Chu Ning told Chu An that she would give him an answer tomorrow, but in reality, "tomorrow" never came.
As soon as Chu An left, Chu Ning couldn't wait to grab some paper and a pen, leaning over the counter to do the calculations.
She ran through the numbers several times, and based on Chu An's calculations, it seemed that opening a shop was indeed possible.
In a rush, she took a half-day off and went back to the farm machinery factory.
Chu Ning wasn't the kind of person who would hesitate or waver. In fact, she was more ruthless than most. After all, she had already dropped out of university and started working to make money—she wouldn't have made such a decision if she wasn't tough-minded.
When it came to her desire for money and her ability to make tough decisions in the face of both adversity and opportunity, Chu Ning was no worse than anyone else.
What Chu An didn't know was that Chu Ning didn't go to work only to help him pay for his tuition.
In fact, before the college entrance exams last year, Chu Ning had found a diagnosis slip in Chu Jianjun's drawer: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Spinal Deformity. Aside from needing immediate treatment, the doctor had also advised against heavy physical labor and recommended long-term rest.
It was from that moment that Chu Ning realized university was no longer an option for her. This family needed her to contribute.
Upon returning to the farm machinery factory, Chu Ning didn't go home but went straight to the factory office to speak with Ma Guoyou about renting a storefront.
In fact, when she had told Chu An that renting a storefront was not as easy as he thought, she was just brushing him off. When Chu An said they wouldn't know unless they tried, there was some truth to it.
In short, renting a storefront was possible.
The reason was simple: it all depended on Ma Guoyou, the person Chu An had asked her to go to.
Both Chu Jianjun and Ma Guoyou had worked in the final assembly workshop. Chu Jianjun was the workshop director, while Ma Guoyou was the Party Branch leader.
The two not only worked together but also had a good personal relationship.
The safety accident had been caused by the new factory director giving orders for an illegal operation, and Ma Guoyou had gone along with it to meet the workshop's targets. This led to the accident.
In the end, Chu Jianjun, as the head of the workshop, took responsibility and saved both Ma Guoyou and the factory director.
Now, Ma Guoyou had been promoted to the position of logistics director at the farm machinery factory, in charge of all these matters.
With their past connection, Chu Ning was likely to get his help.
However, what surprised Chu Ning was what Ma Guoyou said.
"Xiao Ning, I'd do anything for you, but this storefront... I can't do it," Ma Guoyou said, his face showing clear hesitation. "Many people have already tried to get these spaces over the years, even asking the county leaders for help. It's not something I can decide."
The location of the storefront was excellent, but the reason it had remained vacant for so long was that the factory didn't want to cause any trouble or offend anyone.
After all, no matter who the space was rented to, there would always be someone dissatisfied.
"How about looking for somewhere else?" Ma Guoyou suggested.
Chu Ning wouldn't waste time going in circles. After a brief pause, she shook her head. "Forget the north gate. It's okay, Uncle Ma. We'll think of something else. Don't worry about it."
"Haha!" Ma Guoyou laughed heartily. "This is nothing! For your family, I'll do whatever it takes!"
Chu Ning forced a smile, thanked him, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then left the factory office.
The spark of hope that had just ignited was quickly extinguished. She felt a chill in her heart and stood still outside the office building for a while, feeling lost.
People were strange sometimes. When they hadn't made up their mind, they worried about every little thing and hesitated despite others' reassurances. But once they made up their mind, even facing obstacles, they were reluctant to give up the opportunity.
After some internal struggle, Chu Ning decided to go home, hoping to talk it over with Chu An.
Just as she reached the stairs, she saw Chu An returning on a rickshaw.
It turned out that after leaving the second store, Chu An hadn't rushed home but had gone to the South City market. The rickshaw was filled with a hundred eggs, ten pounds of dried chrysanthemum root, and ten pounds of small fish.
"What are you buying so much for?" Chu Ning asked, puzzled. She thought to herself, "This must've cost quite a bit of money."
