightforward people. They changed their clothes and went out.

Although the family was a little short of money, fortunately, Gu Qingchen still had the 1,000 dollars from selling medicinal herbs. In her previous life, her parents did not suffer any grievances and were very well-off. Therefore, Gu Qingchen chose a good hotel.

In 1996, when the average salary was a few hundred dollars, a thousand dollars was really a lot of money.

Rose Hotel.

It was a famous hotel in City Y. Even the Gu family would only book a table for dinner during the new year and have a meal with their family.

Gu Yuanchuan used to come here for business matters.

“Chenchen, although we have paid all the money we owe, it seems a little too extravagant to come to the Rose Hotel for a meal.”

Although her family had been very wealthy these past few years, Mrs. Gu was not a picky noblewoman. She was very good at housekeeping.

“Mom, don’t worry. Today is a joyous occasion for our family. It’s much more important than the New Year.”

Gu Yuanchuan recalled that he had been very kind to his relatives all these years. He wasn’t stingy when it came to spending. However, when something happened, these people either came to ask for money or to draw a clear line between them. He was instantly regretful.

In the past, during Chinese New Year, for the sake of his relatives’ happiness, he would make a reservation at the Rose Hotel for Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner. They had treated his kindness as malicious intentions.

In the future, he would only work hard for his daughter and wife.

“Chenchen is right. Today is more important than the Chinese New Year. Let’s eat here.”

When the family of three entered the lobby of the hotel, a staff immediately came forward to receive them. The attitude of the staff was also very good. This was the standard of a first-class hotel.

Because they did not book in advance, they could only eat in the lobby. The family of three did not mind. Anyway, they were here to eat. It did not matter where they sat, as long as the family was happy.

However, they did not expect to meet Gu Yuanchuan’s second brother, Gu Yuanguo. It was not his wife Dong Guiyun who ate with Gu Yuanguo, but a young woman. The two of them were very close.

Without thinking, Gu Qingchen knew that this woman should be Gu Yuanguo’s mistress, the one called Xiao Cui.

Gu Yuanguo had been busy flirting with Xiao Cui and did not notice Gu Qingchen’s family of three.

Gu Yuanchuan and his wife both saw Gu Yuanguo. Both of them were slightly startled, but in the end, neither of them paid any attention to him.

Gu Yuanchuan had already given up on his brother. From now on, these people had nothing to do with him.

“Old Gu, do you think we should give your second brother a warning? If he acts so recklessly, it’s only a matter of time.”

Although Mrs. Gu also hated Gu Yuanguo, Gu Yuanguo was still Gu Yuanchuan’s younger brother. Mrs. Gu was someone who considered the general situation.

Gu Yuanchuan’s face turned cold. He was a very straightforward person. Once he made a decision, even ten bulls would not be able to pull him back.

“I don’t care. I don’t have a younger brother like that.”

Having a mistress might be common in the later generations, but in the 1990s, this kind of thing was extremely shameful. Gu Yuanchuan secretly hated the misfortune of his family.

Gu Qingchen glanced at Xiao Cui and the corners of her lips curled up slightly as if she had seen something interesting.

“Chenchen, don’t look, otherwise it will dirty your eyes.”

Mrs. Gu called out to Gu Qingchen. In Mrs. Gu’s eyes, her daughter was still young. She could not let Gu Yuanguo’s lewd behavior dirty her eyes.

Gu Qingchen turned her head and nodded lightly. However, a trace of amusement flashed through her eyes.

Xiao Cui was really an interesting woman.