Zhang Xiaoju: "Third Sister-in-law said there's a kindergarten where children can play and learn knowledge, and they also provide lunch. Rui Rui attended kindergarten for a year before."
Liu Yuemin: "That must cost quite a bit of money, right?"
Chen Lishu looked up: "Rui Rui's time was cheaper. It should increase a bit now, but it won't exceed ten yuan a month at most."
"They charge ten yuan just to watch a child? That's too much. Why waste money on that? I think it's better to take care of them yourself." Liu Yuemin clicked her tongue.
Zhang Xiaoju: "You can't say that. They also provide lunch, and if we get busy or need to restock, it's inconvenient to bring a child to the market with so many people coming and going."
Liu Yuemin's eyes darted around: "Xingmin and I have discussed it. After the New Year, we plan to go to the city too. Staying at home all the time isn't ideal. The children are growing up and need money. We should earn more while we're young."
Li Xiulan paused her actions upon hearing her words. Although it felt sudden, she still said: "It's good that you two are thinking this way. People should always do things down-to-earth. Don't mess up the business like last time. Have you figured out what you're going to do?"
Liu Yuemin: "We have a plan. Xingmin and I don't have that much money. Why don't we go to the vegetable market with Fourth Sister-in-law to sell vegetables? Fourth Brother is busy with work, and having a man at home to help with physical labor would be good for support."
It was rare for Liu Yuemin to be so considerate, and these few words showed a bit of sister-in-law demeanor. Li Xiulan nodded with relief.
"That sounds good too. The shop rent is quite reasonable. The shop we bought costs twenty yuan per month in rent. Third Sister-in-law's is a bit bigger, costing five more yuan than ours."
Liu Yuemin was surprised: "That expensive? That means we spend money before we even earn anything."
"This price is quite acceptable." Zhang Xiaoju explained: "I heard Xingye say that the rent will increase in the spring. They call it high customer traffic, it's several floors, selling everything, so there's no shortage of buyers."
Especially since they were located in the north, where selling vegetables could only be done indoors during winter. The city only had this one large vegetable market, with a complete selection of vegetables, so business was naturally good.
"You have your own shop, so you save on rent. We, on the other hand, will have to worry about it." Liu Yuemin said, looking at Chen Lishu: "Third Sister-in-law, my second brother and I are just starting out, completely in the dark. The rent is really too expensive. Why don't you let us use your shop? We're family, let's help each other."
Chen Lishu found it a bit amusing. Helping each other implied reciprocity. If they were truly poor, it would be one thing, but Gu Xingmin could earn at least several hundred yuan just from buying and selling grain before the New Year, yet they came to her crying poverty.
"We are family, and since Second Sister-in-law has asked, I should logically let you use it first."
Liu Yuemin didn't expect her to be so accommodating this time and was overjoyed. But before her smile could fully bloom, Chen Lishu continued: "It's just that for convenience in taking care of it, I signed a three-year contract with someone else. If I take back the shop now, I'll have to pay double the liquidated damages. However, it's been over a year. Why don't you and Second Brother wait? Once the three years are up, I'll immediately let you use it."
The smile on Liu Yuemin's lips froze.
Nowadays, wages, consumption, and rent were all increasing annually. Chen Lishu was naturally not foolish enough to rent it out for just three years. Since Liu Yuemin had the nerve to ask, she also had the nerve to refuse.
Not long after, Gu Xingdong and Gu Xingye, the brothers, returned, carrying buckets filled with three large fish, each weighing three to four catties.
"Third Sister-in-law, what do you think of these fish? Can they be used for sour fish soup?" Thinking of the taste of Chen Lishu's sour fish soup, Gu Xingye couldn't help but swallow.
Chen Lishu glanced over and smiled: "Yes, they can make a big basin full."
Gu Xingdong: "You seem eager to eat. You can clean these fish." Although the fish weren't frozen, they were just taken out of the ice, which was enough to sting his hands. He naturally wouldn't let Chen Lishu clean them.
"Doesn't Third Brother want to eat them?" Gu Xingye said unhappily, "Why don't you clean them with me?"
Gu Xingdong turned around: "I don't want to eat them. Lishu, maybe you shouldn't cook it."
Gu Xingye quickly exclaimed: "No, you're my real Third Brother. I'll clean them, everything is up to me. Anyone who helps, I'll get mad at them."
Saying that, he rolled up his sleeves and started busy.
Lunch was very rich, with chicken and fish, symbolizing abundance every year.
The vegetables were homemade bean sprouts and garlic sprouts, as well as winter-stored cabbage and radishes. There were eight dishes in total, filling a large table.
The happiest during the New Year were undoubtedly the children. They had new clothes, delicious snacks, and a sumptuous lunch. In the evening, there would be dumplings with meat filling. The children ate like little hamsters, their cheeks puffed out.
The Spring Festival Gala would not be held until next year; it was currently presented in the form of a "tea party," but everyone watched with great interest.
At the He family's home, it was supposed to be a family reunion New Year's Eve dinner, but the old couple ate with little appetite.
He Ziyu's stunt had made He Zinian very uncomfortable.
Although he had a good relationship with the He family, and they had even stayed with the He family for a period when they were in Hong Kong, forcing a marriage without feelings made both parties suffer. Moreover, He Wenxin had already left the He family. He really couldn't understand what He Ziyu was so persistent about when he was just an outsider.
Even though Zhu Shasha was adept at social graces, she felt it was best to lower her presence in such an atmosphere, but in her heart, she already hated He Ziyu. She had worked so hard to be truly accepted by the elders, only for this to happen.
Shortly after dinner, Mother He looked at He Zinian: "You all have things to do. Your father and I won't keep you."
Zhu Shasha interjected with a smile: "Auntie, Zinian and I don't have anything else. Today is New Year's Eve. Why don't we let Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law go back first? We can stay and chat with you."
No one at the table responded to her, leaving Zhu Shasha feeling a bit awkward.
"Dad, today is New Year's Eve, and the army has a cultural performance tonight. Quiet and I will leave first." He Zifeng stood up, then said to his daughter: "Qiqi, you can stay here. Mom and Dad will pick you up in a couple of days."
He Mingqi was about to refuse but was glared back by He Zifeng.
"Tyranny, you can only bully me, this weak and helpless pitiful person."
Ignoring his daughter's protest, He Zifeng and his wife got up and left.
"Mom, Shasha and I will leave now too." He Zinian also stood up.
"I want to go home with Daddy and Mommy." Qingqing started to fuss as the two were about to leave.
"Qingqing, what did Mommy tell you? Daddy and Mommy are busy with work, and there are only Grandpa and Grandma at home. You need to show filial piety for your parents and stay with them, understand?"
Zhu Shasha crouched down and patiently comforted her son.
She also wanted to spend more time with her child, but she hadn't officially entered the He family yet. For the sake of the future, she had to make a choice.