Reborn in the 80s, Get Rich by Eating Melons

Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Looking for Reinforcements

Tong Yao: So, not renting the shopfront to her is because she is too young?

Watching Principal Zeng’s retreating back, Tong Yao didn’t chase after him this time, since he had clearly stated his reasons for refusal. Persisting blindly would be useless and would only irritate him, making her lose any chance permanently.

Hygiene and safety could be easily handled since what she made was already very clean. But the age aspect...

Right... how could she have forgotten about Si Chen?

Would a doctor’s status be enough to reassure the principal?

With a plan in mind, Tong Yao walked back cheerfully. However, before she even reached the stall, she saw a bustling crowd in front of He Fang while Si Xiaohui was left alone without any visitors. Despite having mentally prepared for this, Tong Yao still felt disappointed.

Indeed, a disciple can starve their master!

She realized she needed to keep some tricks hidden in the future. Having someone trick her once was a learning opportunity, however being tricked twice would just make her look idiotic.

"Sister-in-law, you’re finally back, hurry up and think of a solution! Our business has been snatched away, look, all these students are going to He Fang to buy; very few come here." Upon seeing Tong Yao return, Si Xiaohui complained bitterly, her nostrils nearly fuming with anger, as if she wanted to throttle He Fang with a spoon.

Originally, students had been arriving at the school and preparing to buy bubble tea from her as usual. But He Fang simply shouted that the bubble tea was half price, and the students who were lined up to buy bubble tea from Si Xiaohui immediately ran over to He Fang’s side. Si Xiaohui was utterly incensed. If she had been a bit bolder, she would have charged over and flipped He Fang’s stall right there and then.

Tong Yao shrugged helplessly, "There’s nothing we can do for now. Just keep the stall running! Have some more tea, and we can leave early once we finish it."

"I’m almost angry to death, I’m so mad I can’t drink anymore." Si Xiaohui stomped her foot in anger, glaring at He Fang’s stall and grumbled, "These students are really something. They buy bubble tea here every day, they’re essentially loyal customers. I didn’t expect them to ditch us as soon as something cheaper came along. No sense of loyalty at all."

Tong Yao didn’t agree, "There’s nothing wrong with people pursuing something more cost-effective if it’s the same product for half the price."

"Sister-in-law, whose side are you really on?" Si Xiaohui held her resentment in. She had initially wanted Tong Yao to vent with her about He Fang, but Tong Yao seemed unfazed and least bit anxious, which made her even more aggrieved. She huffed, "I won’t talk about it anymore."

Having snatched Tong Yao’s business, He Fang initially felt embarrassed. But after seeing the constant stream of students coming to buy bubble tea from her, her embarrassment was entirely replaced by joy. Previously, the money from helping Tong Yao was all Tong Yao’s, but now everything was different. Now, every cent was hers.

On her first day of setting up the stall, she hadn’t expected her bubble tea business to boom. She had been worrying about whether the bubble tea would sell, but now she didn’t have to worry about anything, she could just focus on earning money.

Looking at the current situation, it doesn’t seem difficult to earn thirty yuan a day. She could earn at least seven or eight hundred yuan in a month. Niuniu would not have to worry about school fees, and her family could eat meat at every meal.

It seems her family’s fortunes are finally changing for the better.

Seeing the triumphant look on He Fang’s face as she collected money, Si Xiaohui felt as if she had swallowed a boulder, causing her great discomfort. she turned her head to one side, opting for an ’out of sight, out of mind’ approach. The bubble tea that would normally sell out in two to three hours took until noon to sell out. If Si Xiaohui hadn’t drunk a considerable amount, there could still be two or three cups left.

Upon hearing the school bell signaling the end of the school day, Tong Yao helped Si Xiaohui pack up their things on the wooden cart and gave her a few brief instructions before hurrying back to the hospital. Si Xiaohui glared at He Fang resentfully, then pushed the wooden cart back to her rented house. He Fang, busy selling bubble tea, didn’t even notice Si Xiaohui’s angry look.

...

Tong Yao hurried to the hospital, but when she arrived at the department, Si Chen was nowhere to be seen. Not wanting to delay and waste any more time, she ran to the canteen.

"Well, your little wife is here!" As soon as Tong Yao’s figure appeared at the entrance of the canteen, she caught many eyes. Liu Haisheng, who happened to be sitting opposite Si Chen, chuckled and teased.

Si Chen turned his head to see Tong Yao in a small hurry. She was so hot that her face was flushed, her forehead was covered with beads of sweat, but her eyes shone like stars.

"What’s the rush?"

Si Chen put down his chopsticks and stood up, slightly bending his fingers, wanting to help her wipe her sweat. However, Tong Yao raised her hand and wiped the beads of sweat on her forehead before he could, leaving him to stand there awkwardly with his hand half lifted. He pursed his thin, red lips and slowly lowered his arm.

Tong Yao swallowed hard, moistening her throat, took a deep breath and whispered, "I have something to discuss with you."

"You two can sit and chat, I’m done eating, so I’ll leave." Liu Haisheng tactfully stood up with his meal tray and left grinning.

He wouldn’t play third wheel while the couple had their talk.

Seeing that Tong Yao was still a bit breathless with small beads of sweat visible on her forehead, Si Chen frowned and indicated for her to sit before speaking, "Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet." Tong Yao shook her head, "Eating isn’t urgent, let me talk about the matter first."

Skipping one meal wouldn’t kill her, but renting the storefront was pressing. In two days, Si Chen would get busy. If the matter didn’t get resolved now, who knows when it could be. Imagine if someone else rented the storefront, there wouldn’t even a place to cry about it.

"I will get you some food. You can talk while you eat." Although Tong Yao was anxious, she did not look panicked, causing Si Chen to conclude that nothing major had happened.

Tong Yao originally wanted to refuse, but her stomach betrayed her by rumbling loudly. Given that there were about two hours before Si Chen started work, there was ample time. She then nodded and said, "Get me something with meat, if there’s no meat, any green vegetables will do. As long as it has some spice, I’m not picky."

Does that still count as being not picky?

Si Chen gave a faint smile and returned with Braised Pork and Chili Scrambled Eggs for Tong Yao, "You start eating, I will go get you some soup."

"Okay."

Tong Yao was indeed hungry and she started eating immediately. By the time Si Chen came back, she had already finished half her meal.

"Eat slowly, have some soup first, so you won’t choke."

Tong Yao took the soup and chugged down half of it. Now that she wasn’t as hungry, she started discussing the serious matter at hand, "I want to rent the storefront outside the school, but since I look young and being a girl, the principal thinks I’m still a child and is reluctant to deal with me. Could you help me settle this?"

After she finished, she opened her watery, innocent eyes and looked pitifully at Si Chen, fearing he would not agree. She added, "You’re the only person I know here. If you don’t help me, then no one can."

Si Chen was a doctor, and with his intervention, the principal would not be able to find fault with the food hygiene or age issues anymore. None could be more fitting than Si Chen to handle this matter at the moment.

If Si Chen were willing to step in, there would be an eighty percent chance of success.