"Auntie, since you found your way here, you must know about the situation between Gu Yi and me. I’m eager to get Ye Hao, but if someone tries to use that to take advantage of me, that’s not going to happen."
Yang Lin had learned a bit from her dealings with Li Dongxiang.
Chen Jun’s mother finding the hospital indicated she’d thought things through.
So she decided to lay her cards on the table first.
"Girl, I know the rules. This old lady won’t mess up your plans, don’t worry."
Although Chen Jun’s mother said this, she didn’t mean it.
What Yang Lin thought was a good plan was to get Ye Hao, while the old lady’s idea of a good plan was you getting my son, Yang Jun.
So certainly, she wouldn’t ruin your good plan.
"Alright, then Auntie, it’s settled. Here’s ten yuan for you to buy something nice to eat. Look, you’ve gotten so thin."
Seeing Chen Jun’s mother in a good mood, Yang Lin was happy to get along well with her, too.
After all, if both can get what they want, it’s for the best.
"I knew you were a sweetheart, girl. Those stingy guys in the army now avoid me entirely, no sympathy at all."
Chen Jun’s mother joyfully took the money from Yang Lin’s hand.
She could probably buy some meat today to enjoy.
"Auntie, I don’t need you to do much else. Just keep an eye on Ye Hao’s whereabouts for me, and if Gu Yi shows up, cause some trouble for her."
Yang Lin had been away from the army for some time, and the connections she used to have were gradually fading.
Without any benefits, hardly anyone would do free favors indefinitely.
Moreover, her former army contacts didn’t want to offend Ye Hao or Gu Yi for her.
Since all Chen Jun’s mother needed was some money, Yang Lin was willing to satisfy that.
If Chen Jun’s mother could keep watch in the army and act as her spy, Yang Lin could get the latest updates on Ye Hao’s movements there.
"Alright, you can rely on me. I’ll follow your instructions completely."
Chen Jun’s mother quickly pledged her loyalty to Yang Lin.
Even though Yang Lin despised Chen Jun’s mother’s actions, she relished being flattered.
The verbal agreement between the two was reached.
Chen Jun’s mother quickly found an excuse to leave the hospital.
She asked passersby where the nearest market was and bought some fatty meat there.
She didn’t splurge, just asked the vendor to pack it in a black bag.
At the army’s entrance, she headed straight home without stopping.
She washed the meat, rendered it, and collected the lard.
That way, even when cooking vegetables, she could add a bit of lard.
It counted as an occasional treat.
Chen Jun smelled the meat as soon as he came in.
"Mom, you bought meat? Where did you get the money? Do you still have some left from last time?"
Chen Jun fired off a series of questions.
"I went to see Yang Lin today. She gave me ten yuan. I thought I’d buy some fatty meat as a treat."
Chen Jun’s mother didn’t hide her visit to Yang Lin from him.
After all, Chen Jun was key to her plan moving forward.
"Why would she give you money? Does she want you to help her deal with Gu Yi?"
Chen Jun had heard Li Dongxiang mention something like that before.
If Yang Lin was offering money, it must be about Ye Hao.
"You’re indeed my son; you guessed it right away. I’m just using this as a reason to get closer to Yang Lin. That way we can get some extra money from her, and whatever we plan in the future will be easier. Yang Lin gave me ten yuan today without a second thought, so it seems her family really doesn’t lack money."
Thinking about how Yang Lin casually gave her ten yuan today, Chen Jun’s mother looked greedy.
"Let’s go along with it for now. Once she lets her guard down with us, we can implement our plan."
Chen Jun also thought this was a good approach.
But he hated Ye Hao even more. Why could Ye Hao easily get what he had longed for?
Even someone with Yang Lin’s advantages required all sorts of effort from him to turn into reality.
While Ye Hao didn’t have to do anything, and Yang Lin was already eager to approach him.
The more Yang Jun thought about it, the angrier he got.
"I must have Yang Lin and crush Ye Hao underfoot,"
Chen Jun said with a sinister look.
Gu Yi didn’t bother with whatever schemes Chen Jun and the others were plotting.
In the morning, she prepared more medicine than last time and put it in Ye Hao’s backpack.
In the afternoon, she took her design sketches to find Li Yitian.
They had planned to have dinner with Liang Yesheng.
But Li Yitian and Gu Yi deliberately arrived at the restaurant early.
When Gu Yi arrived, Li Yitian hadn’t come yet.
She had just sat down when she saw Li Yitian rushing in.
"Yiyi, sorry, I got delayed with some things at the store."
Li Yitian apologized as soon as he arrived.
"It’s alright, I just got here too."
After Li Yitian sat down, Gu Yi showed him the design sketches she had drawn in the past few days.
"These are a few summer outfits I designed. Have a look."
Li Yitian didn’t really understand design sketches, but after years in the clothing business, he was very familiar with clothing styles.
Gu Yi had added some new elements to existing popular styles.
The new elements weren’t exaggerated; they offered a fresh look.
Yet they wouldn’t make the clothes overly fashionable.
"Did you design all these?"
Li Yitian examined them one by one.
"Yes, what do you think?"
Gu Yi said ’yes’ a bit apprehensively.
In fact, these were trendy elements from her previous life, adjusted to fit current trends slightly.
"I think these could advance current fashion design a bit."
Li Yitian commented sincerely.
"Then let’s try producing some of these and selling them in the store to see how they’re received."
Gu Yi reiterated Li Yitian’s previous plan.
"Alright, I’ll send these designs to the factory tomorrow."
"There’s something else I’d like to discuss with you."
Gu Yi said as Li Yitian put the designs in his bag.
"I want to talk to Brother Liang about setting aside some land during the development, thinking if my designs gain market approval, we can use it as our manufacturing base."
Li Yitian didn’t expect Gu Yi to bring this up.
When she previously mentioned designing, producing, and selling together, he had given it serious thought.
Though it would require significant initial investment, the advantages were clear.
Currently, clothes were still designed by specialists and then produced under confidentiality agreements with factories.
But if the factory got busy, it would delay his side’s deliveries.
So he quite supported Gu Yi’s idea.
"I’ve thought carefully about your proposal, and I think it’s quite good. I’ll leave the land issue to you."
As they concluded this matter, Liang Yesheng arrived.
Seeing their glasses mostly empty, he hesitated for a moment.
"You two came so early?"
He remembered they planned for dinner and had arrived earlier specifically.
Gu Yi and Li Yitian both stood up.
"We came early to discuss some matters."
Gu Yi said with a smile.