Amidst playful banter, the destination was reached.
As Qin Chuan and Li Ya stepped out of the car, four figures emerged from a warehouse: Yao Dong, Bai Xiaoguang, and two sturdy young men.
"Boss!"
Upon seeing Qin Chuan and Li Ya, Yao Dong and Bai Xiaoguang, along with the two young men, quickly approached.
"Brother Dao is in charge of the construction site?" Qin Chuan asked.
"Yes, Brother Dao said he's getting a bit old and doesn't want to run around anymore, so he'll be in charge of the site from now on!" Bai Xiaoguang replied.
Qin Chuan nodded. Zheng Chengdao was experienced and steady, making him the most suitable for managing the construction site, which aligned perfectly with his own thoughts.
"Then, who will follow me, and who will be responsible for my sister's safety?"
Yao Dong quickly interjected, "Boss, Er Gou and I will follow you, and Paigu and San Mao will be responsible for the Boss's wife's safety!"
"Alright, let's leave it like that for now. Come on, let's call a few more people over to help unload the goods!" Qin Chuan gestured towards the trucks that had already arrived.
Soon, several more burly men came out of the warehouse, and a group of people busily helped unload the cargo.
Since Qin Chuan had informed the Mettez headquarters in advance that his small county town was relatively underdeveloped and many renovation materials were not readily available, the trucks were filled with a considerable amount of goods.
Qin Chuan and Li Ya were not idle either, helping with the unloading. Seeing their boss and boss's wife working, the workers became even more enthusiastic.
It's worth mentioning that since getting out of the car, Chen Zhibin had paid much less attention to Li Ya, and even then, it was furtive. His previous overt attention was gone. He stood alone in the distance, smoking, his suit neat and tidy, his hairstyle undisturbed, and a trace of arrogance still lingering in his brows, as if he didn't want to mix with the sweaty workers around him.
Qin Chuan noticed this and let out a cold laugh in his heart, not bothering to engage. He had encountered too many such minor characters in his previous life to feel any interest. If it weren't for the renovation project, he wouldn't even have bothered to glance at him.
Time flew by. It took over two hours to unload the entire truckload of goods.
It was already noon. At Qin Chuan's call, everyone headed to the pre-booked restaurant for a meal, which also served as a welcome dinner for Chen Zhibin and Yang Mansheng.
In the afternoon, Li Ya went to work, and the supermarket officially began its renovation.
Although Chen Zhibin's character was questionable, he did possess some genuine skill. Based on the specifics of the warehouse, he proposed several renovation plans. Qin Chuan also shared his opinions, pointing out shortcomings and suggesting improvements, which greatly surprised Chen Zhibin.
Just then, a sound of footsteps approached. Qin Chuan, who was discussing plans with Chen Zhibin, turned around. Upon seeing the person, his eyes lit up, and he opened his arms for an embrace.
"Jinyu, welcome!" Qin Chuan enthusiastically patted Chen Jinyu's back.
"Boss, my future is in your hands now. You must not let me down..." Chen Jinyu was also excited, but her words carried a hint of a young woman's playful grievance.
It was understandable. Chen Jinyu, after all, came from the provincial capital and was very talented, having already gained some fame in the renovation industry there. Now, to come to a backward small county like Yongnan County and pledge allegiance to someone else was a choice that required considerable courage. Thus, the words "my future is in your hands" were likely heartfelt.
Qin Chuan felt it. He placed his hands on Chen Jinyu's shoulders, his eyes earnest and serious, "Jinyu, I promise you, within five years, you will be proud of the choice you made today!"
"I believe you!" Chen Jinyu grinned, revealing her pearly white teeth.
"You've arrived at just the right time. Come, come, this is Mr. Chen Zhibin, a renowned designer from Mettez headquarters. You both share the surname Chen, perhaps you are distantly related!" Qin Chuan pulled Chen Jinyu towards Chen Zhibin.
Perhaps due to the talent Qin Chuan had displayed earlier, which surprised Chen Zhibin, he did not exhibit his usual arrogance upon seeing Chen Jinyu's youthful face. The three of them began to discuss seriously.
Chen Jinyu did not disappoint Qin Chuan, proposing new ideas that made everyone enthusiastic. Thus, the afternoon passed in a flash. By sunset, the three of them emerged from the warehouse, all wearing smiles of joy and satisfaction. The renovation plan for the supermarket, after much refinement, was finalized. Formal construction could begin the next day.
Early the next morning, the sounds of hammering and clanging echoed through the warehouse yard. The workers, organized and assigned tasks, went about their duties. Qin Chuan entrusted the supervision role directly to Chen Jinyu, reasoning that since she was here, she might as well start working and earning her salary.
He, on the other hand, went to the hospital to visit his elder brother, who was still hospitalized. In the hospital ward, Brother Qin Yang was lying on his stomach in bed, his back bandaged thickly. Second Brother Qin Gang was also present. Zheng Chengdao's assistance in managing the construction site had greatly eased the burden on their second brother, who would otherwise have had to shuttle between the hospital and the construction site.
Upon seeing Qin Chuan, Second Brother Qin Gang, who had been dozing by the bedside, his eyes suddenly sharp and his tone sarcastic, "Well, well, who do we have here? Did you get lost?"
Qin Chuan raised an eyebrow, showing no respect for his elder brother, and kicked out. Qin Gang nimbly dodged, avoiding the blow.
"Damn it, you lazy third brother, it's bad enough you're never at the construction site, and you don't come to the hospital, but now you dare to get physical? Do you still have any respect for me as your second brother!" Qin Gang shouted, seemingly trying to maintain his elder brother's dignity.
Qin Chuan ignored him, walked to the bedside, and gently inquired about his elder brother's injuries. Qin Yang smiled heartily, saying he was fine and would be discharged within a week.
"Brother, don't worry. I've already spoken to the police and instructed people to keep an eye on the county. If those people dare to show their faces, I will make sure to get everything back for you!" Qin Chuan clasped his elder brother's hand, his voice firm.
Qin Yang anxiously said, "Xiao Chuan, forget it. I... I just got cut. It's not a big deal..."
Before Qin Chuan could speak, Qin Gang suddenly became agitated, jumping up from the corner. His unruly eyebrows shot up like sharp swords.
"Forget it? What do you mean forget it! How can such a serious matter be brushed aside!"
"That was a cut that required twenty-three stitches, over half an inch deep! If it had hit my head instead of my back, that blow would have been fatal!!"
"And... and..."
Qin Chuan frowned, keenly sensing that there might be hidden details he was unaware of, and asked, "And what?"
Qin Gang glanced at his elder brother lying on the bed, gritting his teeth. His eyes suddenly reddened.
"And Big Brother took that blow for me! How can I just let it go!" Qin Gang clenched his fists tightly, trembling all over.
Qin Chuan's expression froze upon hearing this, and he quickly turned his head to look at his elder brother on the bed. Under Qin Chuan's piercing gaze, Qin Yang couldn't help but avoid his eyes. The usually honest and simple man stammered,
"N-no such thing, Xiao Gang, don't talk nonsense!"
"I accidentally took that blow!"
Qin Gang crouched by the bedside, tightly gripping Qin Yang's arm, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Big Brother, at first, I really thought you got injured accidentally!"
"But these past few days, after calming down and recalling the events of that night, I realized that it wasn't like that at all!" Qin Gang's voice trembled, his whole body shaking, revealing the intense emotional turmoil within him.
"The glint of the blade that night was definitely an ambush aimed at me! You discovered it and, without regard for your own life, took the blow on your back for me!"