Upon returning home, before Luo Wei could even settle in, Zhang Liunian arrived. Luo Wei turned to invite him to sit.
"Of course, how many bottles do you need? I'll have the delivery person bring you a few more tomorrow," Luo Wei said. Zhang Liunian was pleased that Luo Wei liked his lobster sauce.
Luo Wei didn't want to take advantage of Zhang Liunian. Last time was an exception, but not this time, as he needed ten bottles.
"This time, it absolutely counts as paid. If it's money, I can give it to you now," he said, getting up to fetch the money, but Zhang Liunian placed a hand on his shoulder.
"No need, it's just a small amount," Zhang Liunian smiled and shook his head, refusing.
"Don't try to trick me. I heard your lobster sauce sells for two yuan a bottle at our supply cooperative. That's not a small amount, you must take the money." Luo Wei had heard this from his wife. He had originally planned to have his wife buy it from the supply cooperative, but Zhang Liunian's lobster sauce was expensive and sold out quickly. By the time they got off work to buy it, there was no stock left.
Zhang Liunian was unaware they had tried to buy it at the supply cooperative, but he couldn't accept his money.
"I won't accept payment this last time. Next time, I will. Is that acceptable?"
"No, you must take the money."
"This is the last time, we'll leave it at that."
"..."
Ten minutes later, Zhang Liunian was enthusiastically sent out of Luo Wei's house. "Tomorrow morning, I'll have someone deliver the glass bottles to your place."
"Thank you, Director Luo."
"Calling me 'Director' makes it feel too formal."
"Uncle Luo?"
"Just call me Uncle Luo. From now on, I'll call you Liunian."
"It's getting late, Uncle Luo. I'll be going now."
"Alright, be careful on your way."
After Zhang Liunian left, Luo Wei returned inside and sighed a few times.
Half an hour later, Zhang Liunian and Zhang Qian arrived at the lobster shop and saw Du Ziteng being overly affectionate in front of Liu Sanniu. Zhang Liunian walked straight in. "Third cousin, if Fourth Cousin has some free time, have her come with you to help me sell lobster. Ziteng can't stay here all the time."
Liu Sanniu nodded upon hearing this. "Okay!"
Du Ziteng was somewhat reluctant. He still wanted to win over the girl!
"Brother Liunian, why don't you let me stay here?"
Zhang Liunian glanced at him. "Who was it that said they couldn't sit still last time?"
"..." Du Ziteng was choked up. Those were indeed his words, but he didn't know he would meet Liu Sanniu, nor that he would develop feelings for her!
"Tomorrow, you'll continue to coordinate deliveries with Xiao Qian. The payments will be settled once a week." Starting tomorrow, Zhang Liunian would have no time to accompany deliveries. He had to send his younger sister off in marriage and was busy opening a shop in Nancheng. Therefore, he planned to let Zhang Qian and Du Ziteng help him with deliveries.
Du Ziteng said no more, lowering his head and reaching to slap himself, regretting his words from a few days prior about not being able to sit still.
"Cousin, we're going to the market first. You get ready, and I'll take you home later." Zhang Liunian ignored Du Ziteng and spoke to Liu Sanniu before taking Zhang Qian to prepare good food and drinks for the wedding banquet tomorrow.
On the way back, Liu Sanniu reported on the day's business.
"Yesterday we sold a total of one hundred and fifty jin. Today it was two hundred and eighty jin. Here is the money for these two days."
After speaking, Liu Sanniu handed all the money to Zhang Liunian.
Zhang Liunian accepted it with a smile. "If Fourth Cousin agrees, have her come with you tomorrow. That way, you'll have company in the future. Her treatment will be the same as yours."
"My mother will definitely agree."
"..."
Upon returning to the village, after dinner, Zhang Liunian went to notify everyone to come to the educated youth dormitory for the wedding feast tomorrow and to borrow tables, chairs, benches, pots, and pans.
Everyone agreed with smiles, and no one refused his request.
During this time, some people inquired about the next hiring. Zhang Liunian informed them that a few more hands would be needed tomorrow and that the selection could be made after the banquet.
After notifying everyone, Zhang Liunian went to his elder brother's house to inquire about the sedan chair for his parents. What he didn't know was that even without his invitation, Zhang Liuhuo had received the news at home. Upon learning that tomorrow was the auspicious day for his sister's marriage and that he would be hosting almost the entire village to celebrate, countless ideas instantly surged in his mind.
How could he prevent Zhang Liunian from being so smug and ensure he was cursed by the entire village?
As Zhang Liuhuo pondered, he thought of a bottle of pesticide under his bed. He bent down and took it out from under the bed. His eyes flickered, and then became resolute.
"Zhang Liunian, you forced me to do this." Looking at the pesticide in his hand, Zhang Liuhuo did not forget to shift the blame to Zhang Liunian.
It was as if saying this would make him feel better.
But in reality, he was just making excuses. What had driven him to such thoughts was Zhang Liunian's beating last time.
After that incident, his body ached every day. Furthermore, without anyone to cook for him and his son, his body couldn't be properly cared for, and his injuries showed no sign of healing. This made him harbor even more resentment towards Zhang Liunian, wishing he could devour him alive.
However, he hadn't found an opportunity for revenge these past few days. Now that the opportunity had finally arrived tomorrow, he naturally wouldn't miss it.
With this thought, he placed the pesticide under his pillow and waited for his son to return.
He didn't have to wait long before Zhang Datou returned with his hair full of soot, holding two sweet potatoes. "Dad, these are the sweet potatoes I roasted. Let's each have one."
Zhang Liuhuo felt extremely disgusted at only being able to eat sweet potatoes every day, but he still reached out and took one. Eating sweet potatoes was better than starving.
"Go to Zhang Liunian's house for dinner tomorrow and bring me a portion too."
Zhang Datou didn't know why his father was smiling like that, but seeing his father's smile, he felt inexplicably scared and instinctively took a step back.
At the same time, Zhang Liunian, finally certain that there would be no mishaps at his younger sister's wedding tomorrow, returned home.
When he got home, his daughter had already fallen asleep. Only his wife and younger sister were still talking. But upon seeing him return, his younger sister got up and went back to her room.
As Zhang Xiaomei left, Zhang Liunian handed all the money from his pocket to his wife and went out to wash up before lying down on the bed.
Jiang Qingqing had also finished counting the money and neatly put it into her bag. "Our income has increased significantly in the past two days. Guess how much it is now?"
"Twenty to thirty thousand, perhaps!" Zhang Liunian hadn't counted precisely, only estimating by feel.
Jiang Qingqing smiled, turned off the light, and lay in her husband's arms. "Exactly thirty thousand."
"Oh, right. Today I rented another shop in Nancheng. I plan to sell braised meat and sauces there. Also, I plan to start making other sauces the day after tomorrow, such as braised meat sauce and spicy peanut sauce."
Zhang Liunian hugged his wife and told her about his future plans.
Jiang Qingqing felt that her husband had so many things to do: busy opening a shop, waiting for the factory to be built, managing production, and seeing his sister-in-law off in marriage. There were so many tasks.
She reached out and touched his face. "Won't it be too tiring? How about I handle the braised meat from now on? I know how to do it now too."
Zhang Liunian couldn't bear to let her suffer. He held her small hand. "How can that be? Your belly is getting bigger and bigger, you mustn't get tired."