Chapter 396: Chapter 395: Ye Qing’s Plan
Finally, after Han Yi returned home, he not only fried food for her but also made a lot of fish balls.
Lin Wan originally planned to eat small meals frequently, but Han Yi made so much delicious food for her. Every day was a new culinary surprise. She finished eating and didn’t exercise.
The weight piled on quickly.
Lin Wan hadn’t stayed long; soon Han Yi received his disciplinary action, which was a serious warning. He wasn’t dismissed or demoted.
This reassured Lin Wan significantly.
She had been on leave for almost a month. It was time for her to go back.
Early the next morning, Han Yi got her on the mess hall’s bus.
After sending her off, Han Yi immediately called home to have someone pick her up.
When she arrived at the city, at the intersection, she saw her brother wearing a dog-skin hat and an army coat, waiting by the roadside. It looked like he had been waiting a while.
See, this is what family is, everyone pampers her to the core.
"Brother, aren’t you teaching today?"
"The store has been quite busy these days. I took two days off to come back and help."
"Is the store busy?"
"There have been lots of weddings these two months, almost every day."
"Oh, that’s good news."
More than half a month not home, Mom had cleaned the house spotlessly.
Lin Wan went to the west room to look. There were still two burlap bags of gloves, and over two hundred pounds of scarves hadn’t been woven yet.
There were over two hundred pieces stocked.
Looking at the account Mom made for her, there was over ten thousand in revenue.
"Ah... Haha..." Lin Wan was ecstatic, celebrating for most of the day.
Internally, she kept thinking about how wealthy she had gotten.
Lin Yinghui knew she would react this way, and with a helpless smile said, "Alright, enough, don’t actually go crazy."
"Brother, I’ve hit it big! Can’t you just let me be excited for once?"
"People who get rich usually keep it under wraps, but you, your voice is loud enough for several neighboring houses to hear."
Lin Wan then stopped, pulling Lin Yinghui along, "Brother, I’ll cook dinner tonight, let’s have a good meal, something nice."
"Ever since we opened the restaurant, when haven’t we eaten well?" Lin Yinghui said, but he still listened to his sister.
Resting at home for a bit, he accompanied his little sister to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things.
...
"Ye, after work today, stay a moment and come with me to meet a leader," Ye Qing was called to the office by the director and asked just before the end of the workday.
"Director, why not meet the leader in the afternoon?" Ye Qing pouted, feeling they had to wait until after work; she planned to set up her stall to sell things afterwards. She was making about five or six sales a day, earning a dollar per item, and she couldn’t afford to be delayed.
"This is my old comrade’s son, he’s in S City this time for some affairs, we should entertain him. Help me find a good restaurant. Also, arrange accommodation for him; he might stay here for a month. After our meal, lead him to the arrangements. It’s all on you today." The director glanced at Ye Qing sideways, puzzled at what young women are thinking about these days — all sorts of nonsense.
"Oh, got it, Director. How about the state-owned restaurant near us?"
"Hmm, that one will do."
Ye Qing breathed a sigh of relief; she was worried the director would choose the hotpot restaurant in front of the government compound. She least wanted to encounter Lin Wan’s family now.
After leaving, Ye Qing went to the restaurant to book a private room and did not return but waited directly in the private room for the director.
Around six-thirty, the director arrived with a person in military uniform.
Ye Qing was initially discontent with the director’s arrangement today, not planning to be too enthusiastic. Yet, upon seeing this soldier, Ye Qing was stunned.
He... upon closer inspection, bore some resemblance to Han Yi.
Especially those eyes.
"Ye, this is Mr. Mei, Langchi, my comrade sdf., son. This is my assistant, Ye Qing, Comrade Ye, I’m counting on you today," the director introduced them once inside.
"Hello, Mr. Ye," Mei Langchi politely extended his hand to shake hers.
"Hello, Mr. Mei," right then, Ye Qing’s palms were sweaty, feeling quite nervous inside.
