Reborn in the 80s, Get Rich by Eating Melons

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: You Got Married?

Outside.

Xiaohei, the little black dog, was reveling in Tong Yao’s intense bathing ritual, suddenly he shivered and trembled, saying, "You’re not going to clean us up to make soup, are you?"

It had never met a human who was so kind to it, kindness that felt almost surreal.

Upon hearing this, Xiaohua and Dahuang started shaking in fear. They were both cowards at heart. Tong Yao gave Xiaohei’s butt a pat.

"Don’t scare them. I don’t eat dog meat."

Tong Yao didn’t eat dog meat in her previous life, and she hadn’t changed that habit in this one.

After washing all three dogs in turn, it just so happened that Si Boyi had finished cooking lunch. As he lifted the pot lid, the aroma of bones wafted through the entire courtyard. The three dogs’ eyes went wide. Tong Yao fished out three large bones with less meat and put them in their bowls. Their excitement nearly made them faint.

After eating lunch, Tong Yao went to her shop. The three dogs were still busy gnawing on their bones in the yard, dreaming about the day when they can have meat buns and gnaw on big bones with a master to protect them.

They thought to themselves, even if Tong Yao did eat dog meat, they would not want to run away.

.....

After waiting for the afternoon in the shop until it was almost evening, she didn’t see anyone from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. She didn’t think much of it, as Jia Aizhi only mentioned that someone would come within these two days, but didn’t specify the exact time. So, she waited.

After waiting for two days, no one showed up. Tong Yao patiently waited for another day. After a total of three days, there was no sign of anyone from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce.

Tong Yao felt something was wrong. Early Friday morning, she asked Liu Yu, "Master Liu, have anyone from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce been here these few days? Or were there any strangers who came to the shop?"

"No one." Without giving it any thought, Liu Yu shook his head confidently. "From the moment I started the renovation here, apart from you and your siblings, I’ve only seen Jia Qing. No one else has been here."

Tong Yao: ...

Liu Yu was there from dawn till dusk these three days, except for inevitable toilet breaks. If he said no one came, then absolutely no one came. Why didn’t anyone from the Bureau come?

Could there be a problem with the documents?

After some contemplation, Tong Yao decided to go to the Bureau. About these matters, she was less patient and tended to act immediately without delay. When she reached the Bureau, she happened to meet Jia Aizhi on duty. Not surprised to see her there, Jia Aizhi was quite welcoming.

"You’re here to ask about the trademark and business license, right? I’ve inspected the site. There’re a few areas at your location that are not up to code, so I can’t issue the certificate just yet," she said.

"You’ve inspected it already?" Sensing something amiss, but Tong Yao chose not to expose her lie just yet, instead asking patiently, "Can you tell me what areas are not up to code?"

"It’s not something that can be explained in two or three sentences." Jia Aizhi parked her bicycle and smilingly said, "How about this? You wait for me in the breakfast shop next door. Funnily enough, I haven’t had my breakfast yet. After a while, I can come over and have a thorough discussion with you."

Wait in the breakfast shop.

Tong Yao looked at the breakfast shop next door. It was small with a few tables. It didn’t look high-end. Jia Aizhi didn’t want to talk in the Bureau, which suggested she wanted to say something in private. Perhaps... she wanted Tong Yao to buy her breakfast? Or was it that she wanted to be bribed?

Aware that she must take risks to succeed, she decided to probe first.

Tong Yao respectfully nodded her head, "Okay, I’ll go and wait for you first."

Seeing Tong Yao being compliant, Jia Aizhi’s smile became more amiable.

Tong Yao bought some Fried Dough Stick Buns and ordered two bowls of porridge. After sitting at an empty table, Jia Aizhi came after just two to three minutes. She looked pleased to see that Tong Yao had bought breakfast and was waiting for her without eating first.

Tong Yao was unnerved by Ji Aizhi’s scrutinizing gaze, which was similar to a mother-in-law sizing up her future daughter-in-law. She forced a laugh and asked, "Could you please tell me where specifically the problems were that caused the license to not be issued?"

"The issues aren’t so major, let’s eat something first," Jia Aizhi sat down across Tong Yao, picked up a Fried Dough Stick without any hesitation. Afetr biting off a piece, she complained, "This Fried Dough Stick is a little overcooked."

Tong Yao: As if anyone’s forcing you to eat it.

Seeing Tong Yao not eating, Jia Aizhi urged, "You eat too!"

Tong Yao: Anyone would think you were treating me if they didn’t know any better.

Since Jia Aizhi isn’t volunteering any information, Tong Yao was in no hurry to ask.

It’s now working hours, and Jia Aizhi can’t leave her post for too long. Since she asked Tong Yao to meet, there must be something she can’t say in front of her colleagues. Yet it seems she’s deliberately dragging her feet now, clearly stringing Tong Yao along.

Solong as she didn’t appear anxious, Jia Aizhi would be the one who would become restless after a while. With this in mind, Tong Yao picked up a Fried Dough Stick and started eating her breakfast leisurely. She has plenty of time. If Jia Aizhi wanted to drag this out, she would let her. Let’s see who will become impatient first.

Seeing Tong Yao eating breakfast and not saying a word, Jia Aizhi was getting slightly uncomfortable. After finishing a Fried Dough Stick, she was the first to talk about something else as if casually chatting, "You seem young in your ID photo. You’re not in a relationship, right?"

Tong Yao was drinking her porridge when she heard that. She almost spewed out the porridge from her mouth. She quickly put down her bowl and chopsticks and wiped her mouth, replying, "I’m already married."

Throughout her life, she was too familiar with this question. Most people who asked it sought to introduce prospective partners to her after she answered she was single.

Now it made sense why Jia Aizhi was looking at her weirdly just now. Could it be she wanted her to become her daughter-in-law?

The thought of this made Tong Yao shiver. At a glance, it’s clear Jia Aizhi is not easy to handle, having a mother-in-law like her would mean difficult times.

"You’re married?" Jia Aizhi’s face fell visibly.

"Yes!" Tong Yao nodded, pretending not to understand Ji Aizhi’s intentions. Laughingly she replied, "My partner works as a doctor in the People’s Hospital."

"Why didn’t you bring your marriage certificate that day since you’re married?" Jia Aizhi’s expression at that moment was tough, her gaze reminded Tong Yao of an evil stepmother.

Tong Yao had brought all her other documents that day except her marriage certificate, so it was clearly deliberate.

A couple of days ago Ji Aizhi had told her brother and sister-in-law on call that she would introduce them to a cultured city woman as their daughter-in-law. Her nephew was still living in her house, and now all of a sudden she says she’s married. Isn’t this a joke?

Tong Yao: She would have brought it, if she had a marriage certificate to begin with.