Chapter 165 I Want Grandma to Hear the Sound of the Sea

Chapter 165 I Want Grandma to Hear the Sound of the Sea

Getting ready for the product showcase in the capital still requires some preparation.

Su Taotao stayed up late last night to draft a factory and product introduction, which included several products not yet on the market. She compiled these along with the first product into a promotional booklet and had Xiao Lu rush it to the printer for an urgent order, ensuring it would be delivered to the train station by 5 PM.

She also handed over the factory responsibilities, with Xia Zhiqiu and Auntie Zhong temporarily stepping in as factory managers. They were to handle any decisions if needed, but as long as production ran smoothly and quality control was maintained, everything would be fine. Each group leader had already been chosen and would oversee their group's output, with safe production being the top priority.

Fu Yuanhang and Uncle Mu pitched in at the workshop by cutting hundreds of coconuts, leaving their hands numb. Finally, Su Taotao gave each of them fifty cents, which thrilled them.

An average worker, not counting rest days, earns about one yuan a day. Giving two half-grown kids fifty cents for half a day's work was pretty generous.

For such a major trip to the capital, even the thrifty Auntie Zhong only gave Uncle Mu one yuan as emergency funds.

Auntie Zhong mentioned that food, lodging, and travel costs were all covered, so no money needed to be used. The one yuan was for emergencies and had to be returned if not used.

Uncle Mu wished he could find an emergency to spend the money on right away.

Mo Gong was a bit better off, with ten yuan, but it was also for emergencies and had to be returned if not used.

When Mo Gong felt the ten-yuan bill, he sighed, as it had been a while since he had seen such a large bill in his pocket.

Both father and son were in a sorry state, with their combined savings less than what Fu Yuanhang had, since Fu Yuanhang had just gotten his new month's allowance, plus the payment for the cover illustration and last month's saved allowance, totaling a few cents more than what Mo Gong and his son had together.

In short, it was a sad tale for Uncle Mu, best left unmentioned.

However, Auntie Zhong secretly slipped Su Taotao a hundred yuan: "My husband is always careless, no matter how much money he has, it never lasts. Please help me keep this, spend it as needed on the trip, and for Uncle Mu, use it for his share, don't subsidize it yourself. We'll settle the difference when we return."

Usually, when not traveling with children, Auntie Zhong doesn't bother with Mo Gong, as a grown man can handle things, and the unit can help with large expenses, to be reimbursed later. But with Mo Gong, no amount of money is enough to cover his losses.

Su Taotao, knowing Auntie Zhong's character, didn't stand on ceremony and took the money, planning to return it if unused.

After arranging the factory affairs, Su Taotao and Fu Yuanhang first went to the kindergarten to pick up Fu Haochen for lunch at the canteen, then returned home to pack.

Going on a long trip and returning to their hometown required packing quite a lot.

Before packing, Su Taotao called a meeting with the two little gentlemen:

"Children, you need to control the size of your bags. Chenchen, besides a change of clothes, only bring what you can carry. We won't help you carry anything. Once your small backpack is full, that's it.

Yuanhang, you need to pack everything you'll need, including a change of clothes and toiletries, but also within what you can carry. Do you understand?"

The two children saluted Su Taotao in unison: "Report, Mom/Sister-in-law~~ Understood~~"

Su Taotao clapped her hands: "Then start packing now, action!"

"Okay~~ Mom/Sister-in-law~~"

The two children first went to the bathroom to pack their toiletries.

In those days, even buying a towel required a coupon, and hotels didn't provide disposable items. Everything needed for the trip, except for bedding and pillows, had to be brought along.

Fortunately, it was summer, so not many clothes were needed. The children's clothes were almost all bought as matching sets, with white shirts and green military uniforms being their favorites, so these two sets had to be brought.

Both children were in sync, only bringing these two sets for changes.

Considering that sleeping would wrinkle their clothes, Fu Yuanhang discussed with Chenchen: "How about we bring an old set of clothes as pajamas?"

Chenchen nodded: "Okay~~ Uncle Shu~~"

So the two children went to find their most worn-out clothes to bring along.

Chenchen was struggling while packing his "treasures," wanting to bring this and that, but his little backpack was already full.

"Uncle Shu~~ can you help Chenchen carry this~~" Chenchen handed a large conch shell to Fu Yuanhang.

Fu Yuanhang frowned and tried to reason with him, "This is too heavy, it's inconvenient to bring along, can we leave it behind?"

Chenchen puffed his cheeks, "But~~ but~~ I want Grandma~~ to hear the sound of the sea~~ that's where Grandpa worked~~"

Chenchen knew that Grandma had never seen the sea, nor had she seen the lighthouse Grandpa guarded, because as far as he could remember, Grandma had never traveled far, and Qinglian County couldn't see the sea.

Hearing this, Fu Yuanhang was nearly moved to tears.

Actually, Su Taotao had once mentioned in front of Chenchen that his father was a martyr, buried in the Martyrs' Cemetery, but at that time, Chenchen was quite withdrawn, not caring about the outside world, and didn't pay attention.

Finally, Fu Yuanhang said nothing, took the large conch shell from Chenchen's hands, and put it into his own backpack.

Chenchen clapped his hands happily, stood on his tiptoes, and took a paintbrush from Fu Yuanhang's backpack, putting it into his own little backpack, "Uncle Shu helps Chenchen carry the big conch shell~~ Chenchen helps Uncle Shu carry this~~"

Fu Yuanhang: "..." You sure know how to pick, choosing the lightest and least space-consuming one.

Fu Yuanhang took the paintbrush back, "No need, Uncle's backpack still has space, you take your own art supplies."

Upon hearing this, Chenchen "dong dong dong" ran to get his own art supplies and shoved them all into Fu Yuanhang's backpack.

Fu Yuanhang: "??"

Chenchen blinked his big eyes, looking at him innocently and naturally, "There's still room~~"

Fu Yuanhang: "..." Alright, I'll carry it for you, even with the erhua accent.

After the two children packed their own things, Su Taotao was almost done packing too, actually, Fu Zhengtu had packed most of it last night, she was just checking and added some things.

She also brought some local specialties back for Zhou Linglan, but since she was alone with the children, it wasn't practical to stay long, fortunately, she had sent many things back before, so she wasn't lacking anything, it was just a gesture.

Auntie Zhong and Xia Zhiqiu also took some of their local specialties, asking Su Taotao to bring them back for Zhou Linglan to try, the bits and pieces didn't seem like much, but actually, it was quite a lot when packed.

Even during the peak of summer, Su Taotao and Fu Zhengtu only brought enough clothes for changing, if it were winter, it would be even more.

Su Taotao didn't check the children's luggage, just repeatedly emphasized that they were responsible for their own packed items, and if they found something missing in the capital, they couldn't just buy it again, they had to check it themselves.

So the two children exchanged and checked each other's luggage, making sure everything was in order before going downstairs.

Baibai had to be sent to Auntie Zhong's house, asking Mo Jiazhe to look after him for a few days.

Actually, sending him to Xia Zhiqiu's house could let him play with Dongdong for a few days, but Auntie Zhong's house had Dahei as a companion, after Chenchen "consulted" Baibai's opinion, he decided to send him to Auntie Zhong's house, they treated dogs very 'democratically.'

Everything was arranged properly, Fu Zhengtu and Mo Gong also got off work early to prepare, waiting to take the base shuttle bus off the island to catch the train.