Chu An grinned, "We're about to open a shop, right? Gotta make a good impression on the big clients! It's all for the drama crew."
Chu Ning rolled her eyes, still feeling a bit reluctant. "You think it's that easy? The big crews might not even look at this. A bunch of eggs and salted vegetables—who's going to care?"
Chu An shrugged. "You don't understand. Anyway, let's change the subject. What? Can't wait until tomorrow? Did you already go to the factory office?"
Chu Ning froze for a moment. Her younger brother was becoming sharper by the day.
She didn't feel like joking around. "The storefront rental didn't work out. Uncle Ma couldn't help."
She proceeded to tell Chu An about her visit to the factory office.
What surprised Chu Ning was that as Chu An unloaded the rickshaw, he didn't show any disappointment or surprise on his face.
Chu Ning, anxious, started scolding him. "Why aren't you worried? This is falling apart!"
Chu An replied casually, "It's normal. If you thought Ma Guoyou would help, that's already strange."
Confused, Chu Ning asked, "What do you mean?"
Chu An just shook his head. "What else do you need to know? If Ma Guoyou had any loyalty, he wouldn't have climbed so high while leaving the person who helped him behind."
Chu Ning didn't fully understand the situation.
Chu An went on, "Ma Guoyou is a white-eyed wolf. If Dad hadn't been so stubborn, he would have asked him for help long ago. But Dad didn't, because he knew it was useless."
Now, the real question was: Why did Chu An still make Chu Ning go to him?
It wasn't because Chu An was naive or hopeful, but because he was thinking from Chu Ning's perspective.
She needed to feel like it was possible before she would take the first step. Only by taking that step would she start actively trying to find a solution.
This was a human weakness.
Besides, there were things Chu Ning didn't know.
"Do you know Ma Guoyou's brother-in-law?" Chu An asked, no longer holding anything back.
Chu Ning nodded, "Yeah! Sun Lianqiao, the one who drives the factory director's car."
Chu An continued, "He's already in the process of renting the storefront. The factory office is already handling the paperwork."
"What?" Chu Ning's heart skipped a beat. She immediately recalled Ma Guoyou's warm, over-the-top promises, realizing now that she'd been deceived.
Just then, she saw the factory director's red Flag 100 car coming down the road. Sun Lianqiao was driving, and Ma Guoyou was in the passenger seat.
Chu Ning, furious, rushed over to stop the car. She had intended to confront Sun Lianqiao, but seeing Ma Guoyou in the car, she thought it was perfect timing.
"Ma Guoyou! Get out of the car!" she shouted.
Chu An had been planning to comfort his sister, but now she was charging forward. He didn't stop her.
He could stay calm, but his sister didn't have to. If she had anger, she needed to let it out.
Besides, Ma Guoyou owed their family.
Ma Guoyou got out of the car, still wearing a fake smile. "Xiao Ning, why'd you stop the car? If I hit you, how can I explain it to your dad?"
At the sight of Ma Guoyou's insincere expression, Chu Ning's stomach churned with disgust.
Her voice cracked as she angrily said, "If you weren't going to rent the storefront, why did you lie to me!?"
She wasn't angry about the storefront being taken by Sun Lianqiao. She was angry about being played for a fool. And the person who played her was the one Chu Jianjun had helped years ago.
"I thought you were family!" she yelled.
Ma Guoyou's smile stiffened, and he quickly tried to smooth things over. "This child... Why are you angry at your Uncle Ma?"
He turned to explain to a middle-aged man nearby, "Xiao Ning came to me earlier asking to rent the storefront. I couldn't agree, and now she's upset!"
The man nodded as if understanding, and Ma Guoyou immediately turned back to Chu Ning with a serious expression. "Xiao Ning, the storefront is the factory's property. I really can't make decisions on that. If your family is in need, come to my house and we'll talk. I'll help you if I can. But right now, I have things to do."
He tried to get back in the car, but Chu Ning wasn't letting him off that easy. She blocked his way.
"You're shameless!"