Reborn in the 80s, Get Rich by Eating Melons

Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Does Your Mother’s Family Own a Big Company?

As for Tong Yao, she hadn’t expected that Gu Hongwei would be admitted to Kyoto University, let alone that he would coincidentally come to her shop for his work-study program. After all, knowing that Gu Hongwei would be an important figure in the future, Tong Yao couldn’t help but see him through a certain lens.

Though she hadn’t considered currying favor with him, it wasn’t necessary to offend him either.

Furthermore, considering Gu Hongwei’s willingness to assist in Qing City, he is a good person at heart. Helping him a little wouldn’t hurt.

Back home in the evening, Tong Yao shared her encounter with Gu Hongwei with Si Chen, "Gu Hongwei got into Kyoto University as it turns out. He’s my junior now. He also happened to apply for the job at the bubble tea shop, and since he’s from our village, I thought it would be nice to extend some help. So I agreed to hire him."

Si Chen, having known all along about Gu Hongwei’s admission to Kyoto University, was unsurprised by Tong Yao’s news. He pondered for a moment and then said, "Let’s invite him over for dinner. Prepare some additional dishes for him when the time comes."

Tong Yao was surprised that Si Chen, usually not a social butterfly, would consider inviting Gu Hongwei over for dinner. But it was a pleasant surprise, and she figured more interaction with Gu Hongwei wouldn’t hurt.

"Fine, consider it an extra meal for him. Gu Hongwei looks skinny. I bet he’s having a tough time with finances at university."

*

In the following days, Tong Yao kept her routine of leaving early and coming back late. Apart from supervising the renovation in the shop, she also had to pick out ingredients and a refrigerator. She planned to find some regular suppliers who would deliver goods to the shop periodically, saving the need to hire an additional person for procurement.

Furthermore, having a consistent supplier ensures the quality of the ingredients.

On this day, just as she was about to head out, she had a face-to-face encounter with Liu Qing, who was on her way to pick up her child from her mother-in-law’s house.

"Oh? You’re heading out again?" Liu Qing looked Tong Yao up and down, puzzled. "I’ve noticed you’re always out early and back late recently; found a job, have you? Where do you work?"

In their residential compound, Tong Yao was the only one unemployed. Both she and her husband had come from a remote rural area, and due to that, Liu Qing experienced a sense of superiority over Tong Yao. She assumed that Tong Yao was having a hard time in life. Seeing her constantly come and go raised her unease. She was afraid that Tong Yao had found a job, especially one better than hers.

"I leave early and come back late precisely because I don’t have a job. I’m out looking for one." Knowing Liu Qing’s competitive nature, Tong Yao decided not to mention her new shop to her.

So she hasn’t found a job yet! Liu Qing let out a breath of relief and chuckled, "Yaoyao, it seems like you’re always in different outfits, and they don’t look cheap. Can your man handle your spending habits?"

Seeing that Si Chen didn’t earn any salary since he started working at the hospital, yet Tong Yao still managed to dress so well, Liu Qing wondered if Si Chen had accepted bribes from patients’ families. Although accepting bribes was strictly prohibited at the hospital, Liu remained unsure without solid evidence, so she simply kept her suspicions to herself.

Pondering over Liu Qing’s insinuations, Tong Yao frowned slightly. "These clothes were bought before my marriage. My parents are well-off, so a few beautiful clothes aren’t a big deal."

Liu Qing hadn’t expected Tong Yao to flaunt her family’s wealth so openly. She sneered, "So, does your mother run a big company?"

"Not exactly," Tong Yao responded with a light laugh. "My father used to be the factory director, and my mother was the director of the supply and marketing cooperative. Although they’re both retired now, their pensions are rather impressive."

With just a few words, Tong Yao left Liu Qing at a loss for words. Liu Qing was also a native of Kyoto, albeit from the suburbs. Her parents were illiterate farmers. She had assumed that Tong Yao, like Si Chen, was also from Li City, and was startled to learn that Tong Yao was not only a Kyoto native but from within the city itself.

With her sense of superiority completely gone, Liu Qing, unable to save face, left in a huff.

Tong Yao knew Liu Qing was jealous but didn’t take it to heart. The renovation of the shop had been completed, and the fridge was being delivered that day. She had to hurry to the shop. As soon as everything was ready, she could start training the staff to make bubble tea and open the shop.

The arrival of autumn had brought cool weather, and the demand for iced bubble tea might decrease. However, a refrigerator was still needed to preserve fruits and vegetables, which would be useful for the following summer as well.

When Tong Yao arrived at the shop, Gu Hongwei and the others were already there, which puzzled her, for she hadn’t summoned them.

Reading the confusion on Tong Yao’s face, Gu Hongwei explained, "The shop just finished renovating. We need to clean, and we’re here to help."

Unexpectedly finding such diligent and straightforward people, Tong Yao was delighted and happily accepted their help. "Thanks for your help. After tidying up the things, I’ll treat you to beef noodles for lunch."

Beef Noodles?

All four men were in their twenties and had huge appetites. However, they had to make ends meet with limited allowances, often settling with steamed buns and pickles. Sometimes they skipped breakfast to save money. One could only imagine how elated they were at the prospect of having beef noodles.

As happy as they were, the four worked with great gusto and managed to clean the shop in just over two hours. They even helped move the fridge into the shop when it arrived, not needing Tong Yao’s help.

Tong Yao was silently amazed at what could be done when there were enough people.

At noon, she took the four to a noodle shop near the university. She ordered a large beef noodle dish for each and paid a little extra to add more beef to their bowls.

People in those days were honest and straightforward, including the shop owner, who fairly added several pieces of beef.

At the sight of the beef noodle dishes, the four men’s eyes sparkled like precious stones. But seeing that Tong Yao hadn’t started eating, they too held back, waiting for her to make the first move.

Tong Yao was amused by them. "Hurry up and eat! The beef noodles won’t taste as good when they get cold."

"Okay, sure."

Upon hearing Tong Yao’s words, they dug in voraciously. The simple beef noodle dish tasted like an assortment of rare delicacies to them, as they had almost forgotten what beef tasted like.

Especially for Gu Hongwei, it wasn’t an overstatement to say that it was their first time tasting beef. They hadn’t known before that beef could be so delicious and not at all sickening.

All four men were engrossed in their meals, not bothering with conversation.

After a few bites of her noodles, Tong Yao looked at the four men wolfing down their food and said, "From now on, while we’re at work, I’ll give each of you an extra two cents for lunch money."

One yuan was already more than enough for them, but the prospect of Tong Yao giving them an extra two cents was like a pie falling from the sky.

Their eyes lit up with delight, but they were so elated that they couldn’t find the words. Zhou Lei was the first to recover, and with his mouth full of beef, he managed to get out a sentence.

"Thank you, boss."