After everyone was seated and had tea, Gu Qingcheng explained:
"I know you all love glass crafts and that selling them would bring in considerable income.
But why haven't I made glass mirrors my primary product yet?
Our craftsmanship is already capable of producing such large glass mirrors, and with full production capacity, we could guarantee sales output.
However, I believe that the common people need grain and basic necessities for survival more urgently right now – things like clothing for warmth and building materials for shelter.
Human demand for luxury goods is infinite. If I were to start a trend of pursuing luxury items, it would corrupt the current atmosphere. Wouldn't that make me a sinner in the eyes of the populace?
Therefore, my current focus is on mass production of medicine, grain, and building materials.
As you've seen, we have many welfare institutions that benefit villagers, such as nurseries and nursing homes. But it's only after we've secured their basic livelihood that they gain more enthusiasm for life and work. Although everyone in our village enjoys numerous free benefits, they also contribute their labor."
Du Lanyue thought to herself that Gu Qingcheng truly understood how to manage people's hearts.
She admired Gu Qingcheng even more. After the apocalypse, she understood more clearly than ever that the most crucial thing for ordinary people now is to survive.
Her Du family, thanks to her father's exceptional abilities, could ensure their entire family had enough to eat and wear, avoiding the extreme poverty others faced. Yet, Gu Qingcheng, who could have lived like anyone else, now bore the immense responsibility of saving all the people on her own shoulders, unlike them who lived as carefree young masters and ladies of wealthy families.
This trip had indeed allowed Du Lanyue to understand Gu Qingcheng better.
Consequently, her slight dissatisfaction with Gu Qingcheng's hidden identity vanished.
Now that she understood Gu Qingcheng's endeavors, she could also comprehend why Gu Qingcheng had concealed her identity for convenience.
If she were to blame Gu Qingcheng for that, she wouldn't deserve to be her friend.
Moreover, Gu Qingcheng had no intention of deceiving her; it was she who had harbored unwarranted thoughts.
Having come to this realization, Du Lanyue clearly defined the relationship between herself and Gu Qingcheng.
They could be like sisters, friends, or confidantes.
In fact, this was quite good.
Du Lanxing was particularly fond of the classical tea sets in Gu Qingcheng's tearoom. She admired the delicate beauty of the blue and white porcelain and found it hard to put down.
Gu Qingcheng, noticing her interest, smiled and said, "If you like them so much, I'll send a set to each of you when you return."
"Just one set? What if it breaks?"
Du Lanxing asked playfully, indicating she desired more than just one gift.
Gu Qingcheng chuckled, "It's alright. If it breaks, just tell me anytime, and I'll send you another.
However, it won't be this troublesome from now on. I'll be opening a tea house on Cha Liao Island, and I'm also planning to build brick kilns there."
Upon hearing this, Du Lancheng became very interested and said:
"Young Master Gu, would you like to bring this brother along to get rich?"
Having witnessed Gu Qingcheng's capabilities, Du Lancheng no longer dared to be presumptuous. If it weren't for the fact that he was a few years older than Gu Qingcheng, he would have wanted to call her "sister."
"No problem, if we're getting rich, we'll get rich together. You can have a thirty percent stake then."
Gu Qingcheng said generously.
Du Lancheng was overjoyed. He had already realized that the brick and tile market was incredibly vast.
With post-disaster reconstruction underway and the climate gradually improving, the seasons becoming distinct, and natural disasters receding, people would certainly need bricks and tiles for rebuilding their homes. Participating in this venture would undoubtedly lead to significant profits.
The main reason for his gratitude was that Gu Qingcheng didn't lack money and didn't need others to contribute capital. Yet, she allowed him to participate in the ownership for his own enrichment.
Du Lancheng, knowing he shouldn't be ungrateful, repeatedly expressed his thanks.
Gu Qingcheng smiled, "There's no need to be so formal. It's better to share joy with others than to enjoy it alone."
Indeed, being a sole dominant force could easily make one a target. Gu Qingcheng understood this principle well.
She certainly wanted to unite a group of like-minded individuals around her to expand the market share together.
Du Lancheng was Du Lanyue's elder brother and the son of Boss Du, a business partner. Gu Qingcheng decided to work on building a rapport with him gradually, hoping that Du Lancheng could become someone she could trust.
Seeing Gu Qingcheng's great generosity, Du Lanyue naturally understood that Gu Qingcheng was allowing her brother to invest in this project because of their deep friendship.
There was no doubt that this project was a sure bet for making a lot of money.
A sense of warmth welled up in Du Lanyue's heart. Even in the face of tempting profits, Gu Qingcheng still considered her.
Du Lancheng then truly understood that his father's words held wisdom: befriending Gu Qingcheng brought only benefits and no drawbacks.
It was then that he realized his father, who had survived the chaotic times and successfully led their family to prosperity while accumulating significant wealth, was no ordinary person.
He was not only far behind Gu Qingcheng, but even his own father required considerable effort to surpass.
Facing Gu Qingcheng's overwhelming power, Du Lancheng completely changed his attitude.
There were always mountains beyond mountains, and people beyond people. Upon realizing his own insignificance, Du Lancheng began to temper himself. His previously somewhat ostentatious personality became reserved and low-key.
Gu Qingcheng chatted and drank tea with them in the tearoom, enjoying a pleasant afternoon.
As dinner time approached, Gu Qingcheng led them back for the meal.
Hu Lanfang, knowing that her daughter was bringing important guests for the first time and understanding the significance of these guests to her daughter, had painstakingly prepared many delicious dishes.
She had also invited skilled cooks from the village to help. These cooks, hailing from all over the country, naturally brought diverse culinary skills and flavors.
Thus, the dinner table featured everything from Roujiamo from the northwest, to Reganmian from the south, preserved meats and sausages from Sichuan and Chongqing, and even abalone and fresh shrimp – a true fusion of flavors from across the land.
Gu Chaobei even brought out a 30-year-old bottle of Maotai he had been saving to treat Du Lancheng and Ge Hong.
Ge Hong, after getting married and with his wife helping him manage things, was no longer as unkempt.
At the very least, his hair was less greasy, and he could change his robes promptly, no longer emitting an oily, dirty smell.
Tonight, he wore a dark blue robe. The darker color did not reveal any stains from medicine or oil, making him appear much cleaner than before.
Tonight's banquet was centered around the younger generation, and the atmosphere at the dining table was quite lively.
Hu Lanfang was very fond of the Du Lanyue and Du Lanxing sisters, praising their beauty and eloquence, and even offered to introduce them to potential suitors in Fenghuang Village.