Chapter 414: Chapter 414 Surprise
Yang PeiMin felt that she should have come to take a look as well, regardless of whether she could offer any useful advice, as being there in person would have made things look a little better.
"You tell me when you’re going again next time, and we’ll go together," Yang PeiMin said to Luo Dahua.
Luo Dahua nodded her head. "That’s how it should be."
Comrades in the same battalion should stick together as Military Wives should.
Yang PeiMin set the next time with Luo Dahua and asked her to stay for a meal at home.
"It’s been a while since you came last time. After eating here, you can go back. Don’t be polite with me."
Luo Dahua agreed happily, "It really has been a while since I last came. Your little one is three months now, and he looks so precious. Not to mention, you’ve taken great care of him – he’s fair and chubby with bright, lively eyes. He looks so clever."
"It’s all thanks to my mother-in-law; she’s been very diligent in her care."
Luo Dahua hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to come over to help. She knew that many elderly people actually didn’t like to travel far because they were afraid of falling ill away from home, especially since their roots weren’t there. Like her own mother-in-law, who had been reluctant to come.
"You can see the big changes, not the environment, but the people. Aside from adding another member to the family, your mother-in-law and your brother have also come over, haven’t they?" Luo Dahua was curious if Yang PeiMin’s brother had also come here seeking opportunities. When her sister and sister-in-law stayed here previously, she wasn’t surprised because Yang PeiMin really needed someone to take care of things, but now that her mother-in-law had come over, they weren’t needed anymore, and they hadn’t gone back. So she thought of Shen Yixiang and the job she had taken here.
"Does your sister-in-law work in the garment factory too?"
Yang PeiMin nodded. "She has been promoted to a regular position now. In order to learn more, she has already moved to the dormitory there." Shen Yixiang had told her that there were now many places to learn, and it was better to move out since it was close to the factory. This made it convenient for overtime or in case of rain.
Enlightened, Luo Dahua realized, "So that’s how it is. No wonder she has stayed." Then she added, "I hear she is dating Lu Haijun from our battalion, right?"
This had become common knowledge in the courtyard. The leading lady herself might not be there, but people still enjoyed talking about such matters.
"What are they saying over there?"
"They’re not saying much," she continued. "It’s the same old stuff about Yixiang visiting Hai Jun that night, and the recent visit from Lu family’s mother and sister. Some nosy people noticed the details and started keeping an eye on the reception room. Sure enough, they saw your sister-in-law heading there. People were uncertain before, but now everyone knows. They’re saying that Lu family doesn’t match up to your family. They’ve heard your sister-in-law is a high school graduate and she finds work easily outside... As for Hai Jun, he’s just from a rural area. Although he got promoted, just look at Mr. Zhao – these things are uncertain. They think it’s better to find someone from outside, who has a stable job and doesn’t bring worries."
Yang PeiMin shook her head, not wishing to discuss it. Shen Yixiang had her own thoughts on the matter.
"And what about Yingzi? Why don’t I see her around? She’s usually so diligent, every time I’ve been here before, she has been washing clothes or cleaning."
"She’s gone to work."
Luo Dahua was surprised. "Oh, what kind of work is she doing?"
"Nothing, she’s set up her own thing. She’s selling fast food near the schools and factories with my third brother."
"How come? Can that make money? I’ve heard that both factories and schools have their own cafeterias. Will people come out to buy from you?" Luo Dahua was astonished. She had heard of restaurants and such, but now there were people pushing carts around selling meals, even to those who work or attend school, who would typically eat in their own cafeterias. Who would eat out then? Wasn’t this just a waste?
Yang PeiMin laughed. "There will always be customers. People eat a lot of bland food in the cafeterias, and they sometimes want to add a dish, eat something a little greasier. Our stuff is cheaper than at restaurants. I don’t have to worry about those two anymore; they’re always cheerful and even contribute to the household expenses every month. They’re making some extra money, enough to support themselves."
Luo Dahua marveled, "Wow, I didn’t expect it. Yingzi is doing well. I don’t mean any offense, but she always seemed shy, like she wouldn’t speak up much. Can she really handle it?"
Yang PeiMin nodded. "That was one of the reasons I let her go out and do it. If she were alone, she probably wouldn’t be able to handle it. Luckily, my sister-in-law helped out for a while, and now that my third brother is here, I am even less worried. He says she doesn’t get flustered anymore when managing the money, never giving the wrong change, and has been able to get customers to line up and chats them up a bit. She has improved a lot."
As Luo Dahua listened, she couldn’t help but be impressed, a hint of envy in her eyes. "Oh, your family is really doing well." She knew Yang PeiMin’s family situation – while her father was the team leader in the rural production team, commanding respect in the village, their family really only had slightly more than the average villager. Now it was a different story. The communal system was dissolving, everyone was on their own, and there was no more absolute authority.
Yang PeiMin used to look like a city person from the exterior, likely because she knew how to dress and was willing to spend on clothes. But back then, her siblings all worked on the farm with their father. Now, in just a brief year, they had each found their own path, and in another year or two, they would be rooted in the city.
And she hadn’t found a job yet, while her kids were getting older and expenses were rising. Her husband’s salary, after sending some back home, didn’t leave much.
Yang PeiMin then suggested, "Sister, don’t you know how to salt duck eggs? Ask my third brother later to sell them, have them come up with dishes using the salted eggs."
Luo Dahua laughed, shaking her head. "What’s there to sell with my little thing? If you want some, I can bring you a few."
"If they are going to sell them, they make almost two hundred portions of fast food a day. If the eggs sell, they could move a hundred eggs a day."
Luo Dahua’s eyes lit up at that. "Would that be okay?"
"There’s nothing embarrassing about it. Business is business, even between brothers. However, you’ll need to discuss it with my third brother. If he agrees, you two can negotiate the price."
"That would be great."
They continued chatting until after lunch, when Yang Peiying and her siblings returned home.
Luo Dahua considered the duck egg business and stayed a bit longer.
Yang PeiMin didn’t interfere; she let them talk. She was beginning to realize her third brother had quite a knack for business, and his bargaining skills had significantly improved.
Shen Yiguang came back while they were eating. Seeing him pick up the child like usual, Yang PeiMin approached him to ask about Mr. Zhao.