NOVPUB
Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Ordering Fresh Milk
Without He Fang’s help, all the work she used to do fell on Si Xiaohui. Fortunately, although Si Xiaohui often acted sarcastically, she was not lazy. She woke up early every day, got things ready, and then waited for Tong Yao at the school gate. Her only requirement was that Tong Yao bring her breakfast every day.
Si Chen had been sleeping in the rented room’s hall for three consecutive days. Seeing that Si Xiaohui was genuinely not afraid, he stopped accompanying her. Si Xiaohui didn’t feel scared about it; instead, she was ecstatic. When her big brother slept in the hall, she wasn’t comfortable even going to the bathroom at night, always afraid of disturbing his sleep and making him late for work.
People say being a doctor is a unique profession. The slightest mishap in surgery is a fatal mistake, something severe enough to end a career. The Si family finally has someone with potential, and they can’t let it be ruined by her. The entire Si family relies on their big brother for prosperity.
Neither she nor her second brother were educated. They had accepted their fate of leading ordinary lives, and as long as they had enough to eat, they had no ambitions to undertake any significant venture. The family still relied on their big brother, and she couldn’t afford to be a stumbling block.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed. Tong Yao and Si Xiaohui kept themselves busy like spinning tops every day, but they led fulfilling lives. The milk tea business was as good as ever, bringing in about seventy yuan a day.
One morning, as they set up their stall as usual, they didn’t expect He Fang to come around. Knowing that He Fang was starting her own stall, Si Xiaohui turned up her nose when she saw her again, and darted a look at He Fang standing under another tree, "What’s she doing here? Does she regret that and want to work here again? Sister-in-law, you can’t agree. People like her have ulterior motives and may stab you in the back."
"You’re overthinking." Tong Yao was adding black tea into the pot and didn’t even lift her eyelids. "She decided to do her own thing, how could she possibly be willing to work here?".
Once someone develops crooked ideas, they simply refuse to follow the right path. Isn’t everyone the same, dreaming of being their own boss?
Of course, having a dream is good, but not when the ideal lacks integrity. He Fang’s strategy is purely a way to make her uncomfortable. If He Fang had admitted she wanted to strike out on her own, instead of using the excuse of learning the milk tea formula to demand a pay raise, she wouldn’t have been so angry.
"Ingrate." Si Xiaohui scoffed and rolled her eyes at He Fang.
Seeing Si Xiaohui glaring at her, He Fang felt so awkward she could barely stand. Stealing their craft and then competing with them was all her fault, and even with her thick skin, she felt somewhat guilty. She had considered setting up her stall next to Erhua Middle School. However, she found that there was a shop opposite that school whose owner was even more fierce than Yuan Erhua, so she didn’t dare to.
Upon reflection, the best place to set up shop was outside Yizhong Middle School. Tong Yao had established her territory here, and Yuan Erhua didn’t dare to cause trouble.
"My bike chain broke on the way which made me a bit late. I didn’t delay anything, did I?" The Milkman arrived slightly later than usual. He parked his bicycle, saw that Tong Yao’s pot had already begun steaming, and quickly placed the fresh milk on the table while explaining why he was late.
"No delay. The water just boiled; your timing is perfect." Tong Yao saw that the Milkman was covered in sweat, knowing that he had labored hard on the road, and comforted him a bit before pouring the fresh milk into the boiling tin pot.
"As long as there isn’t any delay, that’s good." The Milkman sighed in relief. He had yet to deliver fresh milk to the residential quarters, so he couldn’t stay for long. He was about to leave with his bicycle just as He Fang suddenly called for him.
As for the matter between Tong Yao and He Fang, the Milkman didn’t have the full picture. He had heard from Tong Yao that He Fang was no longer working at this shop. But now, He Fang appeared suddenly and called out to him, causing him to be slightly confused, so he stood still and looked at He Fang, puzzled.
"Mr. Milkman, could you come over for a sec? There’s something I want to discuss with you." With a flushed face, He Fang beckoned to the Milkman. Feeling embarrassed to face Tong Yao and Si Xiaohui, all she wanted to do was quickly get things done and leave; every second here was agonizing.
"This..."
The Milkman glanced at Tong Yao, hesitating to go over.
Although he was a simple man, he had enough experience to sense that something was off. He Fang no longer worked for Tong Yao. Now she was here but not talking to Tong Yao, instead she came looking for him. Clearly, something was amiss...
After a moment of thought, the Milkman knew what to do and walked over to He Fang with his bicycle.
"What does He Fang want with the Milkman?" Si Xiaohui glared at He Fang, desperate to challenge her. "Is she trying to buy fresh milk from him?"
"Most likely so." Tong Yao responded indifferently.
Si Xiaohui glared fiercely at He Fang, wishing she could stab her with her gaze. He Fang had the nerve to show up at the stall after stealing their craft. She wondered how people could have such thick skin, it irritated her to no end.
Feeling uncomfortable under Si Xiaohui’s gaze, He Fang turned away from her, a wry smile on her face. Embarrassedly, she said, "Mr... Mr. Milkman, I’d like to order two kilos of fresh milk from you."
Confirming his thoughts, the Milkman said, "The milk factory is short of fresh milk, so there’s none to spare."
The Milkman was a straightforward person. After working with Tong Yao for so long, he knew she was a kind-hearted girl. It would be improper to sell fresh milk to He Fang, knowing she intended to take away their customers. He was not capable of doing such a thing.
You can’t forsake your conscience for the sake of a few extra bucks.
"How can a milk factory have no milk?" He Fang seemed to guess the real reason the Milkman was not selling her milk. Ashamed, she asked, "Mr. Milkman, are you unwilling to sell me milk?"
"There’s genuinely no milk. You should order from somewhere else!" The Milkman, still anxious to deliver milk to the residential quarters, was about to leave with his bicycle when he was called by Tong Yao.
Mr. Milkman, wait a moment."
Tong Yao put down her work and walked over. She didn’t bother to spare He Fang a glance. Winking at the Milkman, she said, "Mr. Milkman, if someone wants to order fresh milk, you should sell it to her. I don’t mind. Just deliver her the amount she needs!"
The Milkman was stunned for a moment, uncertain about Tong Yao’s intentions. "Yaoyao, are you sure you want me to deliver fresh milk to her?"
Over time, the Milkman started to consider Tong Yao as his own daughter, affectionately calling her "Yaoyao", a habit which was reciprocated.
Tong Yao nodded. "Mr. Milkman, just deliver it to her! Discuss with her when to deliver the milk; I’ll go back to work now."
"Sister-in-law, are you crazy?" Si Xiaohui became anxious as soon as she saw Tong Yao walk back, she even jumped up a bit. "She’s taking away your business, and yet you’re helping her, trading goods and speaking for her. I’ve never seen someone as stupid as you. Reading books must have ruined your brain."
She was delighted when she saw the Milkman refusing He Fang, but now she didn’t expect Tong Yao to help her plead her case. She hasn’t seen such a foolish person in her entire life and suspected that Tong Yao must be under a curse.
