Best friends transmigrate into a book! They marry a high-ranking official! If you run, I run too!

When it comes to building connections, Wen Tang always felt that it would be easier to get things done if Gu Yanli was involved.

The two men sneaked to the brigade leader's house in the dark, where the brigade leader's family was preparing to rest.

There was a knock on the courtyard gate, and Wu Guifang, the brigade leader's wife, came out wearing a coat. "Who is it?" she asked the person outside the gate.

"It's me, Yan Li."

As Gu Yanli spoke, the courtyard gate was already opened from the inside.

Seeing that it was Gu Yanli leading Wen Tang standing outside, Wu Guifang quickly stepped aside from her aunt, "Yanli, what brings you two here at this hour?"

"Come in, come in quickly."

Wen Tang followed Gu Yanli into the courtyard. She was about to call Wu Guifang "Auntie" because Wu Guifang's age was indeed that of an auntie.

But Gu Yanli asked, "Sister-in-law, where is Brother Xu? Is he home?"

Because Xu Huaishan is Xu Zhongguo's third uncle, and Xu Huaishan is also Gu Yanli's uncle-in-law, he is of the same generation as Xu Zhongguo, even though he is young.

Wu Guifang smiled and nodded, pointing to the east room and saying, "Here he is, in the east room!"

As she spoke, she called out to her family's east room, "His father, his father..."

Xu Zhongguo then put on his clothes and came out of the house.

When she saw who it was, she quickly got dressed and let Gu Yanli and Wen Tang come inside.

Wu Guifang quickly went to fetch the thermos and made tea for the two of them.

Xu Zhongguo glanced at the wine in Gu Yanli's hand and knew that the two of them had come for something.

Otherwise, they wouldn't come over so late at night, bringing drinks.

He was just curious what else Gu Yanli couldn't handle, yet still came to him for help.

Although a county magistrate is not as powerful as a local official, he still has to be someone who can actually manage things. He's just a team leader, and all he can manage is this small area. He can't really do anything significant.

Gu Yanli placed the wine on the table, and Xu Zhongguo said, "Look at you two, you came all this way, why did you bring anything?"

Gu Yanli smiled and said, "It's not even the end of the year yet, it wouldn't be right to come empty-handed."

"It's not a very good wine, but you can try it if you don't mind."

Xu Zhongguo quickly picked it up with both hands and examined it carefully for a while. "Hey, what's there to complain about? You know I just love this kind of thing."

As he spoke, he winked at Gu Yanli, "Your sister-in-law usually keeps an eye on me and won't let me drink..."

Just then, Wu Guifang came over carrying a thermos.

As soon as Wu Guifang entered, she smiled and asked, "What bad things are you saying about me now?"

Xu Zhongguo quickly protested his innocence, "No, I just told Yan Li that he was the one who brought the wine, so you can't stop me from drinking it."

Wu Guifang smiled and playfully scolded, "You too, you're of the same generation as Yan Li, yet you can drink Yan Li's wine too."

Xu Zhongguo felt embarrassed to offer the wine after hearing this.

Gu Yanli quickly said, "I rarely come back on weekdays, and it's rare for me to come back for the New Year this year. I'm just here to sit for a while. Even if you asked me to come empty-handed, I would feel embarrassed."

Having said that, Gu Yanli took the opportunity to say, "Actually, the main reason I came today is to ask for your help, elder brother."

Some things should be said; beating around the bush only makes you seem insincere.

So after Gu Yanli finished speaking, Xu Zhongguo quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

He added, "Yan Li, we are not strangers here, so please feel free to speak your mind."

"Just tell me if you can help, and I'll definitely help you."

Gu Yanli looked at Wen Tang, who immediately said, "Captain, it wasn't Yanli who asked you for help, it was me."

Xu Zhongguo was a little cautious, but still said, "Go ahead."

He figured that since Gu Yanli had brought people to his door, it meant that this matter wouldn't harm anyone.

After all, Gu Yanli wasn't the kind of person who couldn't think straight.

Wen Tang then told him that she wanted to make soap and sell it, but she would do so under the banner of the Xiangxing Brigade.

"Captain, the higher-ups haven't prohibited collective economy, so we can do this."

"And once we're able to sell them, I'll hire one person from each store to work there, and pay them a salary, just like working in the city."

“In the early stages when we didn’t need everyone’s help, I would also give 10% of the revenue after deducting costs to the team.”

"The brigade leader can use it to buy rice, flour, oil, or cloth, and distribute it to each household to increase our collective income."

Fearing that Xu Zhongguo might disagree, Wen Tang added, "Captain, don't worry, I will definitely not cause any trouble for our brigade. I just need you to stamp it with the official seal. After that, I will handle all external cooperation. If they are willing to provide us with a place to sell, I will sell. If they are not, I will leave immediately and will not cause any trouble for you, Brother Xu."

When Wen Tang finished speaking, he started addressing Xu Zhongguo as "Brother Xu," and Xu Zhongguo waved his hand to indicate that it wasn't that serious.

Wu Guifang asked curiously, "Yan Li's wife, how come you know how to make this?"

"I had seen it in a book before. I was bored before the New Year, so I tinkered with it and I didn't expect to actually make it."

"I thought this was a hot commodity, so if we could sell it, I'm sure a lot of people would buy it, right?"

"When we sell it out and make money, won't everyone's lives improve?"

Wu Guifang listened and it seemed like a good thing, especially since each household could send one person to work and receive a wage like city dwellers.

However, Xu Zhongguo still said, "Yan Li, Yan Li's wife, I've remembered what you two said, but I still need to think about it."

He then asked, "Is this urgent?"

Wen Tang shook her head. "If you've thought it through, just come back to me."

Xu Zhongguo nodded, "Okay, I'll get back to you once I've thought it through."

"Alright, then we won't disturb your rest any longer, brother and sister-in-law."

When Gu Yanli led his men away, Xu Zhongguo tried to put the wine back, but Gu Yanli refused, and Xu Zhongguo didn't insist.

Gu Yanli knew about this matter, and as long as Xu Zhongguo inquired and found it wasn't dangerous, he agreed.

If he absolutely refuses the wine, then there's no hope for this.

So, when Wen Tang lay in bed and asked him, "Do you think the brigade leader will agree?"

Gu Yanli said, "He will probably agree, but he will definitely need to find someone to sound him out first. Once he has done that, he will probably give you an answer."

Gu Yanli left home the next morning.

This time, when Gu Yanli left, Wen Tang got up to see him off.

Last time she lay there sleeping soundly without moving an inch, but this time she woke up when Gu Yanli was packing his things.

Gu Yanli paused, "Did I disturb you?"

His hands moved even slower, like a mannequin.

Wen Tang propped her head up with her hand and chuckled, "No, I just couldn't sleep because I was thinking about you leaving again."

As she spoke, she lay there, arms outstretched, and said, "Hug me!"

Gu Yanli “…”

Can I just take it with me?

You can't take her away; isn't she torturing people like this?

Although he found it torturous, Gu Yanli still went over and hugged the person tightly, gently instructing, "I'll write to you when I get there, remember to reply when you receive it."

"If you get pregnant, be sure to write to me," she thought for a moment and then said, "Writing is too slow, just send me a telegram!"