The two of them counted the money one bill at a time. As they went on, Zhao Guihua’s breathing grew increasingly rapid, her voice even tinged with tears: “O-one hundred… three hundred… five hundred…”
When the last bill was counted, both of them froze.
Seven hundred twenty-six yuan and five jiao.
That number was like a thunderclap, leaving Zhao Guihua speechless for a long moment. “Seven hundred-plus… Yuwei, we made over seven hundred yuan in a single day? H-how is that even possible?”
In an era where most monthly wages were only a few dozen yuan, seven hundred was an astronomical sum. Zhao Guihua had saved diligently her whole life and still had never earned that much in a single day.
“Sister-in-law, keep this money first.” Qiao Yuwei handed her 50 yuan. “This is your hard work fee. As for Sister Zhaodi, when she comes back, she should get a share too.”
Zhao Guihua quickly waved her hands. “No, no! Yuwei, didn’t you say it was 8 yuan? I was just helping out how can I take so much money?”
“Sister-in-law, don’t be polite with me.” Qiao Yuwei shoved the money into her hand, pouting slightly in a proud manner. “Don’t get too happy too soon you’ll be helping me a lot more later.”
Zhao Guihua looked at the money in her hands and burst into tears of joy. “Yuwei… thank you…”
Zhao Guihua was in her forties, with two children at home. Her elderly parents in the countryside couldn’t work anymore, and the family relied entirely on her husband’s modest military allowance. She had often heard her neighbor complain that her husband was already in his forties and hadn’t been promoted in years, and that every yuan had to be carefully split into several portions.
This 50 yuan would last them quite a while.
For the next two days, the two of them stayed busy from dawn to dusk, leaving early and coming home late. Even little Sweetie followed along every day until she looked completely exhausted, yet still insisted on helping at the stall.
Some early-rising neighbors saw them leaving before dawn and began spreading rumors: Zhao Guihua had been led astray by Qiao Yuwei, going out before the sky even brightened for an 8-yuan-a-day job who knows what shady things they were doing.
Zhao Guihua’s kneading speed was much faster than before. Thinking about how she, a housewife, could now earn money, she was full of energy. “Yuwei, how many people do you think will come today? I deliberately made more dough yesterday should be enough.”
Just as she finished speaking, groups of workers in uniforms arrived one after another, all smiling as they headed straight for the “Qiao’s Dumpling” stall.
Judging by their clothes, they were likely workers from nearby factories. It seemed word of mouth had spread to the factories nearby, bringing a sudden surge of customers.
Qiao Yuwei, seeing the crowd, sped up her dumpling-making. “Earlier it was hard to say, but now… I’m afraid it won’t be enough.”
“Give me five takeaways!”
“Can I get a bowl first? I’m rushing to work!”
Zhao Guihua panicked as she checked the basin. “We don’t have enough flour and meat! It’s not even noon yet!”
Qiao Yuwei’s heart sank as well. Seeing the long queue of customers, many already looking impatient, she quickly cupped her hands in apology. “Everyone, sorry! We’re temporarily out of ingredients. Would you mind waiting a bit? I’ll go restock right away.”
“How long will that take?”
“We came all the way here we can’t just go back empty-handed!”
Just as Qiao Yuwei was overwhelmed, a familiar voice suddenly sounded.
“Boss, do you still have dumplings?”
She looked up and was surprised to see Lin Weisheng. He wore a white shirt, hair neatly combed, without his red armband, clearly on leave.
He didn’t know why either. Ever since that day, Qiao Yuwei’s busy figure had been lingering in his mind. Although he used to dislike her, now whenever he thought of her lively eyes and slightly proud pout, he couldn’t help feeling distracted.
Today, during his rest day, he had come without hesitation.
Seeing her troubled expression, he immediately asked, “What happened?”
“We ran out of ingredients flour and meat are gone. I can’t leave, and going to restock would take too long.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll go buy them!”
Lin Weisheng acted quickly. In less than 20 minutes, he returned, carrying 20 jin of flour on his shoulder, two large slabs of pork belly in his hands, plus a bundle of cabbage and chives. Sweat covered his forehead, and the back of his white shirt was soaked and dusted with flour.
Qiao Yuwei took the flour and immediately began kneading dough, too busy to even thank him properly.
Customers kept coming in waves with almost no pause. Seeing how overwhelmed they were, Lin Weisheng rolled up his sleeves and joined in to help.
By the time the last customers left, all 20 jin of flour had been used up.
Exhausted, Qiao Yuwei sat on the ground and started counting the money alone. 2,430 yuan adding previous days’ earnings, the total had reached 4,000 yuan. Almost half a “ten-thousand-yuan household.”
At this rate, Song Zhinian’s idea of divorce would be completely ruined.
Clang… A bowl shattered on the ground.
She turned around and saw Lin Weisheng standing there, his once-white shirt now gray-black, stained with oil at the collar and sleeves, still holding a few bowls in his hands.
She quickly stood up, took the bowls from him, and felt a wave of guilt. “Comrade Lin, thank you so much today not only for buying the ingredients but for helping all day. Your clothes are completely ruined.”
Lin Weisheng glanced down and smiled casually. “It’s fine. Just a shirt it can be washed.”
“How can that be?” Qiao Yuwei shook her head. “It looks quite new. What a pity. I’m going to the department store anyway to buy some things for my sister and brother-in-law I’ll buy you a new one to make up for it.”
Lin Weisheng’s heart stirred. He originally wanted to refuse, but thinking of the chance to spend more time with her, he pretended to hesitate. “Wouldn’t that be troublesome?”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about?”
Qiao Yuwei brushed the flour off her clothes and called out toward the kitchen, “Sister-in-law, please help clean up here. I’m going to the department store.”
“Go, go,” Zhao Guihua quickly agreed. “I’ve got this, don’t worry!”
Qiao Yuwei took Sweetie and walked toward the department store with Lin Weisheng.
Sweetie held Qiao Yuwei’s hand and curiously looked at him. “Uncle Lin, are you my aunt’s friend?”
Lin Weisheng adjusted his glasses, crouched down, and gently patted her head. “Yes, I’m your aunt’s friend. You’re Sweetie, right? So cute.”
Sweetie shyly hid behind Qiao Yuwei, peeking out at him. “Thank you, Uncle.”
Lin Weisheng was the type of dark-skinned handsome man tall nose, glasses on his face, with a slightly roguish yet refined charm.
The three of them chatted and laughed along the way.
Not far away, at a street corner, a jeep was parked under the shade of a tree. The moment the driver saw this scene, he crushed his cigarette under his shoe, his face dark and expressionless.
He had originally come to pick up Qiao Yuwei and Sweetie but instead, he saw this.
He opened the car door and drove off without looking back.