When Guo Xuyang and the others returned home, they found the living room packed with people, including his aunt and uncle.
"How is it? Has the date been set?" Guo Yixiang asked Guo Yiyu.
"No. Xiao Xi's father doesn't want to rush things, and we'll talk about it next month," Guo Yiyu replied.
"Next month? Next month would be good too, the weather will be warmer."
"But by next month, she'll be showing!" Xu Wenli remarked.
"Showing is fine, if it doesn't work out, we can wait until after the baby is born. Yangzi has something to do at the end of this month, so it's too rushed," Wu Shangqing said.
"Is the baby impatient?" Xu Wenli mumbled.
"Aren't there many things that haven't been done yet? We can do them together when we get back," Guo Xuyang chimed in.
That single sentence stirred up a hornet's nest.
"What do you mean?" Li Minxi was the first to object.
"Yangzi, are you thinking of having a collective wedding?" Guo Yiyang asked with a grin.
"What mischief is he brewing in his heart?" Xiao Yun said from the side, fanning the flames.
"This is a classic example of him taking advantage and then refusing to acknowledge it," Ilena pressed on.
"I didn't say anything! Why are you all ganging up on me?" Guo Xuyang said, raising his hands in alarm.
These women knew that if their elders weren't present, this scoundrel wouldn't escape.
"Alright, stop quarreling. It's been a long time since we've all been together. Let's go to the shop to eat," Wu Shangqing suggested.
There was no other way; a mother's love for her son was the greatest.
If she didn't step in, who knew how these future daughters-in-law would treat her son.
"Auntie, everything is ready. We were just waiting for you to come back," Xiao Yun said.
"Oh, who made it?"
"Lin Zixuan. Her cooking is quite good. I've already tasted it," Ilena said.
"Then let's eat quickly, it's getting late. I'm hungry," Wu Shangqing urged.
So, everyone went into the kitchen and brought out the dishes.
After everyone was seated and had tasted a few dishes, they all praised Lin Zixuan's culinary skills.
"Zixuan, did you study cooking professionally? It's really delicious," Wu Shangqing said.
"From now on, let Zixuan cook for everyone, so Dad doesn't have to be so busy every day," Guo Xuyang suggested.
"Doesn't Zixuan work? Do you think everyone is as idle as you?" Li Minxi retorted, rolling her eyes at Guo Xuyang.
"Why don't you do it?" Guo Xuyang shot back.
"I don't know how. I've never been in the kitchen since I was little."
"You don't know? Then learn!"
"I can't learn. So what? Are you going to yell at me?" Li Minxi said, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Look at you, if you can't speak properly, don't say anything," Wu Shangqing quickly intervened to smooth things over.
"Xiao Xi, we don't need to cook to eat. Don't listen to his nonsense. Be good and eat quickly."
"Mom loves me the most," Li Minxi said, bursting into tears of joy.
"Zixuan, where did you learn your cooking skills?" Xiao Yun asked.
"I didn't study formally. I figured it out myself.
When Ziqi and I are together, I cook. She can't cook either.
She tried a few times, but she either burned the rice or didn't put salt in the dishes. Her mind just goes blank when she enters the kitchen. So I stopped letting her do it.
To improve my taste, I started looking at how others cooked online and practiced whenever I had time. Slowly, my skills improved.
It was forced upon me, there was no other way."
"Sister, it's not that my mind goes blank. I truly don't have the talent," Lin Ziqi said from the side.
"Yes, Ziqi is right. Cooking and making dishes also requires talent.
With the same ingredients and seasonings, the taste can be completely different.
I don't have that talent either, so your uncle cooks for us," Wu Shangqing said.
"This talent is incredible. Some things really can't be forced.
Just like Xiao Xi, she has a great talent for investing in film and television dramas. Not all of them become hits, but seven out of ten will.
And Xiao Yun, she may not be good at cooking, but she's second to none in management. I don't need to say much about Yangyang and Ilena.
Everyone's talent is different. If you force a master chef to do management, she'll mess everything up.
If you force someone in management to be a master chef, her cooking will be inedible," Guo Xuyang said.
"Then what's your talent?" the women asked.
"My talent is to earn money and support you all," Guo Xuyang said shamelessly.
"Tch."
"Speaking of which, I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow with Yu'er and Ye Zi.
It's been a while since I've been to Shanghai. Even though someone is managing it, I need to go and take a look.
When I get back, Xiao Yun, please inform Xia Li to arrange those materials from Shanghai, and we'll travel with the security escort vehicles."
"Okay, Yangzi. Am I going with you?" Xiao Yun asked.
"You can if you want. If you don't have anything important to do, come along. The four of us can fit in one car."
"Alright then. After we finish eating, I'll take the car you drove back to the shop for maintenance. We'll set off first thing tomorrow morning.
Do I need to inform Xu Liping in advance?"
"No need. We'll go quietly and see how they usually do things."
"Are you planning to go incognito?" Li Minxi quipped.
"It's not incognito, it's a direct but covert inspection. Let's see how they're doing."
"Sales look good. The year-end promotion achieved nearly twenty billion in sales," Xiao Yun said.
"That's an international metropolis with high consumption power. Twenty billion isn't much. We'll see when we get there tomorrow."
"How many days are you planning to stay? Do we need to book a hotel in advance?"
"No. I remember CEO Jiang gave me the Anran Hotel, and I'm the legal representative. We can go check it out together."
"Then alright. After lunch, I'll contact Xia Li to arrange the jade escort, and we'll set off tomorrow morning."
After lunch, everyone went about their own business.
Guo Xuyang retreated to his bedroom to catch up on sleep.
He had slept so late yesterday, and had strenuous exercise this morning. He hadn't had a chance to rest, and on the way back, he was too busy dealing with his mother and Li Minxi's interrogation.
Tong Xin quietly went to Li Minyu's office to inquire about yesterday's meal.
"Xiao Yu, at what time did you finish yesterday?"
"A little past eight o'clock. The meal was quite quick."
"Has the wedding date for Captain Guo been set?"
"No. Don't you have a mission at the end of this month?"
"Yes. Is Captain Guo going this month?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"I feel safer when I'm with Captain Guo. I don't have to worry about not coming back."
"How long is your mission?"
"This seems to be a long-term mission. The exact duration hasn't been determined yet.
However, the previous results were very good, which gave the higher-ups great confidence, so they want to continue."
"Is it very dangerous?"
"How should I put it? If we encounter danger, we'll be utterly destroyed.
Of course, if we can evade it, the rewards will be immense. It will greatly help their promotions."
[Author's Note]: This book has three updates a day, please continue to follow. Cast your free silver tickets and let's all have fun.