Chapter 634 - 615: The New Store Manager

Lin Wan has been coming over these nights, and she sees Su Daimei as a good choice. "Still surveying, recently I have my eyes on a place, but it’s not settled yet. If it’s successful, we’ll start with the renovation there."

"Sister Xiao Wan, there’s another situation... Sister Su occasionally brings her daughter over here on Saturdays and Sundays."

Lin Wan was taken aback "..."

Xiao Gu looked around, seeing no one, he whispered, "Sister Su is a divorced single mother, raising a seven-year-old daughter. However, her daughter is already in elementary school, and since there’s no one to take care of her on Saturdays and Sundays, she would accompany Sister Su at the store. Plus, the daughter comes to the store to find Sister Su after school, waiting to leave together."

Lin Wan frowned, "I’ve been here these days, why haven’t I seen the child come over?"

"Sister Su is afraid that you won’t let her work here if you see it, so she lets her child wait at home for her."

Her brows, already furrowed, tightened even more. Having grown up with her mom, she understands how tough it is for a single mother raising a child.

They have the ability to provide convenience to the child, and sometimes lending a hand may save a mother and daughter.

"Xiao Gu, is the child well-behaved?"

"Well-behaved, she’s a very well-behaved little girl. Everyone at the store likes her. She doesn’t cry or fuss when she comes here. We find an empty table for her, and she sits quietly doing her homework, not moving for over two hours."

"Tell Sister Su to let the child come over after school in the future. The child is so young, going home alone is unsafe. As long as it doesn’t affect the store, the child can follow her."

"Okay, Sister Xiao Wan, you’re so nice."

Lin Wan rolled her eyes with amusement, "When you have a child, you’ll be just like me."

"...Oh by the way, Shuhua said you’ve been going to Aunt Jin’s to help recently."

Xiao Gu scratched his head awkwardly, "Last time when I got injured, Uncle Jin, Aunt Jin, and Shuhua took care of me day and night. I’m very grateful."

"Haha, yes, thanks to Aunt Jin and the others, but..." Lin Wan said, deliberately examining Xiao Gu, pausing before speaking, "Why do I feel like you’re using Aunt Jin as an excuse to see someone across the street?"

Just as Lin Wan finished speaking, Xiao Gu’s face turned red.

The question Lin Wan had been curious about was confirmed today. Although she didn’t show it, she was happy for them in her heart. Because both of them deserve happiness.

"Xiao... Sister Xiao Wan, I... I didn’t."

"Didn’t what?"

"Um..." Lin Wan’s deliberate words made Xiao Gu even more embarrassed, so he swiftly changed the topic, "Uh, I’ve been thinking about buying a yard recently. Can you keep an eye out for me, Sister Xiao Wan?"

"Sure, planning to save money for a house to get married."

Xiao Gu gave a shy smile, "With Ye Zi and the others around these past two years, I’ve been more relaxed. I’m getting older, and renting a house isn’t right, so I’m thinking of buying a yard, so I won’t drift around anymore."

Lin Wan patted Xiao Gu’s shoulder, speaking with emotion, "Good job, brother. I’ll keep an eye out for you. If the money’s not enough, let me know."

"Mm," was already enough to move Xiao Gu to tears.

Once she had the right candidate, Lin Wan started dealing with the shop matters.

Actually, after Mom left, she began paying attention to the shop.

This one on Steel Road is rented. This time when she opens a branch, she plans to buy a plot so that it has potential for appreciation.

Actually, Xiao Wan has her eyes on a spot already, and she’s negotiating the price with the owner.

It’s right next to Aunt Jin, a small two-story building. If she buys it, there’s no need for rebuilding for now; this building was originally a teahouse. During 1955, the government did public-private partnerships and was the first to transform. Later it became a government property, teahouse business didn’t go well, changed to a breakfast shop. Since last year, after privatization, the country no longer cared much, and business became stagnant. Since they returned the property to its owner, the owner expressed dissatisfaction with the public-private partnerships. Watching them turn it into a dilapidated building angered them, so they decided to sell it. The building is still an ancient architecture, with many carved decorations, traditional style, fitting perfectly for their Shuxiang Pavilion. The first floor is spacious, can hold over twenty tables, and next to a wall is a wide staircase leading to a large suspended platform. One side of the platform railing directly faces the first floor’s entrance, providing an open view. Besides this, what’s more attractive is the large yard at the back. Just like the Steel Road rental, only bigger, it can accommodate four vertical row side-by-side suites.

