I Got Rich in Period Fiction
Chapter 511: Major Changes

Chapter 511: Chapter 511: Major Changes

Mr. Zhao hired a neat and tidy old lady, who was actually just over fifty, to take care of the children and prepare three meals a day.

As a result, Li Bo’s life suddenly became much easier.

He had a plump and healthy appearance after the completion of his confinement period.

After sending his old mother away, there was a period of time when Mr. Zhao felt uneasy inside; after all, she was his real mother and had always treated him well, considering his needs in everything.

But one day, he overheard a few families at the base speaking about their own old mothers, and he no longer felt guilty.

This is what those people said:

"...It’s really great that Old Lady Zhao has left; our base is now free from one less nuisance. I’m not even afraid of losing things in my yard anymore..."

"Yes, that old lady was so lazy. She had her own vegetable garden but planted nothing. This summer she just treated our gardens as if they were her own."

"The old lady liked to show up at others’ houses during mealtime. Once I steamed four buns for my husband and child. She just stretched out her hand, took two, turned around, and left without even a thank you."

"Not to mention, I was worried about the humidity indoors. So, I placed the preserved meat my family sent from the Southern region under the eaves, and someone just climbed up on a stool and took everything..."

"I don’t know what habit that is. Mr. Zhao makes a decent amount of money. Is she short of food or drink? These petty thefts are just so annoying."

"Ah, she might as well be bedridden; even sitting in a wheelchair, she never stopped meddling—eating yours and taking yours so brazenly..."

Embarrassed to overhear more, Mr. Zhao’s face turned as red as an eggplant. He sneakily slipped away in another direction, truly wishing the ground would swallow him up.

...

In the blink of an eye, Little Chaoxuan had passed his hundred-day celebration.

At that time, the first snowfall had occurred.

He Xiuyu held a camera, taking photos of Little Chaoxuan for his hundred-day celebration.

The little fellow was very sturdy, and when placed on the fur blanket, he could already lift his neck.

His eyes were like black grapes, slightly upturned at the corners, his nose was high, and his little mouth was red and plump.

Qiao Qingyu was beside him making funny gestures, unsure if he understood, but he knew these two were his closest people as the little fellow opened his mouth and chuckled.

Then, He Xiuyu quickly captured angles, including a few family portraits with the easy-to-use camera, called a "fool’s camera," which Wu Qianyun had also learned to use. They took family photos, and more were added when Rongrong returned.

After using up an entire roll of film, He Xiuyu sent Sun Dazhi, who was handling affairs in Xichuan, to the photo studio to develop all the photos.

After finishing lunch, he hurried back to the office; they left together.

At the door, they could still hear the sounds of Little Chaoxuan’s crying.

...

This winter, there was a significant adjustment at the base.

The research base was on par with Xichuan City in terms of its administrative level.

But it had a headquarters above it.

This time, the headquarters was dissolved, directly merged into the newly established Department of Scientific Research.

Then both the current director of the base and He Xiuyu became deputy provincial-level officials.

After being promoted by two levels, the leadership was adjusted, and several leaders were transferred from above.

Whereas Mr. Qi went directly to the Department of Scientific Research.

The current team had matured through seven to eight years of working together. With the arrival of the new leaders, it was time to start a new phase of adjusting to each other. As the saying goes, "A new king brings his own court." These leaders did not come alone; of course, they brought their capable subordinates.

Now, Old Wei was the base’s administrative director, while He Xiuyu was in charge of scientific research and production, with Shen Haoze remaining as his deputy.

And Old Wei’s team was supplemented by two additional people, an associate director and an administrative director.

The new deputy director arrived with quite a reputation.

He was also quite senior, 42 years old this year, named Zhou Hai.

His wife worked at the General Union.

After transferring, she went to the base’s union.

His wife’s name was Liu Ying.

She used to be in the cultural troupe and went to the General Union after marrying him.

She was Zhou Hai’s second wife.

They brought three children; the eldest and the second child were from his previous wife, and the youngest daughter was born to Zhou Hai and Liu Ying.

Some information was public, and some were given to He Xiuyu by Yuan Hengzhi.

Naturally, Old Wei and Old Xie also became aware of this.

And Liu Ying was quite a character in her day, involved with several influential young men. It was said that two of them fought over her so fiercely that one accidentally caused serious injury to the other, and the latter ended up in prison.

After the incident, both families wanted to suppress Liu Ying, but suddenly she aligned herself with Zhou Hai.

Then, without waiting for Zhou Hai to divorce, she got pregnant.

Zhou Hai’s wife was his college classmate, and the two shared similar ideals and backgrounds. However, they eventually divorced.

It was said that Zhou Hai’s wife is now an overseas staffer.

And the son and daughter she bore were both given to Zhou Hai.

At the time of their divorce, the daughter was seven and the son was five. Now, Zhou Hai’s eldest daughter, Zhou Zijiao, was seventeen and in the second year of high school, and she had also transferred schools to come here.

Zhou Hai’s only son, Zhou Pengcheng, was currently in middle school.

Zhou Hai’s youngest daughter, Zhou Ruoruo, eleven this year, was in elementary school.

She was in the same class as He Xuerong and Li Mingguang.

The documents didn’t reveal much more, and the administrative director was also transferred from above.

Then He Xiuyu received a new deputy chief engineer to coordinate work with him and Shen Haoze.

His surname was Gu, named Gu Qingshan.

Everyone called him Mr. Gu.

This adjustment was the first since the base had been established.

At the welcoming ceremony, Zhou Hai said with a beaming smile, "Among those present are those older than me and those younger. I consider coming here as a student eager to learn, so please offer me guidance."

Pleasantries were exchanged warmly, and then it was revealed that he had brought funding. Before everyone could rejoice, he candidly said, "I know our base is currently tight on scientific research funds. The money I brought will be used where it’s most needed in scientific research. However, as we focus on scientific research and production, we must also consider our staff’s spiritual life. Thus, I propose that this money be used to build a Cultural Palace."

He Xiuyu lifted his eyelids, glanced at Zhou Hai, and curled his lip but said nothing.

Yet, he knew that building the Cultural Palace wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea; it must be linked to him previously declining to accept the cultural troupe.

Building a Cultural Palace?

Actually, everyone quite agreed.

With the increasing number of children at the base, having a Cultural Palace would represent profound significance.

Not least, their children could learn a lot there. It would also enrich the cultural life of the staff in their leisure time.