Chen Lan had been agonizing over the housing issue for days, deep in thought at home. Her worry was starting to make her irritable, as she couldn't find any solutions.
Her mother, observing her children playing, saw the twins happily on the seesaw, Xiao Shitou and Hu Tou on the slide, and Xiao Douzi, a studious child, engrossed in his picture book.
Turning, her mother noticed Chen Lan on the sofa, restless and clearly vexed.
Seeing Chen Lan's agitation, she asked, "Lan'er, have you encountered a difficult matter? As the saying goes, one person's idea is short-sighted, while two people's is long. Why don't you tell me about it? Perhaps Mother can help you think it through and offer some assistance!"
Chen Lan considered this, realizing it was true. She wouldn't find a good solution by just brooding alone.
So, she confided in her mother, explaining her concerns: "Mother, what do you think? If Brother Mingxuan's comrades arrive at the valley before the thaw, where will they stay? How will we accommodate them? Even if we wanted to build new houses, we couldn't. The ground is frozen solid!"
Her mother chuckled upon hearing this, smiling as she said, "Lan'er, your worries are all about things that haven't happened yet. There's no concrete plan. Why are you overthinking things here?
Consider this: Xiang Dong and Er Hu, along with a few others, are traveling to Shandong, Shanxi, Hebei, and even farther afield to find people. Who knows what might happen on their journey?
I estimate that if things go smoothly, it will take at least several months. A round trip will likely take three to four months. If things don't go smoothly, it might take half a year.
By the time they bring people back to the valley, the Changbai Mountains will have long since thawed. By then, perhaps new houses will already be built, ready for immediate occupancy. You'd have worried for nothing!"
Chen Lan listened to her mother's words and realized she was right. It made sense. She decided not to dwell on it any longer. As the saying goes, "When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a road."
She decided to leave the housing matters to the men. Her role was to guide the overall direction.
"Mother, I understand," she said. "Let Uncle De and Uncle Fu and the other men worry about the housing. I'll just focus on the overall direction. They can handle the other responsibilities.
It's like the greenhouses. Since they were built, I've hardly managed them, leaving everything to Uncle De and Uncle Fu. And they've managed them perfectly well!"
Her mother smiled with relief. "Yes, Lan'er, that's the right way to think. Managing a household isn't easy, and managing the household for so many people in the valley is even harder.
Just focus on guiding the valley towards a better future. As long as everyone has enough to eat, clothes to wear, and a place to live, and leads a life of abundance, everyone will listen to you and work hard with you!
For other daily trifles, you don't need to do everything yourself. Delegate these tasks and choose capable individuals to be responsible.
It's like the sewing cooperative. You provided all the materials, machines, and arranged the personnel, then put Auntie Xiao Shan in charge. You didn't have to worry about it, and everyone is doing a great job!"
"Of course, the most crucial thing is to 'know your people and use them wisely,' so you can choose good helpers. Like this time with finding Brother Mingxuan's comrades, Xiang Dong and Er Hu took the initiative themselves. That's excellent.
Lan'er, when managing, you must also learn to let go, to let them do things themselves. What's the harm if they make mistakes? They can always try again. We have plenty of time. Let the men learn to bear responsibility and become capable and responsible individuals."
Chen Lan nodded. "I understand, Mother. You're right. I will let them take the lead."
Her mother continued, "Lan'er, before lunch, please take some time to go to the kitchen and make a bowl of noodles for each of your two younger brothers. Today is their seventh birthday. We'll have a simple celebration for them, just a bowl of noodles to mark the occasion."
Chen Lan immediately objected. "Mother, this is their first birthday since coming to the valley. How can we celebrate it so casually? I want to plan something special and unforgettable for them."
She paused, then added, "Mother, I recall that the day after tomorrow is also your birthday, isn't it? Why don't we compromise? Let's celebrate your birthday and the twins' birthdays together tomorrow. We'll have a lively celebration and bring a sense of prosperity to the valley! We'll chase away any bad luck. This will also give everyone a chance to have some fun. When Brother Mingxuan left so suddenly, his comrades didn't get to celebrate properly. Let's use your birthday and the twins' birthdays as an opportunity to host them again. What do you think?"
Her mother considered this and nodded in agreement. Still a little concerned, she asked, "Lan'er, will it be too extravagant?"
Chen Lan quickly explained, "Mother, what extravagance? It's just a few dishes we usually eat, with the addition of a few more meat dishes. And there will only be one birthday cake on the table.
Mother, look at the little ones playing with their toys. You don't need to hold them. Just let them play by themselves. I'll go upstairs to prepare now."
With that, Chen Lan immediately got up and went upstairs to make preparations.
Back in her room, Chen Lan comfortably lay on the bed and opened the system with her mind, ready to purchase birthday gifts for her mother and her two younger brothers.
After browsing the system for a while, she chose a new French perfume for her mother – Chanel No. 5 Eau Première.
This was a newer version of the classic French perfume, Chanel No. 5. This fragrance was not too strong nor too light, with a perfectly balanced scent, suitable for women between thirty and forty years old.
It featured a citrus fruity base, with a vibrant interplay of lemon, mandarin, and sweet orange. Harmonious notes of rose, jasmine, and a new blend of ylang-ylang were combined with invigorating vetiver and cedar, accompanied by the soft scent of white musk. It was so close to nature, so fresh and pleasing.
Without hesitation, Chen Lan placed the order.
She then selected an elegant silk scarf with a classic color from the system for her mother.
For her two younger brothers, the gifts were a new puzzle set and a copy of the "100,000 Whys" book.
She also bought each of the brothers a children's bicycle with training wheels.
Of course, she didn't forget her brother-in-law, Mingzhe. Chen Lan also ordered a children's bicycle of the same model for him. The only difference was in the color of the three bicycles; otherwise, they were identical.