Reborn in the 80s, Get Rich by Eating Melons

Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Where is your previous boss?

Si Xiaohui made a disgusted face, "Why on earth would mom ask you to bring these things from our hometown? The city folk will laugh at us if they see these."

Despite being a recent city dweller, Si Xiaohui had already assumed the role of a city person. She despised the things she used to eat and wear while growing up. Now, they were just a source of disdain for her.

Isn’t the difference between city and village folk primarily in what they eat and wear?

If they continue to eat and wear like villagers even in the city, when will they ever truly become part of the city? Doesn’t blending in the city life render the rural life irrelevant?

"Xiaohui, remember your roots no matter how high you soar. If you disdain me, fine, but dreading the stuff mom sent? She sent you to the city to broaden your horizons and secure a job so you could stand up for yourself at your in-law’s place. Not for you to look down upon the very place that raised you." Si Boyi’s face hardened. He had ignored Si Xiaohui’s previous condescending statements towards him. Still, he couldn’t let go of the fact that she disdained the things their mother sent.

His spoiled sister had changed so much in such a few days in the city; he found it disheartening. How much would mom be heartbroken if she heard Xiaohui’s words?

"I, I didn’t say anything, why are you getting angry?" Si Xiaohui flinched at his stern words and complained, "I was just saying that these are things we wouldn’t usually get to eat, and it’s troublesome for you to bring them all the way here. Besides, they’re heavy; don’t you see I was worried about you?"

Listening to Si Xiaohui’s feeble explanation, Si Boyi looked unimpressed, "Whether you disdain these things or not, you know it better than anyone else. I don’t want to argue about this right now, but think about whether this is right or not."

"..." Si Xiaohui lowered her head and stayed silent. She was obviously discontented.

All she wanted was to remind her elder brother not to bring his rural habits to the city. Was that too much?

Water flows downhill, and people strive to go higher. They were already in the city to live a good life, why cling to the inconsequential details of rural life. Should they move their rural house to the city as a symbol of not forgetting their roots?

Tong Yao swiveled her eyes back and forth, choosing not to speak. Only a fool would interfere in a sibling fight.

However, she did wonder how three siblings from the same parents could have such pronounced differences in character. Was Si Xiaohui just too spoiled?

"The fish is ready, take a bite while I quickly finish the other dishes." The oblivious restaurant owner placed a pot of pickled fish in the middle of the table, laughing, "Rice is in the pot, help yourselves. Rice charge is per person - feel free to eat as much as you want for two cents."

In this era, people usually ate a lot. At first, two cents may sound expensive, but the owner barely broke even as even one woman typically could eat two large bowls of rice.

The tantalizing aroma of pickled fish broke the uneasy silence. Si Boyi stared at the pickled fish, losing himself in its allure. He wouldn’t deny it - he had never eaten such a big pot of fish before in his life. It must have cost quite a bit?

Reaching into his pocket, Si Boyi felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. The gap between the poor and the rich was huge. In his eyes, these dishes were like a lavish banquet, while to Tong Yao, they were as ordinary as cabbage and tofu. Si Boyi swallowed his saliva but didn’t have the courage to move his chopsticks.

"Second brother, why are you just looking? Eat!" Si Xiaohui, whose eyes were sparkling like lanterns at the sight of the pickled fish, was no longer sulking. She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite, "Yum! I’ve never had such a delicious fish in my life. So tasty."

Si Xiaohui relished every bite, but Si Boyi sat with his hands at his side, not daring to move. Eating pickled fish at a restaurant was something he had never even dared to dream of. He felt dazed and was unsure whether it was all real.

"Eat more, it will be wasted if we don’t finish these dishes. We’re three, and we have to finish all these dishes we’ve ordered. I don’t eat that much, so you both need to pick up the slack." Tong Yao handed Si Boyi a pair of chopsticks, scooping a heaping serving of pickled fish into his bowl. He finally picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

While he was a little reserved at first, his appetite kicked in soon after a few bites, and he began to really enjoy the meal.

Very quickly, the restaurant owner served the remaining dishes. Tong Yao only ate a bit of pickled fish and rice before getting full because of the heat, but Si Boyi and Si Xiaohui had excellent appetites. They gorged on the food until there was nothing left on the table, even finishing the soup. By the time the pair eventually burped satisfactorily, Tong Yao was left wondering if they had ordered too little.

After paying the meal bill, Tong Yao hailed a taxi and dropped the three of them off near their rented house. For Si Boyi, who had never ridden in a taxi before, he sat stiffly, scared that any movement would damage the interior and cost him money.

"Boyi, you and Xiaohui will live here from now on. Xiaohui knows where the staff apartment is. If you have any problem, you can find me there. You take a rest today, and tomorrow I’ll take you to buy stuff and hire workers for renovation" said Tong Yao, giving them a quick briefing before returning to her place at the staff apartment. The outside temperature was like a furnace, and all she wanted now was to cool off with a fan and build a concrete plan to win over Si Chen.

Originally, she was not in a hurry, but now that she had confirmed that Si Chen also liked her, she was finding it hard to control her excitement. They had been married for a month and were sharing a bed, yet Si Chen had shown no interest in her physically. She hoped he was not like Dai Liwen who had physical issues.

Leaving the apartment, Tong Yao headed towards the staff residence, crossing the school along the way. Coincidentally, she saw He Fang selling milk tea. He Fang saw her too and was about to greet her when she noticed that Tong Yao had no intention of acknowledging her, and so she swallowed her words.

Sigh!

She and Tong Yao had parted ways permanently. Fortunately, Tong Yao’s visit to school the previous day wasn’t to ask the headmaster to banish her.

He Fang racked her brains but couldn’t understand why Tong Yao, who was intelligent and not one to give up easily, suddenly stopped her stall. Why would she give up on such a profitable business? Had she found another, more profitable opportunity?

"Why are you the only one at the stall these past few days? Where is the boss who was here before?"

A voice broke He Fang’s train of thought. She looked up to find Teacher Fu, who she had grown somewhat familiar with due to his frequent purchases for Teacher Wen.

"She’s not coming anymore." He Fang replied tentatively, awkwardly answering Teacher Fu’s question with a forced smile.

She could handle answering the kids’ questions. They were just children after all, and wouldn’t understand adult matters. However, responding to an adult felt awkward; it seemed ungracious to steal Tong Yao’s business and learn her skills.