Chapter 53 So many things to do!

Just after the Lantern Festival, Yao Shuxin and Yao Shuli will be going back to school.

Yao Shuxin is in her final year of junior high school and will be taking the high school entrance exam in six months.

Yao Shuli is in third grade, and will be in fourth grade in another six months.

Little Tiantian...

He's almost of primary school age, and Secretary Lei could have arranged for him to attend a preschool or something, but Xiao Tiantian said that he's learned more in Shanghai than the preschool kids have!

He doesn't want to go to preschool!

Secretary Lei thought about it and realized that made sense. So, let's just wait for him to start first grade directly!

As for the time before starting first grade, let Xiaotian have some fun!

And so, Xiaotian settled down comfortably at Yao Shula's house.

Yao Shula originally thought that Xiao Tiantian would be bored, since Yao Shuxin and Yao Shuli had gone to school and spent a lot of time at school during the day.

It's just me and Xiaotian at home.

Xiao Tiantian is a child who is curious about everything. He can sit there with a stick and talk to himself for a long time.

Yao Shula didn't have time to kill with Xiao Tiantian.

But Xiaotian felt very comfortable.

He usually plays by himself for a while and then comes to talk to Yao Shula, or to see what Yao Shula is doing.

He would follow Yao Shula no matter what she wanted to do.

I went grocery shopping with Yao Shula, bought grain at the grain store, and even visited the Yao family's old house with her.

Or you could go with Yao Shula to Grandma Zhou's house next door to chat with her.

Soon, everyone who knew her knew that Yao Shula was babysitting, and no one thought anything was wrong.

Babysitting is a way to make money, isn't it?

Plus, Xiao Tiantian has a sweet tongue and knows how to say the right thing to the right person, making everyone smile. Everyone likes him.

...

That morning, Yao Shula watched her younger siblings finish breakfast and go to school, and then she cleaned up the breakfast table and bowls.

Then he went back inside and gave Xiaotian, who was still fast asleep under the covers, a good whack on the bottom.

"Get up and eat! After you finish eating, I'll take you out."

Xiao Tiantian, who originally wanted to stay in bed a little longer, immediately sat up when she heard this.

"Big sister, where are we going today?" Little Tiantian asked curiously.

“Let’s go to the lumber mill!” Yao Shula said with a smile.

"You want to make furniture? You should have told me sooner, and I would have told my older brother to find you some wood!" Xiao Tiantian said, raising his head.

"No need, I'm going to the lumber mill to find my uncle. He works there."

"No need to trouble your older brother! Get up! I've put your food in the pot to heat up, you can eat it now." Yao Shula said, then gently patted Xiao Tiantian.

Xiao Tiantian nodded and reached for her sweater.

Before she even received the sweater, Yao Shula heard a "gurgling" sound.

Little Tiantian...

"Big sister, I coughed in my butt," Xiao Tiantian whispered.

Yao Shula...

Yao Shula, suppressing her laughter, quickly left the house and let Xiao Tiantian dress herself.

This kid... even coughed on his butt!

So what if you fart?

...

After watching Xiaotian finish breakfast and glancing at the clean coat he was wearing, Yao Shula put a pair of arm sleeves on Xiaotian's arms without thinking.

People have left their children here, and I've paid for it myself. I can't expect them to see their children all dirty every day!

Wear a pair of arm protectors; they'll get dirty more slowly...

Although the fifteenth day of the lunar month has passed, it is still a bit cold.

Yao Shula tightened the scarf a little, then wrapped Xiao Tiantian's head with the scarf, leaving only his eyes showing.

Then he took Xiaotian's hand and walked towards the lumberyard.

After walking for about half an hour, we finally arrived at the lumberyard.

The lumber mill wasn't very busy after the Lunar New Year; most people chatted while working.

Uncle Shu was also chatting with everyone while planes a board under his hand.

Meat prices have gone up by two cents, and coal briquettes have gone up in price too...

"Uncle!" Yao Shula called out quickly.

When Uncle Shu saw that the person in front of him, whose face was so covered up that it was almost impossible to see, was actually his niece, he immediately put down what he was doing.

He hurriedly led Yao Shula and Xiao Tiantian to the room where everyone was resting.

After pouring Yao Shula a cup of hot water and giving Xiao Tiantian a handful of peanuts, Uncle Shu finally looked at Yao Shula.

"How did you get here?"

"Is something the matter? Tomorrow's Sunday. If it's not urgent, come over to my house to talk. We can have dinner at your place."

Yao Shula held the enamel mug containing hot water in her hand, glanced at the gas-sealed stove in the room, and quickly smiled.

"It's business! That's why I came here to see my uncle!"

Uncle Shu laughed twice.

"Official business, my foot! What kind of official business could you possibly have at home!"

"This is the kid you showed to others, he looks so clever!" Uncle Shu glanced at Xiao Tiantian again.

Little Tiantian immediately greeted Uncle sweetly!

Uncle Shu was so happy that he gave Xiao Tiantian another handful of peanuts.

"Uncle, it really is official business!"

"I wanted to ask you to do something for me." Yao Shula said, handing over the blueprints for the recreational ball that Lei Jingwu had brought earlier to Uncle Shu.

Uncle Shu took it and looked at it, then immediately looked at Yao Shula.

"This is……"

"It's a type of billiards that's quite popular in Shanghai; people like to play it for fun."

"I want to ask my uncle to make three sets for me. I'll set them up not far from home so I can earn money while keeping an eye on the house," Yao Shula said truthfully.

Uncle Shu sighed, thought for a moment, and then put the blueprints back into his pocket.

"Okay! Your uncle will call for you."

Since it's something popular in Shanghai, it'll probably become popular here soon too.

Don't worry, your uncle can take it home to work so that no one at the factory can see it.

To avoid someone getting involved and learning it, which could then negatively impact you.

Yao Shula smiled and agreed.

If Uncle Shu is willing, it is basically possible to replicate it one-to-one.

As for others who want to secretly copy a set, it's impossible to do so at the lumber mill; they can only find connections outside.

"Then I thank you, Uncle!"

"Uncle, just let the factory calculate the price normally, that's all," Yao Shula quickly said.

"It's just the cost of a piece of wood. Don't worry, your uncle will take care of everything for you. You don't need to worry about it!"

But... Shura, where are you planning to put this thing? Uncle Shu was a little worried.

"It's right at the street corner. Isn't Old Cao's house next door facing the street?"

His house had a large area in front of it, and it was right next to the street. Old Cao's family moved to the city, so they hardly lived in that courtyard anymore.

"If that doesn't work, we'll just pay you," Yao Shula said softly.

Uncle Shu nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay, it's good that you have an idea. If you need money, just tell your uncle and he'll figure something out for you."

Yao Shula smiled and nodded.

She really wanted to own the Cao family's courtyard, not just rent it, but buy it...