Chapter 78 Days
The studio was not very fast at developing photos, and generally asked customers to pick them up ten days later. However, Lin Qiu's newsstand was just across the street from the studio, so on the sixth day after the photo shoot, Xiao Yang came running over and asked Lin Qiu to pick up the photos.
Lin Qiu was sorting out the newly arrived pocket romance novels. She flattened the corners of the novel covers and looked up in surprise, "So fast?"
After saying that, he asked Xiao Yang to help look after the newsstand, dusted himself off, and walked towards the door diagonally opposite.
After entering, the clerk of the photo studio greeted Lin Qiu familiarly, and Lin Qiu nodded and smiled in response.
Boss Zhuang was also in the store today. He walked over with a smile and said, "Sister Lin, I have something to discuss with you."
Lin Qiu was wondering, the photos have been taken, what else do they want to discuss?
So, he asked in confusion: "What's the matter? Tell me."
Boss Zhuang said, "Your photos are really good. We want to print some of them in our brochure for promotion. What do you think? If you agree, I will refund all the fees you paid."
Lin Qiu instinctively wanted to agree to this, but thinking of Wang Xiuren, she answered hesitantly: "I'll go back and discuss it with my husband and give you an answer."
Boss Zhuang thought Lin Qiu would agree without hesitation, but he also respected Lin Qiu's opinion, "Okay, you guys discuss it first. But most people will agree!"
This is true. No one would object to something that comes easy.
After listening to this, Wang Xiuren immediately agreed.
"You looked so disgusted with putting on makeup on the day of the photo shoot that I thought you would refuse." Lin Qiu didn't expect Wang Xiuren to react like this.
"I just don't like putting paint on my face, not that I don't like taking photos. Besides, if people use our photos, it means our photos are good! One hundred and twenty-eight yuan for a few photos is not a loss. It's two days' salary!" Wang Xiuren explained seriously.
It was already ten o'clock in the evening and the street lights downstairs were a little dim.
"What do you think we should eat tomorrow night? I see Shanshan hasn't had a good appetite lately." Wang Xiuren suddenly changed the subject.
The weather this year is very strange. The rain has been falling from April to May, and the endless rain makes people feel irritated. It’s the season for wearing short sleeves, but we still haven’t taken out the cool mats at home, so the newsstand’s business has been affected to some extent.
Because of the rainy weather, Wang Shan’s outdoor classes were cancelled and she had to stay at home after school. She became depressed and had no energy.
The weather is humid, so eat something hot
So Lin Qiu looked up, "Hot pot?"
Wang Xiuren did not object and just looked out the window quietly.
On rainy days, clothes can only be hung to dry indoors. If they cannot dry for a long time, they will give off a damp and moldy smell, and even the room will have a musty smell.
The rain outside seemed to have gotten heavier, hitting the windows with a crackling sound, as if it could penetrate the glass and drip in at any time.
Lin Qiu looked out the window anxiously, "Do you feel that the noise is getting louder?"
Wang Xiuren is a man after all. He has been in Pengcheng for more than two years and is somewhat accustomed to the summer here. "This shouldn't be a typhoon!"
Seeing that he was calm and composed, Lin Qiu breathed a sigh of relief.
However, Wang Shan, who was sleeping on the bed, was startled by the sudden loud sound of rain and became a little uneasy. She kept huddling in the quilt.
Lin Qiu quickly leaned over, gently patted the quilt on Wang Shan's body, and coaxed her in a low voice: "It's okay, it's okay. Mom is here!"
The word "Mom" seemed to have magical power. Wang Shan was quickly soothed and calmed down, and her body relaxed.
On the contrary, Wang Xiuren couldn't fall asleep for a long time listening to the sound of wind and rain outside the window.
When he woke up the next day, he was still a little sleepy, but he still tried to keep his eyelids open and washed his face with cold water. Then he carried his daughter, who was wearing a raincoat and holding an umbrella, to the wonton shop outside the community to have breakfast, and then squeezed onto the bus to the nursery.
