054 – Will Die if You Don’t Take Advantage of Others

“Sure.” Lei Xiangren said, “After buying all the things, we’ll meet at the entrance of the town.”

In the cart behind, Zhao Shi and Qian Shi whispered to one another.

“Third brother’s wife,” Zhao Shi touched Qian Shi’s arm and whispered, “Eldest sister-in-law gave us a good idea this time. I dare say that we can earn a lot of money by selling soup. But it’s a pity that we have to give it all to mother.”

Recalling the scene in the early morning when Du Shi counted the money for buying firewood and ingredients one by one before handed it over Lei Xiangren’s hand, Qian Shi felt uncomfortable. She knew that Zhao Shi wanted to stir her up about separating from the family, but she strayed from her (ZS) plan and only uttered “en” without saying anything.

Seeing that she was not fooled, Zhao Shi had no choice but to say, “It would be great if we could also separate from the family.”

Qian Shi asked deliberately, “Who do you mean by us?”

Zhao Shi dodged the question. In fact, she was also contradictory; she wanted to separate but also did not want to. If separated, she could control the money at home, but then she was unwilling at the thought of separation that meant she also had to separate from Lei Xiangzhi. Lei Xiangzhi’s future was limitless. She was reluctant to give up this big tree. It could not have been better if Old Three and Old Four separated from the main family and Du Shi gave her the right to take charge of the family. That old woman was too abnormal to have still controlled her sons at that old age. When Miss Wei joined the household, she wanted to see if she (DS) could still be rampant..

The more Zhao Shi thought about it, the farther it went and her eyes turned vacant.

Qian Shi coldly glared at her and leaned on her knees to take a nap for a while.

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When they arrived at the town, the sun had just come out and the shadows grew long under the sunshine.

The ox cart stopped in front of the shop. Lei Tie moved the newly bought vegetables and allowed Lei Xiangli to drive the cart away.

Chen Si, the barbecue chef, came early and squatted at the side as he ate breakfast – two steamed buns.

“Good morning, big boss, small boss.”

Qin Mian nodded to him, “Good morning.”

“Don’t worry, eldest brother. I’ll buy some fodder by the way. I won’t let the ox starve.” Lei Xiangli said.

“It’s the first time we’ve come to eldest sister-in-law’s shop.” Zhao Shi hinted at Qin Mian while her eyes floated on the closed shop’s door.

“Yeah.” Lei Xiangren chimed in and said with a flattering smile, “Eldest brother, you shop–”

Lei Tie steadfastly stood on his ground as he indifferently said, “It’s late.”

Lei Xiangren and the others had to drive the carts to leave.

“That husband and wife really suited each other.” Qin Mian took out the key to open the door as he shook his head.

“Don’t have to mind them.” Lei Tie didn’t care about them very much. If other people had a bad thought, he could deal with them.

“Are you two the owners of the shop?”

An old voice sounded uncertainly from behind them.

Qin Mian looked back and saw an old man over 60 year old standing not far away with a bent waist and looked a little uneasy.

“That’s right,” Qin Mian said suspiciously, “Uncle, what can I do for you?”

The old man rubbed his hands and said, “I’m Zheng Liu’s father. Little Liu was beaten last night. He asked me to tell you that someone forced him to say something about recipe..”

Chen Si stopped chewing and inwardly considered himself lucky that he lived near, so there was nothing happened to him last night.

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Qin Mian’s expression changed greatly as he looked at Lei Tie.

The light Lei Tie’s eyes were cold.

Without waiting for him to open his mouth, a young man that looked simple and honest came from the distance.

“Boss Lei, boss Qin, you two are here, my younger brother has been–”

“Beaten?” Qin Mian took over the other’s word.

The man was stunned and nodded, “Yes, he didn’t return home when it was very late. I came out to find him and discovered him lying on the roadside, injured. He’s still unconscious.”

Qin Mian’s face sank. He was furious, but he did not lose his cool. He took out his money pouch and fished out four silver ingots to give two for each person.

“Uncle Zheng, Brother Wang, this matter started because of us. We’re truly sorry. Take the money and bring Zheng Liu and Wang Shun to see a physician. By the way, I’d like to ask you to bring them a message from me, that is, let them heal their wounds at ease and come back to work when they are well. We’ll solve this matter.”

“This..”

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It really costed a lot of money to see a physician. Zheng Liu’s father and Wang Shun’s older brother hesitated before taking the money.