"Ye, count on you today — get the kitchen to serve," the director instructing Ye Qing, guided Mei Langchi to sit.
"Oh... oh, I’ll go do it now," Ye Qing was momentarily dumbfounded; if the director hadn’t called her, she would’ve stared at him indefinitely.
Mei Langchi wasn’t surprised by such women anymore. Before marriage, women in the compound were eager to visit his home daily, though post-marriage it improved.
Initially, @EW./ after the exercise completed, he should’ve returned to the barracks. Yet, his mom wanted him to stay a while in S City, checking out Han Yi’s family situation.
Although unwilling inside, he couldn’t refuse, given these few years of marriage yielded no children. The grandparents longed for a grandson.
His mom also worried; last year they visited the hospital for checkups, yet nothing was found.
Dad hoped Han Yi would recognize his roots, but it was kept private due to mom’s cause; dad never told mom doesn’t mean he wouldn’t share.
The year before last, dad insisted on introducing his cousin to Han Yi. Unexpectedly, Han Yi declined, finding a rural girl to marry instead.
A few days ago, Yang Ting said Han Yi’s wife was pregnant. He mentioned it to his mom, who then wanted him in S City to investigate Han Yi’s family situation.
Of course, definitely unwilling for Han Yi to birth a grandchild for the Mei family.
The family’s grandparents knew nothing about Han Yi; if grandpa knew dad birthed a child away from home, he’d likely never allow Han Yi to wander abroad.
Ye Qing went and arranged the kitchen, then returned to the private room to inform the director, "Director, Mr. Mei, chat slowly, I’ll depart to arrange housing for Mr. Mei, and shall return soon."
"Good, proceed. Here’s the recommendation letter." The director handed Ye Qing a letter.
Ye Qing nodded, taking it and heading to the nearby state-run guesthouse. Nowadays, public accommodation required a recommendation but no cash.
"Wait a moment," now, Mei Langchi gestured, speaking to the director, "I might be here for a while. Could you help find a small courtyard, or one with the kang (heated bed) feature? It’s cold here; I dislike the coal heater’s smell in the guesthouse."
"This...," the director frowned, finding a courtyard in a few days was tough.
"Mr. Mei, would a private house work? The household I rent from has an available housing unit. A small courtyard, not very large, with two rooms. The only con being a bit worn kitchen. Yet, the kang works," Ye Qing thought of the small courtyard on the left side of where she lived. Secretly, Ye Qing wanted more interactions with Mr. Mei — the two courtyards were adjacent, with low walls between.
These times, Yang Erni sought to rent it out, worried about safety if rented, given the walls were short.
Judging from their talk, this person seemed from the Capital City; uncertain if married.
"Where is it?" The director asked.
"In a Central Street alley, not far from here."
The director glanced at Mei Langchi, seeking his opinion.
"As long as there’s a room. Let’s go with the place Ye mentioned,"
"Then... shall I go ask for Mr. Mei?" Ye Qing delighted at heart but remained outwardly calm.
"Yes, go ahead. Return post-query," Ye Qing exuberantly rode the director’s bike to Yang Erni’s house.
"Erni, are you home?"
"Oh, Xiaoqing’s returned. Come in?" Yang Erni’s in-laws owned two or three estates, with her husband the sole heir. After the parents’ passing, she chose not to sell but refurbished into rentals, earning extra monthly.
"Why aren’t you selling today?"
"Don’t mention it. The director met with a leader, having me arrange meals and accommodation. Thus, meals were addressed, followed by housing with you, Sister Erni."
"Came for me?" Yang Erni puzzled; she didn’t know their leader personally.
"That out-of-town leader handling some affairs needs to stay a while. Working primarily in the south, he’s not accustomed to the climate, against cold conditions, partially dislikes guesthouses. Hence, the director sought a private residence. Suddenly, couldn’t find a courtyard accommodation — remembered you had one unrented. Thus... I came to see you! How about it? Though short term, would you rent it?"