Chapter 95 An Unexpected Gain
The renovation progressed quickly, and the main structure was basically completed three days later.
That day, Jiang Ruzhen and Lao Er were settling payments with the workers when Huang Mao arrived with his gang.
He saw the second brother and Jiang Ruzhen and called out, "Eldest brother, Aunt Jiang, we've come to help."
Without waiting for the second brother and Jiang Ruzhen to ask, he automatically started looking for work to do.
The shop had just been renovated and hadn't been cleaned yet, but these teenagers rolled up their sleeves and got to work.
Many hands make light work, and the area was cleaned up in less than an hour.
Jiang Ruzhen asked her second son to go out and buy some soda for the children, and everyone sat down to rest at the door.
Jiang Ruzhen chatted casually with Huang Mao for a few minutes, "Is your grandma feeling better?"
Huang Mao looked at Jiang Ruzhen with great gratitude, "Grandma is much better now. She asked me to invite Aunt Jiang to dinner today."
Jiang Ruzhen waved her hand in refusal, "No need, your grandma is too kind. This is money I lent you, it's not like you don't have to pay it back."
Little Yellow Hair insisted, "My grandma said that people should be grateful and repay kindness. If you don't go, I'll carry you there."
"Fine, fine, I'll go!" Jiang Ruzhen couldn't resist this stubborn child, so she tidied up the shop and locked the door.
The second brother rode a tricycle with her on the back and set off with the boys.
When she arrived at Little Yellow Hair's house, she found that the living conditions there were really terrible.
There's a garbage dump right outside the door, swarming with hundreds of flies.
As soon as she got close, they scattered with a whoosh, many of them hitting her in the face.
Once inside, the house was cluttered with piles of junk, cardboard, plastic, newspapers, and other debris.
The blond-haired boy stepped forward and awkwardly kicked the things aside.
"Aunt Jiang, I'm sorry you have to see how bad things are at home. I'm not home most of the time, so Grandma likes to go out and collect scraps to sell for money."
I've told her several times, but she won't listen.
"Ah Mao, have the guests arrived?" an old voice rang out, and Grandma Wang lifted the curtain and walked out unsteadily.
Huang Mao hurriedly stepped forward to help his grandmother, "Grandma, why did you come out? I already told you I can cook."
Grandma Wang gently patted her grandson's hand a few times, "When distinguished guests arrive, how can we not come out to greet them? It's only proper etiquette."
Huang Mao shook his head helplessly, and Jiang Ruzhen stepped forward to greet him with a smile.
"Hello, Aunt Wang. I'm not a special guest, just here to get acquainted with the place."
"Oh my!" Grandma Wang exclaimed in surprise as she saw Jiang Ruzhen's face through the dim light.
"Wow, what a fairy! Girl, are you a Bodhisattva reincarnated? How can you be so beautiful and kind-hearted!"
The second son couldn't help but burst out laughing. Jiang Ruzhen glared at him and said, "Auntie, I'm forty years old. What bodhisattva reincarnation? I just sell clothes, and I love dressing up more than the average person."
"That's wonderful. This girl is wonderful." Grandma Wang seemed to really like Jiang Ruzhen, and she took her hand and led her inside.
Lifting the curtain, Jiang Ruzhen saw a dilapidated table inside.
It was obvious that someone had carefully cleaned the dirt; although it was old, it wasn't dirty at all.
Five dishes and a soup were laid out on top, covered with a brand-new straw cover.
"This is my grandmother's handiwork. She was very skillful and could weave many little things."
Huang Mao invited Jiang Ruzhen to take a seat while explaining to her. Jiang Ruzhen took the cover and glanced at it, confirming that it was an area she could not control.
"Auntie, when your grandson starts doing business with me, could you make some small animal figurines to sell to me when you have some free time? I can take them home and give them as gifts to the customers who come to the store to buy clothes."
"Really? You're interested in this worthless little thing?" Grandma Wang seemed quite surprised.
"I really like it. Can I give you 50 cents if you make one?" Jiang Ruzhen asked uncertainly.
"What money do you want? I won't take your money. If you like, I can knit ten for you every day." Grandma Wang waved her hands repeatedly to refuse. As long as her benefactor liked it, that was enough. These little things didn't cost much to make, so how could she possibly take her benefactor's money?
Jiang Ruzhen thought for a moment, "How about this, the lounge in the back of my newly opened branch can be used as a place for you and your grandson to stay."
