Lin Chuxia didn’t expect Su Wensong to reply so quickly, “Brother Su, don’t you need to think it over?”
“No need to think, you don’t have to pay the rent, just pay me a salary.”
Lin Chuxia only needed the east wing room, and might occasionally use the courtyard, they would still live in the main house which almost didn’t affect their lives.
“That won’t work, we have to keep things clear.”
Both were headstrong, and finally, the monthly rent that Lin Chuxia offered of ten yuan was reduced to five, each making concessions.
“So when do we start working on the Bun Shop? What should I do now?”
Su Wensong felt full of energy, eager to get the Bun Shop up and running soon.
Lin Chuxia also thought the sooner the better, “First fix up the house, Brother Su, do you have paper and pen? I’ll draw a blueprint, see if you can find workers to renovate according to my draft.”
“Okay, just wait.”
The Su Family originally had a scholarly tradition, so they habitually kept paper and pens at home, and Su Wensong quickly brought them.
Granny Su brought a small kettle of boiling water into the room, seeing Lin Chuxia writing something at the table while her naive grandson sat beside, watching and occasionally giggling stupidly, which was quite irritating.
“Where are the peanuts and seeds you were asked to buy? What about the candy?”
Lin Chuxia looked up, “Granny, it was me who didn’t ask Brother Su to buy. We plan to open a Bun Shop at home, using the two rooms on the east side.”
Granny Su looked at her grandson, their house opening a Bun Shop? Was it possible for their family to run a Bun Shop?
Su Wensong smiled and said, “Granny, Lin wants to rent those two east wing rooms for the Bun Shop, I’ve already agreed. I won’t look for other jobs. I’m going to work with Lin.”
“Good, opening a Bun Shop is good, working with Lin is good,” Granny Su said three times good, smiling from ear to ear.
Seeing the two getting busy, she didn’t disturb them, poured a glass of water for Lin Chuxia and even added white sugar.
Lin Chuxia simply sketched out the renovations needed for the store and the fixtures needed for the Bun Shop.
It must be said, although Su Wensong looked rugged, he was actually very meticulous, possibly from his upbringing. Lin Chuxia’s ideas were based on her experience, but Su Wensong easily grasped key points, and even offered his own feasible suggestions.
The more they talked, the more Lin Chuxia felt she had found a gem – this employee truly met her expectations.
The two finalized the renovation plan in less than an hour, and Lin Chuxia confidently left the task to Su Wensong.
Having a previous experience of urgently needing money, Lin Chuxia kept all her money in her space, but now it wasn’t convenient to take it out, so she asked him to meet her at the train station in the afternoon to get the money.
Su Wensong still felt a bit awkward to get money from a girl, but then he thought about being an employee and Lin Chuxia being the boss, and he was relieved.
After she left, he began cleaning up the east wing room, first clearing out the clutter.
Granny Su cheerfully followed him, asking him how he met Lin, how old Lin was, where Lin was from…
Su Wensong straightened up, a face of frustration, “Granny, she’s my boss, I’m just going to work for her.”
“Ah, I know Lin is your boss, and she looks smart. I wonder if she’s single. Seeing her young age, she seems unmarried…”
“Granny,” Su Wensong interrupted again, “Please stop, whether Lin Chuxia is single or not, I have no such thoughts towards her, I’m not worthy of her.”
Lin Chuxia is like the bright moon in the sky, and he is like the soil on the ground.
Granny Su sighed again, also thinking the girl was indeed good, too good for their circumstances…
“Ah, if only your parents were still alive…”
“Granny, don’t think too much, I just want to get the Bun Shop started as soon as possible, and then make money to give you a better life.”
Su Wensong was full of inexhaustible energy at this moment, looking at the two east wing rooms filled with hope, and he did not want Granny Su to bring up those sorrowful topics.
Granny Su understood her grandson and did not bring it up again; she just smiled and agreed.
With the Bun Shop up and running, wouldn’t her grandson have a proper job, and wouldn’t it be a matter of time before he found a wife?
Lin Chuxia left Su Family’s home and went straight to the produce market. She still had to continue her stall in the afternoon, so she needed to buy vegetables and meat.
She was now familiar with the people at the produce market and could get discounted prices on vegetables without having to find Li Jian.
“Is Director Li not here today?”
Li Jian’s position had been promoted, now overseeing a number of people.
In such an institution, there’s this director and that director, the main director, the deputy director; regardless of their rank, all are directors.
“Director Li went to a meeting today.”
“Another meeting?” She said he was at a meeting when she came yesterday.
“Exactly, the state of our humble produce market is okay when vegetable prices are good, but now when prices are bad, the higher-ups are anxious, constantly in meetings, and it’s unclear what good constant meetings do.”
Lin Chuxia simply smiled and did not give an opinion. After paying for the vegetables that were weighed, she said goodbye and left.
She went to the butcher’s to pick up the meat she had ordered and returned home to start steaming buns.
Just like the previous days, she steamed five large baskets of buns, both meat and vegetarian, and while sorting the buns, she thought that if the Bun Shop opened, she would need to buy a few more small baskets.
Su Family’s home is in the city after all. Burning wood is inconvenient.
When she arrived at the train station, Lin Chuxia first placed two meat buns next to the old man.
One could say this old man was quite punctual; every time Lin Chuxia arrived, she was sure to see him.
A while later, Su Wensong arrived, having already found the workers, which even surprised Lin Chuxia with the speed.
She directly pulled out a small cloth bag, “Here is 200 RMB, use it as you see fit, let me know if it’s not enough.”
Su Wensong didn’t expect Lin Chuxia to trust him so much; 200 RMB was not a small sum, as many households could only save this amount over an entire year.
Holding the small but heavy cloth bag, they were mere acquaintances, yet Lin Chuxia trusted him this much; it made him think of his so-called relatives…
Su Wensong solemnly nodded, “I will keep track of every expenditure and strive to spend the money where it’s absolutely necessary.”
“I know,” people who are suspicious do not employ others, people who employ others are not suspicious, Lin Chuxia trusted Su Wensong’s character.
As they were about to part, Lin Chuxia stopped him, quickly picked 6 meat buns and 4 vegetarian buns from the baskets, “Take these buns and have Granny Su try them.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Take it. If I’m not mistaken, you’ve been busy ever since I left, right? Health is the capital of revolution, no matter what, eat well first.”
Su Wensong showed a simple, honest smile.
Lin Chuxia had guessed right; after cleaning the two east wing rooms, he hurried to find a tile worker, and having found one meant preparing the bricks and cement. He was out of money, so he came to see Lin Chuxia, and truly hadn’t eaten lunch.
No more refusals, he took the buns and headed home.
Back home, Granny Su was still waiting for him to have lunch. Seeing him return, she muttered, “Even if you’re eager to work, you should eat first. I’ll go warm up the dish.”
“Granny, don’t bother, let’s eat the buns,” Su Wensong placed the steaming meat buns on the table.
Granny Su looked at the ten or so plump, white buns exuding a meaty aroma, and couldn’t help but complain a bit. “You just found a job; you shouldn’t be spending money recklessly,” the money still needed to be saved for marrying a wife.