Hou Xiaobao pointed to Jia Liang, “Brother Liang even invited me to celebrate the holidays with them, but I thought the Bun Shop couldn’t be left unattended during the break, so I decided to spend the holidays at the Bun Shop and have a reunion dinner at Brother Liang’s place. Aunt Jia has been really good to us now; she’d be unhappy if I didn’t go.”
Lin Chuxia nodded, glad to hear he had plans.
Hou Xiaobao scratched his head, “Boss, I was the only one who came back empty-handed from running sales this time, are you disappointed in me? I’ve been thinking about it a lot since I got back. Maybe it’s because of my image, I’m thinking of trying again after the New Year. I’ll visit more clients and won’t let you down, Boss.”
So that was the issue.
Indeed, among those who went out, only Hou Xiaobao returned with nothing.
During those days, as everyone seemed downcast and the courtyard became busier, he had no time to dwell on these thoughts, but it seemed he was still concerned about it.
Lin Chuxia neither affirmed nor denied this, but instead asked, “Are you unsatisfied with your current salary?”
Hou Xiaobao immediately shook his head like a rattle drum, his voice growing louder, “Of course, I’m satisfied.”
This month, he made a total of 118 yuan, which was the most after Su Wensong and Jia Liang.
That was the equivalent to what an ordinary worker would earn in over three months. What else was there to be dissatisfied with?
He had never even dreamed that he could earn so much clean money.
After speaking, realizing the intent behind Lin Chuxia’s question, he said embarrassingly, “I just feel that I didn’t do a good job with the task assigned by you, Boss, and that I failed your trust.”
He was sent to run sales but ended up making no deals after going round in circles.
Lin Chuxia gave a slight smile, “How could you have not done a good job? Everyone has seen your effort during this time, and you’ve been outstanding. You’re just not good at some things, that’s all. In our company, it’s impossible for everyone to be proficient at everything. Even I have weaknesses. Hou Xiaobao, you don’t need to belittle yourself unnecessarily, nor do you need to dwell on your weaknesses. After the New Year, you just focus on what you’re good at and do well at your own position, that’s what makes an excellent employee.”
“Boss… Do I really not need to go out on sales anymore?”
Hou Xiaobao’s eyes lit up; truth be told, he was somewhat daunted by that task, but since everyone else was doing it, he felt like he would be letting the boss down if he didn’t.
“No need, there will be adjustments after the New Year. We’ll have just two dedicated people for sales.”
Hou Xiaobao heaved a long sigh of relief, “I will definitely do what you’ve entrusted me with, Boss.”
At this moment, Qin Lihua came over, “Fourth Aunt, someone is looking for you outside.”
Lin Chuxia patted Hou Xiaobao on the shoulder, signaling him to get back to work, and then she stepped outside.
The Bun Shop had already put up a closed sign for the afternoon, so whoever was looking for her now must be someone she knew.
As she stepped out, she saw Lin Jiadong standing at the bottom of the steps.
Lin Jiadong, upon seeing Lin Chuxia, sized her up from head to toe twice, his tone carrying a hint of disbelief.
“Second Sister, have you really become a big boss? You look so good in those clothes. No wonder Big Sister got angry. You were prettier than her to begin with, and now you’re a big boss and dressed so well, she must be furious seeing you.”
Lin Chuxia felt differently about Lin Jiadong compared to the rest of the Lin Family. This brother was simple-minded and had been used by the Lin Family as a pawn in the past as well.
His ability to find his way here today could very well mean he had been given a mission.
“How did you come here?”
She beckoned him inside the Bun Shop; it was quite cold outside.
Lin Jiadong had been somewhat timid before, even though his mother and sister had said things, he didn’t quite believe that his second sister had that kind of ability.
Even just now, when he came to Qin’s Buns Shop to look for Lin Chuxia, he was nervous.
Now that he sees her, all his concerns fade away.
Smiling, he says, “Isn’t it almost Chinese New Year? Mom said you opened a shop in the city and told me to come over to get some ready-made food for the New Year’s feast. Second sister, I see this is a Bun Shop, do you sell ready-made food as well?”
Lin Chuxia looks at his presumptuous tone and realizes that he doesn’t see anything wrong with their mom asking him to get things from her, prompting her to press her forehead helplessly.
She really wants to test his IQ.
Of course, maybe in the eyes of her dopey little brother, she has always been the one to give in their family.
And that has truly been the case for the past 20 years.
“Jiadong, I’m married now. If one day you get yourself a wife, and her family wants three hundred yuan for a dowry without even mentioning it, and then, seeing you have money, keeps coming back for more repeatedly, what would you think?”
Lin Jiadong thinks for a moment, his face getting stern, “Why would I marry a wife who squanders like that? Even if I did marry her, if she only cared about her parents’ home and neglected her own, then there’d be no point in living that life…”
He suddenly understands the implications of Lin Chuxia’s words and scratches his head awkwardly.
“But eldest sister said that since our parents gave birth to you and raised you, now that you are capable, it’s only right to honor them.”
“Is eldest sister still at home?”
Lin Jiadong nods, “Yes, she came back home this morning. She hadn’t left when I came here.”
That explains why Lin Jiadong suddenly came over.
“Then eldest sister must have brought a lot of things to honor our parents with, right? I heard her husband started a business, and they haven’t earned little from selling vegetables.”
“I didn’t see her bring anything, just heard her tell mom to go get some pork. At lunch, I saw her picking out only the meat to eat, if I had not been quick, I would have gotten nothing.”
Lin Jiadong shows a disapproving face.
“Didn’t mom say anything?”
Lin Jiadong is their parents’ treasured son; even if the eldest sister was favored, she couldn’t compare to him.
“Mom said something, but eldest sister didn’t listen. She said she’s pregnant, so she needs to eat well.”
Lin Chuxia nods, not asking any further, and leads him to get the ready-made food.
“Strictly speaking, I shouldn’t be giving you anything. First, taking things from my marital home to my parents’ home is frowned upon; second, if the eldest sister went home empty-handed, and I bring things home, wouldn’t that make her look bad? But you’re growing, so you need to eat well. I remember you like chicken most, so take this smoked chicken back to eat.”
Lin Jiadong, smelling the meaty fragrance, swallows his saliva, “Second sister, I also like stuffed intestines and pork liver.”
Lin Chuxia packs some pork liver and stuffed intestines for him, totaling over a pound.
Lin Jiadong’s face breaks into a smile, “Second sister is the kindest to me. Eldest sister has always bullied me, only you protect me.”
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he looks around warily, “You’re giving me these things, brother-in-law won’t get angry, right?”
Lin Chuxia doesn’t answer him, instead, she asks, “Are you hungry? I closed up the shop early today, and there are some unsold meat buns left. How about I get you a few to eat? Just wait over there.”
Lin Jiadong, half a boy and half a man, is of the age where his appetite is big enough to eat his father out of house and home, capable of stuffing down two buns even right after a meal.
Not to mention that life isn’t easy these days, and in the Lin family, white flour is a luxury only afforded during festivals.
Now that dinner time is approaching, mentioning meat buns just made him hungry.