Is Old Li back?

Liu Chunhua got down from the bed and opened the door quickly. "Where is he? When did he come back?"

"Just now, he has already started working in the kitchen."

Liu Chunhua hurried to the kitchen, took two steps and turned back, picked up Jiang Ruyi and rushed to the kitchen.

When I drew aside the curtain, I saw Old Li stirring the wok. In the firelight, he seemed no different from before, yet seemed to have grown older.

"Brother Li."

Liu Chunhua greeted them. Old Li looked at her and knew she had something to say. "Chunhua, wait a minute. I'll cook these two dishes first. The guests at table 8 specifically asked me to cook them. They'll be ready soon."

"Don't worry, just do your work first, and then come find me in the backyard when you're done."

Liu Chunhua knew that such nominations were common. Regular customers could taste the difference in the dishes cooked by each chef. Some would nominate the chef they liked to cook for them. This was especially true during the time when Old Li was not here. Small disputes often occurred in the store because of this.

Not long after, Old Li came to the backyard after finishing his work. He was wiping his hands with a clean cloth, smiling as usual, "Chunhua."

Liu Chunhua looked at him and couldn't help but sigh after a while, "Brother Li, where have you been recently? Did something happen at home?"

"Well... you know my daughter-in-law." Old Li's eyes were moist when he mentioned it. He sighed, "I don't know what sins I committed in my previous life to have such a daughter-in-law in this life. Chunhua, I am sorry for you and for causing you trouble."

"Brother Li, don't say that. Every family has its own problems. I don't blame you. But Brother Li, you need to tell me what happened during this period. Do you need my help?"

"Well, it's nothing." Old Li hesitated to speak. Liu Chunhua recalled what she saw when she went to his house that day and felt that this matter was unusual.

But Old Li clearly didn't want to say more, so she turned to test him, "Is your daughter-in-law not satisfied with the salary I give you and wants you to change jobs to another company?"

"No, no! Chunhua, that's not what I meant!" Old Li's face turned red in an instant, but the more he hurried to explain, the more it seemed to confirm his point.

Liu Chunhua thought about it and felt that Jin Yumantang's profits had far exceeded her expectations, so it was not impossible to raise Old Li's salary.

"Brother Li, I won't say anything else. I know that the store is what it is today thanks to you, and you've also suffered a lot. I'll give you a 20 yuan increase. Is that okay with you?"

"Chunhua, I really don't want a raise. You're trying to embarrass me by saying that!" Old Li was anxious and panicked, with tears welling up in his eyes. Liu Chunhua comforted him, "Brother Li, listen to me. You deserve this money. Even if your daughter-in-law hadn't happened, I wouldn't treat you unfairly. Now that she has this idea, I don't want to make it difficult for you to get between home and the store, so this is settled, and it will take effect this month."

"Chunhua, I really...really..." Old Li's eyes were filled with tears. On the one hand, he was touched by Liu Chunhua's kindness to him, but on the other hand, he felt guilty for what his son and daughter-in-law had said.

But he couldn't say all of this, so Old Li thanked her solemnly, "Chunhua, thank you, thank you so much, don't worry, I will work hard and will never ask for leave again."

"It's okay. I still have to be busy at home when I need to be busy." Liu Chunhua didn't want to care too much about this matter. She felt it was worth it if she could solve the hidden danger with 20 yuan.

Time passed quickly and it was afternoon, Uncle Jiang and Jiang Xiaoluo started quarreling at home again.

"Girl, just think of it as your father being sorry for you. You have to use this money to save your mother!" Uncle Jiang was holding a piggy bank in his hand, which contained the dowry money that Jiang Xiaoluo had saved for him.

She held on tightly, tears streaming down her face, "Dad, didn't you say that this money is mine and you would never touch it even if our family is poor?"

"Dad did say that, but things are different now. Your mother is hungry and cold in the detention center. Can you bear to see her starving and freezing? Only if you pay this money can your mother come back!"

"Dad! How can you believe what that couple said? I've already inquired about it. Recently, many people have come to ask for money. They must have set their sights on you. You must not be fooled!"

Jiang Xiaoluo argued that if the money really needed to save her mother's life, she would take it out without saying a word. However, this was obviously a plan by Jiang Chao and Zhang Tieying, so how could she agree to that!

How can I be willing!

"Dad, calm down first. I'll go to town and ask around. If the police station really wants the money, I'll definitely give it to you, okay?"

Uncle Jiang was shaken. In fact, he had always been uncertain in his heart, but he was too worried about Aunt Jiang that he wanted to take a risk. However, at this moment, a sarcastic voice suddenly interrupted.

"By the time you go to the town to ask, the opportunity will be gone! I think you think that our Jiang family has not offended the police enough? If you are not afraid of harming your mother, go ahead. If the price doubles by then, I won't care!"

Zhang Tieying crossed his arms, turned his head and said to Uncle Jiang, "Uncle, we have to ask for help to find someone, and they have been waiting for a letter. It's not good for you to dawdle like this, right?"

"Then, then you take this money first!"

Uncle Jiang had no other good ideas at this moment. Jiang Xiaoluo still wanted to fight for it. She held the piggy bank with both hands and refused to let go. "Dad, this is my last money, and it's also our family's last money! Without this, how can I find a partner in the future? You said that you would not let people look down on me."

"Xiao Luo, Daddy is sorry for you. We can talk about the future later. Let's rescue your mother first."

Uncle Jiang was ruthless and pried open Jiang Xiaoluo's fingers one by one.

Jiang Xiaoluo bit her lip and watched the piggy bank fall into Zhang Tieying's hands. She also watched her look of provocation before she left.

"Why..."

Why does no one believe her? Why does what she says never work?

This time, Jiang Xiaoluo stopped crying and her tears stopped abruptly.

"Little Luo..."

"Don't touch me."

Uncle Jiang saw that she was in a bad mood and tried to pull her forward, but Jiang Xiaoluo calmly broke free, turned around and left without saying a word, like a walking dead puppet.

Boom!

Thunder roared again in the late autumn sky, and raindrops as big as beans poured down. Jiang Xiaoluo just kept walking. She didn't know where she was going or what she wanted to do. She only knew that it was so dirty here, and everything in this house was so dirty...

At nine o'clock in the evening, there were not many people in the store. Liu Chunhua packed up the tables and chairs and prepared to close the store. Suddenly, there was a "pop" sound, and a thin little hand slapped the door.

Liu Chunhua looked up and saw Jiang Xiaoluo standing there, all wet, with her face wet from rain or tears, and she couldn't tell whether it was rain or tears. She called her sadly.

"Sister-in-law."