CHAPTER 41

The nanny was fired, and she had to look for another one. Shen Haiyang wrote an advertisement and posted it at the door of his bun shop. In the morning, a woman in her thirties came. After saying hello, Li Xia asked her to cook. Washing clothes and cleaning at home are not important tasks. The most important thing is to cook well and carefully.

“okay.”

The woman tied an apron and started cooking. She chopped the killed chicken into pieces, washed it, and took it out, then heated up the oil in a pan and prepared to stir-fry it.

“Don’t you blanch the chicken?”

“Why blanch the water? There’s no need to go through so much trouble.”

Li Xia stopped her hand from taking the basin: “It’s better to blanch it in water, otherwise it will smell fishy.”

“Meat, isn’t it all about the fishy smell?” Although the woman said this, she still scooped a bucket of water into the pot.

“A cooking pot cannot be used for blanching.”

“Ah?” The woman was surprised. “Your family is too particular. Forget it. Forget it. I don’t want to do this anymore.”

As she was talking, she took off her apron and left. Li Xia was fired this time. She stood there, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and made her own lunch.

In the afternoon, she filled the thermos for the old man and reminded him to take medicine. Then she went to the mall. She went to the hardware store on the first floor to have a look. Han Jun was sitting there and told her about the sales volume during this period. He was the only one in the store. He came every day when the store opened and left only when it closed.

“There are more retail sales than wholesale sales, and the quantities are not large.”

Seeing that he was worried, Li Xia smiled and relieved his pressure. “Don’t be so anxious. We have just started, and the publicity is not in place. Many people don’t even know that this place exists. Besides, the hardware has been used on the construction site, and there is no loss, so what are you afraid of?”

“Rent, goods, staff salaries—you have to pay them every day. Sister-in-law, let me tell you, you are a woman with more courage than many men.”

Li Xia smiled and shook her head, thinking, I can sit on this seat so calmly because I know how the future will develop. If I am really so calm, so courageous, and so accurate in my vision, I must have been a female boss in my previous life. How could I open a steamed bun shop after just a few decades of hard work?

“Oh, my wife…”

“What’s wrong? Tell me, why are you speaking so unpleasantly?”

“She doesn’t want to be in the mall. Do you think you can ask her to go back and take care of your old man?”

“Qin Mu said that herself.”

“Um.”

“I’ll go up and take a look at the situation.”

Go out, turn around, and go upstairs. Qin Mu is now in the jewelry and hat store. Li Xia came over to see that she had just sent off a customer, then took a deep breath and looked frustrated. Seeing her come in, she pulled her to sit on the chair.

“Can you let me go back and cook for you?”

“What’s wrong? Are you not satisfied with the work?”

“I’m not cut out for selling. Not only am I no match for Xiao Liu, but I’m tired of dealing with people. I really want to go home and cook and clean without having to talk to people.”

“Is it so difficult for you to communicate with others?”

Qin Mu nodded quickly. “I have been like this since I was a child. It’s not that I can’t talk to people. It’s just uncomfortable to deal with strangers every day. Let me go home and cook.”

Her eyes were red as she spoke. Just as Li Xia was about to ask, Xiao Liu at the side spoke up. “There were too many people, and the money was miscalculated. She lost her entire month’s salary.”

What? Are you losing money to come to work? Li Xia quickly said, “Well, don’t be too burdened. The loss will be mine. I’ll give you some time to get used to it.”

“I’m not cut out to sell goods. Sister-in-law, if you really want to give me a job, let me go back to cook and take care of the old man. Otherwise, I’ll go home. I won’t force you to do anything if you can’t make money.”

“Okay, come back to my house and take care of our old man.”

Even if she finds a suitable nanny, she still needs to get used to it. Of course, it is better for her to go back. She was worried that Han Jun would not say it, but he would mind his wife working as a nanny at his friend’s house, so she gave Qin Mu a chance. If it works out, the couple will follow her to do business in the future.

Now that they themselves are asking for this, what else can she say? Selling goods for a few days costs her a month’s salary. If she can’t adapt, she can’t do this job.

Qin Mu then went back to cook and take care of the old man. Han Jun often came to eat at home, and her children would come sometimes. Of course, Han Jun never came empty-handed. The two families got along like one family, and no one looked down on people who did housework.

