Chapter 39 Chapter 39: First time going to a western restaurant.
Li Hong called her the boss lady, so she definitely couldn't be stingy. Before Li Hong returned to the dormitory, she pulled out her homemade spicy sauce and fermented fish from the refrigerator, along with some fruit snacks, and filled a bag with them. She handed it to her, "If the cafeteria food isn't to your liking, you can add some spicy sauce. How can I get through working over ten hours a day without a full stomach?"
Li Hong, who was always carefree, felt a little embarrassed. "My visit here was like a robbery. Your refrigerator was almost empty. I'm afraid Lin Nanjiang won't dare to let me visit him again."
"Don't worry, you can come whenever you want." Liu Suqin said arrogantly, "There's just one thing, don't bring anything with you next time. Fangfang has plenty of clothes and shoes, just serve them when you arrive."
Li Hong said nothing, just thinking about what style of skirt to buy for the little one next time she went shopping.
Of course, what is more important is to work overtime and earn money. Her friends all have bright futures, and she cannot fall too far behind.
Liu Suqin was just the opposite. After giving her good friend an intense workout, she turned around and started to relax herself.
The newly bought small courtyard was successfully rented out, and Lin Nanjiang and his night snack stall was also on track. She had completely free time. Every day she would take care of the children, count money, and chat and watch TV series with Amin who came to visit.
The weather was not so hot anymore, so Liu Suqin and Amin took their children to the park for some fresh air. They agreed to go to the beach when it got cooler. Their life was very comfortable.
The only drawback is that Li Liang, who has always been decisive and efficient, has not been able to bring good news this time.
However, Liu Suqin was mentally prepared and was not anxious.
In a blink of an eye, it was time to register for the training school.
Speaking of which, the end of the month was exactly the day they had lived in their new home for a full month. Lin Nanjiang and his family were so busy that they had forgotten what year it was. But Liu Suqin took advantage of the last bit of free time and held a small ceremony at home. She cooked a big meal herself. She was lucky enough to see snails in the vegetable market and bought two pounds to take home to make their hometown's spicy stir-fried snails. She also ordered a cream cake.
Liu Suqin prepared this feast and enjoyed it with Aunt Zhang in the evening. However, it became a midnight snack when Lin Nanjiang and Lin Quansheng came back from their work.
The two of them didn't mind and sat down at the dining table and started sucking on the snails. They sucked one after another without even needing a toothpick. They were sweating profusely from the spiciness, so they stopped to drink a sip of cold beer before continuing.
Liu Suqin sat beside them, listening to the gurgling sounds as she quickly tallied up tonight's earnings. "What a coincidence! Today's earnings are the same as yesterday's, also 839. Thank you for your hard work! When you're done eating, just put your dishes in the kitchen sink. Aunt Zhang and I will clean up tomorrow morning."
Lin Quansheng hadn't eaten this bite for a long time, so he didn't even raise his head, and only managed to make two "hmm" sounds in response.
As a man who had successfully pursued the most beautiful girl in the factory, Lin Nanjiang had a relatively high emotional intelligence. Seeing that she had finished packing and stood up, apparently going back to rest, he quickly raised his head and asked, "By the way, wife, are you going to register for that Cultural Palace in a few days? Do you want me to accompany you?"
Liu Suqin shook her head subconsciously, "Li Hong was on leave that day, and she agreed to go with me."
At this point, she paused and said, "We've been busy for over a month. Why don't you two take a break and go for a walk together?"
The words Lin Nanjiang wanted to say instantly got stuck in her throat, and she shook her head hurriedly, "You two sisters haven't gotten together for a long time, so I won't disturb you. Have fun when the time comes."
Liu Suqin: "...Forget it, as long as you are happy, I will go back to my room first. You should rest early after eating."
A new January is a new beginning. Li Hong didn't bother to be polite with Liu Suqin and came over early in the morning to enjoy a hearty breakfast.
After eating and drinking, they set off. Liu Suqin brought her daughter with her, and of course, Aunt Zhang was not left behind.
