“Old man, tell me the truth why do you insist on sending the eldest girl over?”
Lin Laoyao couldn’t possibly admit he was trying to trade his niece for wealth. If his old-fashioned father found out, he definitely wouldn’t agree.
“The person I’m talking about is no ordinary man. He’s a young master from a wealthy family with factories all over the country, not just in our county. The young master once liked a girl who went abroad. He’s very devoted he only likes that one girl. Coincidentally, the eldest niece looks very similar to the girl he likes.”
“I’m doing this for her own good. Think about it she’s already this age and still can’t get married. The villagers all dislike her for carrying three burdens three younger sisters to raise. But if she gets with Young Master Pei, it’ll be different. Not just three sisters even a hundred sisters, the Pei family could afford to raise them.”
Old Man Lin sighed and said slowly, “We could pool our money and fill that 1,000-yuan gap. Didn’t we already give you 800 yuan to deposit in the bank?”
He didn’t want to go along with selling his granddaughter. If this got out, where would his face go? Maybe it wasn’t a big issue before, but now that it had blown up, people would point at his spine and curse him.
“Why not just forget it? Borrow a bit more from your sister’s side.”
Lin Laoyao said nothing and gave Granny Tan a look.
Granny Tan snorted. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. Laoyao is going to be talking marriage soon he needs a city wife. That 800 yuan? Don’t even think about touching it.”
“And don’t even think about your daughters’ side either. Which month aren’t they surviving on money secretly given by Laoyao? If you want your children to live well and enjoy life later, you’d better listen to Laoyao’s arrangements.”
Lin Laoyao then said confidently, “Dad, what are you thinking? A thousand yuan is nothing to Young Master Pei it’s like drinking water. If our family wants to get out of the countryside, we have to build a relationship with the Pei family. Once I become steel factory director, I’ll be the most successful person in the county. With the Pei family’s wealth and connections, even the county magistrate will have to curry favor with me.”
“Then let your sister marry him instead,” Granny Tan added. “Why should that dead girl benefit?”
Lin Laoyao was speechless.
His sister’s looks and personality weren’t great there was no way Young Master Pei would take interest in her.
“Mom, I already said it the Pei family only cares about looks. It has to be someone like my eldest niece. My sister won’t do.”
His eyes turned sharp and calculating as he narrowed them slightly.
“Lin Qimo can’t marry him, but Lin Tangtang can take her place. They’re both from the same mother anyway.”
Granny Tan immediately became upset. “I knew it! She’s just like that fox of a mother. Your eldest brother even turned against me for her back then!”
Old Man Lin stood up and snapped, “Why are you still bringing up old matters?”
Granny Tan, used to being domineering, immediately flared up when he shouted at her. She slammed the table.
“What do you mean old matters? The person’s been dead a year and you’re still defending her and yelling at me you heartless old thing!”
Old Man Lin’s expression turned ugly, but since his son was present, he could only suppress his anger and walk out.
“My father is stubborn and traditional. He still feels guilty about your eldest brother’s wife. Mom, don’t make trouble.”
Granny Tan muttered under her breath, “That fox spirit came to collect debts. Even her daughters are debt collectors.”
Lin Laoyao still smiling, stood up to comfort her.
“It’s fine. As long as we secretly send her over, who would know?”
Granny Tan looked at her son and felt satisfied.
“My Laoyao is still the most capable. Whatever you do, Mom supports you.”
After the village committee approved it, Lin Qimo’s tofu workshop finally began construction.
“Workshop” was just a wooden sign hung at the entrance but officially, it counted as opening a legitimate business.
All procedures were complete, so it wasn’t an illegal setup.
Right now, she and Aunt Qiu were the only two workers. In a day, they could make about three jin of five-spice dried tofu.
After eating some themselves and giving some away as gifts, only two jars of dried tofu were left.
At the entrance of the state-owned restaurant.
“Sister-in-law, let’s eat lunch here, then pack something to take back for Sister Ying and the girls.”
“Alright, I’ll go to the post office ahead to mail some letters. You can order first order whatever you like. I’ll be back soon.”
With that, Si Chongguang carefully hugged a stack of handwritten letters and hurried toward the post office.
He walked quickly, as if afraid she would follow him.
Lin Qimo observed him for a moment, and seeing that he really was just mailing letters, she didn’t think much more of it and entered the state-owned restaurant alone.
She found a seat casually and sat down.
After drinking a glass of brown sugar water, she looked at the scorching sun outside, then at the other tables. She called over a server.
“Excuse me, is your manager here?”
She noticed most tables were ordering pork belly, spicy fish head, and stir-fried pea shoots. One table even had tofu mapo tofu, a common dish.
Her confidence instantly doubled.
“Why are you looking for the manager?” The server was a clean-cut young man who looked a little nervous.
“I came specifically to see your manager. Could you please ask him to come over?” she said gently. Her appearance made it hard to refuse.
The server looked at her in surprise, as if something important had just happened, and quickly agreed.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll call him right away.”
Soon, the server brought over a man in a suit.
Lin Qimo looked up.
He was about 1.8 meters tall, lean and tall, with tanned skin and a short crew cut. His features were sharp and resolute.
“Hello, my name is Lin Qimo,” she greeted politely as she stood up.
The man froze completely.
Feeling a little uncomfortable under his gaze, she coughed lightly. “You must be the manager of this state-owned restaurant. Nice to meet you.”
At that moment, just as it happened, Si Chongguang stepped into the restaurant and saw this scene.