“My mom heard it from the neighbors,” Li Na said as she placed the wrapped buns into the steamer. “Could it be they’re just making things up? But they said the Lu family already gave you a 200-yuan bride price it sounded very convincing.”
Shen Wei already knew what was going on.
It was definitely Lu Cheng’s wretched mother behind this. That old woman was two-faced sweet to your face, vicious behind your back. In her previous life, when she relied on Shen Wei to take care of her, she would often make empty promises, saying she would pass down the Lu family heirloom to her one day.
But not long after the old woman died, Shen Wei saw that heirloom a jade bracelet on Liu Qingqing’s wrist.
She had argued fiercely with Lu Cheng about it, but he claimed his mother had secretly given it to Liu Qingqing.
Who actually gave it didn’t matter to Shen Wei anymore. She only knew that both mother and son were no good.
“They’re spreading rumors!” Shen Wei said directly. “I rejected Lu Cheng on the very day we had our blind date. I haven’t seen a single cent of any bride price.”
She knew exactly what they were plotting using public opinion to tie her to Lu Cheng. Once enough people believed it, she’d be forced to marry him whether she wanted to or not.
“They’re really shameless!” Li Na’s temper flared immediately. “What are you going to do?”
“This kind of hidden loss has to be dealt with openly!” Shen Wei quickly arranged the buns, covered the steamer, and started cooking. “After I sell today’s batch, I’ll go find them!”
“Wait for me after work I’ll go with you!” Li Na said at once. “You can’t deal with that shameless mother and son alone!”
“Alright!”
Before the buns were even ready, a middle-aged woman came over and asked, “Miss, what are you selling?”
“Steamed buns! We have soy-braised meat buns and chive-and-egg buns!”
“How much are they?” the woman asked, clearly interested.
“Meat buns are 0.2 yuan each, vegetable buns are 0.1 yuan,” Shen Wei said, noticing she wanted to buy. She pulled out a small stool. “Ma’am, have a seat and wait a bit about ten minutes and they’ll be ready.”
“Alright, I’ll wait.”
During that time, two more people came by to ask about the buns. Only then did Shen Wei realize she had been in such a rush that she hadn’t put up the banner she made yesterday. She quickly hung it on the tricycle.
The vegetable buns were ready first. Shen Wei wrapped one in oiled paper and handed it to the waiting woman.
“Here, ma’am you’re our first customer today. This one’s free for you to try! If you like it, you can buy more!”
The woman was a bit flattered and kept saying, “Oh, I couldn’t possibly…”
But she was hungry, and the aroma of the buns kept drifting into her nose. She couldn’t resist and took a bite.
With just one bite, the fresh, savory flavor burst in her mouth it was so delicious she felt like even her tongue had come alive.
“Delicious!”
“Give me four vegetable buns and four meat buns!” The woman wasn’t short on money. After tasting how good they were, she immediately ordered. “Oh, and include the one I just ate in the price!”
Small businesses weren’t easy she didn’t want to take advantage.
“That’ll be 1.2 yuan total,” Shen Wei said, taking the money and giving her change. “That one was on the house as promised. If you like them, just help spread the word!”
“No problem!” The woman thought this young girl was quite good at handling people.
So whenever someone asked if the buns were good, she immediately started promoting them on the spot. “They’re delicious! Really delicious! This young lady has skill! I’ve never had buns this good in Yuncheng only the soup dumplings I had in Hangzhou can compare!”
Most of the people present had never been to Hangzhou, but they all knew it was a wonderful place. Hearing her say only Hangzhou buns could compare, many immediately started pulling out money to buy.
Very quickly, the first steamer was sold out.
Li Na helped her prepare the second batch, then took two vegetable buns and went off to work.
By mid-morning, Shen Wei had sold ten steamers, making a total of 46.5 yuan. After subtracting the cost of flour, meat, vegetables, seasonings, and coal, she earned nearly 30 yuan.
Since it was her first day, she hadn’t prepared that much.
Although 30 yuan wouldn’t seem like much in later times, in the early 1980s it was almost equivalent to a small worker’s monthly wage for just one day.
In the distance, Liu Qingqing watched Shen Wei counting money at her bun stall, her face full of disdain.
She really couldn’t understand how Brother Acheng’s family could have taken a liking to Shen Wei as a future daughter-in-law.
“Setting up a stall on the street like that, showing your face in public how embarrassing.”
How could it compare to her accounting job in terms of respectability?
Now the neighbors were all spreading rumors that Shen Wei was about to marry Brother Acheng. She didn’t believe Shen Wei could resist that kind of temptation.
After all, her Brother Acheng was just too outstanding!
Even though he didn’t have a job now, that was because of her. Back then, at the factory, the director’s son had been pursuing her, but she refused him her heart was full of Brother Acheng.
That director’s son even tried to force himself on her, and Lu Cheng had broken his nose on the spot. That was why he got fired.
In any case, Brother Acheng would definitely achieve great things in the future.
As Shen Wei finished packing her things onto the tricycle and was about to leave, she spotted Liu Qingqing.
With that condescending look of superiority, as if she had something to be proud of.
Shen Wei pedaled quickly past her. Startled, Liu Qingqing stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
Shen Wei glanced back, giving a slightly wicked smile, then rode off without another look.
So satisfying!
Liu Qingqing, meanwhile, was furious she had worn a white dress today!
This Shen Wei was just too hateful!
She had to go complain to Brother Acheng!
……
After Shen Wei got home and cleaned the steamers and everything else, Li Na arrived on her bicycle.
“Let’s go! To the Lu family!”
As Shen Wei sat on the back seat, she reminded her, “When we get there, don’t say anything. I’ll handle it myself!”
Having lived a second life, she could afford to lose her own reputation but she couldn’t drag Li Na’s down with her.
“Hold on tight,” Li Na said as she pushed off on the bicycle. “If I dared to go with you, then I’m not afraid of anything.”
At the Lu family home
“Will this really work?” Lu Cheng asked as he brewed medicine for his mother.
Lu’s mother said with certainty, “Don’t worry. I know girls like her best they’re thin-skinned. Once everyone believes she’s your girl, what man around here would dare marry her?”
“Just wait. She’ll come begging to marry you herself.”
That way, the Lu family would have the upper hand.
Lu Cheng’s brows relaxed slightly. If things really went that smoothly, it would be ideal.
These days he was busy brewing medicine for his mother and taking his father to the doctor it was delaying his ability to build a career.
If Shen Wei married into the family sooner, she could take that burden off his shoulders earlier.
For a woman, supporting her husband, raising children, and being filial to her in-laws was the happiest life. He would treat her well too.
Lu Cheng had just finished pouring his mother’s medicine when a commotion broke out at the door.
“Lu Cheng, get out here!”
It was lunchtime. Hearing there was drama, many people who had already cooked came out holding their bowls, while those who hadn’t even finished cooking came out hungry just to watch.
Very quickly, a crowd gathered at the Lu family’s entrance.
Liu Qingqing, who lived on the back street, also heard the noise and ran over. What was Shen Wei causing trouble about this time?
Lu’s mother followed Lu Cheng outside. When she saw Shen Wei at the door, she said smugly, “See? Just like I said she couldn’t hold back. Later, we need to keep up our airs.”