Before he could think more, his arm was grabbed by Lin Jiayi, who started pulling him toward the house.
The words, however, were directed at Mother Lin. “Mom, it’s because you’re too good-tempered that you let your own daughter shit on your head. I don’t believe she really doesn’t care about her reputation. A daughter who’s unfilial to her own parents, how well can she treat her in-laws? Even if Qin Yang protects her, it’s just Qin Yang alone. Lin Chuxia still has to live with the Qin Family.”
This statement was meant for Mother Lin to hear, but also for Li Guangyuan.
Don’t think she didn’t notice Li Guangyuan’s reaction when Mother Lin spoke those words.
It also made her feel an increasing sense of crisis.
The main reason she wanted Lin Chuxia’s secret recipe for cooked food was because she had been finding life at the Li Family quite difficult lately.
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but ever since Old Mrs. Li made those unreasonable remarks, she kept feeling that Li Guangyuan also had opinions about her.
She feared Li Guangyuan would think the same, start to neglect her; she had enough of being neglected in her last life and didn’t want to live like that again.
If they had the secret recipe for the cooked food, they could do bigger business, and Li Guangyuan would surely treat her well.
Who would have thought…
Every one of them…heartless wretches.
Mother Lin slapped her thigh and said, “What can I do? Did you not hear that damn girl’s words? She wants the neighbors and the village chief to testify. The neighbors might be manageable, but the village chief, he’s Sun Lanlan’s father. Both his children work and earn salaries at the Qin Family. Could he possibly speak up for us? If we offend the village chief, can we still live in this village?”
Their eldest daughter was married off, and they cannot afford to be foolish.
Lin Jiayi felt a surge of annoyance internally, cursing them as good-for-nothings.
However, upon further thought, the Lunar New Year had passed and, according to what happened in her past life, once the first month of the lunar year was over, Qin Yang’s illegitimate child would come knocking.
Thinking of this, Lin Jiayi’s mood suddenly improved.
She wanted to see, once Qin Yang brought that bastard back, how Lin Chuxia could still be so arrogant.
Doesn’t she think, why would Qin Yang, with such good prospects, still be single at twenty-five? If he’s already caring for a son outside, how could he be looking for a partner?
She just waited to see Qin Yang bring back that illegitimate child, and if Lin Chuxia could still be so smug.
Elsewhere, Qin Yang and Lin Chuxia didn’t stop walking until they were out of the village before he asked, “Are you okay?”
Lin Chuxia gave him a smile, “It’s fine, I’m used to it.”
Hearing her say “I’m used to it,” Qin Yang felt an unpleasant feeling inside. Taking advantage of the fact that there were no others around, he grasped her hand for a moment, “If you don’t like it, then lessen your visits. If they come looking for you again, just say it’s my decision, that I won’t allow you to visit your parental home.”
That way he would bear any bad reputation.
Lin Chuxia knew Qin Yang meant well and didn’t decline, “Okay.”
But today’s conversation should mean the Lin Family would settle down.
Although she didn’t care about the Lin Family’s antics, potential problems still had to be eradicated.
It really wasn’t worth expending energy on these people.
…………
After the Spring Festival ended, it was time to get busy with all sorts of things.
The Bun Shop was set to open on the eighth day, and on the fifth day, after eating dumplings for the ’Po Wu’ celebration, Lin Chuxia and Qin Yang sought out the village chief to discuss the launch of Xiyang Food Factory.
Since the factory was to be built in the village, these days construction work often involved help from the local community, and every village had artisans skilled in bricklaying and carpentry.
If they could get the village chief to take charge, it would certainly be twice the result with half the effort.
The village chief had been thinking about this matter for a while and, to be honest, he was even more anxious than Lin Chuxia.
Especially after hearing from his daughter that their food factory had a lot of work and she had earned so much salary at the end of the year.
If the food factory is built, it won’t take long for the Qin Family Village to reach a comfortable living standard.
Then, as the village chief who leads the whole village towards a well-off life, won’t he be remembered for generations to come?
These days, he has been dreaming of the food factory.
So when Lin Chuxia came to him with the proposal, the village chief immediately agreed.
“Leave it to me. Tell me what kind of factory buildings you want. Give me a rough idea, and if you’re worried, you can let the Eldest Son of Qin Family follow me.”
Lin Chuxia indeed cannot always be around to supervise the construction of the factory, and it wouldn’t be entirely appropriate to ask Su Wensong to do so.
However, the family had discussed this before coming, and Mr. Qin had volunteered to watch over the construction site.
The old man is now in good health and has always wanted to help his children. He isn’t able to help much with the shop, and finally, he found an opportunity.
So it was settled.
The village chief and Mr. Qin would take charge, with the assistance of Su Wensong.
“When the time comes, we will need more of your help. We’ll pay the workers according to the going market rates,” said Lin Chuxia politely.
The village chief waved his hand generously, “No need for all that. When anyone in the village builds a house, everyone else pitches in without expecting pay. We’ll just provide meals and cigarettes, that’s all.”
However, Lin Chuxia did not agree with this arrangement. Everyone helping out is about mutual help, and in Lin Chuxia’s case, it would only be everyone else coming to help her, whereas she wouldn’t be able to return the favor when others are building their houses.
Moreover, building a factory is not the same as building a house. A normal family house can be erected in three to five days, but their factory, being much larger, would take at least half a month.
The hardest debt to repay in this world is one of gratitude.
If you owe someone a favor in this respect and can’t return it equally, you’ll find yourself at a disadvantage when they come to collect.
Lin Chuxia won’t let herself be put in such a position. The best solution is still to pay wages.
After Lin Chuxia explained her situation, the village chief quickly realized this as well. After all, the Xiyang Food Factory will be employing workers from their Qin Family Village.
What if someone is not suitable for working in the factory and expects Lin Chuxia to repay a favor?
Fear seized him momentarily, but he grew even more admiring of Lin Chuxia. This young woman, though of tender years, was capable of thinking ahead and was cut out for great things.
“Alright, we will do as you suggest.”
With the matter settled, Lin Chuxia left it to Mr. Qin to handle all negotiations with the village chief, and on the eighth day of the first month of the lunar year, the Bun Shop reopened.
Lin Chuxia had fireworks set off in front of the two shops to bring good luck.
With the fireworks, the nearby residents knew that the Bun Shop was open again, and many came over at the sound.
They were all regular customers; having not eaten these for some days, they really missed the taste.
As work got back on track, Lin Chuxia was busy with various things, and Qin Yang stuck to her like a little shadow.
He said he wanted to help her, but honestly, there wasn’t much for him to do.
But these days didn’t last long. On the tenth day, Qin Yang received a notice from his work that he was to return.
In previous years, Qin Yang would be back at work before the fifth day of the first month; now it was already the tenth, not to mention he had been at home for nearly a month before the New Year.
This was the longest holiday he had spent at home since he started working. But with Lin Chuxia’s presence, Qin Yang felt the time had flown by too quickly, and he had not spent enough time with his wife before he had to go back to work again.
Lin Chuxia understood him too well and could tell what he was thinking just by looking at him.
She straightened his collar and joked half-seriously, “Why not resign and stay at home to concentrate on being a ’boss husband’? I’ll support you.”
Having said that, she playfully tilted her head, her bright, mischievous eyes sparkling.