novelraw Chapter 692 : Why Are You Here_
Chapter 692 : Why Are You Here_
Chapter 692: Why Are You Here?
The location of the supermarket was chosen by Chen Fan's second aunt and third aunt together.
It was situated on the first floor of a commercial building in the urban area, with two levels, totaling over 1,800 square meters.
The size was not small, and it could be considered a small shopping center.
It's worth noting that in 2005, the entire Luocheng county town only had one Trust-Mart supermarket.
Chen family's supermarket could be considered the second large-scale shopping supermarket.
After a meeting, the three relatives of the Chen family decided that the second aunt, who had experience running a small supermarket, would be the supermarket manager.
Third uncle and fourth uncle would be deputy managers, and they also specially hired an experienced deputy manager from outside.
In fact, both third uncle and fourth uncle were just nominal positions, and the actual management of the supermarket was handled by the deputy manager hired from outside.
In addition, Chen Fan's third aunt was responsible for managing the supermarket's accounts, while the fourth aunt assisted on the side.
As for the daily incoming and outgoing goods, they were handled by Chen Fan's uncle-in-law and fourth uncle.
It was as if all relatives had positions, and daily management decisions were made through meetings.
Chen Fan had no objections to this arrangement, as it was originally intended to fund their business venture.
He didn't feel it appropriate to say too much.
After touring the supermarket, he found that everything was in order, not much different from the Trust-Mart supermarket in the county town.
Chen Fan then felt at ease.
As long as there were no major operational errors, opening a supermarket in a small place like Luocheng should steadily earn money for a few years.
The third aunt, who was responsible for showing Chen Fan around, explained with a smile: "We originally planned to have your dad be the supermarket manager, but we asked him several times, and he refused."
Chen Fan shook his head with a smile.
"My dad isn't cut out for this. Even if he became the manager, he wouldn't be comfortable."
"It's better to let them enjoy their retirement at home."
Seeing that Chen Fan wasn't angry, the third aunt secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Third aunt, how is my cousin's hair salon doing?" Chen Fan asked.
The third aunt smiled and said, "It's been open for two months now, and business is just so-so. Your cousin is not very satisfied. You should have a good chat with her when you see her."
"This girl just can't settle down. She's too careless."
Chen Fan smiled: "The county town is only so big, and there are many barbershops, so business naturally can't compare to big cities."
"Actually, as long as her skills are good and she can accumulate a group of regular customers, I think it's still easy to make money every month."
The third aunt nodded: "That's what I told her too, but this girl just won't listen. She's always complaining."
"You're about the same age, help your third aunt educate her well."
Chen Fan could only nod with a smile, agreeing for now.
"By the way, Xiao Fan, have dinner at your third aunt's house tonight. Your third uncle bought fish, I remember you liked fish the most when you were little."
Chen Fan answered quite readily.
"Sure, I haven't tasted third uncle's cooking for a long time anyway."
"Then come tonight. I'll call your third uncle later and tell him to make more delicious dishes."
After chatting with the third aunt for a while, Chen Fan left the supermarket alone, planning to drive to his cousin Chen Wan's hair salon to take a look.
Just as he left the supermarket, his phone rang.
He took it out and smiled.
"Hello, Wife, missing me?"
On the other end of the phone was Su Ruochu, who should have just finished class and called Chen Fan.
"I'm in Luocheng. Yes, I just came back this morning."
"My relatives opened a supermarket, and I came to take a look."
"By the way, if you have time in the afternoon, I'll go to your house and bring some gifts for your parents."
After chatting for a few sentences, Su Ruochu on the other end of the phone finally spoke up hesitantly.
"Chen Fan, I have something I want to tell you, and you can't get angry when you hear it."
"Huh?" Chen Fan was a bit surprised.
"What is it? Tell me."
"I've been working on a research project about remote mountain areas recently, and my advisor just told me that the school has a summer volunteer teaching program in rural villages and suggested I sign up."
"Only after field research can I write more detailed project materials..."
Chen Fan's eyes widened: "You... signed up?"
"Mm-hmm."
"To teach in remote mountain areas? Wait, where exactly?"
Su Ruochu said softly: "Our group has been assigned to the Sichuan-Chongqing region."
Chen Fan immediately frowned: "Doesn't that mean you won't be coming back for the summer vacation?"
"No..." Afraid that Chen Fan would get angry, Su Ruochu hurriedly explained: "It's just for a little over a month, and I'll come back early."
"If I go, I probably won't be able to return to Yunhai to accompany you then."
"You... won't be angry, right?"
To be honest, Chen Fan was quite unwilling to let Su Ruochu go.
After waiting for half a year, not only would they not be able to see each other, but also the fact that she would be going so far away to such a remote mountain area for volunteer teaching made Chen Fan's heart ache just thinking about it.
Su Ruochu explained gently: "I just verbally signed up with the advisor. I haven't signed the official documents yet."
"I wanted to ask you if you would support me. If... if you really don't agree, then I... I'll tell the advisor I'm not going."
Chen Fan smiled bitterly.
With Su Ruochu putting it this way, he really couldn't bring himself to refuse.
After a few seconds of silence, Chen Fan spoke.
"Do you want to go?"
"Mm-hmm." Su Ruochu explained: "I actually really want to go. Many people from the college have signed up too."
"I've calculated, it's 40 to 50 days of volunteer teaching, and when I come back there will still be more than 10 days of vacation left, then I can go back to Yunhai to accompany you properly..."
Chen Fan shook his head: "I'm not talking about the companionship issue, I mean, it's a remote mountain area, the conditions are so harsh, I'm afraid you'll suffer and be exhausted..."
Su Ruochu quickly said with a smile: "It's okay. If everyone else can do it, I can do it too."
"Don't always treat me like a child, okay?"
"I wasn't spoiled since childhood, I can take care of myself, okay?"
Chen Fan sighed.
"Is there no way you won't go?"
Su Ruochu hesitated for a moment: "If... if you don't let me go, then I can only listen to you..."
Chen Fan couldn't help but laugh and cry.
"Wife, you've already said so much, if I really don't agree, wouldn't you hate me to death?"
"Ah? So you agree to let me go?" Su Ruochu on the other end of the phone obviously became a bit excited.
Chen Fan sighed.
"I support you in living out your own brilliance and pursuing your dreams while you're young."
"It's just... I agree, but we need to make three agreements."
"Go ahead, I'll agree to everything," Su Ruochu said excitedly.
Chen Fan thought for a moment and said: "First, call me at least once a day to let me know what you're doing."
"Mm-hmm. Of course, that's no problem."
"Second: Don't wander around while volunteering, just do your job properly. If you feel unwell or get sick at any time, the volunteer activity must stop immediately, and you must come back right away."
Su Ruochu thought for a moment and nodded.
"Okay."
"Third: Keep your phone on at all times, don't turn it off, so that I can contact you anytime."
"As soon as the volunteer teaching is over, come back immediately."
"Okay. I agree to all of them."
Su Ruochu agreed without any hesitation.
Chen Fan had no choice but to let Su Ruochu go volunteer teaching.
After all, he didn't want to tie her down like a caged bird.
Loving her means letting her go do what she likes, to be a free and unfettered seagull. This was Chen Fan's original promise.
Then Chen Fan continued to talk sweetly for a while, clearly reluctant to end the call. After talking for nearly half an hour, he finally hung up reluctantly.
Putting away his phone, just as he was about to leave, Chen Fan's gaze suddenly froze.
He looked at the familiar figure across the street with surprise.
For a moment, he doubted if he was seeing things.
"You... why are you here?"