Zhang Shuhua was thrilled to see Lin Wan here today. Sheâs quite a chatterbox, and ever since Lin Wan went to the hotpot restaurant, Zhang Shuhua hasnât had anyone to talk to in the mornings.
Grandma Wang and Aunt Liang are getting older and have no common topics. Tong Li can chat a bit, but most of the time, he just delivers the food cart, sells food, and after finishing, doesnât stay in the shop for long.
Lin Wan carried two big bags of vegetables from the morning market to here, stopping five times to rest. When she used to be here, she always carried them with her mom. Now, with her mom having to carry such heavy things alone, she didnât know how her mom could manage.
I was negligent, sigh!
"Xiao Wan, are you going to stay here from now on? Did Aunt Liang move over there?" Zhang Shuhua asked with a smile while picking vegetables, hoping Lin Wan would stay here so she wouldnât feel lonely.
"I hadnât thought of that, but now that you mention it, it wouldnât be a bad idea to let my mom go over there. Iâll talk to her when I get back." Zhang Shuhuaâs words made her heart light up. Yes, Mom can do the accounts now. She only buys groceries in the morning and settles the account at the front desk during the day at the hotpot restaurant. Mom wouldnât be too tired if she went over there.
"That sounds great. With you around, I wonât be so bored."
Grandma Wang glanced at her with a smile and said, "Shuhua has a good temperament, very likable. Her in-laws will surely love a daughter-in-law like her. Sheâll definitely be welcomed by her husbandâs family."
"Ah..." Zhang Shuhua blushed at Grandma Wangâs words, touched her cheek, and said, "Would a family like me?"
"They definitely would," Grandma Wang replied. Lin Wan smiled as she looked at Zhang Shuhua. She had indeed lost quite a bit of weight since she first arrived. Though not as slim as she was, she still looked just pleasantly plump.
Zhang Shuhua must have a small frame, with delicate features. When gathered on a face, if you take a closer look, youâd find it very easy on the eyes. If she actually loses weight, sheâd surely be quite the beauty.
"Arenât you trying to lose weight? I see youâve lost a lot these past few months. Keep it up, and by the time you slim down, many matchmakers will be knocking on your door."
Zhang Shuhua wasnât bashful. She was full of determination at the mention of losing weight. "Donât worry, with the New Year coming soon, Iâll definitely slim down before then. By that time, I can wear beautiful clothes."
Slim down before the New Year?
Lin Wan was busy at the shop from early morning until after eleven. Not only did she have to prepare ingredients for the midday hotpot, but she also needed to prepare takeout meals. Stir-frying a few dishes took over an hour.
After steaming a big pot of rice, she had to start making braised noodles. There was no other way since the kitchen could only fit one big stove.
After finishing the takeout meals, it was almost time for people to start coming in for lunch.
The hotpot shop was busy from morning until after two in the afternoon, only then did they get a chance to rest for a while.
By around four, it was time to start preparing porridge and pastries.
When going home in the evening, Lin Wan discussed her thoughts with Liang Hongmei.
Little did she know, Liang Hongmei refused without even thinking, "Iâm doing fine here; itâs not tiring at all. Except for being busy in the morning, thereâs plenty of idle time. When Iâm free, I can go for a stroll with Grandma Wang or play a few games. Donât mess around."
"The shop over there isnât tiring. Iâm worried about you being here."
"Momâs not tired; this amount of work is nothing. Back in the production team days, to earn work points to support you, I used to choose the heaviest and dirtiest jobs that even most men couldnât bear. That work was much harder than thisâhere, itâs just cooking. You think your mom is pampered."
"But..." "If Mom doesnât want to go, she doesnât have to," Lin Yinghui interrupted Lin Wanâs persuasion, disagreeing with his sisterâs idea. The winters here are really cold, and since Mom grew up in the south, she surely couldnât handle the weather here.