There were people of all ages in the group, so Liu Suqin decided to drive over and took them to the store to pick up the car first.
Li Hong had not seen their shop yet, but she was full of anticipation on the way. When she arrived at the shop, she found that it was a noodle shop with very clean and bright decoration. She felt that it exceeded her expectations and could not wait to look around, even the kitchen separated by a glass door was not missed.
Before she finished her tour, she turned around and saw her friend skillfully starting the tricycle and adjusting the direction of departure. Immediately, tears of envy flowed from the corners of her mouth. "I haven't even learned to ride a bicycle yet, and you're already driving a three-wheeled one. That's amazing."
Liu Suqin encouraged her gently, "It's not too late to learn now. As long as we work hard and save money, we will have the opportunity to buy a bicycle, a motorcycle, or a car in the future."
"I won't daydream about three wheels or four wheels. It would be worth it if I could buy a motorcycle in my lifetime." Li Hong said sincerely, but Liu Suqin just smiled and said nothing.
In Liu Suqin's heart, Li Hong got married and had children in her previous life, but was delayed and dragged down by useless men for many years. When she was in her forties, she still relied on herself to buy a car that belonged to her and became an energetic female driver. She embarked on a different path in this life early, and with her abilities, her life will only get better and better.
In this life, Li Hong’s car, house, and store will only come sooner.
Of course, this time it was Li Hong's turn to look at her with admiration and worship, which made Liu Suqin feel so happy that she straightened her back and asked them to get in the car and sit down. She started the car skillfully, and her hair fluttered in the wind while she drove. She looked indescribably high-spirited.
It is said that people feel refreshed when they are happy, and the same is true in reverse. Liu Suqin was in a good state and felt that everything went smoothly. She visited the school smoothly, queued up to register, bought all the tools and equipment needed for class at one time, and met the teacher that Ahui had introduced before.
This male teacher with the same surname as Lin Nanjiang was just as Ah Hui had described, gentle and patient. When he heard that Liu Suqin had come to register and was also bringing her friends to learn about the school, he enthusiastically introduced the various training programs to Li Hong, including the specific fees, course times, employment conditions, etc. He later found information about each training class for them to take back and read.
After saying goodbye to the enthusiastic teacher Lin, Liu Suqin and her team successfully completed their mission. Today they only registered and paid the fees. Those who are interested in participating in the latest course can register their names and come to class directly tomorrow.
Of course, students who live in the dormitory have to hurry to find the relevant person in charge to assign dormitories, clean beds, and put away luggage. Only day students like Liu Suqin can just pack up and leave.
Then they went shopping again. Liu Suqin even took Li Hong, who had never been to the city center, to the mall for a walk. They also had lunch nearby.
Fangfang usually has the habit of taking a nap. Unless it is necessary, Liu Suqin does not want to disrupt her biological clock, so she tells Li Hong to go back early in the afternoon. She can watch TV or something if she doesn't have a nap, and have dinner at her house. As a result, Li Hong excitedly said that she was planning to go back to work overtime in the afternoon.
Liu Suqin: "...Is it so sudden?"
"I'm full of energy now," Li Hong said firmly. "Suqin, I've decided. I'm going to work overtime for the next few months to save some money. Next year, I'm not going to work in the factory anymore. I'm going to come to this school to learn something. There's really no future in being stuck in a factory my whole life."
The young friend was working so hard to improve himself, so Liu Suqin naturally supported him wholeheartedly. "It's good that you've decided. It wouldn't be a bad idea for you to come over and sign up for classes next year. After you graduate, I should have found a suitable job, and maybe I can even introduce you to one."
Li Hong shook her head. "I just heard from that teacher that the tuition for their hairdressing course is about the same as makeup, but they don't require any tools, so I can save over a thousand. I haven't decided yet whether to study makeup or hairdressing."
"I see. Studying hairdressing isn't bad at all. After a few years, you could open your own shop and become the boss. You might not become rich, but at least you'll have enough to eat and drink." Liu Suqin herself supported her friend in learning a skill. Beauty, hairdressing, nail art, and makeup—anything related to a girl's beauty—are good careers with long-term development. But she also had to remind her, "However, hairdressing is mostly done by men. For us girls, engaging in this field is prone to rumors and even unnecessary trouble. You have to consider this issue."