After work that day, Li Xia called Han Jun. “Let’s go to our house for dinner.”

“Haha, if it weren’t for the relationship between our two families, you would have kicked my wife out, right?”

“Not really.” Li Xia teased him deliberately: “It’s mainly because of Qin Mu’s face. She is so meticulous and thoughtful in her work. If I fire her, I’m afraid I won’t be able to find such a good person to help me.”

“Ah, how did Lao Shen and I end up being reduced to being just female foils?”

“Ha ha……”

Li Xia smiled and got into the car, and the two went home together. When she went in to wash up, Li Xia told Qin Mu what he said as a joke, and Qin Mu gave him a blank look.

“Gender equality; you just don’t have enough awareness. Look at Brother Shen; he cooperates with his wife more every day.”

“I’ll cooperate with you. You work here, and I’ll cook and eat here.”

“How dare you say that? I have to cook for you while I’m at work, and that’s because you and Brother Shen have a close relationship. Would it work if I changed jobs?”

“No, Li Xia said that it’s all because of your good work; otherwise, she wouldn’t let me have a meal.”

“Ha ha,”

Everyone laughed out loud, stamping their feet on the ground. Shen Hui and Huihua, who were older, covered their mouths and laughed secretly. Aunt Qin was gentle and patient, and now she gets along very well with their mother. Uncle Han really benefited from his wife; otherwise, it would be useless for him to have a good relationship with his father because his father always listened to his mother.

“What are you talking about so happily?”

The old man came in from outside with a cane, and Yiyibrought a chair to Grandpa with special eyes. The little guy said clearly that everyone was laughing at Han Jun, Huihua went into the room to pour a cup of tea for Grandpa, and Shen Hui squatted on the ground to massage his legs.

The old man sat on the chair and listened to their gossip leisurely, looking at his grandson with loving eyes. He had children and grandchildren all around him, but he never thought that he would have such a day. He was born in a turbulent time and had a narrow escape from death. After divorcing Shen Yaozong’s mother, he thought he would die alone.

Unexpectedly, the mainland opened up, and he returned to the land where he was born and raised. After a tour, he found that he still liked this kind of life the most. Children and grandchildren were around, and the family lived together in harmony.

“Xia, is the construction site about to stop working? Will we have to wait until next year to continue?”

After dinner, the old man asked Li Xia to stay and talk. The two sat on their own sides, and the sound of a piano came from the side room. It seemed that Shen Hui was playing.

“Yes, it’s too cold to do any construction. My dad and his family are leaving soon, so we’ll have the day off after we finish pouring the foundation in the next few days.”

“When is the expected date for completion next year?”

“In March, we’ll start building walls and stuff. If we speed things up, it should be ready in May. If you’re pressed for time, I’ll have them rush the work and try to get it done in the shortest possible time.”

“May, no later than June.”

“Okay.”

It is estimated that the production line and products in the United States will be delivered in May or June, so the factory here must be prepared. She is responsible for the factory, and she will definitely try her best to meet the employer’s needs. Discuss with the construction company, and when the weather warms up next year and large-scale work can be carried out, at most one more construction team can be added to try to advance the construction schedule.

The weather was cold, and Han Jun was eager to try Li Xia’s car. Most men like cars, and he was still riding a two-wheeled bicycle, while Li Xia was already riding a four-wheeled one.

“Such a nice car; how about letting me try it?”

Li Xia threw the key to him and said, “Drive carefully. Let me see how good your skills are.”

“That’s definitely first-rate.” Han Jun took the keys and got in the car. “I learned to drive in the army, so my driving skills are definitely good.”

She drove home and met Shen Yaozong at the street entrance. She went back to the house to wash up and soon heard a quarrel in the backyard. But the voices were not loud, and she couldn’t hear what they were arguing about. It has been very quiet these days, so what happened?

“What are they arguing about? The old man is old and in poor health. He can do what he wants and leave when he doesn’t want to. What is this all about?”

Shen Haiyang took a basin to fetch water. He had just returned home from work. “He must be conflicted too.”

“You mean Shen Yaozong?”

“Mom, grandpa, and uncle are here.”

Huihua called out from outside the door, Li Xia hurried out, and Shen Haiyang also hurried to wash his face and go out. His father-in-law and brother-in-law had been at the construction site since they came, so he had to treat them well before they left.

