Chapter 208: An Unexpected Meeting

Chapter 208: Unexpected Meeting

The tea egg business was doing surprisingly well. They set up their stall at 7 a.m., and by 9 a.m., all two hundred eggs had been sold out.

Miao Cuifang did the math. After subtracting the cost of eggs and ingredients, they made a net profit of seven or eight yuan.

"Honey, is it really this easy to make money in the city?"

Miao Cuifang took the money home, feeling a bit amazed along the way.

Ye Jianguo hadn't expected things to go so smoothly either.

"I don't think it's as simple as it seems. If we hadn't met Auntie Li, where would we have bought the eggs?"

Miao Cuifang: "You're right. We need to keep up this egg supply from Auntie Li. If we stay here for six months, how much money could we make?"

Ye Jianguo immediately reminded her: "Don't just focus on making money. The most important thing for you right now is to rest after your surgery."

Miao Cuifang: "I'm resting now. We sold all the eggs so easily this morning."

Back in the village, they were busy from dawn till dusk, doing this and that, but in the end, it didn't bring much income to the family—just enough to get by.

Miao Cuifang suddenly understood why so many people wanted to move to the city. Life here was definitely better than in the village.

That day, Miao Cuifang visited Auntie Li and ordered three hundred eggs for the next day.

Auntie Li: "Business is going well, isn't it?"

Miao Cuifang: "You sell pretty quickly too."

Auntie Li proudly said: "I have to look after my grandson during the day, otherwise I would have grown my business long ago."

Miao Cuifang admired Auntie Li's confidence and didn't hesitate to praise her.

"Women as capable as you are hard to find. I should learn from you."

Auntie Li, flattered by the praise, opened up to Miao Cuifang, "Sister, are you having problems with your family too?"

Miao Cuifang: "Not really. I'm staying at my daughter's place, just with nothing much to do."

Auntie Li sympathized with Miao Cuifang. Saying you do nothing is just a polite way of saying your daughter looks down on you.

"Do you have sons?"

Miao Cuifang: "I've got four sons."

Auntie Li looked at her with compassion. Having four sons but still living with her daughter—clearly, none of them were taking care of her.

"Sister, just work hard and save up to buy your own place in the city."

Miao Cuifang felt puzzled. She hadn't said much, but Auntie Li seemed to pity her.

After Miao Cuifang and Ye Jianguo found something to do, their spirits improved.

Usually, by 10 a.m., all the eggs were sold out.

Then they would go home for lunch and take a nap.

In the afternoon, they would take a walk and prepare for the next day's stock.

After Ye Jianguo got to know the old men in the compound better, he occasionally played chess with a group of old buddies, making his days more enjoyable.

That was until Ye Xiaoxiao visited them on her day off.

"Mom, Dad, are you getting used to living here?"

Miao Cuifang was naturally happy to see Xiao Xiao: "We're getting used to it, Xiao Xiao. Are you tired from school? Sit down and take a break. I'll whip up something tasty for you."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Mom, don't cook. I'll take Dad out to eat."

Miao Cuifang: "Maybe we shouldn't go out."

Ye Xiaoxiao said: "Since you've come to Beijing, I must take you out to see the sights. Let's go out for a meal, and then I'll take you and Dad to the mall."

With the weather turning colder, Ye Xiaoxiao decided to buy some clothes for her parents.

Ye Jianguo and Miao Cuifang wanted to refuse, but Ye Xiaoxiao insisted on taking them out.

It was then they realized how wise it was to get a driver's license, as they could drive wherever they wanted.

When they went out, someone in the compound greeted Miao Cuifang.

Ye Xiaoxiao felt quite relieved that her parents were living well here and had already met many people.

Ye Xiaoxiao took them to a famous restaurant in Beijing and had the specialty roast duck.

After the meal, they went to the largest mall in Beijing.

As soon as Miao Cuifang entered, she said: "This place is huge, even bigger than our whole village. It's nothing like the supply and marketing co-op in the county town."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Let's take our time; there's no need to hurry back."

Ye Xiaoxiao led them from the ground floor up, trying on suitable clothes as they went.

...

Hao Yanyan's foot had been healing for over a month, and now she could walk without needing crutches.

Since they had already decided to marry Xu Jianwen, Zhao Hongxia took Hao Yanyan to the mall to pick out an outfit before the wedding.

In fact, the current fashion seemed a bit outdated to Hao Yanyan.

Though the last twenty years of her past life were tragic, she had seen others dressed up glamorously, so her sense of style naturally differed from today's trends.

For weddings now, the bride would at most wear a red coat and a flower, and that would be enough.

But Hao Yanyan wanted to wear a bridal gown and have a grand wedding.

"Yan Yan, isn't there anything here you like?"

Zhao Hongxia looked left and right, having been shopping with Hao Yanyan for quite some time, but they still hadn't decided on what to wear for the wedding day.

Hao Yanyan was easy to talk to, "Auntie, if you're tired, take a seat. I'll browse on my own."

Zhao Hongxia: "That's fine. Let's buy the clothes first, and then I'll take you to pick out a gold bangle."

Hao Yanyan smiled, "Thank you, Auntie. You're so kind to me."

Zhao Hongxia: "You're going to be my daughter-in-law. Of course, I'm going to be good to you."

Hao Yanyan told Zhao Hongxia to find a place to sit in the mall for a while, while she went upstairs to look around.

She was pretty sure she wouldn't find the clothes she wanted here. Hao Yanyan went upstairs to check if there was a tailor shop that could make a dress based on her own design.

She found a shop that could make clothes and went in. The old tailor asked if she wanted to make a top or trousers.

Hao Yanyan sketched a design herself, "I want to make a dress like this. How long will it take?"

"Oh, this style hasn't been popular in recent years."

The old tailor remarked immediately.

Hao Yanyan was delighted, "Were there such clothes before?"

The old tailor pushed his glasses, "This is a style brought over by foreigners. It was popular during the era of the Republic of China, but no one made such clothes in recent years due to some reasons."

Hao Yanyan: "Times are different now. Can you make this dress here?"

Old tailor: "I can make it, but it requires high-quality materials. I don't have the outer layer of gauze here. If we use ordinary mesh instead, it'll look like a mosquito net and won't be attractive."

Hao Yanyan was somewhat disappointed, "Isn't this just regular lace? Can't it be found?"

Old tailor: "If you can buy the material, bring it over and I'll make it."

Hao Yanyan thought this might work and was just about to speak when she saw three familiar figures entering a shop in front of her.

Seeing Ye Xiaoxiao didn't surprise her, but the presence of Miao Cuifang and Ye Jianguo was alarming.

What are they doing in the capital!

The invitation letter she had written in her room never got sent out.

Hao Yanyan's selfishness got the better of her conscience, and she chose to keep this matter under wraps.

The appearance of Ye Jianguo and Miao Cuifang undoubtedly disrupted her plan.