Chapter 338: Chapter 338: Follow-up Move
"I used to think they were decent, but now I realize I was just too young to know how to judge people." Tan Tao sighed. "I’ll figure something out for our family’s problems. I can’t just come to you for everything."
"My dad’s been a mason for years, but he still knows quite a few people. From what he said, I think he wants to find another connection. We can’t just let ourselves be controlled by Fourth Uncle."
Tan You’s lips curved. "That’s good, too. If you ask me, Tan Jin’s family needs to be taught a lesson. A shame, really."
’It’s a shame the Tan family hasn’t made its mark yet, and she doesn’t have many connections. Even if she wanted to help, she’s powerless.’ ’Powerless.’ Tan You frowned. This feeling was absolutely terrible.
"I’ve made up my mind. Starting tomorrow, I’m not getting my supplies from Tan Jin’s family anymore. I’m not just going to offer myself up to be fleeced. It’s not like I make money easily."
Tan Tao got fired up too. What young man could stand being treated like that?
Tan You stopped him. "You should still get supplies from his family, but cut the quantity in half. Hasn’t Tan Qin learned how to make cakes? Start selling those tomorrow. That way, you’ll have an excuse if he asks."
"Great! I’ll just say it’s been too hot lately, and it’s exhausting standing behind the deep fryer." Tan Tao clapped his hands, his spirits finally lifting a little.
"You can come up with the reason yourself. In any case, it’s not like he can force you to buy from him, right?" Tan You watched the raindrops falling from the eaves. "Your dad needs to hurry up and find another connection. Some people might not go out of their way to help themselves, but they’re more than happy to hurt others. They might offer a helping hand if it’s no trouble, but what if your family starts doing too well? Won’t they get jealous and resentful?"
Tan Tao clearly understood what Tan You meant. His expression darkened considerably. "I’m going to call my dad."
Tan Tao’s phone call lasted over ten minutes. Tan You paid him no mind, simply explaining various recipes for small pastries to Tan Qin. Tan Qin held a notebook, taking notes very diligently.
Looking at her crooked, scrawled handwriting, Tan You felt a little emotional. Tan Qin had dropped out of school before even starting middle school. Because she had been sick in the past, she wasn’t quick with her studies and couldn’t understand much of what the teachers taught.
’In this day and age, what can a kid do in the future without an education? Farm at home? Farming doesn’t make money, and it’s backbreaking work.’ Tan You sighed. The only thing she could do was teach Tan Qin some skills so she could survive in society.
"We’ve been bothering you for a long time today. The rain has lightened up a bit, so we should head back." Tan Tao looked at the weather. Compared to the downpour when they arrived, it was only drizzling now.
Tan You pointed to the various pastries on the eight immortals table. "Take these back for your parents to try. Since you’re thinking of changing up the menu, you should put their minds at ease."
Tan Tao didn’t stand on ceremony with Tan You. "Okay. I’ll leave some for your grandpa and grandma. We know you’re on a diet, so we’ll take your share."
Tan You quite liked Tan Tao’s attitude. Only close friends could be so straightforward without reservations. Besides, she really did need to lose weight, and she would rather Tan Tao take the cakes than share them with the other villagers.
After the siblings Tan Tao and Tan Qin left, Tan You carried a plate of small pastries to the living room. Tan Deming turned off the radio. "Tan Tao’s family is going to have a rough time for a while."
Tan You said, "That’s their family’s business. They need to get through it on their own."
Tan Deming said, "You used to want to use Fourth Brother Tan’s connections..."
"I just gave up on that idea," Tan You didn’t hide it from Tan Deming. "We’ll see when the time comes. There’s no rush. As for Fourth Brother Tan’s family, it’s best to not get involved with them if we can avoid it."
Tan Deming said, "Who do you think we should look for then? How about I go find Debao from our clan? Doesn’t he work at the battery factory in town? I hear he’s pretty well-connected."
"You’d better not. Debao doesn’t have any contact with our side of the family; he’s close with Tan Deji’s family down the road. Our families don’t get along. If you go to Debao, you think he’ll help? I’ll figure something out myself."
Tan You narrowed her eyes and rejected Tan Deming’s suggestion. ’Asking people for favors is always difficult.’ Besides, she didn’t want Tan Deming to have to humble himself for these things. Some matters, she would handle them if she could.
Tan Deming sighed. "Why is the world like this? It doesn’t give poor people a way to live."
Tan You replied, "There’s always a way. It’s just a matter of time."
Tan Deming said, "If I were in better health and could support this family, you wouldn’t have to worry so much at such a young age."
Tan You was amused. "I quite like how things are now. It might seem like I’m worrying a lot, but everyone listens to me, so my life is actually quite pleasant. If you asked me to just eat, drink, and play like other girls, I’d find it boring."
As for finding connections, Tan You thought and thought but had no leads. In the mission worlds, she could practically command the wind and rain, her power was immense. But here in the real world, Tan You was only now discovering how truly weak she was.
’Even though she has some money now, her family has no real business, and her parents have no capital to establish themselves...’
Tan Deming took a drag from his cigarette. "Actually, you don’t have to have your mom run a street stall. You could have her get a job in a factory. Let your dad stay home and take care of your little sister. His eyes are bad, but he’d have no problem taking her to and from school."
Tan You tapped on the table. "We’ll ask them what they think when the time comes. I remember my mom’s high school diploma is at home. I’ll go check out the nearby factory districts later."
"If my mom gets a factory job, they can live in town. It’ll be more convenient for taking my sister to and from school, and it will save them from the constant conflicts of living with you two."
As she spoke, Tan You glanced at Wang Hunv. Wang Hunv shrank back. "I’m living with you now. I definitely won’t fight with your mom."
Tan You mulled it over for a moment. "Alright, how about this: if it doesn’t rain tomorrow, I’ll go check out the factories in town."
’I was a bit off track before.’ If someone in the family had a job, they would have a fixed salary every month. In that case, Cheng Wenhui should be able to support Tan Yue.
Besides, Tan Lin was so frugal; a man who knew how to save money like him would never be a spendthrift. They would be able to get by. As for starting a business, it wouldn’t be too late to consider that after they had established a firm foothold in town.
As for the various conflicts between Tan Tao’s family and Tan Jin’s family, that would depend on how Tan Tao’s father handled it. Tan You didn’t want to get involved in these things, nor could she. She could help Tan Tao for a time, but she wasn’t his immediate family. If she meddled too much in certain affairs, she would be overstepping her bounds.
Tan You was a person of action. The next morning, she got up early and, for once, started busying herself in front of the mirror.
Tan Deming saw Tan You try on several different outfits before finally settling on one, a small bag in her hand.
Tan Deming took a puff of his cigarette. "You want to get your mom a job at a clothing factory?"
Tan You gave Tan Deming a thumbs-up. "Grandpa, you get me. I’m going to the clothing factory today to sell some designs and see if I can get a job for my mom."
Tan Deming said, "I haven’t seen clothes like the ones you make before. I’ll go with you, just in case they try to cheat you because you’re young."