Wang Shun’s older brother said: “It is Shunzi’s blessing to meet bosses like you two. You two bosses can rest assured, I’ll bring the message. Many thanks.”

Knowing that Zheng Liu’s father and Wang Shun’s older brother had walked away, Qin Mian was so angry that he kicked the vegetable basket. “Fuck! Outrageous!”

Lei Tie held him. “It’s you who hurt. I’ll solve this. Open the door first.”

Qin Mian opened the door and sat down on the stool. “How are you going to solve it?”

“Rest assured.” Lei Tie said, “I’m going out for a bit.”

“Well, be careful.” Qin Mian hadn’t perfected his kung fu yet. Even if he went out with Lei Tie, he couldn’t help much. He could only charge him with the task.

Lei Tie looked around, “The shops nearby are open, people come and go, you don’t have to be afraid.”

“What am I afraid of?” Qin Mian was amused, “Go quickly, you must give them a lesson.”

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Lei Tie nodded and left in a hurry.

Qin Mian took a look at Chen Si, who had never said a word, “Chen Si, are you afraid?”

Chen Si returned to his senses and laughed. He swallowed up the steamed bun in his hand and moved the vegetable basket into the shop. “Small boss, I’m not actually. Our surname Chen is also a big name in the town. What am I afraid of? But now, those people should know that only you and big boss have the seasoning recipe in our shop.” The ‘small boss’ hat fastened on Qin Mian’s head could not be taken off anymore.

His statement was logical, so Qin Mian nodded, “In case someone comes to you in the future, you can go ahead push it onto mine and big boss’s head.” Since the opening of the shop, he and Lei Tie handled the seasonings of the hot pot, spicy hot soup and barbecue in person. The three staffs in the shop – Zheng Liu, Wang Shun and Chen Si – did not know the recipe.

“Don’t worry, small boss.” Chen Si said, “However, since Little Liu and Shunzi can’t come, I’m afraid we don’t have enough manpower today.”

Qin Mian had made arrangement, “When the grocery store opens, I’ll ask Boss Zou to borrow his shop assistant for a bit.”

Boss Zou was the owner of the grocery store next door.

Chen Si curled his lips, “Boss Zou should be willing, but he’ll definitely make you write out a salary.”

“There’s no other way.” Qin Mian was helpless. “Little Liuzi and Little Shunzi must have been hurt badly. They have to rest for at least a month and a half. When your big boss comes back, I’ll go to the brokerage and hire a temporary worker.”

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No longer chatting, Chen Si skillfully trimmed and washed the vegetables. Meanwhile, after Qin Mian stewed the big bone soup, he began to chop the meat.

About two hours later, Lei Tie came back.

Qin Mian looked him up and down. His expression was ordinary and his clothes were neat, as if he had just gone for a walk.

“How about it?

“It’s solved.”

Qin Mian doubted, “All solved?”

Chen Si looked over curiously.

Lei Tie nodded.

“How did you solve it?” Qin Mian questioned closely.

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Lei Tie didn’t speak; he sat down and pinched the meatball, “You chop the meat.”

“How actually did you solve it?” Qin Mian’s heart seemed to have a cat’s paw scratching on it. He was very curious.

Lei Tie still didn’t speak.

Qin Mian stared at him discontentedly. Since the man didn’t want to say it, he also didn’t want to waste his saliva. He turned to wash his hands, “I’m going to the brokerage to hire a temporary worker and a long-term worker.”

Chen Si was puzzled, “Small boss, didn’t you just say you only hire a temporary worker?”

“Look at the pitiful state of your big boss; both hands are smoked white. I’ll hire someone to cook the spicy hot soup.” Qin Mian teased.

Chen Si admiringly said: “Big boss and small boss have a good relationship, just like blood brothers.”

Qin Mian stiffened.

Lei Tie glanced at Chen Si coldly.

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Chen Si shuddered. What did he say wrong?

Lei Tie opened his mouth, “He’s my–”

“Lei Tie!” Qin Mian whooshed over and covered the man’s mouth. It was the first time he found that his speed was so fast, almost comparable to qinggong[1].

Lei Tie raised his hand and touched Qin Mian’s face. He didn’t say anything more and continued to pinch the meatball.

Only then Qin Mian let him go. He gave the man a warning look and went out with his hands clasped behind his back, head held high and chest out.

Chen Si glanced at the minced meat on Qin Mian’s face and turned his head to snicker.