I'll give you and your grandson fifteen yuan each a month, and you can help me watch the shop. Also, could you knit ten little trinkets for me every day?
"Oh? How can I do that? My life was saved by my benefactor, how can I take advantage of you again?" Grandma Wang shook her head repeatedly in refusal.
“My grandson and I volunteered to help you with the shop, and I don’t charge you for the things I make.”
Jiang Ruzhen disagreed, saying, "Aunt Wang, the money you paid for your medical treatment was a loan from me, and it needs to be repaid."
It's not a favor, and if you don't help me watch the shop, I'll have to hire someone else and pay their wages.
This is a mutually beneficial arrangement; that's the decision.
After Jiang Ruzhen finished speaking decisively, Huang Mao wanted to say something, but the second brother slapped him down into his seat.
"If you feel bad about it, then work hard in the future and try to pay back the money with interest as soon as possible."
With his head bowed, a tear fell to the ground and quickly seeped into the soil. When he looked up again, his face was full of determination and resolve.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely work hard under your leadership from now on."
Grandma Wang looked at her grandson with satisfaction, her eyes filled with joy and anticipation for the future.
After dinner, Jiang Ruzhen decisively directed her second son and Huang Mao to load the important items of the house onto the tricycle, and Grandma Wang was even forcibly pulled onto the vehicle.
When the grandfather and grandson arrived at the branch's lounge, they were both stunned by the object in front of them.
This isn't a lounge; it's clearly a one-bedroom apartment in a residence.
Inside, there were two 1.2-meter single beds, with bedding and blankets readily available. In the outer room, there was a large pot and a simple cupboard, fully equipped with pots, pans, and utensils.
There was also a brand new wardrobe in the room, and the floor was cement, clean and tidy.
Compared to their shantytown, this place is simply paradise.
"These...the conditions are too good, I..." Grandma Wang was so happy she couldn't speak.
She never imagined that she would see her grandson have a decent job and that the two of them could live in such a bright and spacious house before she died.
This is all because she met a benefactor, and Grandma Wang really doesn't know how to thank Jiang Ruzhen.
"Ah Mao, go outside and keep watch. I need to talk to your Aunt Jiang about something."
Yellow Hair nodded and went out to stand guard at the door.
Grandma Wang rummaged through a pile of bundles she had brought and pulled out a tattered tin box.
Opening the box, I found some coins and a few cents or dollars inside.
Just as Jiang Ruzhen was about to leave, Grandma Wang accidentally turned on some switch, revealing that the tin box had a second layer.
When the contents were revealed to Jiang Ruzhen, her eyes widened in shock.
"This is a white jade melon-shaped cloisonné enamel wine cup, which was my father-in-law's favorite jade piece back then. I still remember the heroic spirit he displayed when reciting poems and singing songs while drinking at a family banquet."
It's a pity, times have changed, all ambitions have come to nothing, and all wealth has vanished. I've been keeping this thing so I could save some capital for my son, Amao, in the future.
But the great turmoil of those years terrified me. I was afraid that I would die before I saw my family, Amao, rebuild our family's fortunes.
Xiao Jiang, you're a good person. I'm shamelessly begging you this once in a day, please accept this. I only need five hundred yuan for A Mao's initial investment.
Please, for the sake of this old woman who is about to die, grant me this unreasonable request!
As Grandma Wang spoke, she was about to kneel down and kowtow to Jiang Ruzhen. She felt very guilty, but she couldn't help it.
Ever since the day A Mao heard about Jiang Ruzhen's actions, she had made up her mind.
This thing is a dead object in her hands, and it's extremely risky; who knows how many years it will take before it sees the light of day again.
But she couldn't wait any longer, and neither could her grandson, Amao. She could endure such hardship, but she didn't want her grandson to continue suffering with her.
She wanted him to succeed and restore the glory of the Huang family ancestors.
Jiang Ruzhen snapped out of her daze and quickly helped the old lady up. "Aunt Wang, please don't do this. I can't accept this. I promise you!"
She was deeply shocked at that moment, because she recognized what Grandma Wang was holding.
She had seen on the news that this item was auctioned off for over 50 million yuan. It was practically a family heirloom!
Unexpectedly, just because she did a good deed, Grandma Wang is now going to sell this thing to her for 500 yuan.
Her hands were trembling when she took it.
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