Lin Chuxia stared at his feet and warned, “Watch where you’re going. Fall again and you can really forget about your arm.”
She then sighed at the sight of his deep eyes, “I’m not mad, really. I’m just thinking about what to do next. Qin Yang, do you remember that I’ve taken a master? He’s a well-known traditional Chinese medicine doctor, but for some reasons, he refuses to treat people. I’m thinking of going back and asking my master to take a look at your arm. It might help with the recovery,” and then there’s the spiritual spring water.
Yuan Bao’s leg injury healed quickly after drinking the spiritual spring water. The spiritual spring water should also help with the recovery of Qin Yang’s arm.
I just don’t know if combining the two can restore his arm to its original state.
Thinking of this, Lin Chuxia was somewhat annoyed with Qin Yang. If he had used the spiritual spring water right after the injury, would the recovery have been even better?
But what’s done is done, and it’s no use talking about the past. We can only look forward.
“Then when I go back, I will also pay a visit to the master. Whether he treats me or not doesn’t prevent me from regarding him as an elder.”
The elders of my wife are mine too.
Lin Chuxia grinned, “If you think like that, the master will definitely be touched. Don’t worry, no matter what, I will make him make an exception for you.”
The two of them left the hospital and went to the department store to buy some local specialties to take back with them.
Because of Qin Yang’s injury, they didn’t buy much this time. On the way out, they unexpectedly ran into someone.
Jia Yuanliang hadn’t expected to see Lin Chuxia here and asked while pointing at his own nose, “Big sister, do you still remember me?”
Lin Chuxia was quite surprised to see Jia Yuanliang, but she responded cheerfully, “Of course, Brother Jia.”
It was the man she encountered on her first train trip to the Northwest. Before getting off, the man introduced himself. His surname was Jia, his name was Yuanliang, and he worked as a third-level worker at the local iron factory.
When he heard Lin Chuxia still remembered him, Jia Yuanliang was even happier, “Big sister, have you not left yet? I actually have some matters and I’ve been looking for you, big sister. We didn’t exchange contact information that day, and I’ve been regretting it. I didn’t expect to run into big sister again.”
“Big sister, where are you staying now? Do you have time right now? I really do have something I need your help with, but if you’re busy, it’s okay. Just give me your contact info, and I can find you another time.”
Seeing how insistently he spoke, as if she was about to leave, Lin Chuxia knew he was genuinely looking for her.
But before she could speak, Qin Yang, with his deep gaze, interjected, “It might not be too convenient to leave contact information. She came here to visit relatives.”
Only then did Jia Yuanliang notice there was someone standing beside Lin Chuxia, “And this gentleman is…?”
“This is my husband. I’m here to visit my husband,” Lin Chuxia introduced with a straightforward look at Qin Yang, who appeared somewhat sour.
Sure enough, after her introduction, the man’s expression immediately brightened, and it seemed his spine straightened up a bit too.
Proud as can be.
Lin Chuxia kept the smile to herself and asked Jia Yuanliang, “Brother Jia, what do you need me for? If it’s convenient, just say it outright.”
Jia Yuanliang glanced at the time, looked around, and said, “This isn’t a good place to talk. It’s about time too. If it’s convenient for you guys, let’s go to the State-Owned Restaurant. I’ll treat you to a meal as a way to return the favor for the meat buns you treated me to last time.”
Lin Chuxia and her group had no other plans for today, so they agreed to the proposal after a bit of thought.
She seemed to guess what Jia Yuanliang wanted to talk to her about.
Today, the State-Owned Restaurant offered mutton stew with bread pieces. After confirming that Lin Chuxia had no dietary restrictions, Jia Yuanliang ordered three servings of the dish, a local delicacy that he insisted Lin Chuxia must try.
Knowing that Jia Yuanliang was a straightforward man, Lin Chuxia didn’t stand on ceremony.
The mutton stew and bread were served. Qin Yang’s arm was injured and it was inconvenient for him, so she helped him by breaking the bread into smaller pieces and soaking them in the mutton stew, while casually asking Jia Yuanliang what he wanted to discuss.
Jia Yuanliang was eager to talk, “Here’s the thing, girl, I have a brother at home who’s been wanting to start a small business, but just can’t find the right approach. Recently, he mentioned selling meat buns, and I immediately thought of you. Speaking of meat buns, the tastiest ones I’ve ever had were those that you gave me. My idea was to have my brother learn the craft before opening a shop, but we couldn’t locate the Bun Shop you mentioned. Did I remember it wrong or did I mishear something?”
Lin Chuxia thought to herself that he had neither remembered nor heard incorrectly; it was just that her meat buns were not bought at a transfer station as he had assumed.
But this confirmed that Jia Yuanliang was indeed seeking her out over the meat bun matter.
“No big deal. I’ve looked into it. The craftsmanship of the buns came from Qin’s Buns Shop in Ancheng County, Shanhe Province. If you trust me, let your brother head directly to Ancheng County to look for Qin’s Buns Shop.”
Jia Yuanliang was still hesitant, “Will that work? What if my brother makes the long trip and can’t find Qin’s Buns Shop, or what if they don’t take apprentices? Wouldn’t that be a wasted journey?”
“If you want to do something, how can you know if it’s worth doing without going and seeing for yourself? Only Brother Jia has tried the meat buns, and tastes vary—just because you think the meat buns are delicious doesn’t mean others will agree. If your brother visits Qin’s Buns Shop, he’ll see what the situation is for himself; and as for taking on apprentices, that’s something you won’t know by just sitting at home and thinking about it. There’s an interview process for getting a job, right? Brother Jia, isn’t that the idea?”
As if experiencing an epiphany, Jia Yuanliang agreed this was the right approach. Being overly cautious wouldn’t get things done.
He would send his brother to Ancheng to taste the meat buns from Qin’s Buns Shop for himself and to observe their business operations, gaining experience for when he opens his own shop.
And even if his brother fails to learn the craft, or even to find the Qin’s Steamed Bun shop mentioned by Lin Chuxia, the attempt itself would be a valuable experience.
“I know what to do now, big sister,” he said.
Seeing that Lin Chuxia had barely touched her mutton stew with bread, he felt a bit embarrassed.
“I was too anxious. Eat up, big sister; the mutton stew with bread isn’t good once it cools.”
After finishing lunch, Jia Yuanliang wanted Lin Chuxia’s contact information, but Qin Yang bluntly said, “She doesn’t come to the Northwest often, your having her contact won’t be much use.”
“I can write letters. If my brother really learns the craft, and when the bun shop opens, I definitely want to invite big sister to join the celebration,” Jia Yuanliang declared enthusiastically, but Qin Yang’s face remained impassive, “Thanks, but no need. She doesn’t like crowds.”
With that, he took Lin Chuxia’s hand and they left.
Lin Chuxia held back her laughter, never having seen such a petty man.
She couldn’t help but recall her previous life when, for the sake of business, she would put herself out there as a woman. Li Guangyuan hadn’t minded at all; in fact, he would even push her into the spotlight for the sake of business, having her drink and sing with those people.
There was even one time when it was obvious that the other party had ill intentions towards her, and Li Guangyuan acted as if he didn’t notice, leaving her alone with the man in a private room.