Seeing Li Hong's momentary panic, Liu Suqin quickly comforted her, "But this kind of thing happens more often in small places. As long as you stay in Shenzhen, there will be no problem in your hairdressing career. After all, everyone is busy making money, and no one will come to criticize you for such a trivial matter."
Li Hong's expression relaxed a lot, and she said solemnly, "What you said makes sense. There's still time. I will seriously consider what to study."
"Okay, take your time to think about it. Are you sure you want to work overtime this afternoon? Then I'll take you back to the factory first."
Li Hong nodded. "But just take me to the bus stop. The road over there is not easy to walk on and there are a lot of hooligans. It's not convenient for you to go there with the kids."
Liu Suqin thought for a moment and asked, "Does the bus go to the factory gate?"
“It’s not that convenient, but it’s only five minutes’ walk after getting off the bus.”
Liu Suqin remembered that Li Hong had come to visit her home alone a few days ago. She had accompanied her to the gate of the community to take a motorcycle taxi at around seven in the evening, and had returned to the factory safely. It was broad daylight now, so nothing should have happened. She reminded Li Hong to be careful, then sent her to the nearest bus stop, watched her get on the bus, and then drove home with peace of mind.
It was already past one o'clock when they got home. The daughter was already fast asleep in Aunt Zhang's familiar arms. Liu Suqin gently took her in, told Aunt Zhang to go and rest as well, then carried her daughter back to the room, washed her face, changed into pajamas, and then put her in the crib covered with a soft blanket.
The little one was sleeping soundly during the whole process without even frowning, which made Liu Suqin both amused and relieved. From another perspective, her daughter had a high level of concentration. Whether she was eating, sleeping, or even playing, she only focused on doing that one thing, and no amount of interference from adults could affect the little one.
He has such determination at such a young age, maybe he can do great things when he grows up.
Of course, Liu Suqin was just thinking casually. She no longer had the idea of wanting her sons and daughters to become successful in her life. What she said to Lin Nanjiang about taking college entrance exams and studying abroad to bring honor to the family were all empty promises, excuses to spur him to make money.
Just kidding, it’s better to push yourself than to push your children to succeed. They are standing at the forefront of the times and trying to make their children become rich second generation, which is much easier than asking their children to study hard and strive for good performance.
If Liu Suqin has any expectations or plans for Fangfang now, it is to provide her with a good living environment and educational resources as much as possible, to cultivate and develop her interests and hobbies, to instill positive values in her, and to allow her to grow up happily and healthily.
As for whether the children will be able to get into a prestigious university in the future, have a decent job, or get married and have children, it doesn’t matter. Just let them choose the life they want.
She also has the life she wants.
Thinking of this, Liu Suqin lowered her head and kissed her daughter's fair and tender little face, then tiptoed out of the room.
Although she appeared calm today, in Liu Suqin's heart, she was about to start a brand new life. She couldn't help feeling a little excited, nervous, and confused about the unknown. In short, she had a lot of thoughts in her mind. She couldn't fall asleep even if she lay down at the moment, so she simply went to the living room to watch TV to calm down.
But there were only two TV channels, and Liu Suqin switched back and forth several times with the remote control, but her mood did not calm down much. Lin Nanjiang and Lin Quansheng happened to go home for a nap.
"Sister-in-law, are you back from registering so early?" Lin Quansheng casually greeted her and went straight back to his room to relax and lie down. Lin Nanjiang turned on his toes and walked straight to the sofa in the living room. "How was your outing today? Did everything go well? Why are you alone?"
"Everything went well. We signed up and went shopping. Li Hong went back to the factory to work overtime after dinner. Fangfang and Aunt Zhang are still taking a nap..." Halfway through her sentence, his tall figure loomed over her. Liu Suqin quickly put her hands on his strong chest, trying to push him away. "Oh, you stink of cooking fumes. Go wash up and go to bed."
