Chapter 338: Chapter 176: Prospering Every Day_1
In Lian Shouxin’s eyes, Old Master Lian was a warmhearted person. Faced with such an inquiry from Old Master Lian, he revealed a grateful smile.
"Dad, we’re still quite busy at the moment. The kids are sensible, and they can help out with anything. Dad, you should go and rest. If I truly need help, I’ll let you know," Lian Shouxin said.
"Well... okay," Old Master Lian hesitated for a moment, then said nothing more and walked back to the Upper Room.
Lian Manman’s family returned to the West Wing Room.
"It seems like Dad has something on his mind," Lian Shouxin remarked belatedly.
Lian Manman climbed onto the kang bed, and felt that it was warm. Lian Manman found it strange; they had gone to the breakfast shop before dawn, and there had been no fire at home, so how could the kang be warm?
Lady Zhang also noticed the peculiar situation and turned to go to the outer room. Only then did she discover that the ashes in the family stove still contained live embers, and when she lifted the pot lid, she found water inside steaming hot.
"It must have been your third aunt and her family," Lady Zhang walked back with a smiling face, "They must have been afraid we’d come back to a cold house and even heated a pot of hot water for us."
You treat me well, I treat you well, mutual kindness makes all relations swell—this is truly the right way for people to interact. Lian Manman sighed, realizing that spending too much time with Lady Zhou truly could make one forget how normal relationships were supposed to function.
The mother and children then talked about how good Lian Shouxin, Lady Zhao, and Lian Yeye were, unconsciously ignoring Lian Shouxin’s remark.
"Ahem," Lian Shouxin coughed twice to attract everyone’s attention to himself, and then he added, "Is Dad perhaps worried about us, especially since he waited for us to come back just now?"
"Old Master is a good person, he’s worried we might lose money in our business, and that we might be too busy..." Lady Zhang was saying, but seemed to remember something when she mentioned being too busy, and suddenly stopped without continuing.
Lian Manman’s eyes roamed, as she also thought of the time they set up the workshop, when Lady Zhou wanted Lady He and Lian Xiuxiu to work there.
Lian Manman wasn’t naïve enough to think that opening a breakfast shop was simply about making breakfast and waiting for customers to buy it. For instance, just yesterday when they were writing the contract, they had to invite the Lizheng and elders from the village for a meal. Their own breakfast shop seemed to be nobody else’s business, but in reality, such thinking was impractical. Having the Lizheng and village elders over was to gain their approval, and their approval essentially meant getting the nod from most villagers.
Thus, even if someone wanted to cause trouble, what they’d be challenging would extend beyond just the Lian Shouxin family.
Inviting Old Master Lian wasn’t just about filial piety. Old Master Lian had a good reputation in the village and some degree of prestige, and, even though he belonged to a lone surname, he was considered one of the village elders. He was also the head of the Lian family. Having communicated things well with him meant that Lian’s had the backing of the entire Lian Family.
Lian Manman didn’t have high hopes for the Lian Family providing substantial help; so long as there was surface-level harmony and less underhandedness behind the scenes, it would be enough.
Seeing Lady Zhang and the kids all showing an "aha" expression, Lian Shouxin guessed what was on everyone’s mind and felt a little awkward.
"Dad wouldn’t do that, let’s not overthink it..." Lian Shouxin said.
"But just in case, if Mom and your second uncle and their family..." Lady Zhang expressed her concern with a tinge of worry.
Lian Manman fell into contemplation, believing there was merit in Lady Zhang’s concerns. Their breakfast shop would definitely thrive, and by then, there would be those who coveted their success, including both relatives and outsiders.
Outsiders were relatively easy to deal with. Their shop had the support of the village Lizheng and elders, and Wang Youheng had been there to cut the ribbon, which meant Scholar Wang’s Family couldn’t easily stand behind others against them. So long as they acted upright and proper, no one in the village could do anything to thwart them.
However, it was the "family" who were more difficult to handle. The ties of blood, the soft-hearted and honest nature of Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang, plus public opinion—these were all irrational elements that could cause great distress if not managed properly.
Running a breakfast shop was different from running a Pickled Vegetable Workshop; dealing with personal relationships in a more tactful and harmonious way was essential for harmony and prosperity.
"Dad, Mom, if Grandpa and Grandma wish for someone to help in the breakfast shop, we shouldn’t be too inflexible in refusing," Lian Manman suggested after pondering, "If it can’t be helped, then let’s invite third uncle and his wife to help."
Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao were diligent and honest, and their relationship with them was the closest, making them, indeed, the best candidates.