The new staff, Shi Tou was very simple and honest person. He was a bit slow in reaction, but he was diligent, energetic and didn’t talk much. His joining made this day’s business not affected by the absence of Zheng Liu and Wang Shun.

Lei Tie didn’t have to cook spicy hot soup anymore. Thus, when there were few customers, he sat at the counter with Qin Mian and helped to carry the dishes or collected money when there were many customers.

When there were few customers, Qin Mian went to the pastry shop diagonally opposite and bought two kinds of pastry, which were divided into two parts.

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When the sun was in the west, Lei Xiangren and several others drove in carts appeared with a happy expression.

“Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, we are back.” Lei Xiangren yelled from afar.

Qin Mian really wanted to strangle him. His dagger eyes flew over with a whoosh.

Fortunately, the customers in the shop didn’t realize that “eldest sister-in-law” was meant for him.

Lei Xiangli smacked Lei Xiangren and warned him, “Don’t call eldest sister-in-law in front of outsiders.”

Lei Xiangren suddenly realized, “Oh, I understand.”

He parked the donkey cart on the side of the road, cheerfully walked into the shop, and approached the counter with a mysterious look, “Eldest brother, how much do you think we made today?”

Lei Tie dismally took up a brush to write. He was not interested in guessing.

Qin Mian casually asked, “How much?”

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Lei Xiangren laughed, “203.”

Lei Xiangyi grinned from ear to ear as he said: “We’ve calculated. We made a net profit of 160 Wen after subtracting the cost of firewood and ingredients.”

“Not bad, not bad. Congratulations.” Qin Mian cupped his hands as he congratulated.

Zhao Shi looked greedily at the hot pot that others were eating, “We’ve been busy for most of the day, nearly starved to death. Husband, let’s have something to eat in eldest brother’s shop.”

“Yeah.” Lei Xiangren smilingly said, “The food in eldest brother’s shop is delicious.”

Qin Mian also smiled, “You can choose whatever you want to eat. Vegetarian dishes cost a Wen, meat dishes 2 Wen. Hot pot is more expensive and you have to wait a little longer. I’ll give you a 20% discount on your first visit.”

Lei Xiangren looked at him in astonish, “We’re all your own brothers..” He deliberately didn’t finish.

Qin Mian smiled more brilliantly as he got closer, “You all go pick the dishes first.”

Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli felt embarrassed.

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Lei Xiangyi looked at Lei Xiangren with disapproval, “What are you talking about, second brother?”

“I’m not wrong. Eldest sister-in-law is too scrupulous.” Lei Xiangren reproached Qin Mian with dissatisfaction.

Qin Mian sneered. He had seen the meaning of “burnt the bridge after crossing it”. However, he said nothing more and counted money with a happy smile. The coppers fell into the money box and the clanking sound was very pleasant to hear. He was not anxious, not at all.

Qian Shi suddenly realized, got close to Lei Xiangyi and whispered: “Husband, we’ve to pay and tomorrow we still have to buy the seasoning.”

She deliberately let Lei Xiangren hear her.

Lei Xiangren paused, lightly hummed and said with a forced smile: “Yeah, blood brothers clearly have to settle accounts.”

He glanced at Qin Mian obliquely and walked to the wooden shelf to pick up dishes.

Do you have an illness that you need to be smug whenever something good happen? Qin Mian wanted to step on his (LXR) face.

Lei Xiangyi and Lei Xiangli looked at each other with a sigh and went to pick dishes.

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Qin Mian hooked his finger towards Lei Tie, signaling him to get closer.

Lei Tie walked a few steps to him.

Qin Mian pressed his shoulder and said in a low voice: “Fortunately, you ran away from home when you were 12 years old. Otherwise, if you grow up to be as thick-skinned as he is, I’ll have to step on your face to make it thin.”

Lei Tie lightly blurted out an “ah” and helplessly shook head.

“Just four meatballs cost 2 Wen?” Zhao Shi picked dishes while grimacing and spittle flew over, “2 Wen can buy a large piece of meat. The vegetable dishes are also expensive; five leaves cost a wen.”

Note:

[1] Lit. light-foot skill; a technique in Chinese martial arts that is visually reminiscent of parkour, despite having different training methods. (wiki)

Side’s note: Hello! Hahaha... How is the first version of this chapter? Do you like it? It’s my own writing (shame I didn’t get to finish it). Later, if you encounter a strange story like that, don’t panic. I’ll get the correct one in a few hours.