Chapter 343: Chapter 178: Advancing by Retreating_2
"Dad, just like making steamed buns at home, once the buns are ready, it’s not like you can grab one to eat and I can grab one to eat. We have to wait until all the work is done, and when dad and mom say so, then everyone can eat,"
Lian Shouxin suddenly brought up the topic of making steamed buns, which everyone failed to understand, so they all listened intently.
"Every trade has its own rules. The food from the breakfast shop is for selling to customers. Even if Manman and Xiao Qi are hungry while working in the shop, they can’t just take whatever they want to eat from there... It’s not that I begrudge the food, not allowing the two of them to eat. This matter needs rules, or else it doesn’t reflect well on us to others," Lian Shouxin continued to finish his point.
"Mmm," as if to corroborate Lian Shouxin’s words, Lian Manman spoke with a hint of grievance. "Dad and mom won’t let us eat the food from the shop, saying that if customers find out, they will laugh at us Lian family members for lacking discipline, and they might not want to come to our shop to eat in the future."
Xiao Qi also nodded in agreement.
Old Master Lian was an extremely intelligent person. As soon as he heard Lian Shouxin say this, he understood immediately. It was certain that someone from Lian Shouyi’s household had gone to the breakfast shop wanting to eat, or worse, had taken steamed buns meant for sale to eat themselves.
This was something Lady He was capable of doing, and as for Si Lang and Liulang, he couldn’t guarantee their behavior either.
There was a moment of silence in the room, with only the sound of Old Master Lian puffing on his dry pipe. He didn’t immediately scold Lian Shouyi and Lady He, not because he wanted to shield them, but because in his eyes this incident was extremely embarrassing. He didn’t want to reprimand them in front of Lian Shouxin and his family to save face for Lian Shouyi and Lady He, and at the same time, he didn’t want to create animosity between Lian Shouyi and Lian Shouxin.
Old Master Lian was a meticulous man, and in most matters, he could accurately grasp a "measure."
"Dad, the shop can earn a bit of money, if the second uncle’s family can’t go, then let’s see who else in our family can go," Lady Zhang broke the silence, smiling as she spoke.
From the beginning until now, both Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang had not mentioned being too busy in the shop to ask for help. In reality, they had enough staff. Their current intention of asking family members to help out was actually to give them a wage.
This was not explicitly stated, nor could it be.
"Then let Old Three’s family do it. What do you think, should your third brother go, or should your third sister-in-law go?" Old Master Lian pondered and then proposed. He was very pleased with Lian Shouxin’s suggestion of getting family members to help out in the shop. He also knew that the breakfast shop didn’t necessarily need to increase its workforce. His idea was to kill two birds with one stone; whether it was the palm or the back of the hand, both were flesh—to send someone would not only help Lian Shouxin but also supplement the family’s income. A whole family that looks out for each other is also a pleasant sight.
By saying this, Old Master Lian was giving Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang the choice. According to Lady Zhang’s preference, she wanted to suggest Lady Zhao. This wasn’t because Lady Zhao was more capable than Lian Shouli, but Lady Zhang felt that Lady Zhao was too pitiful. Working in the shop would allow her to eat her fill and eat better, and at the same time, she would be away from Lady Zhou and suffer less misery.
Though she thought this, Lady Zhang wasn’t foolish enough to say it outright. There was still Lady Zhou, the head of the Lian family, a person who liked to contend with you.
"Anyone will do," Lady Zhang said, "but the work in the shop is smoky and dirty, the labor is heavy, and at the end of the day, you feel completely worn out. I think your third aunt might not be able to handle it, perhaps your third uncle can manage."
"Then let my third brother come," Lian Shouxin chimed in.
Lady Zhang just smiled at Lian Shouxin.
"What do you think?" Old Master Lian asked Lady Zhou for her opinion.
"Old Three is a big man, what’s he going to do in the shop? Let the wife of Old Three go," Lady Zhou blurted out. She couldn’t stand the sight of Lady Zhang calling the shots. Lian Shouxin was too weak-willed, letting his wife lead him by the nose. How could Lady Zhang have her way so easily? Lady Zhang just wanted Lian Shouli to go, but she was determined not to agree.
Lady Zhang slightly lowered her head as if she felt slighted by Lady Zhou’s sharp words. Secretly, however, she and Lian Manman exchanged a triumphant glance.
Success!
They had initially intended for Lady Zhao to go, fearing Lady Zhou would not agree, so they had prearranged for Lady Zhang to speak as she did. Lady Zhou fell for it as expected.
This matter had to be settled immediately, lest Lady Zhou change her mind later, which would be bad. It was the slack season for farming, and Lian Shouli had no particular work to do at home, whereas Lady Zhao had a never-ending list of household chores. Washing clothes, cooking, feeding chickens and pigs, especially cooking—Lady He often slacked off, and if Lady Zhao went to help in the shop, then Lady Zhou and Lian Xiuxiu would have more work to do.
Xiao Qi didn’t need to be told. He ran out, and in a short while brought Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao over. Old Master Lian told Lian Shouli and Lady Zhao the plan, which Lian Shouxin had already discussed with them in advance, and they readily agreed.
"Dad, whatever we eat, let the wife of my third brother eat the same," Lady Zhang said.
With the matter settled, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang stood up.
"Wait," Lady Zhou, who had been watching Lian Shouxin, spoke up, "You’re just going to exploit the wife of your third brother with just one or two meals as payment?"
She was demanding wages. Lady Zhou was too impatient, or perhaps when it came to money, she couldn’t quite trust the generosity of Lian Shouxin’s family.
Lian Shouxin smiled somewhat helplessly.
"Mom, we’ve agreed to pay my third sister-in-law five wen money per day, paid monthly," he said. He hadn’t spoken earlier, thinking that among family, such matters need not be openly stated. His character, well known to the family, should have made his intentions clear.
Unfortunately, this gentlemanly way of doing things worked in front of Old Master, but was doomed to hit a wall in front of Lady Zhou.
Lian Manman curled her lips. Not specifying the wages from the beginning was her idea, egging Lian Shouxin on. She had guessed that Lady Zhou would bring up the issue of money, which Lady Zhou indeed did, and right on the spot.
Lian Shouxin’s feelings were hurt once again. In the future, he should be able to see more clearly who was close and who was distant, and which family members he should cherish most!
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First update posted, continue to seek support. There will be a second update tonight. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to qidian.com to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