“Dad, have you guys packed up your bedding? Is the construction site closed for the holiday?”

After opening the door to the main room, everyone placed their bedding in the main room and sat on the sofa. The old man took out his pipe and filled it with a pot, and Li Xia opened the window for ventilation. Following her words, her cousin started talking.

“It’s vacation time. We’ll come back next year. Xia, I’m so grateful to you. You’re really capable now.”

“Just work hard; money is not a problem.” Li Xia smiled. The old man let her manage the funds for the construction site. “What about the others? When do you plan to come back?”

“The others are at the construction site. We bought our tickets for this afternoon. We will gather at the train station then.”

“So urgent? It would be nice if you could stay for a night. Also, have you received all your wages, or only 80 percent?”

The old man tapped his pipe and said, “We have settled our accounts. The foreman knows our relationship. We just came to see you and find out what’s going on.”

After the money was settled, Li Xia felt relieved. The most difficult thing about working on a construction site in the 1990s was getting paid. Small contractors basically brought in people from all over the country, and everyone knew each other. If they didn’t get paid for all the hard work, they would have no way to explain themselves to these people.

Shen Haiyang happened to hear his father-in-law’s plan and quickly took out money for the children to buy cooked food. Pork liver, pig head, pig heart, and roast chicken—except for lunch; the rest were all cut up and put in lunch boxes for them to take with them. It was a good meal on the train, with steamed buns and boiled water.

In the main room, the third brother took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Li Xia. “You took on this project, and the money was settled so quickly because of you. This is your share.”

Li Xia raised her hand and pushed him back. “My dear brother, it’s my duty to help you. Why are you being so polite to me? I’m so busy that I can’t even go home. Our parents are mostly taken care of by my sister-in-law. You buy her something, and she’ll be happy too.”

As she spoke, she took out a bundle from the cupboard and said, “Although I have prepared it, it is different for you as a husband to buy it. If my sister-in-law is happy, it will be easier to take care of my mother.”

Women, what they love is nothing more than clothes or skin care products. This time, Li Xia prepared skin care products for the sisters-in-law. The men in the family smiled happily when they saw these good things, saying what else they wanted.

“Don’t worry, Dad and Mom. We will take care of you in your old age. We sons are here to help you.”

As they were talking, the old man heard that his in-laws were coming and came out to meet them. The two old men were very different in every aspect, but the atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious when they were together. The old man was not arrogant at all. The old man was simple and unpretentious, kind and amiable.

Talking about their lives over the years and the crops in the countryside, the two old men actually had a lot in common. With something to talk about, Li Xia’s father’s nervousness in front of the big boss gradually dissipated, and he felt close to his in-laws.

Li Xia boiled water to make tea for them and leaned in close to whisper to Shen Haiyang, “Your father is really amazing. He can chat with anyone. No matter if they are big international businessmen or ordinary people like my father, he is always so amiable. He is very popular. You are similar to him in this respect, more like him than Shen Yaozong.”

“Yeah?”

Li Xia nodded. Blood ties are really amazing. Even if they have not been around since childhood, people can recognize blood relatives at a glance based on their natural facial features, appearance, and temperament.

The old man treated his in-laws to a meal and gave them two bottles of good wine, two cans of imported milk powder, and some imported candies and chocolates before they left. Li Xia’s father was very embarrassed and kept saying that he would send vegetables from his hometown to his in-laws next year.

“The food grown in our own fields tastes great. I’ll grow whatever vegetables you like at home. We can raise chickens and ducks as we please now, so we don’t need them at home. We drink spring water and eat real food, and the food tastes great. I’ll come and get you duck eggs, chickens, ducks, and geese next year.”

“Ducks are good. I like ducks very much.”

Aged wine and milk powder are good products, as are their own vegetables, chickens, and ducks. Both sides are thoughtful and respectful toward each other. The old man is not the kind of person who lacks vegetables, but he still discusses what to eat with his in-laws very seriously, giving people the feeling of being valued and respected. Before getting on the train, the old man also told his daughter to be filial to her father-in-law.

“What a kind person he is. He doesn’t have a partner now. As his daughter-in-law, you should pay more attention to him and take good care of him.”

“Okay, I know.”

