Chapter 1273: Chapter 664: Life’s Uncertainties

Tan Xiaoyu was just thirty years old this year, not really old, and passed away like that; it’s quite regrettable.

It’s rare for these classmates to specially come over, waiting for his body to be transported back for the memorial.

Chen Feng didn’t expect it to be this matter and felt somewhat melancholy inside.

He had cancer too, but his luck was much better than Tan Xiaoyu’s and could even be called defying fate.

Otherwise, he might have left earlier than Tan Xiaoyu.

This is fate for everyone, and Chen Feng’s situation is considered a miracle. In this world, miracles are extremely rare.

Most people can’t recover from this kind of illness, and extending life for a few years is already a blessing.

Even for Chen Feng, although his condition miraculously started improving, he still can’t guarantee complete recovery.

Therefore, Chen Feng felt somewhat like the fox grieving over the death of the rabbit and certainly didn’t refuse to go along to pay respects to Tan Xiaoyu.

Chen Feng opened the door first, invited the classmates in to sit, and made no fuss. He let them sit down while he went to the kitchen out back to get some cups, carried a kettle over, and poured each person a cup of water.

Then, he found a place to sit and listened to these old classmates talk about Tan Xiaoyu’s life circumstances.

Before discovering the illness, Tan Xiaoyu’s life was quite good. After graduating from middle school, he first followed his parents to run a fruit shop elsewhere, the business was so-so. A few years later, the family came back to their hometown, first he worked in a local factory with his dad, then he partnered with people to start a small goods business, just some daily general merchandise, making trendy copies of useful little gadgets for everyday life, especially some plastic products like plastic draining baskets, soap boxes, tooth mugs and such.

The business was alright. If it happened to copy one or two popular items successfully, it made a considerable profit.

Therefore, later he made a down payment on a house in the county town and also found quite a pretty girlfriend, and two or three years later, they were naturally engaged.

They were planning to get married originally; however, then the illness was discovered. His fiancée initially showed some loyalty and accompanied him for half a year, but later, as the treatment cost led to selling the house and car, in the end she naturally left him.

Afterwards, his illness worsened, and more money was spent, eventually his family couldn’t sustain it and had to gather from various sources.

With the help of kind people in society, local folks, relatives, friends, and classmates, they actually raised quite a bit of money.

Unfortunately, eventually, he still couldn’t extend his life further and passed away.

With this disease, apart from extremely rare miracle cases, it basically comes down to the difference of how long or short it lasts. Living a couple of extra years is already quite good.

Everyone sighed and lamented for a while, then the conversation shifted to some amusing events from school years, time seemed to pass quickly.

After more than half an hour, Chen Feng’s parents came back, were about to prepare dinner for these classmates, but were refused by them.

Just then Xie Xiaohua received a call, saying he would arrive soon. So, everyone took their leave, and Chen Feng did the same, as everyone either drove or took a ride to Tan Xiaoyu’s home.

Yu Xiaohui didn’t drive herself there but chose to ride in Chen Feng’s car.

To this, a few middle school classmates gave somewhat ambiguous smiles to them, but didn’t say much.

They were all adults; Chen Feng divorced, Yu Xiaohui’s husband passed away, being close is perfectly normal, even if there really was something between them, others couldn’t say much.

Chen Feng didn’t deliberately avoid suspicion; when she said she wanted to ride with him, Chen Feng didn’t hesitate to agree.

Anyway, to return to the city or county from Tan Xiaoyu’s place, one has to pass through Qingpu Town, there’s really no need to drive separately. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"How is the jewelry store business going?"

Once seated in the car, Yu Xiaohui asked with concern.

"Today, I just found the premises; it’s at Baijia Square in Yuelou Town, just north of the entrance, around ten meters in, the location is quite good."

"That’s good, once Zhao Shengsheng’s headquarters approves, you can officially start hiring. I can recommend a few store manager candidates for you to choose from, or you can recruit yourself."

"I’ll choose from the people you recommended. I already told you last time."

"Alright, I’ll pick the right ones for you. However, a jewelry store is different from a regular shop. You still need means to monitor and supervise the store manager properly, can’t let her have opportunities for embezzling or stealing. As long as you’re aware of this aspect. It’s best to choose someone you trust for the store manager, even if recommended by me, I can’t ensure they won’t have issues."

Chen Feng explained, "I’ll hire a professional accountant for financial supervision and also periodically invite an accounting firm for auditing, plus my parents will help out in the store, with my mom as assistant manager, and my dad as head of security."

Yu Xiaohui couldn’t help but laugh at hearing this, "You’re having your parents work for you?"

Chen Feng laughed as well, "One of the reasons I’m opening the jewelry store is for them, you know it’s hard for our parent’s generation to be idle. My parents are like that; they still go to work every day. My dad still drives for delivery, loads and unloads stuff; it’s nowhere near as easy as being security."

Yu Xiaohui nodded, "That’s true. You’re quite a filial son."

"Wouldn’t say such a filial son, just that now I have the ability and money, can’t let my parents suffer and toil."

"You’re spending so much to open a jewelry store for the sake of letting your parents relax, isn’t that being a filial son?"

"I’m not doing it entirely for my parents."

"No need to be humble," Yu Xiaohui smiled and changed the topic, "I have nothing much to do these two days, how about accompanying you to prepare for the opening of the jewelry store? I’m more familiar with this than you are."

Chen Feng was quite troubled with the store preparations himself, so he was overjoyed upon hearing this and readily agreed, "That’s great, I’m really not familiar with this aspect, having your help would be wonderful."

Yu Xiaohui noticed Chen Feng didn’t treat her like an outsider and was quite pleased, smiling as she said, "Preparing for a jewelry store is quite tedious, you surely wouldn’t understand all that without prior exposure. I have experience in this, will surely save you a lot of hassle."

With Yu Xiaohui’s help, it was undoubtedly the best arrangement, Chen Feng immediately smiled and thanked her, "Thanks, I’ll treat you to a big meal tomorrow."

"There’s no need for formalities between us," Yu Xiaohui playfully smiled at him.

The two laughed and ceased exchanging polite words.

After all, they had already become close, indeed no need for too much courtesy.

During their conversation, they and several cars arrived at Tan Xiaoyu’s house; it was just three to four kilometers away from Qingpu Town center, a short drive.

By now, many people had gathered at Tan Xiaoyu’s doorstep, evidently aware of his passing.

The few classmates got out of their cars, and after waiting a few minutes, the hearse carrying Tan Xiaoyu’s body arrived.