Lin Nanjiang remained motionless.
It was rare for the couple to be alone in the large living room. He was determined to spend some time with his wife, so he ignored her shoving and effortlessly pulled her into his arms. He nuzzled his head into her neck, finding a comfortable angle, and rested his chin on it. He asked lazily, "So when does the training start? Is the class time the same as Ah Hui's?"
Liu Suqin pushed a few times to no avail, so she gave up struggling. She didn't know why, nestled in this not-so-fresh embrace, her restless heart gradually calmed down. "Classes will start tomorrow, and the schedule hasn't changed. It's still 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm."
"The course is so long, it must have been very hard for you, my wife."
Perhaps the atmosphere was too warm, Liu Suqin subconsciously reached out and touched the dog's head buried in her neck.
The short hair that had just been trimmed was of excellent quality, black and thick, and it felt quite good when it pricked the palm of her hand. Liu Suqin couldn't help but stroke it again and again, unable to stop at all. Her tone also softened a lot, "Didn't we agree on this? Why are you going back on your word?"
"I have no regrets. Wife, just do whatever you want to do. I support you. But if it's too hard, I can't help but feel bad."
Liu Suqin chuckled, "If it's something you want to do, you won't find it too hard. Just like if I asked you not to open a shop or set up a stall, but to lie at home every day watching TV and collecting rent, would you be willing?"
"I don't want to." Lin Nanjiang's voice was muffled but firm. "I understand how you feel. I won't say such discouraging words anymore. Just go ahead and do it, my dear."
"good."
The two of them snuggled together and whispered softly. After an unknown amount of time, they heard steady and long breathing sounds. Liu Suqin looked down and saw that Lin Nanjiang had fallen asleep in her neck.
She picked up the remote control, lowered the already low volume of the TV by two degrees, and quietly watched the uninteresting TV commercials and news.
Lin Nanjiang, meanwhile, curled up in a ball, slept for nearly two hours. He woke up with a slight soreness in his back and neck, but it didn't stop him from recharging his batteries and continuing to work tirelessly. After all, his wife's makeup lessons were certainly a hobby, but ultimately, they were about making money. She worked so hard for their family, so he had to work even harder.
Although Liu Suqin had calmed down, she still took the first day of class very seriously. She woke up early and was no longer sleepy. She simply got up, washed, dressed, had a hearty and delicious breakfast, played games with the little one who was becoming more and more lively, gave Aunt Zhang some instructions, and just after eight o'clock, she picked up her bag and set off with nothing to do.
At this time, it is more than enough to walk from home to the Cultural Palace and exercise at the same time, but Liu Suqin chose to take the bus. She needs to know how long it will take from going out to wait for the bus to arriving at the training school so that she can plan her time and travel method later.
The result of her trip was that the bus was not much slower than driving her tricycle, a difference of three to five minutes. Liu Suqin was not an office worker who needed to punch in, so she didn't care about these few minutes. She decided to take the bus in the future.
Their first day of classes went very smoothly. The teacher first gave a detailed introduction to the employment prospects of this industry, gave many examples of outstanding students, and encouraged them to study hard and make more money. Then he began the formal class, which was also explained in depth and in a simple way. The classroom atmosphere was quite relaxed, and time passed quickly.
When she heard the bell for the end of get out of class, Liu Suqin was still a little dazed. She packed up her things while chatting and laughing with her classmates, and got up to leave.
Most of the students in the class were young girls. One morning was enough time for them to find friends to talk to. Most of them left the classroom in groups of two or three. Liu Suqin also found a companion to go home with, a local girl named Xia Hongmei.
Liu Suqin and Xia Hongmei did not take the same bus, but it was nice to have someone to chat with while waiting for the bus.
As they walked out of the Cultural Palace, talking and laughing, Liu Suqin saw an unexpected figure. She paused and smiled apologetically at her new classmate, "Sorry, Mei, my husband is here to pick me up. You go wait for the car first."
Xia Hongmei widened her eyes in surprise and followed her gaze to see the man who stood out from the crowd.