Lin Wan thought the back could connect to the front building, constructing a two-story building with traditional style in consistent color tone. Half below could be the hall, the other half rooms, hosting events, weddings, banquets with space for four or five tables, and small rooms accommodating four. The second floor remains as rooms.

The only issue right now is the price. That family insisted on a fixed price of six thousand.

Compared to the place Mom bought in Z City, it’s not much different. Mom bought it for just over three thousand. Yet here, it’s doubled. Although it’s a bustling area, Lin Wan feels it’s too high.

So now she’s still negotiating the price.

....

Qiu Hualan looked at her daughter, whom she hadn’t seen for a few months, as thin as a bag of bones. Heartbroken, she held her daughter and cried a good while.

"Ma, don’t cry, your daughter is back now. In the reform labor team surely doesn’t have food as good as home. It’s normal to be thin, it’ll be fine, a little nourishment and I’ll gain it back." Ye Qing is most concerned about her appearance now.

Currently, she’s indeed jaundiced and frail, lacking any glow or fair skin. She resents this look, wondering how she can attract a man’s eyes.

Immediate need is replenishment. Her only leverage to hold onto Mei Langchi is the child and Mei Langchi’s guilt for her.

"Hua Hua, haven’t seen you in months, have you missed Mommy?" It’s only been a few months since Mei Chunhua, how would she understand? A few months later, the child won’t even let her hold him due to being unfamiliar.

Witnessing this, Ye Qing started shedding silent tears on the side.

Mei Langchi returned this time, and his son didn’t recognize him either. Knowing Ye Qing’s sadness, he quickly comforted her, "Don’t be upset, children are recognizing people now, it’ll be better after some time. Right now, focus on resting well and getting nourished. Yesterday, I gave Aunt fifty yuan to buy some chickens for you to nourish up."

"Mm," Ye Qing wiped away her tears, ignoring her mom present, and turned into Mei Langchi’s embrace.

Seeing this, Qiu Hualan quickly took her grandson out of the room.

As a mother, she had no face to witness this.

...

"Ah Ron, your mom hasn’t sent money home for months, what’s going on?" In Kao Shan Village, Ye Weijun puffed on his clay pipe with a worried look.

"Dad, why don’t you call Ah Qing and ask what’s up."

"I’ve called. The month she didn’t send money back, I called, the old man who answered said there’s no such person. I’ve kept calling, and they still said there’s no such person."

"Dad, I returned home a few days ago and heard from Liang Ergu that my mom wasn’t taking care of anyone’s children over there but was following my sister-in-law. They even said the child she’s holding is my sister-in-law’s. At that time, I thought it was nonsense. Do you think it could really be true..."

"What? Ah Qing has a child? Where did the child come from?" Ye Weijun’s voice was abrupt, unwilling to believe it, glaring in opposition.

Seeing Fang Qiao scared into silence, Ye Rong frowned, "Dad, unless you go over there yourself you’ll find out."

"Me go?" Ye Weijun pointed at himself in surprise.

"Yeah, I’m too busy with the work to manage any. Only you can go." Ye Rong has been unable to raise his head in the village recently. Days ago, Liang Zhi followed his uncle to S City, and upon return, they fired him in front of so many people.

When asked for the reason, Ah Zhi replied unpleasantly, "Go ask your sister."

This infuriated Ye Rong, made him feel ashamed, and left no outlet for the anger he kept bottled up.

He’s been diligent here, working harder than anyone. Suddenly, he was dismissed without reason. Others from the village are still working well, he’s the only one sent back home. This leaves him unable to lift his head in the village anymore.