Li Xue walked ahead, and many elegant and wealthy women greeted her, unable to resist sharing any gossip. Jiang Yu knew Li Xue wielded great power, but she hadn't expected her to be so popular, which made her think even more highly of Li Xue.
Passing through the center of the second floor, a messy shop came into view. The interior was smashed and in disarray, with broken tables and chairs placed to one side by the entrance, looking out of place with the grocery store next door.
Jiang Yu went inside and took a look around. Seeing that the shop was quite large and had a separate restroom and lounge, she nodded thoughtfully.
Excellent, truly excellent!
Judging from her expression, Li Xue could tell she was very satisfied, and she spoke with a smug look on her face:
"This store is quite spacious and well-located. If you find it inconvenient to travel back and forth between the city and the countryside, you can definitely bring your child here. The lounge area can be expanded further; you could put in a small bed, so it's no problem for them to take a nap at noon. Also, the mall has a high-powered power supply, so you can bring some kitchen utensils to cook your own meals."
She pulled the obstructive banner aside and gently fanned away the dust in front of her.
"Let's leave now that we've finished looking around. There's too much dust here; it's making us uncomfortable."
Jiang Yu nodded, and the two chatted as they walked.
"How much is the rent? Could you ask my brother-in-law to talk to the mall manager and offer a discount? I don't have much capital on hand, and if it's too expensive, I might not be able to afford it."
Jiang Yu didn't want to miss this opportunity, but she was also well aware of her own capabilities. The money she had wasn't enough; she would probably have to take out a loan from the bank.
I don't know what the requirements are for loans these days. What if I don't meet them and have to give up? Li Xue knew Jiang Yu's concerns and gently patted her back.
"Don't worry, as long as you really want it, I'll help you as much as I can. If all else fails, I'll invest in it. Just don't forget about me once your clothing store is up and running."
Li Xue has a keen eye for people and is adept at understanding their psychology. Seeing Jiang Yu's potential, she's willing to invest money and effort in her. It's just a matter of words; once she's successful, it will be a valuable network of connections.
Jiang Yu was touched to see the woman's sincere expression, which didn't seem like she was joking. The woman was a complete stranger; she had only helped someone by altering their wedding dress to alleviate their immediate crisis, yet she had gained this level of trust. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
"Oh, Sister Xue, thank you in advance."
After exchanging a few polite words, Jiang Yu didn't forget to help her choose jewelry and other items for the party, and even suggested some creative ways to decorate.
No matter how innovative the decor was in the 1980s, it couldn't compare to the 21st century. Plus, Li Xue really liked her proposal, so the two talked until it was getting dark before parting ways. Before leaving, Li Xue asked for her home address, saying she would write to her as soon as she had any news.
Jiang Yu found the groceries she had left at the department store, carried them to catch her ride. Worried about missing it, she ran all the way, sweating profusely from exhaustion.
Upon arriving at the station, she was told there was one last train, and her anxiety vanished. If there were no more trains, she would have to find a hotel. Everything else was fine, except for the worry that her two children wouldn't have enough to eat.
She boarded the bus, the one she always took. Seeing her with all her bags, the ticket seller chatted with her a little enviously.
After a short while, she spoke slowly:
"Comrade, is your husband waiting for someone at the station? Or for you? Our bus runs once an hour, and I've seen him four times since 3 p.m. He's been standing there without fail all four times, like he's on guard duty."
Although there weren't many passengers, the ticket seller couldn't possibly remember everyone. She recognized Jiang Yu because she was polite and good-looking. But she remembered Shen Ying not only because of his appearance, but also because of the imposing aura he exuded that made him unapproachable to most people.
Jiang Yu's heart skipped a beat at her reminder.
Oh no! I got so engrossed in chatting with Li Xue that I forgot about the man. I thought I'd go home if I didn't see him soon, but he actually stood there for a full two hours! Keep in mind it's winter, so it's not only deserted but also cold. How could he stand there?
Jiang Yu's mind was filled with this matter, and the more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt. In the end, she couldn't even remember what the ticket seller had said.
After the car stopped, Jiang Yu gathered all the things she was carrying onto her arms and practically crawled out of the car. She figured the man would be home by then, and she planned to explain things to him properly once they got there.
Not far away, a tall figure cast a long shadow in the moonlight. Jiang Yu recognized him at a glance, but hesitated, unsure of how to speak.
When Shen Ying saw her, he strode over to her, took the things from her hands, and walked on without saying a word to her or even giving her a friendly look.
Jiang Yu pouted and obediently followed behind. It was indeed her fault; she hadn't been able to keep her promise to meet the agreed time, and she had no say in the matter.
Judging from past experiences, he probably already suspects the original owner of this body. This morning, Cui Jin, the administrator who led the group of educated youth, also went into the city. It's hard not to connect this to whether Lu Yi went there, and whether the two of them did anything shady.
Thinking about this, Jiang Yu couldn't help but facepalm. Could things really be such a coincidence? Maybe she should buy a lottery ticket another day and win the grand prize.
Upon entering the village, every household had its lights on. A faint aroma of cooking wafted through the air. Shen Ying walked quickly, leaving Jiang Yu far behind.
“I’ve warned you before not to tell her everything, but you not only didn’t listen, you were also eager to chat with her. Now look what’s happened, not only is the money gone, but you’ve also lost a tooth. You treated her like a sister, but did she treat you like family? For a boxed lunch that costs less than two cents to make, she’d grab your hair and beat you to death. You’re better off without a relative like that.”
As they passed Zhang Xinhua's house, her husband was scolding her inside. His voice was quite loud; both of them could hear it clearly.
Zhang Xinhua is notoriously domineering and unreasonable; her husband usually doesn't dare say a word against her. The fact that he's reprimanding her today shows how serious the situation has become, that even this usually mild-mannered person has lost her temper.
"It's all Jiang Yu's fault. If she hadn't gone to the factory gate to sell pickled vegetables for no reason, causing Zhang Meihua's shop to have no business, would I have gotten involved in this? Also, the day before yesterday, that little hussy dared to insult me in front of the villagers, wasn't it because her man was so successful?"
If you were even half as capable as Chen Ying, I wouldn't be suffering like this. Now look what's happened—my teeth are knocked out, and everyone in the village saw Zhang Ergou picking a fight with me this morning. How am I supposed to face the village now? Don't I have any dignity?
Zhang Xinhua's sobs were more awful than a steam engine. After berating Jiang Yu, she then berated her own husband for being useless. In the end, she even dragged her son over and gave him a severe beating.
If her son hadn't seen her covered in blood and called his father back in fright, would she have been scolded by a man?
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