Since it was almost Chinese New Year when they returned, Yan Ci gave Master Feng and Master He a holiday in the capital so they could go home for the New Year.

In addition to their salary, each person received a bonus of 300 yuan.

During the Spring Festival, Yan Ci also gave Master Song and Wang Weiguo a bonus of three hundred yuan.

When Yan Ci returned this time, Chang Le gave him 11,000 yuan, saying that the 11,000 yuan was the freight for three cartloads of goods.

The other thousand was for Li Mingyue and Bai Xiaoyue's wages for choosing clothes, five hundred yuan each.

She also said that this was already a very cheap price, and that Yan Ci had no choice but to accept it.

In business, for a company to survive, its accounts must be clear.

Also, I brought back some goods for others this time, and the shipping cost was two thousand yuan.

After listening to Yan Ci's words, Bai Xiaoyue carefully calculated that the transportation company had earned 42,000 yuan.

Besides the fixed monthly expenses, fuel costs for the car, and road expenses, I also made a profit of 20,000 yuan.

Yan Ci said, "Wife, you can't calculate it like that. There's also the wear and tear on the car."

However, this year has just begun; next year should be even better.

Bai Xiaoyue said, "Aci, I've calculated the accounts for the small restaurants and hotels, and the average monthly profit is around six hundred."

After deducting the money needed to open the shop, we have a total of three thousand yuan. I'm planning to give Mingyue fifteen hundred yuan, and we'll split it in half. What do you think?

Yan Ci: "Wife, you are really capable. You have taken care of the meals for so many of us and made so much money."

You and Li Mingyue can discuss it together; I have no objection.

If you feel tired, hire someone to help; you don't have to do everything yourself.

Grandma Xie wants to go out and play with Xiaobai and An'an every day.

Master Song also wanted to take his wife out for a drive, so the five of them went together.

Bai Xiaoyue was very satisfied; with Master Song with them, they were very safe.

The day before Lunar New Year's Eve, Bai Xiaoyue gave Aunt Jiang and Jiang Xiaonian, the food deliveryman, two extra months' wages.

They were given a seven-day holiday to go home and spend time with their families.

She tried to calculate the costs for Li Mingyue, suggesting they split the money 50/50. Li Mingyue disagreed, saying she couldn't take advantage of her and that she should just take her salary.

Bai Xiaoyue pleaded with Li Mingyue, saying she would need to find time to write novels and that the small restaurant and inn would depend on her, before finally getting Li Mingyue to accept 1,200 yuan.

The two reached an agreement that from now on, Li Mingyue would own 40% of the small restaurant and hotel, and Bai Xiaoyue would own 60%.

Li Mingyue took the money back to her room and bragged about it to Wang Weiguo.

Wang Weiguo joked, "Wife, you earn more than me!"

Li Mingyue giggled:

“Weiguo, Xiaoyue said that I will take 40 percent of the profits from the small restaurants and hotels in the future. This year it will only be half a year, but next year it will be even more.”

Wang Weiguo asked, "Then should we deposit all the money in the bank?"

Li Mingyue nodded: "Changle gave us another five hundred, which we deposited in the bank together. Xiaoyue said that we'll buy a house when we have money in the future, and I'll listen to her."

Wang Weiguo: "My wife is right."

The small restaurant closed down, and Bai Xiaoyue stopped writing her novel, spending her time at home with Yan Ci.

Yan Ci mysteriously led her to open the back of a vehicle, inside which was a human-powered pedicab.

Bai Xiaoyue was very happy: "Aci, you've thought of everything. It will be so convenient to buy groceries and have meals delivered in the future."

Yan Ci unloaded the tricycle, put a small chair in the back, and let Bai Xiaoyue sit on it.

Bai Xiaoyue found it strange and sat down as Yan Ci requested.

Yan Ci leisurely rode his bicycle around the neighborhood with his wife.

Bai Xiaoyue laughed excitedly:

“Aci, you have no idea how envious I used to be when I saw retired old men carrying old women on the road.”

Now I'm enjoying my retirement ahead of schedule.

Yan Ci said, "Wife, from now on I will take you around every day, so that others will envy you."

Bai Xiaoyue happily agreed, "Okay!"

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the wholesale market gradually became more crowded, and Li Mingyue couldn't wait to open for business.

Bai Xiaoyue thought that since it was the first day of business in the new year, she would make an extra dish of chicken stew with mushrooms and give each customer a free bowl.

The small restaurant is doing very well; they're always busy at lunchtime.

Xiao Bai and An An also helped out at the small restaurant.

Master Song's beautiful wife volunteered to help wash the dishes.

After lunchtime, Bai Xiaoyue finally had a moment to pause: "Sister-in-law Song, thank you for your help."

Sister-in-law Song: "Xiaoyue, I'd like to help out at the restaurant from now on, is that alright?"

Bai Xiaoyue: "Sister-in-law Song, why? Didn't Master Song tell you not to work?"

Sister-in-law Song: "He always has to go out to work, and I get bored being alone, so I want to find something to do."

I can do any kitchen work. I don't care about the pay.

Bai Xiaoyue: "If Master Song agrees and you're not afraid of being tired, then come on over. The pay is fifty yuan a month."

After Sister-in-law Song went back and told Master Song, she started working odd jobs at the small restaurant.

Xiaobai and An'an have been here for half a month and are about to go back to school.

The two bought train tickets. Bai Xiaoyue was a little worried and repeatedly gave them instructions:

"Xiaobai, you have to keep an eye on An'an. She's a girl, and there are a lot of bad people on the bus. Don't be too kind."

Xiao Bai felt helpless: "Mom, I know, I won't let her go alone, I'll take her with me wherever I go."

Bai Xiaoyue: "You also need to be careful, be careful not to get scammed."

Xiao Bai kept nodding, not daring to refute, because his father's punches hurt a lot.

Grandma Xie was very reluctant to part with him: "Xiao Bai, when will you come again?"

Xiao Bai said with a smile, "Grandma, I'll come to see you during my vacation."

Li Mingyue was also reluctant to part with her daughter: "An'an, do you need money?"

An'an waved her hand: "Mom, my brother and I have money, so you and Dad don't need to worry about us."

Li Mingyue instructed her daughter, "Be careful in the car, and stay with Xiaobai at all times."

An'an nodded: "Mom, I know."

Bai Xiaoyue and Li Mingyue were worried sick for several days. Only when Xiaobai and An'an arrived safely and sent a telegram did the two feel relieved.

Perhaps it was Mr. Zhang's efforts, or perhaps it was the cumulative effect of promotion, but business started coming in not long after the start of the year.

Yan Ci thought that even if all the vehicles were dispatched, there still wouldn't be enough personnel.

Upon returning to Beijing, he went to see Lu Zhiyuan and asked if he had any recommendations for such personnel.

He felt that people who had served in the military were physically fit and trustworthy.

Lu Zhiyuan was delighted to hear this and immediately said he could find him a few.

Yan Ci asked, "Are there any veterans with minor physical disabilities who want to find work?"

I'm looking for someone to help me keep watch over the company's security; the pay is a little less than that of a driver.

Lu Zhiyuan suddenly stood up: "Uncle, really?"

Yan Ci nodded: "If you have someone suitable, I'll take them with me this time."

Lu Zhiyuan brought a total of six people, one of whom had two fingers missing and was named Huang Xiaobo.

Yan Ci planned to have him look after the transportation company's yard, so he would feel more at ease when he wasn't home.