Uncle De immediately took a step back and bowed slightly, replying, "Young Madam."
Chen Lan quickly corrected him, "It's the new government now. There are no young masters or madams. Don't call us that anymore! Tell your family too, it's sensitive now."
Uncle De mumbled, "Then! What should I call you?"
"I'll discuss it with Mother later to decide on a unified way of addressing everyone, so we don't make mistakes," Chen Lan said. "Come in first. Mother has something urgent to discuss with you!" Chen Lan then stepped aside.
"Ah! I'll come in right away." He then bowed and crossed the threshold into the inner room.
Just as Chen Lan was about to close the door again, she saw Ming Wei walking slowly towards her, supporting a frail old woman. Chen Lan waited at the doorway for them to approach. The old woman's clothes, though only six-tenths new, were neat and clean, without a single wrinkle, indicating she was a meticulous person.
While Chen Lan was observing the old woman, the old woman bowed to Chen Lan and said, "Cui Mama, please don't be so formal. Come in quickly." Chen Lan quickly moved aside, waving her hand, and gestured for Ming Wei to help Cui Mama inside.
Ming Wei also called out, "Sister-in-law!"
When Chen Lan closed the door again and entered the inner room, she saw everyone already seated, looking at her.
As Chen Lan was wondering what was happening, her mother-in-law spoke at the right moment, "Xiao Lan, explain to De Shun carefully how to proceed, and we'll discuss it as you speak."
Chen Lan didn't hesitate and immediately explained the whole situation. Finally, she said, "Uncle De, please take some trouble today to sort out the accounts for the shops and properties. Just withdraw the cash and pay the monthly wages for all the workers first, including your family. Do whatever is necessary. If the money isn't enough, come to me. Su Dan Novel Network."
"Also, if they don't want money, they can have grain or goods. Remember to give them some extra as a bonus."
"This is quite urgent, so you can start distributing today once you're prepared. If there's any money left, give it to Mother. Keep enough grain for our family of over ten people to eat for three months. The same applies to oil, salt, and seasonings. Everything else should be packed, registered, and along with all the land deeds, donated to the government."
"Uncle De, are the deeds for the two shops ours?"
"Yes, they are," Uncle De replied.
"Mother, are we donating the shop buildings as well?"
"The whole thing. Donate it all and be done with it!" her mother-in-law said, her eyes red and her voice muffled.
Uncle De lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before saying hoarsely, "Alright!"
Cui Mama beside him was also wiping away tears, and Gentle Mother's eyes also turned red.
Seeing everyone so dejected, Chen Lan quickly comforted them, "Mother-in-law, Mother, Uncle De, Cui Mama, please don't worry. I will work hard to ensure you all live even better than you do now. Don't worry, and relax!"
With red eyes, Uncle De looked at his mother-in-law and then at Chen Lan, reconfirming, "Are we really donating everything?"
Chen Lan nodded solemnly.
Her mother-in-law also nodded.
Uncle De stood up and said hoarsely, "Alright! From now on, even if we have to eat coarse grains, we will all be together. We will share our blessings and bear our hardships together. I need to get busy now." Saying this, he stood up, nodded to everyone, bowed, and walked out of the inner room.
Chen Lan also stood up and greeted her mother-in-law, her own mother, and Cui Mama, saying she was going to check if the two little ones were awake, and then walked into the inner bedroom. She left the three of them to chat and strengthen their bonds.
Upon entering the bedroom, she saw the two little ones still fast asleep, their faces flushed.
Chen Lan took the opportunity to steal a moment of rest and lay down by the bed. Habitually, she reached for her phone. With a thought, she took out her phone, unlocked it, and started operating it. She didn't know what she needed yet, so she wasn't in a hurry to buy anything. She first wanted to explore this app. Besides shopping... warehouse... Oh! Right... and there's...