On rainy days, the roads are often flooded and muddy.
After sending his daughter to the nursery, Wang Xiuren could only rush to Zhao Guiman's construction site wearing rain boots and holding an umbrella, exhausted.
Most of the young people on the construction site don’t have children, so they arrive early. When they saw Wang Xiuren, they raised their hands and greeted him.
Wang Xiuren nodded in response, holding an umbrella.
Suddenly, a fellow villager secretly pulled Wang Xiuren aside and said, "Brother Wang, I heard that the wages at other construction sites have increased a lot?"
"How much has it increased?" Wang Xiuren was a little curious.
"The price has increased by three yuan a day!"
Who doesn't work for money? Three dollars a day, that’s almost a hundred dollars a month. Prices are rising rapidly now.
"Okay, I got it! I'll talk to Brother Man about it later." Wang Xiuren thought for a moment and replied.
He did not go to find Brother Man immediately, but finished the work at hand and went there during lunch time.
"Brother Man, I have something to tell you. Let's go to a small restaurant outside!"
"You came just in time, I was just about to go out for dinner!"
Yang Guiman stood up with a smile, picked up his purse and walked out.
Nowadays, most bosses carry a briefcase and a mobile phone. Even without this outfit, you can still tell from your belly.
It was less than a mile from the construction site to the small restaurant, but Yang Guiman was already out of breath.
Wang Xiuren couldn't help but say, "It's not that I'm stingy, just skip the wine at noon, I still have to work in the afternoon!"
Yang Guiman also knew that he couldn't drink while working, so he sighed slightly, "I've made money, and my belly is growing like a pregnant woman. I went to the hospital for a checkup and found that I was sick all over. The doctor told me not to eat too much meat and fish!"
In his early years, when he was so poor that he couldn't even afford to eat, he thought he could do whatever he wanted with the money he earned and eat whatever he wanted.
Wang Xiuren also knew that ever since Yang Guiman went for a physical examination in April, his family had followed the doctor's advice and only had vegetables and tofu. This made Yang Guiman, who was used to eating a lot of meat and fish, really uncomfortable.
At this time, all I can say is: "You can still eat fish and shrimp, so let go, I'll treat you to this meal!"
How could Yang Guiman ask him to pay? He waved his hand and said, "Are you the boss or am I the boss?"
Wang Xiuren also expressed his gratitude, "In the past six months, Brother Man, you have given work to several construction sites. If I don't hire you, would I still be a human being?"
The two grown men started arguing over who should pay the bill, and in the end Wang Xiuren came out on top.
He pushed Yang Guiman down on the chair and said, "It's settled. I'll pay for this meal!"
Even though Yang Guiman is heavy, he is no match for Wang Xiuren in terms of strength.
After Wang Xiuren ordered the dishes, he followed the waiter to pay the bill. At this time, the dishes had already been served.
He waited until Yang Guiman started eating before he picked up some food or started eating rice.
Halfway through the meal, Wang Xiuren finally spoke: "Someone came to me today and told me that the wages at other construction sites have increased."
When Yang Guiman heard this, the shrimp in his mouth no longer smelled good. "How long has it been since the price went up? It's going to go up again!"
Even though he has many large construction sites on hand and it looks like a flourishing business, the large construction sites can only pay 80% of the project cost at most, and the balance will not be settled until the final acceptance is completed. He only earns 10% to 20% of the balance.
I usually have to pay for the purchase of materials and workers' wages myself, so I don't actually have much cash on hand.
Wang Xiuren also knew his difficulties, but he still had to say: "At least add three yuan a day!"
He added: "The price increase this year is really too great. I heard that the landlord is also clamoring to raise the rent!"
Yang Guiman was overwhelmed. "Three yuan a day, I have dozens of workers, and two hundred yuan a day is gone!"
After thinking for a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "Tell them this afternoon that if others raise their salaries, my brother Man will also raise his salary!"
He suddenly remembered something and reminded Wang Xiuren, "There will be a safety inspection next month. Tell everyone to be careful!"
"OK!"
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