The old man patted Shen Haiyang on the back and said, “Nothing can compare to blood relatives. Besides, your father is such a good man. Be more filial to him.”

Shen Haiyang also nodded. “I understand. Dad, don’t be too tired when you go home.”

The old man laughed: “I have a very strong body. You can’t compare with me in this respect.”

After seeing off her family, Li Xia chatted with Shen Haiyang in the car as she returned. “The weather is getting cold, and Christmas is coming soon. Do you think Shen Yaozong is planning to go back to the United States to celebrate the holiday?”

“It’s possible. I heard that we have to go to the site to see the ordered equipment and products. The assembly sounds complicated.”

It was getting cold, and within a few days, the temperature suddenly dropped to minus ten degrees. During dinner, Shen Yaozong told the old man that he wanted to go back to the United States to see his son and then go to the production line and products on site to check matters out. The old man immediately nodded in agreement.

“If Annie and Kevin are willing, bring them back to celebrate the Spring Festival.”

“Let’s talk later.”

In November, Shen Yaozong left here and returned to the United States. He left with his suitcase, and when he reached the corner of the street, he looked back at the entrance of Li Xia’s house for about a minute, then turned around and strode away.

Qin Mu, who saw this, was carrying a basket of charcoal and muttering to himself, “He is just going back to celebrate the festival, but it seems like he won’t be back in the future.”

A heavy snowfall brought even lower temperatures, and the rivers began to freeze. All the leaves fell, leaving nothing but bare trees.

It’s cold outside, but the mall where Li Xia works is getting hotter day by day. The New Year is coming, and everyone is starting to prepare for the New Year. She mainly does wholesale here, and those who want to start a small business will go straight here when they come to the provincial capital.

She mainly sells chemical fibers here, which can be bought without coupons. She can also import a lot of cotton goods from the south without coupons, including second-hand clothes, all washed and ironed, and some reprocessed to look like new. The manufacturers she chooses are all regular and will disinfect. In her new life, she still knows what to pay attention to in this regard.

The goods ordered before have basically all arrived, and she has all the goods in stock. The prices are right, the styles are generous, and with the old customers accumulated before, the business is booming before the New Year, and there are customers every day.

At 5:30 in the evening, they started taking inventory, and at 5:50, everyone started to go out. Now that she has her own car, she doesn’t have to get cold in the winter. With nothing else to do today, she thought about making something delicious for her family.

What to cook but ?? She doesn’t know what the old man likes. After parking the car and entering the house, Qin Mu was chopping meat in the kitchen, chopping rhythmically. When she saw her come in, she turned around, smiled, and said to her.

“The old man wanted to eat meat patties and donkey meat hot pot. I have prepared the noodles, and the donkey meat should be cooked. You can try it and see how it tastes.”

  (meat patties)

(donkey meat hot pot)

 

Li Xia lifted the lid of the pot, and the aroma of sauce filled her nose. The two dishes made today are both special delicacies that were not available in previous years. Now that all industries have begun to recover, more livestock have been raised, and meat is not so difficult to buy.

“It smells good. Your cooking skills are quite good. You can open a restaurant.”

Qin Mu smiled and continued to chop the meat. “My grandfather used to sell donkey meat, so my family is still good at it. But my father’s generation has stopped doing this business. My grandfather said it’s too tiring.”

Li Xia washed her hands and helped, taking out the noodles from the basin to make fire-baked skin. “What can we do that is not tiring? There is no job in this world that is not tiring as long as it is related to making money.”

“I thought so too. But I couldn’t do it myself in the past few years, and there was no way for me to find a job in my situation.”

“Do you want to open one? If you do, I can help you find a store.”

Qin Mu shook his head and said, “No, I’m fine with you. At my age, I feel good about a stable job. The salary the old man gives is three times higher than that of an ordinary nanny. I’m satisfied in every aspect, so I won’t bother anymore.”

After a while of hard work, Qin Mu’s meat pie came out of the pan, and Li Xia’s crispy and tender fire-baked bread was also ready. As soon as Shen Haiyang and the three children entered the house, they smelled the rich aroma that made people swallow their saliva and began to praise it.

“Donkey meat hotpot; my sister-in-law’s cooking skills are really good.”

Yiyianxiously reached out to eat, but Li Xia slapped the back of his hand. “Wash your hands, or you won’t get any.”