Lin Nanjiang is not only tall, but also holding a baby in his arms, which makes him very eye-catching.
"Aqin, you are not kidding? They actually got married and even have a child!" Xia Hongmei exclaimed in disbelief.
Liu Suqin laughed and said, "Of course I'm not joking, didn't you see it?"
"Okay, I won't bother you anymore. Bye." Xia Hongmei waved her hand. "By the way, Aqin, you can bring your daughter out to play next time you have a holiday. You are so beautiful, and your husband is also handsome. I can imagine how cute your daughter will be without even looking closely."
"Okay, bye, see you this afternoon."
After saying goodbye to her enthusiastic new classmates, Liu Suqin reluctantly walked towards the father and daughter not far away. "I didn't ask you to take me to school this morning, but you came to pick me up at this time after school, and even brought my daughter with you. What? You're not open for business at noon?"
"It's your first day of school, such an important day, so of course my baby and I have to come pick you up." Lin Nanjiang said, picking up his daughter's chubby hand and waving it, imitating the tone of a child to be very cute, "Don't worry, the business in the store is not delayed. Quansheng is in charge of the cooking, and Brother Li and Aunt Zhang are out to entertain the guests. They will be able to hold on for lunch, so there will be no problem."
"You're really great, you're making everyone around you run around in circles." Liu Suqin complained, but she couldn't suppress the smile in her eyes. She looked down at her daughter with a smile as beautiful as a flower, and stretched out her hands, "My dear, were you good this morning? Did you miss your mother?"
The good girl was very considerate and waved her arms and legs to jump into her mother's arms. However, no matter how she struggled with her little body, the hands holding her were as motionless as iron clamps.
Lin Nanjiang withdrew the hug for his daughter, raised his hands and lifted her up high, making the little girl giggle immediately. He lowered his head and explained, "Let me hold you. We still have a long way to go."
Liu Suqin subconsciously looked around, "Why didn't you come by bike?"
"We're going to a western restaurant later, so a tricycle isn't very suitable."
"Western restaurant?" Liu Suqin looked at Lin Nanjiang in surprise, and wanted to ask him if he had any other surprises that she didn't know about.
Lin Nanjiang said as a matter of course, "To celebrate your official start of school, our family will also go and have some foreign food."
"How long have you been preparing? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Lin Nanjiang paused. Despite his pretense of calmness, he was actually terrified. He was worried his wife wouldn't be surprised, but rather disliked him for doing something so strange. He cautiously asked, "Don't you like it?"
"Not really." Liu Suqin followed his example, deliberately lengthening her tone. "If I had known this earlier, I would have dressed up properly, wearing a skirt and high heels to go to a Western restaurant."
Lin Nanjiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He held his daughter firmly with one hand and stretched out his other hand to pull his wife to him, saying sweet words, "Wife, you look so beautiful without having to dress up. I was standing far away at the entrance of the Cultural Palace just now and noticed you at first sight. You are the most beautiful person in the crowd."
"According to you, I don't have to dress up anymore in the future?" Liu Suqin deliberately lowered the corners of her mouth.
Lin Nanjiang shook his head frantically, his desire to survive strong. "Of course not, you can dress up however you want, but you will always be the most beautiful in my heart."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "Let's try the taste this time. If it's delicious, we'll be fully prepared next time. If you wear a dress and high heels, I'll wear a suit too. Then people will know we're a couple."
"Okay." Liu Suqin stopped teasing him deliberately and took the arm of the child's father. The three of them came to the western restaurant affectionately.
Lin Nanjiang had indeed prepared for a long time in advance and had done his homework thoroughly. Upon entering the Western restaurant, he asked the waiter for a high chair, then settled his lively daughter next to his own seat. He confidently assured his wife, "Just enjoy the Western meal. I'll take good care of the child."
Liu Suqin just found it funny, "Fangfang can't eat steak, why did you bring her here?"
Isn't this just to make trouble for their greedy girl?
Lin Nanjiang argued confidently, "Wife, you always say that the family should be together, so of course we can't leave Fangfang out when we go to a western restaurant."
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